The wear and tear can add up quickly as you trundle to Hamilton and back five days a week, meaning you can often end up with an expensive repair bill or, even worse, having to buy a new car long before you hoped. 

One of the island’s longest serving mechanics, GB’s Auto in King Street, offered some advice on maintaining your vehicle in Bermuda’s trying conditions. 

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD 

Avoid roads with sharp turns where you can. 

GB’s Auto said: “When you are doing a lot of turning, you are putting more stress on your vehicle. It puts more wear and tear on the front end of the vehicle: the steering and the suspension and even the tyres. 

“We always encourage people to travel on straighter roads as opposed to roads that have a lot of turns. 

“You can’t always avoid winding roads in Bermuda, but if you have to travel to Somerset, for example, you could go on the South Shore as opposed to Middle Road. The likelihood of an accident is greater on those twising roads too.” 

POTTY OVER POTHOLES 

They’ve seemed to pop up everywhere as Bermuda’s infrastructure has borne the brunt of relentless heavy rain in recent months. The problem has been compounded by asphalt machinery being out of action. 

Even in good times, potholes and other obstacles can cause issues with steering, suspension and tyres. 

The best thing you can do is to drive carefully and safely around them and keep good habits when it comes to regular maintenance. 

“You should always get the pressure checked and timely tyre rotation will help,” GB’s Auto said. 

“If you read your service manuals, most give you guidelines on what you need to do. People can do online research – that helps as well. 

“People that keep their cars regularly properly serviced are less likely to be confronted with emergency issues, although there will always be some things beyond your control, like the electrical parts.” 

DON’T GET SALTY 

It’s most noticeable after a heavy storm when you need to wash thick layers of it from your windscreen, but salt is a perpetual difficulty for our vehicles. We are in the middle of an ocean, after all. 

GB’s Auto said: “Salt is always in the air. After a winter storm, you can wash the car with warm water to break the salt down. Or at least hose the vehicle down with fresh water. 

“If you don’t do anything about it, salt will sit on the vehicle. Over time the saline will get into places it doesn’t need to, and lead to corrosion.” 

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! 

Expensive car maintenance is an unfortunate fact of life in Bermuda – but if you try to cut corners you can end up in an even bigger spot. 

GB’s Auto said: “When vehicles get out of warranty, people will shop around, and one of their questions is how much will it cost? They don’t ask what they are getting for the service. 

“If he’s going to charge you $100, you can bet your bottom dollar he won’t be spending much time on the vehicle. 

“If a mechanic isn’t spending much time on your vehicle, he won’t be putting it on the lift and inspecting the undercarriage and looking for any damage. There’s lots of other things they need to be checking too, like the tyre pressure, the lights, the brakes and making sure there isn’t any corrosion. You are not doing all that in under an hour. 

“You take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.” 

The post It’s a rough road appeared first on RG Magazines.

“Operating a vehicle without the minimum insurance can lead to traffic offences and fine,” according to Melvin Howes, supervisor of personal lines, property and casualty at CG Insurance. 

But on top of the legal requirements, motor insurance gives peace of mind by providing financial protection, personal safety and third-party liability. 

With that in mind, selecting your motor insurance and understanding exactly what’s covered is the next hurdle. It’s important to consider what is the right coverage depending on your circumstances. 

“If you own an expensive vehicle, it is recommended to invest in comprehensive coverage to safeguard it against unforeseen events, like accidents, damages, theft and collisions,” said Mr Howes. 

While selecting the coverage necessary for your needs you may come across terms that can often be confusing. Terms like “insurable value” most often refers to the estimated value of the vehicle, this pertains to the worth of a new or used vehicle. Generally, the value of a vehicle typically depreciates over time due to its age. 

A “deductible” on the other hand is the initial amount the policyholder must pay before their insurance policy covers damages to their vehicle. For example, Mr Howes explained, if your car policy has a $500 deductible and you have an accident that causes $3,000 in repairs to your vehicle, you would be responsible to pay the first $500 deductible, and then your insurance would cover the remaining $2,500. 

If you are involved in an accident, it’s essential to understand how to navigate the claims process. 

Mr Howes recommends the following to efficiently navigate the process: 

1. Prioritise safety by ensuring everyone’s wellbeing, adhering to standard procedures and by contacting authorities immediately after the accident. 
2. Exchange information with the involved parties. 
3. If possible, capture photos of the accident scene including any damage. 
4. Without delay, contact your insurance provider’s claims department to initiate the claims process, providing all necessary details and documentation. 
5. Your assigned claims officer will confirm your extent of cover and the next steps within the claims process. 

