John With Son Conner Experiencing The High Performance Driver Training

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last weekend John, along with his son Conner to part in Car Limits – The High Performance Driver Training on North Weald Airfield, Essex.

Alongside their instructor, Andrew Walsh, Conner concuered the high speed bend experiencing both under-steer and over-steer. He learnt the skills to correct them and improve his steering. On the day he learnt balanced and trailing throttle, left foot braking, heel and toe and even how to control the rotation of his car and get it back inline from 90 degrees!

With an amazing choice of cars on the day: Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Lotus’, BMW’s, Aston Martin’s, Jaguar’s. Conner’s chosen vehicle, the Ford Mustang GT.

Check out the photos…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”12549,12550,12551,12552,12553,12554,12555,12556,12557,12558,12559,12560,12561,12562,12563,12564,12565,12566,12567,12568,12569,12570,12571,12572,12573,12574,12575,12576,12577,12578,12579,12580,12581,12582,12583,12584,12585,12586,12587,12588,12589,12590,12591,12592,12593,12594,12595,12596,12597,12598,12599,12600,12601,12602,12603,12604,12605,12606,12607,12608,12609,12610,12611,12612,12613,12614,12615,12616,12617,12618,12619,12620,12621,12622,12623,12624,12625,12626,12627,12628,12629,12630,12631,12632,12633,12634,12635,12636,12637,12638,12639,12640″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Fox Fest 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This weekend was the first ever Fox Fest Suffolk at Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich. We couldn’t have asked for better weather and Pete was down there on the day checking out the trucks and classic cars on display.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”12527,12528,12529,12530,12531,12532,12533,12534,12535,12536,12537,12538,12539,12540,12541,12542,12543,12544″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 8

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Yet another sunny warm day, and the first of May, 2007, meant a further foray into the Suffolk countryside was in order.

I set off at about 10 o’clock on what was to turn out to be a 35 miles round trip to the south of the A1120 road.

An unusual feature of this tour was the fact that all five churches were open, although it looked for a time that I had drawn a blank at the very first one. This was Kettleburgh, and to say that it is not easy to find is an understatement!

There are clues like “Church Road”, but no sight of the church until you venture down a private lane that eventually opens out into grassed areas used as camping sites. I drove across one of these fields to get the photograph, and then found there were workmen with lorries busy on the churchyard path. Without trying the door I asked if the church was open and they said it was kept locked. I sat on a bench to read my Cautley and then one of the men came and found me to say that the church was in fact open after all!

One noticeable absence was that of the Commandment Boards – listed in Cautley and also in the church guide. You could see where they normally hang because they had been painted round (!) on the last occasion the walls were done – I hope they haven’t been stolen, and also that I am not number one suspect!

Some of the woodworking is very similar in style to that at Worlingworth, both being  from Stuart times.

After a chat with a camper about the Cortina, and a visit from some curious geese, I made my way back onto the public roads system.

Next stop was Easton church, which, if approaching from the north, is found by going westward, right round the crinkle-crankle wall, with a very pleasant footpath into the grounds.

This has some extraordinary if not unique features, including a private entrance for the owners of the mansion, and canopied and screened pews within the chancel for them too!

Some excellent brasses – look under the carpet for the two earliest (1426 and 1584) near the right-hand side of the alter rail.

This is a very pretty spot and well worth a visit.

Back onto the road past Easton Farm Park in search of Leatheringham church.

The entrance is again obscure, involving turning onto a well-rutted track, and then crossing a field before parking up and walking the last 20 yards. I should think this is well-nigh impassable in winter but the many weeks without rain meant there were only the undulations of the ruts to worry about.

I also took a picture of it from the “main” road, looking back across the fields.

This church is a sorry remainder of what was once a mighty establishment, with even a purpose-built gatehouse approach (still standing) from a now disappeared route, and a flourishing Priory. After the dissolution of the Priory the church gradually fell into neglect and was a total ruin before being restored to its present form – albeit without reconstructing the chancel. All the impressive carved memorials etc have gone apart from a few relics, but you could still imagine what this place had once been.

There is a good notice board showing a drawing of how it was at its peak.

Charsfield had the distinction of being the most “on the main road” of the five churches, and it was not possible to get a very long view, so I parked off the roadside by a field and took the picture – St. George’s flag still flying.

