Rumbles in the WA Groups

 Nothing too exciting recently - a couple of weekday lunch runs and a short loop run to a new cafe (Surrey Hills) with the Porkers group. 

I have somehow been given the role of 'Nutcase driver' for the group and am always asked to lead the fast group. I don't feel I'm that bad but I get the impression there have been mutterings behind my back from some of the more cautious members - most of the people went in the 'brisk' group and only 3 of us were in the fast group. The guy who leads the brisk group is pretty quick, so I don't think there is much of a difference but who knows...

What is more sad is that I had a little falling out with the guy who runs the group - he didn't like my funny reply to another member who was asking for advice over a flat battery. There had already been 30+ replies to his flat battery issue, so I had nothing to add, I just made a minor joke, which the member himself laughed at. However, main guy got snotty and really pissed me off...I get the feeling he has never really liked me; maybe because I keep suggesting new things (everyone to use a sat-nav and radios on a run, for example), longer runs to different venues etc. Whatever it is, this was just another nail in the coffin.

It's a shame because most of the others are fine (one other guy is best buds with main man and he also didn't like my comment), although they are a little dull in respect to what to do at weekends - they all seem happy to go to the same pub/cafe 20 minutes down the road, then go home - it's getting boring. Only bright side, boss man is selling his Boxster and, according to his own strict rules, he can't be a member if he doesn't have one :-)

In search of something more interesting, I have joined Performance and Prestige Car Club (bit of a mouthful - I'll use PPCC from now on), which actually cost me £50. However, they are car agnostics - any car is welcome in the group and they seem a little bit more exciting - I have booked on to a 3 day Welsh tour in May with them and while they don't do any weekly runs, they do other stuff through the year. See how it goes...

Also, there is Tribal Gruppe, a Porsche-only club which is incredibly hectic - the organiser (who must be doing this full-time) is planning 20 (!) European road trips next year! They do loads of other runs which are quite professionally-run; you pay a small amount for each run (around £5) and I've booked on one in 2 weeks time, to see how it goes. I get the feeling it will be a slow convoy and crowded car parks but worth a shot.

I quite like the sound of his Euro trips formats; seems that you pay him a small-ish amount and you get a list of hotels and dates which you book up yourself and just get there however you like (I think he might offer routes as well?). Sounds an interesting way to do it - have the day driving to yourself and know you'll have an evening with some like-minded people. I might try one of those....

Finally, my son continues to have bad luck with cars (although he will insist on these super-expensive hypercars) - his C63 cut-out on the way to work, misfiring and hopping down the road. We got it recovered to a MB dealer (my son refuses to do anything cheaper) who diagnosed a blown inlet manifold gasket. A new gasket costs around £20 - the work to replace it? £2,400 !!! Yes, you read that right...his pads and discs were all close to death as well so he had them do those as well - total bill, £3,900 !! Holy Shit! He is now so broke, he has had to SORN the C63 and cancel the insurance until the Spring, to pay for the work. Luckily, my mother-in-law has a garage she does not use, so the car is laid up for the winter.

So now he can't get to work - what does he do? He's done his CBT and bought a 125cc bike!! My wife is petrified and I tried to dissuade him but he is a stubborn git and also an adult - I can't force him not to. Bike has just arrived (he paid £2,400 for it) and I helped him buy some decent gear - I pray I don't live to regret not being more forceful.

Milk and Planes

 Met up with the Porksters again for a short drive from Denbies to the Milk Churn, a nice little cafe out in the sticks. Weirdly, they didn't do eggs, so I had to have just a plain bacon roll...and it was very expensive - I'll probably forget but may give that place a miss from now on.

One of our number decided to bring 'one of their other cars':

Yes, a Ferrari 812 - that's a nice 'other' car! Sounded awesome as well...

Vic also joined us for the first time and we discussed the Alps trip. After the Milk Churn, Vic and I had a nice run to the Torque Motors Cafe. He's not bothered about the Le Mans Classic so we're not doing that - just direct from Calais to the Alps. My son has invited 3 of his mates from work, so now there are 6 of us! They want to go to the Nurburgring, so I've planned routes up there and booked 7 nights of hotels already (organised, hey?). I must admit, the roads up through Germany look great on StreetView, so very excited. My son's friends are all young and I wouldn't be surprised if they drop out nearer the time, so I'm not counting on them - I'm just happy to have 1 fellow traveller.

This weekend, Vic and I decided to do a longer trip out to Compton Abbas airfield. The Porksters went to the Owl for a Porsche meet but I've done that a couple of times - it's a bit dull and only 20 minutes down the road.

My son joined us and we had a nice, 2 hour run down to the airfield, which was supposed to be hosting a vintage aircraft fly-in. A few did turn up but it wasn't quite Gatwick. 

