The bus was attacked by youths throwing stones. One of the windows alongside the nurse shattered, bringing about the panic attack.
One can only imagine the thought processes going on inside the heads of these morons. They certainly have no concerns about the potential consequences of their actions.
This is yet another example of the same moronic behaviour that sees youths attacking all of our emergency service workers.
Who on earth thinks its a good idea to attack our firemen while they are trying to save lives at risk in fires and road accidents. And who thinks its a good idea to attack our ambulance crews and paramedics while they are attending those same incidents.
And then we have the police having to stoically endure interference on a daily basis, whilst putting their own lives at risk, going about their business, to protect us from these same idiotic morons.
Presumably, these are the same thought processes that make firing fireworks at peoples houses. As was happening, in Portsmouth, only a few weeks ago.
This imbecilic behaviour isn’t restricted to the Portsmouth area, rather it is endemic to the whole country.
I don’t understand the whys and wherefores and I don’t pretend to have a solution. What I do know is that the ASBO scheme isn’t good enough. Some youths see being awarded an ASBO as a badge of honour.
When I was a youth, the older folks used to say “they should bring back National Service”. I find that I am now of the opinion that is a good idea.
Going further back in time, to the 16th and 17th centuries, there were the stocks and pillory. Now the idea of these really appeal to me.
Throwing rotten fruit and veg at these miscreants would give some instant feelings of retribution to their victims. And, just maybe, these morons would be too embarrassed to offend again. They would certainly be a very visible reminder to other would be offenders.
I think today’s society could learn something from our ancestors.
Shannons are an insurance company, in Australia, providing Car Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, and Home Insurance products for motoring enthusiasts who drive imported, modified, classic, veteran or vintage cars.
Each year they host a classic car show. Somehow, despite numerous visits to Perth over the years, I have failed to hear anything about the show. Until now, that is.
Which is how I came to spend around three and a half hours of this past Sunday, being totally surrounded by some of the most amazing classic, veteran and vintage vehicles.
Well OK, I did take a break during that time. One does have to keep body and soul together and a fabulous Brisket Burger, courtesy of “Up In Smoke”, helped with that task.
The show presented a vast array of vehicles. As soon as I had paid my $10 entry fee I found myself surrounded by several Lamborghinis
…. I still think the Miura P400 is the best looking Lambo. No sign of one at this show.
Lamborghini Countach 5000
Lamborghini Countach 5000
Lamborghini Countach 5000
Lamborghini Gallardo
But who wants to waste time looking at high tech super cars …
… when there are classic Volvos. Who remembers The Saint, starring Roger Moore as Simon Templar in his white P1800.
Volvo P1800
Volvo – Amazon I think?
… or Fiats … My wife and I used to own a dark blue Fiat 128. It took us, with two daughters, all the way from Portsmouth in the UK, down to Port Grimaud in the south of France where we toured around Cannes, Nice, St Tropez and Frejus. A glorious two weeks.
Fiat 128 Rally
Fiat 500
Fiat 500
Fiat 500
Fiat 500
Fiat 128 Rally
… and VWs … Note the strange protuberance on the side of the Herbie lookalike. It’s not a rocket booster but a retro-fit air conditioner. Working in much the same way as the evaporative air conditioners used on many Australian homes.
Volkswagen – Beetle
Volkswagen – Beetle
Volkswagen – Beetle
Volkswagen
Volkswagen
… no Classic Car Show would be complete without Citroen, responsible for some of the most innovative, technologically advanced cars. And, at the same time producing some of the, mechanically, simplistic vehicles that became iconic in their own right.
Citroën Traction Avant
Citroën Traction Avant
Citroën 2CV – “deux chevaux”
Citroën 2CV – “deux chevaux”
Citroen SM
… 3 Wheelers like the Messerschmitt, with its aircraft cockpit bubble and even an aircraft style yoke to steer by. The Isetta could be driven in the UK on a motorcycle license, because it was classified as a three wheel motorcycle. I did note the absence of Rodney and Del Boys vehicle of choice, the Reliant. I guess WA is a little too far from Peckham for Trotters Independent Trading Co.
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt
Isetta – “Bubble Car”
Isetta – “Bubble Car”
Isetta – “Bubble Car”
Moto Guzzi Power
Moto Guzzi Power
… a few Rileys with their gorgeous curves.
