First World 'Niggle'

Aston down to Grange early - first thing for the swap to the Winter tyres. Alarm triggered again.

That means I've only done just over 540 miles in the Aston this Summer. Winter will be less so I'm not sure I'll break the 1k barrier this year.

I did see a nice new (and huge) DBS convertible though. Cool £250,000 plus getting the garage opening made much wider.

Collected the car later and as we started back the Alarm people called again. Then the Tyre Warning System Error light came on - so we went back. They fixed it in 30 mins as it was a sensor not being picked up. Ho Hum.

Then rainy run home - but the car went oh so well. Thinking about it I might have been using the 'old' chips - so the battery might be weak.

Nowhere for that straw to go ?

Rain on and off so not much car fun. Down to Landguard for a walk. Over all the speed bumps. SAAB bouncing over them all.

Then looked at the relay for the Ferrari sitting there. In the end I decided to bite the bullet and try it.

Now, what did I find ?

There was no relay in the slot anyway - so it's not that making the noise. The cover was hard to get back on too.

However I did get the car started a couple of times - so I might get it to the garage for work under its own steam.

Straw did not arrive until late

I was hoping to try the Bosch relay #F on the Ferrari but it did not turn up until late.

Did sort out Karting for Christmas - so that was some automotive activity.

Not going out - and clutching at straws

Looked at the Alpine pictures from last night and happy with a few. Like this one.

Then looked at the Ferrari starting problem. It could be a relay on the way out. It's #F so one on order.

Well that was a Surprise

I had given up - due to rain and dull weather.

Then I had to pop out in the evening and noticed the nice sun set. Well it turned cloudy before I could get a view so went around the block.

As the sun set I parked up for a few shots again on the riverfront.

Could do better - but it was a start.

SAAB dashes

One dash to Harkstead for jobs.

Then off to Stutton for EB.

And then Harkstead again for a small fix.

Well that was worth it ... unlike the cost for converting the Alpine to electric £37k.

September finally arrives with bad weather

Rain and more rain - even a power cut so that's it for car play time.

Oh and the UK is in political crisis, Brexit still divides the country and the planet is a bit fucked. The political opposition is being daft so there is no clear alternative.

A few classic car drives don't really make much of a difference.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

But I did wonder about getting the Alpine restored and converted to electric ?

Ferrari Failure

Mk7 to the boat to look at the sail - weather a bit murky so classics left in the garage.

Still looking quite clean.

Then the sun came out so thought I'd take the Ferrari out. I swept the lead up to the door to get rid of most of the yew tree berries.

Well it would not start. It kept 'clicking' but would not start. It did fire once and then just sat there sullen - like me.

So could be a dead solenoid or starter motor...

More Swedish Jobs

SAAB to take the 'sifter' back in the trailer in the morning.

Then loaded with the wood store in the afternoon before the rain started.

No classic car action as the weather has turned...

Flying Start

SAAB roof rack in play as I carted some of the wood store off early in the morning.

Then Jana to gliding - so Norfolk in the Aston. Nice run up, if a bit slow.

Funny thing was a chap in a DB5 was just leaving as we arrived at the plane.

Cockpit was just like the Caterham too.

Doing my little bit for the planet

Back from London in the Mk7 and the run seemed a bit quicker - even on the slow bits.

Then bottle bank run ... in the usual.

Good day for it - as the young were protesting. A day of action across the world to protest against climate change and tell us oldies to get on with it.

Boats not Cars

Tube, Train and Bus off to the Southampton Boat Show.

Could exchange this for the House, Cars and a bit of cash...

But I suspect we won't.

London Run

Mk7 packed up for the run to London.

Seemed to be slower on the 20 mph and speed bump route too.

Night time Play - and Work

Sturdy SAAB pressed into service for a wood run in the morning. Looking at it I'm sure the rear suspension is sagging though.

Then walking around the village for the plan I spotted the BMW i8 parked up that I had seen driving through earlier on.

It was a great sun set so I took the E-type on a run looking for sun set spots - ended up in a field near Tattingstone - until the farmer arrived with his night light blazing to plough it up just as it got dark. I'd also forgotten the camera tripod mount so had to balance the camera on it.

Then I decided to test my new battery operated camera lights - and found they work better when you remember the batteries. Well at least one set was working.

... and sorry to the chap that stopped to help me - thinking I had broken down.

Autumn starting

A day for working at home really - dull - need to plan the car servicing too.

More late summer fun

Caterham out and off for jobs ... then round the block on a very warn summer's afternoon.

Even that was a squeeze at the end of the drive.

Then Mk7 ride to the marina - as the sun faded.

Mk 7

Just passenger'ing in very clean Mk7 - I even leahered it down in the morning.

Evening SAAB

Short hop in the Aero to take pictures of the Freston Tower was about it.

The joy of night driving in a classic

Alpine to the Rootes Group meeting in the evening - as I escaped the driveway with the roadworks still and no one was doing anything.

Summer making one last appearance so it was warm and sunny as I sped down the A14, arriving with a Tiger in front.

Then one of those idyllic drives home. Darkness highlighting the creamy white illuminated simple black and white dials of the dashboard. A warm wind whipping through the car as we went along and a large, almost full moon, over my shoulder keeping me company.

