Just Traveling

Not much activity really.

SAAB out PM to get plumbing parts and quick trip to Harkstead was about it.

So just one more from Zoute.

A nice blue Bristol engined AC.

Cleaning - but not Cars

I spent the day cleaning the house. Deep cleaning the sitting room etc. so it looks presentable for the video Lucy and Oli are hosting on Saturday. Surprising how dirty everything was.

In the evening I was able to look through the pics from Zoute.

Some will be ok with processing but lots are quite 'flat' - as was the event for me.

Here is a nice Aston modern one though.

Perhaps I've just seen too many cars already to be excited by much. F40 - saw two this week already.

Spoilt Git.

ION: 'The Donald' seems to have pulled it off. The rest of the Israeli hostages have been released and the shooting has stopped. 'Well I never' said the world.

More de-tours ?

I had a better look at the nice BMW 4 series in the morning as we left - only to spot the grill.

Oh dear. That was ugly - unlike many cars it was actually much better from the rear.

Then more round the houses in the modens, this time because there was a marathon going through the town we were planning to have brunch in - only to find that the Belgians don't do Brunch it appears.

Lunch over we went our separate ways. We had a good run back to the train past Bruges where I recognised the gates - all on fairly empty roads. We then flexi-plus'ed our way past the queues - this time without incident.

The run back up M20/25 and A12 was good too and we were back home  by 7:30 - including getting petrol. So five hours was a good time. We could have probably shaved 30 mins off that if we had timed the train better. 500 miles all on one tank over the weekend - quite civilised all in all.

Finally SAAB to get a take away. Back to normal.

How to avoid Parking Charges - and Would I go again ?

Off early in the BMW again as I worried about parking - but someone had plan ...

The interesting trick was Jeremy and his electric car. I was still concerned about finding a parking place but he just found a charge point - reduced the charging rate on the battery and we stayed there 'free' all day - slowly charging.

Here we are smugly parked up in the town - lets ignore the fact that it does not fit in the bay.

So what of the actual Zoute Grand Prix ? We arrived early and already it was very busy. Confusing and Chaotic and Mostly Modern as far as we could see. Cars revving and burning up the street. Obviously a very rich town. Lots to look at though. Like this beauty.

As to the Zoute Grand Prix (again). The first part we found was along the beach promenade where the modern car companies were trying to pair their new (mostly electric) models with classics. Oddly the first one we came across was this Mazda Cosmo.

'If I want to see one of those I'll go to Shotley' I said.

Having wandered past a few we went to watch the start of one of the exclusive tours. Mostly modern cars at the front again - ok modern like a Bugatti Veyron and an Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato - so special, but that was not what I'd come to see so I decided to go to the Concours instead.

The Concours was mixed. A few pre-war cars - but mostly classics and more modern supercars. Much smaller than Hampton Court but just as expensive. The BMW art cars were nice but not many of those were on show either. I liked this one though.

So I busied myself trying effects in-camera on the models. This was good I thought.

I finished the concours (and the whole event) a bit flat to be honest. Researching later I found out that the 70 special vintage and modern cars were hidden away in the 'exclusive' e.g. €400 - hospitality area. Shit.

We wandered back to the car via the crowds, modern supercars and shops. Arriving back at the car it just ticked up to 100% charged. We drove back to the house to find Matthew and Eva had arrived in a very nice BMW 4 series convertible they had rented.

So would I go again ? It would be much better to be part of a tour - but probably - on balance ... no.

How to get to the front of the queue

So Zoute bound but first ... 

Beep beep beep - I was awoken early by a series of three beeps - it sounded like a car alarm but after 20 mins checking it turned out to be Tom's house alarm opposite.

Checked the Aston and the battery charger is not on green after a day so that's going to be an issue. Finished packing the MK7 quickly though.

So we were off about 9:15 and had a good run - 2 hours ish - only to find out our purple (e.g. privileged) lanes were closed.

Nice Aston in the normal queue though.

A Vantage S. S for Shame. A shame I did not have the courage to bring mine I thought - and then remembered the battery.

After customs though we went wizzing past the queue feeling privileged at last. Then there was suddenly a slight problem - just as we're were boarding. A lost wallet - so we're pulled out of the line - and spoke to the chap directing traffic. Told to park and wait.

How exciting waiting on the slip road ! Luckily about 15 mins later they have found it and we're put onto the next train. At the very front of course.

Another reasonably easy two hour run the other side across France and Belgium. We arrived early so we went through Knokke to look at where everything was. It was full of modern super cars - from Lamborghini through Ferrari and Aston with a Bugatti (Chiron I think) thrown in to the mix.

We found the air B&B easily but locked up behind their electric gates. They came quickly though as they lived next door.

Finally an evening run in the big German Laptop to the (very expensive but very good) restaurant.

How Many Left ?

I was reading a small news article about a company selling 'fractional' ownership of an Aston Martin V12 Vantage and it said it was rarer than the F40 I saw yesterday ? Really ?

Well, around 1,315 Ferrari F40s were built and only 1,199  of the Aston. Er well of the first-generation Aston Martin V12 Vantage - like mine. Then there were the second generation (mostly automatic) and special editions making another 2092 between them so well over 3000 in fact. 

