Turtle Wax is launching a competition to find out who the best Black Cabbie in the UK is. The Black Cab is a symbol of Britishness around the world and is more than just a means of transport – for many the driver that you get is more important than the ride! As with anything else in life, it’s all about customer service so why not vote for your favourite cabbie?

Here’s the full release from Turtle Wax on this exciting competition:

Caring cabbie Don Pratt, who was left a £250,000 tip after one of his customers passed away, has launched a drive to find the ‘UK’s Most Pukka Black Cabbie’.

The father-of-four has been snapped up by car care expert Turtle Wax to lead and judge its national search for the UK’s top black cabbie.

Don made headlines across the world this month after he was left the significant sum of money in pensioner Mary Watson’s will. He had spent two decades driving Mary to and from her local shops and when she died, aged 86, she left Don her whole estate which included her house and savings, together worth more than £250,000.

Speaking at the launch of the search Don, 65, from Newquay, said: “Being a good cabbie is much more than simply ferrying passengers from A to B; in any one day you can be called upon to be a counsellor, a critic and a confidant. Treating customers and other drivers on the road with courtesy and respect certainly paid off for me! I am delighted that at last there will be some recognition for the great work carried out by cabbies across the UK everyday.”

Turtle Wax is calling for people to nominate black cab drivers who are prepared to go the extra mile for their customers and who take absolute pride in their cab, inside and out.

Andrew Freeman from Turtle Wax, said: “Who better to launch our search than Don Pratt, who personifies what it means to be a good cabbie. He knows how difficult and demanding the job can be and will be a perfect judge. We think of him as the Simon Cowell of taxi drivers – he speaks and we listen. The UK is famous for its black cabs. They provide a great service to millions of people across the country, but it’s not an easy job. Cabbies need to be patient, helpful, calm and have ‘The Knowledge’! We want to find the most pukka and deserving ‘Black Cabbie’ in the UK that has all of these attributes, making the industry and the UK proud.”

Entries for the competition will be judged by Don Pratt and representatives from Turtle Wax. The winner will receive £2,000 worth of modifications to their cab, a short city break worth £500 and a year’s supply of Turtle Wax Black Box. Two runners up will also receive £250 worth of holiday vouchers, as well as a year’s supply of Black Box.

Don added: “I know the standard of entries will be extremely high and I am looking forward to helping decide who will be crowned the UK’s Most Pukka Black Cabbie.”

To nominate your cabbie all you need to do is go to www.turtlewaxblackbox.co.uk/mostpukkablackcabbie and follow the instructions.

The closing date for entries is Monday July 26th, 2010 and the winner will be notified on Monday August 2nd, 2010. Terms and conditions apply.

For more information on Turtle Wax/Black Box and for full terms and conditions please visit www.turtlewaxuk.com.

Mercedes-Benz knows that the SLS AMG will be sold out – and quickly. However, to show off this amazing supercar, a number of ‘money can’t buy’ chances to experiences are being put up for grabs.

These exclusive experiences include driving the 6.3-litre V8-engined, 571 hp SLS AMG around famous European racetracks including Hockenheim and Spa; being driven in the car by former Formula 1 and current DTM racer David Coulthard (now completed, prize no longer available); tackling the famous Top Gear test track – and unique SLS AMG driving days at Mercedes-Benz World. Only a lucky few will be given the opportunity to enjoy these experiences.

Subtle links to a number of ‘rare chances to experience the SLS AMG’ entry forms are hidden on the internet and out in the real world. And they can only be found by looking a little deeper into the SLS AMG online…

It all starts at the beginning of June, the first experience is the opportunity to be driven at breakneck speeds by David Coulthard, with a new rare experience being unveiled every few weeks throughout the Summer.

Fans should start by visiting SLSAMG.Mercedes-Benz.co.uk
Here they will find hints for where to start looking, as well as be able to sign up for updates via email, SMS, Facebook and Twitter.

You can also see videos of the SLS AMG at the Mercedes-Benz Youtube Channel.

At some point I hope to do a bit more of a round up about iPhone apps for drivers but for now it’s just a quick post with some information about a couple of apps I’ve tried recently.