Don't believe the Apps

Work on the Alpine first thing. Looking at the carbs.The hissing noise was definitely there so I investigated the fittings.

I found the nut on the top of the carb closest to the bulkhead was slightly loose, in fact I found that all the top nuts were slightly loose so tightened until just about making force on the spanner. I did the same with the nuts on the bottom of the carburetor.

This made the hissing sound reduced a lot and when I wobbled the carburetors it went away almost entirely.

So I tightened top and bottom again ever so slightly and after a short test drive the car feels better. It was exhibited far less backfiring on the overrun going down the hill and the pick up seems better too - so I will leave it for a while now.

The sun shine was out so I took it to town later. The clouds were a bit black but the app had said I was ok.

So coming back to the car I was a bit surprised that it was wet. No problem though until the rain returned on the way home. Quite heavily in the end. Top down I was actually getting wet.

Never mind - it gave me an excuse to leather off the car again and clean it up a bit.

Then SAAB out for jobs - ladders on top of the boat stuff, so after the jobs I took it down to the marina in the sunset.

More roadworks

A new set of roadworks sprang up by the gate this morning.

... and another set in the street - burst water main again - closing the road.

So SAAB to Mannintree to try to get the Ferrari as a Historic Vehicle. Umm - not that easy as the DVLA have it as a nominal Dec 31st 1979 build date.

So I've sent off the docs and started the process.

Virtual Cars

Spent all day processing pictures from Hampton Court as it was mostly raining. Serves us right for cleaning the Mk7 yesterday.

Lots of great cars - some good pics too. Especially liked this one.

The Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Touring #0064.

Obviously the 'clutter has been removed'.

Cleaning old and new - and a picture opportunity

First thing attacked the E-type dirt. Some of the dust had blown off on the run back but it was still caked. So I sprayed it with a lot of soapy water before using a very wet cloth to clean it.

Came up well though - but the paint on the boot lid is fading.

Then to dry it off we went to the shops - got chatting to a Porsche fan who liked the car. Then set off home and on the way back the bridge was closed - with us on it !

Got home though after a while and that noise is definitely less.

Then we both washed the MK7 Golf - paintwork is not that good for a 5 year old car - but it came up after a clean from 4 hours work.

Much more to do though.

Early start for the Royal Show

Up before 5:00 am and off into the gloom down to Hampton Court.

I don't often use the E-type in the dark and remember when I do that the lights are not that good.

Anyway the run down was fine - A12, M24, and A308 - that's about it. Noise from the rear still there though. Parked up and met James before we were lead in to the grounds.

Parked up just down from 2017.

Lots of great cars - like these Ferraris.

But not a sunny as last time and not a 'buzzing'. Could be familiarity but who knows.

Dash back was fine too although slower with more traffic. Car behaved itself ... and the noise ... seems to have lessened from the rear. I'd also forgotten how dirty the car gets on that gravel.

Can you spot the work ?

More prep for the show tomorrow. Polished the E-type first thing. Lashings of polish too.

Took the polish off and then went over it again. Not sure you can tell from the pictures though.

Then SAAB earning it's keep - collecting an 'earth sorter' before another trip out.

Yes - that is a boat on top of the SAAB

E-Type cleaning first thing.

Tried to do the wheels too. Looked a lot better after a couple of hours.

Then SAAB to the boat to collect the inflatable. Then after lunch that got a ride on the roof to the river.

The poor car got covered in weed when I hosed off the boat on our return - so it got a bit of a clean.

Then Aston out to save the planet again.

Can't do these trips by bus

Early afternoon we dropped the SAAB off at Stutton with and drive the Mk7 home - so we could walk there see LB and EB go for a walk and drive back. How would we get home by bus ?

Then Alpine out for a a little job in the dying sunshine. Pop to Harkstead by bus - how again ?

Noticed the Alpine is making a 'hisssss' on startup and seems to be from the carb manifold gasket - which is letting in air. I'll have to tighten the nuts - just a little.

Jobbing SAAB

Off to Silk street for jobs first thing - SAAB loaded up.

Ladders, tools and old PCs.

It looked small compared to the van and the huge truck the plumber had arrived in.

Then packed it with more junk and off to the dump again. Later I returned to turn on the fridges just as rush hour hit.

Then a final evening passenger ride in the Passat to deliver more stuff.

Jag Back

Mk7 ride to pick up E-type - noise and all - goes well though.

Always comes back a bit dirty from Abbotts too. Not sure you can tell.

Then Aston to Dedham car park for photos.

#whoneedsalandrover - Possibly not the Planet Earth

SAAB pressed into agricultural service with the large chain block I bought a few years ago.

Pulled the tree stump out first go too. Not sure how we were supposed to use the block though.

Then tried to make up for last month's dismal showing. Caterham out and about.

Then the Ferrari - no not staring again - but flew around the lanes in the sunset.

Then listened to the Greta Thunberg speech again. It ends with:

"Today, we use about 100 million barrels of oil every single day. There are no politics to change that. There are no rules to keep that oil in the ground. So we can no longer save the world by playing by the rules because the rules have to be changed. Everything needs to change, and it has to start today. So everyone out there, it is now time for civil disobedience.

It is time to rebel."