Effortless Power

That's what the Ferrari felt like.

Before that however another quick SAAB Harkstead run to photo the wheel chair control.

Then PM more 'Garaging'. Well cutting the panels for the doors and making a frame for it.

Finally post work it was an evening run in the 308. 

It just wafted me up to 60 - even up hill with almost no effort. I risked the re-surfacing and it was fine - but I kept the speed down.

I also spotted the Talbot in the CVMC Tendring show write up.

Miles wise for July the Ferrari won - but it was a low scoring month somehow and the MK2 did Zero !

Green is Good (again)

I checked the rear Talbot battery about 10:00 and it was charged too - so green for go. So over night was fine for that one. 

Whilst walking I got a few pics of the Aston. Looks soapy !

Oh and the alarm said I needed a new battery again. But here is it clean.

And looking mean. I'll have to re-learn how to drive it again.

So PM I thought I'd better do more on the 'car port'. So I did the back wall.

Looking good now. If I paint the new wood black it will blend in nicely. Doors next ...

More of the Same

I put the front Talbot battery on charge as prep for the weekend first thing. Then a short SAAB hop to Harkstead to take a look at another four wheeled issue later in the morning.

That's the wheel chair control broken off - umm not one I can fix.

Then updating the Ferrari service records I came across this picture. But from when ?

Turns out it was 04/04/2008 - that's when we picked the car up and I drove back in the thunderstorm. That's over 17 years ago and it still looks great - oh and now its fixed it goes great too. Looking at the miles I've averaged just under a thousand miles a year.

PM run to Flatford as passenger in MK7. 

Then by 6 pm the Talbot front battery was charged - so I swapped to the rear. That's about 10 hours.

Shot trips and Shorter Wood

Off we go again. 

First task was to arrange to collect the Aston on Friday. That will put pressure on me to get the carport finished.

Then after home tasks SAAB up to Harkstead to drop off milk and fix arm rest on the wheel chair. Then down to the boat to check we'd not left the key in it (no we'd not) and recover my sunglasses. Then off to B&Q for wood to construct the slope to cover the tree trunk and keep out the rain.

Ah - that plan is buggered I thought as I arrived at the bridge to find this.

15 mins later we're off again though. No real problem in sight ? Anyway wood in the boot I returned - only to find that it was too short - oh and not wide enough either. Double fail.

So PM off we go again and return it - I did what I should have done before and made a plan and had it cut.

That's better. I even came home the long way to check the road works and gravel - still bad in sections.

So back we re-started. I measured, measured, cut, cut, cut and finally fitted it. The side you see is good - not so the reverse but that's fine. It looks purposeful and with some seal should do the trick. Now for the doors.

Then as a reward I took the E-Type out to save the planet and then re-traced my tyre track for petrol. The road still being full of chippings.

It still smells of petrol a bit. I'll have to investigate.

Missing the Showers - Again

So sailed back - and yes we managed to get the cruising chute wrapped backwards again - we did recover it though. Lesson is don't try tack when it's blowing 18 knots.

Back early afternoon but no time for car action - other than James sending me this - his mate's spot at a wedding. 

SV - posted it but no one came forward to claim it.

ION: The Lionesses won the Euros - AGAIN - two on the bounce. I now know what Germans must have felt like when their teams won stiff - quite pleasing actually.

Flying

G2R early for a sail up the Deben. Early to rig the cruising chute. We also used it more to the point.

Also we overtook a boat using it which is always fun.

Missed most of the showers too on our trip up - it really seems so quick to get there now.

Frustrated by Gravel

So MK7 off to Ickworth - nothing of note - until I spotted this 1932 Lagonda in the car park.

Chatted to the owner and it turned out he'd been at Friston so I probably say it there too. He was quite chatty and even come back to talk to me on his way past. Research says probably a 1932 Lagonda 2 Litre Continental Tourer. 

The day done it was back again in the Golf through a very quiet town for jobs.

Late evening saw the 308 fired up at last (well only eight days ago) but as you can see the sun had gone by then.

A few typical Weber pops and bangs on start up but she settled quickly. The only issue was that they have now resurfaced the Manningtree Road - well tipped gravel on it. So no spirited run to warm the car up - I just came home. Ho bloody Hum.

