What have you done today
- Thread starter Mad4slalom
- Start date
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
Finally, after many years, on Sunday just gone I went down to Strawberry Fields in Lifton for the SW Corvette monthly meet up. Managed to fight through all the really bad driving rain on the A30, but felt reassured just before I turned off as I saw a nice Silver C2 that must have just missed the junction as they were heading eastbound (me westbound, about to turn off).
Turned into Strawberry Fields (just off the A30 dually) and couldn't see any Corvettes.
It didn't take me long before two things dawned on me:
1) I was in the wrong car.
2) It was the wrong weekend.
So in the end I had lunch with a nice elderly couple that just happened to share the same surname as me.
(FTOs first big outing after respray and fixing sunroof and putting all back together and it was "end of the world" style heavy rain)
Turned into Strawberry Fields (just off the A30 dually) and couldn't see any Corvettes.
It didn't take me long before two things dawned on me:
1) I was in the wrong car.
2) It was the wrong weekend.
So in the end I had lunch with a nice elderly couple that just happened to share the same surname as me.
(FTOs first big outing after respray and fixing sunroof and putting all back together and it was "end of the world" style heavy rain)
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Had a cheap and cheerful fun day at Silverstone Circuit today courtesy of ` Car Natter ` a local on line car enthusiasts group that organises regular meets for car enthusiasts of all persuasions . The racing was the BRSCC Silverston Finals Weekend and not major league but entertaining non the less with Super Classib pre 1999 Formula Ford Championship , Nankang Tyres City Car Cup Championship , MG Metro Cup Championship and Citreon C1 Endurance Series .
The City Car and C1 races might only be ` Shopping Trolley ` cars but the competition was fierce enough with a few `comings together ` , spins and off s and lots of tyre squealing . All for an entry ticket of £10 discounted from the normal adult price of £17.50 , a reserved suite and balcony viewing for Car Natter members only in the Brooklands Hospitality facility with free nibbles and soft drinks plus 10% of food and beverages in the Pit Stop Cafe . Whats not to like ???
With the Brooklands Suite situated track side where Wellington Straight turns into the sharp Brooklands Corner left hander so a good spot for a bit of do or die action .
We had reserved parking in the paddock area too and the Corvette drew some attention from passers by as it rather stood out from the long line Porches ,
( only a lovely Duck Tail 911 stood out for me ) , a line of 
Maserati`s and the odd Ferrari and a Lambo plus the odd hot hatch or two . A couple of new generation Camaro`s appeared later in the morning so re parked the C3 next to them for the pose value 
.
The City Car and C1 races might only be ` Shopping Trolley ` cars but the competition was fierce enough with a few `comings together ` , spins and off s and lots of tyre squealing . All for an entry ticket of £10 discounted from the normal adult price of £17.50 , a reserved suite and balcony viewing for Car Natter members only in the Brooklands Hospitality facility with free nibbles and soft drinks plus 10% of food and beverages in the Pit Stop Cafe . Whats not to like ???
With the Brooklands Suite situated track side where Wellington Straight turns into the sharp Brooklands Corner left hander so a good spot for a bit of do or die action .
We had reserved parking in the paddock area too and the Corvette drew some attention from passers by as it rather stood out from the long line Porches ,
( only a lovely Duck Tail 911 stood out for me ) , a line of Maserati`s and the odd Ferrari and a Lambo plus the odd hot hatch or two . A couple of new generation Camaro`s appeared later in the morning so re parked the C3 next to them for the pose value .
Chevrolet
CCCUK Member
Then went and parked next to the Dodges?A couple of new generation Camaro`s appeared later in the morning so re parked the C3 next to them for the pose value
I was interested to see on Instagram that Chris Harris with his 850k followers, was at Spa with what I presume is "his" 5th Gen '2014/64 Plate Camaro Z28. Didn't realise he was into American cars?Chris Harris on Instagram: "Z28 at the original Stavelot. @spafrancorchamps is perhaps the best circuit to explore. The extent and madness of the original long-route still blows my mind. Obligatory chips at the Masta fritery, as you imagine what it was like to pilot a 917 through there at lord-knows-what-speed. @spasixhours"
Clive Sutton has one for sale right now. Has the 500 bhp LS7 engine, Nice! :
2014 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe Petrol Manual | eBay
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Pitre
Chairman, CCCUK.
