Seeing Red

Took the E-Type out - seemed I'ts not getting much actions. Two crashes blocking all the traffic around Ipswich.

So I ended up with a 50+ mile run through the countryside.

Rattle still there.

Late evening Alpine run - had to re-adjust the idle as it was too low and stalling at junctions.The air filters were also loose.

Finally found the picture from May 2004 - 13 years ago. Three cars and all the junk squeezed into the brick garage. That's the Ginetta G4 under the sheet.

Sunday Jobs

Short Aero run and quick trio in Mk7. About it.

Saturday Dash again

Down to London in MK7 as passenger. Five and a half hours there and back.

Did see an old .. ish Audi in the traffic.

Could have been an Audi 100 or 80 Avant.

Still cars on the road

Aero to Cambridge and spotted many cars on the road with petrol and Diesel engines still.

Oh wait it's still 2017 - only 33 years to go before they are banned.

Let the revolt begin

Took the Aston out for an errand - because I still could !

I guess the news means I should get on and use the cars more.

Checked the Caterham torque settings on the wheels just in case one was a bit loose - it was not.

Took it round the block as the black clouds had receded - still slight knocking but goes sweetly.

DOOMSDAY - The countdown had begun

This morning the government announced that from 2040 no new Petrol or Diesel cars would be allowed to be sold in the UK.

They (Michael Gove) also said on the BBC Today radio program this morning that no Petrol or Diesel cars would be allowed on the road after 2050. This is not in the announcement though.

I wonder what will really happen.

When cars phased over from Leaded to Unleaded the existing car stock could be converted or adapted. The existing raw material, production facilities, distribution and supply chain could be used and the technology had been available for several years beforehand.

This plan lacks all of that.


From Autocar 18 May 2017:

The Conservative party has revealed plans to ban cars with combustion engines from Britain by 2050.

In its election manifesto, Prime Minister Theresa May's party said it would work to make almost all cars in the UK zero-emissions vehicles, but when contacted by Autocar, it added that this included making zero-emissions powertrains a requirement for cars to pass their MOTs.

This would effectively ban combustion engines from the road from 2050. It says allowances could be made for classic cars, but that cars purchased new would have to conform to the legislation.

James May on BBC Radio at lunchtime "It was too far ... so I had to come in the Porsche ... it was too wet for the Ferrari" on whether he could have driven to the studio in his electric car.

No personal car action though as weather iffyyy.

The trip took me no further

​
Took the Alpine to the rolling road at DLF Classic cars - I arrived at the motley collection of farm units in the rain so my mood was somber to start with.

After being greeted and the car set up on the rolling road (housed in a more modern unit clad in a Galvanised steel) it was tea time and I was left on my tod for the kit to 'warm up'.

I wandered around the farm units and peered at an equally motley collection of cars in various states of disrepair or restoration. A brace of Lotus (Elan and Esprit) and Alfa Duetos (one boat tail and one more modern) models. Plus a Mk1 Capri and oddments like a Morris Minor and the ubiquitous mystery sports car under a pile of rubbish.

That was supposed to be a Lotus Europa based special that never got finished.

Another 30 mins fettling and it was time to get on the rolling road. Until they spotted the leak from the petrol tank and they had to stop.

Finally I was given a quick tour of the workshops etc. then I left. To be fair the painting work looked good.

So, not really much progress and I drove home with that 'failed again' feeling.

Afternoon run in Aero did nothing to lighten the gloom.

Just Alpine Admin

Working on the Alpine National meeting and not much else. Rainy day anyway.

What's an Aperta ?

A Ferrari that costs over £1M but they are all sold out so you can't buy one.

It also has a mid-mounted 6.3-litre V12 engine and KERS system producing 950bhp, giving it a top speed of over 220mph and a 0-62mph time of under three seconds.

Not sold on it. SAAB more practical in this weekends thunderstorms anyway.

They all get wet

Aero to Milsoms in Essex this evening.

Parked up next to this Ferrari 430 in the car park.

