Vintage Sports-Car Club Driving Tests January 2024
Discussion
crankedup5 said:
Thanks for posting, great to see some ‘proper cars’ being exercised.
Yes, I thought it was good to see these cars being pushed to the limits and not just sitting in a museum. The last time I saw such cars was at the British Motor Museum last year and whilst it was nice to have a browse at the static displays, it's even better to see and even hear them in action.The only danger is that you start to think, "Hm, I wonder if I could fit one in the garage."
I can't imagine how much it costs to sort things out if things go wrong. You can't just pop to Halfords or Euro Car Parts to pick up a part that's broken.Edited by Hoofy on Tuesday 6th February 13:00
Hoofy said:
Yes, I thought it was good to see these cars being pushed to the limits and not just sitting in a museum. The last time I saw such cars was at the British Motor Museum last year and whilst it was nice to have a browse at the static displays, it's even better to see and even hear them in action.
The only danger is that you start to think, "Hm, I wonder if I could fit one in the garage." I can't imagine how much it costs to sort things out if things go wrong. You can't just pop to Halfords or Euro Car Parts to pick up a part that's broken.
By and large you fix them if they go wrong! The only danger is that you start to think, "Hm, I wonder if I could fit one in the garage."
I can't imagine how much it costs to sort things out if things go wrong. You can't just pop to Halfords or Euro Car Parts to pick up a part that's broken.Edited by Hoofy on Tuesday 6th February 13:00
Much like today the consumables are common (and still produced) or owners have found modern parts that work in lieu.
You'll probably also find that:
- owners clubs are clepto and will have bought up stocks of parts from dead owners families; they're keen to see cars preserved so sell at cost.
- pre-wars come with Haines-grade owners manuals - wanna tighten head bolts, there'll be a torque setting, check timing - a process tree. Loom diagrams? Folded up in the back....
It gets really expensive if you need to pay for work or have e.g. new castings.
(And communal knowledge; I don't know,
- ask Dad, he doesn't know - phones uncle, etc)
AmyRichardson said:
By and large you fix them if they go wrong!
Much like today the consumables are common (and still produced) or owners have found modern parts that work in lieu.
You'll probably also find that:
- owners clubs are clepto and will have bought up stocks of parts from dead owners families; they're keen to see cars preserved so sell at cost.
- pre-wars come with Haines-grade owners manuals - wanna tighten head bolts, there'll be a torque setting, check timing - a process tree. Loom diagrams? Folded up in the back....
It gets really expensive if you need to pay for work or have e.g. new castings.
(And communal knowledge; I don't know,
- ask Dad, he doesn't know - phones uncle, etc)
I'm not good with my hands, and constantly prove that I'm a liability, every time I try something. Much like today the consumables are common (and still produced) or owners have found modern parts that work in lieu.
You'll probably also find that:
- owners clubs are clepto and will have bought up stocks of parts from dead owners families; they're keen to see cars preserved so sell at cost.
- pre-wars come with Haines-grade owners manuals - wanna tighten head bolts, there'll be a torque setting, check timing - a process tree. Loom diagrams? Folded up in the back....
It gets really expensive if you need to pay for work or have e.g. new castings.
(And communal knowledge; I don't know,
- ask Dad, he doesn't know - phones uncle, etc)
I can see that for someone who's a bit clever technically then it's possible to do things without too much cost. What might cost a lot?
Some of those cars will have been in the same family since new, CAO 134 belongs to a chum and is such a car I believe.
If anything, that driving was subdued, you should see some of them on trials or endurance events, YouTube has plenty - search for HERO-ERA events. VSCC race meetings are worth a look too, we spend almost as much time watching them as we do looking at 'normal' TV programmes.
Anyway, subscribed so more please!
If anything, that driving was subdued, you should see some of them on trials or endurance events, YouTube has plenty - search for HERO-ERA events. VSCC race meetings are worth a look too, we spend almost as much time watching them as we do looking at 'normal' TV programmes.
Anyway, subscribed so more please!
I've done a couple of these, good fun but quite tame compared to the trials which I prefer.
The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
Riley Blue said:
Some of those cars will have been in the same family since new, CAO 134 belongs to a chum and is such a car I believe.
If anything, that driving was subdued, you should see some of them on trials or endurance events, YouTube has plenty - search for HERO-ERA events. VSCC race meetings are worth a look too, we spend almost as much time watching them as we do looking at 'normal' TV programmes.
Anyway, subscribed so more please!
Thanks.If anything, that driving was subdued, you should see some of them on trials or endurance events, YouTube has plenty - search for HERO-ERA events. VSCC race meetings are worth a look too, we spend almost as much time watching them as we do looking at 'normal' TV programmes.
Anyway, subscribed so more please!
I'll have a look into that!
austin said:
I've done a couple of these, good fun but quite tame compared to the trials which I prefer.
