ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #141946 STANDARD EIGHT TOUREROWNED BY SIMON GOLDSWORTHY

Simon Goldsworthy, editor of MG Enthusiast magazine tells us about his current barn find project.

I hadn't really been looking for a project on quite this scale, but I had been on the lookout for a Standard Flying Eight Tourer for a couple of years, and had already been gazumped on one and out-bid on another. So when I was offered this project by a friend, I decided to give it a go. The car itself is a 1946 Eight Tourer (Standard dropped the 'Flying' name after the war), and it had been dismantled a decade ago by the previous owner, who sadly passed away before getting much further.

As they always are, the car was a mixture of good and bad. It had been sitting without any paint for a decade and so was covered with surface rust, but on the plus side the basic structure was remarkably sound. The serious rot seemed confined to the sills and the B-post bottoms, plus a bit along the outer edges of the inner wheelarches. On the other hand, the wings, doors, bonnet and radiator shroud – whilst also covered in surface rust – were remarkably good, and the engine and gearbox were complete and very clean in another part of the garage.

One of the reasons that persuaded me to take the project on was that my eldest son wanted to help restore a car to learn how they work. He has never shown any interest before, but the fact that he was about to turn 17 and start learning to drive must have played a part in this transformation. I am not naive enough to believe that his enthusiasm will last the length of a project like this, but the chance to pass on a bit of practical knowledge made me take the plunge.

I brought all of the dismantled Standard parts back to Lincolnshire and arranged to have the rolling chassis, body tub and engine/gearbox transported here professionally. Trying to decide what belonged to the Standard and what belonged to something else in the vendor's garage was far from easy, but Paul (the previous owner's son) and I gradually worked our way through the various piles and made our best guesses. And there were some real treasures among the rusty and rotten relics that only reinforced my belief that I had done the right thing. For example, a lot of the brightwork had already been rechromed, there were four new and unused tyres, the steering wheel had been professionally recoated, and there were two sets of wings to choose from. The seats and hood were also there, probably beyond saving but very useful to have as patterns.

Since getting everything home to my own garage, initial progress has been quite rapid, thanks to the enlistment of some professional help to take it back to bare metal. I braced the body, and having roped in all my kids (Ben, 17, Max, 15, and Megan, 12) to assist, we lifted it off the chassis. This was then sent away for grit blasting, the body and panels following shortly afterwards. So now we have started building the suspension back up, and are about to send it off to my brother for some new ash framing. The work is being detailed in Triumph World magazine, which is an added incentive to keep up progress. Initially I had planned on taking two years, but right now I am hopeful of having it back on the road in one.

Are you working on a car/motorcycle or restoration? Leave a comment!

ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #13

The Yamaha Ténéré – just perfect for riding around the world!



A few years ago I was fortunate enough to have a sabbatical approved at work, and decided that I would ride around the world: yep; just like that!

My relationship with the Yamaha Ténéré began in 2008 when we met in a Yamaha showroom in Sheffield. My existing bike – an almost-new Yamaha Fazer – waited nervously in the carpark as I went inside. If I was really going to head off around the world I needed more of a utility vehicle. Transportation sorted, I left Preston, Lancashire and headed for the EuroTunnel.

The two bikes are completely different to ride, as those who ride will know, but a pleasant surprise was the Ténéré’s height. Fully loaded, a little altitude is lost (couple of centimetres, maybe) but when riding in Indonesian cities, for example, I found that the bike’s height gave essential additional visibility, enabling me to see above and beyond the heavy traffic and dense packs of scooter riders which clogged the roads.

And there’s one in every city: a Yamaha dealer, that is. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but when I did experience any issues with the bike, or needed scheduled maintenance, it’s fair to say that a Yamaha dealer was never far away. I left the UK with a parts list detailing order codes, and was pretty confident that I could get what I needed along the way. I visited official Yamaha dealers in Italy, Russia, Australia, Argentina, Mexico and the USA: some for a standard service; others for general wear and tear as a result of the journey. This may give the impression that I had problems with the bike, but the truth is that the Ténéré made the world ride seem easy, and more often than not out-performed its rider, getting me out of trouble on more than one occasion.

Our round-the-world adventure lasted for a year, and we covered 42,000 miles; crossed 6 continents; visited 35 countries; did 9 oil changes and got through 3 sets of tyres (one set of tyres got us from the UK to Darwin, Australia!). The bike was ridden daily and seemed to improve as it ate up the miles: this is some machine, I can tell you, which really will get you anywhere you want.



Precisely fifty-two weeks after we started out in August 2009, I was bumbling back up the M1 after completing a 42,000-mile lap of the globe. Over a few cups of tea with friends, we flicked through the photos, notes and videos, and the content of a book came together.

