Tidy Time

Warmed the E-type up to move it out while I made space for the old Alpine windscreen in my outside store. Seemed to have nine tyres and wheels in all so some of those have to go.

There was a little pool of water under the Jag when I moved it - but I hope that was from letting it heat up for a long time a few days ago - we'll see. Anyway it looked great on the drive.

Although it does look very small vs the SAAB - at this angle anyway.

Finished packing the bubble away by about 12:00 so about half an hour to pack it away. Too cold and dreary for a drive though.

Last month the Caterham made a respectable 125 miles - which I thought was good for February.

Black Clouds and Cold Runs

Morning run with a broken scarifier in the SAAB to drop it off.

Then PM Caterham run to Harkstead in the cold sunshine. To find the drive occupied.

Black clouds all the time threatening me. Anyway after a while I went out again to take pics in the car, but the light was very poor. I took a long run but the clouds followed me all the while but I got awy with it. 

Turns out the scarifier had water and rust in the carb float chamer - odd - it worked fine yesterday.

Springing number 2

Warmed the E-type up for about 2 hours this morning. Then started it - eventually. The fuel had backed off a lot so it took 4 long attempts. Strong battery though so fingers crossed it's ok.

Then left it warming for about 20 mins too.

SAAB run next - down to the boat - I carefully reversed between two of them to unload.

Then once back the E-type was sprung for a shakedown run - via the local bottle bank. 

I need to pack away the bubble now - but that can wait. So what's next ?

Waiting for the rain to stop

So I tested the Caterham and it started fine - without the pre-heat too.

So while waiting for the rain to stop we had a couple of MK7 rides - but the rain kept coming back. Even the evening it kept raining. So that was it. The Seven just stayed out.

In the end I tried to start it again - and again it was fine. So a few days without the battery charger on and we'll see how it goes. Next we'll try one of the others. Ferrari probably.

Pleasing Task

Up early and out - not realising how cold it was going to be. Odd how pleasing it is washing a car as dirty as the SAAB was.

Jet washed, then foamed, then hand washed, then jet washed again and finally dried. It will be dirty again in a single run as the roads are filthy. Later it rained again on the car before it could go anywhere.

I decided to investigate the state of the batteries starting with starting the Caterham - just. It was a bit sluggish but I'd only warmed it up for a few mins. Decided to pack the bubble away though as it's almost March too. 

The air gets trapped in the double layers on the top but soon goes down. As the rain kept threatening (and falling) I just packed it away again. Seemed to start better the second time around though but the charge light on the trickle charger came back on. I'll have to see how it goes.

Then we took a very clean SAAB back to Stutton and dropped back the unused tiles.

Dash and Milestone

SAAB dash to Harkstead as the kitchen delivery was early and unscheduled. So all the tiles I collected last night we unused. Ho Hum.

Then PM Golf to look at Alpine progress.

Spotted the miles tick over on the way - 165,000 miles and counting.

As to the Alpine - they have started on the offside. More metal to cut out and structure strengthened.

Also they have made up one rear wing panel - not fitted yet but give me encouragement.

Lee was getting his own S2 E-type finished by his team too. So he's not doing too badly.

When I got back I noticed the Golf battery had moved so I tightened the bolt back down. Odd.

Town and Country

Run to town for dentist and street parked on a busy road.

Tried to get to washed on the way back but the car wash was closed for re-development. I guess I'll have to wash it myself. Got petrol though.

Later MK7 run to boat to marina to get parts. 

Final a SAAB evening Stutton run to pick up floor tiles to turn Nana's garage into a workshop.

Off we go again

Early SAAB run - Harkstead and around. The SAAB looking very dirty now.

No wind, no sun and no UK Boarder Force either

Misty start to finish off the packing - that’s better nicely full - and off to the ferry home. Did spot a nice classic French 205 cabriolet on the way. 

Delay at port due to “technical difficulties” with UK Boarder Force meant we were an hour late getting onto the motorway though - so a late run back.

