Very Green - but with Envy ?

Off to Kersey first thing - I suspect I'm a bit jaded as I'd failed to clean the E-type and even spotted a cobweb when it was warming on the drive.

Anyway it was the first time I've made the meeting and it was packed - well worth the effort.

Was a mixed event with lots of modern cars there too. Like this shocking beast (owned by a friend) that arrived a bit later. Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster - limited edition run out model - and probably about c£350+k with options. Very green.

Anyway - fabulous but a bit loud for me - or am I just jealous ?

Took mine out to the recycling later though and thought I preferred my understated power.

Even though it still looks like a Hippo from the back with the boot open.

Small Works Van

Caterham out and about in the hot afternoon sun, loaded with tools etc. First down to the boat to install the card reader.

Seemed to be ok though. It worked too but needs a coat of stain I think.

Then home via Harkstead for another job.

Finally gave the E-type a half hearted clean ahead of taking it out tomorrow.

Keep on trucking around

SAAB early on for the allotment shelves.

OK we're missing the wood - it's an 'after' shot.

Then PM MK2 out and about - Stutton ...

and Harkstead for stuff.

Not much else realy and the darkness comes very early now.

Magneto Man

AM was a quick jaunt taking the MK7 to the allotment. 

Then this afternoon I had another look at the Riley problem. Here is the problem. It is a Magneto.

I came to that conclusion as I spoke to several people about parts and the problems and got lots of interesting views. They are no longer made after the US gave up manufacture. Also:

1. Not the condenser as it would play up at high speed not low speed

2. A new condenser would be from a Bugatti restoration company and cost over a grand

3. It sounds like the coil has failed - and that is inside the Magneto 

4. It can be reconditioned for about £500 and they make their own parts

So there we are - or it is simpler to convert to a standard coil and distributor 

ION: The UK government has approved a new large Oil field in the North Sea - that's put the Eco cat amongst the polluting pidgins

September Sun and Van Life

I tried sanding the Imp contact points - seemed worth a try. No change at all - although it did seem to turn over a bit more. I still suspect poor electrics and lack of spark.

Them PM took the Seven out. I almost chose the E-type instead but I suspect the Caterham needed the run. Gosh it was hot though. I had to take my fleece off for the run back. Almost October too.

Parked next to this van in B&Q.

It got very hot and sounded a bit rough too on the way back though.

A Weak Spark - Sparks a Thought

So SAAB early PM for a Harkstead-East Bergholt-Harkstead run. Slow run there and slower back in the late September heatwave.

Here we are behind a tractor full of onions blocked by a low loader with a bus coming towards us.

Later Aston was the weapon of choice for the run to the shops for supper. Felt good although the brakes seemed to be squeaking.

Finally I had a play with the Imp. Cleaned the plugs and and it was no better. I then tested #1 and #3 (from the windscreen) and they had a weak spark. The rotor arm also looked past its best - so we'll start there.

Finally I spotted two small 'buttons' on the SU carbs - pressing them made the fuel pump operate and fuel being squirted in. Slightly too much as it happens as it started to drip out - but I think that means there is fuel getting through.

That was Deflating

Morning run in the modern to fit a card reader to the plotter on the boat. Worked well although the windows on the MK7 still won't go up and down properly.

Quite empty due to the high wind too.

Then PM took the Ferrari out. Only for the garage door to stop working - battery was dead. Tesco's first though in the blustery sunshine. Got a few odd looks.

Nice of them to have three spaces for me. Back home I replaced the batteries and we're good to go again.

Then later I decided to run the Riley round the block which is where the problems really started. It started OK but was running roughly so I turned around - as it was sounding like it was only on three cylinders - and come home. Plugs ?

Later I cleaned the plugs. Two were quite wet with oil and there was oil in the recess which I cleaned out.

So with high hopes I decided to take it out in the evening - but no. It would not start at all. Half hearted trying to fire then died. 

So there we are - first time we've had a problem with it though which was deflating.

I'll clean the plugs with petrol tomorrow and see if that helps.

Capturing the end of the world

SAAB out first thing to the allotment with cooker etc.

Then PM escaped the work with a final E-type run. Then found myself making an 'End of the World' poster.

Stacking the 308

PM Ferrari to the recycling and then on a longer run coming home. 

Feels good - but only 98% good - so I'll get the carbs rebuilt next year.

Then tried the focus stacking technique on it.

Works well. Especially with a bit of lightroom magic.

Then unexpectedly off to collect James from Mannintree - including the one way street and having to turn around.

Seeing little progress

Out and about for jobs in the trusty (and a bit rusty) SAAB am. Collected the glass and wine.

Then dropped off the bonnet seal at Lee's. No progress there but he does have a nice van.

Then PM more SAAB trips. Two Mrs Brazill's for C-19 and Flu jabs - I am too young - then to the allotment to take some flower pics.

Evening rain put paid to any other runs.

I'm Chasing Cars - He's Chasing Votes

Got a chance to go to the H and H auction at Duxford today. So SAAB out first thing to meet up and then a ride in a new Defender. Nice and big - but I did not even take a picture of it. Anyway the auction was interesting at the Duxford museum.

I was interested in an Alvis Silver Eagle that went to more than its estimate selling for just shy of £32k.

Whist the chap I went with was after the Charger (Dukes of Hazzard - General Lee clone) which did not get near the lower range estimate of £70k. 

He did not buy it though.

The E-types we saw did not sell either - not making their lower estimates but were priced about right. A Derby Bentley made just under £45k. Generally there were a lot of cars that did not make a sale at the time but will probably be bought afterwards.