The Real Way Round is my personal pictorial diary of a once-in-a-lifetime motorcycle trip across 35 countries on a Yamaha Ténéré XT660, and a practical guide to motorcycling round the world: what to do first. what to plan for, and how to cope with the unexpected. It also includes details of bike modifications, route maps, points of interest, and practical guidance on freighting your bike. The scenery and experiences along the way ranged from fantastic to frightening, and I wouldn’t have missed a moment of any of it. Nearly 700 stunning, inspirational photos of the places, people and events of our wonderful world will make you want to get out there and experience them for yourself.

My best tip for a trip like this? Get off the bike and meet the locals; this is the true secret to making a journey like this a success. Solo riders (and even couples) are generally warmly welcomed: enjoy the ride, the people and the places of the world. So, what are you waiting for ...?
Jonathan Yates

PS A true Trojan, the Ténéré is still going strong after clocking up 56,000 miles. In April 2013 I did a tour to Morocco, three years after returning from the global trip, and the bike was still as punchy as ever. What a star!

Coming soon from Veloce!
The Real Way Round - 1 year, 1 motorcycle, 1 man, 6 continents, 35 countries, 42,000 miles, 9 oil changes, 3 sets of tyres, and loads more ... by Jonathan Yates.

This book captures one man’s real experience motorcycling around the globe – no back up teams, no spare bikes, no film crews. 42,000 miles through 35 countries, seeing amazing things, meeting fascinating people, experiencing different cultures and coping with extremely challenging conditions.
This book is not only proof anyone can do it, but also a guide as to how to do it. It is not a technical guide, but rather a broad-brush approach covering some of the key tasks needed to plan and complete a similar trip yourself. With dozens of inspirational photos of stunning scenery and intense experiences, plus an informal, straightforward commentary, this is an eye-opening and practical account of biking around the world. More info.

ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #12

This month's feature comes courtesy of Afshin Behnia (Los Angeles, California) with his Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Afshin is CEO at the rapidly growing company Petrolicious. If you haven't seen any of its videos yet, be sure to take a look! This article previously appeared on Afshin's blog Alfalicio.us. Click here to read the full story.


8C by the sea
We all have regrets in life. Some are small, others bigger. Some of us have that one major regret – that one Big Mistake which we wish we could go back in time and correct. And it often involves love, lust, or both.

Sometime in 2003, Alfa Romeo, which had been mostly absent from any news coverage in the US since 1995, was suddenly on the cover of all the auto magazines and blogs with photos of its stunning new, outrageously gorgeous 8C Competizione Concept. It was pure sex on wheels. Alfisti all over the world, or anyone with a pulse for that matter, immediately lusted after it. It instantly sparked new life, energy, and interest in this great marque. I had to have it. No, I needed it!
Unlike many concepts, it wasn’t trying too hard to be some overly-designed teenage science fiction vision of the future. Nor was it just a rehashed version of a design that was visionary some 30 years ago, but bastardized for today’s market. Instead, it was simple, yet different than anything else out there. All the lines just worked. One look and your heart beat went up. It was a modern classic. With no Alfa Romeo or Fiat dealerships in the US, I did the next best thing: I walked into my local Ferrari dealer and inquired about the 8C. They had absolutely no information about it, but they took down my name in case they heard anything. A couple of years passed, and Alfa Romeo was still promising to produce the 8C, and I continued to check in with the Ferrari dealer every once in a while. My tenacity paid off and in early 2008 I received the call from the Ferrari dealership informing me that it had a spot available for the upcoming Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. I pulled the trigger and placed my order. It took about eight months for my 8C to finally arrive, and during that eternity I fantasized about what the 8C would be like. I daydreamed about driving it down my favorite roads. I tried to imagine how it would behave on the track. But what I mostly romanticized was driving up the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur in the 8C with the girl that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. To me, this seemed like an adventure where everything would come together to create the perfect, most memorable experience: the sheer beauty of the rugged California coast, the high-speed curved highway tracing the sea, the jaw-dropping looks of the 8C and its furious power, and, of course, the girl that I love, sitting at my side, together sharing these delights of the senses. There was only one problem. My Big Mistake in life was in the way: I had foolishly broken up with her the previous year.
A few months later, I finally wised-up and decided that I needed to focus all my efforts and attention on correcting this Big Mistake, and I embarked upon a massive campaign to win back the love of my life. To make this difficult endeavor even more challenging was the fact that she lived almost 6000 miles away in her hometown of Milan, the birthplace of Alfa Romeo. Without going into the embarrassing personal details of this international media blitz, suffice to say that after several months of perseverance, I was finally able to convince her to give me another chance. I then planned the dream voyage with her that I had dreamed of: the drive along PCH to Big Sur in August of 2010, the centenary of Alfa Romeo.


