More Passenger Time

MK7 to Anglesey Abbey to meet friends.

Then back via the petrol station.

If that was not exciting enough I also took the monthly mileages.

E-type clear winner with 156 but Alpine close with over 130. Mind you the SAAB almost hit the 1k mark.

Tools Time

SAAB with tools for jobs.

Then just riding around in the MK7.

Grabbing a chance

Not much transport action until the end of the day - then Seven out and about.

The temperature gauge still seems to read low but reacts when just idling - so we'll keep an eye on it.

Also a large German chicane appeared in the drive.

Oh it's started again

Alpine out in the afternoon to Harkstead.

Note the burnt grass. The Tesco delivery man and the new neighbour seemed to like it.

Then on the way home it started again. The over charging. It seemed to start after going over bumps in the road - quite a few of those in Suffolk.

Well lets see how it progresses.

Various Treats

SAAB first thing to Harkstead for little jobs.

Then tried to fit the new exhaust hanger on the MK2 Golf. No way that was going to fit so I ended up using a large round one I had in stock.

See how long that lasts.

Seemed OK up to Harkstead for lunchtime jobs though.

Then I braved the Imp - which seems to have gone back to its usual self after I cleaned the oily plugs. The time was right too when I set it. I'd forgotten the road is closed again on my block so I had to do it in two halves.

Filled up with petrol on the way back where it was appreciated by a groups of 'youths' on bikes at the station. Not sure they believed it was from 1934 nor it was raced at Le Mans though.

Finally the SAAB again - this time into Colchester and the long way back by mistake.

SAAB Shuffle

Three runs in the trusty (and very dusty) Swede today. 

Harkstead first thing. Then the Heath - including a trip to B&Q which it's not seem for a while.

Finally back to Harkstead for meals on wheels.

Always a treat

Golf MK2 out first thing. Hard to start - like the battery might be flat ?

Also I'd forgotten to fix the exhaust hanger - must get on with that. Parked up and fitted the battery conditioner again - it's not been on for several months.

Then Aston out in the evening to the recycling again. Not sure it's been anywhere else recently.

4-6-8 Who do we Appreciate ?

Missed out the 2 - though.

Alpine first thing off for local jobs. No issues with the charging - odd as the car had not been on the trickle charge.

Them late PM after the heat had died down I took the Ferrari out - not been used much recently. 

Nice drive and I even overtook a dawdling car - but then I got stuck behind a tractor.

Then E-type out to get petrol. Again a great run and nice comments from chap in the garage.

Waiting on the Water

G2R and a sail with friends. Quite windy too.

We suspect everyone wanted to get back early too as there was quite a queue to get back in.

ION: ... but not as bad as at Dover where for the second day running its been gridlocked.

Afternoon test

SAAB out am to Harkstead for jobs in the warm grey morning.

Then PM I took the Alpine in the warmer grey afternoon and no sign of the overcharging problem ... we'll have to do a longer run though.

Later on I realised I forgot to put the battery conditioner on when I pack it away. We'll see if it still starts on Sunday.

Golf Coast

Well Golf to the coast anyway. Trip in MK7 to Mersea Island and a day on the beach with the family.

On the way back we took the scenic route (e.g. missed the turning) and ended up at the old ferry crossing opposite Wivenhoe.

Then a final run home via Harkstead for a quick job.

Trumped by a bigger V12

Early run in the E-type up to Dunsfold for the spitfire flight - of course it was raining when we left.

65 nervous miles in the heat and although the car ran well up the A14 it showed the hottest I've seen for a long time on the dial. The fan was running constantly too. It was already in the 20's (nearly 70 degrees) and just got hotter as we went. The roadworks did not really help either, however we got there in the end and parked next to a couple more cars.

We went in and I was ushered into the first briefing rater than my allotted afternoon one. We signed our lives away and then went through to where the Spitfires were parked.

The day was warm and we spent a lot of time wondering what the timetable was - so it was a bit disjointed with the five flights spaced out during the day - two Spitfires first, then after a long wait a Spitfire and a Hurricane. Finally it was time for me at the very end of the day.

There were a few more dials than the E-type but it had a familiar feel.

Take off sounded like the Imp (the pilot actually had a vintage Bentley) but the flight was less bumpy. The controls when I had a short time flying it were very very sensitive and my banking was a bit dramatic - but then again it was my first (and last) go in a WW2 fighter.

