Grand Prix Retro, Le Puy Notre Dame, France 2012

The end of July means only one thing for a number three wheeler and motorcycle riders... Grand Prix Retro. The event takes place in the lovely historic town of Le Puy Notre Dame (France). The weekend consists of a rally on the Saturday with a jolly round the French countryside, followed by some night racing.... sorry demonstration racing round the town. Then the weekend is topped off with a day of racing in the town on the Sunday. For more information on this event please visit the website:

www.grandprixretro-puynotredame.com

We attended the event for the second time with our son Noah, who had a specially fitted seat in the Morgan Family, which meant that I was downgraded to the back seat. Which on the up side gave me a better view of the French countryside.

Noah testing his seat out whilst eyeing up the gearstick, whilst mother reaquaints hersefl with the controls.

Before arriving at Le Puy Notre Dame we spent some time at a friends farmhouse in Normandy where we acquainted ourselves with various machines, and a French Summer Lifestyle.

Mr Mattey's Super Sports undergoing a bit of the old fettling.

Machine of the holiday, the faithful old Cymota resting against the farmhouse between rides.

Noah giving the horn a good test.

Once we finally arrived at Le Puy the cars were unloaded and we relaxed before the rally the next day.

An early start and some light exercise before starting the rally..

Unfortunately we hit a problem just before hitting the start line...

Lots of steam and water coming from the exhaust pipe could only mean one thing....

...a blown head gasket

No matter, after a bit of cursing the team set to work cleaning up and getting one of the 15 head gaskets back on.

 Whilst waiting for the engine to cool down we paroused the alway great line up of bikes that attend the event. This AJS had a blanked off exhaust which was a common modification in the 30s.

 Mr. Coste's Chevrolet Morgan hauler.

 Ready for the off with appropriate footwear.

 After a touch of fettling the family was back up and running. We made it to the lunch stop before a lot of people, by using a short cut.

A Great little Terrot

Sunday saw the paddock filled with fantastic machines and a great day of racing.

Monet Goyon

(désolé pour le cycliste que j'ai perdu le bout de papier avec les informations moto sur elle. Pouvez-vous m'envoyer les détails planifions si vous lisez ce mrtnsquires@googlemail.com.)

 (digitally painted ink sketch)

My one and only sketch fro the weekend was this fantastic Monet Goyon, well I was on holiday but you can never keep a serial sketcher down.

 Unfortunately this Monet Goyon met with some sort of bending accident.

  

The posh hotel in town with a very smart Bugatti 57 on the left.

Bad Personal Experiences with Turbos

One of my very bad turbo experiences

I have officially owned three turbocharged vehicles up to this point in life. In reality I have some complex emotions about turbochargers, which are mostly negative in nature. Allow me to explain.

The first real experience I had with a turbocharged vehicle was when my oldest brother bought a 1997 Eagle Talon TSi. It came with all-wheel-drive and a large hump in the hood that supposedly was put there to make room for the turbocharger. Through the Talon's force-fed setup, it was able to produce 210 horsepower, making it a pretty fun and sporty car to drive. About a year later I was riding with my brother one hot summer night in Tempe, Arizona when steam started pouring out from under the Talon's hood. He pulled over to a gas station and popped the hood, allowing even more of the evaporated coolant to escape.

"Need some help?" two guys in a Civic quipped. I don't remember the exact response my brother shot at them, but it was pointed to say the least.

Fast forward several years, and I have owned two problematic turbocharged vehicles. Both of them were Volvos, which after finally consulting with a mechanic worth his salt about the second one, I have decided were both really bad ideas. Supposedly the first turbo Volvo was a lemon, as I had mechanics and Volvo aficionados swear to me that turbo Swede bricks often went to 300,000 miles or more without major mechanical problems.

The first turbo Volvo was horrible. The car drove fine at first, but eventually it started to spew out steam from evaporated coolant. I added coolant to the car constantly, but it regularly would threaten to overheat. I had a mechanic try to track down coolant leaks on multiple occasions, but it was to no avail. And then I started to notice the car's exhaust was white all the time--the surefire sign of a blown cylinder head. I didn't have the cash for a new head gasket, and then the car started to overheat all the time. It started running sluggishly. Rather than shoulder the huge repair bill it was sure to need, I dumped the car as quickly as possible.

