Strut Brace

Arrived back today from a week on the narrowboat to find the parts for the Strut brace I had previously drawn have finally arrived.
Tried it out on the FHC first, only problem was I had made the holes for the turret top a bit tight at 8.5mm so had to open out to 9.5 as a couple of the studs up through the turret seem to be at a slight angle.
All fits ok now with plenty of clearance to bonnet and inlet manifold.
Then took it off and bolted to the DHC, dropped straight on with no adjustment needed on bar, so both cars turret position is identical even though the DHC has had new turret tops welded on.


Strut brace on FHC.




In its final position on DHC.




















Took the DHC for a quick spin with the Strutbrace on, it makes a great difference to the feel of the front end, seems more precise in corners, visibily less scuttle shake, and seems firmer.

Winter Job

The car has been sounding a bit tappety lately, so I took the rocker cover off at the weekend to check valve clearances, a bit difficult to assess on a cold Sunday morning with cheap crappy feeler gauges that I cannot read the values on, must find a decent set and add it to the list of winter jobs.

Checking Valve Clearances.

The TR7 has had a lot of use in the last couple of weeks, mainly work and back and the usual weekend shopping trips, this due to the modern needing some MOT work, which it eventually passed.

Repair Quotes

Had to re-tax the TR7 convertible in order to obtain quotes for re-painting the damage when I scraped it at the end of September.

The quotes from the big car and commercial specialists where ridiculous, much as expected, however after speaking to the insurers it seems I can use whoever I like within reason. So off to some local sprayers who provided some very reasonable quotes, not just for the repair but also a full repaint.

Unfortunately on one of these trips I must confess to playing petrol roulette, and losing!

Damm low fuel warning light which normally indicates I am right on the limit has stopped working.

Had to be rescued with a can of fuel by Gill much to her disgust.

Nice place to run out of Petrol.



Outcome of all this is that the car will be re-sprayed early next year.

Gill has now decided to sell her TR7 drop head coupe now the season is over, had it up for sale for a few weeks now, had a couple of nibbles but no firm offers yet. 

1981 TR7 DHC for sale.



Had another spot of an unusual classic at Lotus today, a Jaguar XK140 on German plates, very nice condition too, and apparantly finished the Modern Mille Miglia recently, phone pic not very good though.

Jaguar XK140 Coupe.



Crunch:-)

A bad end to a busy week, have been busy moving some heavy machinery items from an old to new factory, using a well known heavy lifting company, at the end of the day one of the contractors crushed his arm minutes before they where due to leave site. Looked quite bad when he was taken to Norwich Hospital.
Then to top it, arriving home, I managed to scrape the TR7 on a concrete fire hydrant sign that is on the edge of my drive, despite having driven around succesfully it for 4 years. Scraped the paint on the rear quarter and door as well as denting the panel.
Was going to take it off the road after today as road tax runs out.


Does not look as bad in photos but wheelarch lip and door dented.




Rear wing damage, again dented round the wheelarch.



Ride out to Henham Steam Fair

Took a ride out in the TR7 to Henham Steam Fair today, Gill hates steam events so went on my own, was a nice sunny day, perfect roof down weather, so gave it plenty of stick over some good Norfolk and Suffolk roads.
Henham is not far from Southwold on the Suffolk coast.
It is always an interesting show with lots to do, lots of Traction Engines, Trucks, vintage tractors, vintage motor bikes and cars to see. Showing a car here is by invitation only and even though we had enquired we did not get an invite so I had to pay public prices.

Liked this Mk1 saloon in grey and blue.



Showmans Engine busy generating power for fairground rides.



Vintage Dennis Ulster fire engine, and Bedford trucks.



This brought back memories, my first job in East Anglia 20 years ago was
for Marshalls of Cambridge building demountable military containers
similar to the one on the back of this Bedford Army Flatbed .



Fordson Tractors, during the 2nd World War hundreds of these where
imported into East Anglia from the US to speed up food production.

Steam Powered Galloper.



Threshing demonstration.

 

1938 Aston Martin sportscar.

Henham Park is only 25 miles from home, but ended up doing about 75 miles, I took a few detours on the way home through Sibton, Laxfield, Cratfield, finding some lovely lanes to cruise over, maybe an idea for a run next year.



Even found some hills in Suffolk.



Typical quiet Suffolk lane.



Norfolk Gala Day

Last show of the year with a Club Triumph stand, this was the Norfolk Gala Day on Sunday 11th September. 11 cars on the CT stand, thanks for all coming along. Was a windy day, tested the event shelter thouroughly with high gusts of wind at times. As usual plenty of attractions to keep all amused for the day. Overall attendance seemed down at the showground this year, in fact at most shows this year we have noticed attendance down, a number of factors I think, firstly most shows now charge admission, even to show a car! Secondly, high petrol prices may be keeping some classics off the road and Thirdly the recession may be biting deeper than expected. We ourselves will have to have a re-think as keeping 2 moderns and 2 classics on the road plus a share in a narrow boat is is straining the bank account. We already missed out the Auto Eccosse due to cost of fuel earlier in the year and I may take my seven off the road this winter, first time for a while to save on road tax.
A few pics of Norfolk Gala Day. 

Club Triumph cars.



Interesting Jowett Jupiter




The most Granadas I have seen in one place.




Team Lotus F1 Car.




Crayford Corsair.



 

Nice Mk 1 saloon, unmolested apart from Mk11 seats in Leather.



Early Morris Minis.



I won't be swapping a Seven for one of these!!




Raptor Trust display of Owls - Think this is a Tawny Owl.




Showmans Engine.



Interesting car sightings

Working at Lotus I often get some interesting car sightings, usually race cars, both new and historic on the new FIA standard track or supercars in for evaluation, etc.
Yesterday there was a Lotus Carlton, seldom seen these days, then todays sighting was a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus rally car, reg PVC 999W, having a look at its history it was the ex Guy Fréquelin/Jean Todt 2nd placed car on the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally. Also driven in 81 by Henri Toivonen/Fred Gallagher.


Talbot Sunbeam Lotus