All together now

Collected the E-Type from Abbotts - along the same road as the drone shoot as it happens. They had a nice MGA race car when we arrived - but they were a bit busy to chat - newly rebuilt and renovated it turns out the engine was not working properly.

So I picked up the car instead - which was still looking shiny too.

Finally G2R to drop off ropes.

Oh and the Imp did an impressive 69 miles last month - beating three of the others.

Drone'ing on

Well that was fun. I spent the morning detailing the Ferrari for it's drone shoot - as the clouds got darker and the rain spat on and off. When it was time to meet up these were the clouds that greeted me.

However the gods of Petro-carbon were with us and only a few spots fell all evening - and none at all on the cars during the photos etc. I was glad as the Testarossa had only done about 2k miles and never seen the rain.

They looked good together I'd have to admit - especially with a bit of photoshop magic. Although the Testarossa is a bit bigger than the 308, it's small for a modern Ferrari.

So after a couple of hours and several passes of the drone we set off home - but I could not resist one more stop for a pic of the 308. Back home it was getting dark as I parked and the instruments were glowing so they got snapped too.

Short hop

Mk2 to Harkstead for paperwork and tea. That's it.

Suited and Booted

Mk2 with two new rear tyres ready - for another 40k miles.

Let's hope the screws stay away for a while too.

That's screwed it up

After the fun of yesterday it was a slow start - but then decided to visit the coast for a walk so hoped into the MK7. Ah .. very quickly the tyre warning system told is something was a bit wrong.

It did not actually tell us there was an huge screw in the tyre though. It thought it was a flat - it is actually a Pozidriv.

So I took it back home and out came the SAAB instead - a job for tomorrow.

Imp Adventure

So after the preparation of yesterday the day dawns cold and clouds. We took the back roads as planned and got there without incident. The 7:45 am start paid off too and we were first to park at the Mill and got prime spot.

Here we are.

Well - here anyway. So that's how small the Imp was even back then.

Anyway a total of 35 miles under our belts and checking later the car had used a little water, plus about an 8th of the dip stick oil. Most of the oil was probably thrown out at the top rather than burned too as I can't get the rocker box covers to fit snugly enough.

I did find the brakes worse as they warmed up and harder work than before - but the general driving fine. The distance was fine too if a little bumpy. 

Oh and I'm told I drive in the middle of the road - so I'll have to work on that.

Then as it was Drive it Day I drove a bit more and took the modern, sophisticated, easy to drive, comfortable and safe one around the block. The Alpine of course. 

Not finding the level

I spent the afternoon getting the Imp ready for the small adventure of tomorrow.

Oil (needed a little) water (needed a bit more) tyres (all needed pumping up) and finally top up the rear differential.

I started trying to fill it through a very small hole which this odd bolt left when removed - which seemed impossible - and in fact dawned on me probably stupid.

In fact the fitting below it was the one to fill through - and I spotted the square drive to get it out after only 5 mins !

So then of course I had no idea how much oil to put in it ? After a round of 'phone a friend' (Riley man in next village) I decided I'd done enough. But I need to research it now.

I did notice the tank was nice and new and the fittings too - I'd not looked at those before.

Finally Aston to the bottle bank again - with a nervous Learner next to me - or was I the nervous one ?

Triple Tipple

SAAB to the dump mid morning - full of stuff as usual.

Including 4 car batteries - how did I end up with that lot - plus I kept one I think.

The it needed a clean after lunch - well the inside got attended to.

Then MK2 to see Oli and family - EB on good form in the garden sunshine.

Finally a jaunt to the boat for a quick odd job and tea on deck.

I've got a plan

SAAB out for most of the morning for jobs.

Then in the afternoon I thought I'd fill the Imp up with petrol if I am going to use it at the weekend for an adventure.

Followed by stuffing the SAAB with items for the dump. Including four car batteries. How long have I had them ?

Dropped off right inside

E-Type dropped off at Abbotts after lunch for a service.

I'm not sure I could have parked it closer.

Then ride back etc. in Mk7.

A host of Jaguars

Morning shot of two E-Types on the drive to start the day.

Looked even better after a bit of photoshopping. Sun out too in Holbrook.

Then run up the the meeting - with an eventual 5 cars which was good - in cold misty weather that looked like rain all day but never materialised. One of every series I think.

Nice 50 mile run in total there and back - with the sun coming back out in Holbrook again. SO in the evening I took the clean car to Woolverstone again - it was a lot busier with boats but I managed to get a space.

Feeling better on the road

E-Type detailed in the afternoon sun. It was really only dusty and turns out it was last cleaned in October after the muddy carpark run - before I took the steering apart in October.

Then Imp cleaned as well - with water and then detailed - came up nicely too.

Then I shot lots of photos of them both again looking for a good angle.

Then Imp for a short run - it seemed to go better today.

Then finally the E-Type around the block in the late sun. Looked glorious along the bonnet and went very well too.

Stop Press. This photo popped up too as the group image.

Courage Mon Brave

So I took the Alpine out in the afternoon sun. Back to the Marina for a little boat DIY and then photos.

