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.

Their Worst Customer

The MK7 was still there in the morning.

Off by about 8:15 and the traffic was light heading out of London as predicted. We were lucky though as there was a lorry on the other side of the road jammed under a low railway bridge just past Catford.

When collecting the car I had a chat to Matt who joked I was 'one of their worst customers' as I never buy a new car. Mind you he said no one gets rid of the V12 Vantage. I mentioned the size of the new ones and he said the new Vantage was only 3 inches wider. He also thought the Aston Martin T has was a bit wild and the power delivery could be frightening - that was fixed from that model onwards though.

Running back in the Aston it felt nice - I let a McLaren past and followed it for a wile. That looked nice too but I'll stick and not twist. Packing it away I though that's a great car.

Then Roberto phoned and we arranged to get the Ferrari in. 'Next' I thought.

More afoot than Anything

Early (6:45 am) start. Walked to tube past this old Rover - that's avoiding the ULEZ I thought.

Tube fine but when we got to Waterloo we found we could not get on the early train. Oh well. I also decided to get the Ferrari into Grimaldi as it looks too difficult for me to get at the sensors.

The show was a bit smaller that the last few times - although we still managed to walked about 8 miles during the day. A few very nice boats there - we went on the £5m Hallberg Rassy - but not sure it's for us ! 

I wanted to look at the Bentley stand but they were too Big, too Bling and a bit too Brassy for me. Good news was that Grange called and said the Aston is in very very good condition - oh and it was done.

Finally back on the train and then the Tube again - somehow we missed the stop on the way back and had to go back - DHO !

Down and In

Late afternoon I dropped the Aston off at Grange - looked good outside.

However it also looked a lot smaller than the modern ones. More delicate - if that can be said about a 6 litre V12 dreadnaught with over 500 Bhp on tap.

The new cars in the showroom were attractive, but again looked a lot wider and at £200k+ possible not nice enough to swap. There was a nice Flame Orange V8S in the showroom though. Only £65 too ...

The balance of the Run through London to Brixton fine if frustrating - with lots of lane swaps and 20 mph most of the way.

Re-Cleaning

The first cold morning for a long time - autumn arriving I suspect. So MK2 out and about into town first thing. It's been there before - probably that exact spot too.

Not looking too bad but it got a clean when we got back.

It then looked much better - I was running out of time so left it on the drive to dry rather than take it for a run around the block because ... me and Mr. SAAB had a Harkstead/Ipswich/Harkstead run planned.

As I got there the rain arrived. Ah - and the MK2 was still out. Oh well - So here we are at the Nuffiled in the rain. 

Been here before too. So back home again I looked at the Golf.

At least the water was beading on the bonnet. So I clean it off again and went to sit down. Ah - taking my money out the prescription dropped on the desk - Dho ! So off I went to Manningtree this time. I curbed a wheel parking too which was annoying. I though the final insult was more heavy rain - too wild to bother getting out of the car.

At least there was a rainbow in the distance. However of course by then it was 5 pm and the traffic was gridlocked by the rail bridge. Ho Hum.

Re-Shooting

AM it was DIY again and no time to play. Although I did try to make a foot rest for the Talbot.

I suspect it will just roll away but it's a start.

Then PM jobs and trips. First SAAB to Harkstead for bits and bobs. Then Aston to the shops - no planets were saved this time though.

Then what next ? Well re-do the shots from yesterday where I forgot to take the first filter off. So out came the Alpine and Talbot. The latter was cold and hard to start with a few loud noises as it took off. Not a good sound.

So a re-play of yesterday while I tried to get it right.

Then I reversed the positions.

I had to move the Alpine back as the sun was making it hard to keep the light balance. Perhaps not as dramatic as the size differential was not so pronounced but fine.

Finally I tried the Ferrari in the garage. The rev counter started to work - and then died and the car dropped onto half power again. So that's probably the sign it needs changing.

The good news though was that those missing sunglasses were in there all a long.

The Talbot Sunbeam Team

AM was a DIY dash as I'd forgotten to 'fix' the hot water and heating. That done what next ? A MK7 jaunt to the Harkstead car boot. Then a 30/98 video in fact and some more playing. 

Whilst that was going on the Talbot was warming and after lunch we went for a run. 

Started fine - e.g. has not got worse. As I backed it out I thought I need to look at the Ferrari soon. The run around the block sounded a bit different - until I opened the window - ah of course.

When I got back I thought I'd try to shoot the Rootes (distant) cousins together on the drive so out came the Sunbeam. Oddly the best composition was shot on the phone while I moved the Alpine to put the Talbot away.

