Low scores all round

Mk7 to Hadleigh across Suffolk - and back again.

Took the mileages and gosh - not much on the classics. Under 1k all together too. Planet must be happy.

SAAB wins - but then the Alpine is second - just managed 56 miles.

Oh and the E-type yet to score - probably not much either - but should pick it up tomorrow.

Sneaky Trip

SAAB out (of course) for utility trip - but I took the Mk7.

Then quick trip in Alpine - running a bit rough when slow - but chap in the co-op liked it.

Recycling too - so that saved the planed for another few minutes.

Make mine a dark one

SAAB to bottle bank and petrol - to use up a voucher.

Then thought it was Top box time - back into garage anyway - the so cars out on the drive to sort it out.

Ferrari got the run out - and it failed to start first time - and seems to be dropping a bit of oil.

Runs well though !

Back to work

SAAB into town for jobs at Silk street and not a lot else.

Packed and back

Heavy car as we packed up again and headed for deepest Norfolk to meet a friend at his coffee HQ.

Spotted this off Polo Coupe in the car park - it even had the keys on the front seat - seems it's a low crime area.

The run past Norwich on the new bypass - not well sign posted and complex junctions.

Busy at the coast

SAAB around the Norfolk lanes and then into the chaos of the Bank holiday Traffic on the coast.

I'd forgotten how busy parts of the UK are when the sun shines.

Royal Pottering

SAAB next to the tent again.

Then around the corner to Sandringham in the 30 degree heat.

Scores would be - the Grounds: 5/10 the House: 6/10 and the Motor Museum 3/10.

A few nice historic cars but nothing to get excited about really.

Then SAAB to a bog for pictures.

Slow-Speed Trails

SAAB packed to the gunnels off to camping.

First stop Lincolnshire for the Grimsthorpe Castle Speed Trials, but we found the cars 'pottering' along the course, like this Austin Seven Special single seater.

On the way out we spotted a nice car in the car park - and sure what it really was though.

Research told me it was a Ferrari 250 SWB replica built up on a BMW Z3 platform, I think I saw one at the NEC a few years ago.

Then into the bank holiday traffic across to Norfolk and Sandringham.

Road Water and Air

Car: MK7 Golf to Marina early in the morning

Sailing: Hallberg Rassy down the coast for a 12 hour sail in the sunshine

Air: Clacton Airshow - Jets and other aerobatics overhead.

Three of the four horsemen let out

SAAB packing for camping etc. most of the day - but needed to get the cars out - in the sunshine too.

Prancing Horse, Work Horse and Horse Power - perhaps ?

Earlier Ed (Abbotts) rang to say the E-type feels better (with new front suspension) but the 'rumble' from the back has still not been diagnosed. Could be loose bolts on the drive shaft ?

He also confirmed engine management light probably just a blip and to bring it in if it happens again. Could be picking up a misfire etc.

SAAB out on delivery run PM, then continued packing.

Then check on the Mk7 as it was making odd noise at speed - problem with the new windscreen - no, just the window slightly open.

Finally Ferrari to the marina to pick up the lead.

Still misbehaving on the starter but I forgive it.

Just a warning shot

SAAB looked fine sitting the sun before we dropped off the Mk7 to get its screen fixed.

However the engine management warning light came on while we were on our way back. After some research I found forum comments saying it was a warning shot (e.g. a sensor is on the way out) and the bad one was the red exclamation mark. So I took out the magic #17 fuse to reset it and after a test drive (and another longer run) it has stayed off. We'll see.

Still carried a boot full again - this time of better wood.

Another planet killer

SAAB to marina and then out on a day sail.

Filled up with diesel on the way back in. 24.30 litres to be exact.

How will we replace all the marine engines too ?

Visitor

Jeremy's BWM on the drive for a few days - looking a bit mean.

Seemed to dwarf even the SAAB.

Talking of which it lugged a load of wood back from B and Q quite happily.