This brought out a couple of chaps from the house opposite who politely asked me what I was doing. Discussion turned to the forthcoming Car Show near Blytheburgh, and it turned out that one of them had a classic of his own – a brute of a car with a ridiculously large engine, so I acknowledged “No Contest!”, and went on my way to the church!

There were attractive brick features, clearly Elizabethanish by date, and the font has a wonderful image of a saint holding a church building in his left hand. I also liked the Norman slit windows in the north and south nave walls.

Back in the car I now proceeded south before taking a right turn onto a beautiful little road that runs along the top of the ridge, overlooking Charsfield and its church:

Inevitably, as I was parked up for this shot a car came along, and it just managed to squeeze past this side of the Cortina. However, this was not to prove the tightest squeeze of the day! (Edit: Notice how short the rape is and how late it is compared with the same crop nowadays, 10 years later in 2017.)

Losing myself in the beautiful countryside and sunshine a little too much, I rather neglected my usually meticulous awareness of where I was with reference to the Ordnance Survey map, and although I reached my intended final church, Monewden, without having to turn back anywhere, it turned out not to be from the direction I had planned, causing me not a little confusion at the first crossroads I reached after I had moved on from Charsfield!

I could see nowhere off the road to park, so squeezed up to the churchyard hedge in order to take the photo* and then entered the church. I had met no traffic for the last few miles and in any case a car could get by reasonably easily in my judgement.

However, I had hardly entered the church when I heard the sound of an approaching lorry – and it sounded big!  I dashed out just in time to see the lorry miss scraping down the side of the Cortina by a whisker!

Somewhat agitated by this experience, I returned to the church, did a very quick look around, bought the guide book, and legged it back to the car and away!

* Footnote:

The more alert reader will have noticed that there is no picture of Monewden church. I discovered this error when editing the series in November 2013. It seems I will have to go back there again one day – I hope the lorry doesn’t!

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Out to Framlingham. Leave Framlingham on the B116, but turn right before the narrow bridge on its outskirts, signed Kettleburgh.

After Kettleburgh church continue west to the crossroads, then left (south-east) to Easton village.

After visiting the church, retrace slightly before bearing left towards and past Easton Farm Park. After a byroad joins from the left, look for the Church sign and so turn left – follow the signs and along the track to the church of Leatheringham.

Back to the road and continue west, and then left (south) to Charsfield.

After the church, continue south but take the first right turn. Eventually a T junction appears – turn right. Monewden church appears quite soon in the distance.

Return via Earl Soham and Bedfield.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Last weekend in Aldeburgh

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Donna, a good friend of Bridge Classic Cars was enjoying a nice day out in Aldeburgh last weekend when she saw this fantastic collection of Morgans.

Thanks for sharing with us.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”12444,12445,12446,12447,12448,12449,12450,12451,12452,12453,12454″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Refurbishing the MOT workshops

Over the bank holiday weekend we closed the doors here at Bridge MOT Centre for work to commence on refurbishing the workshops.

The dirty white walls have been stripped and power washed and refinished in the new Bridge MOT colours.

We’ve applied acid etching to the floors to bring up the years of dirt that has built up and the floors will have a new lick of paint too.

Throughout the refurbishment business is open as usual so there’s no need to delay in getting your car booked in.

Call 01473 743033 or email info@bridgemot.co.uk

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 7

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Chapter 7

Hoping for no decommissioned churches today, I set off on a glorious autumn morning (November 4^th, 2006) to take in four more churches in the region north-west of Halesworth.

The car was running nice and quietly after its recent service and the replacement of most of the ignition side (including, at last, the coil), and we made smooth progress to the first church at Chediston.

Munro Cautley has plenty to say about this church and there are a number of interesting aspects, not least the altar rails which look 20^th century in style but are actually early 17^th century!

North for a mile or two took me to the lovely church of Wissett where I was pleased to get the only parking space with a good view of the tower!

I met a lady doing the flowers and she told me that carbon-dating had recently confirmed the tower to be of 11th century construction and that it was now believed to be the oldest parish church round tower in the country. It looked glorious in the sun and was incredibly well made, standing perfectly upright and true.

The north doorway is a delight, and so easily missed without a guidebook, and there is a strange staircase to the rood screen (now gone of course) which starts with a door over seven feet off the ground!