Still Only SAAB

A wet and windy day again - so house cleaning and admin took the lead. How exciting. I did do a quick Harkstead run though in the SAAB PM and thence to the shops.

So packed I had to use the village car park.

Wood Working

I spent the whole day working on the other side of the car port today, with only a SAAB Harkstead jaunt for a job as a brake.

Yes it says 25 degrees - I thought it was warm. Anyway I completed the side - bar the 'hatch' for the tree.

Oh and the doors of course.

Springing Mr E for Once

Moved the MK2 first thing to clear the car port so I could store the wood in there. Odd reflection in the morning sunlight.

I think its the number plate. Odd. Anyway then the lorry arrived and managed to reverse into the drive which save time.

Especially as I seem to have bought a lot of wood. So from then on most of the day was working. I finished the side off before lunch.

Which was harder than I expected. PM I moved the four posts onto the slab. That took three hours on its own and used most of the tools I have - including a tap and dye and angle grinder !

Then quick Harkstead run in the SAAB. Finally I though the rain was staying away I could get something out for a run - but what ? Mr. E had not been out for a while I thought. 5th July in fact. 

A bit dusty and the squeak is still there but goes very nicely.

Off My Trolley

Slow day sorting photos from the wet SROC weekend. Well it was raining here first thing too.

No car action - unless you count getting the engineering trolley ready for tomorrow.

Rain and Run Back

Morning run down the road to Gilk's for breakfast - I has a peak inside the old garage side of the facility.

A bit of a mess but showed the old garage service bay and a couple of cars.

Then off to Gaydon in the heavy rain again. We arrived in a storm - funnily about the same time as two years ago when we left Suffolk at 6:00 am.

I spent the morning just looking at all the cars I've seen before and attending the SROC AGM (why ?) where Chris got a second award for organising the RGEA. Listening to them they have the same problem as most classic car clubs - ageing members, stale committee and little energy for change.

The run back was fine and the sun even came out. I managed 65 this time being more used to the car. We were back by 6:00 pm after approximately 350 miles.

Then back over the bridge for me - which seemed completely clear- but in hindsight it was just because it was late on a Sunday and they had moved the contra-flow around.

The Rain and two Yellow Cars

The rain started as we left for the first meeting point and just got harder. I spent all morning trying to take pictures in the rain and waiting for the cars to arrive.

About 15 Rapiers of various vintages came to the old Rootes dealer (Gilks) now a coffee outlet. All braving the pissing rain as it poured down most of the morning.

Post lunch the rain eased and we moved to Gaydon for judging and awards. Chris' car got 'Most Original.

I drove to the evening meal with an interesting detour around huge earthworks that turned out to be the White Elephant that is HS2. Later someone spotted this early Rolls turn up at the pub so I went for a look.

I think it's around 1933/34 - but only re-registered a couple of years ago.

Coming back I found that the Rapier lights were poor and the roads windy so I just pottered. Overall I thought I'm happy to chat and met some interesting people - but it feels odd when it's not your club and you are just a co-driver. Mind you the pillar-less coupes do look quite stylish...

Keep Off the Grass !

SAAB packed up and off to Glevering ready for the Rapier run to Gaydon - well Kineton the village nearby). Orwell Bridge not too bad by then so I got there about 9:45 by 10 (ish) we were off, hood half down and sun on our faces.

By 10:45 it was very hot already, so not a surprise when the Rapier did not want to restart when we filled up with petrol. Sitting next to a brutal looking Merc it did feel period.

Looking it up the Merc was in fact a very blue - MERCEDES-BENZ AMG SL 43 TOURING + MHEV AUTO so probably £100k worth of car.

We then hopped along - stopping at Cambridge services and then Kettering. The car went well but I'd forgotten how slow it was - it seemed slower today too do 55 was all I seem to be able to get out of her.

However we were at the White Swan pub by 3:15 - so that was just over five hours with three stops. Given it was still sunny we quickly popped out to Gilk's Cafe - the converted Rootes/Esso garage - for a photo.

Back at the pub, eventually several more Rapiers turned up too.