Later it got me thinking that the Imp was quite rare - possibly around 120. But then the Talbot Ulster Coupe is 3. The E-type S1 by comparison was 33,205 but that is 3.8 and 4.2's combined and 12,000 SI Alpines.

Anyway - our cars in use were the MK2 Golf (6.3 million made worldwide) off to Harkstead for jobs.

Then home and back in the SAAB (under half a million) as I'd forgotten something.

However that freed up the garage and encouraged me to get the Ferrari out (about 13,000 made of all 308 variants). 

It went well once warmed up - so glad I did.

Mr E gets some love - at Last

Started first thing (well late morning) checking the E-type in prep for a bit of filming. Oh dear.

It was very low on oil - it needed almost three and a half pints. When did I check it last ? Plugs were very sooty black too.

I cleaned them with the wire brush and then used brake cleaner - that worked very well. I did need a bit water too but not a huge amount. Finally the tyres needed air too. The rears were both low and the offside front was 10 psi short !

I've really neglected to this year. Looks like March was the last time I checked everything over and cleaned the plugs. I've done less than 500 miles in it this year and no long runs - so no excuses.

After that I got the car out and gave it a good clean - including getting the berries off the underside. It started to rain so I had to put it back into the garage. I then cleaned out the stones and berries. Here is just one part.

That finished Oliver arrived so we did a few miles filming. I gave his Dad a ride in the E-type - I forget people don't ride around in stunning classic cars every day. It did 'stutter' a couple of time slightly - so in need of a tune up.

After a bit we stopped to do the shots from the car ... here is the pratt in the driving seat.

That's a Go-Pro on my head. Here are a couple of early shots.

Finally after all that playing the Aston was chosen for the run to get supper. Moody car shot.

Ah - now that had its own stutter on starting - second time - so probably time to get the battery changed as it's been 6 years. I put it on charge when we got home just to top it up a bit - fingers crossed it will last until I take it down for tyres ...

I counted them out and I ...

So fan heater on the Ferrari by 8:30 and the car on the drive by 9:30 ready for the collection.

It started - just - and spluttered a few times while I was driving it. Finally it died as I drove it up the car ramp - but it was on - and then off.

Got a thumbs up from a young chap as he passed too.

So back to working on the Imp. The plugs were ok - a little brown but fine. There was some oil in the holes on the back two but not much.

Next I looked at the water - fine - and then the oil. It needed about a pint - half the dip stick.

Then I went to the allotment and struggled with another machine - the knackered lawn mower.

In the afternoon I went back to look at the Talbot - the consensus being to add a second fuel pump. Looking at the carb it seemed to have two holes in it - odd.

They were deep too - about an inch - but I don't know if they are 'helping' the fuel evaporate. I also used the handle to primed the pump and it gives up before getting much fuel into the bowl, so I suspect that's a weak link in the chain too.
 

Just as I was walking back from the garage Grimaldi phoned. It was a loose/broken wire that had caused the distributor to fail on that side - not a crank sensor. So glad I did not try to change it. We wizzed off to collect the car there and then.

They were working on a F40 when I got there - Roberto really rated it. A bit more plumbing than mine.

Anyway the run back was fine once I'd got off the slow roads and traffic congestion and the bike and the horse box !

So I counted them all out and I counted them all back - to paraphrase what Brian Hanrahan said in 1982 - all those years ago.

How many Spare Coils ?

Mid morning I decided to look at the coils I have in the garage. I found er ... only four spares ones.

Anyway now I know how to measure them properly I went through and found they were all about 4 ohms on the primary circuit. Fine for spares.

I then did the Talbot spare (again 4 ohms and 8 on the secondary) which makes 5 spares - that is fine again as a get you home one. Finally the one on the car was 2 and 7 ohms which is fine too. However I then dropped the tiny nut under the car - so I had to go off to get a strong light to find it.

I then started the car - it was the same as before and this time I'd not heated it through. It started in the end so I still think it's fuel related but with my almost mythical incorrect diagnosis skills it's bound to be something else.

After lunch off we went for fuel - I did the run backwards and then stopped for a pic. 

Was it making a different noise ? A sort of booooooming ? Anyway it seemed to go just as well. Slow to accelerate but fine on the run. I managed to get over 57 litres of petrol in it too which means it's only been doing 15 mpg - with the short runs and maneuvering on the drive that's still ok. No oil was needed though.

Then as it was still unseasonably warm and sunny I took the Imp out too. Those bloody berries are still everywhere.

So that's really much more bumpy and I suspect it needs its plugs cleaning as I felt it was a little hesitant at times. A job for tomorrow though. 

It's Fuel

I started by unloading the SAAB having already boarded out the chest of draws.

During this I was also warming up the Talbot and I decided to look at the plugs while it warmed.

The leads were nicely numbered but oddly the no 6 lead was labeled 1 so I moved the label on to the first plug lead. I discovered they are 10 mm plugs (the smaller ones) and having taken the first one out it was a nice light brown colour. Not oily in any way.

The rest were fine too although the gaps looked very big - in fact it was about .039 but should be .035 so within tolerances. Next I decided to check the coil resistance.