The 8C seems to be so perfectly matched for this road trip. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Alfa Romeo chose to use this exact road and destination as the setting of its official promo video. The 8C really has a split personality of both a sports car and a Grand Tourer, while the Competizione in the name is rather a misnomer. As much as it seems to be begging me to take it on the track and let it loose, I just don’t see the 8C as a competition car. But what the 8C might lack in track composure, it makes up for by thrilling you with its engaging driving experience. On the highway, the 8C is extremely well composed and sure-footed, even at double the legal speed limit. Sixth gear is mostly useless at US-legal speeds, and I spent most of the trip up the PCH in fifth gear. For those times when driving along at around 60mph stuck behind a row of slow-moving cars, downshifting to fourth launches the 8C so quickly that you can swallow up several cars ahead in one quick shot, favouring them with one of the most impressive and awe-inspiring engine notes ever heard.
One of my favorite parts of this trip is the hill climb over the cliffs in Big Sur. Here, the road is twisty, narrow, and single-lane in each direction, with stunning views of the ocean to the west. For the stretches where you are lucky to not be behind any slow cars, pushing the 8C is a richly rewarding experience. In Sport Mode, the electronic traction control allows you to get the tail loose just enough to keep you focused on what you’re doing. And the ridiculously large brakes mean that you can approach those hairpin turns high above the sea cliffs at frightening speed with the confidence that you can vanquish all that momentum in a fraction of a second right before the turn in. In most cases, though, you’ll reach your passenger’s comfort limit way before that of the 8C.


The drive up set the tone for the remainder of our trip, and in the days ahead we reveled in the natural beauty and flavors of Big Sur, Carmel, and Sonoma, while being thrilled by the sights, sounds and g-forces offered by the 8C. All the crazy expectations I had created in my daydreams about this trip paled in comparison to the delicious reality of it. The following year, I wanted to repeat the experience, and planned a similar but shorter trip. Instead of Big Sur, this time we stayed in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a ridiculously charming town despite its somewhat tacky main street boasting galleries for 'artists' like Thomas Kinkaid. During this week of historic car events, all the town’s stores are decorated with some kind of car theme, and around every corner you’re sure to find some rare vintage automobile.
I approached that year’s trip with much fewer expectations, and though we had done the trip before, the pleasures and marvels we experienced, both from the 8C and the trip as a whole, still exceeded those of previous trips. But even the most enchanting hike in Big Sur, the beautiful white sandy beaches of Carmel, and the exhilarating moments in the 8C are all a distant second to the best part of this particular trip. You see, I embarked on that trip with my girlfriend and returned home with my fiancée.
Afshin Behnia

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ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #11

Johnny Tipler joins in the fun this month in this 11th 'Me and my car' feature, and tells us how he fell in love with his Porsche 911 (964) C2, or 'Peppermint Pig' as he likes to call it. Johnny is a well-respected motoring journalist and author of the first-ever Veloce book Alfa Romeo Giulia GT & GTA (first published in 1991), going on to write four more books for Veloce: Alfa Romeo Berlinas (Saloons/Sedans), Fiat & Abarth 124 Spider & Coupe, Mini – The Real Thing! & La Carrera Panamericana. All are sold out and hard to come by now. Good news, though: in 2013, Johnny is back! A revised & enlarged new edition of the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT & GTA book will be published by Veloce later in the year ...

We've seen all sorts in this monthly feature and it has become an enjoyable part of our blog as we simply love the enthusiasm our readership has for anything on wheels that's a little bit leftfield. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

"The Peppermint Pig is a 1991 Porsche 964 C2, bought in 2005 from Roock Racing at Leverkusen, north of Cologne. I’d gone to interview Michael Roock, patron of the eponymous racing team (GT2 winner at Le Mans in 1995, etc) for 911 & Porsche World magazine, and studiously avoided eye contact with the mint green 911 centre stage in his exotica-packed showroom. After the interview I couldn’t resist taking a closer look at what I’d assumed from its low-slung demeanour was an RS, and noted it had a sunroof and rear seats, which are normally absent on RSs. Only then did I look at the windscreen blurb, and was pleasantly surprised to read it was a regular C2, albeit one with attitude. The pound was strong, the euro weak; Roock offered to repatriate my LHD 3.2 Carrera, which I’d arrived in, and the deal was done.

It had been love at first sight, and though plaudits are manifold, the mint green hue and black Cup wheelsaren’t to everyone’s taste. A common reaction is, 'how could someone paint a Porsche that colour?' though it was on the standard colour chart in 1990 and 1991, and not even a special order. Plenty of people like to have their picture taken with the car, though, and I’ve overheard boy racers discussing its merits with surprising gravity.
In winter I run it on Nokian tyres, though it’s mostly on Continental ContiSports. Three years ago when I first started using the winter tyres I converted to 16in D-90 alloy wheels rather than the 17in Cups, and found the car’s behaviour transformed: its handling is much more vivacious and entertaining, and during a brief spell back on the Cup wheels I couldn’t wait to refit the (slightly) smaller wheels and tyres.

