Hi everyone! Quick post to introduce myself.... I'm Jon, from the Old Skool Retro Car Club (and previously the AHRA too), and a Retro-Rides.com regular. Most people here look familiar!
Here's what I've got (vehicle-wise, I hasten to add!!!)
The silver Sierra's my daily at the minute, bought off my bro a few months back. The Escort should be back from having new sills etc over the next few days (when THAT will probably do a couple of months "daily" service). The blue Sierra I've had for nine years, it's nickname is Elvis because most people never see it but it does a "comeback tour" every year for the Nationals. Sadly as the Escort swallowed all my cash lately, the blue beastie won't be seeing the light of day for some time....
The scoot's a '66 Lambretta J125, which breaks rare and expensive parts every time I start it up. (This weeks' damage: the thread on the end of the crank stripped off while removing the flywheel to change the points and condensor, only to find the woodruff key was almost split in two, advancing the timing... which explains the poor running!)
Love the mk1 escort. I had a lime green mk1 mexico years ago with a lumpy cam. It was very quick......when it went!!!!
I dont remember that picture being taken, but my car is parked next to you!!!
I like the j range, but never as much as a biggun!!My family lived in Italy and I had a j range there as my run about....ended up stripping the engine and then came back to uk. I think my mum had it buried under the new drive!!!!
Next year at the Nats I will have the Pop but also the Lamb Chop...you better bring yours!!!
My lambretta is a 125, its not to bad, although as the seat is so low and far back it tends to pop wheelies when you change gear if you open her up!!
I had a lambretta 232 once. Used to do over 100....bloody scary on small wheels!!!!!!! had a big 38 mm power jet carb, used to suck my trousers into it!!!
Hey, I've returned! (After a PC update left me unable to "get in" to this or the FSOC site....)
Yeah Mark, the silver Sapphire's a DOHC.... and a good one, for a change! It's a Ghia, so plenty of toys, and it was modified about 5-6 years ago with the wheels, stereo, exhaust & manifold etc etc. The shell's not so good though, which is how I could afford it! It's had a leaky sunroof in the past so the roof's *just* starting to bubble. Bloody nightmare to sort out! It's had a wheelarch done too, and sadly, not done well, so that'll need doing again next year. Now the Cat 1 alarm's knackered - not fun on a de-locked car! - it's future is hangin' in the balance... Might use the blue one to re-shell it, since it's easily the best Sierra I've had to drive - and I've had seven now - two 1600 Pintos, two carb'd DOHCs, three injection DOHCs. Had some modern stuff in between but I always go back!
The scooter was last on the road sometime before 1981 - it belonged to a vicar! I got it in 1998 from Bro of the AHRA. Sadly it's still not sorted, since I've been getting the Escort repaired!
It was meant to have new outer sills, which turned into inners, outers, inbetweeners, some c-pillar and plenty of floor for good measure. Need to get the interior back in and fit new screen seals, then I can make some decisions on the silver Sierra's future (or lack thereof!!)
I should also point out, I can't even ride a motorbike yet.... I kind of taught myself a bit when I got the scooter, aside from that I had a Yamaha Jog a couple of years ago while unemployed. Which hardly counts. Got to do my CBT once the Lammy's together!
no better feeling than riding a scooter. I love my cars, but......I will never grow out of scooters!! Riding around at the Nats reminded me of riding around on the scooter runs of the 80's!!!
I had loads of interest at the Nats from the bikers. I think before next year it will be satin black with pin stripes!
Lambrettas are easy to ride, and dont believe that saying ' scooters dont handle' they do, you've just got to get used to them............on the other hand, simons handles like a penny farthing. But it looks good so that doesn't matter.
Another R-R regular. Welcome nice to see your sierra's (don't think i've ever seen pics of them) the blue one looks immaculate!! Obviously been well looked after in the past 9 Years.
That silver Sapphire's been replaced with an old Mundane-o (the local yoofs don't bother keying Mondeos every other night, smashing the headlights etc etc), but this is my preferred daily driver now:
3-door Sierra, with the "HI-PO 1.6" and "PROCRAST-O-MATIC" 3-speed auto.
The Escort is now all solid, serviced and usable (but I daren't leave it outside because I haven't done the seals etc yet). The paint's still sh1t, but I like it that way! Mrs Jon doesn't, but she doesn't want to learn to spray cars either.
The scooter is in more bits. It seems the flywheel just won't mate up properly to the crank taper, resulting in a couple of broken woodruff keys. Machining or a new crank will be needed, I guess. D'oh!
So I've commandeered my old chap's Enfield Bullet for now, which I can't actually ride, but it looks nice....
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1972 Escort 1.1L 1983 Sierra 1.6 Auto 3-door 1988 Sierra Sapphire "Bitza" 1965 Lambretta J125 1993 Royal Enfield Bullet 350
Hey Jonny, if you want to know anything about these go to www.johnparkermotorcycles.co.uk they are an expert on enfields and local to me, Steve the owner will be able to tell you what extras are available or what can be adapted for it. ie electric start etc. If you say your a mate of Mitch the signwriter he'll do you a deal. I cant remember his number but its on the site.
Good one Mitch, I'll have a word! Got an RXS 100 too last night so I've got something a bit lighter and less important to crash while I'm learning. Bloody gears are all in the wrong places though. Good little bike but it's just got no soul....
Your old Enfield looks awesome, might have to sell something and get one of my own to customise!
Haven't been about much as I've been working on the Sierra - it was stood for a lot of last year so it seems every time I take it out a wire breaks, a vaccuum pipe splits, a bulb blows, the carb diaphragm splits, crap blocks the fuel line...you get the idea! Easy to forget it's 24 years old, Sierras just don't seem "old" to me!
The Escort on the other hand - stored it from September last year. Stuck a jump-pack on the battery a fortnight ago, put some fresh petrol in - started first time. Sod modern technology!
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1972 Escort 1.1L 1983 Sierra 1.6 Auto 3-door 1988 Sierra Sapphire "Bitza" 1965 Lambretta J125 1993 Royal Enfield Bullet 350
Scoot looks great fun too.
Sounds German but its not!
