The Bank Holiday Weekend In Words & Pictures

[Guest]

I did not have to work on Sunday. This came as a surprise.

 

I noticed on Retro Rides that Gray and Daaaave (Leigh) were having a barbeque in their yard to make the most of the weather (and to drum up some business). Pete - M was also in attendance and besides, it was only 20 miles down the road.

 

 

The Paris - Rhone decided not to help in starting the Peugeot. Pete decided it would be an appropriate place to hang the Autoshite banner from instead.

 

 

Local garagiste Shaun and Gray decided to pose for a shot too.

 

 

Shoving the 604 over from the corner meant that Marv the CF could not escape.

 

 

An Opel Manta joined an E21 over in the workshop.

 

 

Gray's Superminx, in detail.

 

 

 

Marv deserved a couple of shots.

 

 

Into the office.........

 

 

..whereby discussions raged, kerosene heaters contributed, and the world outside grew ever darker.

 

 

Monday. As for my previous lament, I did not collect my wheels from Luton.

 

After driving for nearly four hours and 150 miles, I missed the importer and had to turn round and head for home. With the Bank Holiday weekend looming, MM5 and I hatched a plan. We would fill the C4 with derv and embark on a convoluted trip of the South, picking up magazines for Pog on the way and collecting my Shelby 10 spokes in Luton. On the way back up I would drop the peasant's grot mags off. Further up the road I'd rendezvous with Lord Sterling and hand over the 1:43 model he'd bought..

 

 

With the torsion bars of the C4 groaning under the wait of Pog's new reading list, we trudged downward from Nottingham. Broken air - conditioning resulted in an extremely poor James Bond blue screen impersonation.

 

 

Our route saw us swing past a certain R&D division.

 

 

MM5 grabbed a shot of a Reliant Fox camper as I sorted the Shelby 10 spokes out.

 

 

The annals of grot purchased by Pog had filled the boot. This meant that my loot would have to clog up the rear bench.

 

 

 

MM5 had brought a packed lunch with him. Although a pale imitation of the Birkenhead Tesco smash - and - grab that gave my Amazon trailing arms a hard time at the Retro Show, his guts cried enough and we stopped at the Sainsbury's on the outskirts of Biggleswade. On cue, a tasty spot appeared - a Camaro SS driven by the world's oldest man.

 

 

Ablutions complete, the mix CD was deployed once more. I punched in Lord Sterling's address and headed north.

 

 

Upon joining an A road, I noticed a sign with 'Cardington' on it. Whilst my brain struggled with the historical significance, a pair of enormous hangars swung into view. We were passing the home of the R-101! With my borrowed D70 more than warmed up, I had to take a closer look.

 

 

 

In hindsight, this perhaps wasn't the cleverest idea. Cardington is now a sound stage and heavily patrolled by security.

 

 

 

Mark waited by the C4 as I climbed over a gate fortified by nettles. The surroundings were beguilingly verdant.

 

As I walked back down the track, I heard the unmistakable bray of a Transit diesel engine. Above this discordant drone several Alsatians strained and barked in the confines of the van. After a brief exchange with the guard in which I avoided arrest by a hair's breadth, I wandered back up the tow path. MM5 had helpfully turned the Citroen around, primed for a hasty retreat.

 

 

 

After five minutes we realised that no-one was following us, and we tanked onwards to the Watford Gap services, leaving Cardington behind. A small group of Harley - Davidsons was parked nearby, no doubt enjoying the fabulous weather.

 

 

 

 

 

Coronaries brought forward, we swapped seats and headed for Birmingham. The city centre spooled out in front us in a blur of neon lights and undulating tunnels.

 

 

Model delivered, and formal introductions over, we had one final leg of the journey to complete.

 

 

Wobbling into the unit at 12.30 am, MM5 filled his 309 with coolant and headed back to the Wirral. We'd managed 400 miles on just under half a tank.

[warren t claim]

Top pics as usual! Cardington is also the place where I had to do my bike instructors exams. Happy memories.

[Lord Sterling]

Great stuff there Jon. Nice pics aswell. I remember you telling me about the hanger incident with the cameras, 2 big dogs and a security guard! Glad you got out Ok. Was glad to meet you guys that day too.

[Guest]

Great stuff there Jon. Nice pics aswell. I remember you telling me about the hanger incident with the cameras, 2 big dogs and a security guard! Glad you got out Ok. Was glad to meet you guys that day too.

 

Mate I won't forget that day in a hurry. Or your excellent hospitality on the way home

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I am shit at writing so can't really comment, but your prose comes across as really forced. Write more naturally (sweary).

Enjoyed the photos though, I know a few people who've been inside the hangars recently, I don't think it's that difficult to see if you time it right.

[Guest]

I am shit at writing so can't really comment, but your prose comes across as really forced. Write more naturally (sweary).

Enjoyed the photos though, I know a few people who've been inside the hangars recently, I don't think it's that difficult to see if you time it right.

 

Fuck it then, we'll have to disagree. Edits.