The Peppermint Pig served on the school run for several years, a daily 80-mile round trip, mostly on B-roads and country lanes, a duty rendered pleasurable because of the Peppermint Pig. I’ve also driven it to countless Continental race meetings I’ve been covering, such as Classic Le Mans, Monte Carlo Historic Rally, Mille Miglia, Nürburgring Old Timer and Ennstal Classic, plus feature venues such as Ruf near Munich and a succession of Abbeville trackdays, not to mention visits to UK circuits and specialists. We have a house in Portugal and it’s taken us there too, suffering the indignity of a top box en route! All that added up to 315,000km (196,000 miles), and the engine was starting to use a lot of oil. I’d been impressed by the methodology and dedication of 911 Motorsport mechanics tending their patron’s 911s at the Abbeville trackdays, and booked the car in for a major overhaul. The task was carried out over four weeks by Mike van Dingenen, who handed over a pristine 964 with virtually a brand new engine. The transformation was amazing: it was now much more responsive, with a sharper engine note; acceleration was instantaneous rather than lethargic, and though it’s still running in, it’s obvious that its original performance has been restored.
Every journey, near or far, the Peppermint Pig is great company, and now there’s a new spring in its step."
Johnny Tipler

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ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #10

We have a very special entry this month from Giovanni Vallini from Pisa, Italy, with his restored 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC. Giovanni selected a copy of BSA 500 & 650 Twins - The Essential Buyer's Guide as his prize. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

Vintage car meeting at Abetone (PT), Tuscan Appennine Mountains, 2010

The Giulia Gran Tourismo Cabriolet is basically a Giulia Sprint GT without the hard top. Approximately 900 GTC were built and only 80 right hand drive versions. This very rare car appeared on page 25 of Veloce's first book Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupe GT & GTA (Enlarged & revised 3rd edition coming soon) by John Tipler. It also appeared on the Veloce blog in 2010.

"I came across this Giulia GTC previously belonging to one Mr Spitzel while browsing the website of Car and Classic during the Christmas 2006 holiday. It was love at first sight! I made arrangements with the London-based seller to meet at Ascheberg in Germany, to where the car was transported by the owner. There, I loaded the Giulia GTC onto a truck, driven by myself. The car looked to be in a state far worse than the description suggested, and immediately I realized that its restoration would be very expensive. I brought the car back to Italy, but couldn't start the restoration project until spring 2008. Finally, in September 2009, the Giulia GTC was ready to 'race' again on the road. Meanwhile, all the procedures for its cancellation from the British register and new registration in Italy had been accomplished.

The restoration work was done with the intent of leaving the components in their original condition as much as possible, only intervening heavily – of course – in the reconstruction of the rotten parts. As far as the color is concerned, account was taken of the original paint still present on the floor pans under the mat, unaltered by sunlight or other types of decay.
With the car restored, I undertook my first long trip: attending the meeting for the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo in Milan in June 2010. In front of the Castello Sforzesco, my Giulia GTC was the subject of great attention not only from an audience of connoisseurs, but even from people who never had seen a Giulia GTC before. Nowadays I enjoy the unmistakable roar of the engine of my Giulia GTC at weekends, when the weather is nice. Seeing me at the wheel, people wonder how I can so easily drive a RHD car. Many, I’m sure, even believe that, due to the badges of the British motoring clubs (RAC and AA) on the front grille and a GB plate fixed to the back, an eccentric English gentleman is driving, descending upon the roads of the Italian peninsula to 'breathe the sun' aboard a strange Alfa Romeo convertible … or better, cabriolet (which the 'C' of 'GTC' was actually intended to mean)."
Giovanni Vallini
Pisa

2008-2009 restoration work by Paolo Bianchi (Ponsacco, PI, Italy).

Do you have an interesting car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
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ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #9

This month's entry comes courtesy of MG Enthusiast magazine, who very kindly sent us this entry from Bob Featherstone, with his impeccable-looking MGB roadster. Bob wins a copy of MG MGB & MGB GT - The Essential Buyer's Guide for his efforts. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

Bob Featherstone, three years the Chairman of the Exeter Area MGOC, likes his MGB to be original, but that does not mean 'as it left the factory'...

