Tag Archives: Club

Turbo Super Party 3 – SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI

Just over a month ago I got a call from SEAT telling me my company SEAT Toledo TDI was due for some warranty work and they kindly arranged for me to take it in to my local dealer Blades, on Feeder Road in Bristol, who were to provide a loan car for the couple of hours it would take for the work to be completed.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

Having a job where I am on call five days on and five days off I find it quite difficult to keep track of the day of the week so when I turned up at Blades I found I was in fact a day early, but that was no problem and the service receptionist kindly summoned today’s featured 4th generation face lifted SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI for me to drive from one of her colleagues.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

I planned to use my time off with the loan car to go and get some of my favorite Mendip creamed honey from Web Stile Farm a couple of miles off the A37 in Hinton Blewett and as often happens when swapping from diesel powered cars to petrol power I applied slightly too much pressure to the throttle as I left the premises and on this occasion was greeted by the delightful sound of the free revving 1 litre / 61 cui 3 cylinder turbo and supercharged engine which immediately brought a smile to my face.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Burrington Combe, Somerset,

By the time I had left the outskirts of Bristol I was thoroughly warming to the sound of little TSI engine which was much smoother than a 4 cylinder, but not quite as growly as a 5.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Hinton Blewett, Somerset,

Having picked up a couple of jars of honey I decided to pursue a route I discovered, with my friend Tim Murray, last year when planning a treasure hunt for the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club towards Burrington Coombe.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

Driving down the empty windy B3134 was so much fun that once I had stopped to take a photo or two at the bottom, I had no hesitation driving back up it and then round to Cheddar Gorge from whence I completed a loop back to Burrington Combe and back up the B3134.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Burrington Combe, Somerset,

Having enjoyed the handling and the sound of the harmonious little 95hp 3 cylinder with the six speed transmission I reluctantly headed back to Bristol, trying a 30 mph rolling brake check on a particularly muddy uneven empty road and it was no surprise that with the ABS kicking in the car stopped in a remarkably short distance straight as a die.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

With the car now covered in several buckets of Somersets finest red mud I drove the little loop up and down the M32 and stopped off to vac and jet wash the car at Sainsbury’s in Harry Stoke.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

When checking the odometer I discovered 72 fun filled miles had been covered on the honey run in the stylish Ibiza which I filled up with 9.04 litres / 2 Imperial Gallons of unleaded which turned out to be comfortably more than had actually been used.

Just as I had finished cleaning the Ibiza I got a call telling me my Ambulatory Toledo TDI was good to go and so I headed back to Blades where with many new fond memories I exchanged the key’s with the Service receptionist.

In the 30 year history of German magazine Auto Bild’s 100,000 km / 60,000 mile road tests the 2011 Ibiza scored not only the best small car results for vehicles in the VW Group but also the best result for any small car ever tested over that distance by the magazine.

Thanks for joining me on this “Turbo Super Party 3” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Convertible Camaro. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Simulated Walnut Grain – Chrysler Town & Country

Twenty five years after the original Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back Estate / Wagon was first seen the forth post war generation Town & Country Estate / Wagon was launched in 1965.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Elwood Engel was responsible for the design which featured a unitary body with a 121 inch wheelbase.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

The 220 inch body of the fourth generation Town & Country used a combination of torsion bar front suspension and leaf sprung rear suspension and was initially available with either a 270 hp or high compression 305 hp motor, the latter requiring premium fuel.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Push button activated automatic transmission was deleted in favour of a near ubiquitous PRNDL selector that could be either floor or steering column mounted for the standard Torqueflite automatic transmission.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Despite the Chrysler Imperial Crown having standard disc brakes since 1950, they were still optional on the fourth generation Town & Country.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

By 1968 the lower powered Town Country produced 290 hp from it’s two barrel carburetor 383 cui V8.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

’68 model Town & Country models, the last of the fourth generation, are also distinguished by their mandatory side running lights and the introduction of simulated wood panels, reprising the genuine wood panels last seen on the Town & Country models in 1950.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Today’s featured ’68 Town & Country was first registered in the UK on 17th September 2012.

Chrysler Town & Country, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

The car seen at an Avenue Drivers Club meeting in Bristol earlier this year is shown as running a 7.2 litre / 440 cui motor of a type not seen until 1971 on the fifth generation post war Town & Country.

Thanks for joining me on this “Simulated Walnut Grain” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for a Festive Ferrari Friday. Wishing all GALPOT readers a Merry Christmas, don’t forget to come back now !

