12 at last

Nice to find my pics in the Ferrari mag when we got back last night. I had a good look today.

Anyway - SAAB for a quick run after lunch then back to the drifting pics. Made a few changes and it looks more dramatic now.

Finally an evening run in the Aston to the Bottle Bank and B&Q - it gets all the treats.

A sign of the times ?

Spent the morning packing up and getting ready to drive the 170 miles home.

Suspension still low.

Then popped out to photograph this old road sign - possibly pre-war.

Run back was also fine another 170 ish miles.

So could an electric car do the running around ? It would need a range of about 450 miles so some might make it.

Smokin'

SAAB off to the Donnington for a round of the National Drifting Championship. Well why not ?

A different event and we were on the old side but it was worth a visit.

Hard to shoot through the wire fence though.

Spotting and pottering

 Morning walk took us past this little A35 van from 1955 snug in its growing garage.

The SAAB into Cannock for a visit. 

Not much to see although the car park was free.

Pumping Gas

All set up the next day so left the SAAB and got a passenger ride in the Ford.

Country house and canal - spotted this vintage petrol pump still in use though.

Top loaded - Bottom compressed

SAAB fully loaded for camping.

As you can tell from the suspension ...

Run up to Cannock was fine - 170 miles and about 3 hours. Spotted this small car on the way. 

A Berkeley SA322 in fact.

Finally late evening SAAB run to get fish and chips from a doggy area in Rugeley. Nice sky though.

ION:  The Energy price cap increased by 80% - driven by the Gas price at the moment it sets the Electricity and Oil prices too. When most people are worried about their  are looking at our bills then something is fundamentally wrong. It is predicted to rise further dramatically in the future too.

The 12 will have to wait

MK7 out and about  to Stutton - odd to drive it.

Then more SAAB packing.

Finally a lift to Chelmo in the Passat and back again.

Six to Eight

Well a quick four first with the MK2 into town With its squeaky wheel.

Rear I think - as it was very hot so could be a sticking brake ?

After lunch a ride in the MK7 - not squeaking at all.

Then a bit of SAAB packing.

Then up to Eight. Dusty Ferrari out in the late sunshine.

 Actually most of the fleet need a clean - so September will probably be sprucing up month.

Moving up to Six

First took the MK2 out (very dusty again) down to the creek and then Harkstead.

Spotted some green in the grass too after the rain.

Then E-type to the boat to drop off provisions and to turn the gas off - which I forgot to do !

Four plus Four

G back from R before lunch - so time to get the un-used cars out.

First the Imp - which seemed to go well - around the block. Still odd driving it and not easy when a prat tries to overtake a bike on the narrow lanes but then there we are.

Then Caterham out. 

Did spot the three logos as well. Still not sure the temperature gauge works but then ... also went well.

Burn it while I can.

ION: The Ukraine war keeps going, inflation might hit 18% in the Spring, Felixstowe port is on strike (as are other industries) and they are predicting black-outs this Winter - at least that will stop us spending money on electricity which will cost double by then. Oh to be in England in the Summer of 2022.

Driveway Chaos ?

Drove Oli's small blue Audi back to him after it was left with us last night. Still a very nice car - although it needs a good clean inside and the scratches and dents fixing.

Then all the cars got shuffled around to get the top box out of the garage loft this time. Harder than usual as it seemed to be stuck under the Alpine hard top. I suspect I need to clear stuff from that loft.

Then Aston to collect some wine.

Finally G2R and a late afternoon/evening sail.

Piling on more Swedish miles

Long runs in the morning in the trusty SAAB looking for a book case - across the Essex/Suffolk villages and Clare - which has gone downhill a lot since we were there - that was before C-19 hit.

Then back again and across to the coast.

PM was an exciting run to the local bottle bank.

Then the early Taxi run to Hintlesham - followed later by the late run. Both having to avoid the closed A14 junction.

SAAB and MK7

Me in SAAB for utility run.

Then Passenger in MK7 for photos.

Must get back in the classics at the weekend - if the weather holds.

Back in Time

MK7 to Kentwell Hall. Only vehicle I spotted was this cart ?