After supper it was an early night and a wait to see what the weather throws at us tomorrow...

Oh and 'Keep off the Grass' is what one of the estate workers warned me to do as we passed on the narrow drive - unless I want the wrath of Chris' Sister !

Bagged Two Today

First job was to clean the Alpine - actually all it needed was a dust - then I double bagged it disconnected the battery and basically put it to bed for a week or so.

Then I cleaned the Riley to say thanks for the run yesterday - including taking the spares off and doing the wheels. 

It came up nicely.

I then used the old green Caterham/Ginetta cover which fitted surprisingly well - if a little baggy.

Then SAAB back across the bridge get more wood.

Back through town though as it was very busy again. One little CEL flash.

PM into Manningtree for drugs (still not in) in the Ferrari - inappropriate car - but I spotted a woman having a good (and appreciative) look at it.

I also spotted one of the CVMC cars leaving the co-op car park.

Finally I stepped back into the SAAB to drop the meds I had managed to get off in Harkstead.

ION: The weather forecast for Gaydon is in:

Oh Shit.

Curb Crawling, Re-cycling and a Reward

So off we go again. Early 8:00 am arrival by SAAB at Harkstead to avoid the bridge problems. We set off at 8:15 and were at the Nuffield by 9:00 - so only 45 mins - 20 of that crawling up the ski slope. Two mile tail back coming towards us was a problem though.

Then home via a chemist and skirting the curb.

Phew that was close. No drugs there though - and not much traffic on the bridge either. Home again and then a quick trip to Manningtree for drugs again - but no, I'll have to go back tomorrow. I can see lots of bits of roadworks on the Brantham road now.

PM pottering and then Alpine out for a short test drive and to save the planet. It went well (I guess it's not so hot today) but needs more tuning.

It was also dusty and full of Yew tree fronds - I must sort out a garage for it - or a toy box.

What was left ? Well the Imp has not had a run for a while. Was it really the 25th June last time I drove it ? It rewarded me though.

Great drive and no wheel 'wobble' although I powered along and zig-zagged where it usually happens. It also felt smoother and more powerful ! Nah - just me.

Ah and that pile of rust ? I realised it was the track the engineering trolley followed - phew.

What Fault ?

Started looking at the Alpine electrical issue.

All I really did was juggle the fuse and make sure the wires to the flasher relay were tight. They were. Of course it did not want to do it again then. Odd. I need to take it for a run and see if the problem returns.

Next I decided to look at cladding the car port. First I decided to move three posts around - two at the end to make it longer again and turn the pad of the front one around. Then I set up the chop saw and tools ready for the wood. Then the new Nail Gun arrived and after a few test shots we were off and running.

After 3 hours I'd used up all the wood and the effect was quite pleasing.

I needed more wood and I need to make doors - which will be interesting - but we've started.

Four Tyres and Two Piles

Having thought I could do the tyres later there I was at 7:00 am on my hands and knees blacking them in the garage.

It took an hour but it is a very pleasing result. Why the rush ? Well last night I agreed to pop over with Nigel to see the Riley man and show him the car. Here we are after the work.

And here we are outside his house ...

He (John Dovey) liked it a lot. He's had many great cars so it was nice that he liked it so much. Mind you it did look bloody good in front of his house.

He also told us that the 1936 Riley Sprite that John Lomas races is his old car.

[Deep] Cleaning up

Sunday was 'clean the Talbot' day. I started with a basic wash and though the spare wheel should come off to do behind that. So it did.

I even cleaned the interior and got rid of the white wax between the cracks of the leather. A bit subtle but pleasing.

Finally I did the wire wheels as best I could.

I then went hunting for rattles and found two. One door cap (which got stuck down) and the trip for the milometer (which got a rubber surround).

We'll see. Anyway the car looked very clean after all that attention - but I still need to do the tyres.

Final run was in the SAAB to Harkstead to deliver the frame. Seemed to work too ...

Then a Final Final run - this time in the Ferrari. 

Again Harvest had no fuel so we're back here.

Running very well I'm glad to report.

Oddly in the evening I found a pile of rusty metal on the entrance to the drive - and some more on the drive itself - not sure which car that came from but a bit worrying.