What have you done today

Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK Member
Had a nice run up the A5 again today to visit the old Royal Ordnance Depot at Weedon Bec in Northamptonshire . The large complex had a long running military history from the Napolionic Wars through , WW1 , WW2 and was finally de commissioned in 1965 . All the original buildings survive and house a wide variety of businesses from motor vehicle workshops , antiques & collectables , a large bookshop and two Car & Biker enthusiasts hubs each with cafe`s and car themed artworks and regalia . The Ministry & Supply Coffee hub was hosting a 3 day Allard Display and as my wife wanted to visit the bookstore I thought it rude not to take the Corvette and drop in at Ministry & Supply to view the small exhibition and have coffee and cake in the process .
Allard cars may not be a household name to many except those us of a `certain age` but Sidney Allard was a big name back in the day of British motorsport , racing at Le Mans 24 hours and many other major races in period . He is arguably best known for strapping superchargers on his cars , as well has big flat head American V8`s . Allard introduced the delights of Drag racing to the UK as early as 1960 and one of his Allard Dragon drag racers was on display . Powered by a mere Ford pre cross flow era four cylinder engine with a blower nearly as big as the engine block , it ran 1/4 miles with a terminal speed of 129 mph ! Something I learned was that the famous Dennis `Jenks` Jenkinson who was Sterling Moss`s navigator and co driver in their record breaking Mille Miglia race actually drag raced the Dragon car in 1963 .
It was not very busy there today as Saturday & Sunday are the main days of the event but the Vette drew plenty of interest including from the guy who organised the Allard show and is a member of the Allard Enthusiasts Club . We had a great long chat and found that we had a lot in common and DSC_5946.JPGDSC_5945.JPGDSC_5944.JPGDSC_5943.JPGDSC_5942.JPGboth knew several people in the local classic and vintage restoration businesses . He told me he is currently working on an Allard fitted with a Corvette LS1 twin supercharged engine owned by a guy in the USA who has shipped it over to the UK for the specialist work to be done at workshops not far from my village . I know the guy who runs the business so I feel a friendly visit coming on !!! The last I time a dropped in he was rebuilding a badly damaged Maserati `Bird Cage` that had a major `off` at Brooklands . Lots of ££££££££ !!
And the American owner of the Allard with the LS1 is a spritely 97 year old !!! Hope there is plenty of life left in the old dog so he can enjoy it when completed . :LOL:
 
antijam

antijam

CCCUK Member
Great to see there is still a healthy enthusiasm for Allard cars. Sidney Allards creations were probably the most successful amalgamations of British chassis' with american motors of the pre and post war era and both Zora Arkus Duntov and Carrol Shelby raced Allards with success.
Not many people realise that the Allard Motor Company is still in existence, now based in Gloucester and Allard family members are still very much involved.
A few years ago I was trying to cure an overheating problem in my Daimler SP250 by installing an aluminium radiator......

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......and Sidney Allards grandson, Lloyd Allard did fabrication and welding mods to my core to get it to fit. His alloy welding expertise is excellent. :)(y)
 
Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK Member
antijam said:
Great to see there is still a healthy enthusiasm for Allard cars. Sidney Allards creations were probably the most successful amalgamations of British chassis' with american motors of the pre and post war era and both Zora Arkus Duntov and Carrol Shelby raced Allards with success.
Not many people realise that the Allard Motor Company is still in existence, now based in Gloucester and Allard family members are still very much involved.
A few years ago I was trying to cure an overheating problem in my Daimler SP250 by installing an aluminium radiator......

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......and Sidney Allards grandson, Lloyd Allard did fabrication and welding mods to my core to get it to fit. His alloy welding expertise is excellent. :)(y)
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The Allard family will attending at Ministry & Supply this weekend . They tried to revive the brand in the early 1990`s with the Allard P4 that was based on the Lexus LS400 floor pan and 4 litre V8 but that plan bombed .
 
antijam

antijam

CCCUK Member
As a callow youth most of my car orientated generation were fantasising about Jaguar E-types, but my pin-up car was always the Allard J2 (or rather the J2X - I had long legs).

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Have to say in terms of automotive beauty the Allard was at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to the E-type but the idea of a flathead V8 in a Classic British chassis really appealed.
Only 83 original J2X's were built, but there have been many replicas/continuations/copies produced over the years so finding a car that looked right today wouldn't be too difficult, however the raw simplicity of the original with all its limitations and foibles still strikes a chord with me. :)
 
Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK Member
Totally agree . I think they are best described as functional and just a little bit brutal , be they certainly have an appeal .
 
