Racer86's Weblog

18-20-05-12 – Castle Retro Show

racer86 — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 08:09:44 +0000

Ahh car shows: Roadtrips, friends, camping, beers and BBQ and in this country…rain. Pretty standard stuff and a couple of weeks back we hit the first big one of our Summer (well, Spring): Castle Retro Show. In its second year now it’s gotten even bigger, which is a very good thing. Held in the grounds of Caldicot Castle it’s the perfect spot for a get together with old friends from Uni (in Swansea) and the old regulars still in the Midlands. Here’s a few snaps of how it played out…

I even won a trophy for having one of the “top 10″ cars with the E28…bit of a suprise as there were some really cool cars there and the Beemer is just my daily!

Honorable mentions needs to go to Ryan for making in his MK1: The car was still in bits in the week up to the show but made it with fresh paint and new wheels: Nice one dude!

16-05-12 – Predators Hot Rod Meet

racer86 — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:56:16 +0000

A post-work pint and car park full of Rods? I was all over it. This month was the first Predators Hot Rod meet at the Bowling Green Pub in Litchfield and on the basis it wasn’t raining for the first time in what feel like forever, I jumped in the Herald and checked it out. This is what I found:

Awesome. This meet has got some history dating back to the ’80s; legend has it at one point it all got a bit roudy so the feds shut it down! It’s on the up again though and I’m definately going agian. Everyone was super cool and friendly and there was plenty to check out.

Project Herald: The Cover Brake

racer86 — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:53:39 +0000

Well, the new issue of Retro Cars Magazine dropped last week, so I can finally post up some sneaky B-roll from the build up feature! Make sure you check out the mag for all the detail, but for now get a load of this:

Project E28: The Classic Compromise?

racer86 — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:24:59 +0000

Considering this car is 27 years old and I’m dailying it, I’m struggling to see the “running a classic car” compromise: It’s economical (we’re up to 36.9mpg after a service and plug/ lead change), comfortable, practical, will cruise at 85mph in pin-drop silence and (with no fear of jinxing it) is totally reliable. I actually nearly sold this thing before I’d even started building it….then I nearly sold it again when I’d finished it…I’m just glad I stuck with it; this is literally the best “old” daily I’ve ever had! The only problem is now I’m looking at even older BMWs thinking they will be as good; 2002 anyone? Don’t encourage me…

Project KP30: Speedhunters Shoot – Behind The Scenes

racer86 — Sat, 05 May 2012 08:03:09 +0000

You may have heard of a little website that goes by the name of Speedhunters? Well, I’ve been showing my support by having them in my blog roll for a while now and a couple of weeks back I got a call from Bryn (Musselwhite – Speedhunter’s newest features man and my long-term media crush) saying they wanted to feature the KP: AWESOME.

After we cancelled once due to the rain, there was only one other date we could do it…and guess what? It was raining, though just the term “raining” doesn’t really do justice to what felt like all the water in the world being thrown at a quiet corner of the Cotswolds where the shoot was taking place. The KP has only be wet about 4 or 5 times in 7 years, so I held back the tears and went for it. Luckily when I arrived there was the full Speedhunters service: Car wash and coffee.

Despite the freezing deluge it was an awesome day and, as always, a laugh with Bryn. Here’s a few “behind the scenes” pics. Bryn’s barns hold a number of cool cars, parts and memorabilia – worth a SH feature on their own!

Thanks again to Bryn and Speedhunters! Check out the full feature here:

PART 1

PART 2

P.S If you’re a new visitor to Racer86.com don’t forget we’re on FACEBOOK and TWITTER - Social overload? Probably, but all the cool kids are doing it!

From the Archive: KPGC10 GTR

racer86 — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:13:03 +0000

Sitting digging through some old pics I found these I shot at Retro Rides Gathering back in ’07: Alan Thomas’ KPGC10 Skyline. This thing is the real-deal, rebuilt by ex-Nismo engineers for the Nismo festival and now living in England. I even got to sit in it!

This had to be done!

NSU TT – Blyton Park Shakedown

racer86 — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:37:39 +0000

My good friend and favorite Northerner Jonny (Big Dog) made it out yesterday for testing in his fresh-built NSU TT. After being rescued from wrack and ruin in Spain and painstakingly re-built by Jonathan over the last, erm, more years than I’d like to remember, it turned its first wheel at Blyton park. Unfortunately the day ended with an engine bearing letting go which is unpleasant, but not the end of the world…unless you’re out for your first race on the 5th May…which he is (Donington park Historics). The only set of bearings in the UK are in the post to him as we speak: Come on Jonny, you can get her there!!!!!!

Photos: RSVP Photography

Project Herald – Carbs & Cruising

racer86 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:32:58 +0000

This just in: The Herald has hit the road on its new wheels and suspension…but I can’t tell you about that just yet…Check out the June issue (out 10th May) of Retro Cars Magazine for the full scoop. As soon as it lands I’ll post up some more, but for now here’s a teaser! (if you really can’t wait there’s another pic floating about on twitter – @racereightysix)

In other news I’ve done some engine stuff too; I finally spent some time setting up the twin SUs; what a difference! I found this brilliant old Car and Car Conversions (I miss that mag!) guide to step through the whole process. Check it out HERE available for download in handy PDF format.

Porsche 904

racer86 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:32:12 +0000

CSL

racer86 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:26:35 +0000