Not bad.

Then rested and eventually decided to warm the Riley up to take it out. I toyed with the E-Type but decided on the Imp.

We did the normal circuit and then down to Woolverstone marina for photos. I had to turn her around several times and she seemed a bit reluctant to start - but did fine.

Something about the Riley make people wave and toot - which they did on the way there.

Key to being noticed

Well one key is the one I left on the boat after we did the first sail of the year and G2R trip.

Nice day too.

So I took the Ferrari down to get the missing key in the evening. 

And set off the alarm on the way out.

Rust in Peace

Anyway - Golf to see Nigel - for car chat and walk.

Then walked past some wrecks. Actually it's rusty but being done and renovated.

An old Rolls Royce hearse. 

That's Loud

Nothing but admin today - the highlight was hearing the TVR start up that has moved in opposite.

Finding jobs

Morning run to pick up some free books - old car manuals two of which are for a Daimler Conquest. Funny thing was it was a chap based in the old Blacksmiths that we got the Anvil from - he specialied in old bikes though.

Then late pm excuse to take stuff to the boat in the Seven. It's a bit nippy but warmed up ok eventually.

Oh and my Ferrari pic from yesterday has generated a few comments too !

Two for the Red Team

Golf out after lunch in the murky sunshine to get a haircut - first in 4 months.

Then spotted a nice pic of a Riley Imp being hill climber by B Bira. So I thought I'd take out the ...

Ferrari out for a run in the bright evening sun.

Finding an excuse as the shops re-open

SAAB out early pm for a run into the countryside and jobs.

Then Aston out in the sunshine to buy some stuff.

Then to save the planet - and with this amount of re-cycling I guess it's quite safe !

ION: Covid-19 stage 2 lockdown restrictions eased. Pubs can open outside and non-essential shops can re-open. It's been calculated that the UK is nearing heard immunity at 75% - 39m people having had at least one vaccine plus those individuals having had C-19 already. 

Sunny London

Cold crisp day driving the Mk7 down to London - dropping James off and Seeing Flo and E's new place.

Dull drive but we did spot a 1981 Nissan Sunny on the way.

SAAB shuffle

SAAB to EB Birthday bash. Then James took the MK2 to his friends new house.

Then we picked it up and I drove it home while Jana took the SAAB. I had to stop to check the lights were on - they were.

Then a pause

Not much car action although I did book he E-Type 60th tickets and the off road course.

A u-turn, a rescue and a fix

So a SAAB trip to the boat to turn her around and load the life raft. Harder work than it looked because of the wind - but in the end we had some help.

Looked strange that way around - and bigger too. Then home for lunch followed by ...

Another SAAB trip to the boat as we had spotted the baton we dropped in the water - here is the kit Jana used to hook it out after I failed to do so.

Then I took the E-type out for a run to the shops (the 'around the block' is still blocked). Looked cleaner than it was - I did the windows before I left - much to the delight of a chap that was admiring it.

I also found that the 'rattle' had gone so it probably was the loose bulb. Next job is to fix the flasher repeaters...

Trying harder

No snow today so SAAB out first thing collecting wood.

The pm 308 in for a run - but the normal circuit is blocked again with roadworks so we went 50% and back.

Seems to 'shimmy' over the worst of the road dips still - or am I not used to it again yet.

Then late run in the Mk2 for food.

Just - er nothing

Staying home and working - in between small snow showers. I was going to take a car out but it just stared snowing again. Honest.

Another step .... backwards

Decided to spend an hour tinkering with the E-type after lunch to look at the non-working indicator (RHS) repeater on the dashboard. 

Whilst struggling under there I spotted that the pipe to the de-mist was off so I tried to put that back on.

Then I noticed a loose bulb in its fitting - just a dash light I think - and as I touched it the bulb fell out. After looking for a replacement I decided it was correct and put it back. It was impossible to get under the dash so I lowered the steering column all the way again but as I could not reach the indicator bulbs I put everything back up and left it alone. Testing it I found that I now had NO working repeaters.

Ummm. Two steps back again.

After this we took the SAAB out a to Harkstead for tea.

Then I treated myself to another Aston run in the sunshine.

This time looking nice and clean - even after the 200 miles round trip.

I will take the E-Type out for a test run to make sure I've not disturbed anything else (in the dark to check the lights) but the position is so hard to get to under the dash I suspect one of the instruments needs to come out to get to it. SO that will be a few weeks out of used again.

Four then six

SAAB for a quick run to Harkstead - dropping off cake and Easter egg.

Then a late run in the E-Type, after raising the steering - it still rattles and the noise sounds like a bulb/fitting.

I can't work out if the steering is 100 on the centre spline either ...

Four into four does go

Mk2 out first thing and into town to collect some wine.

Wheels still looking good but the car needs another wash. Oh and a garage.

Then SAAB to the Covid jab centre with mum. That's 2 done now - so mum is one of the 5m to have 2 jabs already.

That's where the other four wheels came from.

Finally SAAB as Uber to pick James up from the station.