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Dec 18, 2014 16:37:17 GMT
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Hello! I've decided to create a thread to pull together all the cool stuff I've been lucky enough to get up to with cars this year. Not to show off or anything, more just to give myself a decent reminder of what's been a pretty amazing year! And I thought you might enjoy some of it too. So, bear with me, it may take a while... I'm going to tackle it month by month, in chronological order, because that's how time works. Let's start at the, er, start. JanuaryAt the beginning of this year I was mid-way through running #Project87, a 205 GTI project that was being covered in Retro Cars magazine. January saw me taking it up to Pug1Off to have a conversion to Evans waterless coolant and new set of silicone hoses fitted. DSC_8874 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_8919 by dbizzle_, on Flickr I also dabble with reviewing new cars and stuff occasionally, and in January I road-tested an Astra Biturbo. Check out the world-class parking skills: DSC_8849 by dbizzle_, on Flickr FebruaryAh, February was a good month. It started off with a visit to the Ford Heritage centre in Dagenham... DSC_9020 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9030 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...where I got to drive two astonishing cars from the collection for a couple of Retro Ford mag features. Firstly, an RS200: DSC_9000 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...and secondly, FEV 1H - the Escort that Hannu Mikkola drove to victory in the 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally. That was pretty humbling. DSC_9036 by dbizzle_, on Flickr Soon after that, I was up to the Morgan factory in Malvern. DSC_9088 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9098 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9190 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...where, again, I was driving a couple of their cars for features in various places. The brutal Plus 8: DSC_9166 by dbizzle_, on Flickr And the 3 Wheeler, which is hilarious fun! DSC_9209 by dbizzle_, on Flickr Back in London, I was asked to cover #CopGear, which saw the Met Police moving their heritage collection from one site to another, stopping off for a photo op at New Scotland Yard. DSC_9227 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9245 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9236 by dbizzle_, on Flickr And then it was time for the next chapter in the #Project87 saga: I took the 205 down to Powerflow in Dorset for a custom exhaust. DSC_9312 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9326 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9379 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_9365 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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Dec 18, 2014 16:54:53 GMT
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Dec 18, 2014 17:10:22 GMT
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AprilLots of stuff happened with the GTI in April. Firstly, I took it down to Windsor for a new performance clutch. DSC_9983 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0042 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0026 by dbizzle_, on Flickr Then, early one morning, it was loaded onto a truck and carted off to Leeds for a couple of days... DSC_0060 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...and when it came back it was a different colour! Vinyl wrap, you see, in a sort of satin-finish Miami Blue-ish shade. (These photos courtesy of WillCarter.) IMG_5594 by dbizzle_, on Flickr IMG_5599 by dbizzle_, on Flickr (Yes, they did take the 1.9 badge off and put it back on the right way up.) ...and then I sold the car to Jeff at Retro Cars, so he could carry on the project. I also road-tested a Volvo V40 T5 in April. My god, those things are quick. Incredibly soft leather on the seats too, and spookily it can parallel-park itself. DSC_0091 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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tdk
Part of things
Posts: 958
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Dec 18, 2014 18:18:51 GMT
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Fantastic year! Will do something similar
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,905
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Dec 18, 2014 18:50:09 GMT
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I love threads like this - years back I did a "year in the life of B5 GSE" my Monza (written sort of from the cars perspective) when it had a very busy year - that seemed to go down quite well
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Dec 18, 2014 19:08:46 GMT
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How long have you been at this photography lark? I've had my first year of regular work but nothing on this level. Got half a dozen cover shots. Hopefully 2015 will be a lot more eventful.
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Dec 18, 2014 20:01:49 GMT
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OK. We're only up to April, and I decided at February that you ARE showing off. But that's OK, because I reckon on what we've seen so far, that it's justified. Sometimes you really do have to stop and look back at the stuff you've been involved with to realise how special things can be.
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Dec 18, 2014 21:17:18 GMT
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How long have you been at this photography lark? I've had my first year of regular work but nothing on this level. Got half a dozen cover shots. Hopefully 2015 will be a lot more eventful. Ah, I'm not a photographer by any stretch! I'm a writer. Who have you been working with so far? Right, onward to... MayI had another press car in May, a Fiat Panda TwinAir. Might not sound exciting but trust me, these twin-cylinder turbo poppets are an absolute hoot. DSC_0128 by dbizzle_, on Flickr So, I took it to the Apex Festival. Lots of stuff to enjoy there. DSC_0178 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0293 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0355 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0429 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0454 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...and oh look, I bumped into #Project87! DSC_0236 by dbizzle_, on Flickr Also in May was the glorious Motorsport at the Palace. We've been going to this for a few years, it's near enough to home that I can take my little girl along for a picnic! Great mix of cars there too. DSC_0579 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0627 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0648 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0675 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0709 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0741 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0781 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0828 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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Dec 18, 2014 21:43:28 GMT
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JuneFirst event of June was the brilliant Players Classic down at Goodwood. Slashed it down with rain first thing in the morning, but then turned into a lovely day. DSC_0865 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0873 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_0890 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1091 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1113 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1169 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1280 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...then it was on to the Bromley Pageant, on a beautiful summery day. DSC_1377 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1410 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1437 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1457 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1461 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1504 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1505 by dbizzle_, on Flickr Stay tuned, couple more big June shows coming...!