Firstly it’s the Smart Car app (more info, app store link). It’s a fairly simple but fun app which allows you to design the colour scheme for a smart fortwo. It also will give you random selections or ask you a couple of questions and then try to match your personality type. My efforts are below

The other app is linked to the World Cup and has been created by Continental Tyres as part of their sponsorship of the event. (App store link) Based on predicting results of the games you could win a match ball or a trip to South Africa. Somewhat ironic when the Jabulani Ball is being criticised as the most unpredictable ball we’ve ever had

Anyway take a look at the both but also leave any comments about apps that you would recommend.

Vauxhall is running a competition to find the greenest driver in Europe. If you happen to be that rather skillful person then you could end up winning a brand new Vauxhall Ampera and be one of the first to drive this unique electric range-extended car.

To enter, visit the Vauxhall site here.

The first round is a quiz, where you must answer 10 questions about environmental driving in the shortest time possible and score enough points to qualify for the second round. If you are not happy with your result, try again. Enter before 11th June.

The second section is an online simulator, which starts from the 17th May for those who complete the quiz.

The final round takes place in Copenhagen and Malmö on 22-24 July 2010. For the lucky finalists this unique event is your chance to demonstrate your eco-driving skills at the wheel of real ecoFLEX cars, at the location of the last UN Climate Change Conference, and in competition with Europe’s greenest drivers!

So, you’ve got nothing to lose and an extended range car and the title of ‘greenest driver in Europe’ to gain!

After our recent review of the Mio Navman Spirit S500. We are delighted that Mio have offered a brand new unit as a competition prize here on cararticles.co.uk

To be in with a chance of winning you just need to leave a comment below this post to let us know what journey you would make with the Mio Navman Spirit S500. It could be a journey that often gets you lost or perhaps it’s a journey to a place with special memories that you haven’t been for a while. Maybe it’s a drive where you love the scenery or perhaps you want to visit family you haven’t seen for a while.

If you leave a comment and also have a twitter account then send out a tweet too and we’ll give you a second entry into the competition.

Update- it makes it easier for us if you leave your twitter username in your comment too, thanks

Tweet This

Closing Date is 31/03/10 and the winner will be chosen at random and then contacted via the email address left with your comment. Open to UK residents. One entry per household/IP address.

p.s. you do not win my iphone which is also in the picture above!

We’ve submitted this competition to the following sites
The Prize Finder – UK Competitions
UK Competitions
Loquax Competitions

Here’s the latest competition that will get you out in four wheels, with the potential to drive away in a brand new car, courtesy of Peugeot. Read on to find out how you can take part in the Eco Cup Challenge and prove that you’re the best at being ‘green’, taking in a number of countries on the way.

Following in the footsteps of those early pioneering motoring journeys, the Peugeot Eco Cup will follow a 1000 kilometre course from Paris to Geneva, with the winners being those arriving at the finish within set time targets having used the least fuel.

Entry to the Peugeot Eco Cup is open to any qualified driver. Would-be competitors can sign up at the dedicated website http://ecocup.peugeot.com which can also be found via www.peugeot.co.uk by 15 February 2010.

The website features a range of eco-driving tips, an online eco-driving test and details of the four different Peugeot cars available for the event. Applicants select the car category they prefer to compete in, enter their details and submit a 140 word description of what makes a good eco driver.

Peugeot will select 72 competitors from the online entries and then randomly draw entrants to be invited to take the challenge, with four each representing the 18 European countries (and accompanied by a team-mate of their choice), to compete in four different Peugeot cars: 207 HDi 90, 308 HDi 110, 3008 HDi 110 and 5008 HDi 110. Each car is a diesel powered practical family vehicle recognised for its excellent fuel economy and low carbon emissions.

With strict equivalent weights for each model used, the 72 vehicles will all set off from Paris on Sunday, 28th February 2010 towards Geneva via a compulsory 1,000 kilometre route to be covered within the 30-36 hour permitted period.

For each model, the candidate having consumed the least fuel at the end of the course will win a new Peugeot car. Winners will be announced and the keys to the vehicles will be handed over on Tuesday 2nd March 2010 on the Peugeot stand at the Geneva Motor Show.