The second turbo Volvo kindly waited until we were in the stretch of desert between Las Vegas and Los Angeles to manifest its forced induction problems. More specifically, smoke plumed out from the undercarriage, the result of an oil leak that traveled along the underside of the car until it reached the catalytic converter. As if that weren't enough, oil also spewed in tiny droplets out of the tailpipe, spraying all over the back window. The back window's wiper couldn't clear the sticky mess away, leaving the driver to look through a distorted and sickly yellow film to view traffic from behind. After many repair bills trying to track down the oil leaks, which seemed to crop up in new places after the old ones were fixed, I finally escorted the car to automotive heaven.
   
If it had been up to just these experiences, I wouldn't be conflicted at all about turbos. I would swear off ever, ever owning another forced induction vehicle. The fact of the matter was these two turbocharged Volvos happened to be a lot of fun to drive, when they were running at least reasonably well. Even though neither one had a large engine, they both accelerated strongly and provided a large power band. I live around large mountains with steep canyon roads, and both vehicles pulled strong up the steep inclines. The fact they had turbos also meant I didn't have to shell out a bunch of money for gas.

What made me feel even more conflicted about turbochargers was owning my Saab. Not too long after having purchased my Saab I realized its turbocharger system was much more advanced than the ones included in either of my Volvos. The turbo response was much faster, and the turbo pulled the car harder. Even better, I didn't have to deal with oil or coolant leaks, overheating or any of the other problems my turbo Volvos had almost from the get-go. The Saab was also a lot more fun to drive.

My turbo Saab

As I watch with great interest a sudden surge in turbocharger use by manufacturers such as Ford and BMW part of me gets excited while another part of me shrinks back in terror. Are these turbochargers like the one I had in my Saab (which was the newest of the three vehicles) or are they like the horrible ones in my Volvos? I know with any turbocharged vehicle you have to watch the coolant and oil levels like a hawk, but I also know from experience that being faithful about watching the car's fluids doesn't mean the turbocharger won't give you major headaches.

Let's just put it this way: I have declared to my wife that if I do buy another turbocharged car it won't be a Volvo and it will be a hobby car.

Does Gen Y Really Want Ugly Cars?

2011 Nissan Juke

Automotive manufacturers seem to be desperate to capture business from the seemingly elusive Generation Y. They are employing all kinds of tricks and gimmicks, even trying out things they would never dream using on Gen X or the Boomers, all with little to no success. GM and other automakers have even tried ads that use "cool" language popular with the generation. Perhaps the most jarring and interesting marketing technique is the manufacturing of ugly automobiles as a way to lure Generation Y to buy.

The list of ugly cars seems to be growing all the time. First there was the Honda Element, which isn't completely hideous. Most of the people I see driving them are older than I am. Other cars like the Nissan Cube or Scion IQ took the ugly factor further. Perhaps the ugliest car on the road today is the Nissan Juke.

I have to admit that ugly cars are nothing new. The Gremlin looked like it had been hit by the ugly stick a few thousand times. Some people may hate me for it, but I find the Fox platform Mustangs (from the 80s to early 90s) to be quite hideous. Then there was the horrible last generation of the Toyota Celica, which seriously looked like an angry rabbit. Of course there is always that ultimate in automotive ugliness: the Pontiac Aztec. When I think of all the ugly cars from the past I begin to think the ugly trend is one of the constants in the automotive industry. 

Toyota Celica

I'm really at the tail end of Gen X or the beginning of Gen Y, depending on how you draw the cutoff. Because of my unique position, perhaps I have a perspective not shared by many automotive executives. I don't think Gen Y is looking for ugly cars any more than any other generation has had an affinity for them. There will always be those tasteless people in every generation who wear white socks with dark pants and shoes, but they're always a minority. Instead, I think the real issue is affordability.

Gen Y has the unique pleasure of being the generation who gets to graduate into adulthood in a world that is in the throes of economic turmoil. Most people from the generation have also seen the horribly negative consequences of their parents' spend thrift mentality (a stereotypical trait of the Boomers) that is fueled by image consciousness. The result is many members of Gen Y cannot or do not want to afford an expensive vehicle. Because they are thinking about more than image, younger car buyers also want a vehicle that works in a day-to-day practical way. This means the car cannot be constantly needing maintenance, has enough cargo room, gets good gas mileage, etc.

While everyone is focusing on the ugly cars populating the roads (it's kind of hard to not gawk at them in horrid disbelief) many are missing some of the beauties that are favored by Gen Y. Sure, the Subaru Impreza WRX and STI that are so beloved by younger kids started out ugly, but they have transformed from ugly ducklings into curvy hatchbacks and sedans. The new Scion FRS/Subaru BRZ is another example of an attractive car that appeals to Gen Y. These are cars that provide a certain automotive experience or utility for significantly less money.

