Month end again

SAAB for jobs with tools - about it.

E-Type won with a l;ate surge to clock up 362 miles. 300 of those over the last two days.

Loop back home

We had been given out run stickers so they went on each door the night before and after a quick leather down of the dew we were ready for the off.

I'd tried to park in the same place as two years ago too.

We were waved away at about 9:30 and set off on the coast roads south.

We were able to follow someone for most of the run until we got lost around Great Yarmouth but the route seemed easier to follow than last time. We also passed the spot where James and I stopped to investigate the fault first.

A quick comfort brake at Thorpeness, a photo at Aldbrough by the shell and then lunch in Melton. Then on to Abbott racing where Ed seemed happy to see us and the other owners poking around.

After a short delay as I'd 'lost' my keys - I'd used them to prop my camera up - we set off again going past Wrabness dropping in to the curious House for Essex designed by Grayson Perry.

From there we went directly to JD Classics in Maldon - well ex-JD now taken over by Woodham Mortimer. Nice Ferrari 250GT in there but quite an empty showroom.

Then ran back up the trusty A12 an stopped off at Tesco for a bit of shopping and the car looked gorgeous in the setting sun. Then home (via Stutton) and parked eventually back in the garage - it still looking very good - stickers off and 305 miles under our belts.

Cromer and beyond !

About an 80 mile run to the Norfolk coast to the hotel.

Then into Cromer with a nice lotus in the car park near the Jag so I thought we were safe.

Then a short drive to get super unleaded petrol and then back to the hotel to meet the other E-types.

OK - one more run in the Ferrari

Sun out again and warm for late September. In fact warm for August.

Cleaned the windscreen before the run this time it makes such a difference to the car.

Anyway I took the Ferrari for a long drive and then filled it up. Nice run again - and of course no problem starting at all.

Then Caterham in the setting sun. Glorious sunset but I could not get them both in the picture.

Two more - but no toys

Started the day cleaning the E-Type. Well a dust and a polish. Oh and tyre black as well. About three hours tarting it up for the RBCD run on Friday/Saturday. Oddly it got dusty as I worked - which was a bit annoying.

Looks great though.

Then went to get petrol for the mower in the Mk2.

Going well and looking good - but the oil warning buzzer sounded as I got home. Odd.

Then as the sun was still out I could not resist squishing the berries from theYew tree and took the 308 out.

Dusty but not showing.

Two plus Toys

Alpine out and washed - then for a drive and it still goes ok !

Then fixed the bonnet - so it shuts again.

In the late afternoon the sun was still out so ran the E-type around the block  - it's very dusty but goes great. Should be fine for the RBCD on Saturday - we'll see. Needs a clean beforehand though - not that you can tell.

Then made a garage for the models, which worked better than I expected.

Where there's muck

Collected the Alpine from Brunswick Engineering in Ely - and yes it was probably better than it has ever been. The 40 mile run home was fine in the sunshine once I stopped and put the hood down.

However the car was filthy. Even covered in soot from a small fire they had in the workshop (rubber gloves).

A few of the issues they fixed:

• O rings in inlet manifold gasket had hardened and expanded – resulting in an air leak
• One float was leaking so it was sitting lower than the other one in the fuel
• Trumpets were different sizes
• Jets and tubs were different for each carb
• The jets were incorrect and no alternatives seems to be available – they had to make their own

It did run well though even if I was a bit worried as usual. Even at 30 mph.

So I now have two nicely re-built carbs with short trumpets. Next I'll fit heat shields and foam filters.

Just more Photoshop

Working my way through the toy cars instead of the real ones - rain most of the day.

Trying for a barn find look.

But I need to work on building a model garage for them to sit in.

Autumn rain arrives

Dull day - so stayed in side photographing the car toys - instead of the toy cars.

Nice run in the Sun

Caterham out and over the bridge in the morning sunshine and wind.

Then SAAB back again for three large boxes.

Oh and a message the Alpine is running well and finished.

Finally the Aston has not yet had the alarm fitted (today?) and is off to the bodywork man next week.

Reports

SAAB to dump with trailer first thing. Load lugging again.

Then spoke to Grange - the Aston will get the paint imperfections fixed under warenty which is nice.

Chased up the Alpine too - seems they have done a lot of work on the carbs and are still going... might be ready next week.

SAAB jobs

Squeezed a 3 meter pole in the SAAB.

