Squeezing in a Clean

SAAB out AM for Harkstead jobs between the showers.

Then PM same again in heavier showers.

Then SAAB to save the Planet.

Finally a late wash of the E-type in the garage as the rain kept coming down.

Added a heavy layer of wax too - as I suspect it will need something to repel the rain over the weekend.

'Well I Never' x 3

OK so I bit the bullet and looked at the Alpine - research pointed to timing if not fuel flow so I started there. Everything was tight and in place though.

So I started it up (reluctantly it started) and let it warm. It ran fine so we went for a tentative run. It was great - in fact it went better than it had done for weeks... 

'Well I never' I thought and went around the block. Perhaps the fuel outlet was getting blocked and I cleared it by letting it flow out.

Then I was just parking it up when a woman got out if her car and walked up the drive. I assumed she had come to see Jana as they were talking but she apologised, walked past Jana and came over to see the Alpine. She told me she had followed me all the way from Ipswich into the village and was so excited to see it !

All a bit odd until we recognised each other. It was Talitha the owner of Mildred the Commer - the grand daughter of Lord Rootes. 'Well I never' I thought.

Then PM I had both the Aston tags re-set with new batteries.

Finally worked on the Goodwood photos and came up with this after using Lightroom.

That's more like it I thought and quite easy. 'Well I never'.

Dodging the Heavy Showers

Just a SAAB run to Harkstead and then another to deliver the washing to Stutton - don't ask - as the dark clouds rolled in again.

Two fails

Swapped over the Caterham temperature sender - umm. It came out fine with a lot of coolant following it.

However, it did not feel the right size on the thread after two turns so I backed off. The thread was a different shape too. The old one was tapered a little.

Then tried to change the break pads on one of the bikes - no they would not come out - so concluded they were ok after all.

Then PM very dusty MK2 off to Stutton for jobs. That needs a clean again.

That might be the end of the Road

Managed to get off the parking spot with minimum scraping. Then hit the tarmac with the splitter leaving the junction - so I reversed and took a shallower approach. 

The delivery driver liked the car though which was little compensation. 

Goodwood was a bit odd especially driving through the tunnel to get inside the track. Spent the day taking pictures - static cars AM - on track PM. But here are Mike Hawthorn and Lofty England.

As for the photos. Static shots felt good and with a few tips I improved a little.

Not sure I’m good at panning though even after getting far too much sun standing on the pit wall for three hours practicing. This was probably as good as they got.

Run back was long, hot and very busy - especially the bridge - and the frustration of the 40 mph for 10 miles on the last stretch of the A12 got to me - and I roared off into the 70 zone a little early. 

Past a BIG YELLOW CAMERA. 

So - we’ll wait a month for a letter. 

Scrape it in

Aston down South. Good run but got a bit lost finding Cranleigh with the Aston’s satnav. Parked in the pub who liked the car luckily they did as I could not get the parking app to work. 

Heard and then saw a rare 1970’s Mazda RX-4 while I was there. Twin Rotary but sounded like a V8. 

Then drive through the very dark narrow and leafy Surrey lanes to the hotel. Decided to move the car to outside the room as planned. 

So that scraping noise was my hubris being punished on the steep slope as the splitter did it’s snow plough impression. Hopefully not too much damage done - but we have to get off in the morning. 

Ah it's probably that then

Tackled the Caterham temperature guide - so bonnet and front nose cone off. That makes accessing everything quite easily. Can you spot it ?

Here it is. 

What I found was that the temperature sender connection was loose. I tried to solder it but that did not work so a new one is on order - hope it fits.

Then SAAB out and about.

It's a gusher ! (unfortunately)

First thing I decided to tackle the Alpine fuel problem. So up she went again on the two jacks.

I then thought I should check how much fuel we had - it was half full so about 4 gallons. I looked at using the small fuel pump to get it out but it did not seem to wok any more - odd.

So I resorted to just taking the pipe off. Whoa ! It shot out - it was hard work to get the pipe back on too - so my diagnosis of a blocked fuel off take was wrong. I tidied up and went away to wash and think on it again.

