Wide Load at West Bergholt

One of the great things about the shows I go to are the eclectic mix of vehicles I meet and their eccentric owners. Throw in the setting of an English village and a Summer’s day and you can sometimes get photo opportunities that are simply too good to miss, like this one taken at West Bergholt near Colchester earlier this year. 

This miniature traction engine certainly has its work cut out hauling its cargo around the showground but it’s the sign on the back of the trailer that says it all!

Greenwich Means Time for Bristol Cars

The Bristol Owners Club annual Concours d’Elegance took place in the historic setting of the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich, London. A world heritage site, the college is a baroque masterpiece of English architecture set in landscaped grounds on the river Thames juxtaposed by magnificent views of the Canary Warf skyline.

Cars from the 1939 Frazer-Nash-BMW Type 321 to the one-off 2009 Blenheim 4 were on show to the world. The overall standard of the cars presented was so high it felt as if any of them could have entered the Concours competition.

Neil spoke to owners of other cars including 410s like me to compare this and that, and I saw one of my previous owners. He was interested to see my new electric windows and is now thinking of having them installed on another 410 he has recently acquired.

It turned out to be a very popular venue with all the amenities of the museum and Greenwich town within easy reach. It was a delight to see visitors from all over the world happening upon the cars by chance and being caught up in the enthusiasm of their owners. Many photographs were taken of people posing beside their favorite cars and even of some who were delighted to have been invited to sit behind the wheel.

Drip trays were de-rigueur in order to preserve the ancient cobbles and I’m glad to say I only soiled mine very slightly (well I am 44 years old you know).

The journey in to and out of London was just as enjoyable and Neil exchanged several friendly gestures with other motorists as we made easy progress through the Sunday traffic.

The only upset for me was first thing in the morning when Neil made a hasty diversion to a Sainsbury’s petrol station when I started to run on vapour. He knew I was already low on fuel before setting off, but after finding that his local Shell garage was still closed pressed on thinking he could make the next one. A tank full of Sainsbury’s super unleaded later and we were back on the A12 but I felt slightly queasy for the rest of the trip.

But at least we know my fuel reserve switch still works and the man at Sainsbury’s who moved the cones was delighted with his first customer of the day!

Does my boot look big in this?

On wedding duty again, I was honored to transport Neil’s sister and her groom from St. Nicholas Church in Harwich to the reception at a country house hotel just outside Colchester. I even made the effort to co-ordinate with the Bride’s accessories by departing from normal etiquette and wearing leopard-print ribbons, which were set off nicely by my dark green paintwork. 

Layer Marney Tower

Layer Marney Tower's annual classic car show saw a record attendance this year. As you can see, Neil was less interested in climbing the tower for the commanding views of the River Blackwater and beyond but was rather more keen on the sight of 2 Bristols in the car park. Also present on the day were a 401, 405DH and a Britannia.  

Blown Away at Felixstowe

A complete contrast to last year’s event, the annual rally from Ipswich to Felixstowe drew waving crowds out into the sunshine complete with bunting fresh from the Royal Wedding celebrations. Neil had his own little Princesses in the car to wave back in the form of his Nieces Nicola and Charlotte, and of course his wife Karen.

What started off as a brisk breeze in Ipswich, had turned into a gale by the time we reached Felixstowe – the East Coast of England taking the brunt of the winds sweeping across the country. Parked right on the promenade I was glad of my aluminium bodywork as the fine seawater spray blew in. Neil and his family took shelter behind a hedge on a nice patch of lawn for their picnic.

Hats off to Martin Bennett in his 411 Series 4 for coming back this year after his first time in the rally last year resulted in a complete soaking. So just the 2 Bristols this time (not counting the 3 Bristol Buses), but thanks to club members Stuart and James for dropping by to say hello. Hopefully James will bring his Beaufighter next time and Stuart’s 409 will be ready soon after.

The Fighter in me

A long-standing problem with my driver's door window has finally been resolved. Several attempts have been made over the years to fix a problem with the winding mechanism that recently resulted in the window being fixed in the closed position. Now, following my annual holiday at Bristol Cars Services, I've had both my windows replaced with electric ones!

An option when I was new, "electrically controlled windows" were only installed by special order on a very few of the 79 410s made. I’m also excited because I now have a bit of Fighter in me. Alas not the 8 litre V10 engine or twin turbochargers, but I do have its electric window switches mounted on my centre console.

The new windows have also made quite a difference to Neil's long-standing bugbear about wind noise. It seems the fit of the window glass in the top of the channel is a lot tighter and it stays there without creeping down making quite a difference at speed. I just wish he'd stop playing with them.

South East Section Suffolk Tour

L-R: 603 Series 2, 405, 403, Britannia, 405 Drophead, 407, 410.

Last weekend the South East section of the Bristol Owners Club came up to Suffolk for the weekend. I met the 6 cars at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum at Flixton – East Anglia’s aviation heritage centre.

The museum holds themed collections on the 446^th Bomb Group USAAF and RAF Bomber Command. Bristol Blenheims took part in the first RAF offensive on the second day of the war flying out of Wattisham to attack German Battleships near Wilhelmshaven. Although there are no Blenheims at Flixton there is a Sycamore helicopter type HR14 that saw service with the RAF.