The next church was not easy to find – or at least not if you have pre-set ideas of what you are going to see! I thought I was heading for All Saints South Elmham.

Now All Saints South Elmham is obviously a village named after the church of All Saints, but the ordnance survey map showed no church in the village. The nearest one was to the south, and marked as being in the grounds of Abbey Farm, so I guessed this must be it. I whizzed over the river before checking the map again, and then realised that the farm was just before the bridge, not after. Turning round, I could see the farm entrance and a churchyard with graves, but no church. I thought this might be another redundant church and so I gingerly entered this private property road. Now I could  see the church through the trees but there seemed to be no access to it. I drove right through the farmyard and got to the fields at the rear before giving up and turning back. Fortunately no-one asked me what I thought I was doing!

Now I could see that the churchyard was the other side of a ditch so there must be access from somewhere else. Back on the road I at last saw the frontage to the churchyard – what had made me miss it in the first place was the fact that the church is set well back behind the graveyard, which in turn is set back from the road by a plain area of grassland, as can be seen from the photo. The other surprise was that this was not All Saints Elmham (yet to be located*) – it was Rumburgh Abbey church.

Lots of unusual history here and well worth a visit.

* There is a church marked at Church Farm that is midway between All Saints South Elmham and St. Nicholas South Elmham, and as the latter does not have an entry in the guidebook I am assuming this is All Saints – to be confirmed on a later trip.

Finally I headed south again to visit the “chapel” at Chapel Farm, Linstead Parva, on the crossroad with the B1123. I had passed this church several times in the past but never stopped. The autumn tints made for a lovely picture.

This is the first church I have visited in this series without either tower or steeple, but it was fascinating to visit nonetheless. There was a moving memorial to the crew of a German plane that crashed nearby.

It felt very good to be able to gain entrance to every church in this journey, and this brought the total up to 34 churches visited.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Via Tannington Hall to Crown Corner (Brundish); then on through Brundish Street to Laxfield.

B117 going east until Heveningham where I turned left to Linstead Parva.

Right onto the B1123 until a left turn into Chediston.

North to Wissett, and then left at the junction towards Rumburgh. Through the village to reach the Abbey church on the right.

Returning back through Rumburgh take the first right after the village – this runs down to Linstead Parva.

Finally continue south to Heveningham again, and then home via Wilby.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Aston Martin One-77 spotted at Genoa Airport, Italy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Once again, our ‘international’ reporter Jack, from such stories as ‘Jack and the Captain’s Car’ and ‘Jack visits Museo Lamborghini and Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari in Modena, Italy’, has spotted another incredible car whilst on his travels around Italy.

Check out the Aston Martin One -77, worth a whopping £1.5 million ($2 million)

Source: caranddriver.com – The name is made clear when you learn that only 77 were produced, but that’s where this limited-edition road-going race car stops making sense. A carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, a superlight 7.3-litre V-12, and a hand-formed aluminium body put the price tag at almost $2 million.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”The Ultimate Aston Martin”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Source: astonmartin.com

The most exclusive Aston Martin of the ‘Gaydon era’, One-77 was limited to 77 unique examples.

Tantalisingly, the first glimpse the world got of the One-77 hypercar was a maquette of the new car at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, three quarters covered by a grey pin-stripe fabric cover with only a glimpse of the front right side coyly peeping out.

The full picture was revealed at the March 2009 Geneva Motor Show, where a metallic blue mockup and rolling chassis with its entire powertrain were on display.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Automotive Art”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The finished car made its bow in late April 2009 at the Concorso d’Eleganza Ville d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, winning the design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes. Fusing advanced technology with stunning design, the million-pound, 7.3 litre V12 One-77 was revealed as the fastest-ever Aston Martin, with a top speed of 220 mph. It represents what is possibly the world’s most desirable automotive art form, with an immensely rigid lightweight carbon fibre monocoque clad in a seamless bodyshell handcrafted from aluminium at its heart. With all 77 examples sold, production of One-77 was completed in 2012.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Specification”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

An amazing weekend at the ‘Ring’

Just 1 day after the tragic accident which closed the world’s most famous racing circuit…as they say, the show must go on.

Our good friend Jason Saxby, owner of Saxbys Hair Salon, right here in Ipswich frequently takes the trip out to Germany in his beautiful BMW M3 to take on the legendary 21km Nurburgring.

Here they all are, in the blistering heat waiting to set off round the track.