The whole airfield is now owned by Guy Ritchie and has had a complete re-vamp since I last went there years ago - but more cafe weirdness; this large, very modern cafe had 3 items on the breakfast menu, one of which was jam and toast! Fortunately, one was an egg and bacon roll but no full English, or omelette etc? Very strange...

After 2 uncontrolled slides on roundabouts (my son insists he wasn't trying but I'm not sure...), he has ordered some new rear tyres - the current budget tyres are almost bald. On the way back, we got separated and he ended up stuck on the M3 for an hour after an accident. Luckily for me, I hate the M3 so I came off much earlier. I had an enjoyable run back - my new exhaust sounds better on every trip. At 6.5k revs in 2nd gear, it sounds like a V12 - beautiful!!

Britpack

 So today was a 200 mile return trip to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon - and it was very good. I didn't realise that the title meant, museum of British cars, which is why there were so many MGs, Ford's, Vauxhall, Jags etc, etc. But it was interesting for that reason - I see lots of Porsches, BMWs, Ferraris etc at meets so it was nice to see some Brit history for a change. 

The drive up was pretty good - I devised a good route avoiding all the main roads and had a blast. My new exhaust is really settling in and is actually pretty loud - even my son was impressed as I drove up the drive. I left just after 7am, all alone as explained in my last post but I really enjoyed it. Not worrying about trying to keep a group together is actually more relaxing - maybe I should just do these runs on my own?

The museum is very well set up and modern looking with some fascinating cars - below is the last EVER E-Type built in 1974:

The museums collection of one Jag prototypes is amazing - some lovely stuff, especially the interiors:

This is a Project 7 F-Type - beautiful:

A 4WD XJS:

The 1st prototype XJ220 had scissor doors!!

If I was going to buy a classic, I'd like this SS100 - probably damn expensive:

This is an EV from 2008, a Lightning GT. Amazing, isn't it - I don't know why it never went into production:

This is the first ever BMW - based on an Austin 7!!

This 1930 Austin 7 was driven from Buenos Aires to New York in 1960, 11k miles in 8 months!!

One of the most interesting exhibits was a timeline of British car makers - did you know that the first ever UK car maker was Lanchester, in 1895? And that the oldest still going is Morgan, who started in 1910, a year before Ford arrived? Fascinating stuff...

I had a fun day - my route back was less exciting as I hadn't planned anything. I thought my TomTom would be able to reverse my original route but it couldn't, so I just set it for home and it took me on lots of boring, busy A roads. I did have a fun blat with a motorbike, though - they hate being shown up by a car so you can always guarantee they'll chase you!! Damn, Barry is quick and loud now - huge fun!

In other great news, Vic, one of the guys who came to Wales earlier in the year wants to do my Euro tour! Woohoo, I have a driving buddy...the tour is afoot!

Butt-clencher

 Today was a milestone - my first MOT with Barry. 

With a new exhaust that has lost 2 of the original 4 cats, emissions were my biggest worry but it all seemed to go well and a pass with 2 advisories for discoloured side indicators. Strange because they look fine to me...

Been on holiday last week but I'm planning a long-ish drive up to the British Car Museum at Gaydon on Saturday. I have invited people from my Porkers group and the Boxa forum but no takers so I may be on my own. Weather forecast is looking quite good so unless it goes downhill, I'll be Billy-no-mates...

I'm having a struggle at the moment to get any enthusiasm from others for road trips. I really want to go to Europe next year but no-one else seems even vaguely interested. Even my son is not that keen; for him the problem is money - his car is costing him so much, he can hardly afford to drive it. In fact, he is looking to sell it but he refuses to get anything much cheaper, so I cannot see his position changing.

My Porkers group don't really do long trips together ( a couple have done their own thing) and I don't really know anyone well enough on the Boxa forum. My kit car people refuse to go abroad and want to do Scotland again next year. Scotland is just as far as the Alps and I know everyone says the roads are great BUT there is NO WAY they are better than France and the Alps - and the weather certainly isn't.

So it looks like, if I want to go, it'll be alone. I don't mind during the day but being alone in a hotel all evening is a tad dull. So my choice:

Go somewhere I don't really want to but with company OR

Go somewhere I do want to go but alone.

I've also had an interesting idea of going to the Le Mans Classic, which seems to be a French version of Goodwood. I've found a company who offer a package for around £650 which includes the ferry crossing, 3 nights on a campsite on the side of the track and entry ticket. They've also confirmed that I can book the return ferry leg a week AFTER the Le Mans event, so I could go to Le Mans AND then do a week round France. Genius idea!

So that is my current vague plan - just see if I can get a driving buddy to come with me.

Brooklands Mayhem

 Brooklands museum held it's annual German car day and it was excellent...