To gain a comprehensive understanding of what will be covered, you should refer to your policy documentation. 

Review the terms and conditions outlining the extent of coverage based on the policy you purchased. It’s also important to note that there is generally a requirement to notify your insurer of a pending claim within a specific timeframe, which is typically within 14 days of the accident. 

Most insurers will also promote safe and responsible driving which can then result in discounts for their policyholders, so it really does pay to be a good driver!

The post Motor insurance for beginners appeared first on RG Magazines.

Darrel Mellor, the co-owner of Current Works, stumbled onto the job. He was studying business in England when he was assigned to the offices of a garage as part of his work placement. 

“I just got more interested in terms of what was happening in the garage: hanging out with the guys and seeing what was going on. I didn’t know anything about cars when I got into it. It was just solving problems, fixing things, pretty much like a grown-up version of Lego I guess.” 

With his interest piqued, he enrolled in “a structured modern apprenticeship”, an option he wishes was available here. 

“This is the problem. It’s something Bermuda doesn’t have,” said Mr Mellor, who is City & Guilds qualified and a certified advanced automotive engineer. 

“In the UK you go to a college and they find you a workplace. So I spent four days a week working in a garage and one day a week at college learning the theory behind it all.” 

In the garage, there was a flow chart that tracked his work, ensuring specific targets were met. 

“Basically in the industry you can decide where you want to go. You can stay at the level of just being a tyre fitter or you can drive forward and become a diagnostic technician, something that’s more complex. Just like in a hospital where you have your nurses, your doctors and surgeons, there’s different levels of where you can get to.” 

For Mr Mellor, the more he learnt, the more he wanted to know. As such, he began working on electric vehicles long before they were a common sight on Bermuda’s roads. He is a certified electric/hybrid vehicle technician with credentials from Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Kia and Citroen. 

“The EVs, over the last few years – people have been taken by surprise because there aren’t really trained technicians to deal with them. They’re coming onto the market faster than the workforce can keep up with. The older people in the trades are retiring or getting away from it and you’re getting fewer younger people coming into the trade,” he said. 

For a mechanic, staying ahead means working in what would otherwise be spare time. Mr Mellor takes online courses to prepare and then travels to the UK or the Caribbean at least once every two years for hands-on training and certification. 

“You have to want it,” he said. “A lot of people go to work for 40 hours a week, go home at night and just watch TV or something. 

“When I worked in the UK it was easier because courses were local. I worked in dealerships and they would send you on training. Here in Bermuda I used to work for Eurocar and they would send me on training. But then once I went into what’s called ‘the aftermarket’ and then eventually opened up my own business, I had to source all of that myself and pay for it myself. Now I have my own company and the company pays for it.” 

Current Works was created through a partnership with Piers Carr in 2020. The range of offerings is more diverse than some might think. It services Current Vehicles’ fleet of Twizys, small electric cars that are available for hire, out of a full-service garage that is also open to the public. 

“I designed the structure pretty much like a hospital where you have your junior technicians and then your more senior technicians and your diagnostic technicians,” Mr Mellor said. 

“Complex diagnostics are done by the more experienced technicians and then the other work is passed on to the junior technicians.” 

Junior technicians have the benefit of in-house training with the idea to “level them up”. 

There are six people on staff. 

“In the beginning it was difficult because it was a start-up but our reputation is growing, people are hearing about us and it’s a great place to work with a good environment. So now we’re reaching out to get more staff but the hardest part is obviously qualified Bermudians because there’s no structured pathway in Bermuda for this industry. So most people have to go overseas to get their initial qualifications.” 

At Current Works, technicians start at “level one” and must commit to online training courses and work that becomes progressively more difficult. 

For anyone training to become an electric technician, the first two levels will be mostly dedicated to recognising the dangers: the health and safety measures essential for work on a high voltage system. 

“There are a lot more risks involved. Making the wrong move can result in death. You have to know what to focus on, making sure you know what to deal with before you go anywhere near it,” Mr Mellor said. 

“We have the appropriate equipment and PPE for working on those. Obviously it’s a different technology. You still have your brakes and suspension, windscreen wipers and regular things, but the whole drive system is completely different. It does take an extra level of training.” 

As there is a shortage of mechanics worldwide, it is a great career opportunity for young people, he added. 

