F1 presenter Martin Brundle

I find this story amusing so here it is. Martin apologised for using the work "pikey" just before the race on Sunday. http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5haw4u07i5dLYo5Yoj2lUVloiU4TA
His comments to Burnie on live TV regarding the broken track being repaired by "Pikeys". For the majority of you that live in the USA and think the world is the USA The word pikey is one that we use in the UK and refers to Irish travellers (who dwell in caravans/trailers) who are usually found laying tar mac either on roads or tout about for private work laying peoples drives. Fairly or unfairly regarding the private drive laying they can be known as cowboys (rouges, un professional) and quickly run once they have arguably been paid through menaces.
So the word is very common here in the UK and even the Irish travellers use the word to describe themselvs.