Tommy's A-series Misery - Mini Action (plus bonus Aggro)

[M'coli]

8 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Were making our way back to Edinburgh today. Get some obligatory pictures by the Forth Bridge and perhaps go into central Edinburgh.

Just stopped past Inverness so making good progress already.

I wouldn't, the Edinburgh Festival is on and it'll be heaving.

[Zelandeth]

3 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Theyve honestly been fine. Way more reliable than they deserve to be. We brought everything with us. Ignition components, spare radiator, water pump, clutch plate even! We were prepared! But all they've needed is water and oil top ups. Not really surprising. I have gained a small weep from a rear brake cylinder so I'm keeping an eye on brake fluid now. I was expecting a bad back, leg pain, deafness, fatigue but honestly have none of that. I have been wearing noise cancelling headphones on the motorways but more for music as I have no radio!

Driving wise theyve also been great. Not quick by any stretch but we've been merrily bombing along at 50-60mph the whole time. There's a fair few average speed cameras up here now but when you can barely do 70mph we haven't really had to think about them. Even the hills aren't too much of a challenge. Weve done some really twisty roads and apart from the odd wheel cock the 3 wheels have been no issue. The biggest challenge has been camper vans not giving way!

Ive actually been surprised how quiet it is though. There are a lot of campers but not as many as I expected and they do seem to mostly avoid the truly twisty bits. I've only seen a handful of 'enthusiasts' cars. I've seen more German and Dutch cars than anything else!

Good to hear.  

I also noticed when we were heading up to Aberdeen this time last week that there were loads of German cars heading north.  You always spot a few international travellers on a 450 mile motorway run, but there was such a bias towards Germany we were wondering if there was some big event on somewhere that was particularly popular over there.

Then a long debate started as to how many cars the coach we passed was worth.  

Hope the trip back south is similarly uneventful for you.

[Tommyboy12]

So far uneventful. Weve stopped for a spot of lunch just off the A9. The dualling work seems to be going at a snails pace I'm not sure how the locals cope

[Tommyboy12]

A bit more progress 

 

[N19]

Loving this update. I'm thinking of doing the NC500 next year but all the websites seem to say it'll take 7+ days - I imagine that's if you stop everywhere and visit lots of tourist attractions. 

[Tommyboy12]

2 hours ago, N19 said:

Loving this update. I'm thinking of doing the NC500 next year but all the websites seem to say it'll take 7+ days - I imagine that's if you stop everywhere and visit lots of tourist attractions. 

If you stop a lot it can be 7 days. Reality is you can do the actual route in 2-3 days. We usually take 5 days including travel up to and back from Scotland. I've done it in 60 hours before and I've done it in 7 days. That includes travelling up and back. Just depends what you want to do and why you're going.

[Tommyboy12]

Ready for the last day back down South

 

[Tommyboy12]

Making good progress back down South. Just stopped at Washington services south of Newcastle. Four and a bit hours to go!

[Tommyboy12]

Finally made it home! The traffic on the A1 was an absolute nightmare. Coupled with ridiculous heat. It got a bit touch and go temperature wise but the car held out

And the car in question is a true champion for making it all that way without so much as a hiccup. I'm genuinely impressed it needed nothing more than fluids.

But I think the true hero of this story is the unknown Starsky & Hutch Robin picked up from Bournemouth on Sunday. I've absolutely no idea how it made it there and back but it did!

My favourite photo of the trip is probably this Polaroid. Its going straight in the holiday scrap book

So can you make it 1500 miles to John O'Groats in a Reliant 3 wheeler? Yes you can!

Should you? Probably not. I'm deaf, I'm sunburnt, I stink of petrol and oil. But it was totally worth it.

Where to next @sharley17194?

 

[sharley17194]

1 hour ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Finally made it home! The traffic on the A1 was an absolute nightmare. Coupled with ridiculous heat. It got a bit touch and go temperature wise but the car held out

And the car in question is a true champion for making it all that way without so much as a hiccup. I'm genuinely impressed it needed nothing more than fluids.

But I think the true hero of this story is the unknown Starsky & Hutch Robin picked up from Bournemouth on Sunday. I've absolutely no idea how it made it there and back but it did!