I had to admit I liked it - the dark shade look good. Especially soaked through.

Earlier in the day it was in and around town in the Mk7 as passenger.

Also spotted another nice 308 post.

Route Test and Showing Off

First job was to wash the Italian one for the evening. It was very dusty.

Then took the SAAB around the Alpine Sunday run to check for roadworks etc. Only one section that might cause us problems - so I'll check again just before the event.

Stopped on the seafront to have lunch.

Then off to a packed ECR meeting at Shotley. Took the Ferrari as planned and it got some attention, but I left it alone and wandered around the cars. Talked to the owner of the yellow Capri who I knew who OK'ed the rolling Road the Alpine is booked into next week..

Trident and two Lancias a Delta and a Montecarlo amongst the rare cars there.

Rootes Team

Early jaunt in Mk7 to town dodging the rain.

Then took the Alpine to the Rootes meeting early evening.

Three Tigers and a nice old Humber on show, but I left before we could look at the cars.

Strapping back in

Put the extra straps on the Caterham cover as it's going to be another windy night.

Then Aero jobs - about all today.

Almost Defeated Me

The Caterham had definitely won and I was on my knees defeated by two small parts.

I swapped out the brake union and the new switch quite easily - took my time and it went fine. Bled the brakes - no bleed screw on the rear off side interestingly. Oh and I think I bent the cross member a fraction jacking the car up however all done.

It all made no difference at all.

So deflated I decided to let the professionals take it away.

While I was tidying up the tools I thought I'd just do some more electrical tests. So I tested the break switch and it was working - the resistance fell when the break was pushed. Then I tested the wires again - yes they switched on the break lights when power was applied.

Finally I tested that there was power to the original wires - there was not. So bypassing one wire and giving it power directly it fixed everything - well for now. New red wire showing the bodge.

Clonk still there - but that is tomorrow's problem.

Early evening run out in the Ferrari to top up my supply of car wire - chatted to a fan in the car park.

Aero to the Water

Just pottered down to the boat for a sale.

Black Beauty

Aero to country house - now I know the difference between Ixworth and Ickworth.

Nice Aston four door Rapide in the car park.

 Looked big but in a stately way.

Sounded like a gun shot

The parts arrived for the Caterham brakes, but I decided to leave it until I had more time.

Pottered to the shops in the Aston and found I could not park it very well. Oh well.

On the way back the car next to me at the A14/A137 junction (Wherstead) suddenly erupted. The air bags had exploded shattering the windscreen - I thought. What I missed was that they had run into the back of a car and impact had shattered the glass and triggered the airbags.

I got out and made sure they were ok but before I could talk to them both drivers were on their phones.

I was holding up the traffic and there was nowhere to park safely - so I left them to it.

Screwed that up then

New brake switch arrived and after a few other jobs I got my courage up and  fitted it. Seemed to screw in ok but did it not work.

Then looking at a forum and following links I read about the copper washed you should use, so I salvaged it from the original one where it was hidden under the grime.

That did not work either, but as it screwed in, it felt as it it was not seating correctly and even when screwed home it was leaking a bit.

So it looks like I damaged the thread on the union when trying the first replacement switch, which had also been a bit damaged on the thread.

I ordered up another switch (3/4 UNF thread) and the three way union. Will need to bleed the brakes at all four corners once fitted but let's hope that works - when it arrives and I have time to play.

Only good thing is that I'm getting quicker at getting the bonnet off and back on.

Quick Alpine Jaunt

Literally round the block to use up some fuel to stop it smelling so badly.

Nice run although it was stuttering at slow speed too much.

Also spotted the Alpine event in Classic and Sports Car again.

Spot the Pidgin

Well Seagulls to be more accurate.

Aero to see if the parts supplier had a different brake light pressure switch - it did not and the part numbers seemed to point back to the one they gave me.

I came out to find these two on the car.

Then to the VW garage to check them out. Seemed fine and knew about the problem. Need to book it in when they are less busy.

Alpine Organisation Day

Aero pressed into service as tow-car. Collected all the Alpine kit for the show.

