You are never too old to follow your passion. A champion rally driver in her day and known more recently for her tireless work in the field of Irish road safety, Rosemary Smith has always wanted to get behind the wheel of an F1 car. So when she was offered a test drive as part of Renault Sport’s 40th anniversary celebrations she did not let her age of 79 get in the way. Supported by her former co-driver Pauline Gullick and with advice from Renault driver, Jolyon Palmer, Rosemary drove the 800bhp on several laps of the Paul Ricard circuit in France recently. Rosemary said her confidence grew with every lap and whilst she may never get on the grid of a Grand Prix, she has fulfilled a lifetime ambition that will be the envy of millions. See the behind the scenes story below. https://youtu.be/4qo1Qk4y4IM

Keep it cool this summer With summer hopefully around the corner, now is a good time to make sure that your vehicle air-conditioning system is serviced and fully charged. A poorly functioning air-conditioning system not only means reduced comfort on hot days, but can also mean dangerous screen film build up and nasty in-car odours caused by a build up of bacteria in the air vents. It also means and increased risk of ac system failure and that other related components may wear more quickly. To ensure your system is working to its optimum and delivering fresh, clean, cool air for you and you passengers this summer, why not have it serviced now by Ashmore Ryder. Our workshops have all of the latest equipment required to service your car air conditioning system to the highest standard and our technicians are fully trained in the latest techniques and certified for refrigerant handling. To book you car air con service, call us on 01-668-4997.

Don’t look down! If you think driving on some of Ireland’s roads can be a bit hair raising, then take a look at a journey through Himalayas. Carved out of the side of a steep cliff, these single-lane, unpaved dirt tracks are some of the most dangerous roads in the world. One mistake and you could be tumbling thousands of feet to certain death. Don’t look down! It is not for the faint hearted. https://youtu.be/6RKPD5sBFtQ

From the Ashmore archives This picture from 1977 shows an Alfa GTV in the Ashmore Ryder workshops. This was something of an enthusiast’s car and was never a major seller in Ireland. It does however illustrate that since the very early days of the company, when keen motorist needed an accident repairer they put their trust in Ashmore Ryder. Our tradition of repairing prestige vehicles to the very highest standards continues today in our high technology workshops which are equipped and staffed to cope with the most complex jobs on any car.

Parts of Ireland could see some snow this week and in the areas affected you will no doubt see the odd driver peering out of a semi cleared windscreen. If there is snow on the car, for safety reasons, it is important to remember to clear all windows completely. It is also vital to clear the vehicle roof. This not only avoids snow blocking your view if it slips on to the screen when braking, but also makes sure frozen show cannot do the damage it does in this dashcam video. https://youtu.be/4mmWv6pgBQg

Young driver safety tips. Younger drivers are statistically much more likely to be involved in car accidents. Common sense rules such as always wearing a seatbelt, obeying speed limits and never ever taking an alcoholic drink when driving can minimise risk, but there are also some other less obvious precautions young drivers can take to keep themselves and their occupants more safe; • Avoid distractions. Phones, food, drink, and music can all contribute to accidents. • Adjust the car's headrest to a height behind the driver head, not the neck, to minimise whiplash. • Keep passenger numbers to a minimum especially when they are of a similar age. The highest accident risk is when travelling in a group. • Never try to fit more people in the car than there are seatbelts for them to use. • Encourage young drivers to gain driving experience in the company of a more mature driver even after passing the test. • Select a vehicle that provides an advanced combination of passive and active safety features that can offer reduced accident risk and better protection.

Sensing an end to parking bumps Tired of annoying scrapes and scratches on your rear bumper? At Ashmore Ryder we can not only flawlessly fix the damage we can also retro fit reverse parking sensors systems to any make and model of vehicle. We can expertly fit premium quality parking sensors, giving them a factory look finish with perfect colour coding. For more information or to arrange to have parking sensors fitted to your car call us on 01-668-4997.

The Hillman Avenger was a common visitor to the Ashmore Ryder workshop in the 70’s and 80’s, but now it seems that it is one of many cars of that era that is close to extinction. 638,631 were made in the UK between 1970 and 1981. Of these 99.97% have now been scraped and only 215 remain registered.

Get your bumpers back to their best If you have ever returned to your car in a car park and found the bumper damaged you will know it can be a frustrating experience. Most drivers also assume that to put the bumper right will mean an expensive replacement. At Ashmore Ryder we are specialists in bumper repairs. Using advanced equipment and materials we can get you bumper back to its best quickly and economically. This short video shows the bumper repair process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZthXNnd_sc

Avoiding mis-fuelling mishaps Putting the wrong fuel in a vehicle is a very common problem and one that can be very expensive if it goes unnoticed. Especially if a diesel car is driven with some petrol in the tank it can mean it is necessary to replace filters, pumps, injectors, valves and in extreme cases maybe even the engine. So here is some sound advice to avoid a potentially costly mistake. Don’t fuel on auto pilot. You cannot assume that hoses and nozzles are working to the same colour code. Check the description carefully. Take your time when fuelling. Mistakes tend to happen when you are rushed or stressed. Be especially careful when driving unfamiliar vehicles. Before you pull the trigger do a two second double check to make sure everything is right. If you do mis-fuel never drive the car and do not put the key in the ignition as this can prime the system with fuel and cause damage without the engine running. Call a motoring organisation, mis-fuellling service or a competent garage straight away. If you drive a diesel car it is possible to buy a device that fits into your filler neck to prevent you inserting the narrower petrol nozzle.

Ashmore Ryder has been a recognisable landmark on Fitzwilliam Quay in Dublin sine 1971. During this time the outside of the premises have seen a few transformations. What has never changed is the quality of the accident repair work going on behind the scenes, although today its is a good bit more hi-tech.

A sideways look at Porsche handling Vehicle development engineers may spend years perfecting a car’s handling and making sure it does not get out of shape when cornering at speed. Cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS just are not supposed to get sideways, but then again there are always drivers who dedicate their lives to doing the exact opposite of what the engineers want. Take a look at this clash of cultures video from the DRM Brothers shot in California. The Porsche may not have been designed for this type of driving, but you have to marvel at the vehicle control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1odyoMt93SY&feature=youtu.be