Race Retro

2009 was the last time I was up at the Race Retro show, so it was time to get back there once more. With Porsche as one of the featured marques and the added bonus of the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (HERO) offering arrive & drive sessions it was too good an opportunity to turn down. My brother was up for a day out as was fellow Dub owner Malcs, armed with cameras we headed to the Midlands at 7:30am on a sunny saturday morning. We made good time so grabbed a coffee in the cafe and waited for the gates to open. Into Hall 1 and the rally cars.





MG was celebrating 50 years of the B with a selection of them around the hall.



The Group B display was amazing as ever with the usual selection as well as a couple of new cars for me. A Mazda RX7 and the awesome Lancia S4





PopBang art were busy "painting" the S4. They use old RC cars to drive the paint around. It creates a vivid depiction of the car as this Rothmans Porsche shows.



With time ticking away we had a date out side on the HERO stand. We had paid £20 each to sample a couple of historic rally cars on a short course. Having signed on we had to chose our two mounts for the runs from a selection of six. Malcolm being a good BMW employee picked the 1602 and the MGB.









Mr brother opted for the same MGB and the 60s Mini Cooper S









and I went for the Mini and the brutal Alfa Romeo GTV. The course consisted of straights with slaloms and gates and a few cones to rotate around. With a selection of cameras at the ready we took it in turns to film each other, goading and joshing as the times were revealed. I bagged FTD in the Mini at 56 seconds, but we were all within a couple of second of each other.



The GTV was very heavy on the steering but the engine noise was fantastic with the roarty 1750 lump sucking hard on a pair of Weber 40s.





The Mini on the other hand was a go-cart, light steering and nippy but with a lack of brakes.









The driving added a new dimension to the day and had us discussing it over a welcome lunch from the Fire Engine bar and 50s Diner. Suitably refreshed we headed round Hall 3 & 4, the Bikes club cars and autojumble.





In the barn at the far end the rally cars were being prepped for the stage runs later in the day.





We hot footed it over to Hall 2, the sportscar area and home of the cars I really wanted to see, the 30 year old 962.



You wait ages to see a 908 and two come along at once.





You wait ages to see a 962 and three come along at once.







Single seaters were well represented too.







With the rally stage runs minutes away we headed for the paddock outside. Several rows of gleaming rides were parked up. Escorts, Metros, Porsches and more.







Jay Kay's 914-6 was driven by Bjorn Waldegard who campaigned it in the 1970s, it sounded glorious.





We moved around the perimeter of the stage stopping to grab some shots as the dust flew and the cars slid.



















All too soon the stage was over and the cars parked up for the evening. We took one last look around and grabbed a couple of bargains and some shots before heading off. The 914-6 was sitting quietly in the corner. Its one of my cars of the day.



The are loads more photos here

Steve.

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Doughnuts & cars

Having missed the first meet of the year we were all itching to get our fill of doughnuts and American metal so headed over to New Malden once more. Meeting up with a few friends to share the sugary treats. Once again the weather was glorious with the sun beating down taking away the winter chill. This also meant a good turn out again with a few new cars in the mix. A change of owner and colour for this remarkable Cortina van.




If I couldn't have a 70s 911 then this 964 would do just fine.


We followed this Caddy on the A3 as it wafted along


Car of the day for me was this amazing Bel Air. Lots of power, caged and with mammoth rubber it looked evil on the road as it left.








It was really packed as you can see.


We squeezed inside and grabbed a table and a couple of dozen between our group.




Back outside I spotted this WW2 Harley, olive drab and a gun rack, what more does a Hog need?


Soon it was time to leave, the cars were slowly dispersing.


Lily took Barbara for a walk!


And the least said about this the better!


Thats it for another month. Great cars, great company, great doughnuts. Theres a few more photos from the day here

Steve.

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Classic Jaguars

Ever since they announced it was due to close, I've been trying to get to the Jaguar Heritage Centre. On the site of the old factory its part of the marques collection of old and unusual cars from its past. With housing developments closing in on all sides its days are numbers now and by the summer everything will have been boxed and put in storage. So a job on the outskirts of Birmingham that was only 10 miles from the museum was too good an opportunity to turn down. Having completed the survey work and due a lunch break I took half an hour to wander round the showroom.



There are around 30 cars on display at any one time along with countless engines, trophies and paintings from the companies history. Greeting me at the front door was a 10 year old F1 car.



Looking past this I saw a dream combination, the mighty XJ220 and one of the 1988 Silk Cut Le Mans cars.







The front part of the room was taken up with several concept cars, often seen only in magazines. I have spotted a few at shows in the past but never with such unrestricted access.



Moving back in time to the 50s and 60s there were examples of the E and D Types as well as a good old Mk2.





The most modern car there was a GT3 racer from the previous seasons GT championship. Against the classics with chrome and wire wheels it looked chunky and aggressive.



Another favourite of mine was the XJ-S ETCC car, built and run by TWR it was legendary in the 1980s with its V12 powerplant doing battle with various BMWs across the continent.



Sliding even further back in time we hit the start of the company, Swallow Sidecars. The 1922 motorbike and elegant sidecar paved the way for the rebodied Austin and then onto the 1930s SS cars.







With time getting on I took a stroll around the balcony, there were several of the large paintings I'd happily have in the study if there was space. Looking down it was sad to think this fantastic collection will soon be locked away untilJaguar can find the money to reopen somewhere else.



There are a few more photos here. If you are near Browns Lane then get in a see it before its too late. Its free to get in as well.

Steve.

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Wintery Bracknell meet

On saturday afternoon everything was looking fine, the sky was blue and the sun was out, within a few hours the predicted snow fall had arrived and the Bracknell meet looked to be a whiteout. Sunday morning dawned and various text and FB messages came through as people dropped out. We had a date at Nelsons Dinner near Newbury for breakfast with some friends so we ventured out in the Passat and soon realised that the snow wasn't that bad, the roads were clear. Upon leaving Lily dozed off in the back so we decided to chance it and head over to South Hill Park, on arrival it didn't look promising, nobody was there. As we parked we noticed the grins from the Range Rover, Tim and Paul had made it and new member Phil was there in his Golf. Not a write off at all.







We stood around and nattered, Phil wanted advice on electrics and bodywork for his '68 Bay Camper, the right people were there! In the background the screams of the massive crowd sledging in the park.



Being a forward thinking and not wanting to have to carry Lily in the event of blocked roads or other snow related problems, stout boots and a sledge along with hats and scarves and gloves were packed. All perfect for a trip down the hill next to the meet. Tim risked life and limb as well, sadly the sledge is a kiddies one and not really built for those of us with fuller frames.





I then had several runs, each more chaotic and crash filled than the last!







Thin plastic and a kerb to drop off can be a painful combination.







Taking it easy for a bit we continued the technical chat with Phil.



The it was time for a last run, struggling to the summit the intrepid sledger took his life in his own hands and ready for the off. Away down the icey run, over the kerb and.....straight into the metal fencing round the building work. Ouch!



I retired from the sledging world immediately.



Then we made tracks for home.



There wasn't a huge turn out like the last few meetings, but I don't blame everyone else. It was cold and slippery but those that made it enjoyed themselves.

Steve.

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