Sunny night of Classics

Its been on the calendar for months now and the weather had brightened up the weekend before, signs we're all looking good for a nice evening at the Longbridge Mill for the Hants & Berks MC Classic car night. The next four days consisted of downpours and long hours at work, come friday evening I'd forgotten about the meet, but the blue sky and sight of our Camper on the drive triggered a quick tea and change of clothes for a trip out in the Camper. The small matter of a backache wasn't going to stop me (in hindsight, the lack of PAS in a heavy van probably didn't help what turned out to be a trapped nerve!) Taking the back roads to the A33 I followed a fellow H&B member in his Rover 2000 to the carpark where a good turnout awaited.



I was waved into a space along side a 911 and Rolls Royce with an Austin A35 sized gap next to me.





After a quick chat it was time to get snapping, the sun was starting to set and I wanted to capture the cars in the light. The variety as ever was varied. Loads of regulars mixed in with some new comers. One of the highlights for me was this sublime Bentley in green, its swooping lines and wheel spats marking it out as rather special.







The owners of this Healey were soon to embark on a trip to Europe for a touring holiday. What a way to travel.



Our convoy companion on the drive down to the meet.



The White family arrived in a rather modern pickup complete with a college project off-road buggy. Far too clean and in need of a thrashing across some dirt, it was staying high and dry until it after its display and marking at the college.



The Coventry corner as Alvis owner Rob called it. His nicely patina'd saloon stood alongside a pair of Truimphs.



It wouldn't be a classic car night without some synchronised bonnet popping!



Across the hedge there was a rawer element in the form of a brace of Caterhams and a Westfield, finished off by a former racing driver Robs new trackday toy, his Lotus 2-11. It certainly turned heads as he arrived complete with Stig style helmet on.









With a pint in hand (cheers Rob) we nattered until it got dark and the cars dispersed into the night.



The drive back was perfect, empty roads and the flat four in the back bumbling along nicely. I always look forward to the Longbridge nights, roll on 2014! The rest of the photos can be found here

Steve.

Classics at the Mill

The last friday in May has now become the date to head down the A33 to The Longbridge Mill for the Hants & Berks summer meet, a chance to sip a cold pint in the grounds of the mill and admire the other club members cars. Usually I head down in the Camper, but I had a chauffeur for tonight after a throw away comment to my brother I found myself in the passenger seat of his new Aston Martin Vantage in convoy with our friend Rob and his wife in their Caterham.



On arrival we clearly had the most modern car there, but it fits right in with the H&B ethos and we were waved in to park in the middle. The area of the carpark we use already heaving with some lovely old motors.





This unusual Saab Sonnet was a 70s wonder in bright yellow with its tiny V4 power plant up front.







We decided it was best to make for the bar for a cold pint before continuing our trawl of the classics. Such a wide variety turn up each year, mostly the same cars and members, but theres always something new too.



The mayflies were out in force, the air thick with them.











Car of the night for us all though was this amazing 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT, packed with so many little details and period tuning parts, we spent half an hour chatting to the owner about it. Its not quite a daily driver, but he travels all over the place in it on rallies and touring holidays. The clock on the dash was particularly special, coming from a Lancaster Bomber!













After a second pint and another walk round it was getting dark and home beckoned. Ever the gentleman I swapped passenger seats with Robs wife, she had the luxury of the Vantage, I had the raw, screenless 7, a pair of sunglasses all that was between me and the night air as we raced home. It was a brilliant end to another successful meet. The rest of the photos can be found here.

Steve.

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Classics at The Mill

After a tough week (well three day week!) at work I was just about to relax on Friday night when I gazed at the calendar, the column where I scribble all the things I might do had something in for today….I’d completely forgotten about the Hants & Berks Motorclub summer meet at Longbridge Mill on the A33. With not enough time to raise any company I set off in the Camper with the words “ I’ll only be an hour or so”

Rolling down the A33 in the cool evening air, window down it was very relaxing, as I pulled into the carpark of the pub there was already quite a gathering so I parked up and set about snapping.









Back at the camper I had a natter to a couple of chaps who had been to DATP the previous week. One had a 1973 Devon in the garage mid resto and his kids were keen to explore our van, fun times camping are hopefully not far away from them.



You can’t have a classic car meet without at least one E-Type Jaguar.



Oldest car of the night went to this beautiful 1921 Vauxhall, proper motoring from the dawn of the automobile. Its owner dressed for the occasion in flat cap and string backed gloves!







Most modern car of the night was this 2008 R8 from Audi, 420hp from a silent V8 out back and all mod cons. The difference was staggering.



As people started to head home for the evening a band of club members were busying themselves under the bonnet of club chairman, David Wilsons Jaguar. Ignition issues had caused some under bonnet smoking and by the time I had wandered over various parts were being removed and checked. The coil, distributor cap and electronic ignition module were all suspects.



As the time wore on more people joined and a couple more toolkits were broken open, countless times the 3.4 litre engine was cranked but still it refused to fire.



The sun had gone down so a couple of modern cars were called on for additional lighting and still the parts were swapped out.



Finally at almost 11pm I called time on my visit and bid the remaining mechanics a farewell with wishes of a speedy resolution to the issue. The owner finally conceding defeat and calling his breakdown company. I’m still not sure of the out come, but the dedication put in was amazing, nobody wanted to be the first one to stop trying things. Heres to a quick return to motoring for the mighty Jaguar.



The rest of the photos are here.

Steve.

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Summer evening classics

The last Friday in May is the time the Hants & Berks Motor Club organises its summer meet. Gathering over 20 classic and retro motors in the car park of the Longbridge Mill pub on the A33 means theres plenty of space to stand back and admire whats on offer. The meet caters for any classic ride, with British metal in the majority.

Having grabbed a pint we caught up with Gren, out for the evening in the Karmann Mobile Camera Platform. He was reminiscing about Imp ownership.





Classic and stock E-Type keeps are far from stock Camper company.



All eyes watched the entrance road when Steve & Wendy rolled in with the Slamtana, it raised lots of eyebrows and brought lots of people over to look at the boot lid.



Which is the rarer motor?


*There are only a handful of Santanas know about in the UK!

We set about snapping some shiny chromed cars.











Using the biggest classic in the carpark I got an aerial view of the meet.







Back on the ground we nattered until it got dark, discussing the finer points of classic/retro/modern car ownership. Firing up the flat four and the Five Pot for the cruise home. The rest of the photos are here, thanks for looking.

Steve.