Then SAAB for utility run PM and MK7 for delivery.

Then the rain came back with a vengeance so that was that.

Surprise Trip

It was going to be another 'no driving' day in the rain but we were needed for jobs in Harkstead.

ION: A new virus is emerging in the UK - Monkeypox !

Class War - Heating up ?

An early start with the Caterham off to the VSCC Tour of Suffolk start point. Some lovely cars there although some of the owners were a bit off-hand. Here is a rare Riley Sprite (one of only 55 made) - I liked the side view but the curved grill (waterfall) does it no favours.

There was also a Riley MPH (replica) which the passenger was very cagy about until he found out I knew a little about the IMP/MPHs. Finally a few red trouser boys in Bentleys. I got the impression that I was not part of the club. I'll have to take the Imp next time and see if their attitude changes. One nice distraction was that a young lad thought the Seven was the best car there - so I let him sit in it much to the delight to his mum.

Anyway I also met up with a friend who had brought his new Rapier Convertible which looked very swish. He did report it was overheating (on the gauge at least) but did not seem to be running rough.

I followed him home after all the cars had left in the very low Caterham and was a little surprised that we had to go 'off road' to park up on the grass behind the Hall.

I took a few pics and then we went for a slow drive - I suspect he's getting used to the brakes and gears - but it was a great run in the sunshine. Again the temperature gauge very quickly went all the way over but the engine bay was not hot nor did it seem to loose water out of the overflow.

Finally a blast home in the Caterham and I noticed my own temperature gauge was not working. So a but nervous run back - but it was fine. I'll have to investigate that too.

Four wheeled Classic

MK7 down to London to see James for lunch and then Raphael and the new parents for tea. Lots of traffic and roadworks.

This is when the Automatic wins hands down.

Then we were treated to the sight of a 'classic' pram. A vintage Silver Cross Coach Built Pram indeed.

Nil Points

Well we loaded the SAAB with plants - but not for me to drive it off.

That fits ... ish

Started the day with SAAB to see the Sutton Brazill's - lots of heavy machinery still running about.

Then as the weather cleared it was pressed into use up to the Heath again.

Finally late evening sun a run in the Caterham. Well I needed to pick up a 2.4m length of wood so it was almost the least practical vehicle we have in the fleet for those jobs.

You will have to look closely for the 'load' though.

It still whistles

Golf to Rassy first thing for a sail.

Then PM we picked up a slightly dirty splattered E-type from Edd's own garage - complete with his bikes.

So the fan belt was too small after all. Home again and it still whistles !

ION: Inflation hits 9% the highest for 40 years. 

A small fix and a red run

Started by 'fixing' the MK2 exhaust hanger. It is not the right part and will probably wear through like the last one but it is safe and fairly robust.

Then moved the cars around to spray the drive at last.

Then tried to investigate the SAAB indicator light - seemed OK - then not - then OK again. It was OK on the run out though so we'll have to wait.

Finally Ferrari to the bottle bank. With all this recycling I'm surprised the planet is still in crisis.

Black Skies - but Red, White and Blue cars

The day dawned wet and cloudy - just what I wanted for the Alpine video I had organised. However the weather head and we made it.

First there was a SAAB run to East Bergholt early afternoon then a nervous wait as the skies cleared.

So the video. Started with the shot on the drive - I'd say I was 75% happy with it looking back - but it's good.

Then the static shots at Manningtree and finally the film.

All good fun but by the end of it my car was running very badly - no power and hard to get going - it felt the same as when the tank was not letting fuel out. Something else for me to investigate.

Raindrops and Electric Friends

SAAB to Stutton first thing - getting a lot of use at the moment.

Then off to deep Suffolk for garden visits and spotted this in the field.

It's one of the new AUDI E-TRON GT QUATTRO's. Large but looking good. It was also making a noise - unlike the electric Volvo that passed us that was almost silent.

Then as we looked for food I took another picture of the grey team.