2012 Subaru BRZ

Perhaps the biggest factor fueling the ugly car movement is that kids just plain don't want to drive a car like mom's or dad's. There are a few exceptions to this, but most kids feel the intense desire to form their own identities. There's no denying that cars have been and for the foreseeable future will continue to be deeply tied to our personal identities. This is why so many of my generation are squeezing their kids into the cramped third rows of new crossovers rather than drive the more practical minivan that looks too much like what mom drove back in the day.

So automotive industry executives, listen up: Gen Y will buy attractive cars if they are affordable and don't look too much like the cars of the last thirty years.

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at armanpapat@gmail.com.

At http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/ and how it is used.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites, http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/ makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/ does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.

DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/.
.:: Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/ and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....
Google Adsense
Commission Junction
Widget Bucks
Adbrite
Clickbank
Azoogle
Chitika
Linkshare
Amazon
Kontera


These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/ send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.

http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. http://autocar-in.blogspot.com/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

Pre War Prescott 2012

The second year for this event and it's certainly getting bigger and is looking to be one of the main annual events on the Prescott. I enjoyed this event last year and this year certainly lived up to expectations. Great weather coupled with an informal atmosphere as cars took runs up the hill and picnics and bacon butties galore were enjoyed. Top this off with a flyby of a Spitfire and you've got a fantastic day out at Prescott.

For more information on the event please look at the Pre War Prescott Website:

www.prewarprescott.com

Ford Model T Special

(digitally painted ink sketch)

Affectionately known as "Roary" this special is a tribute to the 1924 Indianapolis race car built by the Barber Warnock racing team and raced by Alfred Moss. Moss was a dentistry student in America at the time and finished 16th with an average speed of 84mph! He was 34 laps behind the race winner. 

For more information on this car please go to the following web page.

www.tservice.co.uk

There are also quite a few nice Model T's for sale too.

Rolls Royce Twenty

(ink sketch)

1938 Morris 25 Series III

This car crossed Europe and Asia in 2011 via the Caspian sea to China. Later in the year it crossed North America, from Los Angeles to New York. The two journeys clocked up 18500 miles in all. THe journey has been documented on the following website:

http://www.tinyurl.com/Morris25

Peter Plant's Meadows 'Minor' Special. It has a Meadows engine installed in a pre-war Morris Minor chassis. (Thanks to Minor Blue for this information)

A rough and ready Alvis

1926 MG 14/28 Super Sports

Lea Francis, Hyper S

Hotchkiss

A very elegant Bristol

MG Line Up

Jowett

BMW

Somerset Steam Spectacular 2012

On Saturday 14th July the family packed the camping equipment into the back of Frank and we headed south into deepest Somerset. The 3 hour drive through country lanes put the 47 Dodge pick up through its paces. We made it to a very muddy High Ham to find that the event had been closed to the public and the organisers were hoping for the best on the Sunday. After assessing the field we decided to brave it and camp out and see what the Sunday had in stall. 

After Fish and Chips and a good sleep we awoke to favourable conditions and the show was on.

There was plenty to see with a great array of steam engines, tractors various vehicles, owls, axe men, ferrets and tractor pulling. All you'd expect from a great steam fair and more. 

For more information on the Somerset Traction Engine Club and their events please visit their website:

www.somersetspectacular.co.uk

1913 Burrell Showman's Engine 'King George VI'

(ink sketch)

Part of the Steam line up.

The Hornsby Akryod Oil Engine

Unipower Gardner 

This was definitely a practical vehicle for the show with a sizeable winch on the back it was pulling vehicle up hills with no problem.

 1916 Model T Ford Van

1948 Riley RM (1 1/2 litre) 

1960 Wolseley 1500

Bought by the current owner in ver original condition. Hard to believe this interior is the result of a car being kept in the garden under a tarpaulin.

BMC fun for all the family.

There aren't many shows where you'll see hotrods and Land Rovers in the same lineup 

 Fordson

 Nuffield Universal Four

 Field Marshall

These tractors sound incredible due to their single-cylinder two-stroke diesel engine with a 6-litre capacity, coupled to a very large flywheel.

 David Brown

BMB President

A very nice 4 cylinder tractor indeed.

 

 For tractors of a ridiculous caliber you have to witness the sport of tractor pulling. Its all about stupidly overpowered tractors pulling as much weight as possible over the furthest distance, a great spectators sport.