Retromobile 2015
 

Had an interesting trip to Retromobile in Paris on Saturday. A really super show with some tremendous exhibits- you don't see a Spanish Pegaso for years and then 14 come along at once.
Not much 1950s Maser activity but a nice 300S. The lighting in the halls is not the best for car shots but some details worth noting...
An interior-
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2138a.jpg

and a badge I'd not seen before-
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2142a.jpg

and an interesting donor engine perhaps for added authenticity-
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2157a.jpg

Ooh, there's my original inspiration loitering in the background of your engine shot - a silver Porsche 718 RSK. Very nice and I'm so jealous. Have to console myself with a walk around the Collosseum tomorrow morning. :)

Spanish Cobra
 

Here's one of the aforementioned Pegaso cars, bodywork by Touring, done up as a Le Mans entrant with aero screens, side exhausts and quick lifts. Entered for the 1953 race but one of the team's two cars crashed in practice so the team did not run.
Rebuilt more recently in USA and now in a private collection there.
Having been brought over for Retromobile, I expect it will be seen at the various European salons this year. Wonder if it will do the Mille Miglia?

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2124b.jpg

Walking around the collosseum sounds preferable to James Dean's last ride in his RSK Mr T!

Ahh, despite having a silver RSK and a white 356 Speedster, Jimmy D actually died in his silver 550 Spyder. Made quite a mess of it too.

Collosseum lived up to the hype, fabulous place! Blazing sunshine and temperature in the high 60's all day helped too. :)

I've been told it's concrete?

Romans invented concrete I believe

So that's what the Romans did for us...

Mr T- hope you are visiting the Museo delle Auto della Polizia at Via dell' Arcadia, 20, Roma.
Only €3 entry fee.

http://museoauto.poliziadistato.it/informazioni.htm

Thanks for the tip Ian, that looks like it'd be very interesting as a lot of the cars will be straight out of The Italian Job (the one with Michael Caine, not the shit remake). I'll have to make the effort to go there next time we visit Rome though, as we ran out of time yesterday and set off for Blighty later this morning.

Can't big Rome up enough as a city break, there's a breathtaking architectural jewel round every corner. Even my wife managed to walk the sixteen miles that took us round all the major sites without complaining. Well, actually she was complaining but I just got on with enjoying the trip anyway. ;)

Couldn't agree more- can't wait to go back there in April- I'll be checking out the bridges over the Tiber in particular. Missed those last time what with the Forum, Colosseum, catacombs, Ostia, Tivoli, St Peter's, Cistine Chapel, Trevi and even I Granai.

Here's one from my last trip there

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-D...o/P1011742.JPG


and here is one and a half

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p...o/P1011743.JPG

Thanks- I shall be staying near this one...

http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-co...04-528x263.jpg

Let's hope the guy in the yellow digger has finished it when you get there...

No Donington Show in 2015
 

Well there we have it- no Donington Show this year- it's been "merged" with something at Castle Combe-

"Classic, Kit & Retro Action Day

Saturday 20th June 2015

An always popular event in the Action Day calendar that will have a new and exciting element to it this year as we welcome the National Kit & Performance Car Show (previously held at Donington) to join us for a great day filled with club displays, trade, parades & age/type specific track sessions. Wherever your allegiances lie; classic, retro or kit, soak it all up and enjoy!"

Maybe - But until we get some sort of verification, who knows? Last year's Donington looked to have a good attendance, so I don't think it's correct to assume or speculate.

If only- Donington Kit Car Show's own Facebook page says:

"We're delighted to announce today that the National Kit and Performance Car Show is moving from Donington Park to Castle Combe. We hope to see you all at the Classic, Kit and Retro Action Day on 20th June. More details to follow..."

I see that merger as a positive move: the 'kit car' market has always been a bit of a niche too far for many classic car enthusiasts, who wouldn't dream of attending a mere kit car show.

If they visit a classic show where they are also exposed to well built, convincing replicas of the cars of their dreams that don't have the zillion dollar price tag, I'm sure that some will overcome their prejudices and become converts to the cause.

It'll also make the shows that bit more varied and interesting for those of us that love both kits and classics, which should attract sufficient attendance to ensure that the event is repeated annually. Ultimately, that can only be good for the kit car industry.

donnington management has just dropped out of/lost the motogp deal they were going to host it for 2 years while the circuit of wales was completed(never!) so there may be more to it moving then you first think

and after all the "Save Donington" palaver after the abortive F1 plan trashed the track... I thought the MotoGP was a done deal- very popular with the riders and fans.


yeah- right... always looked a bit ambitious to me. Look what happened behind the scenes to get Rockingham built - and it wasn't just a case of plan it, build it, pay for it !!!