Coped admirably as usual.

Spent the rest of the day under the car port working.

Oh and garage smelt of petrol so badly I vented it all day - Alpine problem as well.

Sorting things out

Checked the tyres on the trailer and made a cover for it - badly. All in preparation for picking up the Alpine bits tomorrow.

Aero run to the bottle bank after the thunderstorm and finished the write up the blog about the Caterham event.

Black clouds loomed so that was that.

Until ... the sun came out again. So I got the Alpine out - hard-ish to start even though it was warm - basically the fuel drain-back problem. Also 'stuttered' almost immediately - but then it was quite warm. Rained a little but not much.

Looked good in the car park though.

Hitting the road early

We'd decided to get going early and by 8:00 am we were having breakfast in the hotel and were ready to hit the road about 8:30.

As we were taking off the hood and packing the car we talked to another couple who were doing the same. He was a bit miffed that he had bought tickets for the racing in advance at a discounted rate of £16 each, only to find that at 2:00 pm they opened the gates for everyone to get in for free. I guess our £15 for two people was fine then. Oh and as they were vegetarians they were unimpressed by the solitary burger van the club had provided in its area.

Oliver was feeling better so he drove the first leg - 125 miles in one go in fact. The traffic was light and the morning cool but the car soon warmed us up. It was a good balance for the first hour and then started to get very warm again. The car went well and as we could keep up a steady 65 it kept a bit cooler as well.

We stopped for petrol and more water in Cambridge as the heat was starting to attack us again. Coming out of the air conditioned supermarket it was like being abroad - as a wall of heat hit you.

I took over the driving and it felt more natural than it had done two days before. I guess I'd got used to the car on the motorway. The car seemed to be running well to.

We were home just before 12:00 - another 190 miles under our belts and only three and a half hours on the road including a stop.

Would we go to another Caterham event like this ? On balance it was enjoyable, but lacked enough to keep the non-racer, or those who did not go on the blats, entertained for three days. There were few opportunities to spend money on bits and the organisation was patchy. If the car had been happy and we'd gone on the runs and met more people we had known, then it would have been a better event for us.

Did it justify the cost ? Including the tickets, the petrol, the bits I bought like the bag and hood, changing the hotel at the last minute and the tickets to the racing, plus the food Oliver bought, it was just over £850 for the two of us. Discounting the cost of the equipment that I will use again it was about £250 each.

That is the price of a train ticket to London and a VIP hospitality package at a high end classic car event. Perhaps not a direct comparison but it puts the cost into perspective.

I finished off the day unpacking the Caterham boot and taking it off to top up with petrol hoping the clocking would have stopped. It had not. Overall then we did just over 26 miles per gallon on the run. Not bad really.

I took the Mk2 for a run and shuffled the cars around in the late afternoon sun ready for the Alpine work on Tuesday.

Then I put them all to bed.

The Main Event

After a slow start and a cooked breakfast we set off for the secure parking again.

This time we were in the right place and were directed around the paddock by men in white high-vis jackets that we could not really see against the cars and people milling about. Eventually though we lined up with lots of cars, mainly Caterhams, but with a few Lotus models in the mix. All the cars were different colours and specifications as expected, in fact all day we did not see a car identical to ours - even though Green and Yellow is a common combination.

We checked the oil and it was low so we topped it up with the 2 pints I had, expecting to be able to buy more at the show. On the way we passed a French car with a badly damaged front end and I wondered if this was the crashed car I had heard about on Thursday, the driver would have been fine so I hoped so.

Next we wondered down to the slalom track the cars were starting to use, but it was a bit dull and we were too far away to see much We had a look at the cars parking up and decided to go into the main show area and look at the vendor stands.

There were only about 6 stands and one car dealer. The stands were mainly selling racing parts for modern cars although there was Softbits for Sevens where I had bought my hood and bag. There was no parts or spares suppliers, not even a stall selling washing equipment or polish. Certainly nowhere to buy a brake pressure switch, oil, nor any other parts to maintain an old cross-flow. A bit disappointed we mooched around the 'heritage' cars - where there was a nice group of old Lotus Seven models - including one with a Lotus Holbay engine.

