Give the gift of Pod for Christmas – and get 20% off all 2011 event tickets

Santa Pod, the home of European drag racing has literally just saved Christmas for petrolheads everywhere, with their seasonally cheering ticket offers and superbly stocked online ‘Pod Shop.

The FIA-approved venue is offering enthusiasts the chance to buy any tickets for 2011 online, before the 31st January 2011, and benefit from an ‘Early Bird’ discount of a whopping 20%. Best of all, that’s off ANY show you care to visit, even the headline FIA/UEM Top Fuel and capacity-filled ‘lifestyle’ events like USC or Bug Jam qualify, as long as the tickets are purchased before the end of January. The only thing not covered are DWYB and RWYB days.

As the perfect Christmas gift for any motorsport or car enthusiast, day ticket prices for certain events start at under a tenner, so rather than giving socks, chocolates or some CD that will never be listened to, why not give them something that they’ll actually enjoy? With Santa Pod’s show content aimed squarely at a good old-fashioned family day out, why not get a few and take the whole clan out for the day? Better still, get a weekend ticket, (where appropriate) and avail yourselves of the free camping and facilities on site.

If you’re still stuck for the perfect gift, simply click to www.santapod.com and then the ‘Pod Shop’ tab to reveal a huge range of toys, books, DVDs, stickers, and even clothing. If that doesn’t inspire you, why not buy a gift voucher? – valid for all of the above – and let the lucky recipient decide for themselves? With stickers starting at just 50p and gift vouchers available in £10 denominations, there’s something to suit every budget and taste.

So take it from us, don’t settle for Granny’s socks this Christmas.. Drop decidedly unsubtle hints and get something that you actually want to open this year.

For more information, please visit the site or call the team on 01234 782828.

Samcosport Ford Focus RS Mk2 Turbo, Heater and Coolant Hose Kits

The Welsh silicone wizards at Samcosport have once again raised the bar for the aftermarket with the release of their comprehensive range of silicone hose upgrades for the much vaunted Ford Focus RS Mk2.

The three kits replace every single hose on the car, upgrading the vehicle’s ability to withstand higher temperatures and pressures, being a true ‘fit and forget’ upgrade thanks to SamcoSport’s unique lifetime warranty.

15 different colourways are available, ensuring detailing and showcar aficionados can mix or match to their heart’s content. Purists can opt for the ‘OEM+’ Classic black, or for the less shy, camouflage and custom flamed finishes can also be built to special order.

Thanks to their insistence on the highest grade French silicone and as the only hose manufacturer to still hand-finish every single hose, SamcoSport hoses have long since been the darling of all top-end Ford tuners and race teams. These latest designs continue that tradition and can be accentuated further with the use of Samcosport’s bespoke stainless steel hose clip kits for a stunning finish.

The coolant kit costs £155.89, the heater kit £53.74 and the turbo kit weighs in at £163.24. Custom hose clip kits start at £12.96. All prices exclude VAT.

For more information please visit www.samcosport.com or call the team on 01443 238464.

Eibach UK appoints Greg Kirby as UK General Manager

Eibach UK, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Eibach GmbH, has promoted Greg Kirby to the position of General Manager. Kirby, who was appointed as Technical Manager in 2008, has been a key player in the firm’s burgeoning OEM, military and motorsport portfolio.

A devoted family man and true ‘petrolhead’, Kirby’s CV also includes key project management, technical and business development roles for blue chip names like Trelleborg, Bilstein and Euro Car Parts. Having worked in the automotive sector exclusively since gaining his Mechanical Engineering degree in 1998, he will assume full responsibility for the GM role from the 1st of November.

He will replace outgoing General Manager, Julian Gill who has been involved with the brand since 1988, entering the management team in 1993. Gill has now been promoted to the role of Director, Global Sales for Eibach Industries GmbH.

Greg Kirby. GM, Eibach UK. ‘I am delighted and honoured to take the ‘pilot’s seat’ for our UK operations. We have a superb team already in place at our Broughton Astley HQ and I know that we can build on the successes and firm foundations that Julian has put in place over the last two decades.  Despite a tough year of difficult trading conditions, we have managed to continue growth throughout 2010 – and I’m sure that with a more cohesive global structure under Julian’s control, we can make the next few years even better still.’

Julian Gill. Director, Global Sales Eibach Industries GmbH. ‘As one of the few, genuine family owned Global players in the automotive sector, Eibach has always sought to nurture talent from within and maintain our strict ethos of quality and excellence. The Eibach board has immense faith in Greg’s ability to take the UK operation forward, increasing our market share and offering an even greater level of service and support to our retail, OEM and competition clients. His unique background, that balances the heavily technical with consumer and retail experience, is the ideal skill-set for this role.’

For more information, please visit www.eibach.co.uk or call the team on 01455 285851.