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Pillarless Millennium Benz – Mercedes Benz C140 CL500

The first generation Mercedes Benz pillarless SEC / S-Coupé / CL Class Coupé, based on the SWB W140 SE floor pan was designed under the direction of Bruno Sacco and went into production in 1992 with either 389 hp 6.0 litre / 366 cui 48 valve V12, 322hp, 5 litre / 302 cui V8 or in a few markets with 275hp 4.2 litre / 256 cui V8 engine options.

Mercedes Benz CL500, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

From 1992 – 93 the model was known as the SEC, in 1994 it became the S-Coupé and from 1996 to the end of production the model was known as the CL CLass.

Mercedes Benz CL500, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

These exclusive Coupés along with the larger SE and SEC saloon / sedan variants were incredibly well appointed with double glazed window’s being a particular novelty when the model was first seen in public.

Mercedes Benz CL500, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Today’s featured CL with the smaller and lighter 5 litre V8 engine, that improved the handling over the more powerful V12 was purchased in 1996 by Kenny Baker, the diminutive actor had a length of rope fitted to the boot so that he could pull it shut.

Mercedes Benz CL500, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Kenny sold the car to his friend the giant former bodybuilder, weightlifter, face of road safety and actor David Prowse, hence the car, seen in these photographs taken at the Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol a few years ago, that has been passed on from the Star Wars R2D2 actor to the Darth Vader actor has become known as the Millennium Benz.

Thanks for joining me on this “Pillarless Millennium Benz” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. May the Force be with you.

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Unit Beat Policing Panda – Morris Minor 1000

In 1968 the City of Bristol Constabulary bought a fleet of Morris Minor 1000s to implement a new Unit Beat Policing Policy that was being rolled out by Constabularies across the country, where by a single officer in a Panda car was to cover an area previously covered by several “bobbies” on the beat.

Morris Minor, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham,

The withdrawal of foot patrols, to save man power, marked the end of Community Policing in Bristol until it was reintroduced by the renamed and merged Avon and Somerset Police decades later.

Morris Minor, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham,

Today’s featured “Moggie Thou”, registered on the 1st of February, served in Bristol for three years and is believed by the The Police Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, to be the only survivor of the batch bought in 1968.

Morris Minor, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham,

In 1971 a second batch of Minor 1000s was bought by the City of Bristol Constabulary to replace the first and it is believed only one of that batch also still exists, note cheaper two door Minor 1000s were used for the new unitary beat policing, presumably in the event of an arrest a Black Maria had to be called to haul arrested suspects away.

Thanks for joining me on this “Unit Beat Policing Panda” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a Star Wars edition of Mercedes Monday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club Autumn Sprint- Debden Airfield

At the beginning of October I received an e-mail asking for volunteers to marshal at the Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club, Autumn Sprint being run at Debden Airfield in Essex, a couple of days later I received a request to attend an interview in Scunthorpe and proposed to the Clerk of the course Pete Walters that if he could find me somewhere to stay on the night after the event I would be delighted to go up from Bristol to help out.

Ford Escort RS1600_6187sc

Lionel Reeves kindly stepped forward to offer me accommodation and so off I trekked to Debden the day after the Autumn Classic at Castle Combe. Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club established in 1903, the year the Wright Brothers made their first powered flight, is one of the oldest in the county, the Aero refers to the sport of ballooning. Among the random selection of cars I photographed is the immaculate 1974 #62 Ford Escort which finished 3rd in class B10 driven by Howard Lester.

Leyland Mini Clubman, Julian Kirwan, Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club, Autumn Sprint, Debden Airfield, Essex

Julian Kirwan finished second in Class A3 driving the 1970 #16 Mini Clubman with a 1400 cc / 85.4 cui engine.

Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo Hatchback, Tim Morrison, Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club, Autumn Sprint, Debden Airfield, Essex

Flying the flag for Estates / Wagons was Tim Morrison driving his 2003 #38 Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo Hatchback, who was classified 3rd in class A6.

Ford Escort 1300 GL Auto, Charlie French, Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club, Autumn Sprint, Debden Airfield, Essex

Kicking up the dust above in his #63 Ford Escort Mk2, which I believe has been modified from it’s original 1980 1300 GL Auto spec, is Charlie French who finished 4th in class.

Davrian Imp Saloon, John Webster,Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club, Autumn Sprint, Debden Airfield, Essex

I’m looking forward to finding out about the history of John Websters #71 Davrian Imp Saloon in the fullness of time, on this occasion he finished second in Class C12.

