Black Clouds and White Patch

SAAB out early afternoon as the skies darkened for Harkstead-Nuffield run.

Quick and dull run though but the rain stayed off.

Cheered up later and as I had forgotten to drop something off I decided to get the Caterham out. Seemed OK at the co-op even parked amongst the Monsters.

 However when I parked up the skies looked even more threatening.

What the hell I thought - and went around the block anyway.

Then later I decided on a bit of recycling and took the .... E-type. When I go it pout of the garage I spotted a white patch on the tyre - odd.

Then off we went and again the clouds seemed worse than I was expecting. Filled up with petrol and then onto Aston territory.

But we got away with it and had a nice spirited 20 mile run in the end.

Screw That

Spent the morning on the Gaydon pics. Here is a typical before and after.

Then pm quick ride to the shops in the MK7 as it rained most of the morning, looking for the machine screws I need.

They could be 3/8th inch counter sunk machine screws UNF (probably) or UNC ?

But the shop did not have any.

280 Shared

Shared the driving of Chris' 1960 Sunbeam Rapier to Gaydon and back for the Rootes day. After a rather early start (4:30am !) the day got better. Here we are for the off.

Chris drove first part and at 45-50 mph the car shook quite a lot - so as the wheels have been balanced I suspected a prop-shaft. When I drove it past 60 it started the clear so we stuck to 65.

We followed a classic MK1 Alpine into the event - that happened to be Stirling Moss' rally car - which was nice. Here it is parked up.

The range of cars was a better event than I had thought with a large range of Rootes Marques there - from pre-war Humbers and a few Singer Le Mans (what is the plural of Le Man's) to the 1950's Alpine through to 60's Alpines/Singers/Hillmans and Rapiers to the late 1960's stuff. Oh and bloody Fords again. No Series 1 as far as I could spot though ?

The museum - well I had been in before - so that was just a refresher of the car industry we have pissed away. Starting with this 1899 Riley motorised-cycle.

And ending with the smart MG replacement we never built. 

Lots of interest in Chris' car though which was nice.

On the way back I pushed it tot 70 mph, but noticed the oil pressure was a bit low (below 20 psi) when running slowly in the roadworks - but we were OK. 

Bolts and Memories

Looked at the new Alpine screen surround and it has two channels running up the inside edge which mine was missing - it also had several bolts in place but not all. So I need to buy some somewhere.

Then looked at the next E-type mag cover #5. My caption was "Escape to the Country - Martin Brazill's S1 at rest under brooding skies in front of Kilverston Hall, Norfolk".

That was the first proper run out after Covid restrictions started to be lifted in September 2021.

Clean Screen

Time to bite the bullet and start on the Alpine screen I though - just a little soaking of the screws and start tomorrow. So I unpacked it and got it on the bench. I managed to turn a couple after soaking.

I got carried away though and by lunchtime I had removed some from the top rail, broken another and was starting to drill out the bottom section. However that was hard going as I was drilling up into the glass if I slipped. It took about 2 hours before I had drilled the first two screws out.

Then I started to loosen the rubber seal and slowly the top came away. After a while the loose bottom gave me enough wiggle room to remove the screen. It was caked in solidified rubber and the black sealant I had used so it took another hour to clean all that off. I started with the Engine Gunk, Detailing Fluid, Wheel Cleaner, Rubbing Alcohol and finally White Spirit and scraped it all off. I think the White Spirit was best.

A final polish and we were good to go. Next up repair the 'new' surround and dry fit.

Finally a run in the MK7 for a meal in the cold.

Not any Classic Fun

The only run was in the SAAB, to the allotment with matting and a broken pallet.

Wow.

A proper Run

Iffy weather all day, but decided to get the Caterham out never the less - even though the black clouds were looming. I'm glad though I did and we had a rain free run.

Then decided to warm the Imp - but the black clouds were getting blacker so I decided not to take the Imp. Shame ... so as they cleared a bit I bit the bullet and off we went.

We got away with it too. Good run as well but seemed to be more bumpy than usual - although it was so warm I had very little padding on.

Well I never

Oxford bound early to pick up an odd painting I had bought. Hitting traffic almost from the start, although it cleared.

Then during our walk around Oxford we cam across this.

Turns out it was the site of the original Morris factory in Oxford. Well I never.

So after lunch and collection we headed back - roadworks and delays most of the way - and a crash - but even so it only took just over 3 hours.

So not quite a boot full but happy to be home.

ION: Extreme heat continues to be an issue for a lot of the US and Southern Europe - perhaps this is the wake up call we needed.

Running before the Rain

SAAB first thing for Harkstead run.

Then PM I warmed the Imp up and later took it out and about.

I was introduced to Nigel's pre-war expert (Jo Burge) who does the Rolls Royce's - he seemed to like the car. The rain was looming though so I came home - short run then.

As punishment for showing off we bent the clock winder a bit squeezing Nigel in. Ho Hum. It still works though and I am sure it can be repaired eventually.

ION: Most of the world appears to be heading towards dangerously high record temperatures this Summer - seems to be everywhere except Northern Europe that is.