When we got home we found that had had a power plip again - so all the bubbles had deflated and the batteries were drained - we'll have to see how many batteries survived 5 days of draining.

See Below

Run to the bottle bank and packing - although we don’t seem to have much to pack ?

I thumbed through some mags from 1982 though only to find references to two people I know - which was odd - shows how long I've been in the 'Classic' game.

Light Duties - in Poor Light

No long trips today (or walks) for a rest. Just SAAB utility runs to the shops etc. Could be home. 

Then night time into Dinan for supper - it did seem very dark though on the back roads - but is that just me.

Classic Horse Power

More SAAB activities and another drive to the coast - nothing of note except some classic horse power. Although I did notice the mud guards are old tyres.

However the engine light is staying off and the car is filthy all over so it does not show too much.

Mucky SAAB and Microcars

Quick run into Dinan for the market and a wonder. Parked on the side street near where we have been before. Noticed how dirty the car is getting and wondered how much the house was - oh and if it had a garage and drive.

Ligier Microcar in the market. 

Then a classic 2CV being badly driven in the supermarket car park - to be honest I think I frightened him appearing as he was trying to get out of the parking place.

Both small cars from different generations. 

Then a longer run parking the SAAB on the hill above the town for a walk to Plancoet and back. We got a bit lost in the woods to be honest but thankfully the phone gps saved the day. 

Run back on quiet backroads - good for classics I thought.  

Run in the Sun

Run across country to Erquy on the coast - in the sunshine - about an hour all in. We found the right way out of Aucaleuc too this time. 

We took the nice backroad route in the unexpectedly warm February weather. Firstly to the coast and then down to the busy port area.

ROUTE BARRÉE

Slow off the ferry but not too bad. Check engine light still on. 

The first problem was the blocked roads as we approached home - no entry it said on the road to Aucaleuc - but we went on - only to have to turn around in the middle of the road works. So it was barred on the main road into Aucaleuc and then on the back road too ? 

We found our way in to the back of la Denilias eventually through back roads we knew after squeezing past another route barre sign and then a works lorry. 

Then after unpacking we went into town for the big shop via small roads we’d not been on before. Nice run and better was that the check engine light was off again ? Odd. 

Topped up the tank with 98 octane which might help on the way home too. 

Slow first leg

Packed SAAB in the morning followed by a SLOW run down punctuated by lots of slow traffic past a broken down lorry at wonderful Whitam, then road works and more heavy traffic. 

Highlights were a Fast Ford (RS 2000) on a trailer on the way ...

... and the ubiquitous classic Citroen coffee van at Wisley. 

Most excitement was being stopped by Border Force for a quick check under the bonnet and under the car. Oh and then the bloody ‘check engine’ like came on in the queue. Probably a result of all the stop start motoring.

Mirror back

A dull day but the mirror seemed to stay stuck on the MK7 so we used it for a quick jaunt to Harkstead. 

About it really.

ION: The world ends the week with the death toll of the huge earthquake in Turkey and Northern Syria rising to above 30k, the US shooting down three unidentified flying objects, the Health Service preparing for a larger wave of strikes and as the first year of the Ukraine war nears (24th Feb) Russia is preparing the next phase of the invasion. 

Great start to the year and not sure which is the most disturbing.

Sofa - So Good

SAAB swallowed the sofa first thing as we cleared out the Harkstead garage and went to the dump.

Might have room for a car now - or at least a flat pack kitchen.

Then decided to try to fix the Golf MK7 mirror that had fallen off.

Hope it works.

I also noticed my name in the Riley mag as a contributor - nice I thought - I also assume they name checked everyone though.

Varied running

Started off by vacuuming out the SAAB. Giving it a good clean before the run next week. Mind you when I pumped up the tyres last week they just went down so I am expecting it to be covered in shit next time I get in it.

Then MK2 to Harkstead for a quick job. Dirty but still looking good.

Then Seven out and down to the marina for lunch. Parked under two green hulls out of the way. 

