The work classic car day 2015

[jonny69]

Last year we had a work classic car day at, uh, work, and it was such an overwhelming success we decided to hold another one this year. Quite a few people here own classic cars and bikes but I think the weather put a few off because the turn-out wasn't quite as good. That said, we managed to squeeze together seven cars and four bikes.

 

Unlike last year, this is the second car show I've been to this year with the other one being in Bushy Park a whopping 500 metres away from where we parked these crocks beauties. Another amazing fact* is that we almost managed an all-BL show except for the one mug who turned up with an old Ford. We actually had one of each generation Midget apparently, starting with this later rubber bumper model which was there last year:

 

 

The owner of this also has a B and another earlier-bodied Midget which he has nearly finished restoring. He showed me some pics and it's a proper bare shell job. On with the show though. Sat next to that was "The Beast" based on a Herald with Triumph GT6 power:

 

 

Then was the earlier of the Midgets. This one had been restored by the owner some time ago and although it's quite shiny is looking a bit scabby in places. A fresh resto is on the cards:

 

 

And the middle-model Midget was parked to its left:

 

 

This is mine:

 

 

I think a lot of you have seen it before but here's a rare shot of me as well, in silly vintage outfit:

 

 

This wobbly 1300 ought to be popular here. It's usually in the carpark quite regularly but had some headgasket problems a couple of months back. Then the head came back badly ground, then the replacement headgasket was letting water into the bores and finally he got it running well enough to get it into work, albeit running pretty rough:

 

 

I had a quick fiddle with it while we were all there. Points were opening and closing just about but good enough to get a spark, plugs and leads looked ok, distributor cap ok, so it could only have been the mixture. It was running very rich so I just leaned it right off until the idle speed stopped going up, flicked the throttle a couple of times and richened it back up until it revved cleanly.

 

Early Moggy Traveller is in regular use but decided to conk out on the way in today and then the wipers stopped working, as if on cue. Turned out to be nothing serious except a loose terminal on the fuel pump and the wipers just needed a bit of help:

 

 

We also had four old bikes. This is a handbuilt track bike with quite a lot of history and pedigree. It was built by my colleague's grandfather in the early 50's who owned a bike shop in Croydon. My colleague's father raced it at Herne Hill velodrome and then he himself raced it too. It's VERY thin Reynolds 531 with hand-cut lugs, mega-steep head tube, pencil stays and see how they semi wrap over the top of the seat tube lug. I managed to talk him into cobbling it back together for today, so it's not completely as it was except for the frame, saddle and handlebars:

 

 

This is my 1938 BSA Sports fixed wheel:

 

 

This is a 1953 Elswick Hopper. It's got a 32cc engine driving the back wheel which will take it up to 20-25mph. It's got a stirrup brake at the front (hopeless) and back-pedal brake at the back. The left hand lever engages the clutch and the throttle is that lever sticking out from the right hand lever:

 

 

And finally is this Mk2 Raleigh RSW in resplendent metallic brown. I've got a Mk1 which was made in 1966, so this one must be either late 60s or very early 70s and still has its original bag for the back rack:

 

 

In case you missed last year's thread, it's here: http://autoshite.com/topic/17539-the-work-classic-car-day/

[mrbenn]

What a great idea, should be compulsory! Some nice cars there, like the Minor but I am slightly biased.

 

Great bikes too. You obviously work with some interesting folk. Any jobs going?

[New POD]

How do you get on with the insurance. Our classic policy doesn't allow commuting. Mind you where I'm working the car park is behind razor wire, and armed guards so theft is unlikely.  

[jonny69]

Peter James allows commuting and I had it with my policies with Lancaster and previously with Flux. I don't think they expect you to do it every day but I usually only drive to work 1-2 days a week unless the weather is grotty. Hagerty didn't allow any commuting at all.

[Skizzer]

I do love your Anglia.  We need more Anglia on here.

[michael1703]

I like the "beast" but it looks awful on those alloys, I reckon it would like quite smart on wires

[derskine]

Fucking hell that Anglia is the absolute tits!

[jonny69]

Fucking hell that Anglia is the absolute tits!

 

Thanks fella! As usual the photos make it look a bit better than it actually is etc etc

 

I like the "beast" but it looks awful on those alloys, I reckon it would like quite smart on wires

 

Totally agree. I keep trying to talk him into a set of wires but he won't have it

[inconsistant]

Excellent. You look a lot less Kinnocky than I expected. Love your Angular.