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 6

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Chapter 6

Having spent the morning fitting replacement ignition parts to the Cortina, I decided that the best idea for a test run would be to undertake the sixth of this series of journeys that same afternoon, especially as the weather forecast for the next few days was wet and windy. Thus I set off at 2.00 pm on a bright and calm afternoon towards the area north-east of Worlingworth.

After passing through Laxfield I turned left in the little village of Ubbeston Green to find the original centre of Ubbeston and its church.

On arrival I took the picture, and everything looked fine until I noticed a business plate fixed to the Priest’s door! I soon realised that this was a decommissioned redundant church. One of the employees appeared and I learned that the church had been taken out of service as long ago as the 1970s. He admired the Cortina and said that he had a 1967 Ford Mustang!

On then to Heveningham where I was lucky to be able to take my picture on a rather dangerous bend without any traffic approaching. I then parked the car in the field next to the churchyard (no picture opportunity here because of tree foliage cover –  hence the need for the road shot), and made my way towards the Church.

As I approached I could hear the organ going at full-pelt – a lovely welcome in itself, but doubly so because it also guaranteed entrance! I had been here once before, and armed with my copy of Munro Cautley I was able to pick out all the features this time.

This church is well worth a visit for the unusual manorial pew area, complete with open fireplace!

After a chat with the organist about the meaning of “jupon” (being worn by the effigy inside the church) I went on my way towards Huntingfield.

This I had also visited once before and had good memories, but unfortunately this time the tower was draped in scaffolding and associated green safety screens, so I managed to take the car picture looking through the gate entrance with much of the tower obscured by trees.

This is a church made famous in recent times by the painted ceiling, but it was much too recent (I believe it is Victorian) for Cautley even to mention it! He probably hated it, but would have loved it if it was 400 years old! There is a good story about this ceiling and the church is well worth a visit when the repairs are finished.

I had been warned that a lot of churches around here had been decommissioned, and so it was with my next one at Cookley.

The warning bells rang when I discovered that the only access to the churchyard was via the grounds of a cottage, and I was thankful that their very noisy (and hungry?) dog was contained within the dwelling!

As I feared, the Church was closed and empty, and the grounds maintained as a wildlife area. Still, it gave a nice picture for the series.

I hesitated about whether to go on to Walpole and then come back via Cratfield church because that made six churches – the most in any tour so far – and time was getting on. However I decided to do it.

I had a bit of a sudden entrance to Walpole churchyard! The church is halfway up a steep hill on the main road and I could see that it is not suitable for safe parking or even stopping. I had picked up a couple of cars in the centre of Walpole and they were right behind me as I ascended the hill, looking for the church entrance. When I saw it I committed to my left-turn and immediately found myself driving up the pathway to the church – there was no layby or gate!

This in itself was no great problem – I had successfully avoided blocking the roadway, but then I realised that there was nowhere to turn the car round – I would have to back out into fast-flowing traffic on a steep and narrow main road, blind!

I decided to visit the church first to contemplate the manoeuvre, and then noticed the dreaded orange chute barrels – this too was under repair. However, a bold notice proclaimed that the church was indeed open, so I ventured in.

Cautley has very little to say about this Church (“has suffered terrible treatment”), and so have I, but the spire affair made a pleasant change from towers.

Cratfield is situated in a very awkward position – miles from anywhere and down some pretty narrow approach roads.

Cautley waxes lyrical about its best two features – its records (which you can’t see of course), and its font. He also mentions some old items which have been removed since he wrote his book, which was rather disappointing as they included a Stuart holy table, now replaced in the late 20th century by one made from locally found scrap wood! (possibly from the Great Storm?).

This completed the tour. Four open out of a possible six is a good strike rate.

I made my way back to Worlingworth, arriving at 5.30 pm.

I have now visited 30 Suffolk churches with the Cortina.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Via Tannington Hall to Crown Corner (Brundish); then on through Brundish Street to Laxfield.

B1117 going east until left turn at Ubbeston Green to Ubbeston church.

Minor roads to Heveningham, then north to Huntingfield.

Continuing north, then east through Cookley Green to Cookley church; then continue eastward then right turn to Walpole on the B1117.

Retrace on the B1117 to Heveningham Hall then bear right towards Huntingfield; keep straight on until reaching Cratield – right turn to the church.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]