“A lot of youngsters today just want to go into IT or social media or whatever. We still need these people but without a dedicated programme in Bermuda to try and get people, it is difficult.” 

As a workaround Mr Mellor is building an “apprenticeship and technician certification pathway” for Current staff. 

“I work with the Institute of the Motor Industry in the UK, called the IMI, so we have an agenda to create our own so we can train people and give people qualifications in-house, but that’s further down the line.” n

The post Don’t miss out on your dream job, Current’s Mellor tells young people appeared first on RG Magazines.

Its aim then and now: to get young people across the island out on the water sailing, while learning about Steam. That some go on to pursue a career in the industry is a bonus for the charity, which opened its doors in 2015. 

“We have about 15 different industry partners we work with: Marine & Ports, marine charities and organisations related to the ocean. What we’re finding is we’re having the next generation of Bermudians involved in the maritime industry through this programme,” said Jennifer Pitcher, Endeavour’s executive director. 

“They’re going on to get experience or education and it’s really great to see, when we go to some of these places, that we’ve got alumni working in them. It’s really nice to see Bermudians connect with other Bermudians: ‘Oh, I did that programme a few years ago now look where I am.’” 

Endurance is accredited by the Royal Yachting Association in the UK. The lessons come from an international syllabus that teaches sailing fundamentals. 

Many students start with the Middle School Programme, a five-day Steam course offered at every public and private school on the island. 

“It really is an opportunity for all young people to get that exposure to our waters, and help them to develop that confidence that they need,” Ms Pitcher said. 

“A lot of our students, it’s their first time going on the water, being on a boat, so we really start with the basics and both teachers and students report that they do see improvement in these skills.” 

Science, technology, engineering, arts and maths are brought in through such concepts as buoyancy, sailing geometry, wind measurement and wind power. Students are taught about ocean sustainability and the need to protect our beaches and reefs from pollution. 

The BF&M No Limits Sailing Programme is for public school students ages five and older who are on the autism spectrum or have other developmental challenges. 

“The modules might be a little bit different in terms of additional sensory activities but we have received really positive feedback from both parents and teachers,” said Ms Pitcher, who is thrilled that even some of the nonverbal students “are saying words like sailing” and asking when they can return. 

Equally impressive is the progress of students who were not confident at the start. 

“We have students that are fearful to get on the water in all of our programmes at the beginning – especially if they have any trauma or phobias – and we’re really proud of our team and the students for overcoming these barriers,” Ms Pitcher said. 

“By the second day or third day they’re overcoming them and they’re getting on the safety boat, which is our coach boat, or in some cases, they’re getting on a sailboat. 

“They’re sailing independently, which just makes my heart burst. It’s just a tremendous transformation.” 

The Graduate Programme offers students a chance to further develop their skills and confidence on the water during weekends and school breaks. 

“One of the key goals is to really have them get out of their comfort zone not just by getting out in the water, but making new friends with people that they wouldn’t otherwise interact with.” 

The Maritime Career Springboard Programme is a seven-week leadership scheme open to students 16 and older. 

“The students that come through gain that leadership experience and also they get a sense for: is this something that I want to do? Do I want to be a sailing instructor? Do I like teaching? Do I like coaching? It really is a great opportunity for them.” 

For more information on the Endeavour programmes visit www.endeavour.bm 

The post Sailing to new opportunities appeared first on RG Magazines.

No more searching the small ads for a used car and worrying whether it’s been well looked after or having to deal with potential buyers coming to your house and haggling over price. 

The “hassle” of all that, as well as the time spent at TCD, is removed, according to Damien Donfield, the company’s certified pre-owned sales specialist, who worked at a multi-franchise dealer in Dublin for three decades before coming to the island. 

“It’s peace of mind,” he said, explaining how every car sold by the division has been given a “comprehensive, multi-point health check and safety test” and comes with a warranty for 12 months or 12,000km – whichever comes first – from the date you buy it. 

Auto Solutions managing director Glen Smith added: “It’s taken a lot of the uncertainty away.” 

Mr Smith said the company lobbied the Government for several years for permission to sell second-hand cars. 

Last year, a pilot scheme was agreed on and it has gone really well. 

“I’m quite confident that it will go into a long-term change,” he added. 

He said Mr Donfield “built the business from the ground up” after arriving in April 2023 and it had gone from strength to strength since launching in July. 

“We have a litany of clients that want certified, pre-owned vehicles,” said Mr Smith, explaining that Auto Solutions can take in and resell up to 20 cars a month at present. 

