Gridlock

Off to London in Mk7. Hit the A12/M25 junction and the roundabout was gridlocked with everybody blocking everyone else.

We sat for an hour.

We knew everything was lost when a Nun wandered past the cars. (Actually she was in the one in front of us).

I spoke to a chap who had been stuck there for 3 hours last week. We diverted off when we could and went the long way.

Looking at the map they were there a long time too.

Another 30 seconds of fame

Spotted this in Classic and Sports Cat this evening. Publicity for the Alpine meeting.

Earlier a ride to the shops in the Aston between showers. Still feels so powerful.

Took this picture to contrast the simple sleek shape of the Vantage in the background vs the 'thing' in the foreground with its complex bulges and blobs.

Dash Back

​Early off the boat.

On the packed car deck the SAAB picked up another scratch on the voyage.

Then M25 etc. back home - quick jump into the Mk7 and off to Alpine meeting in the rain.

SAAB deserves a proper wash and brush up now.

Just like home

​Midday run to dump - then port later - as weather broke and rained all morning.

Packed Ferry with those classic cars back on that we came with.

Aero running to shops again

​Jobs and working car - nothing of note on the French roads.

Alpine in France

​150 miles run to the coast and back.

Not a lot of interesting cars along the way but we did see a 1980's Renault Alpine - not grown on me yet though.

Hidden classic

Run to ​walled town. Good driving roads for classics.

Spotted an old DAF hiding in a garage.

Passed a parade of old French cars in the afternoon - Citroen, Panhard and other odd makes.

Tyre time

Off looking for bike shop - past some more Fiat 500's - replaced both bike tyres.

Noise from Aero - rattle - exhaust ?

Two wheels good

Off the Ferry - past those classics - then home.

Popped into Dina and came across this nice Peugeot motorbike.

Bikes loaded (after fixing the bike carrier) and off for an late afternoon run.

Passed a bright red 'square Fiat 500'.

Oh and flat tyre on bike on the run.

Packed and ready

Aero packed with both bikes etc.

35 degrees on the run down.

Lots of interesting cars at the port including this one. An old Sprite with a body kit or Lenham hardtop ??

After research I found it was a GT6 ish.

Mr E goes back to school

Helped out at Hadleigh School for a 400 Alliance event showing children cars and mechanics.

Split opinion on the E-type vs the fast Fords, VW's, BMWs and Japanese cars.

Teachers probably liked it best though.

Pottering and Packing

Aero packed with bikes. No much else.

Small Show in the Sun

Almost 50% of the cars were mine at the small car show. I could have brought more too.



Nice to chat to a few enthusiasts for a while.

Temperatures up in the 80s.

Ferrari to the shops

New number plate for the trailer board.

Then Mk7 to Norwich - spotted this in the car park.

Can you see it shimmering ?

No me neither but it was hot after a spirited run in the Aston early evening.

Earlier Aero jobbing again - DIY and run to the dump.

After first thing when I got stuck behind the road sweeper - at least it was getting the surplus gravel off the road. Not sure how the bus got past though.



Night time Tigers

First thing cleaned the Caterham - looking good for the show.

E-type next with the detailing fluid - again for the show.

Then Aero jobs, DIY shopping and loaded with wood etc.

Evening off to the Tiger meeting - 2 turned up (some are in the USA already). Alpine held it's own.

Although the engine is a bit smaller under the bonnet.

Talking of which a chap spotted by bonnet is a bit dented in the middle - hence it won't shut that well.

Warm Knocking ?

Checked the water in the Caterham - by taking the nose cone and bonnet off. and it did need quite a bit - that's a service problem.

Then took it into town - the odd knock still there.

So I thought I'd look at the Caterham to see if I could spot is anything was loose making the slight knocking noise.

Ran it onto the ramps - just...

Did not spot anything and the A frame was sound. Cable tied the handbrake cable in case it was that - and secured everything in the boot. Doubted it was.

Plugs out too and see fine. I've not had to clean them all year.

Ferrari round the block before I put away - spoiling myself.

Then test drove the Caterham - still a noise but it seemed to move from the centre to the off side during the run ?

Then Late Caterham blast in the sun for petrol.

Cleaning tomorrow for the show.