The blue hull of the Rassy to the far left. Then after that we went off around the long block in the sunshine. As the miles ticked up it was nearing a milestone - as we turned into the drive it clicked over to 47,000. That's just over six thousands miles in my keep.

Finally Aston to the shops as it needed a run. Parked quite neatly too.

Ah there they are

Checked the bubble first thing. There were the Caterham keys in the ignition as expected.

Then SAAB MK7 shuffle ready for a walk.

Final MK7 run back in the cold evening sun. When we got back we found the nearside wing mirror glass on the drive - odd.

Cold Reward

Not sure why I decided to get the Caterham MOT'd in the middle of winter. I guess the Covid-19 move for six months forced my hand. Anyway it was probably only -1 when I set off at 8:30 am.

But here we are two hours later with another year's ticket and no advisories. So back home was a warmer drive. 

Then MK2 to collect some glass shelves early.

Followed by Harkstead after lunch for a quick job - but the long run home in the dying sunlight.

I packed the car away in the bubble - but I could not find the keys so I think I forgot to take them out - so I'll have to look tomorrow.

More SAAB shuffling

Just a short hop with hardcore for the Harkstead Hole today.

To cold to concrete though.

Sunny Break

Booked Seven in for a MOT on Wednesday then SAAB for quick Harkstead job late morning.

Then Caterham out and about - bottle bank (had a chat to someone admiring the car) and filled up with petrol (and had a longer chat to a friend).

Then finally Golf back to Harkstead for tea.

So running around again, but the sun was out which was nice.

Cam Profile ?

MK7 to Cambridge and a pub for lunch with friends (the Kings Head in fact) by the river Cam.

NB: The pub was actually The Plough !

Nil Return and Back to Black

Pottered about in the dull dreary weather. 

Checked the MK7 repair and it did not need painting as the sensor was black anyway ?

SAAB needs a treat

Another SAAB-fest today.

First thing run to Harksterad with tools to screw down the threshold. Did I really need all these tools for that one little job ? Seems I did.

Next was collecting the wood from our Stutton clients using the trailer (all the lights working) ...

... and storing it for them so they have space to build the garage wall. See next project.

Then SAAB to collect the MK7. 

Finally got the first bill from the Alpine restoration. High as expected but not stratospheric - yet.

Finally (again) SAAB to pick up James from the station.

It's Karma

SAAB as taxi to drop VW MK7 off to get it's parking sensor fixed by the main dealer - that's going to be expensive. The SAAB was visibly pulling to the left whilst I drove so I thought I'd knocked something. Then short shopping trip before handing it over so Jana could use it.

So I took the MK2 out to look at the Alpine and was rewarded by a great sunny drive through the Essex lanes - I did not get lost either - but the car did get very muddy again. It was very busy so I parked up by the dilapidated barn and went in.

To find a very dilapidated Alpine. However there was a lot of new metal in it - the near side sill and door having been done so there is some progress.

However I looked at the bodge under the rear arch. Having seen it in the flesh it looks too poor to leave so I agreed to have that fixed properly - £££. At least the rear fins are ok which are very hard to replicate.

Once back I checked the SAAB and the nearside front tyre was very flat so I pumped it up again. The spit test showed another valve giving trouble after I pumped up everything Tuesday. I tried to fix it but I thought it was still leaking a little.

PM then we went to check the boat in the SAAB - fine - but the valve was still leaking a little. So once back I bit the bullet and took it to Kwik Fit to get it fixed kwickly. Actually they were great 30 mins and did not even charge me. 

So in my mind I was rewarded for doing the right thing by the Alpine anyway.

New month already ?

Wow it's February already - so I cleaned the Golf.

It looked great in the sunshine, but I put it away before the rain came back.

So as the tyre seemed to have stayed inflated it was the SAAB out and about to Harkstead and then an evening run to the Rootes meeting.

In a surprise result the Caterham was the most driven in January too at 60+ miles (ignoring the MK2). Shows how good the weather had been.