After what has seemed like an eternity of positively tropical (by British standards) weather – it was something of a tragedy that rain arrived in abundance over the weekend of the first Luftgekühlt GB meeting at Bicester Heritage Centre!
To paraphrase John Cooper Clarke – “the weather was just like the brothers……………………Grimm”!
Traditional English village events during summer are great!
Locally organised and vehemently supported get-togethers of all sorts have given rise to what in some instances have become major events.
Just look at how Classic Cars meetings have mushroomed into massive national or even international events and consider the tiny Pilton Pop, Blues and Folk Festival attended by 1,500 people in 1970 which morphed into the glorious musical extravaganza that is Glastonbury!
Holton Classic Car Day on Sunday 17th June is a classic example of such great village events and who know – in years to come it might become the Pebble Beach or Villa D’Este of deepest, darkest Suffolk!.
Purchasing tickets for Prescott was something of a last minute decision – one which I started to regret when weather forecasts threatened dawn till dusk lightning storms.
Oh well – we’d never go anywhere in Britain if it was dependent upon uniformly good weather would we?
Continue reading Prescott Speed Hillclimb – Sat 26th May 2108
Such is the variety and age range of cars that turn-up for the Goodwood Members Meeting – it can sometimes be difficult to come up with natural grouping topics in a blog post.
Participants in a particular race or demo run is the safest option as these are normally related to a former race category from a specific time period unless it’s to celebrate the career of a racing driver in which case it might span many years.
Certain cars, marques and models however merit greater focus.
Continue reading Goodwood 76th Members Meeting – Sun 18th Mar 2018 Part 2
There’s a time and a place for snow and mid-March at Goodwood ain’t it!
Of all the bloody weekends to dump snow on the delicate and fragile South of England – it had to be the weekend of the Goodwood 76th Members Meeting!
“Snow! You belong up-North – get thee hence!!!”
Oh well – at least I can comfort myself in the knowledge that the Siberian origins of the cold air precipitating the snowfall can be blamed on Vladimir Putin!
I can se the headlines now – “Dyed in the wool classic Porsche man attends Ferrari exhibition!” The shame of it…………..I’ll be drummed out of the Porsche Owners Club!!!
In my defence – it was a bitterly cold and snowy day in London, I needed an automotive pick-me-up and a slippy/slidey drive in my old 911 was out of the question so a trip to the Design Museum to see the Ferrari Under the Skin exhibition was my only option m’lud!
Having hummed and hawed about whether to go to this event or not I finally conceded the night before the last day and I’m glad I did.
I thankfully selected a less busy day and could circulate freely, snapping piccies of nice motors without having to electric-cattle-prod hordes of selfie-takers out of shot.
I was also able to see motors in motion on the Grand Avenue without having to reserve a fence-side viewing place an hour in advance of the demo runs and without having to resort to rugby scrum tactics to get to the front or a ladder to witness the action.
Continue reading London Classic Car Show – Sun 18th Feb 2018
This is one in a series of posts on cars, drivers, designers etc. that have interested me over the years. I’ve bored my family and friends with this stuff for years – now it’s your turn!
See A-Z of Car Stuff page for more posts in this series.
This unique car dates from 1979 during the William Towns period of Aston Martin design which also resulted in the the similarly angular Aston Martin Lagonda saloon.
Continue reading A-Z of Car Stuff: AMB is for Aston Martin Bulldog
On the train from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness on a chilly but gloriously sunny morning – I was full of anticipation. Not only was I collecting my repaired car but I’d also be able to have a look at ongoing projects at Sportwagen in the far east of Essex.
Nick and Ed Pike – organisers of the London Region 20 faction of Porsche Club GB really have really excelled themselves in finding a vibrant alternative venue for the monthly London Region get-together.
The 3rd Saturday in the month “Smithfield Meat” gathering was great but it was sadly traffic-wardened out of existence. It’s been replaced by the 3rd Sunday in the month “Out East” gathering which I think should be renamed “Art East” both in deference to the cockney accent but also to the astonishing display of vivid and endlessly evolving graffiti on the walls along the streets used for the gathering.