Tinkered to no effect

Washed the Golf Mk2 first thing before the sun got on it. Looked good once I'd finished.

Aero run for wood - but unsuccessful. Then stuck due to an overturned car on the bridge - just on it's own - that put 45 mins on the journey.

Checked the Alpine distributor later and it's solid - so I don't think there has been any movement. Last resort is a rolling road.

Then ran Golf around the block to finally dry it off - and saw another car upside down in a field just off the road.

Spent afternoon creating E-type Photoshoot book as the sun went away.

Aero and Visit

Aero to the dump - classic Monday DIY.

Then visit from chap asking me to take my cars to a village event - he stopped for ten mins to take a look - E-type and Alpine his favourites.

Said he'd had an early Alpine - oh and partied with Ken Sykora many years ago.

An indication to go older

Non-descript morning. Afternoon punctuated by a visit from Nigel and his Daimler.

Heavy car on the ramps - you could hear them groaning.

Workshop full today.

Caterham behind the Audi.

Then exposed the damage.

That was the exhaust box with a few holes. Oli welded up - like a professional - and we're good to go.

Ride to cement the join. Enjoyed the semi-fore indicators.

Than rearranging the cars meant the Caterham round the block followed by the Golf Mk 2.

Now that needs a clean.



Is boat quicker than car ?

Gold Mk7 to Shotley to take the Ferry across to Felixstowe (via Harwich) for a photo of Landgard Fort entrance for the Sunbeam National.

Took 20 mins and cost £22.

Then so sunny I decided to take the E-type out again back to the marina for jobs.

Forgot the key so needed the toolkit I the boot to finish the jib.

 

 

Finally stopped to buy veg on the way home and bumped into a blue Audi - obvs with Oli driving it. Might have found a new photo location too. By their barns.

 

 

But coming back to the central question - Yes to Harwich and No to Felixstowe. 

 

 



Dodged the shower

E-type to shops for a run in the sun.

Dark clouds loomed on the way and it started raining as I got back to the car. Windscreen spotted.



Was philosophical as I thought it needed a wash, but no - the rain passed with only the smallest of showers.

Mind you the real shower came back with a minority government.

More Aero jobbing

Two Aero runs - first collecting tools for Oliver, second picking James up from the station so he could come back and vote.

He was in Suffolk for less than 2 hours and left again for the train.

PS As I wrote it looked like a slim Tory majority - and more uncertainty.

Spotted by the ECR

Two Aero runs - to basically the same place.

Spotted my car on the Facebook group of the East Coast Retros. Nice to be appreciated.

Then took the Golf out to the boat for jobs. Started fine. But needs a clean to get rid of all of the dust/pollen etc.

Wet run

Popped out in the storm. Back-roads quite flooded.

Aero plodded on stoically.

SAAB owners club

Met up to look at the Alpine event site again - joined by a club member looking after the archive.

He drives a SAAB too. Oh and he sold me an Alpine bumper a couple of years ago.

That was the highlight of the day really !

Ten of the Best

Very early start to get to the show. Sun woke me up so I left by 7:15 am.

As evidenced by this shot I was a bit early.

Glad to say the rest of the club turned up - nine more in fact - so we out numbered the Ferrari contingent.

Now had I swapped sides ...

I left so early I had missed the terror attack in London - another vehicle.

Shows they can damage as well as enthral.

Oh well car went well though.

Some shine achieved

Three hours polishing and cleaning the Alpine for Sunday.

Got the cutting compound out eventually and managed to get a bit of a shine.

Ferrari off to shops and chatted to man in the car park about it - he has Fords.

Then Caterham to boat to get a small packet of biscuits. It would have obviously been more efficient to buy some more - but the run was good - confused people at the marina though.

The excuse was to go to mum's.

Sun turns to Thunder

Left at 6:00 am on route home. Still and sunny.

 

Arrived back before the rain.

Home and the gutters overflowed - checked garage and it was OK. Heavy Summer rain that's all.

Oh and America pulled out of the climate accord. There goes the planet ? I suspect not - but it might help push us into the last phase.

Must take the Aston out tomorrow - before it's banned.

G2R then Rassy to Essex

Golf Mk7 down to the boat - then off to Brightlingsea for the night.

Really nice evening too.