The Surrey Porkers met up at a car park just outside Brooklands:

We drove over and queued up for a few minutes:

....and we had a very prominent position set aside for us (not quite sure how we managed that):

About 14 of us in total had a very enjoyable day. There was a Porsche-only event here a few weeks ago but I personally prefer a bit of variety, although, for some reason, I didn't take any pics - sorry about that. Suffice to say, huge numbers of Beemers, Audi's, Porsches, VWs - even an Audi A2 club (anyone remember that box from the early 00s?).

My son also came along in his C63 and the highlight of the day was his run up the Brooklands hill - while there were other C63s and similarly-powered cars there, nothing beats a C63 with a yobbo driving it. My son spun his wheels up the length of the hill, leaving an awesome tyre mark, lots of smoke and a cheering crowd. He had his 15 minutes of fame as numerous people came over to thank him, including the head of the MB sales team who personally owns a C63 and was heard to say to a potential customer, "this is the new C63 - but its not really" (the new C63 has a 4 litre V8, not the full-fat 6.3 litre). Video below:

I do wish I'd had a go in my car but it just didn't occur to me - next year.

My new exhaust is settling in nicely and sounds great, really enjoying the bass roar.

Exhausting

 I think I've used this post title, or similar, before - couldn't think of anything more original,  soz.

I had lined up someone with a lift to help me do my exhaust but then he pulled out, so I reluctantly had to book the car in with a local specialist, who quoted me £530 which might go up if there was too much corrosion. 'If'?! I wasn't happy...

Then, a saviour in the form of a guy on my Porkster group who has never been out with us but has offered his lift and full garage facilities for anyone who wants them. I jumped at the chance and went over on the weekend. Damn, he has an amazing setup - 2 double garages, one with a full height lift, a ton of tools including a compressor for air tools - I was well jel.

With his help (in fact, he did most of the work), he air-chiseled 4 of the 6 studs straight out in minutes. The last 2 were utter bustards, however, and with a combination of dremel, hammer, chisel and hacksaw, it took us another 2 hours to finally get the flanges apart:

There were still a couple of tricky bolts and clamps holding the silencer on but an angle grinder and hammer made short work of those:

The old exhaust weighed a ton and had a couple of big holes, which is where they were blowing from:

Putting the new one in took around 30 minutes going slow - great piece of kit:

Surprisingly, the exhaust isn't hugely louder than stock; much bassier but not loud. There is also a strange whistle as you coast, which someone had mentioned in a FB post. It's not great but I'll just have to suffer it - this is the cheapest way to fix a blowing exhaust, I was never aiming for the best-sounding one.

As it is, Cearth (the guys name, not Irish or Welsh, just weird parents) has saved me well over £500, which is awesome and he is my new best friend. He's also got a 911 and a Boxster and was impressed by Barry; no leaks, not too much corrosion and even the cat is in good nick (he has an endoscope).

The exhaust sound may change a little after it beds in but it's pretty good and, most importantly, should get me through my MOT in a week or 2.

Goodwood Revival

 I've only been to the Revival once before, years ago when the kids were young and I stupidly took them with me. This meant I spent most of the day keeping them happy and they got bored by 3pm, so we left early and I saw none of the races. 

So this year, I just went by myself - it was (cliche alert) awesome.

I also decided to make an effort and dress up - bought a cheap vintage flat cap and waistcoat from eBay and it worked well:

Damn, Goodwood is...er...good - so well organised; (expensive) food and toilets everywhere, loads of stalls, themed areas, various music venues playing all day and the most amazing staff, who always seem friendly no matter how many burgers they've served that day. If you are only just a bit interested in cars, you MUST go at least once. And there is loads of stuff for non-car people as well - just brilliant.

The American Beach area - several food stalls, a band playing, dance floor - a really fun place to be:

An ear-blasting Cobra:

A Porsche 356, coming last:

One of the more dedicated outfits:

A McLaren-Chrysler with a very loud engine:

That is the GT40 owned and driven by Adrian Newey (head of Red Bull F1 team):

This Maserati was for sale for a mere £26k - I was sorely tempted, it is beautiful but flaky:

View from the bridge linking the 'Over the Road' section with the main track:

A 1960 F1 car driven by Jim Clarke:

A beautiful old BMW:

The 16 cylinder, 2L (!), 600 bhp BRM - sounded amazing out on track:

Possibly the most photographed car ever - the 250 GTO belonging to Nick Mason:

A truly stunning day out with only a few minutes of rain (it had been a monsoon the day before). I stayed until the last race finished at 7pm (having arrived at 9am), watched a twin Spitfire flyover as I walked back to Barry and then had a beautiful, top down evening drive home.

This is what Life is for...