Back on the ground we were able to arrange the cars around the planes and - well - the pics are average.

Then another hot 65 miles back and the day was over. The car having done us proud.

Prep for Props and Record Heat

So I started on the E-type first thing to get it ready for the Spitfire flight. Detail and a bit of polish then checked the Oil (almost at the top) water (fine) and tryes (needed a little in the off side rear).

Then I retired inside for admin and to avoid the heat. However the flight might be off due to the impending thunderstorms following the record temperatures of the last two days.

Fine inside (the joy of an old house) but very hot outside.

Got the call early evening to say it is on - the only flight that might be effected by the thunderstorm is mine - as I am at the end of the day ...

So I popped out and topped up the fuel going out in 90 degree heat - just like the Le Mans run all those years ago I thought.

ION: UK record high temperatures today hitting 40.3 degrees in Coningsby Lincolnshire and there are 'wild fires' breaking out to the South and East of London and even Suffolk - seems like it's getting real.

Keeping Calm and Carrying On

Two trips out by 11:30 and the heat is building.

First the MK2 for a few early jobs before 9:00.

Then the SAAB for more jobs a bit later.

It was 31 degrees by 11:30 - that's 88 for us old people - and predicted to be higher tomorrow. 

Later in the evening the Aston came to save the day and by re-cycling this lot the temperature dropped by a degree. Well it was 29 when we got there and 28 when we got back.

ION: BBC saying that "Soaring temperatures are also having a devastating impact on much of Europe and north Africa, with wildfires raging from Greece to Morocco and thousands being evacuated from blazes in France and Spain" - so that's global warming for you. Some countries are about to put the coal fired power stations back on line due to the war in Ukraine though.

Why Whitworth ?

8:00 am and I was already working on the Alpine to look at the earth connection. Easy to spot and did not need to jack the car up to get to it either. Not sure it's in the correct place though.

Turns out that the bolt that holds the Earth strap connector is Whitworth and it’s at Whitworth fitting that was why neither the Imperial nor the metric did not fit exactly. Odd it's the second Whitworth fitting I've found. Anyway Can you see it under the rust ?

So I did what I could - scrubbed everything with the wire brush and sanded back the paint to metal. I also cleaned up the nut and used new washers. Tightened it up and it started fine.

Then Alpine off to fill up with petrol and it was fine - no charging problem either.

The off to Icksworth House 35 miles away (not including taking the wrong turning off the A14 first time) in the heat. Funny thing was that the charging problem immediately came back - full charge. So I had the lights on to drain off some of the power and continued. The more we went on the A14 at top speed the less it charged until it settled down again.

Here we are. So the car started easily for our return - but so did the charging problem. The same cycle - high charging until we'd done about 20 miles and then it settled down. So we did 70 miles in 25 degrees and the car ran fine - if still a bit lumpy at mid throttle.

Then collected the lawnmower in the trusty SAAB for a late night mow.

 

Stumped and Powerless

Alpine off to the Alderton Village Fair. We'd been organised by Chris from RGEA.

So early on the Alpine went well (although the ignition switch was a bit faulty on starting it again) but it started to misfire a little. Then the car started it's old 'stuttering' but seemed ok on the flat.

Then it really did not want to start at the stop when we all met up - but it did eventually.

Finally we Kangaroo'ed into the line up and turned off the ignition, opened the bonnet and hoped the car would cool down and behave.

However on trying to leave, the car would not even turn over. No power at all to the ignition - or the lights - or anything at all as it turned out. After a bit of faffing around I got some help from Martin and John Day. As they looked at the problem I rang the breakdown service - just as they said it would be 2+ hours the car started ! It was the main earth lead - a few hits and it was temporarily fixed. 

So we lined up the Rootes cars and snapped a shot.

On the way home it behaved well - drove better as well - but the charging was off the scale. 

Umm ? Oh well.

R2G back

Sailed back in the high winds we were not expecting. Sun seemed to be hiding though even though it was quite warm.

ION: A RED weather warning had been issued for possible 40 degree heat in the South of the UK - a record temperature and will trigger more worries about global warming and I suspect the car will be targeted again.

G2R - as the heat builds

Golf MK7 down to the boat as the weather actually cooled even though it's getting hot again.

A couple of runs

Golf fist thing for a Harkstead trip.

Even that lawn is looking burnt.

Then PM SAAB to Stutton and got covered in dust as they were cleaning the building site.