We drifted to the tarmac lake where another speed event was taking place but again it was hard to get any feeling for the cars speed as everything was too far away as before.

We looked for the parts stall the club had spoken about and found one small table top with a few sad looking bits on it. Other than that they were selling club T-shirts etc. and had set up a game to see who could change a wheel the quickest - which looked both dull and hot work. We gave it all a miss.

It was getting on for 12:00 by then and we had exhausted the entertainment at the show, so we decided to go into the main circuit, get some food and watch some racing, taking advantage of the discounted ticket offer (£7.50 each) so £15 lighter we were exploring the pits and looking for the food.

The food was as you would expect - basic. I even shocked the staff by asking for my panini to be heated up. We grabbed two seats at a table with a couple of chaps in marshals uniforms. They did not really want to engage in conversation initially, although they warmed up later. It turned out that one was a full marshal and the other on an induction day. The marshal was an ex-minor who now sprayed cars for a living and the other was a keen racing fan who helped out one of the race teams in his spare time. They seemed to warm to Oli when they found out he worked in manufacturing and listened attentively to him talking about food safety and his hobbies.

We left to see some racing and sat in the stands for a Caterham race - the action was always somewhere else though. The highlight was a Lancaster bomber that flew overhead. We moved on and found some benches to sit at with a good view of the track. The noise of the cars changed noticeably when the top rank went out (the R400s) and there was some close racing - it was getting hotter. The racing kept us entertained but we were really just waiting for the parade lap preparation at 5:30 though.

About 5:00 we wondered back to the cars pausing to watch the start of the last full race at the first corner. A good choice because as the pack all funneled into the corner a Caterham clipped the back of another and after it's front wheel reached head height and bounced down, they both skidded off the track into the gravel in front of us.

Neither driver was hurt and it turned out that they were both from the sale team/sponsor. Their cars were towed out of the deep gravel and off the track, both were lightly damaged and started easily but they drove despondently back to the pits.

At just before 5:30 we joined the cars assembling informally in rows just outside the Tarmac Lake where we had been instructed that we needed to be. We had been told that if we were late that we would be unable to join in. The spontaneous organisation of the neat rows stumped the team who were going to organise us, as about 100 cars had lined up in the opposite direction to their plan, so they changed the entrance to match our formation and by about 6:00 they had started to line the cars up in groups of 30.

We were in the second group and got in position quickly. It took until about 7:30 for all the cars to be organised and people were getting hot and bothered. Our instructions were to go onto the track in the groups of 30, to drive 2/3 cars abreast (not to be in single file) and re-assemble in our group at the start finish line for the big photo. Above all we needed to keep the speed to 40 mph max.

During the wait more club photos were taken and we were instructed to be 'either "in" or "out" of the cars' which confused the native English speakers - so the continentals had no chance of understanding what was meant. A few angry repeats until we realised 'in the car' or 'out of shot' was what he wanted. 'Hot and bothered' was past and 'getting board' was approaching fast. At the back of the pack a Frenchman unfurled a French flag and was unceremoniously boo'ed.

Eventually we started to move off and immediately the plan broke down. The gate could only take one car at a time as could the entrance to the track. The leader of our group shot off when he got onto the track (doing more that 40 mph we were sure) leaving the cars behind trying to catch up and following him at whatever speed they liked. At this point we were still trying to get through the first gate. We were the last of the cars to get onto the track so we drove alone and tried to catch up. We probably hit 60 mph at one point, but it's a twisty track so we just pottered along. When we got to the finishing line the cars were all jumbled up and it took the organisers a long time to get them back into neat rows. Cars stretched out in front and behind us.

In the end we were all assembled and more photographs were taken - although we were not allowed out of the cars. After a frustratingly long time we got off the track and parked up back in the paddock again. It was just after 8:00 and we heard that the last cars did not make it off the track until about 8:30 almost three hours since they had started out.

