May 2019

1966 Riley Elf: getting ready for Ipswich to Felixstowe run

In our workshops this week we have our wonderful little 1966 Riley Elf.

With the annual Ipswich to Felixstowe classic car run looming we are looking at repairing an oil leak which has recently developed as well as carry out a full service ready for the run.

The Ipswich to Felixstowe Car Rally is an annual event in the English county of Suffolk. Up to 500 vehicles can participate in the event, starting in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. The vehicles make a 10-mile (16 km) journey to the promenade of Felixstowe, where they line up and remain there for a large part of the day.

This event, traditionally held on the first Sunday in May, is organised by Ipswich Transport Museum and are helped by volunteers from the museum. The Mayor of Felixstowe is invited to lead the procession of vehicles as a passenger in one of the historic vehicles. The event is well attended and the success is due to the hard work of Ipswich Transport Museum’s volunteer force and the enthusiastic participation of the vehicle owners – many of whom travel long distances to attend.

The vehicles assemble in Christchurch Park at Ipswich from 8.30 to 10.30am, then start to leave for Felixstowe at 11.00am, where they are displayed along the promenade during the afternoon (from about 12.00pm onward).

Please contact Ipswich Museum through their website https://www.ipswichtransportmuseum.co.uk/ for further information.

This event will be taking place on Sunday 5th May 2019.

BBC Radio 1’s Mollie King Experiencing the Land Rover Experience

Source: Instagram @mollieking

BBC Radio 1‘s Mollie King showing off her impressive skills to her 830k followers in the driving seat of the new Land Rover Evoque at the Land Rover Experience Eastnor.

Welcome to the Land Rover Experience Eastnor

“Experience the true spirit of adventure in its purest form. 66 miles of carefully managed trails in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the grounds of Eastnor Castle. Land Rover Experience Eastnor provides a unique adventure that encourages drivers to push both the vehicle and themselves to the limit. The terrain here is so varied and challenging that it has been used for decades as a secret test facility to refine and test the off-road capability of every new Land Rover. Featuring steep slippery inclines, articulation tracks, ruts, open ground and deep water, you really will have a true-to-life driving experience.

So whether you are looking at organising an event, professional driver training for your company, adventure days or a gift voucher for that special someone in your life. Land Rover Experience Eastnor is a truly unforgettable experience.”

1997 Bentley Turbo R in primer

Having etch primed the exterior sections of our Bentley we are now in the stages of final high build primer. The car has now been smoothed down and masked ready for top coat to be applied.

1952 MG TD: remedial works to be carried out

Prior to our 1952 MG TD heading off to it’s new home, we need to carry out a few small but very important improvements to the car.

The battery has become tired over time. Having checked the performance of the current battery we will be required to fit a new one in order for it to keep charge and consistency.

Under the bonnet and within the engine bay the paint has started to bubble where it has met with some toxic substance.

The leak has been detected and repaired, the area surrounding has been cleared of all components. We have removed all of the paint back to bare metal and treated the area in order for it to dry and remain uncontaminated.

1956 Ford Consul: Strip down and body repair

The strip down and repair of our 1956 Ford Consul is now well underway with Mauro concentrating his efforts full time on the project.

Everything removed has been carefully wrapped,documented and accounted for and is now in storage awaiting refurbishing and/or refitting.

The welding work is currently on going and we would expect to hand over to our painters for preparation in around a week’s time.

1997 Bentley Turbo R: Strip Down

Work on our 1997 Bentley Turbo R respray has begun. Chris is busy stripping the car down.

The bumpers have been removed and the top polished piece detached so we can look to remove the paint. At some stage, the top polished trim has been body colour matched but unfortunately the work has been carried out directly onto the polished area without any preparation so the paint has flaked off.

The bubbled areas around the windows will be cut out and/or properly treated all around the car prior to paint. The arches are showing signs of corrosion so these will be addressed.

The new window weather strip rubbers will be fitted as will the new speakers in the door cards.

All four wooden trims in the doors have been removed and sent away to be professionally refurbished.

Bridge Classic Cars visit AS Motorsport

Ady popped in to see his good friend Andrew at AS Motorsport this week.

Introducing AS Motorsport

David Brown had always set his sights on a win at Le Mans. This was to be achieved in 1959 together with victory in the World Sports Car Championship by the team of DBR1’s. This model proved to be highly successful, and along with the larger engined DBR2’s, scored many wins on both sides of the Atlantic. After achieving their goal, Aston Martin then concentrated on single seater racing. Only five DBR1’s and a pair of DBR2’s were ever constructed.

