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Leaving on a jet plane...
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:46 am
by sonicrisk
Hi all, on the 31st I'll be leaving the UK to pursue my career out in Brunei. Thanks to everyone here for all the fun times and support they've offered over the years. It's been a hoot! Lotus Cars aren't available in Brunei but I'm trying my damnedest to get one imported... it's proving a lot harder than I first thought (!) so it's on the back burner for a while 'till I get settled in. I reeeeeaaaalllly like the idea of having the only Elise in the entire country
So, I have a 111R for sale, if your interested or know someone who is please get in touch... the details are as follows:
- Jan '05, 17k Miles, MOT until end Dec '07, A Service due Feb '08
- Full Service History
- 1.8 VVTLi Toyota Engine 189BHP
- Ardent Red with Black Leather Interior
- Touring Pack (Full Leather, Electric Windows, Driving Lights, Full Carpet Set, Sound Insulation, Stowage Net, DAB/CD Radio with Memory Card Slot, ABS, Alarm, Central Locking)
- Defendall Stone Chip Protection (Full Kit)
- Jim Valentine 2Bular Bespoke Sports Exhaust - the first one ever designed for the 111R - and it's Loud

- Some spare parts - oil, tyres, driving light etc.
Some of the guys here will know it's history, it's been absolutely faultless from birth and been on track just 5 times (KH). I won't be here for much longer so am looking for a quick sale at £19,750. The car lives in Glasgow's West End.
Pictures (I have loads, but can't seem to upload any here) or information available, just drop me a line on 07947 584 989. You can also get me at my email
sonicrisk@gmail.com but would prefer the 'phone as I can respond quicker.
Thanks,
Nick
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:59 am
by jj
Does the Sultan not even have a few Lotii you could borrow?
Good luck with the sale, I remember following you through the Clyde tunnel one day in the exige making a lot of noise

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:07 am
by mac
Good luck Nick.
No doubt you'll pop back up in a few years again
Mac
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:31 am
by Brian J
Nick, all the best - flying job in Brunei?
Brian J
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:46 am
by sonicrisk
Yep, of to fly the 767 with Royal Brunei

))
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 1:03 pm
by Rich H
I would have thought (Breakdowns aside) an Esprit might be better, lots and lots of long straight roads.
Then again, breaking down on said long deserted roads might be a bit dangerous!!
Massive engined yank tank it is then (Chargers, stingray, camero, mustang, etc)
All the best!
Rich
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:58 pm
by tut
Nick
Do you remember this? Chaz was one of my closest friends in Oman, we went through the War together there. However he was not a Pilot but an ex RAF Navigator, so he was in Operations, ie told me where I was flying to. But he really wanted to fly, so I used to take him up as co-pilot whenever I could, and when he left Oman, he went to the USA and took his Commercial Licence.
I saw him a few times in the 80's and 90's at re-unions, but then lost touch. Then I saw these headlines. Whilst we all drank and flew in Oman, doubt if we would have taken off at times otherwise, you can not do it in civy street.
He was a great bloke, 6'3", film star looks, black belt Karatic, I used to get second choice of the birds.
Hell of a waste.
Let me know if you hear what happened to him after he got out of prison, as I have no contact anymore.
Cheers
tut
ps all the best in the new career move, you should be well looked after out there.
"Airline pilot jailed for drinking
A pilot has been jailed for six months for drinking before a flight.
Charles Nicholls was due to fly 200 passengers from Heathrow to Brunei on 1 July when he was found to be six times over the limit for flying.
Nicholls, 54, a captain with Royal Brunei Airways, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, said he drunk a "large amount" the night before he was due to fly.
He admitted the excess alcohol charge. A judge at Isleworth Crown Court said it was "irresponsible and reckless".
'Danger to the public'
Judge Richard MrGregor-Johnson said: "You blood-alcohol level was over six times the limit for flying.
"It was over one-and-a-half times for driving a car let alone flying a passenger aircraft.
"You were entrusted with the safety of the crew, passengers and, of course, people on the ground who may have been affected if anything had gone wrong.
"It is plain you had consumed a large quantity of alcohol on the previous day.
'Bottle to throttle'
"That is highly irresponsible and reckless.
"Those who are reckless in such circumstances risk being a danger to the public and to themselves and I am satisfied this demands a custodial sentence."
Simon Connolly, prosecuting, said a security officer noticed Nicholls smelled of alcohol as he headed to the plane to carry out safety checks .
The police were called and Nicholls, of Admiralty Way, was found to have 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100 ml of breath when the limit is 9 micrograms.
He was fired from the airline immediately.
Nicholls' defence said he had stopped drinking at 2130 GMT observing the pilot's rule of 12 hours from "bottle of throttle".
But he did not take into account the fact he had been drinking at lunchtime.
Nicholls admitted a charge of carrying out flight preparations as captain of Royal Brunei Airways flight B198, when the proportion of alcohol in his blood exceeded the prescribed limit. "
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:39 pm
by ExigeKen
All the best Nick I hope all goes well for you

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:22 pm
by Skyenet
Hi Nick
Best of luck with the job.
A couple of photos from the first time I met you on the infamous Dubya Run. I still laugh thinking back to Euan pulling into Arrochar after being worried that the back of his car was falling apart and being asked where his roof was. It then dawned on him that it was his roof bouncing around the boot that was the noise he heard. Also remember all the sparks comming off the back of Fergus's rear tray as we went along the Garelochhead to Arrochar road. Been back along it a few times on my Bike.
Quick pull in parking after a formation run down from Corran ferry. Looks like S1s only came in one colour, S2 looks so cool (IMHO)
Iain
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 5:55 pm
by sonicrisk
Guys, thanks for the well wishes, cannot wait to get out there, really looking forward to it!
tut: yeah, think someone mentioned something about that guy to me, I'll do a bit of digging to see what I can find out.
Iain: Ahhhh... those were the days, I remember them well! Brings back fond memories. That Arrochar road is a doozie... focusses them mind!!!
nick