We Made It

So here we are 7:30 am and ready for the off. Weather dull but forecast is fine.

I pottered along at 55-60 mph with the Lorry’s and the car felt good. Even the wobble on the front wheel was fine unless I hit a pothole or lorry tram line. I got a toot from a chap in a smart blue NSU R80 (I think) who passed me near Stowmarket. 

All was well with the weather too with only a few spits of rain as I approached Newmarket Services - my first planned stop - but I just sailed past. The car was on song, we had lots of fuel and I felt fine - so I decided to press onto Kettering. My knees were a bit cold but the rest of me snug and warm. 

That’s when the journey started to get harder. Firstly hitting Cambridge around 8:45 am the traffic ground to a halt and it took a long while to crawl past the traffic in first and second. 

Then we sped up for a while and headed North on the new stretch of the A14 - back in the groove. Off at the right turning when the A1 split too. Then the rain started in earnest as the traffic stopped for a broken down lorry just past the junction. That was hard going for another 30 mins of stop start traffic.

A chap in a red Volvo P100 with a squeak shouted over to me “getting wet !”. He was off to the NEC too he told me. So eventually we passed the breakdown - but then the rain started in earnest. With the rain and the spray from the Lorry’s it was a bad time. I pulled my rain coat over my knees as a few drops were starting but oddly the car seemed to leak less that it had with the roof on. 

I stopped at Kettering for fuel and a slight rest. A young chap in a white van yelled over “I bet you’re wet !”.  In fact I was fine. The car even looked good after all that rain and muck - the power of wax.

Back on the road for the last leg and the rain eased off eventually. I sped up a bit but noticed that past 55 we had a bit of a shake - wheel probably. 

I chose the right exit from the M6 - having had to dash cross 4 lanes a bit abruptly - and then followed the torturous route round the new developments and into the North end of the NEC - just as the sun came out. There was even a Tiger on a trailer in front of me as I arrived which was a good sign. 

I was directed to the entrance for Hall 5 and eventually found the Alpines and Tigers after hearing Jeff shout at me. 

So we arrived in sunshine as predicted. Well that was after 4 hours on the road - 2 hours of rain, a broken down Lorry and two sets of roadworks on the A14.

But we were there - 150 miles almost exactly.

After a coffee and a rest I re-cleaned the car. I noticed the tonneau had rubbed on the top of the door but that was all. Oh but then I spotted a very flat tyre at the back too which I pumped up. 

I helped with the stand until about 2:30 and decided I better get going so left them to finish the stand. The tyre was still up which was a good sign. I handed over my keys and my now clean car and headed for the train. 

So we’ll see what I find on Saturday. 

Passing through Coventry Station on the way back I thought it was a very long time since I’d been at Warwick. 44 years in fact. Bloody hell. 

Train up from London just like old times - packed and delayed. 

Finally mk7 ride home.