Cleaning again

E-Type got a spruce up for the show.

Vacuumed the inside for once too.

Found a big stone chip on the bonnet - oh well.

Looked good again when I'd finished though.

More Unpacking

Finished emptying the SAAB but that was it really.

Carried back

Another 200+ miles for the SAAB - performing well.

A bit of a rattle on the bumps - could be the exhaust ?

It deserves a good clean inside and out though.

Best in Show

Off to a small car show at the back of a pub. Rammed and the village was at standstill - blisteringly hot too.

Best car to me was an Alfa - Giulietta Speciale.

Details shone through - and I do like the painted metal dash.

Steaming Past

National Coal Mining Museum - Wales.

Nice steam trains and a small car show. Looked at nice MG Saloon but the trains were good too.

Found a few Triumph wrecks for sale near buy too.

Pottering in the West

Off to Hereford in the SAAB. Not a lot of note around.

Across the counties

Hereford and Worcester cris-crossed in the car.

Saw a few Morgans. Had forgotten that we were near their factory.

Also a nice scooter in Ledbury.

Fully Laden Again

Aero packed up for the off.

Stopped for a brake and spotted this XKR in the car park. Nice apart fro the split rims.

200+ miles later we arrived at the campsite an set up.

Ramping up the cost

Alpine off to the garage for a check over this morning. On the ramps it did not sag too much.

SI E-type FHC 2+2 looked well done behind it - so perhaps it's time to bite the bullet. The only problem the cost is more than a new car.

Came back and continued packing the SAAB - then had a de-tour taking the platform to Oli's - so Aero earning its keep as normal.

Final Caterham trip to town with a passenger all the way.

How he managed to stay on the light at 60mph I don't know.

Righting yesterdays Wrongs

Moved the cars around to get the top box out of the garage loft.

Team of three looked purposeful.

Team of two looked even better though so I could not resist a run in the E-type.

Then the garage called about looking at the Alpine so I put some fuel in it.

The I topped up the SAAB tank for the journey.

Then a late evening dash to shops in the Aston - because it needed a run - ish.

So had a few out today to offset yesterday's drought.

What's wrong ?

Time on my hands and no rain - so why not take a car out for a spin ?

Well Aero for jobs in the morning - then wait in for garage to phone about Alpine restoration.

So the time slipped by.

Somehow the time goes

Only had time for an Aero trip today. Not sure why nothing else.

That explains the brakes

Checked the connection on the Alpine brakes before swapping out the brake light switch. The test said it was not completing the contact so I assumed it was dead.

This is what I found when I removed it.

A terminal had broken off.

Lights now working again though. Now for the distrbuter.

Seeking Renovation

Went to Bridge Classic to look at their facilities in the Caterham - they popped out to see what was coming up the street. Seemed fine and knew there stuff.

Had a SII FHC E-type in for renovation looking splendid.

Would be good to get the Golf rust seen to as well ...

Put the car away before taking the Aero out for a short run.

I'd rather be driving

Than sitting in the driving rain on a choppy sea feeling sick. Morning was wet and windy.

The evening fine and dry so went to the Tiger meeting - and spent most of the time looking at a stunning E-type drop head. Alpine out of action and did not take anything else.

Anyway - here is a Tiger for balance.

Spotted me again

Burnham to Brightlingsea, but reading my magazine I spotted me in an advertm

In the E-type - one of the photos from the photo-shoot.

Arrived in the sunshine again and berthed by the old Essex Smacks.

Aero to sea again

Down to the boat for an early ish start.

Dull morning but it brightened up as we went along.

Eight hours later it was warm and sunny and we were in Burnham upon Crouch.

Found this ship semi-submerged on our walk.

Making the most of the day on land

E-type out and about to the shops mid morning in the sunshine - rattle still there but more interestingly is the blowing from the exhaust - I think.

Needs a clean after the school kids finger prints but it still looks good from any angle.

Then Ferrari back to the shops to get bits for the boat. Sun still out. Felt a bit hesitant at times - needs a long run to clean it all out.

Then Aero on a job.

Finally the beast for a run late evening. Aston smelt new when I got in.

So 6, 8, 4, 12 - in that order. Just not using any of them enough.

And Aero home again

Morning at the marina - quiet and sunny.

Again lots of motoring to get back home.

Home and back twice as we popped back to give James a lift to the train station - before returning to the boat.

Passed an old Marcos Mantula twice on the runs - could have been a V8 as it sounded nice. Looked very small anyway.

Back on the dirty power

Thrm of diesel engine as we went across to Titchmarsh.

Arrived in glorious sunshine.

A2R

Aero to Rassy i.e. down to the boat and sailed to Waldringfield.

First thing I did once we'd arrived was to fix the Plotter - corroded fuse and holder. Looked like a car dashboard inside - complete with lose wires - so felt at home.

Nice nigh sky too.

Mk2 started fine

Ran the Golf around the block after the showers. Started fine and ran well.

Got to sort it out though.

Back to jobs

Run in SAAB as the rain came down heavily.

Final cleaning

Finished cleaning and packing the Alpine club equipment and put it away.

Rain hammered down most of the day so did not try to drive anything.

Day 5

Quickly packed up and loaded everything back into the Aero.

Nice Husky Caravan combo on the way out.

Unloaded and started the job of clearing up at home.

Put the Alpine away - needs TLC. Bonnet won't stay down, fuel tank leaks, I may have no brake lights again and it runs like a dog.

But it enjoyed being out and about.

Day 4

Sunday was easier, just set the cars off and go to Landguard Fort to greet them. Made it just as the first cars were arriving.

They looked great in the courtyard.

Then off to Glevering Hall to meet the Sunbeam Tigers. Great turn out and made it just as they were taking the photos.

Day 3

Very busy day on Saturday.

Organising the Concours and then the Aerial Photograph, then back home to process the pictures as the drone could not fly in the rain and wind.

30 foot up in a cherry picker in the rain was more fun than it sounds. Letters worked well but the picture was not as good as hoped due to the angle.

Nice original series Alpine came to the show as well.

Day 2

Friday was fine other than a few spots of rain and I worked at getting my tape on the field for the SOAC letters. Which are just visible.

Most people went on the run.

We ended up with three cars at the showground though.

Day 1

Alpine off to the show - sounding very rough and driving backwards and forwards over the field and bumpy roads did it no good at all.

Sill managed to get tools etc. in the boot for the last of the set up tasks.

Went out to see a broken down Alpine just before the Orwell bridge. He eventual arrived on a trailer, but the Alpiners fixed it the next day.

Day 0

Aero in service with trailer.

Off to set up the Alpine event.

Started fine then heavy rain started early afternoon.

Alpine tomorrow to join the two cars that arrived a day early today.

We might need a bigger car

Just collected some of the Sunbeam Alpine National equipment together to load up tomorrow.

We'll see how we get on. Aero and the trailer.

Would not fit into the Ferrari - which I took around the block later on.

Still clean after the Shotley spruce up.