Exactly..maybe donnington management have other plans (houses?)....

Looks like a full season of events is planned for 2015 at least...

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/news...s-now-on-sale/

GoogleEarth Photobomb
 

So there I was, idly mooching around on Google Maps / StreetView last night checking some directions when I decided to look up the Shrine in Hurst Moreton.
Much to my surprise, when should the Google Spy have been past there but last July. And what should have been outside but Z300S #4 (mine).
What are the chances?

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...oogleEarth.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...eEarth%202.jpg

By George, he's done it !!!
 

Applied the latest try-out stripes yesterday, now 6" stripes with a 6" spacing and I think I've got the look I want...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2430a.jpg

and

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2431a.jpg

More in the effect than the execution (looks better at a distance!) but I'm really pleased- it seems to transform the appearance of the rear of the car more so than the front.

Looking forward to seeing it a Stoneleigh

The guy with the digger had finished but the graffiti "artists" hadn't...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2116a.jpg

and this was my drum for the night...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF0088a.jpg

On the hottest day of the year
 

I've been splattering on the filler and sanding it away around the shut lines on each side of the bonnet.

As today was a bit hot to work outside I decided to let the Z300S do what it does best- drive.

And took some record shots to show how it is currently.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF0061a.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF0063a.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF0065a.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF0067a.jpg

Ian ive pm'd you

Mark asked me about the boot lock I used...

I used a "Hex Nut 21mm Male Thread Mounted Security Panel Lock for Drawer Cabinet" off eBay. Its disadvantage is that there is no hole cover so it freezes in winter.
However I've seen this "Hex Nut 19mm Male Thread Mounted Security Panel Lock for Drawer Cabinet" eBay item number: 361306801688 which has a cover.

Historic Specials Day 2015 - Sunday August 9th
 

FSCC Historic Specials Day 2015 - August 9th
The Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, Oxon, England

This FSCC event attracts around sixty cars each year mainly Ford Ten and Austin Seven based specials. Specials and limited production sports cars of all makes are invited, although cars built or designed after 1964 may be asked to park outside the display area. Some of the marques that have been to previous shows include: TWM, Turner, Fairthorpe, Elva, Lotus, Ginetta, Lola, Martin, Rochdale, Siva, and Dellow.

The event is held at The Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, Oxon, England.

Admission is FREE for the driver when you say you're there for the car show.
The park opens at 10.30am.

This is where the kit car movement came from- always some great (re)creations. Hoping for a good day- last year's was a bit of a washout!!!

Latest Addition
 

Latest addition...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...20One%20of.jpg

Yes, I know it would have been hand-written and that there wouldn't be a letter prefix but hey...

That's nice. I've gone for '62

'59 was the first one I found

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ub...E=w221-h202-no

Not sure I will bother printing it though unless I find a period looking disc holder

Out and about
 

My out and about pic from yesterday- at the Historic Specials Day organised by the Fairthorpe Sports Car Club at Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford, Oxon. Nice weather this year so about 40 cars there.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2591a.jpg

Admission is free for the driver and the rest of the park is accessible so we took the opportunity to look at the animals including their new baby white rhino born in March called - Ian !!!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2673a.jpg

TBH- he's looking a bit peed off at not being able to play with the dumper truck and cement mixer.

Anonymity
 

Tried to remove more signs of the car's origins by scratching the BMW badges off the windows. The paint came off OK but the marks are etched into the glass.

Grindstone in a Dremel next?

Is covering them over with Barchetta stickers not possible Ian?

Circuit of Wales
 

BBC News Web site - News just in...

Circuit of Wales plans at Ebbw Vale move a step closer

29 minutes ago
From the section Wales

A hotel and motor industries centre are part of the development

Plans for a £325m motor racing track in Blaenau Gwent have moved a step forward.

The Welsh government said it was "minded to grant" an application to allow the firm behind the plans to take over common land for the Circuit of Wales in Ebbw Vale.

It said outstanding issues with the rights of commoners must be resolved before a formal decision was made.

The Heads of the Valleys Development Company welcomed the move.

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/c...cuitwales1.jpg

Good suggestion Scottie. The markings are very small; about 5mm diameter. Don't wish to draw attention to them !!!

He he that's my car in the garage front under the car port area. In the google earth pics.

could you use some glass etch paste to change them (maybe with another name?) much like tattoo 'victims' change their tattoos when loved ones change?

I know someone who didn't bother. Just married another girl with the same name.