"I am a bit of a romantic about my MGB Roadster. I am not a purist by any means, but I do enjoy my car being ‘original’ – not in the sense of ‘as-built’ but in the ‘unique’ meaning of the word. If you just look at a row of MGBs, you can tell that over the years each car has slightly changed. Each one will sit slightly differently and just look back at you in its own distinctive way. After all, they vary in age from just over 30 years old to 50 and their ownership histories vary enormously so, they have every right to appear different.
When I saw that Vic Birch was advertising a brand new replacement wing design, it reminded me of Jacques Coune’s design of the Berlinette. The Belgian designer offered MG the chance of a new look coupe version of the MGB roadster in 1964, but the designs were turned down for being too Italian – then MG went instead to the Italian design company, Pininfarina! Coune's car included beautiful, faired-in headlamps and that is exactly what the VeeBee wings have. It was that look which attracted me, although the VeeBeeWing design is certified separately by the Patent Office. I knew right away that I had to have them fitted; the car would still be a classic, yet definitely more individual.

So my first task was to gain approval from my wife Lorraine, followed by confirmation from my usual car mechanic/engineer, Jeremy Board of London Road Garage in Ottery St Mary, Devon, that he would do the job for me. (I'm nott very mechanical!) Those agreements having both been achieved, I then ordered the wings from Vic Birch of VeeBeeWing in Tiptree, Essex.
In almost no time at all the wings were with Jeremy, and I was thinking it would be great to take along my new-look car to Blenheim Palace and the 50th Anniversary of the MGB. Like anything to do with MGs, nothing is straightforward and the job is only for those with bags of experience. Fortunately Jeremy specialises in MGs and looks after many of the Exeter MGOC members’ cars.
My B is a ’77 roadster in shiny black with over 80k on the clock. It had a rebuild in 2007 just before Lorraine and I bought it, and we have tried to improve it slowly year by year. In other words it is a pretty average and normal situation, typical of many MGBs and their owners. But now look at their car. Is it a Sebring? No, the wings have been remodelled and the headlamps have been moved back for a more streamlined look and the cowls are made from PETG, which can withstand high impact, as used in car and motorbike racing. But this is not a competition car, just a handsome head turner.
If you fancy this look on your B or C, roadster or GT, rubber or chrome, you can have the car that MG almostmade – just call Vic Birch. I must say that I have no connection with Vic other than as a satisfied customer, but I do like the result. MGB50 at Blenheim Palace was a rather soggy September Sunday, but at least my ‘new’ MGB was there – and attracting admiring glances." (You can see more on these wings here).

Bob selected MG MGB & MGB GT – The Essential Buyer's Guide by Roger Williams as his prize!

A small investment in this book could save you a fortune ... With the aid of this book's step-by-step expert guidance, you'll discover all you need to know about the car you want to buy. Unique point system will help you to place the cars value in relation to condition. This is an important investment - don't buy a car without this book's help.

More info.





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ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #8

This month's winner of the Essential Buyer's Guide of his choice is Gabe Gibbany from Harrison, Arkansas USA. Gabe wins a copy of Harley-Davidson Big Twins - The Essential Buyer's Guide for sending us these pictures of his 1949 Harley Pan-Shovel Boneyard Chopper. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

Here's proof that you can build a classy vintage chopper with virtually all used parts hustled up from locals and swap meet finds ...

After selling my 1937 80" ULH Flathead, I was on the search for my next project. I started gathering up some miscellaneous parts for the vision in my head. I knew I was looking for a Pan-Shovel for this build. The only problem was finding one in my price range. The Chopper Gods do exist because I was offered a 49 Pan-Shovel project while pumping gas. Now I was set.

I brought her home and started the total dis-assembly. I completely rebuilt the engine with new bearings, Jim's crank pins and lifters, 9:1 Weisco pistons, Andrews J grind cam and S&S carb. The girder front-end was a local swap meet find and the dual discs on front really help it stop! The engine is linked to a 1936 HD tranny via BDL belt drive in a custom primary cover. The frame is a 1951 HD Wishbone.

I used a Baas Metalcraft seat pan and covered it with a butchered set of saddlebags. All work was done by myself in a backyard shack except the paint, which was courtesy of a good friend, Jim Crabb.

I am currently building a 1918 Harley T, and we are finishing up the wife's 56 Panhead and her "secret" chopper project.
Gabe Gibbany

Gabe selected Harley-Davidson Big Twins – The Essential Buyer’s Guide by Peter Henshaw as his prize!

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of Harley-Davidson ownership, learn how to spot a bad bike quickly, and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right bike at the right price!
More info.



Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
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ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE + DOG #7

This month we have a staff entry from Jude Brooks, Veloce co-founder and publisher of the Hubble & Hattie imprint, with her Audi TT. The image below is taken from the brand new book Dogs on wheels – Travelling with your canine companion by Norm Mort & published by Veloce.

