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Call Sign
likes to think it gets on with most people. We don’t always
agree with everyone but hopefully try to get on. Firstly there
is LTI, who often invite Call Sign to take
a group of Dial-a-Cab drivers to their factory in Coventry and
treat them with the utmost courtesy. Then there is another good
friend of ours, Hans Dooren who lives in Holland and who
runs the Dutch section of the London Vintage Taxi Association.
In between the two, and causing some friction, is a 14-year old
boy from Cadiz in Spain whose father bought him an old FX4R. Jose Basadre couldn’t keep his hands off the old cab, but then hit problems because he didn’t speak much English and needed to get hold of an FX4R manual. So he got a friend to write to Call Sign with the sort of English that made you blink and wonder whether Martians had landed (HERE to read the story from page 24 of the July 2006 issue). But unravel it we did and we asked Hans Dooren if he could help out young Jose. Hans is a Dutch pensioner, but will take the time to help out anyone who has problems with a vintage taxi and he does so at his own cost. He does it because he loves doing it, so he contacted Jose and tried to correspond. Hans doesn’t speak Spanish and Jose didn’t speak Dutch, while Call Sign knows a dozen words in French, most of which apply to various baguette fillings! But gradually Hans and Jose got to understand each other’s emails and Hans worked out what Jose |
FROM HOLLAND TO SPAIN TO COVENTRY… But Hans isn’t very happy!
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needed – and that was not just the FX4R manual, but which parts were needed and where he could buy them. Hand also suggested that his father pay for Jose to become a member of the LVTA. Hans had spent some considerable time in translations and explaining about the cab and anything if we ask for it! When we approach LTI about problems we have on archival questions, they say that they cannot have that kind of work disturbing their normal routines. I know they are busy, but we would be so grateful for the occasional help whereas Jose didn’t even have to ask!" Hans ended by saying: "Even though Jose never responded about joining the LTVA, we still sent him information on where to get spares etc and hope he is enjoying his taxi." Of course it isn’t LTI’s fault; they kindly offered to help - like Call Sign not realising that Hans had already spent much unpaid time on Jose already. So if we dare to ask anyone at LTI whether in the spirit of good |
relations between Holland, Spain, East Road and Brewery Road, LTI could help out Hans with the occasional answer to a question, it would get Call Sign off the hook and restore our fragile friendships! the benefits of joining the organisation – probably the only one in the world catering for vintage taxis. Then just as it looked as though Jose senior might join his son, LTI in the shape of Head of Overseas Operations, Nigel Walters, told Call Sign that he had read the article and if we sent him the address, LTI would forward Jose a copy of the manual. We passed it on and thought no more about it until 14 months later when Hans emailed to say that he had just happened to read the July 2006 issue on line and was somewhat upset to realise that the reason Jose had suddenly stopped emailing when Hans had done so much to help, was because of the LTI offer. "I wouldn’t mind," Hans told Call Sign, "but I spent much time helping Jose. The only reason I didn’t just tell him to go to LTI is because they rarely send out |
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Mobile speed trap detectors to be banned! |
Taxi drivers and private motorists who
dished out several hundred pounds for
gadgets that detect mobile speed traps, look
to have wasted their money with banning
orders likely to be implemented within
months. |
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