Mr Donfield added: “We’re matching cars to clients. At the moment we are pre-selling a lot of our stock. 

“We are struggling to get enough cars. We need more cars all the time.” 

Auto Solutions customers can trade-in or sell their cars, eight years or younger, to the company, providing they have a full service history and no previous heavy costs for bodywork. 

The certified pre-owned team will evaluate the vehicle’s condition, age, mileage and market value before providing a price. 

The division’s motto is that every car sold is a new car to the person buying it. 

“Even though they are second-hand cars, it’s your money and they need to look well,” said Mr Donfield. 

“We want the car mechanically sound. We have a service history, so we can see the history and the path that it has taken to this stage. 

“We prepare the bodywork. The idea is that everything about the car, from the physical to the mechanical, is in as much of a new condition as it’s possible to get.” 

He added: “Just because they are three, four, five, six years old, shouldn’t mean they should be any less desirable.” 

Mr Smith said a major benefit was that Auto Solutions dealt with all the paperwork, from the TCD transfer test to insurance. 

“We do everything, soup to nuts,” he said. “We are here to facilitate a service that has been needed for a long time, of taking the hassle away.” 

Mr Donfield said many locals found the idea of buying a second-hand car from a dealer “unusual” but had embraced it. 

“We are not reinventing the wheel but a lot of people wouldn’t have come across it before,” he said. 

“Everything we’ve sold so far, it has gone well. If a customer has been decent enough to come to Auto Solutions to get their car serviced, we are now passing on that investment to the new buyer.” 

The post Taking the stress out of second-hand cars appeared first on RG Magazines.

Linda Down is head of boat sales at PW Marine and has spent most of her adult life getting people out onto the water safely, and in a boat they are comfortable with. She talked us through everything you need to know about buying and maintaining the best boat for you. 

BUDGET 

One of the most common mistakes first-time buyers make is not understanding all the costs and facts before they “dive in”. 

If you are looking for a brand-new boat, the lowest starting price, she said, is in the region of $45,000. 

That could get you a 13-foot Boston Whaler. “That’s the smallest in our line-up, turnkey,” she added. 

Turnkey means the boat is registered, inspected, clean, fuelled-up, has anti-fouling paint on the bottom, the warranties are in effect, and all the safety gear is on board. Literally, all you need to do is turn the key. 

In addition to Boston Whalers, PW Marine also sells Pursuit Boats, Tiara Yachts, Valhalla Boatworks Boats, Sea Rays and Viking Yachts, all of which come in a variety of sizes, the largest being the Vikings, which range from 38 up to 90 feet. 

If the cost of a brand-new boat is out of reach, you can try the second-hand market. PW Marine can help there too, as long as it’s a boat they know. “We tend to only represent the boats that we service so we know the history of them,” said Ms Down. 

While the cost of a pre-owned boat depends on a huge number of factors, particularly age and condition, she estimated that $45,000 could probably get you a 20-foot boat while a second hand 13-foot Boston Whaler could potentially be scooped up for about $20,000. 

If you are buying a pre-owned boat directly from the seller, and aren’t familiar with boats yourself, she recommended getting advice from someone who is, “to avoid the headache of buying something that isn’t what it appears to be.” 

ONGOING COSTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

When budgeting for boat ownership, you also need to account for the ongoing maintenance, storage, servicing, registration, insurance and other costs that keep your boat afloat. 

Registration: When your boat arrives in Bermuda, or if you buy a second-hand boat, you must register it in your name with the Department of Marine and Ports Services. Registration must be renewed each year, between April 1 and May 31. The fees are determined by the boat’s length. 

SERVICING: 

Boats have to come out of the water annually to be serviced. At PW Marine, continued Ms Down, “we power wash and repaint the bottom, we do the engine service, we put wax on the sides of the boat. Any customer issues, or things that need to be addressed are done at that time.” 

INSURANCE: 

Unlike cars, by law, boats don’t have to be insured, but Ms Down highly recommended it, especially if your boat is new. If you keep your boat in a marina, however, she said, “they always have a liability clause so you have to have liability insurance to a certain value in case you damage someone else’s boat.” 

Storage: Part of the equation of buying a boat is finding somewhere to keep it. PW Marine has their own marina but, at the time of writing, it was full, with a waiting list. If you are buying a boat from them, Ms Down will reach out to others in the industry to help owners find a good spot: 

“To make your boating experience fun, you really want to have easy access to it. It needs to be convenient. If you’ve got to jump on a dinghy and row out three miles to get on your boat, it’s not going to be as convenient.” 

