The Hummer, a clumsy, elongated vehicle the Army intended as a replacement for the hardy Jeep, developed so many problems it became known as the Bummer.

From a dead stand, with regulator full open and the lever at about 50 per cent we got up to about 60 m.p.h. by the top of the bank. The big compound was making plenty of noise - but what musical and wonderful noise!

Ye bust yer chops engineering intelligent monkeys an ye hae a guid craik wi them.

So she for those first few moments stood incomprehensive and stared with empty eyes.