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Dec 18, 2014 22:19:45 GMT
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I'm looking at these and thinking how the year has gone so quickly Remember looking at some of these and dayum? That long ago?
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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Dec 19, 2014 10:53:29 GMT
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June (cont.)The next June event was the Retro Show at Santa Pod. And yes, I got Pod-face. Par for the course. DSC_1868 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1823 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1818 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1754 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1729 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1682 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_1644 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...and then it was the big one, the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Delicious. (Incidentally, all of these hyperlinked names of shows will take you to the full Flickr sets.) DSC_1949 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2091 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2128 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2165 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2203 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2558 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2693 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2731 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_2878 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3042 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3083 by dbizzle_, on Flickr I also got to fulfil a long-held ambition and actually go up the Goodwood hill - I bagged a passenger ride in the Morgan Plus 8 Speedster on the Sunday, neatly sandwiched between Henry Catchpole in the car in front and Derek Bell behind. DSC_2367 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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Dec 19, 2014 13:07:09 GMT
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Dec 19, 2014 13:22:40 GMT
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AugustI started a new series for GoCompare in August, my 'Guide to Britain'. For the first instalment, I pinched a shiny new Toyota Auris Hybrid Sports Tourer and took it to Stonehenge. DSC_3319 by dbizzle_, on Flickr Oh yes, wasn't there something else that happened in August? Some kind of big show? Um... Ah, of course, it was MOTHERFLIPPIN' RRG14. DSC_3582 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3649 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3688 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3639 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3562 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3750 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3486 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3607 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3682 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3493 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3437 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3381 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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Dec 19, 2014 13:43:11 GMT
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SeptemberOoh, September was good - I went to Salon Privé. Astonishing motors and limitless Champagne, what a combo... DSC_4294 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4259 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4244 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4279 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4221 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4196 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4056 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4035 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3976 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3938 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3905 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3856 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_3768 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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Dec 19, 2014 13:56:14 GMT
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...and also in September was the incredible, incomparable, heart-swelling Goodwood Revival. DSC_4456 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4466 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4473 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4481 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4528 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4539 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4571 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4578 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4741 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4749 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4859 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_4802 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5228 by dbizzle_, on Flickr SDC18306 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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Dec 19, 2014 14:01:25 GMT
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How long have you been at this photography lark? I've had my first year of regular work but nothing on this level. Got half a dozen cover shots. Hopefully 2015 will be a lot more eventful. Ah, I'm not a photographer by any stretch! I'm a writer. Who have you been working with so far? Sorry, I actually knew that. Was going to type 'journalism' but I must be too busy obsessing about the pictures! I'll send you a PM
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Dec 19, 2014 14:09:47 GMT
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Frankenhealey
Club Retro Rides Member
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death
Posts: 3,875
Club RR Member Number: 15
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Dec 19, 2014 14:18:35 GMT
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Thanks, I now know the next paint scheme for the Healey
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Tales of the Volcano Lair hereFrankenBug - Vulcan Power hereThe Frankenhealey here
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Dec 19, 2014 14:24:09 GMT
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NovemberPart 3 of the 'Guide to Britain' in November, taking a Mitsubishi ASX to Bletchley Park. edit2 by dbizzle_, on Flickr Then something very exciting happened. I got an invite to visit the Rolls-Royce factory, to have a look around and drive a few cars. So, first I drove the Phantom... DSC_5348 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...and then the Wraith... DSC_5369 by dbizzle_, on Flickr ...and then the new Series II Ghost. DSC_5404 by dbizzle_, on Flickr I also got to be among the first journos ever allowed to take pictures in the R-R factory, which was rather cool. DSC_5492 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5448 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5468 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5472 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5477 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5483 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5496 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5500 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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Dec 19, 2014 14:34:25 GMT
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...then it was the Classic Motor Show at the NEC, which I'd never been to before. It's vast! DSC_5626 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5744 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5677 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5698 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5728 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5716 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5847 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5869 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5899 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5819 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5916 by dbizzle_, on Flickr DSC_5970 by dbizzle_, on Flickr
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