HURRICANE PLAN: 

Every owner needs a plan for their boat when a hurricane comes. “All marinas will have a mandatory evacuation so you do need somewhere to put the boat,” warned Ms Down. If your boat is moored in protected waters and tied down correctly, that might be OK, as long as another boat doesn’t slam into it. PW Marine offers a hurricane haulage and storage service for their clients. 

THE FUN STUFF 

Once your budget has been determined, the fun can begin. What size and type of boat are you going to get? 

Ms Down’s first question is what the customer’s expectations of boating are and after that she discusses the layout and configuration based on what they want to use it for. “There’s centre consoles, dual consoles, there’s boats with cabins, there’s boats that are set for mostly cruising and recreational. For most of them, you can add on fishing features,” she said. For boats with manageable wakes, a tow bar for water sports is also a fun option. 

If you want to go outside the reef, Ms Down recommended a minimum boat size of 20 feet. Some buyers have also chosen to add seakeepers, which, she explained, “stabilise the boat so it takes that rocky motion away.” This is useful when fishing offshore or if you suffer from motion sickness. 

Last but not least, every boat needs a name. This can be simple or fun. Maybe you could ‘Seas the Day’ or ‘Sea Ya Later’. The odd ‘Usain Boat’ has also been spotted. If you spent more than you planned, maybe ‘Bankrupt Sea’? 

SAFETY 

Back to being serious, Bermuda is open water and the weather can turn quickly. Ms Down recommended that anyone new to boating here should take a local boat handling course. These are offered at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. 

The post Buying your first boat appeared first on RG Magazines.

Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Hamilton for the Lindo’s Grand Prix last summer – the first of its kind in six years – while many more have been regularly entertained at the Bermuda Karting Club National Championships at the Rubis Southside Raceway.

For karting legend Scott “Skitchy” Barnes, it’s brought back memories of the glory days when the four local motorsports – karting, motocross, bikes and powerboat racing – formed a backbone of family culture.

“Bermudians love racing. That’s what we grew up on. They are always popular sports for the spectators,” Mr Barnes said.

Founded in 1976, Bermuda Karting Club is two years away from its 50th anniversary. More than 50 drivers raced the last season and Mr Barnes pointed to strong junior classes indicating rising levels of interest.

“Any time you can have a club in Bermuda that can last 50 years is a big thing for a small country. It’s only gotten stronger and better as the years go by,” Mr Barnes said.

“In the heyday in the late 1990s, we had 100 drivers, but karts were a lot cheaper back then. To be almost as strong now, when everything is twice as expensive, says that it’s a sport people are passionate about and care about.

“I love the fact it’s a family sport. You have a lot of fathers and sons get into the sport, even daughters – I think that’s the coolest thing about Bermuda karting. It’s only one person driving, but you need a pit crew, you need people to help you, so it’s a sport that can bring the whole family together.”

Some of today’s racers have worked their way through the ranks after joining the Karting Club’s junior cadets aged 7 or 8.

“It’s funny watching some of our 23-year-old drivers now,” Mr Barnes said. “Just in the last 20 years it’s been cool to watch these kids grow and evolve and come up through the classes.

“There are some father and son duos: their dad used to race, their grandfathers used to race, now the kids are grown up and racing themselves.”

The Karting Club has been in a rebuilding phase since being temporarily shut down by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the spectator base has grown back to about 100 on Clearwater race days.

As president last year, Mr Barnes prioritised a Grand Prix to take the excitement to Hamilton, with a new circuit around Court Street, Dundonald Street and Princess Street.

More than 5,000 people turned out to watch the action.

“It felt great to have another Grand Prix,” Mr Barnes said.

“It was exciting to take it to a different part of Bermuda and it’s always a crowd pleaser. The street races bring out the best in the drivers and they bring out the spectators. You are literally ten feet from the cars zipping past at 80mph. There’s nothing quite like a street race in Bermuda.

“I’ve been racing for 20-plus years, I do the biggest street race in America every Labour Day weekend. That race in the US doesn’t pull the spectators like we do here in Bermuda.”

Six riders from North America came to Bermuda for the Grand Prix.

Mr Barnes said: “They all said it’s our spectators that make our event so awesome and so different. To pull that many spectators is pretty cool.”

Mr Barnes stepped down as president as he prepares to get married, but hopes another Grand Prix is in the offing.