Next we looked for food - there were no obvious signs but asking people revealed that they thought it was a short walk down the hill past the campsite. It was, and we were soon sitting down with our hog roast and a pint of shandy each. The food was generally quite good - although the potatoes were so hard they were inedible - and the portions generous.

The tables were arranged in rows with benches, like a French country meal, so everyone sat with everyone else. We tried to engage a German couple that sat next to us but although she spoke good English, he did not - so they ignored us.

We ate up and decided to head to home early again as we were both tired from being in the sun all day.

And they're off

The day started by looking for a break pressure switch - which surprisingly I found in Ipswich at my first attempt. 'It will be here by 11:15' he said. Woopie !

While I waited I gathered up the paperwork, the instructions and checked the route. It looked longer than I had imagined which was worrying. Manchester airport is quite a run - virtually Liverpool if I remember rightly. Manchester airport - I thought it was called East Midlands Airport ? It dawned on me I had booked the wrong hotel three months ago. Only 80 miles North of where we needed to be.

Panic rushed through me - but I managed to book the right hotel (let's not think of the extra cost) and cancel the wrong one within 5 minutes - adrenaline is a great accelerator.

I went to get the switch early just in case it had arrived. It had. I got home and had it fitted within 5 minutes. It did not work.

So we left about 1:00 pm in the sunshine - with me a bit worried, very deflated and Oliver still sick. It was already about 25 degrees (mid 70's) and felt warmer in the car.

The first 30 minutes were horrible and I could only feel the bumps in the tarmac and the car moving unpredictably in and out of the the lorry tracks on the A14.

By the end of an hour though I was relaxing and driving fine, but it was getting very hot.

We stopped after 80 miles to fill up with petrol and buy cold water (we could have made tea with the water we had with us which was super-hated by now). I chatted to a chap who parked next to us in a 5 litre Mustang fastback and was looking at the Caterham. He was on his way to a track day/night at Bedford having left Kent that morning to go via Surrey to pick up a 'quiet' exhaust, and then via to Colchester to have it fitted. It did not sound quiet as he roared off. A long run but then he did have air conditioning a radio, a satnav and a roof.

Our next leg was up to Bedford avoiding the A14 roadworks and hopefully giving us a more consistent run to the M1. I drove again as Oliver was visibly still suffering.

I missed the M1 (again) at the roundabout and we had to go via the outskirts of Milton Keynes which was actually OK, but put a few more minutes on the journey. Eventually we joined an almost stationary M1 a junction later and shuffled up it for another 30 miles until we had to stop as we were both so hot. The car was fine when running about 50-60 mph, but as soon as we slowed to walking pace the engine warmed up and the heat flooded into the foot wells.

The final leg was better that expected although it was only pottering at 50 mph for most of the next hour. We turned off the M1 as planned, just as the traffic came to a halt again at the next set of roadworks and went through the back roads to the hotel. Eventually reaching it at just before 6:00 pm. We had done 190 miles and it had taken five and a half hours. We were both shattered, but it proved to me I could drive to Portsmouth.

We unpacked, rested for a bit and then set off to get more petrol and find the secure parking where we planned to leave the car for the night. The knocking noise from the rear seemed to be getting worse though and it sounded like we needed oil - that and no brake lights meant I decided that blats were out.

After following the signs to the 'Lotus Event' we arrived at the secure parking - to be told that it was a 4 mile walk to the F1 museum and registration. By this time we had about 10 cars in tow - all as bemused as us - and turning round with us. Our little convoy drove back to the main entrance and found the cars there, we parked on the grass and went to register.

Registration was well managed (although the signs showing which queue we should join was obscured by the queue itself) and we were quickly signed in and looking for the museum and some food.

We joined a longer queue into the building which was not really moving very fast. We chatted to a couple next to us who were both six foot and asked how they managed to fit ? He explained that he had a long cockpit car with the seats as far back as he could get them and bolted directly to the floor so he did fit.