Trying to get them out

SAAB for jobs again mid morning.

Then the Caterham in the sunshine.

... and finally the Alpine to the allotment.

So not bad.

Oh and improved another Aston pic from the other night too.

Creeping crack

Mk7 crack appears to have got bigger over night.

We'll see how well the replace it on Wednesday.

Then cleaned the other Golf and put the side strip back.

Smashing - Night Moves

SAAB out pm for petrol and bottle-bank, whilst I excused the Aston duty for a later run to the shops.

Spotted this monster while I was there - I bet you could get all our camping gear in that.

Then Mk2 out for a run - I'd not noticed how dirty it had got without a cover. Oh and how many spiders had taken roost. But the rev counter was still working.

Young chap in a modern still liked it.

Then Jana came home with a damaged Mk7 windscreen - looked like it had been shot - several times.

Finally late night experiments photographing the Aston at night at the marina. Chap liked the car but the lads in the hot hatches still had louder exhausts.

Wet all day

Basically Summer rain most of the day. Not worth even going to the garage !

However 2 new shock absorbers on the way for the E-type - so we'll see what they do for it.

Starts every time

SAAB to the marina to fit the deck light on the boat - fine - I'm getting used to being in the air.

Then Ferrari out of the garage late pm - started fine. Passed a 458 who waved. Stopped it on the run and it started again - fine.

Seems to like being left alone in the garage.

SAAB, rain and cameo

SAAB through the puddles into town and around. Not a day for classics but ...

I noticed I'm in another mag - just - well ... on the edge in the background !

ECR awarded the best Classic Car Club from PC. I even bought the mag and then realised why I don't bother with it any more - shame.

Dumping - the idea ?

Squeezed four large sacks of Bean Tree into the SAAB and went to the dump.

The rest of the branch had come down in the night.

Then went to look a a few pre-war cars from the SVEC group. A chap was really putting me off buying a Riley Kestral !

Too slow, complex and expensive to maintain with spares hard to find.

Mk7 Movement

Well the wind came.

Afternoon trip to the beach - a passenger in the Golf to see the low tide at the Deben. Wind hard to walk against.

Got home to find a broken branch on the Bean tree - so guess who is up in the air again ?

A bit of shuffling

SAAB out for jobs then packed the Caterham away to await the storm.

Well I'd forgotten there was a space. Which reminds me, what has happened to the Jag ?

Looks windy tomorrow - yes that says 50+ miles an hour - not sure it will arrive ?

That is storm force 10. Above a gale then.

SAAB Van again

SAAB out for PM drop off of veg and water the allotment.

Then loaded with ladders on the roof - but not needed - for maintenance on the other Swede.

Whatever happened to Wednesday

Dull day just pottering inside.

Well, nothing dropped off at least

Got the e-type out of the garage and it looked great.

Then drove over to Abbotts and dropped it off. It really was making a lot of noise from the rear - so I hope they can find out what it is. Parked up in a graveyard of classic SAABs and passenger'ed in the Mk7 - which was not making any noises.

Then pm my own Aero for a utility run.

Last minute run - and Cat's Whiskers

Alpine out in the evening sun - just for a run in the warm fresh air - and petrol.

It went well on the way there - but a bit less so on the way back.

The Tiger mag arrived too - so I have another nice picture of the car.

Rush Hour on the water

Up at 6 am for 'hush hour' on the river.

Then a few hours later sailing out of the Deben it felt more rush hour, as we were overtaken and jostle in the narrow channel.

Back at the marina the SAAB waited patiently though.

Another Sailing load

SAAB loaded and ready for the boat.

Workhorse 2

Alpine pressed into service for local jobs.

Looking good in the right light too.

But it still runs rough - I wonder what petrol I put in last time ?

Then Caterham out for a 'hot' lap - mainly the queue for the Wherstead junction.

Workhorse 1

SAAB full of flooring and the old fridge - a good load for the dump.