“We were looking forward to building off last year’s success,” he said.

“I really hope next year’s committee pushes for a Grand Prix. They’re good for the club, they showcase the sport, spectators and Bermudians love them. I really hope we can make it an annual event.”

In the meantime, speed fans should head east to Clearwater.

“You’ve got action-packed racing, you can get up close and personal with the drivers in the pits for only $5,” Mr Barnes said.

“Grab lunch and come and watch a few hours of exciting racing. You’ve got the beautiful beach right across the street, so you can make a day of it with the family.

“It’s a cheap day, it’s a few hours of excitement and it’s a family sport.”

Mr Barnes, has won a record 21 titles, including two national class titles at last year’s National Championships, and has made a name for himself in the United States where he has claimed a host of victories.

For anyone thinking about joining the sport, he explained where the passion comes from.

“I started racing when I was 11 and jumped in a kart for the first time,” he said.

“I loved it then. I loved the adrenaline and I loved the competition. I love going fast, I love being bumper to bumper with other karts.

“When I jump in a kart, I forget about the stress of life. Whatever stress is going on in your life, during that 15-minute race, the only thing you’re thinking about is driving that kart.

“It’s everything. It’s my passion.”

Anyone who wants to get involved in karting can contact the Karting Club through Facebook or Instagram. Junior rental karts are available for children to try out, before parents decide whether to invest their money.

“Come down to the track on race days and meet the people,” Mr Barnes said.

“Everyone is friendly down there. People are willing to bring new people into their camps and help them out when they first get started. It’s a very welcoming club.”

The post Karting: excitement for all the family appeared first on RG Magazines.

Dealers at Auto Solutions, Bermuda Motors and Eurocar all say they would love more EV options to satisfy their environmentally conscious and economically wise customers who’ve been won over by American TV adverts for the latest green vehicles.

But while there are a handful of options, such as the Electric Mini Cooper and Kia Soul at Bermuda Motors and the Neta V at World Distributors, as well as several hybrid offerings, we’re still waiting for the revolution to really take off.

One reason, according to dealers, is that EVs available for the island’s market are a fraction too big for our roads under legislation dating back to 1951.

Another is that car manufacturers have bracketed Bermuda with the Caribbean region, where demand for electric vehicles has been slower to pick up.

“We would say that about one in four clients that walk into the showroom ask us right off the bat what electric vehicles we have to offer,” said Glen Smith, managing director at Auto Solutions.

“We feel we are behind the eight-ball when we say, unfortunately, we don’t have anything to offer.”

The Bermuda Automobile Dealers Association is continuing to lobby the Ministry of Transport to tweak the Motor Car Act and allow vehicles to be an extra two inches long and two inches wide.

The Government has repeatedly stated it is considering the move and has recently completed a public engagement as part of plans to phase out internal combustion engines under the EVolve campaign.

Mr Smith said: “The last negotiation with the Government was in January 2024. With the extra two inches, Auto Solutions could possibly have five models.”

Auto Solutions represents seven brands, none of which have electric vehicles within the current size restrictions. The company got approval from Hyundai to import the electric Kona, only for the 2024 edition to grow by 0.85 inches.

Operations manager Harry Andrews said: “Getting approval from Hyundai is part of the battle. We are optimistic that there will be some leniency in size for EVs.

“We are not naive and we understand why we have size restrictions, with the car parks and narrow roads.

“But the underlying situation is there’s a demand, hence our sensitivity to not having a particular product that the customer is asking for.

“We had 80 Kona models pre-sold last year. The demand would have increased since then. Unfortunately, Hyundai made the decision to retool and increase the width by 0.85 inches.”

Despite the challenges, the number of electric vehicles in Bermuda has doubled from 607 to 1,230 in the past two years, with 627 private electric cars currently licensed with TCD, up from 437 this time last year. There are also 67 electric buses, 258 electric rental mini-cars, 87 electric trucks, 91 electric motorcycles and 72 electric auxiliary bikes.

Mr Smith remains hopeful that better news is around the corner.

“Transport minister Wayne Furbert has been very approachable on the subject and quite communicative,” he said.

“We have got the infrastructure in place: a workshop for EVs with temperature controls and four or five chargers on the property. We have sent our services manager on a training course for the new Kona. So when we get the EVs in we have already done most of the background work.

“We feel so close to it.”

It’s a similar story at Eurocar.

General manager Stephen Davidge said: “There are people coming in saying I want electric cars, what have you got?”