It's No-Show Time

Work and then Harkstead visit PM in the SAAB meant that we missed all the car shows today.

So I had to have my own instead.

Here we are at Shotley.

Narrow Lanes

MK7 ride to Tattingstone Pub event at lunchtime.

Stopped when a rather rapid Merc arrived. Then SAAB to pick up Golf later on. 

What a life.

Well its Mother Loves it

Went to pick up the E-type from Abbotts in the rain. Spotted this beast in there next to me. A SAAB 93 underneath with a 96 body on it. Odd.

Apparently it also had an aero kit and is for publicity. The company that owns it says "An original 1970s Saab 96 with a custom wide arch kit, air suspension and modern 2.0 Turbo Saab engine kicking out almost 400bhp."

Anyway we left that alone and drove the Jaguar back in more rain before cleaning it off in the garage. 

The horn works again after Edd found a washer had fallen out of place and the brakes have added springs to stop the rattles. So two jobs ticked off.

Not as Sharp as the name Suggests

MK2 off to Glevering to meet up with a Rapier and go to the Friston Car Show.

How Chris squeezes two cars in his garage no one knows.

The event was good with lots of cars of all ages - worth going again next year.

I drove the Rapier back. It's a lot slower than the Alpine and the turning circle and brakes are worse - but the steering is much more positive.

It made the run back in the MK2 feel like light-speed too.

Beast from the East

Dull day working on garden (at least the mower takes petrol) and stuff. 

Highlight was buying a Sunbeam Rapier key ring from a local chap.

I'll probably give it away though.

He came in a beast of a 4.6l Cadillac SRX. Here it is on the way out - just.

Going East ?

Well, East Coast but it's actually just North by 80 ish miles. MK7 for a run to see family (or most of them) on the beach at Wells.

Packed with gear too.

Oh that Monday

Started the day with a Caterham run to Harkstead in the sunshine - before it got too warm.

Then SAAB somewhere for something I think in the afternoon.

Oh yes to the Heath for a job.

I nearly forgot as the journey was so dull.

G to AR

MK7 Golf ride to the train station and down London. The nice new train even ran on time.

Spotted many more bikes etc. down there - some were electric, unlike these old heavy ones.

The streets were quite quiet too.

Home again the same way - train then MK7.

Non-Rootes cars are So Small

RGEA meeting at the Alderton Fate today. Umm ... Thunder Storms predicted so we took the tin top.

Here we are on our way out when I ran in because I had forgotten to put shoes on. Then on the way I thought the police were stopping me - I pulled over when I saw the blue lights behind me. It was the van behind them they wanted though. Odd. 

Anyway - at the show we saw that a Ferrari is about the same size as a Tiger and a Porsche. Interesting.

No rain really either - we got away with a few splatters. 

Oh that and on the way home an Audi driver that had road rage because I let someone in at a junction. Odd - I thought it was us Ferrari drivers that had a small penis.

And back

Full day Sail back - due to the tides I think - so that was that.

Up the Creek

G2R for an overnight sail to the Deben. 

Not sure which Creek we were up though ?

Film, Fix and Idea

AM was SAAB to creek looking for Dragonflies - but they were all at home hiding from the wind.

Then PM Ferrari got some love and attention in the first part of the filming.

Then I tried to repair the model - with it's broken windscreen wiper.

Finally evening in the MK2 for the RGEA meeting.

Where I took a look at another 'hot' Alpine with an interesting cooling system addition - a fan mounted in these large pipes.

That's Clean

Morning spent cleaning the Ferrari - more detailing it than washing as it was very clean anyway.

Then packed it away for filming tomorrow and/or taking it to the fate Saturday. I then put the rack back on the Imp if that becomes the car of choice. We'll see.

Then MK7 rides into town and Harkstead in the drizzel. 

Dash before the rain

Caterham out for a blast around the block in the last of the sun today - early too. 

All done by lunchtime.

ION: We're told June was the hottest on record (since 1884).

Load Lugger and a Nice Pair

Morning SAAB run to Stutton family sing song event. 

Then into a desolate Ipswich shopping riding in the MK7.

PM SAAB as pallet lugger again to the allotment.

Finally a late evening 308 run. Not an LED screen in sight in either of these.

Very Good - but not Great Enough

Morning run to town for jobs.

Here we are under grey skies and on top of the broken grey roads.

Then we emptied the scarifier with the fuel pump and small battery I bought. Ah that's good.

Then I went off in the Aston to test drive a £200k Ferrari Roma. Looked better in the flesh, although the nose is still a bit odd. The back is very Jaguar XK8 too.

Here is the red one and the black one - I drove a blue one. It was very high tech, LED dash, 8 speed flappy panel gearbox. Great ride was the highlight, very fast too. Seemed very technical lots going on but a bit busy inside for me. I'd consider it if I did not have a supercar already but at £120k on top of the trade in I'd get for the Aston it's not exceptions.

Funnily enough the young chap who took me for the test drive arrived in his classic Camero. Driving the Aston home it seemed just as fast - and in real life it probably is.

Next up was a short drive in the MK2.

Finally the Imp. Bumpy, Noisy, Windy and not a LED screen in sight.