A bit of a tease!

It's my birthday on Saturday and this is what I have as a present.
It's a DVD of us on the Roskirk Stages - as it's going to be the only time I drive on a stage rally now an indulgence on a professional DVD of the day seemed fair enough.

MAD Video reckon there should be plenty of us on it as they had 3 cameras there on the day so the DVD is now on my mantlepiece waiting for me to view it on Saturday!

What have I been up to?

Last weekend - Woodvale Show with Club Triumph friends.

First day a bit quiet, then a good overnight camping on site with Paul Darbyshire (thanks for the lift too!), Steve Thompson, Andy & Julie Heeley complete with BBQ, fire basket and a few drinks.

The second day was busier with some great model planes flying too - an amazing Vulcan and 3 Lancasters carrying out a Dam Buster raid.

Then last night, the Pendle & Pennine meeting whenn the usual suspects were messing about with potatoes! See picture
Today - a bit of cleaning up of the DHC and painting the mountings of the sun visors. A small touch but makes a big difference as, after all, this will be a road car.

You can try and guess which the bits are from the photo!

A good night out

Do I need to say more?

Made me smile

Coming up the A1 northbound today near Wetherby - a Triton green TR7 with the top down.

The guy was driving it in a spirited manner and it looked great amongst the "moderns".

Thanks whoever you were diving KBA ***V - you certainly made me smile

On the Group4 brakes front

I am now back on track - the group 4 calipers were returned to me "un-machined" with the thought that maybe I wouldn't want to carry on after the epilepsy incident.

They would be worth more for re-sale blank so that the Mk2 Escort boys could use them whereas machining for a TR7 would limit their market.

Well, I am going rallying again at some point co-driving on stage rallies and in my car so I am determined to have BRP as a properly authenticated historic rally car by the MSA.

Shortly the calipers will be back with the machinist after respective holidays have happened and I'll then fit them to BRP. One that's done I'll go through the process of getting the car a Historic Vehicle Identity Form from the MSA.

Over winter I think I'll be shimming the cylinder head (with Rumpith's help as he volunteered before!), getting the number one plug hole helicoiled, replacing the timing chain and tensioner.

That should mean a refreshed car ready for some NESCRO events next year (no comp licences needed) with either myself or Sarah in the driver's seat

Size matters for a stud

Yes it does! Rally scrutineers like to see plenty of thread so the solution is to replace the standard wheel studs with much longer ones and the wheel nuts with new "open ended" ones.

All of this is apparent in the photos including the differences in stud length (ooh-err)

I feel like an adventure!

Yes, I can feel the need for a foreign trip coming on.

Nothing organised - just a silly trip in a Triumph (or 2) to somewhere.

Like maybe Gibraltar or a bit further like Tangiers

But then again there are a few places I have been now with a Triumph that would be good to visit again - like the Stelvio, or Furka, but obviously I need to drive through Vitry le Francois and Bar sur Aube.

I have always wanted to visit Rome too.

Or what about Route 66?

A few things to ponder over - May/June 2010 should be a decent time to aim for. What better way to celebrate getting my driving licence back than taling a TR7 on a daft driving adventure?

Watch out playmates - I'll be on the phone. You know who you are