Merlyn Mk 30, Colin Glass, Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club, Autumn Sprint, Debden Airfield, Essex

Finally Colin Glass won class D16 in his Merlyn Formula Ford with what I believe is 1977 Mk 30 bodywork, fastest time of the day was set by Tony Beesley in his 1 litre / 61 cui Jedi Mk 4.

My thanks to everyone at the Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club who made me feel most welcome and especially Lionel and Margret Reeves for their hospitality.

Thanks for joining me on this “Hertfordshire County Auto & Aero Club Autumn Sprint” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Talbot Matra. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Galvanised Chassis Frame – Talbot Matra Murena

Arguably the most attractive of the sports cars to emerge from Matra’s Romorantin plant was the Murena which replaced the Bagheera, both designed by Antonis Volanis, in 1980.

Talbot Matra Murena, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The Murena used the same chassis as the Bagheera but it differed crucially in now being made from galvanized steel so that it did not rot as the chassis of the Bagheera was renowned for.

Talbot Matra Murena, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Inside the new fibreglass-polyester body there was a row of three seats for the driver and two passengers and the engine was mid mounted both features as per Bagheera.

Talbot Matra Murena, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Two engine sizes were available 70hp 1.6 litre / 97 cui from the Talbot Solara saloon and 115 hp 2.2 litre / 134 cui with a heavy cast iron block from the Talbot Togara saloon the later being available with single or twin carburetors which boosted the power to 142hp.

Talbot Matra Murena, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Production of the Murena only lasted from 1980 to 1983 by which time Renault, to whom Matra were about switch allegiance from Talbot part of the Peugeot Société Anonyme group, asked Matra to desist from building any more Murena’s.

Talbot Matra Murena, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

In all 10,680 Murena’s were built before Matra’s Romorantin plant switched to building Renault Espace mini vans.

Thanks for joining me on this “Galvanised Chassis Frame” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Five Cylinder Tim – MANBAT Pegasus Sprint Castle Combe

Last month saw the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club organise it’s final sprint of the year the MANBAT Pegasus Sprint at Castle Combe, as ever with an event involving over 100 competitors many members of the BPMC the Bristol Motor Club and a few others besides along with the team at Castle Combe all mucked in to make it happen.

GTM K3, Graham Matthews, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

Here are a few random snaps of the day taken from my vantage point on the start line that I hope give a flavour of the day that was probably better suited to ducks than Motor Sport, above Graham Matthews only made one successful practice run in his GTM K3 before withdrawing from the event.

Marcos Mantis, Philip Jones, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

Before the weather was forecast Philip Jones must have fancied his chances of Marcos Mantis competing for the fastest time of the day in his 4.6 litre V8 powered machine but he had to settle for 1st in the Road going Specialist Production Cars class and consul himself that the conditions kept him 14 secs off the fastest time of the day.

MG PA, Howard Harman, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

If there had been a prize for being quickest of the two pre war MG’s present it would have gone to Howard Harman seen above in his 1 litre MG PA who was one and a half seconds quicker than Martin Price in his 1 1/4 litre MG TA.

TVR Vixen, Ian Stallard, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

Given the power of some of the more recent TVR’s present it is perhaps surprising that the fast TVR time was set by Iain Stallard, above, in his four cylinder Ford powered TVR Vixen which had less than half the cubic inch capacity of all the other TVR’s present.

Triumph TR3A, Tom Purves, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

Tom Purves Triumph TR3A was the oldest and slowest representative of the marque present of those who set a time.

JCB LOADALL, Les Rawlins, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

Les Rawlins, Castle Combes Mr Fixit, might have struggled to set a competitive time in his JCB LOADALL, fortunately his skills fixing the barriers were only called on the once.

Mitsubishi EVO6 GSR, Mike McBraida,MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

Mike McBraida set fastest time at the wheel of his turbocharged Mitsubishi EVO6 GSR in the Road going Series Production Cars over 2600cc class.

Reliant Scimitar GT, Nick Hall, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

The Reliant Scimitar GT driven by Nick Hall was third in the Road going Specialist Production Cars, Car engines over 1800cc and Motor Cycle engines class.

Audi Quattro, Tim Clarke, MANBAT Pegasus Sprint, Castle Combe

Winner of the MANBAT Pegasus Sprint was Tim Clarke who set the fastest time of the day in his five cylinder turbocharged Audi Quattro, a car last seen on these pages indulging in a spot of lawn mowing at Hullavigton.

My thanks to all those who contributed to such a splendid day in the rain, and thanks for joining me on this “Five Cylinder Tim” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a cool one off contender for the Carrera Panamericana. Don’t forget to come back now !

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