AS Motorsport recreates the glory of these cars with the production of the highly detailed ASM R1 Le Mans.

Each car is built to order with the customer having a range of options from which to choose.

Andrew Soar grew up on the Family Farm in Bressingham, South Norfolk, and was involved in the smooth operation of it from an early age. Finding the engineering aspect intriguing and enjoyable, he learnt skills ranging from Blacksmithing with ‘Billy the Smithy’, to electronics found on GPS harvesters; as well as how to siphon petrol from his father’s car to propel an old banger around the stubble fields, but that is another story!

Having completed an engineering apprenticeship and knowing that Agriculture would not provide sufficient income for all the generations involved in the running of the arable farm, Andrew found he liked the challenge of college life, and began lecturing in the Technical Department. He stayed there for ten years, teaching engineering and gaining the skills and experience that would stand him in good stead for the future.

Further diversification ensued, working as a consultant in the Construction and Engineering Sector, specialising in the safety and operation of heavy plant, with a worldwide, multinational company as a prime customer.

In between times though, the mid-nineties brought a brief spell of wanderlust which resulted in more engineering work, but this time in the Great Plains of the USA. It is probably here that the spark which was kindled, aged 11, with a Morris Minor on a stubble field, grew into the flame and roar of V8 muscle cars. On returning home, the building of kit-cars ensued, starting with a Cobra 427, which went through a series of V8 engines and gearboxes, each an improvement on the next, and various suspension developments.

However, working away from home all the time finally gave way to the wish to be ‘at home’ on the farm. With a new wife to support, an engineering business was started from the farm, undertaking specialist jobs on other Cobra’s. Cobras have remained a theme, with the 289 shape being the current example, sporting a custom designed chassis and suspension.

1975 MGB: new wiring loom

We are currently fitting up the brand new wiring loom, supplied to us by our friends at Autosparks.

Autosparks are the ‘go-to’ people when it comes to brand new wiring looms.

“The origins of Autosparks date back to around the 1920’s when it’s founder, Mr Henry Colomb, formed an electrical business in Beverley Road, Hull.

It is unclear when the progression from electrical to auto-electrical took place although we do have a certificate from the Trade Mark authorities dated July 1954 registering the original company logo as seen below.

Under the ownership of Henry and the management of Mr Cliff Dalton, Autosparks Ltd flourished and by the 1980’s was a well established and well respected company. With Mr Colomb, then retired, living in Malta, and Mr Dalton reaching retirement age, the running of the company was left to a younger family member and with growing competition, the company finally collapsed in August 1991.

Meanwhile I began my business, R D Components, in November 1977, initially manufacturing and selling spares for the legendary BSA Gold Star motorcycle. Within 12 months I was doing full restorations and one of the items I had to make myself was the Wiring Harness. From there I built virtually a full range of Harnesses for all Post-war British Motorcycles, even supplying the reborn Triumph Motorcycles at Meriden. By 1983 I had began producing harnesses for classic cars, as well as manufacturing original equipment harnesses for the prestigious Aston Martin Lagonda marque which continued until the models at the time, the V8 and Lagonda saloons, were phased out in 1990. The rate at which R D Components grew and the quality of its products soon undermined the strength of, and the then complacent attitude of Autosparks. In 1991 we bought and moved Autosparks down to our base in Sandiacre, Nottingham.

Over half of the 30 plus workforce that are with me today were around at the time of the takeover offering an unrivalled wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure that the quality of everything we produce remains very high.

Today Autosparks produces a range of Harnesses for classic Motorcycles, Cars, Tractors and Commercial Vehicles as well as supplying original equipment Harnesses to smaller volume manufacturers including such diverse applications as some of the top British Sportscars, European Road Sweepers and a range of Emergency Vehicles.

Roger Davis

AUGUST 2012

Since writing the above, probably ten or eleven years ago, the company has moved forward again. I decided that it was time to bring some younger blood into the ownership of Autosparks so in November 2005 we formed a limited company once more introducing new directors and shareholders. Debbie Johnson, who has for many years ran the ‘business’ side of the company as well as building up a wealth of knowledge of the products joined me as director and shareholder as well as three of the long term staff as shareholders.

Our workforce remains solid with, apart from a few of retirements, the same core members of staff that have served us well for so long.

Roger Davis”