The primary OHM reading was fine but I'm not sure I did the secondary correctly as it was zero - as oddly was the spare coil.

Even after 2 hours on the heater the car was hard to start. I still think it's lack of fuel as when I pumped the pedal it caught. Anyway off we went to save the planet.

A good run around the block too afterwards.

Then a PM run to Harkstead for tea followed by a SAAB run back for jobs.

Top Heavy ?

The sun was out - so was the E-type - down to the last ECR meet-up of the year.

It looked good in the sunlight - but its a bit dusty. 

Then PM SAAB backwards and forwards (twice) to collect a large chest or draws from Oli. In fact so big it would not go in either car - so the second run was for the roof rack.

So as you can see the SAAB is still earning its keep. A couple of stutters and a CEL flash or two though just to keep me guessing.

Close but no Cigar

Started by dropping off the chair bits for welding in the SAAB. Wet and wild morning.

So the day consisted of two trips there and back and then two to Harkstead and back. The welding was first class but it was all for nothing - as the bar bent ever so slightly. 

After trying several things it just seemed to get harder to use too.

Oh well.

Off My Rocker

A dull bitty day on admin and stuff.

However I did get a message from the ex-work collogue that took photos of the Imp engine a few weeks ago. He'd spotted one of the rocker box covers was not on properly !

So that was my 'Travail du Jour'. Cheers Colin. Mind you I've been around the block twice and to Shotley and back since then. Nothing seems to have come out though.

Talking of Shotley, here is a Posh Pratt arriving for the September evening meet in an inappropriate car.

Obviously not my pic but I liked it anyway.

Swedish Run Around - and a Night time Adventure

So .... SAAB out to look for a stainless steel supplier to see if they can extend the seat after some research.

I seemed to strike it lucky first time as I found a supplier in Ipswich. What I also discovered was that the bar I wanted to extend was a metric size and not the same as our Imperial sized 'Metric' by a few points of a mm. However they thought they could weld the two together and make a long one.

So back to home and Harkstead to get the other bars. Then swift run back to their unit and ...

they were closed. Bugger. So I went shopping and then came back - still closed. SAAB going well all the way - if you except a couple of CEL flashes.

Evening was RGEA so I decided to risk the cold and take the Alpine. 

Good choice - great drive there - if a little wobbly on the steering. Several Tigers (two roofless) and an XJS and Austin Healy Sprite turned up too.

I was wrapped up so almost tooooo hot driving home [slowly] as oddly the steering felt even worse. However it was one of those drives when being in a classic car in the dark is ... wonderful.

Lots of 'Nout

So off Am to take the MK7 to Audley End - never been there I thought ... but as we approach it I thought Dho ! we've been here before. 

Indeed here we are with the Kent Alpines on 28th April 2019 - ah those carefree pre-Covid days.

We decided that an A3 and a MK7 Golf would not get the same privileges so we used the main car park this time.

The only car of interest today was this 1966 Vauxhall Victor.

Run back ok if a little dull.

Finally as it was the end of the month we did our usual review only to find ...

The Aston won - well 120 miles for the service works wonders. That was followed by the Alpine - which I'm not supposed to be using - and the 308 which I can't ! 

Lots of Various

Down to Parkers to drop the MK7 off first thing. Me in the SAAB of course.

Then Aston out for petrol in case we take it tomorrow.

Oddly it thinks its only 3.8 miles back from the petrol station - whereas most of the cars think it is 4 miles. Anyway, back home the garage reported the Golf had failed ! Two tyres and a shock absorber.

So I took Mr. E around the block in the sunshine.

Wizz it went - well squeak mostly from the water pipes. Then as it was still good I thought I'd do another of the twin shots. Which turned into a threesome - Coventry's Finest again. Or four (or five) if you count me !

Oh well it amused me.

Then I packed the E-type and Imp away but left the Alpine out for a late run. In fact it turned out to be quite late. The garage phoned about 4:00 to say the Golf was done but as Jana was busy I went in the Alpine on my own to get it. From there I came home in the said Golf via Harkstead for a quick job. Oh and to look at the new tyres.

So home again and immediately back down to collect the car via the boat to drop stuff off before picking up the Alpine.

But as the sun had dipped by then I had a chilly drive home. Fun though.

No Smoking

I started the Talbot again late morning - after 60 mins on the fan heater - and it was fine. No smoke either.

Then PM Harkstead run in the MK7.

Finally I dithered about taking the Talbot out for its run as the skies were dark and it was getting late.

Glad I did though - well worth it. Yes the lights were on too.

Smokin' X2

Started the Talbot (after 2h heating) in the morning and it started quickly. Although smoked a bit.

Well I added the smoke - but it did puff out a bit.

After lunch  we took it to Stutton.

After a walk gave the GT's a ride and their friend from opposite joined in. Not sure what the neighbours think of me driving around but some seemed to like it.

Then home again I tried some more shots on the drive.

Starting the Imp that smoked too - mind you it was getting cold and it's not had much use recently.

After the shots I took it around the block - a very good run - it really liked the colder air and flew up the Stutton hill.