| Author | Message | ||
     Brian Crump Experienced User Username: brian_crump Post Number: 29 Registered: 2-2007 |
Those of us who think our Spirits are only for the boulevard might like to try this - http://www.silverspirit.co.za/index.html Regards, Brian Crump | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 1036 Registered: 4-2003 |
Brian I saw a version of this on Utube some time back. I was not amused! Some two years ago I took a friend up a newly constructed sandy track near Orbost Victoria. The Government had decided to turn what was the route for the Orbost to Bairnsdale railway - long defunct, into a cycle path. My friend is fairly incapacitated with a very painful hip problem so smart arse me had to try climbing the track to look at the remains of the old railway bridge. That was no problem, I turned the Spur around and very slowly let the car run back down the slope to the road. On the way there was a fairly concerning noise from beneath which I deduced was a tree branch caught up underneath. A little accelerator and a bit of a lurch and I was free and we returned to my friend's place in Orbost. You would know the saying friends and fish stink after three days. Well in our case we don't bring fish but we do drip don't we. The incontinence at that time was simply a bloody nuisance and one that I would fix up 'very soon'. So when I surfaced for one of the fabulous breakfasts I was fixed with a steely gaze and invited to inspect the carport. Not only did we have the usual drips we had a positive slick! I slid underneath greatly puzzled but found a great gouge in the sump which until then was unblemished and at one point in the gouge mark there was a very small hole! We worked out that what I had thought was a tree branch was in fact a rock buried in the sand. The tyres had sunk into the edges of the road the sump finished up on the ground! Thank God I didn't take out the steering rack! Replacing the sump was an interesting experience! Your SA traveller of course read Tee One Topics and saw my account and had an under body shield installed.! | ||
| Brian Crump Experienced User Username: brian_crump Post Number: 30 Registered: 2-2007 |
All of which goes to show, Bill, that you are required to continue your good works on Tee One Topics until the oil wells run dry. That is to say, you are not permitted to retire. Who else will save the sumps of errant travellers?  Regards, Brian Crump} | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 1038 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thank you Brian my worry is that I'll run dry before the wells but we'll hang in there! | ||
| StevenBrown Experienced User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 23 Registered: 10-2008 |
I hope in another 35 years or so I can undertake adventures. Also Tee one will be still giving assistance. Have no problem with people creating unique creations from RR/B's as a base. Just please don't use good restorative or nice cars as the base. Take a vehicle that is near being sent to the wreckers and use it. Then 35 years or so we still have a usable base to restore from a car that could have been lost forever. | ||
| Brian Crump Experienced User Username: brian_crump Post Number: 31 Registered: 2-2007 |
Well yes Steven, that does raise the question; should we keep our cars as museum pieces or use them? When I read back over the exploits of some of the early Ghost owners in Australia I take heart at the courage and ingenuity they displayed by using rather than simply garaging them. Indeed their exploits make for some hair-rasing stories!!! I guess we should be thankful that Sir Henry produced cars that were made to be used and quite capable of the most extraordinary feats. Hopefully my PII will prove just as capable of a trip through the outback when I have all its little issues solved. Regards, Brian Crump | ||
| StevenBrown Experienced User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2008 |
Second biggest sin besides cutting up a good driving car, is having a trailer queen thats never driven. I just prefer if someone wants to do a special project. Put it together with bits and pieces from parts spares, that might become victims of the crusher. 3rd sin would be using American V8's, etcetera. The biggest sin is taking a good driver and using it for the base on a special project. | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 1041 Registered: 4-2003 |
Steven/ There is, I believe, a middle ground here. Some few Federal Rallies back one of our RR specialists was faced with a Shadow owner whose car engine had all but disintegrated for a variety of reasons, through no fault of his own. (Contrary to the keepers of the Holy Grail, Rolls-Royces do break conrods and crankshafts and put holes through blocks and even break axles - but the latter only for ladies in Spain). I digress! There was talk of second hand engines being rebuilt and original numbers being inserted and the final bill was well over the $30K mark which was more than the car was worth and even I have to confess - at least at the moment we are not short of Shadows! The solution he accepted was to fit a GM motor, I have forgotten the details, which will outlast the car, goes like the proverbial, is quiet, economical and best of all cost considerably less than the other solution. It was on show with its mouth open at the Rally and only one person picked it! I can live with that. | ||
| StevenBrown Experienced User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2008 |
I'll be a little bit hypocritical. Some sins are forgivable. Keeps the car on the road, much better over letting her rot away. Eventually she can be put back by someone. Not forgivable if nothing wrong with the engine and its swapped over. | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 1042 Registered: 4-2003 |
Well not to worry there is a little bit of George Orwell in all of us. On the topics of engines did you know that the last vee eight as we know it albeit souped up to nearly three times the original horsepower, has been made and that there will be no more. Do I hear crying in the crypts. Seriously it was a great run for a specialist power plant. | ||
| StevenBrown Experienced User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2008 |
Without order we have chaos! I'm conservative so do not deal well with change. The Germans are good engineers, but don't think they can develop a better more suitable power plant. Ironic the current state of the world is 1930's like. How W.O Bentley fans must have felt. Little more close to subject. Jay Leno attempted to buy Mr. Goddard's 1924 3/ 8 liter twin turbo brilliant and gorgeous Bentley special. When that did not pan out, he built (Leno) built his own unique and equally gorgeous version. Featured on this video: http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=224957 I like and agree with his early statement on driving and using, along with cutting up original cars. |