Me and my TT

I love my Audi TT – really, really, love it – and you'd never expect that, when you consider that my previous car was a Fiat Seicento ...

Maybe it was something to do with turning 50 (gulp) but I decided to invest some of my hard-earned pension pot in a new car, and, as I'd always liked the look of the original TT – that sexy, voluptuous profile – I surprised everyone (and mostly me) by buying one. And I'm not alone, as, apparently, Britain is Audi's best customer for the TT, which figures.

The first day I had it (the day after my birthday), a friend and I (and my dog, Immie) took off for a drive, ending up in Lyme Regis on the south west coast. Top down, the journey there and back was glorious: I had never driven anything like this before, and how I felt was confirmation I'd made the right choice of car.

A 2001 1.8 Quattro (225) Roadster, my gorgeous girl has silver paintwork with black leather interior and black soft top – and curves that put Marilyn to shame! First shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, the original generation Audi TT was nominated for the 2000 North American Car of the Year Award, and featured in Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best List for 2000 and 2001. It has a wonderful, substantial feel to it – maybe that's something to do with its German engineering – even though it's quite small overall, and, of course, it goes extremely well, more than delivering on speed (thanks to a 225bhp, front-mounted, transversely-oriented engine); sure-footedness (fully independent suspension), and very precise handling. Quattro four-wheel-drive means that not even six inches of snow on a hill poses a problem. And fuel-wise it's not bad at all, helped, of course, by the fact that I drive very conservatively ...

Unless it's raining, I usually have the top down, which is the only way to drive a car like the TT. The very efficient heater and heated seats ensure that Immie and I stay warm and snug in the cockpit, even in minus temperatures, and a crisp, winter morning is just perfect for a spot of topless motoring!

Immie sits on the passenger seat next to me wherever I go; she wears a special canine harness that attaches to the seatbelt when it's in place, and keeps her safe. I know she feels quite at home in the car as often she will lay flat out across the seat and doze off, only waking when I have to move her head in order to apply the handbrake. And when she sits up, ears flying in the breeze, all you can see from the back are what appear to be two blondes in a sports car having a wonderful time!
Jude Brooks

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ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #6

This month we have Nicky West from Hertfordshire with 'Morris' – a 50-year-old 850cc Mini Minor. Nicky is the author of Veloce's recently published book Mini Minor to Asia Minor – There and back! Please keep your entries coming in to prize@veloce.co.uk, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

It’s hard to describe Morris without an air of affection. Of care. Almost, dare I say it, of love?
Like most (if not all) classic Mini’s there’s something about him that makes Morris irresistible.
You smile when you slam the door shut and get that first waft of musty, hessian backed carpet, deteriorating silently beneath your feet. You never fasten your seat belts before you turn the key and press the floor starter, just in case he’s having an ‘off’ day and needs a little TLC. You can’t get frustrated cruising at a whopping 56mph even though the BMW driver behind you on the M25 is flashing his lights and making rude gestures. And you always whisper words of encouragement as you watch the needle drop off the fuel gauge, while feverishly scanning the horizon for a petrol station that sells high octane ‘juice’.
Oh, it could be argued that Rob (husband, Rally driver and Mini aficionado) and I are quote “Mini Mad” and if I’d thought ahead to take a pound for every disparaging comment, I’d be writing this from the Bahamas. Yes, there may be the slightest hint of truth that we are indeed ‘keen’ on this marque. And yes, Rob is fantastic at keeping these diminutive little cars going against the odds. But in all honesty there was one single reason why Morris became the vehicle of choice for an 11,000km jaunt to the Pyramids and back to raise money for charity.
The undeniable fact was … he was cheap.
Originally picked up for just over £600 as a non-runner, he’d been off the road for over 40 years and our intention had always been to restore him in our dotage. But fate, my thirst for travel and the cost of an Egyptian Carnet de Passage at that time put paid to that idea; before you could say shish-kebab Morris had become our only hope of completing the journey.
But what an adventure it turned out to be!
Who could have foreseen that the once billed ‘trip of a lifetime’ in December 2010 would be torn to shreds within two months as the Arab Spring uprising began? Country after country across North Africa and the Middle East began to tear itself apart with borders closing on a daily basis. And there were we, slap bang in the midst of it, trying to pull off a round trip to the last remaining wonder of the ancient world in just 35 days. No support crew. No other cars. Just us, Morris and a bean bag donkey called Splonk as our mascot.
Bribery, civil uprisings, searing heat, monster potholes, lost cars, wrong boats, deserted highways, congested cities, dysfunctional sat navs, famous chef’s, brass bands, breathtaking scenery, flea bitten motel rooms, elation, despair, laughter, heartache and the burning desire to get home.
We had it all.
Morris changed from being a car, a mere conveyance, to our travelling companion; a noble steed of epic proportions, the likes of which the Lone Ranger or Charlemagne would have been proud to own. And it’s his story that I’ve tried to capture in the book.
But would we do it again? Would we risk everything on some whirlwind adventure that could fail from so many uncontrollable and unforeseeable aspects? With Morris, an unrestored pale pink Mini still covered in the Arabic paint squiggles from his sojourn at the port of Alexandria?
You’ll have to wait and see …
Nicky West




Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.
.

ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #5

This month we have Kevin Turner from London with his Suzuki SV650s. Kevin is the author of Veloce's book Bonjour! Is this Italy? – A hapless biker's guide to Europe which has recently picked up some excellent reviews. Please keep your entries coming in to prize@veloce.co.uk, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

A couple of years ago I managed to get sacked from a thoroughly dreadful job in financial journalism. With time to kill and a new Suzuki SV650s parked outside I decided to strap a tent to the back of the bike, pack some belongings and head off into the unknown (unknown to me that is; I’ll concede that mainland Europe may not hold quite the same mystique for most people). In a nutshell, I rode around for a bit, got quite lost then came home and wrote a book about it all.

Bonjour! Is this Italy? is essentially my guide to life on the road if you're a completely unprepared biker with no experience of such things. I didn't do too much homework before I left London; I didn't pack the things you're meant to pack (first-aid kit, puncture repair goo, decent maps) and I didn't know where I was going. I figured I'd let the journey unravel as I went along; hell, surely that's the point of a trip like this? To this day I don't know if I was right in that assumption, or whether I ruined a perfectly good holiday through laziness and stupidity.

I'd like to think my haphazard approach to touring captured the true essence of motorcycling; the freedom, the Easy Rider charm of life on the road; but it's also true that when every piece of clothing you own is drenched, it's dark and your tent has taken on the defining properties of a pond, those same notions of 'freedom' and 'escape' tend to sour a little. At such times I sought only the 'freedom' of opening a nice bottle of wine and watching Top Gear in a centrally heated house.

When I finally returned to the UK, after a month-long trip that had taken me through France, Italy, Austria, Belgium and Germany – where I had my first experience of the Nürburgring – I wasn’t sure I’d done enough to merit writing about my journey. But it’s surprising how much you learn about yourself, other people and your bike when you set off with no expectations, and become reliant on the kindness of strangers. Bonjour! Is this Italy? isn’t about an epic road trip — I’ve described it elsewhere as more Wind in the Willows than Long Way Round — but a story about a journey that anyone with a bike and a little free time can undertake. I make no apologies for that, and I hope very much that you enjoy it all the same.
Kevin Turner, London.



Independent reviews

'I can't comment on (Turner's) skills in analysing the markets etc., but I can on his skill as a writer of a witty, humorous travel log and that is brilliant! From the beginning Turner has me smiling ... Well worth adding to the reading list ...' – inter-bike.co.uk

'Witty and self-deprecating tale of mishap ... Save yourself the inevitable loneliness, mind-numbing boredom and piles that are often part and parcel of a cross-continent 'adventure' and adopt Kevin's adventure instead.' – visordown.com

'Finally available in the US is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Bonjour! Is this Italy? by Kevin Turner was first released in the UK in May of 2012 to wide acclaim. It's basically the (very funny) story of a British slacker who lost his job and decided on pretty much a whim to tour Europe. But this isn't your typical dry, "do this, do that" touring guide by someone obsessed with covering all the details. Kevin Turner is like the rest of us (some of us, anyway) -- that is, unprepared, a bit foolish, highly optimistic and with a great sense of humor.' – webbikeworld.com

'From the first page to the last, this book gripped me... A highly recommended book that will keep you gripped this summer on the beach or a long haul flight.' – Burton Mail


Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.
.

ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #4

This month's winner of the Essential Buyer's Guide of her choice is Fiona Easterby from Southampton, UK. Fiona won a copy of VW Bus - The Essential Buyer's Guide for sending us these pictures of 'Pedro' the 1969 Baja Beetle. Please keep your entries coming in to prize@veloce.co.uk, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

Pedro is a 1969 Baja Beetle. I bought him in San Francisco at the beginning of 2009, shipped him home to the UK and, after months of preparation, and modifications, set out to drive overland to Australia.

My journey took me across Europe to an explosive minefield visit in Kosovo. Into Turkey where the biggest hazzard was avoiding amorous men, through Iran during the volitile period following the disputed elections. I wound up in hospital in Quetta, Pakistan – a stone's throw from the Afghan border and infamous Helmand province. We outwitted corrupt police in India, struggled over the Himalayas to Everest base camp in Tibet, suffered altitude sickness, happened upon a brothel in Lhasa, and wound up drinking beer with the prostitutes, helped amputees in Laos, visited floating markets in Thailand, drove through a major earthquake in Malayasia, and limped into Singapore, topping up the oil every 20 minutes.