Finally the run back in the rain was dull and after an accident on the bridge blocked the road I came home the long way. Ho Hum.

ION: Sunak announced that the government is moving the 2030 target for the banning of petrol/Diesel cars to 2035 - in line with the EU in fact. They are also moving other targets and watering down proposals.

Making Tracks

Looked like bad weather and I spotted these tyre tracks when we went out first thing.

Seems some one had been using the deserted trading estate for fun.

Dull run back but we avoided the storms.

Boat or Bentley ?

So the morning saw us off to The Boat show. The funny thing was the Bentley was a cheap option.

Even this Sunbeam was more expensive (I think).

The road down South

Southampton beckoned - and a slow run it was. Spotted this Porsche 914 on the way - rare but probably only as they could not sell many of them.

I took over the drive for the easy bit.

Nice to see the charging stations well used. Oh hang on...

Next Gen - Plus 1

MK2 out and about to Felixstowe - here we are parked on the front wit the Ferris wheel in the background - just.

We had come for the Beach Street car show - just a small event. I did not enter just popped along to have a look and chat. Nice SAAB 99 in the line up though.

Then home again and the rev counter was off.

Next was a short hop to the creek in the MK2 and the rev counter was on again.

Finally an Imp run. Here is the next two generations.

Oli and Monty. We also went for a little drive.

The only problem was that one of them grabbed the speedo trip and the wiring loom too. Speedo did not work for a bit but came back on line later. Not sure what wiring might have been disturbed though. I'll investigate. Ho Hum.

Then around the rest of the block - the car sounded more noisy but it might just have been me.

You wait all day ... then two come along

So ... picked up the 308 after lunch. We were parked ready to go.

Having a look around there was a large Lamborghini Espada V12 in progress - lots of carbs there.

Anyway back to the V8 - all new electrics - points, plugs, leads and coil. So that did the trick. It seemed to run better on the way back. It could be phycological but it sure it went well.

Evening it was ECR so I took the Ferrari. Great evening - probable the last one like this.

Funny thing was that there was another 308 - a GTBi - parked at the back. Looked great but I followed it out.

The only thing was that it sounded like a tractor. Shame.

A couple of runs

MK2 out and about - this time Stutton first.

The Harkstead later - just keeping the family wheels turning.

Mind you the rev counter was on the blink again.

Sign of the Times

Popped off in the SAAB with hot soapy water in the spray and a brush. The aim was to clean a couple of the village road signs in the morning. 

They seemed to come up nicely but there are lots of trees to cut back too - which I did not do. I did get tooted by someone that knows me though.

Then SAAB again pm for Harkstead run and a few more jobs.

Finally a re-cycling run in the Aston.

Oh you are working now

The Ferrari knew it was in the dog house, so it behaved itself on the way to Grimaldi.

Ho Hum. Actually it was a little rough on start up and not 100% on 'song' - so we'll see what they find.

MK7 ride back uneventful as a modern should be.

Then later in the afternoon the thunder and heavy rain arrived.

A little progress

Topped up the Imp oil and gave the cam covers a little clean.

Not that there was lots of oil splashed over them.

Then PM MK2 out to check on the Alpine - after a quick Harkstead run.

Almost all the panels are on except the rear arches - as before - but lots of bits have been smoothed out and are ready for lead loading.

Getting there and we might even see paint next in the month ... or two.

Finally I started the Ferrari. The starter did its trick of not stopping - even with the key out. The car started but was a bit rough and the revs died away and it started to stall. Hopefully we'll make it tomorrow.

Back to SAAB loads

Just a short SAAB run to a beach BBQ and back.

In God we Trust

So it's the hottest day of the year and we're driving an open top 1930's car. 

What could possibly go wrong ?

As it happens - not a lot. A very un-cool 80 miles later we'd visited one stately home (we were late, last in and then got lost in the grounds) and six churches (well five and saw another one in the distance). 

Here they are:

Above is the is the wrong side of Crow Hall. Below is where we were supposed to be.

So onto the Churches. We were supposed to take pictures of the cars in front of each Church - not that easy. First a nice XK140 drop head -  I was told later is is owned by the chap that own the hall we started at. 

Then to Woolverstone and I chatted to the owner of this 1935 Lagonda Rapier.

Next a longer run to Stoke By Nayland and the Church is up a closed path. This is a TR4 (or 4A) as close as I could really get.

The next one was hard but not impossible if you parked illegally for a bit. So here we are outside Kersey Church.

The next one at Semur really was impossible - not only was it down a grass track - there was also a wedding taking place. This is that Lagonda again next to the Imp for comparison.

Then onto Bildeston which was remote but accessible. The only other car that arrived with us was that Lagonda. So here it is yet again.

Finally we were off to the last top Lavenham, but that was impossible too really but I did manage this distant shot of a 1950 Bristol 401 from the field we were parked in.

Then after a quick check of the oil it was time to head home. This time along the A roads, 24 miles and about 50 mins later we were home and unpacking in the heat while the car looked unperturbed.

Overall the car got very hot (185 deg F) but not overheated, used very little water and about a pint of oil (half way down the dip stick). All the cam covers stayed in place despite the rough roads. The speedo came and went though.

It did start to make some odd noises at times but then they stopped. I suspect one might have been a bit of the 'clutch' breaking off as it sounded like something rubbing as it went round, but there are no fan belt etc.

So we'd do it again but I'd prefer not to do it in 30 degrees heat.

PS At the time it did not feel relevant but someone asked me if we were running with a supercharger as he could hear a whistling as he followed us. Fast forward to 31st October ...