The queue was not moving - just getting longer - so Oliver went in to see what was happening. As he did I spotted Andrew (a local Caterham owner) coming out so I quizzed him. He explained that the queue was only for signing on for runs etc. and the museum entrance had no queue - with the food at the end of the museum. We went strait in.

The F1 museum was a bit dull - to be brutal. Even for a car fan. The exhibits were jumbled and did not seem to have a theme. There were old and new cars together and it was not a lot on the walls to put the exhibits in context. The Vanwall stand was an exception, although if you did not know the history you might not have got their significance - British Racing Green beating 'Those dam red cars' - eventually.

We queued for the food - which was a basic office buffet - and sat on the grass as there were not nearly enough tables for everyone - and chatted to the same couple as before. They left to re-join the signing-on queue and we finished our food, deciding not to queue for a drink. We decided to try to sign up for the parade lap - but unfortunately not the blats. More people were joining the queue - some without registering beforehand so we helpfully directed them to the right place. Eventually we signed up for the lap and decided to go back to the hotel.

Walking back to the car it was obvious that the unmade dirt road and powerful Caterham side exhausts had been a great combination, creating a dust cloud that had covered the cars parked near the road in a fine white dust. Each row back had less muck on them than the previous ones and as we were four rows back we still had a green and yellow car - although it was visibly very dusty.

We drove back to the hotel, parked up, put the cover on the car, had a quick beer and went to bed early.

Day -1

Off to help with the cars arriving from Dover at Kentwell Hall in Long Melford.

I set off early as the dark black clouds were looming – and saw lightening as I passed under the Orwell bridge – but I had a fine run up through the main roads - a bit hampered by slow traffic - just thankful the rain moved away.

I took up a position directing cars into the car park that had been set up - and of course had to direct the odd 'civilian' visiting the hall as well. I began to enjoy the legitimacy that a high-vis jacket gives you.

The first car arrived just before 12:30 then continued in dribs and drabs until about 70 cars had arrived. There were few early cars and I only spotted one Lotus although there was a S4 so that must have been old. They were mostly modern models but had all come far though with French, German and Swiss number plates and an odd collection of luggage solutions. Most appreciated was using the spare tyre holder for a retro suitcase.

Towards the end of the day we had reports of a crashed car so a party set out to look for it, but I had no more news.

I could hear thunder in the distance about 2:30 and the forecast said rain at home so I set off about 3:00 wondering what would hit me. I passed some Caterhams going in the other direction on the way home so they were very late.

No rain thankfully but I came home with no brake lights. Investigation showed an intermittent brake pressure switch. Hopefully I can get one at the show.

I added tools, some spare oil and bits and bobs, checked the oil and tyres and then put the cover on the car for tomorrow.

Let’s see how we get on !

Italian getting dusty

Took the 308 out as it was sunny and not been used much again last month. Found it very dusty and quite dirty. Needs a proper clean - the photo hides most of the much.

Thunderstorms predicted for tomorrow - nice day for the Caterham then.

Japanese visitor

MX5 in the drive - red cars in the sun.

What's not to like.

Lunchtime run to shops and drop off food for Oli in the Aero.

Later I fitted the half hood on the Caterham - I had to make up new fittings for the boot so not sure I did it correctly. I need to re-do them later on too.

10 feet further

Just packed up the Aero and re-parked it. 10 feet max ?

Then went to the bottle bank so that another 1/2 mile if you are generous.

Mr E Blows ?

Took the E-type for a long run in the afternoon after a spot of morning DIY. 50 miles in total.

Stopped and took a look as a new rattle started and the exhaust seemed to be blowing ?

Did not seem be be blowing when I got home.... time to monitor before the long run in September.

Tourist Trail

Went from North to South London on the Sat Na.

Past lots of London landmarks. The Post Office Tower, Euston, Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square etc. Felt like we'd selected Tour Mode.

Passed a nice Lamborghini in Greenwich Village on the way out though. Obviously parked in a Taxi bay.

Then Aero run at night.