Being serious about this for just a minute. There was a time in my IT career when I worked for a County Council and had some responsibilities in the Payroll Team. One of the systems we ran was for 'Roadman's Bonus'. This calculated bonuses they were paid for getting work done on time etc. It was then I was introduced to the concept of a 'working minute' which could last up to 90 seconds. It was accepted that for people doing heavy manual work, time for recovery had to be factored in, and it could not be expected that someone weilding a shovel could work continuously for 8 hours of a working day...
Back in the 1950s when I was at primary school we lived in a house on an unmade road when a gang from the electricity board came along and dug a hole did what they had to do and left. After a couple of months another gang turned up and started digging all over the road and as it wasn't tarmacked there was no evidence of where the first gang dug the hole, I asked them what they were looking for and was told to clear off. Father saw this and asked them what they were up to, we're looking for the work the first gang did was the reply. Father called me over and said David tell them where to dig and I showed them where to dig well away from there efforts and sure enough I was spot on. Father couldn't resist having a go at them.
As a student, one of the less-interesting holiday jobs I did was on a "road-repair" gang in Sheffield. The job consisted of digging trenches in the road and piling up the soil along the edges, this boredom being lightened somewhat by the Go/Stop sign handler shouting out "Mini Girl". Upon this command, we would exit the trench at speed, stand on the piled up soil, and watch as the mini, with its girl driver wearing the then compulsory mini-skirt, drove by. As a consequence of the Mini's driving position, the skirt was caused to be exceptionally short and much fun - and ribald comments made by the lads who graded the experience on a scale of 1 to 10.
Yesterday, 05:14 PM (This post was last modified: Yesterday, 05:15 PM by Nick Salmon.)
In glorious sunshine, this morning we took the Chummy to a convivial and very busy coffee-morning meeting of our local club, the Letchworth Garden City Classic & Vintage Car Club. Found ourselves parked between two cars that owe something to the Austin Seven. On the left is an XK120 and of course that is the Swallow connection. Then on the right is the Vale Special, the prototype of which it is believed was powered by an A7 engine that was sourced from Boyd Carpenter.
Also there with their Sevens - a Nippy and an RK - were Iain Mansell and Steve Bradford-Best; and Geoff Smith brought along his four-seat tourer which was parked just behind the Chummy etc.
Glad we got this in before winter returns next week!
A sunny day following a wet day (to get rid of the salt) and the RK has its first biggish run of the year.
Ashamed to relate that I’d not fastened the torque tube bracket down correctly. It must have been sticking when I tightened it up and as soon as we hit the first bump it loosened. Still I can think of worse places to grovel under the car .
The axle was changed last year with the old Carden block joint replacing a Hardy Spicer (that is now on the van). It seems very noisy in comparison with the Hardy Spicer but that might be what you pay for originality.
Three weeks to sort things out before the VSCC Welsh Weekend!
It was the Special’s turn today. Its last big run was at the end of October but you wouldn’t have realised it. Started on the button and ran really well, cruising happily at 50mph along the A470 on the way back from one of our favourite destinations, Aberedw rocks (where we had a lovely long walk). Couldn’t resist posting this shot of the car parked at the start of the walk.
4 hours ago(This post was last modified: 4 hours ago by Malcolm Parker.)
A lovely spring day so I got the Austin & out and went for a run. Within a mile from home in Boltby the car had to tackle the fearsome 1 in 4 Sneck Yate bank, a hill that will get the better of a standard Chummy with two up. Taking it steady on a cold engine the Austin got up no bother. First stop for a photo was overlooking Hawnby.
Passing through Helmsley, full of weekend bikers, I took the road that leads deep into the moors and back, the Cockayne Loop, extensively used in road rallies of old.
Returning via Helmsley I took the scenic route past Rievaulx Abbey then plunged down the '3-ply' road to Caydale Mill ford, once one of the most feared fords in Yorkshire. Until about 15 years ago you were driving along a river bed and the water could be very deep on the bend. It has since been concreted and is pretty tame.
Then back down Sneck Yate, much more scary than going up, and back home , a trip of about 50 miles.
2 hours ago(This post was last modified: 2 hours ago by andrew34ruby.)
After a 20 mile trip out yesterday on local lanes in North Yorkshire, I remembered to take my phone with me today for a few photos of the local Knaresborough Tractor run, in aid of Yorkshire air ambulance.
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