My WIP book about Red Robbo, and Longbridge stuff.

[vaughant]

8 hours ago, motorpunk said:

@vaughant - thanks for your words on this thread. All interesting stuff. I worked at Llanelli radiators back in the 90s and it was very chaotic, as you describe. All old BL plants were.

Calsonic? Actually not entirely sure what it was called back then but that rings a bell. 

Still going in some sort of capacity from memory or was about 5 years ago.

I'm actually sitting a workshop now with an ex Cowley apprentice who's told me many interesting stories about the place, like when they set the robots up to make a Maestro van, clearly didn't get it quite right (I think he said it went to a totally different program 😬😬😬) and they just drove in and crushed a load of panels up against the body in frame 🤭🤭🤭🤭.

Of course managers love the spectacle of a new product launch so gathered a load of the factory big wigs to cover and watch this amazing new product launch.

Apparently the managers just stood there and said "oh dear" and walked away 🤣🤣🤣.... Sounds about right to me 🤭🤭🤭.

I should say as well that as maintenance we did get treated very differently to production, we had the "keys to the city" so to speak and rarely ever got in big bother for anything major whereas the operators could get in the shit for simply leaving their work station for more than ten minutes 🤣🤣🤣.

[motorpunk]

7 hours ago, vaughant said:

when they set the robots up to make a Maestro van, clearly didn't get it quite right (I think he said it went to a totally different program 😬😬😬) and they just drove in and crushed a load of panels up against the body in frame 🤭🤭🤭🤭.

 

That’s funny. I was at the start of the BMW Mini production and management all queued up to watch the first handful of cars get assembled, and a tool took a workers finger off (!) Much shouting…

[Lord Sterling]

On 24/01/2025 at 11:54, grogee said:

The difference between UK and Japanese production line culture is fascinating and explains a lot about the quality of the end product. 

The 'Japanese Way' is to involve the line worker in continual process improvement so s/he suggests methods of reducing manufacturing issues/defects.

Every worker also has access to a 'STOP' button (it has a Japanese name which I've forgotten, @motorpunk might know) which halts the production line completely if something is discovered that would create an issue downstream. Workers are encouraged to press it. 

In the UK, you raise issues at your peril as @sierraman describes. The production line output rate is far more important than Len's opinions about how to screw on the rear light lens. Don't cause trouble, and don't be a know-it-all. 

All of the above is 20-30 years out of date but there are still cultural legacies that are borne out in, say, JLR quality v Honda quality. 

I agree with the above, except the highlighted bit as this still happens. I've worked in various manufacturing places and generally, figures are far more important than actual quality of product. 

I was talking about this the other day to a fellow colleague where she described that exact scenario. A manager refused to stop a line citing figures even when an issue was discovered.

[motorpunk]

Am meeting someone who is almost 100 this weekend, apparently his mind is still sharp, but his body is knackered. A very senior person who I don't think I should name online. I love meeting these people, getting their stories, and building it all into the book. There's a Mini in his garage

[High Jetter]

I once met a 112yo man. Sharp as a tack, though frail. Mine his memories

[MrBig]

On 26/06/2025 at 19:21, motorpunk said:

I do lots of things very quickly and to a very poor standard is the quick answer.

I understand your interest in BL now!

[MrBig]

Going back to an earlier question, here's a few Midlands based potential venues off the top of my head:

Gilks Garage Cafe Kineton - Home

The Piston Club on the outskirts of Stratford - The Piston Club

Gasoline Juice - Northampton/Daventry area - Gasoline Juice

Whilton Mill Kart Track near Daventry (they often host car shows and events but I'm unsure if they have any indoor space) - Home for go karting - Whilton Mill

[R Lutz]

Cowley's militancy was sorted by an ex-pitman, hard as nails, who learned metal bashing at Nissan after the pits closed and was then recruited by Rover just prior to BMW taking over. 

[holbeck]

On 17/06/2025 at 18:11, motorpunk said:

Well bugger me sideways with an Austin Metro, I’ve had a reply! Meeting on the cards…

A bit late to this, but if you haven't yet met with Mr Musgrove, (yes I know it's a tangent)  ask him about the plan for BL to sell the production rights of the TR8 to Delorean.

ISTR it almost happened, and Harold was in the thick of it.

That whole 1980 /81 "BL Zero Hour" era when the company was on a knife edge is endlessly fascinating.

[vaughant]

On 29/03/2025 at 22:34, grogee said:

Post-Robbo picture, but I thought maybe @motorpunk would enjoy. 

"Hand built by Roberts" 

Sent this pic to my mate who did his time at Cowley despite being a proper hard nut valley guy and this was his response. 

