What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Reckless Rat]

Yesterday I had a quick run out in the RP to fill the tank at our local supermarket and then gave the car a rub down and tidy up ready for a trip out this morning to the race circuit in Alès called the "Pôle Mecanique". The first Sunday of the month there is a classic car get together and with fine weather I decided to take the RP. I went along with my neighbour who has a very nice 1931 Ford Model 'A' Roadster (two seater with dickie) which he imported from the states a long while ago. Performances of the two cars are roughly identical despite a huge difference in engine/car size - the Ford has a 3.285 Litre 40bhp engine, which is quite a bit thirstier than the RP (20mpg or less), and it weighs over a tonne. The Ford has a slight advantage over the RP on hills, because it had oodles of torque due to the big engine. If I have to drop down to 3rd I'm then stuck at 25-30mph max because with the crash box I can't get back up into top until I get over the crest. Whatever. A nice day out. Lots of interesting cars to see. Only one other Austin - a LHD Healey 3000 MkIII and very nice it was too.





There was also this Simca Aronde, which belongs to a friend of mine (he has two Ferraris and a Renault Alpine as well) - the car belonged to his father, who bought it new.



And a very nice and probably very rare Hotchkiss :



Left for home just before noon for a slap up binge at Mrs Rekker's Pie Shoppe.