Tag Archives: AC Ace

A-Z Of Car Stuff: C is for Cobra

A-Z of Car Stuff

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.

Finally! – A Cobra Post

I’ve been planning to compose a Cobra post for a very long time but I was finally spurred into action by the announcement that in 2021, AC Cars will build a limited production run of new Cobras.

Hooray you shout ……… until you read the small print. The new cars will be powered by either a 308hp electric motor or by a 345hp turbocharged 4-pot internal combustion motor.

Sorry, I’m afraid I just can’t get my head around this. The key distinguishing characteristic of the Cobra is, and always has been, its Ford V8 engine. Even the plethora of Cobra replicas have almost all used a V8 motor of some description so I just have to ask WHY???

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Silverstone Classic – Sat 27th Jul 2019

In these climatically challenging times, I suppose we should no longer be surprised at how rapidly weather conditions can switch from tropical heatwave to standard UK summer drizzle but why does this always seem to coincide with seriously special classic car events?

Last year it was Luftgekühlt at Bicester Heritage which in the midst of wonderfully warm and sunny Summer, transformed into Wassergekühlt! This year, we went from sweltering 38 degree heat (in London at least) to a state of excessive sogginess for Silverstone Classic. Sigh …………. where did I leave my waterproofs and underwater camera?

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Le Mans Classic – 6th, 7th and 8th Jul 2018

A visit to Le Mans Classic has long eluded me but this year all barriers and sensible-head reasons-not-to-go seemed to disappear.

The Yellow Peril was running well (bar a last minute clutch change) and the problem of abandoning the Mrs for a long weekend to go off on a car related jolly was resolved by taking her along .

Continue reading Le Mans Classic – 6th, 7th and 8th Jul 2018

VSCC Sprint, Silverstone – 3rd March 1984

OK – not exactly an up-to-the-minute report but I recently found a bunch of old negatives from various motoring events that I attended in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Now digitally scanned – these images remind me of how ill-attended some of these events were at the time when compared to modern-day classic car gatherings such as Silverstone Classic, Donington Historic Festival, Goodwood’s Members Meeting and Goodwood Revival.

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Kop Hill Climb – Sun 17th Sep 2017

The Somme

I last attended Kop in 2015 and I decided it was high-time for a return visit.

My drive out to Princes Risborough in the old 911 was uneventful but upon arrival misty and damp conditions meant parking in the field adjacent to the hill was bit like competing in a muddy rally stage. Walking from the car to the paddock entrance also made me realise that wellies might have been better footwear than trainers!

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A-Z Of Car Stuff: H is for Hybrids (the Euro/US Variety)!

A-Z of Car Stuff

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.

So, what’s so special about Hybrids?

To my mind – there are hybrids and hybrids!

On the one hand – there are the modern internal combustion engine/battery powered vehicles built to save the planet and/or salve the collective consciences of automotive eco-warriors (isn’t that an oxymoron?).

On the other hand there are Euro/US Hybrids – sleek and elegant European styled cars with stonking great American V8s shoe-horned into their delicate chassis. These cars have a simple purpose in life – to tear-up roads and circuits at the fastest possible speed but in the best possible style and taste!

1) The special thing about petrol/electric hybrids is they’re NOT new. They were designed and driven donkey’s years ago thanks to Ferdinand Porsche.

2) The special thing about Euro/American hybrids is that they combine the best of European styling with the rugged power of American V8 engines. A number of specialist manufacturers have created beautiful and innovative sports cars, GTs and saloons that have graced the roads and race circuits of the world for years. Long may this Euro/US Hybrid cross-breeding programme continue.

Continue reading A-Z Of Car Stuff: H is for Hybrids (the Euro/US Variety)!