Riley RMA
Riley RMA
… a few fabulous Austin Healeys. As a school boy I used to lust after a 3000 that I would see regularly in Battle High Street. It was aubergine in colour and had a roll cage, wide wheels and leather straps to hold the bonnet down. The typical “Frog Eye” Sprite was a bit girly by comparison.
Austin Healey 3000
Austin Healey Sprite
… there were a few Fords … what is there to say. Cars for every man. Although not everyman wanted to have the same as everyone else. Hence the many uprated, sporty customisations. I have to say I never thought I would see a Mustang towing a trailer. Especially not a trailer made out of another Mustang. Sacrilege !!!
… Chrysler were well represented by the R & S series Valliants
Chrysler Valliant
Chrysler Valiant – Slant 6 Engine
Chrysler Valliant
Chrysler Valliant
Chrysler Valliant
Chrysler Valliant
Chrysler Valliant
Never too old to learn something new. I was informed, by a very friendly fella, that the Slant 6 Engine is really a thing. Until Sunday, I had never heard of such a thing. Apparently the Slant 6 enabled the cars designers to achieve a lover profile for the bodywork.
… There was a strong showing from the Holden camp. Many examples especially given the recent news that Holden are ceasing production . My favourite is shown below.
… no show is complete without a Cobra or two ….
Of course it is hard to tell an original, from a replica licensed as a Shelby authorised continuation of the original AC-built Cobra series. Whatever they may be, they are fabulous looking cars.
Of course I could go on throwing up image after image of classic cars but that isn’t all that was available here.
There were trucks …
… Busses … apparently the City Clipper used to offer free rides around Perth city. Interesting that Luxembourg has just announced free public transport in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion. It remains to be seen if the scheme works. Nice to know that Perth was such an innovator, back in the day.
I’ve already shown you a VW camper of sorts. Here are a couple of other campers.
Bedford Dormobile
Bedford Dormobile
Bedford Dormobile
Land Rover Dormobile
Land Rover Dormobi
Land Rover
And finally, something most unexpected …. Perambulators ….. Prams !!!. I remember my sisters being pushed around in something similar. No collapsible buggies back then. Definitely not car friendly.
I have many more photos. If you are interested they are available on my Flickr Photostream
Last Sunday, the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit held the latest episode of their popular Breakfast Club series. These meets, as mentioned in a previous post, are held on the first Sunday of every month. And best of all, entry is ticketed, but free.
Once again, thanks to the prolonged dry spell that the UK is experiencing, the weather was perfect. Blue cloudless skies allowing the bright sunshine to show of the varied paint finishes and, in some cases, the imperfections.
A Pair of Leyland Titan Buses – On the left and example from 1965, the one on the right is one from 1964
Bedford – 1936
Southdown Motor Services ran bus and coach services throughout East and West Sussex. The company was formed in 1915.
I guess there may be a slight delay while the “great British workman” has a tea break.
Austin A4 – In rally trim.
1969 Morris Mini Van – In the livery of Yarty Cordials
If my memory serves me right, the Austin A40 was the first British hatchback.
One of the most iconic of British marques is the Aston Martin. To be honest, there were so many Astons on display, I became a little blasé so I chose to post just this example, because of the fabulous colour.
1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage
1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage
The same was to become true for the number Jaguar E-types. Don’t get me wrong, I love to see them and I am really pleased to see so many classic cars being lovingly looked after.
But ever onwards, so much more to see and not all high end or high performance. For example…
1955 Ford Thunderbird
1955 Ford Thunderbird
1950 Cadillac 61 Series – DW Racing Livery
1958 Fiat Abarth 750
1966 Unipower
1955 Ford Thunderbird
1955 Ford Thunderbird
1950 Cadillac “Le Monstre” Tribute
BMV 3.0 CSL
1958 Fiat Abarth 750
1955 Ford Thunderbird
1955 Lotus Six
1950 Cadillac “Le Monstre” Tribute
1986 Citroen 2CV
Austin Gypsy
1950 Cadillac 61 Series – DW Racing Livery
As I said above, not all of the vehicles on display are of the performance variety. Many, like the Ford Anglia “danglebox” below, were the cars that youngsters of my era started out in. And just like the young of today, we were not averse to “pimping” our rides. Fat tyres, lowered suspension, flared wheel arches etc. etc.
1961 Ford Anglia
2016 Superformance GT40
1959 Austin Metropolitan
1968 Triumph TR5
1967 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III
1987 Ford GT40
1959 Austin Metropolitan
The Austin Healy 3000, was my favourite “sports car” of all time. As a teenager, living in Battle, back in the mid-sixties, I used to see an aubergine 3000 with fat tyres, roll bars and bonnet straps. I really thought it was the business. And it has stuck with me right thru to my mid-sixties.
