invacar LightBulbFun's Invacar & general ramble thread, index on page 1, survivors lists on Pages 24/134 & AdgeCutler's Invacar Mk12 Restoration from Page 186 onwards, still harping on...

[LightBulbFun]

so Sunday was the 50th Anniversary of the National Microcar Rally, and I thought if theres any car show I really aught to make it to this one, for its historical signifcance, and in memory of Jean Hammond, for not only was she instrumental in the Microcar scene, preserving and collecting and raising their awareness at a time in the 1970's-1980's when they where often just the butt of jokes and very much looked down upon, but also because I have REV because of Jean, she was very much how I ended up finding REV in the first place, she went out of my way to take my number when she found out at the Autoshite Hammond collection visit, that I was looking for a Model 70 and she passed it on to someone she knew was looking to sell their pair of Model 70's and the rest is history

so an early Sunday start for REV (this time without any drive-belts going pop like the last time I tried an early sunday start to go to a gathering LOL)

some 83 miles later, up the A40-M40-A40 I was there!

I even was following just a car behind, this Steyr Puch 500 which was very fitting  

took a bit of shuffling, after a scooter car sort of stole the parking space that was being held for REV, just as I was pulling up to it, the cheek of it! (so the Argson had to get evicted)

but soon REV was in place, right next to Brian @AdgeCutler's Mk12, and rather fittingly next to the Opperman Stirling, so that made 3 Steyr puch vehicles at the show  

I did very kindly get given permission to use REV to get about the site, but it was quite busy with foot traffic and tight, so Stuart had kindly brought along one of his Mobility scooters for this eventuality, but that had been commandeered by one his other friends

so nothing for it, time for the Alternate, I pinched the 1929 Argson Electric as my mode of Transport for the day,  96 years old  

but it performed most admirably, here I am at the end the show day with the prize giving, where @AdgeCutler's Invacar Mk12E got a Second place prize in best car in show for the plastics category  (dont ask me why theres a Random manhole cover in the middle of a grassy field!)

it was really Awesome to see Brian the Invacar Mk12 in person! my take away impression is that, the throttle has no return mechanism, its up to close it when slowing down! theres no return spring, great for cruising I imagine, but I could see it maybe to leading to some hairy moments otherwise!

after stopping at Stuart's place, I then made my way to my premmier in for the night

then next morning stopped to fill up the tank, 31 Mpg this time around  

stopped at Stuarts place again, photo for @dollywobbler its an Invacar and a Matiz, but both are later revisions then TWC or Mertyle the Matiz, then it was time to hit the road again

171 miles covered over the 2 days, and I even hit a new speed record on the way back home, without even trying for it!, over taking a Lorry on the M40, I was thinking "mmm im going quite fast" *looks at GPS* and before I knew it I was doing about 72Mph!, so I have officially cracked the 70Mph mark  (tho all the lightbulbs in the cabin started vibrating at that speed, so for their sake and for the sake of mechanical sympathy I did not try for any faster, just tucked in front of the lorry once I was a good distance past and dropped back to cruising speed) tho coming into London on the A40 it appears my heat-exchanger has cracked like the previous one did, so thats a bit naff, this replacement was second hand, but I would of hoped it would of lasted more then just a couple hundred miles, but given the state of our roads maybe I shouldn't be too surprised it cracked (those roundabout yellow stop stripes make me wince since no ones worn the middle of them nice and smooth!)

but otherwise home without issue, REV handled it all brilliantly, and it was really awesome to be able to finally do something like this, which I would not of been able to do otherwise without REV,

 

Many thanks go to @AdgeCutler for holding and bring all the lightbulbs I won at that museum auction @barrett linked to few months ago, I think @AdgeCutler has a picture of me in REV full of lightbulbs  and Many thanks to Stuart Cyphus for lending me his Argson so I could get about the show grounds, that was a life saver in itself, and very much fortifies my thoughts that having an Argson for local trips would be very handy, just a shame I have got nowhere to keep one! and I can very much see why @brummiejon enjoys his Argson so much for local pottering about  and many thanks to the show organisers for being accommodating with regards to my disability and allowing me to potter about on the site in a powered vehicle 

[Mrs6C]

3 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

after a scooter car sort of stole the parking space that was being held for REV, just as I was pulling up to it, the cheek of it!

REV should be used to that kind of thing! 🙂