This week we feature the technical director of Peterborough-based Clarke and Tholomew, Nigel Clarke, who drives a Honda CRV.

Q. As the price of petrol soars do you feel the time has come for car manufacturers to get serious about developing electric powered cars?

A. Electric cars do have a place in our society especially in and around city centres. I was lucky enough to be involved in the first ever ones to be used in the UK, in Coventry, when I worked for Peugeot. They had the first city centre electric car scheme and they had battery chargers at strategic points in the city centre. The only downside to the electric car is they are mostly silent so if you were to fall out of the pub late at night there's a chance you could run over by one!


Q. The Trinidad vs England game, which we won handsomely, could be expunged from the record books because of a dispute over the number of subs used by Fabio Capello. Is this fair on the players or should we use it as a platform to get other past disappointing England performances 'forgotten' as well?

A. Football governing bodies like to change the rules whenever they feel like it, substitutions is always the one they like to "tinker" with especially the international friendlies. As far as England are concerned, if they had 50 substitutes in their previous qualifying games I still do not think it would make any difference to our lacklustre performance.


Q. With the credit crunch biting hard many Peterborough firms may be tempted to ditch their marketing work but would this be a wise move?

A. No it wouldn't. Especially at a time like this – marketing is vital to any business no matter what the current situation is. It's the businesses that keep their marketing campaigns going that shine through in the end, already proven by our clients. With the correct "sight and sound" advertising campaign you maintain a positive effect therefore keeping your product in the minds of the consumer.


Q. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has sent back some wonderful pictures of the red planet but no signs of life. Do we need this expensive type of space flight to prove what we already know?

A. If we already know there is no one or "thing" out there why do we persist in spending millions, even billions of pounds taking pictures and hoping to find some "gremlin" out there. Spend some money closer to home on some worthwhile cause.


If you would like to feature in Company Car Man then call business editor Paul Grinnell, on 01733 588724, or e-mail paul.grinnell@peterboroughtoday.co.uk