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.

Pouring Again

Well we started pouring in the fuel additive I forgot when I filled up the Ferrari yesterday.

How many cars have that nice rubber flap to protect the car ?

The rest of the day was punctuated with people and pissing rain - so no classic action at all.

Trips Trips Trips

First SAAB for petrol as it was on fumes.

No flashing lights nor wobbles.

Then MK2 out and about to help the Stutton offshoot go to the dump and clear up the garage - again.

Then even though the skies were black I risked a Ferrari run too. It needed petrol anyway for Tuesday.

As I went around the block the car felt better again but the skies were getting worse. I got back about 10 minutes before the thunder and lightening started and a storm swept past.

As you can see - at least it was washing the dust off cars.

Between the Showers

I managed to get the Talbot out - after I heated it up for two hours it started relatively easily.

The run around the block was good - the heat from the engine about right with the two windows wide open.

Another Nil Return

So wind and rain most of the day. Lots of admin to do though which eat into the time, but I did manage a couple of AI enhanced pics.

Other than that ... a book arrived.

Three volumes of very detailed descriptions of the Figoni Bugatti cars. It was so heavy it was hard to unpack from the box.

ION: The date is 11th September or 9/11 as most of the rest of the world know it as. I remember searching for webcams and watching on the internet as the towers were on fire - not realising how bad it was.

When you want rain

Having cancelled sailing due to the impending storms it was disappointing no rain actually fell. Well until late afternoon.

No car activity either though - just photography.

ION: Russian drones crossed the Polish boarder last night during an attack on Ukraine - probing - well it's got them thinking - like a light bulb has gone on at last. Which coincidentally is what I was taking pictures of.

Looking back 80 years of relative peace in European was er... unprecedented.

All out and Some about

Working on the garage door first thing. As the filler needed to dry I took the Imp for a proper drive around the block. 

It went fine [of course] although the whine seems to be at lower revs. I drove through the 'wobble' fine too. Lots of smiles and two 'thumbs-up' as well. It must have looked good in the sun though.

Then as I needed to paint the door I moved the Aston out - and the MK2 as well.

But which will get a run ? It turned out to be the MK2 - to Harkstead for tea and jobs.

No - that did not fit first time either

Worked on the Garage again to paint the final side.

PM it was time to pick up the MK2. It sounded almost as noisy - but then I had all the windows open. Once I can home and closed the windows it was fine.

A bit of a mess under there but it will merge in with use. Turned out that the one they got did not fit either so they had to add a joining piece. Odd.

Later I decided the Ferrari needed a run. 

Yes it really does - it's popping again but settled down after a bit. 

Winning Team

So 6:45 and getting the Alpine out in my dressing gown as the paper boy (well a middle aged lady) delivered the newspaper.

Looking good in the morning sunshine. Good run up too and only a little 'wobble' from the steering. We got in early too so no queues.

Here we are at the start before the other cars arrived. Here is a very orange Hunter lurking in the background I'd not seen before.

Hot and windy all day but the sun stayed  out and the cars looked good. In fact the Hunter won the 'Pride of Ownership' and Chris won Best Club Stand too !

Here we are lurking in the background too. The run back was slower with lots of traffic but the car behaved itself (mostly) even though it was still very hot when w got back at 5 pm. All in all a good end to the season.

Beauty and the Beast ?

Spent the morning looking for more 'tat' around the village. I mean walking around the garage sale slots. We were followed by some doggy characters that just left their engine running at each stop. Odd.

PM we decided to visit the old ship in Ipswich docks. It was the Santa Maria. As I'd started the Talbot the other day we took that. Coped well with the busy Saturday Ipswich traffic too.

Not as old as the ship - well in fact older as the ship is a replica - and it looked the part. When we had seen the ship we got back to the car to find a monster Merc near us.

It was a "Mercedes Benz AMG CLE53ET ed prm mhv4m a" - apparently. Each to their own - and I'm sure it's a monster to drive. Oddly about the same price as the Talbot too.

Then back home I took the Alpine for petrol and pack it for tomorrow.

It's still a shock how good it looks when I take the cover off. A bit variable on the steering still (funny how not using it does not cure it) so that needs to be looked at. Fingers crossed for the sun to stay out tomorrow.

Blue (well Black) Diamond ?

Working first thing on the garage roof again - that's hard work - especially when it's still wet after all the rain we have had.

I've done over a third though.

PM I got the Talbot and Riley started. The Talbot in case its needed Sunday for Glemham and the Riley for a run. Of to Harkstead for a delivery and tasks.

Here it is framed in the window. Not the best of runs as the road was busy and bumpy - but a run never the less.

Then Aston to save the planet. 

Just locally as I was waiting for the garage to call. They did and it's not ready - so no Golf this weekend.

Nope - slightly too big

Dropped off a slightly scruffy MK2 Golf GTi at Parkers first thing before the rain swept in. It was sounding very gruff - mind you it did have a blown exhaust.

It really needs new rear shocks too - the next owner might do that.

Turned out the part we were given was just slightly too big. Shame but that's not really an issue. I should  find someone that wants it though.

Then PM SAAB running Harkstead resident around and home via the allotment for jobs. 

Will it be the One ?

Slow day due to rain and storms so more PC playing. Made a pleasing mock-up of the MK2 though.

Complete with old exhaust. I also made one of Chris' Tiger with an emergency RON.

Anyway - late PM I went up into the loft to find the exhaust section that came with the car.

We've only kept it 14 years - so hope it fits. Actually scanning the VW parts on line it should do. It came with all the fittings too. So fingers crossed.

Then Late PM RGEA meeting. Two hearty members brought their car (Rich and John) but not me.

Most of the rain had cleared so I took the ... SAAB. I was very happy with that decision too as the heavens opened as I drove out f the village. Oddly at least one CEL flashed at me too. On the way there abd back the car felt light at the front - I must re-check the tyre pressures.

Screen Substitutes for Driving ?

More Tech Playing. Today we did a few more models once we'd cracked the code. Here is the Aston.

Also an ex S421 collogue came round for an hour or so to take pics of the Riley and E-type engines. We've all done it !

Finally a MK7 passenger ride to allotment holders meeting in the evening as the rain came back.

A Screw Loose and a Blister Pack

It is Autumn now - so it should not have been surprised that the rain was forecast for most of the day. I managed a few garage guttering jobs before it drove me inside and at least I think I fixed the leaking guttering over the wooden garage and extended the rear of the new carport one.

I did pop out and change a screw on the Imp dashboard though. I spotted a wood screw yesterday so changed it to a rounded top one. Not a 100% match but better.

So what to do PM ? I had a go at using ChatGPT to create a toy car of the MK2 Golf.

It worked quite well in fact.

ION: According to the BBC the Summer 2025 has been confirmed as UK's hottest on record and removes 1976 from the top five.