Sometimes, when the mood, light, atmosphere is just right a car will grab you. This, for me was the car of the day although the folks that were judging todays entries thought otherwise. What do they know ?
Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer
1938 62 Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer
Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer
Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer
This car has presence, poise, curves, is simply put, just beautiful.
1965 Gordon Keeble
2016 Superformance GT40
1965 Gordon Keeble
1966 MG Magnette
1962 Sunbeam Rapier
1973 Jensen Healey
1948 Land Rover
1966 MG Magnette
1929 Ford Model A ?
1929 Ford Model A ?
1973 Lotus Elan plus 2
Who remembers Barracuda by Heart , well here is the car. And, yes, I know it is also a fish with very sharp teeth. Looking under the “hood” I’m pretty sure this car has the automotive equivalent of teeth.
1970 Plymouth Baracuda
1970 Plymouth Baracuda
1970 Plymouth Baracuda
We had arrived at around 07:30 and the number of display cars kept on growing. From a photo stand point we aren’t even half way round. It’s interesting as we stroll along, how often we are saying stuff like “my Dad had one of those” or “that was my first car” or “we had one of those in blue” etc. etc. etc. A real nostalgia trip.
1969 VW Karmann Ghia
1924 Bugatti Type 35 – A Veyron prototype ?
1967 Fiat 500
1969 Ford Cortina Mk2
1959 Porsche 356
1969 VW Karmann Ghia
1957 Austin A35 – Somewhat modified !!
I should point out that Goodwood is an active airfield, so an unexpected bonus was a number of planes flying in and out. Including these …
But, hey, this post is about automobiles, so back to the main event …
1947 Bentley
1950 Bentley
1958 Austin Healey Sprite
1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted
1974 Citroen DS
1968 Jaguar E-Type
1965 Austin Westminster Mk II
1935 Bentley
1952 Citroen Traction Avant
1953 Riley RM
1972 Jaguar E-Type
1935 Bentley
1965 Ford Mustang
1964 Austin A40 & 1957 Austin A35
1968 Porsche 911
1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted
1965 Austin Westminster Mk II
1974 Citroen DS
2003 DAX Cobra
1965 VW Camper
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
Alvis
1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted
1939 Alvis Speed 25 ?
1939 Oldsmobile
1935 Bentley
2003 DAX Cobra
1935 Bentley
As you can see from the photos, the variety of vehicles on display was vast. The selection that I am posting here is just a fraction of the shots I took and is really only a taster of the caliber of this event.
1954 Jaguar XK120
1969 Triumph Herald 13/60
Ford Capri
An Ageing Moddy Boy
1958 MG Magnette
1974 Morris Marina TC
1970 Dodge Coronet
1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia
1973 Hillman Imp – Heavily modified
1949 Dodge Pickup
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia
1965 Pontiac Bonneville
1962 Lancia Flaminia Sport
1965 Pontiac Bonneville
1955 Triumph TR2
And that is it folks. I hope I haven’t bored you with number of images. I am just amazed and the quality of the vehicles on display. The condition and finish is just a surface visual indication of the love that their owners lavish on them. We musn’t forget the mechanics underneath that classic bodywork.
I thank the owners for bringing their pride and joy along for my pleasure and I also thank the folks that organise these breakfast meets.
The next breakfast meet is Japanese Sunday, on October 7th. I hope to be there, let’s hope the weather is kind again.
On Sunday we visited Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre and took a trip down memory lane. The weather was kind unlike the previous Saturday and the following Monday. Here are a few photo’s to give you a feel for this venue if you have never visited before.
One of numerous Swallows that have taken up residence in and around the Amberley buildings.
A long long way from home.
A desirable residence.
Aveling-Barford Road Roller 758, “Gisela” Built in 1946. How many of you, like me, remember these fabulous beasts rumbling down the road and the smell of fresh, hot, tarmac being laid ?
Detail from Gisela
Detail from Gisela
Being a Sussex lad, I have ridden on many busses bearing the distinctive Southdown livery.
During my pre-teens our local garage, in Westfield, was very much like this.
It seems that all’s “fare” in the war on the UKs motorists. Earlier in the year we had HGVs being used to catch delinquent truck drivers. Now Hampshire police are using a bus to give them a height advantage to see what motorists are up to.