Three car events

Picked up the E-type early afternoon - lovely drive back in the sunshine. They had cleaned the wheels too - ready for the run.

Swapped it over for the Ferrari as the E-type will need more cleaning etc. for the run.

Great drive in that too - except that the ignition switch failed again.

Finally the garage says that the Aston tracker needs replacing - needed for the insurance - so that's more 'investment' !

Just back

Well next week I should be able to pick up some of the THREE (!!!) cars in the garage.

Oh and I need to book the Ferrari in next.

Brentwood and Beyond !

Aston down to Grange to fir the winter tyres and look at the alarm. That #3 in the garage and not in mine.

Had a look at the new Vantage - not that long a look as it did not delight me. The front end is not nice.

What I did like was the DB11 convertible ...

Also they offered to look at the paint flaws and see if they can be fixed on the guarantee - I suspect they want to encourage me to upgrade.

Anyway - popped in to the Golf and then spent three hours as driving instructor for Florence. London is a crap place to learn to drive.

Little Swede

Short hop in SAAB. Twice.

Buzzing around

Caterham out in the sunshine - gets very dusty under the out door cover. Had forgotten how direct the steering is too.

Then Mk2 Golf out for the evening RGEA meeting. The car went well but the oil warning buzzer went on and off a few times on the run there - not at all on the way back.

Does not look too rusty at the angle either.

Admin not driving

Dull day so stayed in.

Worked out that I'm now on my 5th Dynamo for the E-type.

Drop off

Dropped the E-type off first thing for the service but not the MOT. Not needed anymore.

Parked next to a smart Ford Fiesta RS. Jag going very well.

As I took the car out I realised that's a complete empty garage now.

Slight Chill on Autumn

Admin first thing and an alert that Aston Martin is floating. Not sure I want to put a minimum of £10k in shares with them though.

After lunch took the 308 around the block. Still great to drive - needs a service now and MOT again though. And the ignition failed again initially.

A sort of car show

Took the Aston to a 'Super-car' meeting - saw a few nice cars - esp a Maclaren.

I think it was a McLaren 570S Spider. A cool £160k+ when new.

The logo does make me think of the Star Trek badge though.

Also a couple of Lamborghini looking nice in the dull light.

and an of road something that looked unique.

Then passenger ride in Mk7.

Silver Shifters

SAAB pottering PM for jobs and then to help Oli look at a car.

A smart VW Pasat. Modern but quiet and seems very nice. Seemed much bigger than the SAAB but I think it is an illusion.

Long process and hard sell at the end - 16% interest was the big killer. NO DEAL. They did not judge him very well even if the chap was good to deal with.

The off to Silk Street to fix a leak (hopefully) and say the chaps other Ferrari.

I guess that one lugs his tools around !

Forcing myself out

Alarm tracking people advised they can't do anything and the car will have to go into the garage, Now awaiting a call from Grange.

Took the E-type out into the sunshine - and though all the school traffic. Had to force myself out though.

Still looks good.

Booked in for a service (without MOT) next week, ahead of the Round Britain leg.

Don't be Alarmed

SAAB pack with stuff again clearing the final bits up.

Then took Aston out to try to get the alarm re-synced. Seems to be a fault with it.

Alpine in at last

Insert standard para about rain.

Alpine off to Brunswick engineering in Ely - quite a long way to go - but they seem to know what to do. Mk7 back home.

They phoned in the evening to tell me the gasket is shot and decaying plus one carb is flooding. Will be a few days but confident they can fix it.

Also SAAB for a work jaunt late pm.

Oh and yes it was raining hard in the morning as I set off.

Empty car

Wheel barrow in the back of the SAAB to Harkstead early on - to work on the garden. I managed to estimate incorrectly by 100%.

So I'll be doing it again later this week.

First day of Autumn

Car covered in dew first thing. So here comes winter.

Moving more in the SAAB - Backwards and forwards with equipment and landscaping stuff. Trip to Creek squeezed in too.

SAAB days.

Classic in the Carpark

Sailing first thing - so Mk7 down to boat.

Then off to try for more pictures, best one was a nice Jenson Interceptor in the Holbrook Creek car park. It was a big car in its day but seemed small there.

Then got the 308 out for a blast. Nice run too in the setting sun.

Work trip - but not in the SAAB

Went to Silk Street first thing in the Caterham. Through town it was fine.

Parked badly.

Then a few short hops in the SAAB to take pictures.