Then we took the Alpine to check on the boat. Yes it was still there - so we started the engine and checked it over. 

Looking at the weather we should have been sailing. However here is the Alpine looking good.

It drove nicely too and only stuttered a bit on the way back running slowly and hot.

Back to Now

Morning with the GT's and the MK7 for the car seat fixings.

Harkstead visit and then a Staley Home to drop them off ...

Finally I did get the Aston out to look for my sunglasses - yes I've lost another pair - Dho !

Odd vs the last few days.

20's and 30's

Morning was looking through photos of the visit to Martin T's and then clearing more muck from the garage roof. I had a more efficient way of working so cleared twice as much in the same time.

As ever the 'worker' who is more effective is also more tired as they have shifted more much in the same time.

However - that was just waiting for he treat. John and his Vauxhall 30/98. Oh that looked good on the drive when he arrived after lunch. Dappled sunshine and warm breezes.

This is just the iPhone ...

We went to Mistley to look at a monument and then to Woolverstone Marina for tea on the riverbank. In the warm sun and the light breeze it was great. Quite an 'assertive' driver if I say so myself. Not afraid of squeezing past modern traffic nor taking corners on the wrong side of the road. Back via ours for a top up with petrol and he was off - a bit of a splutter on the way down the road and then off off.

So what about me. Well ECR got treated to the Imp. The totally wrong car though for them.

Man it was going nicely on the run back in the cool dark evening. The lights are fine (when you remember they do have dip and main) and the side lights even have little indications of where they are to help place the car on the road..

Of course I'd forgotten you can't actually see what gear you are in - but then I managed.

Paint it Black

So today we had a meet-up up-country planned to see the secret Millionaire's pad. Well not that secret but still no location will be revealed until we've met up.

First though I had to get up early and clean the Aston - the most appropriate car I thought. By 8:00 I was out and working. The Aston looking fine.

Then off to Glevering for tea first as it was on the way, only to hit closed roads and having to do a three point turn in a lane. Here we are though.

After tea off to the main event. When we met at the pub we'd all (well mostly) brought dark grey or black cars.

As to the farm complex - it was actually quite shocking/stunning/awe-inspiring and for once I was quite green. Not quite as green as the Aston that went to Kersey Mill last year. Of the two star cars I liked the Silver 1972 Aston Martin Vantage best. 

This looked much better in the flesh too. 

Finally after pushing a race car around and on to one of the four post lifts I departed and I found myself 'lost' in the back woods of Suffolk. Road after road was closed but the sat nav took me around and around the roadworks as the evening sun lit up the sky with a soft red glow. I got home eventually and put the Aston away thinking I've not really got it too bad myself.

After the Fun ?

A day on admin and processing the pictures from yesterday. Some decent ones - like this.

I do need to use a CDL next time (Circular Polarizing Filter) to stop reflections etc.

I did check in on the Aston though as I'll probably take it tomorrow. A bit dusty but I'll give it a once over early tomorrow morning before I set off.

Limp Mode

So Ferrari video day arrived. Looked great on the drive too waiting for the off.

We headed for the wilds of the East Coast [with a few pops and bangs up the ski slope which cleared quickly] but we forgot to turn off and hit roadworks - twice - as we had to queue to come back again. Dho !

Eventually we found a long stretch of road past Sutton Hoo to do a few video shots on. Then we went to the Ramsholt Arms on the Deben for still and detail shots.

Finally heading home via Ramsholt Church - the Saxon one with the round tower.

It was very slow going most of the way and the car was getting hot for once. As we approached Woodbridge we hit another queue of traffic and I felt the revs drop off. From about 10 to 5 thousand. We parked up and had lunch but it was the same when we left but then cleared and then dropped again. In fact there was no rev counter ...

We limped home but got back ok - no misfire so I put it down to a failed distributor cap as the 308 has two. 

Then it was a emergency job at Harkstead with a dead heating control that lead to three runs there are back to bypass the it and install a switch.

Mind you the builders from next door beat me to it.

While I was there I spoke to Roberto - he thought it was a failed 'pick-up' on the distributer - the one that ran the rev counter and it had overheated... So an easy fix ...

60's and 70's again

The 70's first as I wet dusted the Ferrari - it was quite clean anyway but needs to look its best for filming tomorrow.

Then as to the 1960's - as a reward I took the E-type around the block. 

It's not been out much but felt better on the way back - yes it needs more use too.

Finally Alpine - yes I know I was resting it but it was soooo sunny.

What I had not taken into account was the 45 mile an hour winds combining with the steering to make it a bit hairy at times.