Finally a Caterham run back in the evening sunshine and heat. The temp gauge not moving a much - umm - and I felt water drops on my leg (I was wearing shorths) odd ?

A few jobs done - and one more discovered

Alpine work first thing. Decided to close the heater vent flap - well it is 30 degrees this Summer - but I found it was shut anyway.

Then I checked the Oil/Water/Tyres etc. all fine although the rear ones were at 45 psi - perhaps I'd not deflated them after storage ?

Then made up the cone for the air ram ducting - have to see if it makes a difference.

 

Finally I cleaned out the washer bottle which had a thick layer of crud at the bottom.

Next was the Imp starting with checking the plugs - two depressions either end had oil in them but the others were fine. The plug nearest the front also seemed a bit more discoloured too.

Then checked the water - none - and the oil - a little- so added a half pint.

PM Golf to town and it looked so dirty I decided to clean it when we got back.

However I also spotted the exhaust hanger has broken again - so that will need fixing.

It's a real one Mate

Golf out early afternoon - for a Harkstead visit - still dusty and needs a clean (e.g. a garage) again.

Then Dithered about taking the Ferrari around the block - or to the ECR Shotley meet. In the end I went and it was a packed meeting - some odd cars there too and the 308 was admired. Which is always gratifying.

I made the mistake of thinking a chaps LHD E-type was a replica in ear shot though - it's not according to the DVLA but it's an odd one. So what is this for ?

Post Script: Investigates reveal it is a fitting for a US number plate

That's not the delay we were expecting

Early start back to the boat and the sun was already hot.

We were expecting delays at the port leaving the boat at 6:30 but there were none. What we did find was more than an hour delay getting through the Dartford crossing as the bridge was closed. Then we braced ourselves for the A12 closures around Colchester - but there were none.

So home by 10:15 - not a bad run after all.

Alpines Assemble

Last day so we headed for the coast again and I spotted this nice looking Renault Alpine on the walk back.

Smaller than it looks in pictures too. 

Then popped back into town with SAAB half packed for the return trip tomorrow and spotted another one. I quite liked them.

Found out later they are automatics only though...

Southern Man

Only about 90 mile run to the South of Brittany to see Anthony (Francis' Brother) in Le Pouliguen. Just over five hours there and back. The French have embraced roundabouts - we must have found 100. 

Usual confusion around Rennes on the ring road but a nice run back on A roads - need to map them for a classic. Here we are in the blistering sunshine.

A few expensive cars down south and this old classic Renault 4 at the port and a Porsche (pre-A?) on the road - but nothing else. 

It was very hot by then and it was still 30 degrees at 8:00 pm on the run back. 

Pink Bike

SAAB into Dinan for market day then off to the coast for picnic lunch on the beach with threatening clouds following us.

Then off to Dinard and spotted this bike prop outside a flower shop.

Two familiar spots

SAAB to the dump after an early morning start clearing weeds - before the hot sun hit the front of the house.

Then off to Port de Plaisance de Lyvet (e.g. the big lock on the Rance near Tarden) where we often go. I'm sure we parked in 'our' spot too. Spotted this nice looking Alfa GTV on the way there so I stopped for a picture on the way back. 

Then more SAAB pottering back into town for an evening drink in the bright sunshine - even at 7:30 pm it was still very hot. 

ION: UK Government in chaos as 60+ ministers resign but Borris clings onto power

How very French

Off the ferry far more easily than we got on - although roadworks and a detour through St Malo had us guessing for a while. Then we were there - seemed a long time since we left.

Lots of pottering in the SAAB during the day but we did see a nice 2CV scene when we went to the port at Dinan. 

Queues, Queues and more Queues

Off to France at last - so down to RHS Wisley early for a lunch stop due to expected delays due to the fuel price protest. Spotted the first queue as we went past Colchester.

The second was our turn as we passed Chelmsford.

So that was an hour extra on the journey so far. Finally in the queue for ferry watching the classics come back from Le Mans thinking it was 2014 last time I went. 

Mind you the gridlocked queues at the port today - out and in - rather put me off.

SAAB hops and a Impish noise ?

Early SAAB run to collect and then drop back the Harkstead Brazill and an electric friend.

Evening was ripe for a run in the Imp in the late sunshine.

It was going well but about seven miles of the circuit it sounded as if the exhaust was making more noise than usual and perhaps felt a little under power ? Was also a little more clutch slip once - perhaps that's the problem. Or have I just imagined everything. We'll see.