I wonder....

[Smithy]

if she fancies a bit of rough?

Let me explain. I was at the Cadwell Park Vintage Festival yesterday with my son as he is the car man of the family. We stood watching the cars gather for a practice session and I was leaning on the chainlink fence around the collection area when I noticed that the well dressed and very attractive lady next to me was filming the cars whilst steadying her camera on the fence. I moved from the fence and apologised if I had disturbed her filming. She smiled and said no and then proceeded to tell me she was filming her husband Chris in one of their Alfas. She then explained that her husband had quite a collection of cars including "the family Bentley" from 1929 and a car called the Disco Volante. She was very matter of fact and not bragging but was genuinely enthusiastic about old cars.


When we had finished chatting my son was laughing and I asked why. As I said he is the car man of the family and he said "because that was the wife of Chris Mann a well known racer and Disco Volante is a five million quid car!"


And that's why I was prepared to be her bit of rough. Sadly no such offer was on the table so we drove home in my wife's Kia Ceed which I had borrowed for the day.


Ian

[Moto63]

Cool story Ian. Did the weather hold out for the day. It was crap here all day

[Smithy]

Hi Mick

The weather wasn't as bad as it could have been given the forecast which was for torrential rain and thunder. We had drizzle for some of the day and it was cold which seemed ridiculous given that two days earlier it was the hottest day on record! My son treated himself to a Cadwell Park fleece from the circuit as he was so cold.

I really like the vintage car crowd, somehow they are more fun than the bike lot. We were looking at a car called Thuderbug which is a 4.2 litre V twin built using Sopwith Camel cylinders on a Villiers bottom end and put into a 1914 GN chassis. David and I have followed it for a while and it is worth a youtube search. As we stood looking at it the owner started talking to us and he commented to my 5 year old granddaughter how much he liked her pink camera. His son came over and also commented on how nice Lottie's camera was and asked if she would like to sit in Thunderbug. I don't know who was more excited her or me and David! We took lots of piccies of course. How kind to think of that though, I can't see any of the bike lot volunteering to let a 5 year old sit on their precious Vincents or Broughs.

Ian

[iansoady]

Some years ago I was waiting for the overnight Brittany Ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg (which dates it somewhat!). I was on the Norton Commando that was my trusty steed for many continental adventures.

I heard a noise "like tearing calico" and turned round to see a gorgeous Bugatti Type 57 coupe draw up next to me. The driver / owner got out and we had a fascinating conversation during which he showed me over the car and its lovely straight-8 engine. Great experience. He was off to the South of France (of course!)

It was like this one but black and cream.

[Smithy]

Brilliant, those kind of encounters are soul food. I recognise the tearing calico simile as yesterday some of the cars with multi-cylinder engines were running in an unsilenced category. David pointed out that one particular car was driven by a straight eight and his simile was that it sounded furious and just wanted to get everything out of its way.

Ian

Gorgeous car by the way!

[Moto63]

Yes "bellas rodas" (which I think means "nice wheels" in Portuguese)

[SteveC#222]

Coming home on the motorway from a family holiday in Wales some years ago, doing 70-80mph. Noticed a green blob in the fast lane some way behind rapidly getting bigger. Kept glancing in the mirror, not sure what it was...a few seconds later was overtaken by a 1930's 'Blower' Bentley in British Racing Green seemingly just pootling along without any sign of stress!!! BUT the best bit was it was being driven by 'Biggles!!....Flying Jacket, leather flying helmet, white scarf moustache the works!!! couldn't believe it!

[johnr]

we once went to a friends wedding at the lands end hotel, as cash was tight, we camped at a local site, but for the last night before we rode home (cx500 sidecar outfit, kids in the chair me and sue on the bike) we treated ourselves to a night in the first and last b+b across the road. we were the only guests so had a chat to the elderly owners about life in general. it turns out that they were semi retired and ran the b+b to fund their other passion, vintage bentleys, in the garage they had two ancient blower bentleys that they had been everywhere in, as members of the bentley drivers club (they were very disparaging about rolls royce guys because the rolls guys were in the rolls royce owners club and the bentley guys were very proud that they didnt merely own them, but drove them everywhere.)  we spent a pleasant stay hearing of trips over alpine passes in the winter, or driving the length of africa in the days when that was possible without being shot at! they were great people. i imagine theyre probably gone now, they were in their 70's back then and it must be 25 years since then.

[Moto63]

Great stories gents, I can't quite match either one but Steves story reminded me of a time I'd been out to elvington near York to watch the world wheelie speed record attempt (which was breathtaking stuff by the way) Anyway on my way home I came across a lengthy traffic jam, crept up to the front and sitting there was "biggles" this guy was probably well in his 70's and was driving a home brewed three wheeler (Morgan style) which he'd built from a Citroen 2cv,  it had ally bodywork, spoked wheels the bizz. I chatted for a few minutes about his steed, which is when he told me he'd built it all himself for literally a few hundred quid and that he'd been a spitfire pilot in the war , then the traffic (unfortunately) started moving so had to go, I waved and said bye and off I went. Around 20 minutes later I'm batting on down the A64 dual carriageway when this guy comes past at around 90/95 mph, the thing was shaking from side to side. He stuck his hand up and waved then just cracked on at 90mph.... it somehow kinda put the speed wheelie thing into some kind of perspective in a strange way. Great memories 👍

[Smithy]

That sounds like a brilliant encounter. To that guy batting along in a home brewed three wheeler doing 90mph and shaking from side to side wouldn't have seemed dangerous after flying a Spitfire! At least no-one was shooting at him.

We are so lucky to love a sport with so many characters in it. Long may it continue.

Ian

[Moto63]

I couldn't agree more Ian. 👍👍... the thing I forgot to say was, that just like the bloke who Steve had seen this bloke was in full genuine leather flying jacket, leather helmet/hat and full on biggles goggles. All set off perfectly with a cracking grey handle at moustache. BRILLIANT. I genuinely hope that when I'm that kind of  age (not that long now really,  GULP ) I still have the want and need to go out and do that kind of thing.

[johnr]

you can buy kits to build three wheelers based on a 2cv, from a firm called pembleton, theyre a great looking thing but sadly the donor cars are getting too expensive to make the kit a realistic projct now! the owners club has a fab forum though.

[Moto63]

Yes myself n big bro (propellor) looked at building one back in the 90's after I'd seen this guy in his. The kits were from a company called lomax. Did a few different styles and at the time they weren't overly expensive. Alas..like you say John, nothing seems cheap anymore. 😥😥
Cheers, Michael
Ps... we never did build one. 😥😥

[SteveC#222]

A bloke I use to know had the strangest trike/sidecar outfit powered by a DAF variomatic engine & gearbox. The bike frame and sidecar frame were one single complete unit it used the DAF car wheels which were kind of like a trike in that each had it's own track but the front wheel wasn't central but set slightly off centre. It had a massive fuel tank that held about 600 miles worth of petrol and as it was a variomatic gearbox the (hand) gearlever had 3 positions, forward, neutral,and backwards - it went as fast backwards as forwards! weird thing, wish I still had pictures.

[Moto63]

Ha ha.... love the fact that it went as fast backwards as it did forwards. 🤣