 

 

He started in 1986/7 I believe @motorpunk and has said if there's anything you want to know about Cowley and think he could help let him know (which you can do through me if course 😎😎).

Might be little things you'd like a second set of eyes to agree actually happened but even if not I've already told him I'm buying a copy of the book for him as well as he's a really decent guy. 

He was telling me about some hair brained scheme to put all maintenance in one place and just call them out as needed, no doubt to try and get rid of a load of them, but it went a bit awry when they decided the best place to keep them out of the way was the sports and social club.... With access to alcohol, pool tables, darts etc 🤣🤣🤣.

 

 

[motorpunk]

^ Thanks. I might pick your brains as that all sounds good. I’ve covered Cowley pretty well, I interviewed Alan ‘The Mole’ Thornett and also met family of Bobby Fryer, both very active men with great stories that slot into Robbos life and times.

[motorpunk]

Hmm. No-one associated with AROnline answers their emails, most of them eventually 'bounce' for some reason, plus (worryingly), I get no reply email from Great British Car Journey (who own AROnline, I think) and when I call their number it was only answered once then I was cut off. I hope there's no problems there as I love both the website and also the venue. I'm hoping the venue is just too overrun with visitors to reply...

[motorpunk]

Here’s a Hail Mary letter going in the post tonight…

 

[Matty]

On 11/07/2025 at 15:26, motorpunk said:

Hmm. No-one associated with AROnline answers their emails, most of them eventually 'bounce' for some reason, plus (worryingly), I get no reply email from Great British Car Journey (who own AROnline, I think) and when I call their number it was only answered once then I was cut off. I hope there's no problems there as I love both the website and also the venue. I'm hoping the venue is just too overrun with visitors to reply...

Could you contact Keith Adams directly? It would seem he still edits Aronline. At least he is still contributing at any rate.

[motorpunk]

52 minutes ago, Matty said:

Could you contact Keith Adams directly? It would seem he still edits Aronline. At least he is still contributing at any rate.

Emails bounce 

[motorpunk]

Prince Charlie and Michael Edwardes at the launch of the Metro. I got a humdinger of a story from the guy who took the photo, today. 

[Lord Sterling]

1 hour ago, motorpunk said:

Emails bounce 

@motorpunk I think I *may* be able to contact Keith Adams directly via eBay of all places. I bought a Peugeot radio and screen of him a couple of years back and it was him, we got chatting as I knew from the early AROnline days.

Let me know and I'll see if I can drop a message.

[motorpunk]

Thanks Lord Sterling. I have messaged him on Instagram. Could be he’s simply not arsed about all this, which is fair enough, I guess.

[High Jetter]

2 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Thanks Lord Sterling. I have messaged him on Instagram. Could be he’s simply not arsed about all this, which is fair enough, I guess.

I think he should be.

[R Lutz]

On 11/07/2025 at 15:26, motorpunk said:

Hmm. No-one associated with AROnline answers their emails, most of them eventually 'bounce' for some reason, plus (worryingly), I get no reply email from Great British Car Journey (who own AROnline, I think) and when I call their number it was only answered once then I was cut off. I hope there's no problems there as I love both the website and also the venue. I'm hoping the venue is just too overrun with visitors to reply...

I c an help with AROnline. 

[R Lutz]

On 11/07/2025 at 19:22, motorpunk said:

Here’s a Hail Mary letter going in the post tonight…

 

Is he still in Bromsgrove and did he move back to the village where he grew up and until recently, his dad  lived.; Lanchester in Country Durham.

[Dave_Q]

He does have an account on here, @kadams1970, but hasn't been on in a year it looks like.

[motorpunk]

It’s ok chaps, thanks. I was more interested in potentially using GreatBritishCars thingy as a launch venue. I’ve got a bit on my plate at the mo

[motorpunk]

Another long shot. I think he moved house last year but hopefully this gets forwarded. Sunglasses to obscure full address of one of my fave comedians and presenters. Also a BL perv.

[richardmorris]

4 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Another long shot. I think he moved house last year but hopefully this gets forwarded. Sunglasses to obscure full address of one of my fave comedians and presenters. Also a BL perv.

I think he was driving around in a Citroen c6 not too long ago.

[motorpunk]

1 hour ago, richardmorris said:

I think he was driving around in a Citroen c6 not too long ago.

The address I have for him shows a C6 outside 👊🏾

[motorpunk]

Almost there…. 

[Snipes]

How many pages?

[motorpunk]

2 hours ago, Snipes said:

How many pages?

110 ish of text, pics to be added on top.

[Matty]

23 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

110 ish of text, pics to be added on top.

Any chance of throwing about 50 blank ones in as well? Makes the book thicker and makes me look brighter in front of the wife