The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
Haha, yes, I noticed that they seem to be quite cheap for a fun car!The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
My current pre war car is a Swift 12 ‘M’ four seat open tourer of 1923 vintage. Previous owner rebuilt the mechanicals which have now bedded in nicely. Any major parts that break and its down to having that part made (fingers crossed it doesn’t happen to often). I’ve tried to give up on pre war motoring several times over the years, an impossible expectation of any success 
Hoofy said:
I'm not good with my hands, and constantly prove that I'm a liability, every time I try something.
I can see that for someone who's a bit clever technically then it's possible to do things without too much cost. What might cost a lot?
Anything fabricated from scratch, especially anything that requires fresh tooling. Thankfully there tends to be people set up to fabricate the bits that do break! I can see that for someone who's a bit clever technically then it's possible to do things without too much cost. What might cost a lot?
If you don't want to do X and pay a specialist to do it it'll cost; it's a world populated by rather unprofessional "car in, bill out" types, so you roll the dice.
On a positive note, properly old stuff is in the doldrums price-wise!
crankedup5 said:
My current pre war car is a Swift 12 ‘M’ four seat open tourer of 1923 vintage. Previous owner rebuilt the mechanicals which have now bedded in nicely. Any major parts that break and its down to having that part made (fingers crossed it doesn’t happen to often). I’ve tried to give up on pre war motoring several times over the years, an impossible expectation of any success
Nice.I can imagine it's addictive. I guess there's something special about driving these cars even if the performance isn't there. I did enjoy watching people drive around the courses at Brooklands... with a slight sense of envy.
AmyRichardson said:
Hoofy said:
I'm not good with my hands, and constantly prove that I'm a liability, every time I try something.
I can see that for someone who's a bit clever technically then it's possible to do things without too much cost. What might cost a lot?
Anything fabricated from scratch, especially anything that requires fresh tooling. Thankfully there tends to be people set up to fabricate the bits that do break! I can see that for someone who's a bit clever technically then it's possible to do things without too much cost. What might cost a lot?
If you don't want to do X and pay a specialist to do it it'll cost; it's a world populated by rather unprofessional "car in, bill out" types, so you roll the dice.
On a positive note, properly old stuff is in the doldrums price-wise!
Yes - I noticed ads on my Facebook feed and was surprised what I could get for a few thousand.
austin said:
I've done a couple of these, good fun but quite tame compared to the trials which I prefer.
The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
They certainly are. My 16year old son inherited one from my father last year and the enjoyment of helping him tinker with it has inevitably led to me buying one. It's genuinely a hoot to drive and is providing much amusement.The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
I was at Brooklands with him checking the driving tests out - we'll both be entered next year.
ettore said:
austin said:
I've done a couple of these, good fun but quite tame compared to the trials which I prefer.
The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
They certainly are. My 16year old son inherited one from my father last year and the enjoyment of helping him tinker with it has inevitably led to me buying one. It's genuinely a hoot to drive and is providing much amusement.The cars are really simple to work on, most bits are available or you can just make your own.
The classic entry to these sort of things is an Austin 7, a decent, well sorted vintage one can be had for under £15k.
And as they are so small you can fit more than one in the garage, they tend to be quite morish.
I was at Brooklands with him checking the driving tests out - we'll both be entered next year.
ettore said:
They certainly are. My 16year old son inherited one from my father last year and the enjoyment of helping him tinker with it has inevitably led to me buying one. It's genuinely a hoot to drive and is providing much amusement.
I was at Brooklands with him checking the driving tests out - we'll both be entered next year.
Brilliant. I can see a lot of great memories will be created with this hobby for you both!I was at Brooklands with him checking the driving tests out - we'll both be entered next year.
I noticed in one of the videos, the same car was used for another round but the drivers swapped over. (Am editing that video at the mo into a longer video.)
Hoofy said:
crankedup5 said:
My current pre war car is a Swift 12 ‘M’ four seat open tourer of 1923 vintage. Previous owner rebuilt the mechanicals which have now bedded in nicely. Any major parts that break and its down to having that part made (fingers crossed it doesn’t happen to often). I’ve tried to give up on pre war motoring several times over the years, an impossible expectation of any success
Nice.I can imagine it's addictive. I guess there's something special about driving these cars even if the performance isn't there. I did enjoy watching people drive around the courses at Brooklands... with a slight sense of envy.
I am fortunate to live in an area of the Country, Suffolk, that still offers some utterly beautiful back road driving experiences My favourite is a trip to Southwold via the Countryside back roads. Next to no traffic, in fact more sheep grazing in fields than cars on the road, at least that is how it feels.
As has been alluded to already, don’t buy a pre war with investment potential in mind those days Those times passed fifteen / twenty years ago - thankfully.
Having said that the high end top end will always be seen as investments.
Edited by crankedup5 on Wednesday 7th February 16:40
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