2012 - A year in rubbish old cars
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:00 pmI don't really go in for new year's resolutions, but this time last year I made my first ever resolution: To do as much 'old car stuff' as possible, as a direct result of reading Seth's 2011 round-up and seeing how much I missed out on. Here's a little summation of the best bits of my year, recycling a load of photos you've already seen etc
The year started slowly, and it wasn't until March that I attended my first event. A very sodden Goodwood breakfast meet in the company of Seth, where I saw some silly plastic cars
A couple of weeks later Gary & I ran up to Brooklands for the annual Austin-Morris celebration. This was my first trip to the circuit, and naturally I had to stand on the top of the banking to soak up the atmosphere, so that's another 'must do' ticked off the list.
Probably my favourite image of the year....
After a lazy few months, they next 'big event' occurred in June, when Gary decided to buy a horrible old French car on the other side of the country. With absolutely no encouragement from me. at all.
Shortly afterwards, it broke
That meant transport to Bromley Pageant was beige and BL. My first Pag, and in terms of sheer size easily the most impressive event I've ever been to. Sadly our designated space remained empty
I stood in front of a car looking scruffy
and I saw lots of silly plastic cars...
including this horrible thing (ooh, foreshadowing!!)
July saw the Simca back in action, and a visit to an unusually-spelt motor museum for the first 'simply french' day. As the name implied, it was full of nasty forren muck
On the way home, the Simca broke again
The following week, in the fixed (again) Simca we headed to Wiltshire to sit in a field with some horrible men from the internet at the first, and probably last, Shitefest. Everything I like about old car forums with none of the rubbish.
At some point in the year we started regularly attending the monthly West Sussex Retro Rides meet. No pics for some reason, but here's one of the Maestro and RobT's Renault 25 en route to the pub, some time in the summer
After Shitefest, we geared up for what promised to be the event of the year, Classics on the Common at Harpendon. The Simca broke before we even hit London.
In August, I made perhaps the first truly impulsive decision in my life (ie, I only thought about it for 4 days before acting) and made a blind ebay purchase of an incredibly silly plastic car. This confirmed everything I thought about impulsive decisions.
I do still love it deeply though
Shortly afterwards, a trip to the big BL Spares day in Peterboghorror. Sadly it was a total washout and the turnout was tiny, although I got to catch up with several members of the Brown forum, which is always nice
This horrid French car was virtually the only thing I photographed
September rolled around and I finally dragged my arse down to the Brighton Speed Trials. It's absurd that this event is right on my door step and I've never been before. Brilliant stuff.
November's highlight was a full day of 'car stuff' starting with yet another incredibly miserable Goodwood breakfast club, and rounded off by watching some very old, very horrible old cars drive down a street (and break down, a lot)
December was dull and virtually empty, except for a pre-xmas get together at the local unit occupied by some safety-conscious* RR members, where we enjoyed a fine traditional dinner in the romantic surroundings of some absolutely shagged old motors
THAT'S IT!
Tonight is the WSRR meet, so 2 days into the year and I'm already attending my first 'event'. Hopefully that's indicative of an even more tat-filled 2013, including DEFINITELY driving the SPC, legally, on the road, without it exploding.
The year started slowly, and it wasn't until March that I attended my first event. A very sodden Goodwood breakfast meet in the company of Seth, where I saw some silly plastic cars
A couple of weeks later Gary & I ran up to Brooklands for the annual Austin-Morris celebration. This was my first trip to the circuit, and naturally I had to stand on the top of the banking to soak up the atmosphere, so that's another 'must do' ticked off the list.
Probably my favourite image of the year....
After a lazy few months, they next 'big event' occurred in June, when Gary decided to buy a horrible old French car on the other side of the country. With absolutely no encouragement from me. at all.
Shortly afterwards, it broke
That meant transport to Bromley Pageant was beige and BL. My first Pag, and in terms of sheer size easily the most impressive event I've ever been to. Sadly our designated space remained empty
I stood in front of a car looking scruffy
and I saw lots of silly plastic cars...
including this horrible thing (ooh, foreshadowing!!)
July saw the Simca back in action, and a visit to an unusually-spelt motor museum for the first 'simply french' day. As the name implied, it was full of nasty forren muck
On the way home, the Simca broke again
The following week, in the fixed (again) Simca we headed to Wiltshire to sit in a field with some horrible men from the internet at the first, and probably last, Shitefest. Everything I like about old car forums with none of the rubbish.
At some point in the year we started regularly attending the monthly West Sussex Retro Rides meet. No pics for some reason, but here's one of the Maestro and RobT's Renault 25 en route to the pub, some time in the summer
After Shitefest, we geared up for what promised to be the event of the year, Classics on the Common at Harpendon. The Simca broke before we even hit London.
In August, I made perhaps the first truly impulsive decision in my life (ie, I only thought about it for 4 days before acting) and made a blind ebay purchase of an incredibly silly plastic car. This confirmed everything I thought about impulsive decisions.
I do still love it deeply though
Shortly afterwards, a trip to the big BL Spares day in Peterboghorror. Sadly it was a total washout and the turnout was tiny, although I got to catch up with several members of the Brown forum, which is always nice
This horrid French car was virtually the only thing I photographed
September rolled around and I finally dragged my arse down to the Brighton Speed Trials. It's absurd that this event is right on my door step and I've never been before. Brilliant stuff.
November's highlight was a full day of 'car stuff' starting with yet another incredibly miserable Goodwood breakfast club, and rounded off by watching some very old, very horrible old cars drive down a street (and break down, a lot)
December was dull and virtually empty, except for a pre-xmas get together at the local unit occupied by some safety-conscious* RR members, where we enjoyed a fine traditional dinner in the romantic surroundings of some absolutely shagged old motors
THAT'S IT!
Tonight is the WSRR meet, so 2 days into the year and I'm already attending my first 'event'. Hopefully that's indicative of an even more tat-filled 2013, including DEFINITELY driving the SPC, legally, on the road, without it exploding.