Esther Rantzen

In aid of the NSPCC, Jaguar is giving away the first Jaguar XJ in a prize draw competition. Esther Rantzen recently visited the Jaguar dealership in in Luton to back the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The Jaguar Prize Competition aims to raise £1m for the NSPCC’s helplines, including ChildLine. This all-new luxury saloon, worth more than £62,000, is Jaguar’s flagship model and will launch in showrooms in the New Year.

Each entry costs £125 and there is no limit to the number of entries per person. Find out more and enter at www.jaguar.co.uk/nspcc. The competition runs until 25 November and the winner will be announced on 1 December.

Esther Rantzen said: “Our new online ChildLine service gives children even more choice in how they seek our help. Children can now text and chat to a ChildLine counsellor at www.childline.org.uk as well as phone on 0800 1111. However, there is much still to be done before we can be there for all children. The Jaguar Prize Competition takes us one step further to raising the funds we need to do this.”

Edward Cullen with a Volvo XC60

It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to win a Volvo – especially not an XC60 exactly the same as the one driven by Edward Cullen in Twilight!

Here’s the information from Volvo on how to enter:
Starting 2 November 2009, people can log onto www.whatdrivesedward.com where their Twilight knowledge will be put to the test in an interactive game. Fans can also visit their local authorized Volvo dealership to collect an exclusive complimentary poster of Edward and his shiny new Volvo while stocks last.

Players can register at www.whatdrivesedward.com from 2 November 2009 and will receive clues to help solve a series of puzzles. Since the puzzles increase in difficulty, players are encouraged to exchange hints through Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. The game runs for three weeks from 2 November through to 23 November 2009.

In addition to the game, the website also features trailers from the film, photo galleries and downloadable New Moon-themed desktop wallpapers.

“Volvo is central to Edward’s character in the Twilight saga,” said Anita Fox, Head of Marketing Communications at Volvo Car UK. “One lucky fan who solves all of the puzzles in Volvo’s What Drives Edward contest will win a new XC60. While the XC60 doesn’t come equipped with a vampire, the winner will experience the power, beauty and protection that is Volvo and it will transport them to all of their great moments in life.”

Fans that don’t win the online contest and want their own shiny new Volvo XC60, just like the one Edward drives, can visit a local Volvo dealership or go to www.volvocars.co.uk to build their own. Edward drives a Volvo XC60 that features the Saville Grey metallic exterior, a sandstone beige/espresso interior, a cream leather steering wheel, 19-inch Achilles diamond cut wheels and exterior accessories such as side scuff plates, front bumper bar and rear skid plates.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon will premiere in the UK on 20 November 2009. In the film directed by Chris Weitz and starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of-only to find herself in greater peril than ever before. Following Edward Cullen’s (Pattinson) departure from Forks, Washington, Bella discovers his image comes to her whenever she puts herself in jeopardy. In time Bella’s frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob Black (Lautner) who has a supernatural secret of his own.

Lewis Hamilton

Granted, he may not be going to win the Drivers’ Championship this year, but you’ve got to admit that the picture above is pretty special.  Bear in mind that it’s actually created using the oil from Hamilton’s own McLaren F1 car and it makes it just a little bit more special.

Painted by David Macaluso, a special print is being made available as a prize by Mobil 1.  Simply visit their website from 15th June to enter the competition.

Not literally, as if you did you probably already work for a major (or independent) manufacturer). I’m talking about the latest opportunity over at Splitwheel – in partnership with none other than Caterham. On the site, when the project really begins you’ll be able to decide even what kind of engine the vehicle should have.

You’ll have a chance to see and test the prototype and there’s a high probability that the car will actually be made available – as early as 2011. Want to get involved? Go look up the project and see how you can work with this virtual car company.

Here’s some info from the company:
You will be voting on all the key decisions that will shape the design of the vehicle; from styling and engine options to specification, equipment and everything in between!

Before voting, discuss, debate and collaborate with thousands of fellow car enthusiasts from all over the globe as part of the Splitwheel community. Read our in?depth analysis on the key issues around the car, plus all the latest news on the cars that we love to drive and talk about.

You don’t need to be an engineer to get involved… if you have a passion for cars then we need you!