antijam

antijam

CCCUK Member
Took in our local monthly breakfast car meet today at Eastwood Park, just north of Bristol. Fabulous day with a clear sunny sky and just that hint of autumn mist first thing in the morning. Theme this month was open cars and we got the usual eclectic mix. The thing about this meet is it's not specifically Classic cars, the only criterion is they must be interesting cars so today we had everything from a1920's Rolls Royce to 2025 Astons, Bentleys and Ferrari's and just about anything with a drop top in between.
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I didn't realise Atoms were so common - what do you call a group of Atoms....an atomic pile?
Last time I went to this meet I took the 'Vette and being a 'Vert it would have tied in nicely with the 'open' theme, but my Daimler has been feeling a bit neglected recently so it drew the long straw today.....
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...and did attract a surprising amount of attention.
Great day! :):)(y)
 
Mr. Cricket

Mr. Cricket

Committee Member
Few of us met up with an Aussie couple on a 3 month tour of Europe that are Corvette owners and wanted to meet some club members. They are also now members and have a C7 & C8 back home. The C7 cost $60,000 to be converted to RHD 🤪 Very nice people and good company over lunch.
 
Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK Member
Met up with local CCCUK members Vic & Tanya Freeland with their C5 at the first ever Kettering Wheels In The Park ( Kettrin as us locals pronounce it ! ) at Wicksteed Park which they hope will become an annual event . It was organised by Northamptonshire Japanese Car Club in conjunction with Northamptonshire Classic Car Association so obviously hot Jap cars were to the fore but other interesting stuff there too . Not least 9 litre , 1045 bhp , Nox powered long wheelbase pick up truck that is street legal and runs 10 second 1/4 miles at Santa Pod . That with an all up weight of 3 tons !!!
Our two Vettes were the only ones there and draw lots of interest from other show car owners and loads of Joe Public that were out for a family fun day in the sun DSC_5949.JPGDSC_5948.JPGDSC_5961.JPGDSC_5960.JPGDSC_5959.JPGDSC_5957.JPGDSC_5956.JPGDSC_5955.JPGDSC_5951.JPGDSC_5953.JPGas Wicksteed Park is a large pleasure park that has been going for 104 years and was a big treat when I was a `nipper`.
 
Chevrolet

Chevrolet

CCCUK Member
Nice bike ride down the Thames this morning. Must admit those MG Cyberster roadsters do look good "in the flesh." "25" number plate on this one not bad either:
 

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Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK Member
Chevrolet said:
Nice bike ride down the Thames this morning. Must admit those MG Cyberster roadsters do look good "in the flesh." "25" number plate on this one not bad either:
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First time I saw one in the flesh I thought "what an ace looking car " ! Stick a ICE in it and it would be perfect like a proper MG should be .
 
Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK Member
Took an early morning drive this morning to a new venue recently opened called Pistons & Rings at Staverton in Northamptonshire . Their speciality is car and bikers meets as well as a wedding venue . Piston`s & Rings .... get it ?? :LOL: Being only a 25 minute drive from me and they were having a `Stars & Stripes ` day with anything else on wheels also welcome I thought I would suss it hour for an hour or so . It turned out be a great social event when to my surprise several Central South Region members turned up from across the county border, so it was great to catch up old CCCUK friends , so my visit of an hour or two turned into a very enjoyable five and a half hours ! We managed to get our Corvettes lined up in the prime viewing spot plus another very smart ` Stroker` C3 against a fabulous rural backdrop of the Cherwell Valley . Unfortunately the sun decided to stay in bed which didn`t do the cars or the fine views full justice justice .
The meetings are free to attend , no advance booking needed which is a rare thing these days so cars just drift in and out all day . Food and drinks are available and I can vouch for their excellent V8 - Full English Breakfast as great value and quality . If its got fried Black Pudding it`s gotta be good in my book ! 😋
Some interesting Americana , lots of Mustangs from the Mustang Club and a rare confection in the UK was the ungainly looking AMC Pacer .DSC_5982.JPGDSC_5981.JPGDSC_5977.JPGDSC_5976.JPGDSC_5975.JPGDSC_5974.JPGDSC_5972.JPGDSC_5964.JPGDSC_5963.JPG
 
Chevrolet

Chevrolet

CCCUK Member
Luuvin that Chevy Apache pick up above! Is that a '59 with the twin headlights? Reminds me of one of my student summer job many, many, many years ago with other students from the UK. In Long Beach, to sell ice cream driving around in our propane powered '56 Apache ice cream trucks after one driving lesson and passing our California driving test.
 
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Nassau65

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
That cobra 2 mustang looks cool, and is indeed a rare “ beast” ( loosely used term as all show little go) nowadays. The pacer even more so.
 
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Chuffer

Chuffer

CCCUK Member
Nassau65 said:
That cobra 2 mustang looks cool, and is indeed a rare “ beast” ( loosely used term as all show little go) nowadays. The pacer even more so.
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Yeah , I thought the Cobra II looked pretty cool and rare , funny how the years can be kind to some cars that were somewhat derided in their day .
 
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