I kept a diary of my travels and am currently writing a book of my journey. Next year I plan to drive the same car from Alaska to Argentina on the Pan-American highway. In the meantime Pedro continues as my daily driver ferrying me to work and shopping, as well as regularly being invited to supercar events and shows where he is a common sight amongst the Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

Fiona Easterby
www.worldrallies.com

Fiona selected VW Bus – The Essential Buyer’s Guide by Ken Cservenka & Richard Copping as her prize!

A unique volume dedicated to three generations of VW’s legendary Transporter. Meticulously researched with many model specific photographs reproduced to illustrate a genuinely informative text.

More info.


Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.
.

ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #3

This month's winner of the Essential Buyer's Guide of her choice is Michel Verheyen from Wesepe, Holland. Michel sent us this picture of her 1977 Jaguar XJ 12 Coupe Broadspeed replica. Please keep your entries coming in to prize@veloce.co.uk, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

My name is Michel Verheyen and this is my 1977 Jaguar XJ 12 Coupé Broadspeed replica. I started the restoration and modification about seven years ago, and as you can see it's almost finished. Of the original there are only four cars made that raced in the 1976 and 1977 European Touring Car Championship. They were actually a lot faster than the BMW CSL at the time, but a lot less reliable, so after the 1977 season British Leyland pulled the plug on the racing career of these magnificent cars. Seven years ago I was reading a magazine that had an article in it about one of the original cars and that's what started it off for me. My car started off as a 6-cylinder 1977 XJ Coupé, but now has a V12 with manual gearbox, full welded rollcage, and racing fuel tank with working double fuel fillers through the boot lid. Even the seats have the same fabric on them as the original cars. A lot of the special parts I had to make myself, because the four original cars were made by a private race team (Broadspeed Engineering) so the parts I needed are nowhere to be found. The biggest problem with these cars is that not a lot of people know about them, or have information, so even after seven years I still am finding out things that were previously unknown to me.
The build of the car has been a long one, but trying to get all the details as original as possible was, and is, very rewarding. In the process I have met a lot of people I wouldn't have met if I wasn't doing this project. If anyone would like to know more about the car, have a look on http://broadspeedcoupe.tripod.com.

Michel selected Mini – The Essential Buyer’s Guide by Mark Paxton as her prize!

STOP! Don’t buy a classic Mini without buying this book first!
Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of experience, learn how to spot a bad Mini quickly and how to assess a promising one like a true professional. Get the right car at the right price!
More info.



Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.

ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #2

This month we have a reader entry from Chris Gibbany (Arkansas USA) who sent us these pictures and description of her awesome looking customised 1981 Harley Ironhead Sportster. We love custom motorcycles here at Veloce! She won an Essential Buyer's Guide book of her choice. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

My name is Chris Gibbany and my husband and I built my 1981 Harley Ironhead Sportster. My goal was simple: I wanted a really cool looking bike, something you didn't see every day. I also wanted something that didn't scream to the world "I am owned and ridden by a woman." So I came up with the design for what I call a "Billy Bike". I had an idea in my head but had never seen a bike in any magazine or in person of exactly what I wanted. The challenge was relaying the information to my husband, Gabe. I had to describe in detail exactly what I wanted without exactly knowing how to tell my him what I wanted. It was definitely a lesson in communication. In the end, I ended up with the bike I'd dreamed of. I love the bike's appearance most of all. I love the way it looks from all angles. I just love how my ideas all came together, and that is really what building a nice-looking bike is all about — making it flow and all work together. I travel everywhere on it when the weather's nice. I'll take it to town with a backpack on and get a few groceries. For some reason no one expects me to get on the bike and ride off. My Billy Bike has gotten good reaction from judges, too. At the first show in which it debuted, it won Best of Show. In 2010 it took Best of Show/ People's Choice awards at five of six shows. We have been married for nine years and have been building bikes together for almost six. Each bike is designed and assembled in secret, and no one sees them until the project is complete. It's really more of a hobby, but we usually have two or three for sale. Eventually we'd like to do this as full time business. We are currently building my '56 Panhead in our living room and I also just got another "secret" project I am working on. My husband just got a 1949 Panhead built that he is riding. I breed hedgehogs for a living and here is my website.

Chris selected BSA 500 & 650 Twins - The Essential Buyer's Guide by Peter Henshaw as her prize!

STOP! Don’t buy a BSA Twin without buying this book first!
Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of experience, learn how to spot a bad BSA Twin quickly and how to assess a promising one like a true professional. Get the right bike at the right price!
More info.


Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.