Another Day Another 205 ?

Heath early today. So a misted up car that I cleaned off before leaving. 

Nice and sunny when I parked up though, but CEL on the way there and back.

So home again and the sun was still out and had mostly dried the roads too. So I warmed the E-type up for a run.

Getting cold as the slight mist on the exhaust shows. Good run around the restricted block though.

Home again and I spotted another 205 outside the house in the queue for the road works.

Finally I borrowed Nigel's van to collect the wheelchair for tomorrow.

It's a long time since I'd used it and in the dark I could not find the control for the winch. Oh and a storage bin fell off and the wheel chair did not fit and I'd forgotten the driving position gives me back ache. Finally I had to turn round as I'd forgotten the bloody power pack for the chair.

Dull Really Dull

More SAAB runs.

Wet and wild day but another SAAB run to the Heath - this time in the afternoon.

Back to Planet Saving

Started the jobs while I heated up the Alpine - it's not been out for a while and the sun was supposed to be out. So about 11:30 we were ready. to save the planet. It did start after a few goes, but then it's not been used for four weeks. I did notice some small rub marks on the body from the covers which was a surprise.

Anyway here we are saving the planet as a 2CV went past.

Then as the sun was still out we shot around the block - getting shat on as a flock of birds went past - so we stopped to clean it off.

Then PM a lift to the Heath in the MK7. Finally a quick Harkstead errant so I got the MK2 out for once.

Another car that's not had much use (once in three weeks) mind you none of them have.

More Routine Runs

Off to Flatford Mill first thing - only to find our own set of roadworks outside the drive.

Nice classic blue Peugeot 205 in the queue. Anyway here we both are at the expensive car park.

I wonder if Constable had to pay ?

Then running back and later up to the Heath for a late afternoon visit just as the car park was emptying at home.

Finally the long way round to pick up the MK7 after the service.

More SAAB Shuffles

PM back to the Heath again. 

Feeling quite Autumnal with spits of rain and a cold wind. A few stutters and CEL flashes in the mix too.

Then early evening drop the MK7 off for a service at the Stutton offshoot and SAAB as Taxi back.

Blue Meanie ?

I spy an Electric Car. A very blue electric car.

A Hyundai Kona in fact - it arrived last night with FER&C under cover of darkness.

Then my turn - so early SAAB run to Harkstead and then group visit to the Heath. 

Both cars of course - not sure that was allowed ?

PM it was a chance to show Raff a couple of cars.

He seemed to like them but was a but overawed.

Tame Rides in the Autumn Sun

All the wind and rain had gone so the bridge was back to the steady 60. 

So it was a steady SAAB we used for out visit to he Heath this morning.

Well steady ish ... there were a couple of stutters and a' CEL' flash or two. I ragged it a few times and it seemed to get back to normal. We'll see.

PM the sun was still out so I warmed the E-type and after more domestic jobs I got a dusty car out for a run around our speed limited block.

Leaves on the line ? Well on the drive now anyway.

Wild Ride

Off to the Heath again via Harkstead and storm Benjamin.

Down to 40 mph on the bridge but at least it's open.

Then MK7 ride back over it again to look at a Care Home …

A little Treat

So AM it's SAAB time and off to the Heath again.

Not to hard to find a slot either I was glad to see.

PM I decided to warm the Ferrari - I'd been wanting to get it out since reading the C&SC article this month in praise of the 308.

Amusing though as the car they featured was a late model 308 (see the extra driving lights) and they kept saying the original - e.g. ours - was better !

Anyway after jobs we went for a run. A few pops on start up but it soon settled down when I let it warm up. Nice wizz around the block but the new re-surfaced bit is now a 30 mph zone - which was disappointing.

Glad I did as the storm swept in by 10:00 pm. 

Commuter Time

So SAAB again now - Heath bound. Leaves on the drive and a chill in the air. I guess it's Autumn.

So 1. A morning in the flooded car park.

Then 2. PM using the main car park now as new signs said the one we usually use was now Staff Only ?

When did that happen - oh well.

That was worth £15

I finished packing in the morning darkness - odd really.

Luckily the rain just started as I finished.

The run to the port in the dark was odd too and busy as we were early as I'd booked express boarding so we were mixing with the rush hour traffic. We were so early we were #1 in the priority booking lane and first on board. We could not be closer to the exit unless we were mounted on the bow of the boat. Result !

However given the boat was almost empty it was a hollow victory.

It was not that bad really and at least we were first off - but just to piss on our parade we were behind the Santander Traffic - oh well. The Run back as it got dark was hard work but OK - the car felt hard to control with the weight and the wind and the rain and the shit British roads. 

I may have been a bit tired too.

Seven becomes five and doing a 'Barnard'

What was planned a s a DIY day took a swerve. I started out looking at the Frenchman's suspect plumbing as the rain hammered down. After an hour or so I had unearthed the mess.

Just like working on an old car - bodges and dirt. Oh and all my parts did not fit. I took a break for a rest and found that the Harkstead offshoot had been whisked off to hospital. So what to do ?

We changed our booking. So packing ensued that evening - after the rain but in the gloom.

At least I could do a 'Barnard' and leave the problem - mulling it over.

Less Driving Day

Well a quick run to the coast and back was the morning.

Then a pm jaunt to take a few pics of blue and yellow fields in the late afternoon.

Driving Day

Early ish ... start so yes that's a misty car covered in dew.

Out target was out West to Carnoet - where there were 200+ statues on a hill representing Saints and other religious figures that had featured in Brittany's early history. Good run but bloody expensive car park - although the 'event' was free. 

We did feel that after 150 of the things the interest waned though.

The run back was good too stopping at Guingamp where I spotted an advert using a period picture.

1970's I would say as there is a Citroen GS in it..

Then the motorways all the way home. The only problem is that I still find it a bit unnerving when the Mk7 Golf decides to brake for me as it comes up on traffic - oh and the steering s very direct.

About 150 miles which is a lot for us out here.

Peaking, Un-packing and er ..Re-packing

As we docked I went to look for the BMW 2002 which was a few cars ahead of us.

Nice period colour but in need of some parts. The run to house (via the Boulangerie) was fine if a bit busier than normal. After unpacking we popped into town for the Market but there was no parking places so we ended up going down to the sub level -2 to find a place.

Finally into the Supermarket which seemed to take the rest if the day.

I wonder why.

Packing

I was going to start packing but ... a quick Harkseatd dash first in the Mk7 for a dripping tap.

I did visit the garages though when I got back - just to see them and put the Talbot on charge. Then packing packing packing.

Just specks of rain in the air to make me feel at home. The run down was fine although the RHS junction is still not good. The only odd thing was it started to get dark as we started to load onto the boat. As we did I spotted a bright orange BMW Neue Klasse in the distance - like a ray of very Orange sunshine.

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 ...