Castle Combe - Classic, Kit & Retro Action Day 2015

Saturday 20th June 2015

Yesterday I took my Cobra to Castle Combe as a guest of Gardner Douglas, for the Classic, Kit and Retro Action Day. This is basically a big car show with lots of track sessions available, including some weird and wonderful stuff from Vintage Double Deckers to Drifting Displays.

Andy had asked me if I would like to have my car on the stand and take some customers out for test rides and I was more than willing to oblige.

The forecast on the Friday evening was awful but as luck would have it it remained dry throughout and towards the end of the afternoon it was sunny and 22 degrees.

This was the first time I had taken the car on the track with it all set up correctly so it was great to get over 200 miles of track use under my belt. After some initial tweak age to the damping by Andy the car was running really well and my times were getting better and better as the day progressed. Cant wait to get to Blyton next month now.

Here are a few pics of the GD stand and some of me on the track.

Potential Customer Demo Ride

Keeping the 600bhp AK behind me :)

Another Customer Demo Ride

Gardner Douglas Stand with my Cobra, Andy's Mk 3 Demo and Darren's T70

Track Day at Blyton

Another great thing about the London to Brighton trip was news that a track day has been planned for Sunday 19th July

This was the first place my car ever ran so looking forward to taking it back to see what it runs like now its all properly set up

London to Brighton Run May 2015

Sunday 31st May 2015

Today was the second organised outing for Cobie with my participation in the annual Classic and Kit Car Run organised by GE Classic Motor Events http://www.classicmotorevents.co.uk

Having already planned this trip prior to my other love, Aston Villa, qualifying for the FA Cup Final, some tweaks to the itinerary were required. So an extra nights accommodation was reserved at Devonport House Hotel, Greenwich and the trip commenced on the Friday morning. However, the weather gods were not being kind and by the time I was 10 minutes up the road I soon discovered that my rarely used weather gear isn't weather proof!!! A pit stop followed with some emergency repairs and we were off again. Finally the weather improved as I arrived in London but the car got very hot stuck in horrific London rush hour jams.

Anyway, Devonport House is a nice safe location to leave a classic and having been quite apprehensive about this before arriving I parked up with confidence.

A disappointing day followed at Wembley with my boys failing to turn up but at least it was, as is often the case, a nice sunny day so I was optimistic about the forecast for Sunday's run.

On entering Greenwich Park on Sunday morning I was made to park up with a bunch of other Cobra's (of varying varieties) and I have to say I was really pleased with how my GD looked amongst them.

Parked between a Pilgrim and a Dax at Greenwich

The weather, whilst dull and overcast looked mostly dry so I decided to remove the roof before setting off and apart from the odd shower it wasn't really a problem. A phone call from Sue Hilliard and I was able to meet up with her and Larry, Dave Alton and his wife and Andy Burrows and Ayesha - we then headed off in convoy.

I had been to Brighton before but never for a London to Brighton run and it was great to see so many classics and kit cars on Maderia Drive.

I followed Andy into Maderia Drive in his re-sprayed Mk3 Demo sporting the new hard top which looks amazing - come on Andy get the Mk4 hard top sorted asap!!!

Following the GD Mk3 Demo into Maderia Drive

Then all the GD's parked up together...

This is a line up of quality Cobras

We then enjoyed Fish and Chips on the Pier before a 3 hour drive home in the sunshine that finally arrived just as I pulled on to the M25.

Brighton Pier

Stoneleigh 2014

Monday 4th May 2015

Had a trip to Stoneleigh today. First real drive out of the year and good to meet up with some fellow GD'ers at the show.

Parked with David Whyman and his T70, Ged and his Blue on White Cobra and couple I hadn't met before with their Lotus coloured T70.

Pair of Cobra's with a pair of T70's - GD Classics

Was good to see Ged's Old English White Cobra with blue stripe parked next to mine. I think the front and rear comparison shots look pretty good.

GD427 Mk4

GD427 Mk4

It was also really exciting to see what GD have done with their old Mk3 Demo - having seen the car in the workshop a few weeks back I was already looking forward to seeing the finished article with flared arches, hard tops and new paint job and I have to say the result was stunning - well done to Andy and Charlie.

An Exciting Work in Progress

And The Finished Article - WOW!

Cant wait for the Mk4 Hardtop to be available - will really increase the usability of my car!!!

Happy Birthday Cobie

Saturday 1st March 2015

AC 62 COB is one year old today. Cobie was officially first registered as a new car exactly 12 months ago today. Wow!! Doesn't time fly...

During the the past year the car has covered over 3000 miles and has been as far away as France for the Le Mans Classic, its been used for camping weekends, a track day at Donnington Park and more recently for charity rides in support of Sporting Bears Children's Charity.

Having owned a couple of classic cars for the past 11 years or so, I know that people will often come up and ask about the car or pass compliment but I can honestly say I have never experienced anything quite like the response that I have got from taking Cobie out. From youngster, through to old folk, male and female, the looks and comments have been overwhelming but they have made the two years hard work building the car so worthwhile.

To celebrate Cobie's birthday I have commissioned an original painting of the car which is due for completion today. Really excited about seeing this and will post a copy as soon as it arrives along with details of the artist.

Yesterday, I also returned with Cobie to GD to have a couple of little jobs done to get the car ready for the spring. It was good to meet up with another new builder, also called Keith. Keith is building a MK4 Jag with an LS2. He has finished the chassis and is awaiting the bodyshell which we saw in the mould. Be good to see his Old English White Cobra at a GD event this summer

Really looking forward to another year of exciting motoring - let the sunshine and the engines roar!!!