Back to Work - Back Home Safely

The day dawned bright and warm … Er well somewhere it did but not in Solihull where I awoke to a misty cold day. Rain was predicted too for the evening.

Back at the show I checked over the car. The tyre was still up and hard … ish and the paintwork still looked clean and bright. A few finger prints but nothing to worry about.

I started looking around the show and I found a few things to interest me - but actually not a lot. Have I reached 'peak car' ? However I did like this Maserati Bora.

I would prefer it in blue though. I have enough red cars !

I did a few stints on the stand and the Alpine got a lot of attention - the team also pointed out a few things not right with it which was actually very helpful. Here I am at work.

One strange event was the man who came to find 'Martin' with the red S1 who had given him a lift once. He told me I'd given him and a couple of other people a lift back from the theatre with my wife Jan - 'Jana' I corrected. It was only when I asked where and it turned out to be Sutton Coldfield that the penny dropped it was not me. Odd. 

Finally as the hours passed slowly I started to fall for the 1950's Sunbeam Alpine opposite me.

But then the claxon went, horns were blown and the show was over. I stayed to help pack up - while there was an embargo on cars moving - but soon we were allowed to go. As predicted the rain started just as I was leaving, but I was out just before 5:30.

However the exit was chaotic - extremely busy as all the cars fled home - and confusing as it was not well signposted. Slow going too with the traffic, darkness and did I mention the rain ?

Luckily the car was running well in the cool air - and I was snug and warm with most of the rain going over me. The drizzle kept up for about half an hour until I was on the A14, but from then on it stayed pretty dry for the rest of the run. The car was going well (if a bit wobbly at times) and I able to keep a constant 50-60 mph depending on road surface and how much I could see. I passed Kettering services and everything felt good so I thought I'd go all the way - depending on the petrol gauge.

About an hour later, as I neared the Newmarket services, the gauge was hinting I'd not make it home without topping up and more importantly I needed the loo.

I put a quick 20 litres in the car and about the same came out of me !

Back on the road I picked up a truck running at about 55 so I followed it all the way to Ipswich. I was home just before 8:45 tired but happy.

I suspect those LED tail lights did their work too - you could probably see them lighting up the drive from Space ! 

So yesterday I'd thought to myself, I’m going to drive a 65 year old car 150 miles home - in the dark and in the rain. Rear tyre going flat - front wheel wobble and no roof - but it will be fine. The car will cope better than the driver as usual. We’ll see. You can't create content staying at home reading the Daily Telegraph.

As hoped then the car did very well and in the driver ? Well he just went along for the ride.