I'd better get a classic out tomorrow or I'll be drummed out of the regiment. 

Spying Strangers

Whimped out of taking a classic so it was the SAAB off to WWW in the morning and meeting up with the vintage Bentley that's always there.

Yes - I have a hankering for something else old.

Then home and spotted this on the drive later in the evening. 

Miranda and Francis's new Audi. Nice colour and spec. I also warmed the Imp up for a run - but no takers.

It's Italian Time

Decided the Ferrari needed a run out in the afternoon sun. So out it came.

Off to the bottle bank - first passing Oli's neighbor in his 360 with waves - and then several nice comments/nods on the way.

Although a slightly strange look from a chap also doing his re-cycling in a classic Renault 5.

Batteries are in - and practice time

Early afternoon the boat batteries arrived so we popped them in the boot of the MK2 and went down to fit them. Parked next to a potent looking up Renault Megane in the marina.

Seemed to go surprisingly well - the job not the car. So we came back wit two dead batteries.

Then late afternoon I decided to practice the shot for Monday and the three Alpines on the drive. I only have one Alpine though so I used the MK2 and the Caterham as stand-ins. Seemed to work well.

Then I took the Alpine out for a short run - it was a lot better but not 100% until I put my foot down. I'll have to book it on the rolling road soon.

Sad SAABs

E-Type to Abbotts for the service and work first thing - so took the obligatory 'on the drive' shot.

When I got there they had several XJS in the garage and many many SAABs scattered around - mostly looking a bit sad I'd have to say.

Then down to the boat in the MK7 to look at the batteries. It has three very large ones and two (the black ones) need replacing.

Looks do'able - but we'll see how much of a hash I can make of it later this week.

Pottering and Thrubbing ?

Spent the morning cleaning off the Alpine plugs - a bit sooty but not that bad really.

But when I checked the Oil I found it a bit 'over full' so I decided to drain some out from the sump. Oh - it's not easy to get the sump plug back once the oil is flowing - anyway I took out about 2 litres and put back one and 3/4s ;pints so that settled it correctly. Interesting if it makes any difference.

Then tried to see why the E-type fan was not working - no luck - the relay and thermostat seemed to be working but I could see where to attach power to the fan motor itself. So one for Abbotts.

Late PM it was the turn of the dusty Caterham.

 And that's where the 'thubbing' came in. Seemed to be making an odd noise like something wobbling. Might need to check the tyre pressures. Although it still went like a Bat out of Hell when I put my foot down - which was why I took it out.

Swedish Mudlarks and hot Jaguars

Started the day with a MK7 running down to the boat. So what's wrong with this picture ?

I'm tryin to move the boat as we're aground IN the marina - as there was not enough water to get off our birth. So that was that.

So we decided to take the E-type for a run and eat our picnic. Here we are getting ready to go.

However, we'd forgotten the forks - so we stopped for those in Tescos on the way and I got several nice comments. However (2) on leaving the temperature gauge had shot up and when I stopped I found that the electric fan was not working anymore - so I gingerly pottered home so that was that.

Making up for the Modern - and the next generation ?

SAAB out first thing to see if there were any interesting cars attending a run in Woodbridge. I know I should have taken a classic but it was only going to be parked in the town car park ...

I was giving up hope when a vintage Vauxhall and then these two Riley's arrived.

On the left is a 1932 Riley 9 March Special (after the Earl of March) based on a 9hp chassis. On the Right is a 1927 Riley 8 Australian Special that has been re-imported. Father and Son drove the cars in.

Also we met the chap with the Dellow from the village he was doing the run with his grand daughter.

So then home and early afternoon we took the Alpine to Harkstead - rough as a bag of nails. Hard to start and ran poorly but got a bit better after the run. I need to check the plugs.

As the sun was still out I chose the Ferrari as it had not been out for a week.

Finally chose the Imp over the Caterham to deliver loo rolls to the Stutton Brazills.

Lets hope I am allowed to take her for a run one day before the petrol is taken away.