Thanks for coming back Ray, it's really one of the few reasons I come and look at TRS now (and Paul's Falcon)
Thanks for coming back Ray, it's really one of the few reasons I come and look at TRS now (and Paul's Falcon)
Thanks Rhys. Viewing figures for the thread had dropped off considerably recently, presumably from regulars.
A random dip into the library section - sports or sports racing, GT's. A favourite category.
1956 - Cooper
Lotus
Cooper
Costin Lister or Lister Costin. It is cars like this that make the Goodwood Revival a must attend for me - whenever I can.
Last edited by ERC; 01-23-2021 at 09:00 PM.
Any idea what power unit is in that Cooper central-seater?
Probably Climax. Most Coopers back then were, apart from the occasional MG and later, Jaguar.
A few general displays/car parks for a change, rather than specific cars. Just dipping into sections i have previously not published.
Goodwood pre 1966 car park 2009
Goodwood 2016 - course cars
Gaydon Motorsport display 2016
and again 2018. Spot the differences.
One of the lesser irritations of static museum displays, is that often, changes to displays are so minor, despite them having a stack of cars 'in reserve', that a return visit is rarely worthwhile.
I have done the Haynes/Sparkford museum twice, and enjoyed it both times, but it isn't on my itinerary for the next visit. I suspect that the Brooklands car display is also unlikely to have changed much, so despite the hanger moves, not worth a detour.
The exception would be the Petersen Museum in Hollywood, which I really look forward to revisiting, as the last time I visited, there was a floor celebrating Ferrari and another celebrating Bugatti plus the Dan Gurney/Eagle display. All three displays will have moved on as many exhibits were loaned. They do have a vault with a stack of reserves, open to visits - but no photographs allowed, which is also on my bucket list.
Oldfart will probably explain that the free to visit Coventry Transport museum (excellent) also has a good supply of reserves, but I'm not sure how many or what proportion of exhibits are rotated.
Last edited by ERC; 01-24-2021 at 08:44 PM.
When I was working at Coventry 4 years ago (!) I asked management that question. They said they had no intention to rotate as the layout makes that difficult. I was there last February, and I could not see a single change. They were employing someone to Ebay list a lot of their surplus as a full time job. I applied and obviously didn't get it. I spoke with the lady who did, she knew absolutely zero about cars and admitted it!
Shame Rhys - on both counts. That deletes a Coventry return visit from my itinerary. Pity really, as it is a superb museum. I suppose that being free to enter, there is no commercial pressure attracting return visitors.
More from the 'groups' bucket.
Pukekohe 1985
Goodwood pre 1966 car park 2009 - You could spend a day in there!
Haynes/Sparkford 2014 - The Red Room
Beaulieu 2014
Last edited by ERC; 01-25-2021 at 08:39 PM.
Ray, they have now instituted charging, which would I think be a good thing as otherwise while I was there it was a creche for young mums on their phones and preschool kids just doing what they wanted. I found nobody on staff who had any interest in automotive. The place is part of a group of museums so it becomes a way to get into the art gallery, museum staff line. I just found it really sad. Quite a bit of neat stuff.
I would happily have paid Rhys, as I think that a lot of the stuff was very well presented. Coventry and the West Midlands has a huge automotive history. I'd put it in my top 5 of museums visited in the last few years. For anyone visiting the UK, it isn't far from the British Motor Museum at Gaydon and is still well worth a visit.
I'm also quite a fan of buses and one of the few bucket list items yet to be ticked off, is driving an old school double decker bus or even a single decker, half cab. No apologies for posting these on here.
Coventry Museum's Daimler
Coventry built Maudslay
Goodwood 2009 - AEC
Not my pic, but one I downloaded and brings back so many memories of my very early childhood.
Nottingham based Bartons, was I believe, the largest independent bus and coach operator in the UK.
These special Duple bodied Leyland PD1's were not only iconic, but very advanced. Air operated doors and a decent heater made them very cosy to ride on and upstairs, had a side gangway to lower roof height. Barton's had 41 of them and they were always very well maintained. Mum worked on the early ones as a 'clippie', during the war years.
These PD1's remain my all time favourite and I spent many hours on them and that model forms part of my very earliest transport memories. The colour scheme of red, cream and maroon puts the Auckland Transport fleet into the truly bland and boring category. Although as far as I know, that particular bus hasn't been modelled by the die cast brigade, although several others carry the Barton livery.
Last edited by ERC; 01-26-2021 at 10:56 PM.
I'm with you regarding buses Ray. I love the old brit buses even though I never got to ride in them. There were still a few old double deckers in London when I arrived in 1973.
By 1973, many of the older buses were being phased out in favour of one man operated bland boxes!
Back to displays...
Hamilton - and this museum is also well worth a visit.
As mentioned on here before, Gaydon has a separate building full of 'reserves' and many prototypes - plus a whole floor of Jaguars, many of which are also prototypes.
Bear in mind that this collection started off at Syon park, as a BMC/BL museum collection, and therefore features many of their prototypes and concepts.
Last edited by ERC; 01-26-2021 at 11:16 PM.
Classics Museum in Hamilton is still my favourite (one obvious reason to those who know me) Tom's thought was to always have a changing display. As more of his own collection is ready the "borrowed" cars have moved out.
Yes Coventry is well worth a visit, and if you have an aviation interest there's an amazing collection at the nearby Coventry Airport. Also the Tram Museum was great, although that may have gone now.
Just for you Rhys
Hamilton 2015
2016
Leadfoot cancelled this year. Such a shame.
Thanks Ray, 2020 I was due to come to NZ for leadfoot... then I thought of 2021... At last Air NZ has refunded the fares we paid (10 months), still some accommodation to get money back from. You know I love the RA, for the very short time I was in the position to play with it I had immense pleasure. I will be forever grateful to Terry Roycroft for putting it all in place initially, and Tom at the museum for letting me play with his toy.
Last edited by Oldfart; 01-27-2021 at 10:36 PM.
Hey chaindrive. How about putting your considerable talents to creating a miniature Oldfart as a driver for the model!!!!
Another dip into a sundries pile.
During the 2012 Monaco historic's, they were also filming 'Rush', so this device was circulating now and again. The covered lump on the front is a camera!
As one who likes to wander around a circuit, at Monaco, despite the stands usually only being less than a quarter full, access was totally restricted to the stand that lined up with your ticket. Overly officious stewards, who insisted you couldn't pop into another stand for a while, rather ruined the event for me and I would never return.
The pic above was taken on the Friday before they clamped down on pit/paddock access.
So watching on the big screen was as near as we got to most areas of the track.
Not a forest fire. Just the aftermath of a drifter at Leadfoot. (I think Leadfoot have now banned large umbrellas. Shame.)
Hampton Downs October 2018
Last edited by ERC; 01-29-2021 at 09:11 PM.
A sample from yesterday's huge turnout at Smales Farm.
I had to Carjam this one! Schroeder Acorn, Kiwi built with Alfa engine.
A stunning Allard
Always someone to chat to! Regulars Todd Mexted, Karl Sentch, Murray Mexted and some guy called Mathers, from down the line somewhere.
Last edited by ERC; 02-01-2021 at 08:23 AM.
Caffeine & Classics. First pic is December and the others from January. Fords