What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[andrew34ruby]

A complete mixture of cars today at Ripon racecourse, including a handful of prewar, and including 3 of us in sevens.
   

[David Stepney]

Those of you who have been following the recent chronicle of maintenance of my RP saloon will remember that I serviced it last month and have been chasing all the funny noises that have plagued the car for ages.

When, during the service, I had the brake drums off I noticed that the rear brake shoes were looking a bit worn and made a mental to replace the linings when time and circumstance allowed. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to set the linings that I prefer, but nevertheless got some from one of our cherished suppliers which arrived this week. So, yesterday I stripped the brakes all round, fitting my almost new woven (and noisy) lined front brake shoes to the rear and the freshly relined shoes to the front. I know that the front linings will need to bed in, but so far, a test drive round the lake this morning proved that the brakes work well and the recurring squeal appears to have gone.

I also took the opportunity of adjusting the torque tube mounting which had settled down after the installation of my dished spacer about 400 miles ago (where do these miles come from, I wonder?). It didn't require much adjustment; less than half a turn and it appears to be smooth throughout its travel with no tight spots.

And yes, I have found the annoying rattle after three and a half years. Young Leon spotted it. It turned out to be the passenger side scuttle ventilator which buzzes when it is shut. It isn't loose on its pivots and I am at a bit of a loss as to a permanent solution. The current fix is to leave it just ajar.

I have now got the car running about as well as it has ever run. Indeed, this afternoon, I took my great-granddaughter Sarah out in it and she remarked that the car seemed much quieter than the last time she went in it She still complains about the hot oil smell from the breather holes though.

The washing machine has now gone wrong so I have got to go and repair that!

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Ruairidh, I see your trip had a Pear Cabriolet first registered in Portsmouth - RV 8578  

Greetings from RV 2811 known as "Harvey". See my post above.

I managed to get a copy of the original hand-written register for Harvey from Hampshire County Council records. The pages I have don't go far enough for RV 8578 but I think it's likely they are available.

Yes, this car was bought by my mother in 1968/9 for just over £17.

It has been on the road and used by us (and others) for all that time, except when it was with my uncle for three years.

It was found in a flooded cellar, I believe, and a few years ago the widow of the man she bought it from posted a photo of it on Facebook, in the mid sixties. I recognised it, and the hand painted registration plate I still have on the wall of my garage, immediately.

It resides in Glasgow now, 1/4 of a mile from an RV registered AH tourer, that car may well be on your records.

The AH tourer is coming for a service on Wednesday, so I will take a note of the numbers and come back to you.

[Alan]

I thought the Coronation Concert could have done with Tom Langham

[Ruairidh Dunford]

I thought Tom Langham was the Coronation Concert.

[Colin Cooke]

Hi all,

Had to collect my wife from her sister's yesterday (35 miles away). I made her day (?) by saying I would come in the special, making it two local A7s out at the weekend - Steve Parkin's being the other.

It was a joy to be driving the special again - When I filled in my log, I couldn't believe that it had been unused for 2 months. I've been doing a bit of planned work and working abroad a lot.

It was very sunny coming home, and reminded us of how hot it gets in the feet department. I think I'd better get some louvres fitted to the engine side panels. My plan is to make them easily changeable so that I can use plane panels in the Winter to direct the heat to the cockpit.

Anyone any thoughts on if the side louvres will have the desired effect?

Regards,
Colin

[Steve kay]

I thought the Coronation Concert could have done with Tom Langham

Tom Langham has fled across La Manche to play music to a discerning foreign audience. Otherwise he might have stood at one end of Anfield, and conducted and accompanied on the banjo many many thousands of singers. Tom can put a choir of twenty thousand into perfect harmony just by looking at them.

[Duncan Grimmond]

I think I'd have preferred the Celtic stadium crowd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k_uKIMSwgU

[Steve kay]

I think I'd have preferred the Celtic stadium crowd.

A pedant writes, the match was what used to be called The Auld Firm, more often in these modern times the Glasgow Derby and so was at Hampden Park, obviously neither Ibrox nor Parkhead. What an observer may find interesting is that the harmonious singing, whilst coming from the Celtic end, seems to have been vigorously joined in with by Rangers.

[Nick Salmon]

A pleasantly dry afternoon in Aston village, Hertfordshire, with tea and cakes for all in the village hall and a fine assortment of classic and vintage vehicles on the playing field. The Ruby nestled next to the Cowley.