My favourite photo of the trip is probably this Polaroid. Its going straight in the holiday scrap book

So can you make it 1500 miles to John O'Groats in a Reliant 3 wheeler? Yes you can!

Should you? Probably not. I'm deaf, I'm sunburnt, I stink of petrol and oil. But it was totally worth it.

Where to next @sharley17194?

 

Mine was def the star of the show! sorry about that!! next I'm selling all Reliants! not driving a 3 wheeler ever again! 

[RayMK]

58 minutes ago, sharley17194 said:

Mine was def the star of the show! sorry about that!! next I'm selling all Reliants! not driving a 3 wheeler ever again! 

Whatever you did to General Three to get it to run before setting off certainly did  the trick.  Respect!  Amazing that both ran so well despite being well out of their comfort zone.   You will recover and want another one in a decade or so.  Well done chaps.

Edit:  Clearly I need to gen up on my TV series.  Starsky & Hutch livery does not = Dukes of Hazard.  

Edited August 15, 2025 by RayMK
Wrong reference

[Matty]

Epic

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

out

Tight on fuel tho!

[auntiemaryscanary]

Lots of likes for doing the whole shebang. Looks you had a great time.

Engage pedant mode: The Polaroid is really a Fuji Instax Mini. Disengage pedant mode.

I have one of the camera's. On my dtr's 4 birthday all the kids were stunned to see their magic* photo emerge before their young eyes.

[plasticvandan]

Been fun to follow, out of the myriad of minors,minis,2cv,126,Trabis,allegros and the 32 reliants I had,I never actually got stranded or had to call breakdown in a pig,seemingly every eventuality could be worked out or bodged to get me home. Of course advancing years on the cars is more noticeable now but I well remember the Reliant clubs 40rh anniversary lejog run in 1998 done over three days,and all fourtt entries or so made the journey

[Tommyboy12]

9 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Tight on fuel tho!

The fuel gauge has not worked for the entire time I've owned it. I do have a replacement now but we were 'reliant' on the Robin's fuel gauge for approximate refills. The tank is only 27L so we were topping off at least once a day.

[Matty]

Just now, Tommyboy12 said:

The fuel gauge has not worked for the entire time I've owned it. I do have a replacement now but we were 'reliant' on the Robin's fuel gauge for approximate refills. The tank is only 27L so we were topping off at least once a day.

Same when we went. Up in the Highlands I basically stopped at every garage I went past that sold 99. Sometimes that was as little as a tenners worth 🤣

[M'coli]

17 minutes ago, Matty said:

Same when we went. Up in the Highlands I basically stopped at every garage I went past that sold 99. Sometimes that was as little as a tenners worth 🤣

How many ice cream cones per day?!

[Tommyboy12]

Thankfully there's a lot of automated pumps up there now. It wasn't hard to find fuel. It could do well over 200 miles between top ups so once a day was enough

[Morris 63]

Well, that was a Top Trumps adventure and no mistake. Thanks for an epic tale and taking us with you both.

[sharley17194]

Next years road trip will be slower and further! @Tommyboy12 can I share at least part of the concept for next years bash? 

[Tommyboy12]

Might as well give a few hints...

[sharley17194]

Next car will be prewar…

[Tommyboy12]

I hear there's some really good racing South West of Paris too...

[Jenson Velcro]

Le Mans in an Austin 7? Are you setting off next week?

[M'coli]

1 hour ago, sharley17194 said:

Next car will be prewar…

Which war?

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Jenson Velcro said:

Le Mans in an Austin 7? Are you setting off next week?

2027 is a fair way off...

[comfortablynumb]

The way things are going the next war will be in about 20 minutes, so that expands the possibilities... 😱

[Lacquer Peel]

On 14/08/2025 at 15:56, N19 said:

Loving this update. I'm thinking of doing the NC500 next year but all the websites seem to say it'll take 7+ days - I imagine that's if you stop everywhere and visit lots of tourist attractions. 

Don't do it, make your own path.

The NC500 has taken a lot of traffic to undeniably beautiful places worth visiting  but with limited infrastructure and next to no upgrades since.

[paulplom]

Legends!