The answer is currently zero, but Mr Davidge said the dealer is considering three potential options should the circumstances change.

Hybrid options are a popular second choice, and the Honda Hybrid at Auto Solutions has been pre-sold for five months.

Mr Andrews said customers who are keenest on electric vehicles are also advised of the options at Bermuda Motors.

Sebastien Cornet, general sales manager at Bermuda Motors, said the Mini Cooper and Kia Soul have proved a hit, while they are hoping to add the Mini Aceman later this year.

However, efforts to bring in more well-known brands have been thwarted because Bermuda is deemed part of the Caribbean region.

“People seem to be more comfortable to invest their money when they know it’s a premium brand,” Mr Cornet said.

“There’s definitely an interest in the Mini and we have been quite successful with the BMW when we had it.”

Mr Smith shares the frustration.

“The region we are lumped in with is Latin America and the Caribbean. If they don’t have interest in these vehicles then we don’t get them,” he said.

“I wish we were tied to Europe by the hip because then we would have them. But if larger markets like Trinidad are not interested, then they won’t release it to Bermuda.”

One company to successfully get a foot in the door is World Distributors, the bike dealers, which brought the Neta V from China last year.

“There is a high level of interest for EV in Bermuda,” said Eugene Bothello, president of World Distributors.

“With our island being the size that it is, EV are a perfect choice. The feedback has been very positive and many of our new customers have been referred to us by clients that have been driving the Neta V for some time.”
Mr Bothello said World Distributors intends to have new models available later this year.

Mr Smith agrees on the level of interest.

“There’s been so much talking worldwide about electric vehicles,” he said.

“Most of our TV is based on US and Canada. You see adverts of EV cars. These clients do their research on the internet and we find they know more about the car than we do.

“They check out what the rest of the world has and they are prepared and knowledgeable.”

The post Electric revolution ready for take off appeared first on RG Magazines.

If the battery was flat, I was clueless. If odd dashboard lights went on, I ignored them. If my tyre was flat, I panicked, and while I was once taught how to check my oil, I never actually did.

Enter William Madeiros, managing director of Bermuda Motors, and Nicholas Fletcher, the most patient car mechanic in Bermuda. When I asked for some basic car maintenance tips for an article I was writing, they replied by telling me to don my proverbial overalls. Mr Fletcher was going to make me do them myself!

Here is what I learnt, and if I can do it, anyone can:

Tyre Change 101: My biggest fear about changing a tyre was that I wouldn’t be strong enough to loosen the lug nuts. I was!

To begin, put the handbrake on and the car in park. With a manual or stick-shift, put it into first gear and “choke off” the front wheels: put something, like a large piece of wood, in front of them to stop the car moving forward. Make sure the car is on flat ground.

Loosen the nuts using the lug nut wrench – my car-related vocabulary has also improved – while the wheel is on the ground. Turn left to loosen. If doing this by hand, arrange the wrench so you are pulling back, not pushing down, and do it on one knee for better control. If that doesn’t work, rearrange the wrench, balance yourself against the car and use your foot to push down.

Then, raise the car. Use the scissor jack until the wheel is about an inch off the ground. Remove the nuts and ease the wheel off.

When replacing the wheel, sit down with your legs open. Not elegant, but it works! Tyres are heavy and legs are strong. Use your legs to balance the tyre and your knees to align the holes.

Put the nuts back on by hand before using the wrench to tighten. When tightening, do it in a “star”. Start at the top, do the bottom next, then the one next to the first one and so on. This keeps the tyre straight. Lower the car slowly.

Tyre pressure: This can be checked at any gas station. On the driver’s side, when the door is open, you can usually find the psi or bar your tyres should be. Check that number, then get the tyre pressure gauge.

Take the cap off the tyre, push in the plug, and check the reading. If too low, press the lever to let in more air. Press in the plug to release air.

Oil: This, along with the filter, should be changed at least every 6,000km. Some car brands recommend more often. When checking if you have enough oil, keep a rag handy to clean the dipstick. If the oil is light brown and clear, it’s in good condition.

Charging a Flat Battery: Invest in jump leads and know your positive from negative. Often, there will be a + and –. Positive is usually a different colour and protected.

Fix the positive jump lead to the positive side of the battery, and the negative to the negative of both cars. Make sure to untangle them first and never let the metal clips touch once one end is hooked up. Sparks will fly!