Actually thinking about it - there was an old Rolls in the stables but I did not look at that - Dho !

Passive Cleaning

After many days of dry sunny days the weather finally broke.

So the SAAB got a clean after all.

It kept raining too - so no other car action.

ION: nothing is dampening down inflation though which hit 10%+ today

Driving Miss Daisey

Another day another SAAB trip.

Busy drive when I got there too.

Back again

Starting to get tiresome - if I'm really honest - but there is no one else.

No energy to take anything else out - and the rain may even come soon !

Another Noise to worry about

MK7 back from the boat and then I decided to take the Alpine out in the evening heat.

Getting home I got that strange noise again - seemed to be the clutch ? 

I'll have to monitor it.

G2R #27

Well it's not the 27th time but a full'ish load for the Golf on our way to the boat again.

Rinse and Repeat - with an Italian Twist

SAAB out again first thing for a trip to the Heath.

Grass looking even more burnt.

Then lots of car graphics from last night to finish off - people seem to appreciate their cars in my style.

Finally as the heat dissipated the Italian got another run out. Seemed to like the warm air too. Or was it just that it's been used a bit more.

That is twice this week.

Another Retro Night

Caterham out after lunch in the heat with a small green passenger.

The ECR meeting in the evening - so two Jags seem appropriate.

Huge meeting too with 402 cars - and I did my usual apocalyptic take on things.

It does help when some of the cars seem to be off the set of Mad Max though.

Autumn Weather then Heat

Another early start this time 7:30 and the car was wet again.

However the heat came back quickly and after a run to the Heath it was hot again.

After lunch we managed a run to the boat for a little job - parked next to this monster on the road down to the marina to avoid the speed bumps.

A 2013 BMW M6 - Jana thought ours was nicer - oh and more valuable too. Looking at the secondhand prices she was right.

Then Alpine out in the still warm evening to check on Oli's roadworks. 90% finished, but the road was still closed to his house. Alpine ran well there - but very hot on the way back so a bit 'fluffy'.

I was not expecting that

With hot weather warnings being issued again I was not prepared for the mist and (slightly) damp morning that faced me and the SAAB at 6:30 am. 

Run to the Heath and then back about 4 hours later - I did a few jobs but mostly sat on the tail gate reading as the day warmed up.

Then an evening run to check on the patient in Harkstead in the Golf.

ION: Energy prices are set to increase by nearly 80% again this Autumn and then again in the Spring - add inflation above 10% and something will collapse soon.

Overtaking !

SAAB out for petrol mid morning - another £120+ bill. Then SAAB out again for jobs after lunch.

Finally freed the Ferrari and packed away the table in the loft. 

So it only felt right to take it out. Coming back past the river the car in front was doing 25 in the 30 zone and then 30 in the 60. So I overtook it - as did the Golf chasing me.

Busy Drive

Early run to Harkstead and jobs in the Alpine.

Full car park when I got back as the 'guests' assembled.

All German cars of course. Audi and VW x2.

Then late pm SAAB pressed into service again for jobs.

Imp-ressed

Took James for a run in the Imp in the morning - seemed to like it.

Could not to the circuit as the road was closed at the bridge junction - so we turned around by the flag.

Workhorse and Sunshine

SAAB early run to next village.

Then again to spend all day in the car park at the Heath.

Then finally evening Alpine jaunt for jobs.

Inappropriate Car 2 ?

Started shuffling the supercars around to get the table down from the garage loft. 

I'm getting too old for this shit I thought at one point.

Then after a ride in the MK7 I decided to take the Caterham around the block in the afternoon sunshine.

I suspect it was 80 degrees so the car seemed very hot although the gauge did not reflect it. I'll have to get it looked at during the service.

As for me - I was also a bit hot.

In the Mix

SAAB at 8:00 to meet the builder and then MK2 early afternoon to Harkstead for woodworking jobs - twice as it turned out.

Then it was the Rootes group meeting and a great selection of cars. From the 1947 Humber Snipe Alex brought ...

to the 1972 Sunbeam Rapier a new Martin came in. 

Plus a Tiger and of course the older (Talbot) Rapier and my Alpine both from 1960.