Unscientific survey results.

Based on my last Blog I thought I would make a mental note of any classics I had seen out and about being used 'normally' recently. So as not to colour the results I had to make one or two self imposed rules. The first being that I could not start the survey until I was a mile or two out of Fillongley the reason being is that we are surrounded by classic car specialists, pre war Austin, two Jaguar, and a Austin Healey to name a few, all within a stones throw. Spotting a classic car around here dosn't come into my 'normal use' category. The other rule is that I have to be driving a Triumph to count other classics, that's not hard! I have to say that the results have been very disappointing, with few seen during working hours whilst I have been out and about in Coventry in the day, and only a few more out taking advantage of these lovely summer evenings. When I come to think about it there has only been a handfull, including a Stag, two MGB's, a pink Caddy (I'm not joking!), a MK1 Escort Mexico (very nice), and a lone Spitfire. Where are the hoards of Spitfires that used to be out and about at the merest hint of a little sun, and when was the last time you saw a TR7 on the road? If I see a 2000/2.5 coming towards me now on the road there's a 99% chance it will be the wife! In fact I don't recall seeing another 2000, 2.5, Dolomite (and forget FWD 1300/1500's), Spitfire (pre MKIV), Herald, Vitesse, TR (other than the odd TR6), under 'normal' circumstances for years. That's it then, it's all over, and someone forgot to tell me!

Did you use your Triumph this weekend?

We did (the wife and I), but that's not unusual as we have no other form of transport. Clare continues to pile the miles in her 2.5 (ex 2.6 MKIII proto), and I am currently tootling around in our 13/60 estate. Popped out yesterday with the youngest to one of those new breed high street pet superstores to get the guinea pigs a garden run.
Perhaps I just hadn't noticed before but it seems to me that drive anything remotely old/interesting, and people are starting to stop and stare? Number two daughter has started to notice this and she's only nine years old. Perhaps it's because modern motors are so bland and samey (even the expensive ones) that one tends to stick out in anything remotely different? To my mind this is a recent phenomenon, and it seems to be so prevalant that when I first started to notice I started to get a little paranoid! You know the sort of thing, people stop, stare, point, then you assume something has/is falling off! Other car owners pull up behind you when you park and make a bee line for you, assume road rage incident in the offing? Group of youfs wanders over, hide mobile phone, you know the sort of thing! Or perhaps you don't, nicest bit of weather we have had for a long time and I don't recall seeing another classic car on the road for weeks? It's a shame but I think 95% of classics cars are now nothing other than high day and holiday motors. True you might spy a glut of one make or other on the road on route to a club day, but that's an exception these days. Perhaps we (the few) should start yet another Triumph club (the movements so fractious another wouldn't hurt!) for those of us who use our Triumph's come hell or high water, and refuse to fall into the convenience trap of the modern blandomobile! Think about it, how many miles a year do you do between MOT's in your Triumph, if it's less than say 3,000 miles, consider selling it to someone who will make more use of it. Most importantly be seen out there on the road promoting our cars, and keeping the marque in the public eye, keeping the traders interested in making the parts, and bringing in the next generation into the fold. You aren't going to do that pitching up at the odd tired old one marque day once in a blue moon!

Blind Faith!

We are having a bit of a clearout here at Canleys of project/restoration cars. It's been on the cards for a while as the car park has slowly filled with un-loved Triumph's. To be honest it dosn't look great to have half a dozen dead motors outside festering for all to see, it's not an image we are keen to promote? Customers however seem to love it, it's generally the first thing they head for when they turn up here. The other issue is space, when the British Motor Heritage 7 1/2 ton lorry turns up on Thursday's he needs a little more space to manoeuvre than the average Spitfire! Anyway the process is nearly complete, four cars gone this week, and another going next week, and we are most of the way there to having no cars outside prior to the winter. All the cars have/are going to loving homes, bar a nasty 13/60 estate that no-one wanted to take on at any price. The latest escapee went last night as former Kipping employee and good mate Ashlee Chambers made off with the cheap as chips TR7 (very cheap, he hasn't handed over any cash yet, in fact I had to buy him a Shandy on the way to delivering it!). Bearing in mind the car hadn't run since 1992, I thought Mr Chambers efforts in trying to get it going so he could drive it home were valiant (blind faith!). Despite being a former AA patrolman he didn't manage to get it started fortunately, so we towed it the short distance to the Chambers residence in Nuneaton. Apparently the TR7 is a present for Mrs Chambers, Patsy you poor girl, he really knows how to treat you!

Talking of former Kipping employee's, we hosted somewhat of an impromtu reunion here this week as purely by co-incidence several of them turned up more or less at the same time! In no particular order we had the pleasure of Big Bad Barry Hollingsworth, Mick Papworth (who's here every couple of day's anyway buying bits/doing deals, in fact we see more of him now than when he worked for us!), Jason Lee who came back to work for us after a 10 year break from the Kipping fold, and the above mentioned Mr Chambers. Just like the old days in the late 80's, early 90's, when men were men, and women were no-where to be seen, oop's nearly forgot that nice girl who used to build the overdrives!

Le Mans Spifire owners club meeting tonight!

Not quite but it is the monthly Club Triumph meeting (any Triumph owner welcome) at the Weavers Inn at Fillongley from 7.30 onwards. We are hoping to be joined by the the other Le Mans Spitfire owner Herve Lequipe tonight who's over buying some alloy panels for ADU 3B from us. Along with John Baptiste Herve has been restoring 3B for some years, come along and ask to see progress on his lap-top. Also trying to persaude Canley's newest employee to come along. You may remember Jason if you are a Kipping customer of old, he was John's 'star' mechanic, the only Kipping employee to untake a full apprentership if I remember correctly? Jason has returned to the fold after a long break from classic cars in the dealership network (Audi). His credentials are most impressive, MOT testers licence, a spell with Jeremy Clarkson on location servicing his E type whisl't he did that pan european series on TV. He also sports the largest tool box ever to grace Canleys, it's larger than some of our competitors workshops! Also trying to get TR6 owner Adam along, ask him about his recent exploits with car trailer and new Jaguar saloon in tow!
If the weather stays like this you'll probably find us in the garden out back, bring some sun tan lotion!