We went on the East Anglia region Prostate Cancer UK charity run today and it was great to see such a good turnout, and some huge distances travelled by some to attend.
Congratulations to our regional reps Neil Williamson for organising..... Pics HERE.
A good amount raised for a very good cause.
Just Giving page is HERE - feel free to donate as generously as you can
Congratulations to our regional reps Neil Williamson for organising..... Pics HERE.
A good amount raised for a very good cause.
Just Giving page is HERE - feel free to donate as generously as you can
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Chuffer
CCCUK Member
"Hot In The City " to quote Billy Idol . Went to a Milton Keynes ` Retro and Classic ` meet this afternoon held in the car parks around the Barn Beefeater restaurant in central Milton Keynes . All very informal and an interesting mix of cars coming and going throughout the afternoon . The Vette drew the usual amount of interest and photographs and it was good chatting with other car enthusiasts . Had a long chat with the owner of the stunning `72 Dodge Charger that he dragged out of someones garden as a rust bucket and achieved the stunning restoration himself in just 2 years over the Covid lock downs . A real stunner !! 
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
I went out into Taunton centre over the weekend (Saturday I think) to see the Taunton Market Festival thingy. Nice day out going for a wander. Driving in Taunton to the carpark I spied a green C3 on an old "L" reg going the other way. Sadly I was not in my C3, but the Skoda. Nice to see another one nearby, but it does now mean that Corvettes have been all too common in the Taunton area now. Drats.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
" Saturday I think " ??? Glad it`s not just me with short term memory loss Captain !!
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
My memory is just appalling Chuffs. Shockingly bad." Saturday I think " ??? Glad it`s not just me with short term memory loss Captain !!
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Who said that ?
PS . I will be working on the Great Central Railway at the start of their Autumn Gala event this week and we have `your loco` 7828 Odney Manor hired in from the West Somerset Railway as the star attraction . I will ping you photo if I get the chance .
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
Good man!Who said that ?
PS . I will be working on the Great Central Railway at the start of their Autumn Gala event this week and we have `your loco` 7828 Odney Manor hired in from the West Somerset Railway as the star attraction . I will ping you photo if I get the chance .
I saw Odney went off to the GCR. Photos posted on the WSR Facebook pages. Take good care of it, I'll want it back for when I do the Silver course next year
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Don`t worry , Odney Manor will be well looked after . My mate Bill Gwilt was the only driver renowned for ripping the chimney off with the blast from having the regulator in the roof !!Good man!
And he retired from the footplate at the grand age of 85 earlier this year .
antijam
CCCUK Member
With increasingly autumnal days I’ve started my annual ‘special operation’ against the mouse population resident in my garage. During warmer weather I’m happy to adopt a live and let live policy with the rodents but colder times mean less natural food and their attention turns to the tastier parts of cars. Wiring, upholstery and carpets have all provided them with sustenance in the past and have proved very expensive to repair. The three cars in my garage are all convertibles and not good at excluding rodents.
Accordingly I dug out three of my ancient wooden traps, loaded them with bait and placed them strategically around the garage. I’ve had mixed success with these in the past but they seem to have been the industry standard for ever.
Anyway, after the first night the traps are still set – but the bait on all of them has gone........................Mice 3 – Traps 0.
After all these years a can’t believe that someone hasn’t come up with a better mousetrap and some online research suggests that now someone has done just that. The limitation of the basic wooden trap is that the mouse doesn’t need to apply his weight to the release mechanism to get the bait and if he’s a delicate feeder – and it seems most of them are - they can enjoy a meal with minimal risk.
A slightly more elaborate version of the traditional trap – the ‘Little Nipper’ - can be more successful – but it’s still tricky to set with the best sensitivity.
Enter the modern high-tech replacement !
This plastic and metal device has a removable bait pot for easy charging and a single press action to set it without risk to your fingers.
So, procure a batch of these wonder devices, load with bait and site them in place of the failed has-beens.
Open the garage this morning and all the traps have gone off – and each contains a mouse corpse.................Traps 3 – mice 0.
So it looks as if technology has moved the game on again……your move mice!
R.I.P. Mus musculus.
Accordingly I dug out three of my ancient wooden traps, loaded them with bait and placed them strategically around the garage. I’ve had mixed success with these in the past but they seem to have been the industry standard for ever.
Anyway, after the first night the traps are still set – but the bait on all of them has gone........................Mice 3 – Traps 0.