Turn on the working car and wait before turning on the flat one. A hybrid vehicle cannot charge a non-hybrid one.

Any finally: Often, hidden behind the glove compartment, is the cabin filter. When it fills up with dust and debris, the car will not cool. You can shake out the debris, but it will also need changing when too dirty.

Oh, and if you notice anything unusual happening on your dashboard. Don’t ignore it. Go to the garage!

The post How to change a tyre, and other skills appeared first on RG Magazines.

With 100 motorcycles, eight vintage cars, horse and carriages, pedal bikes, boats and train memorabilia, tools, helmets, engines and even a visible restoration shop, the Dockyard attraction truly had something for everyone.

Sadly, after falling on hard times during the Covid-19 pandemic, the museum closed and its stock is currently in storage.

RG Mags talked with Mr Martins about his passion for vintage vehicles and the possible next steps for his venture.

Can you talk us through why you decided to open the Bermuda Transport Museum?

There isn’t anywhere on the island that preserves and displays a collection as large as mine. My collection covers railway, horse carriages, boats, bikes and cars.

My hope with the museum was preserving and passing on the knowledge and history that comes with all of it. At my last count I had over 250 bikes and 26 cars.

Besides the guys that remember, and a few of the younger guys, nobody knows what Bermuda used to be like. Getting our bikes at 16 was a big deal. Everyone (even the girls) could change a spark plug and learn how to fix the smaller problems. Slowly over the years we are losing the hands-on experience getting a bike used to give to our kids.

How did you become interested in vintage vehicles in the first place?

From a young age, I was interested in the way engines worked. When I was 13, I did some work for a co- worker of my dad and as payment he offered me his old 50cc 1972 Mobylette. I used to throw ropes over the branches of a tree and learned how to pull it apart and put it together again.

When I turned 16, that was the bike I licensed and put on the road for myself. I put a lot of miles on that bike over the years. That Mobylette is still in my collection today.

How did you go about acquiring your collection of bikes and cars?

My collection started with a scrambler Mobylette when I was 9. Once I was 16 I was able to keep adding to the collection.

Some are models that I like and others are ones that belonged to people I admired over the years. I have several bikes that I watched the owners customise over the years and when they were selling them I jumped at the chance to preserve the bikes just as they had them.

Some fell into my lap by chance and some I had to chase for years before I could add them to my collection. This was the case for some of the rarer ones such as my 1951 Bown as only 36 were imported into Bermuda.

Do you have any favourite models?

I don’t have one particular favourite. They are all very unique in their own way. But one thing I can say is you cannot mistake the sound of a vintage car or motorcycle coming down the road. That is unique.

How was the Museum received?

We had a lot of locals and tourists that loved it and were excited to see some of their bikes still around and in running order. We had quite a few repeat visitors. Sons brought their fathers and sometimes they would spend over an hour in the museum telling stories and talking about what they had or friends had.

We had a lot of guys who loved anything with a motor and fathers brought in their sons. It was nice to see whole families come in and spend time sharing the history and stories with the younger generations.

That is what the museum is about.

How would you describe your experience running the Museum?

I didn’t get to spend as much time at the museum as I would have liked, running my garage and horse farm. My wife, oldest daughter, and son used to run it most of the time.

I loved meeting people and sharing the stories that came with the items on display. Most of them had just as many stories to share with us, too.

We have had tourists that used to come in on the boats every year and they would bring us licence plates from where they are from.

Once a tourist came in and saw my son struggling to figure out the problem on a bike. The guy actually worked on similar bikes and started helping him. When he left, he said he would try to find a manual for us. The following year the gentleman came back with a book for the exact bike they had tried to fix the year before!

Do many Bermudians have an interest in vintage vehicles?

Most Bermudians who grew up with them, or who remember their parents talking about them or owning them, love vintage vehicles.

For many the museum was a walk-through memory lane of their younger years and the older people would share not just memories they made with the vehicles, but the history of what it was like back many years ago.

Why did it close? What happened to all your wonderful vintage items?

Unfortunately, we ended up having to close because of Covid-19. The foot traffic coming through the doors wasn’t the same. It got better each year as Covid subsided, but unfortunately the museum just could not sustain itself during those times.

Since closing in January, everything has gone back into storage until we are able to find another location. Having a central location for the museum would be advantageous but, in the meantime, they rent their vehicles for photo/video shoots or events, so think about them the next time you want an interactive, unique experience!

Reach out to the good folks from the Bermuda Transport Museum on [email protected].

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