Back from my little tour around France and Spain

[TINKA]

Got back mid week from our tour and must say had a fab time. The car was only finished being built in April and has performed perfectly ( a big thumbs up for the quality of the AK kit). Only thing that went wrong was the magnet fell off the prop, but I guess that just means I will have to repeat the 600 miles of so that are missing{-} {-}.The reaction to the Cobra in Spain was really amazing but having said that some thieving little s##t stole 3 of the dust covers from the wheels and one of the 427 powered by ford badges on the front wings. Oh well I suppose it could have been worse. the thing I need to sort out now is getting all the TAR off the side pipes. If would seam that this is not the only country to bodge there road repairs, coming through the Pyrenees the Spanish and French had filled the holes in the road with Tar and then just put some grit on top.:f :f :f :f :f . It has been suggested that petrol would be the best thing to remove this but has anyone got any other suggestions, after all the petrol I have used on the trip don't want to waste any more x( x( x( .see pic Was pleasantly surprised to average about 25 mpg though .

Looks like I have missed a lively debit with the resident P##ck regarding the question from the French Man. Nice to know some things never change.

Martin

[r0lex]

to remove the tar you can use white spirit or diesel.
on another point in the photo the car seems to be on a carpet, I have heard of loving your car but i draw the line at keeping it in the living room

paul

[callum]

Good on you - had much the same experiences back in August when it was 107 degrees in Pamplona but nothing nicked off the GD and lots of friendly waves. Some of the Pyrenean climbs are awesome but 25mpg? Not in mine

Did you go Plymouth-Santander? My longest run was down from Edinburgh & back but we covered about 1800 miles in Spain and France from the Picos de Europa to Bergerac, Gorges of the Tarn and on to Gavarnie in the High Pyrenees.

[Miket]

Welcome home Martin, petrol is fine, I even use it on the body of my BMW to get rid of tar, make sure you polish it after, if you use it on the body.

:tu :tu :tu :tu :tu :tu

:sm :sm :sm :sm :sm

[TINKA]

Hi Callum, have to say one of the reasons we went when we did was to avoid the worst of the heat, and we got a super deal on ta return ferry crossing on the date's we wanted. We left from Portsmouth and traveled down to Bilbao, stayed in Spain for the first week and then crossed the Pyrenees at Bielsa after a couple of nights in a Paradors in the mountains.Once in France we made our way to the Dordogne region where my wife's parents have a house and then used that as a base to go and explore. We did about 1650 miles in all but there is a certain amount of guess work as my speedo wasn't working for the last few days of the holiday. Have to say the scenery was really breathtaking and everything I had hoped it would be. One day hopefully will be able to do it again.
:tu :tu :tu :tu :tu :tu :tu

Martin

[TINKA]

Hi Paul, yes that is the old dining room carpet, as I said I have only just finished building the car and when I was building it I got fed-up with crawling about on the cold garage floor so when we were going to through the carpet out it seamed only natural to use it. And as you know these car's are never finished so I haven't got around to throughing it away yet.

:tu :tu :tu :tu :tu

Martin

[osgood]

Contrary Mary

Good trip then Martin? Makes you a lot more confident with your car doesn't it. I found after my trip abroad this year 1800 miles, that it was more like driving a car, rather than something I built if you get my drift.

I reckon the flies out there have Sulphuric Acid for blood!! They have really eaten away at my stone guards Eric.

[osgood]

Contrary Mary

Martin forgot to say, get round to Iain's and get him motivated mate, he is getting decidedly pi##ed off cheers Eric. (needs your help!)

[tonym]

welcome back Martin and Helen, glad you had a good time, Ali and i are talking about touring Europe next year, if i ever get my cob finished that is, paint shop put the date back for the car returning to end october now, better be a bloody good job!!!
see you both in a couple of weeks at the east mids meet:tu

[callum]

I didn't have too much latitude about when I took my holiday nor did I plan on it it being quite so hot - it was exceptional. Still, with factor 25 suncream splashed all over every day and an oil cooler neither I nor the engine got too hot. My wife's arm was aching from all the waving she did and it was great to see such unbridled enthusiasm for the car rather than the furtive sidelong looks you get from so many people over here. Still, I got home to an Edinburgh Cabbie begging me to rev it up for him and then teling his fares to drop the window and have a listen too - always happy to oblige! I reckon next year it is back to the Northern Coast of Spain. The Paradors are great and scenery superb. France is just getting too pricey.