After all these years a can’t believe that someone hasn’t come up with a better mousetrap and some online research suggests that now someone has done just that. The limitation of the basic wooden trap is that the mouse doesn’t need to apply his weight to the release mechanism to get the bait and if he’s a delicate feeder – and it seems most of them are - they can enjoy a meal with minimal risk.
A slightly more elaborate version of the traditional trap – the ‘Little Nipper’ - can be more successful – but it’s still tricky to set with the best sensitivity.
Enter the modern high-tech replacement !
This plastic and metal device has a removable bait pot for easy charging and a single press action to set it without risk to your fingers.
So, procure a batch of these wonder devices, load with bait and site them in place of the failed has-beens.
Open the garage this morning and all the traps have gone off – and each contains a mouse corpse.................Traps 3 – mice 0.
So it looks as if technology has moved the game on again……your move mice!
R.I.P. Mus musculus.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
I have the same problem every autumn & winter in my small shed / workshop at the top of the garden that backs on to open fields and attracts every little critter for miles around . They chewed my fishing kit and the leaf vacuum bag , little buggers !! I use the plastic humane traps that are hair trigger sensitive and I can often catch two a day for several days on end . Often they are dead by the time I check the traps each morning though , either from fright or bordem having been trapped all night . I use peanut butter as bait , they cant resist it !
Amazingly the Corvette doesn`t suffer from rodents or any of the race cars in the workshop despite being in an isolated rural location next door to riding stables . Maybe the smell of high octane fuel and horse dung puts them off ?
Amazingly the Corvette doesn`t suffer from rodents or any of the race cars in the workshop despite being in an isolated rural location next door to riding stables . Maybe the smell of high octane fuel and horse dung puts them off ?
Roscobbc
Moderator
Those mice can get in the smallest imaginable places. When no.1 big end failed on the Vette some years back I initially left the top end of the engine completely assembled........except for no.1 spark plug.
This was left out for a couple of weeks until I got hold of my laddo's bore scope to take a look at the cylinder walls before pulling the engine out........didn't ever get around to doing that...........
It seems an 'old school' big block lump was an attraction for a mouse looking to build a nest. Using the borescope on number 1 cylinder (with the piston partly up the bore) it was noticeably filled with dry straw etc. presumably from a mouse starting to build its nest. How do you vacuum all that through a spark plug hole?...........answer, you don't. Simply fire the engine-up and watch the burning debris fly out the exhaust!
Not sure whether I told the story about the rats stealing rice, pasta and potatoes from our kitchen and eventually using the cavity walls as a means of getting around the house.
We've had squirrels that seem to find the 'V' section of a V8 engine underneath the air filter housing a useful place for storing hazel and other nuts.
This was left out for a couple of weeks until I got hold of my laddo's bore scope to take a look at the cylinder walls before pulling the engine out........didn't ever get around to doing that...........
It seems an 'old school' big block lump was an attraction for a mouse looking to build a nest. Using the borescope on number 1 cylinder (with the piston partly up the bore) it was noticeably filled with dry straw etc. presumably from a mouse starting to build its nest. How do you vacuum all that through a spark plug hole?...........answer, you don't. Simply fire the engine-up and watch the burning debris fly out the exhaust!
Not sure whether I told the story about the rats stealing rice, pasta and potatoes from our kitchen and eventually using the cavity walls as a means of getting around the house.
We've had squirrels that seem to find the 'V' section of a V8 engine underneath the air filter housing a useful place for storing hazel and other nuts.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Mice can get through holes smaller than a spark plug believe me Ross . My last job before retirement was in Facilities Management and the pest control contractor i used showed me a test piece they had devised to see how small a hole a mouse could through in a tunnel to reach food bait . I was amazed to say the least !! Apparently they can flatten their skulls as well as their body .
I know all about cosy V8 sections too . I bought my one lady owner very low mileage ( at the time ) Hemi V8 Jeep only to find when I took the plastic engine cover off there were dead leaves and Hazel nut shells in the V . It`s a wonder I couldn`t smell roasted nuts on the drive home !
Roscobbc
Moderator
Reminiscent of many years ago when I was running a 205 GTI as a reps car. Car went in for service and when I collected it later the same day the service manager was keen to show me the roasted dead Hedgehog obviously run over and wedged behind the exhaust manifold and engine block......I wondered what the lovely smell had been the previous day.......