Cobra @ Dart

^ Period Picture ^

Dad had a minor service done on the Vette at the weekend and I went down to pick it with him on saturday morning. The Garage doing the work are an American car specialist and apart from the selection of old and newer Corvettes sitting around, there was also this Dax Cobra. Believe it or not this is a company car and the owner paid for the work on a company credit card!

When they fired it up and a series of explosions burst out of the twin side exit hand welded exhausts. This made it a lot easier to convince Dad he should get the exhausts changed on his car.

We got chatting and asked what it came in for. Apparently it has a 6.4 Litre V8 that prior to being taken to Dart was only running on 5 cylinders. they fitted a complete new ignition system amongst other things and the car was now running in excess of 400bhp! Not content with this unnecessary power, he asked if Dart had any Blowers in stock. Apparently they did and for another 3500 pounds they could fit a supercharger and boost the power to an incredible 600bhp! He drove off wearing gloves, goggles and an open faced helmet - apparently he'd absolutely frozen by the time he reached Brighton - from Kent!

Laura and Binks....

Notice how Binks is trying to stop Laura speaking by placing his left paw over her mouth - hmmm genius!

The Stig

Chatting to one of my more interesting customers the other day, I discovered we had a mutual interest in cars. He went on to explain he was friends with Perry McCarthy, AKA The Stig - or the first stig at least. He went on to describe at length how he'd been given various tuition sessions with the almighty. He returned his car to Enterprise and asked if on the way back to the garage if we could stop by his house. I was curious, but obliged anyway. He presented me with a signed copy of Flat Out, Flat Broke by Perry McCarthy - hard back and everything!

I'm predicting that this is seriously in danger of becoming the second book I've ever read - I'm up to chapter three already and it's looking good. So far we've established that he was about as troublesome as me during his adolescence - no really. Here's a picture of the sumptuous dinner Laura prepared for me tonight. Sorry - that was a bit random.

Saxo VTS For Sale :-(

After many fun filled years, finally the Saxo has to go. I gave it the last wash today and will be posting the pictures on Pistonheads shortly. I need some help though guys and girls - which are the best photos to place on the Ad?

Enterpise vs Europcar

I was driving around @ work when I saw this VeeDub touring car type thing. I thought it was just a normal Beetle at first, with a body kit and a crazy paint job....

When I looked a little closer, it's a about as far from the standard specification Beatle as you can get. It was completely stripped out inside and more yellow than the Elise. It had some awesome High Back Recaro busket seats and a full sequential gear shift - It was actually a proper touring car. The local VW dealer, Shepherds, had borrowed it for a Promotional day in Bishop's Stortford.

The main sponsor was obviously Europcar. Enterprise also get involved in Motorsport advertising - but it's mainly in the US as they are one of the official NASCAR sponsors.

Valentines Day

This year Laura and I enjoyed dinner at Dino's Italian Restaurant in Ware. It was a lovely evening and the food was as perfect as always - all FOUR courses of it! Here's a little bunch of flowers that someone sent to Laura....... hmmm.

Binks lives such a hard life

^ 2 poofs ^

Roy (as in: let's hear it for Roy!!) popped round the other day and commented upon the fact that Binks' markings were so precise and perfect. He went on to say "almost as if he was spray painted in places" - and looked at me accusingly - haha. Laura's mum still thinks that I got him because he matches our living room!

Is that Alex in my rear view mirror?

^ Alex following me in a police car?? ^

Alex phoned me the other day when I was driving around in the Elise and he he told me he was driving a marked (military) police car and asked where I was. So I told him and next thing I knew Alex pulled in behind me! - struggling to get my head around that one., Alex in a police car?

Elise Video

Make of the following link what you will:

http://media.putfile.com/Hadham-Rd

Trying to capture the feeling of speed on camera is notoriously difficult. However ensuring you have a good sound track really helps!

New shape Impreza

^ Found this lurking at the local Subaru dealer ^

It's getting better, but you can tell it was designed after the rest of the car. The revised front end does make for a prettier car although I can't help but feel the lines on the rest of the car should been tweaked to accomodate it (that's why I photographed it at an angle that omitted the rest of the car).