Motor Cars

Meanwhile, let's pretend that cars are interesting, which they are not. Sensible maybe and certainly safer than a motorcycle on today's very busy roads. But interesting....no. With a limited enthusiasm for cars, I can truthfully say of the few that I have had, they never brought me half the pleasure, that riding on two wheels did.

The first four wheeled vehicle that I had on the road was an Austin J4 van, which I managed to wreck within two weeks. My own stupid fault; an example of very bad driving. It was followed by a 1963 Hillman Minx which in turn was replaced by a 1972 Humber Sceptre. I was very fond of the Humber but sidelined it for a 1968 P5B Rover, which was much akin I imagine, to driving a silent tank. But a V8 engine and a blown exhaust is about as exciting as it gets.

That was followed by a 4.2 litre Ford Falcon when I was in Australia. About as interesting as boiling an egg...

Next was a Ford Granada 2.8GL estate, which ultimately, (as cars do), expired in a heap of rust, but was always a pleasure to drive on long journeys. But I'll not get too enthusiastic, even though I miss it a bit.

I then became even more sensible and drove a Volvo 240DL estate, which was much akin I suppose to driving a substantial block of cement; and wet cement at that. Inspired, I then owned a 440GLE Volvo... which was about at racy as Volvos get, until some damn fool lost control of his 4x4 and knocked the side out of it. At least it was a Volvo... I walked away with a surprised look and no more. So for the past two years, I have been driving a Volvo 240GL something or other. It has four wheels and is silver, which is about as much as I need to know these days. And it is as tough as old boots.

There was one vehicle though, that I owned briefly in 1984, before dismantling and rebuilding to my own specification. I never intended to put it on the road but built it for racing in fields. Don't even ask... It was made out a 1968 600cc Honda N600 car, which I dismantled with a hammer and an axe. If you don't like cars, I commend it as therapy. I felt much better. A week with a welder and some angle iron and the little monster was created. I cannot admit to ever having taken it on the road; not even in snow, to the bottom of Hardknott Pass in Eskdale, some three miles from my home. But then I wouldn't, would I? And what was it like to drive? An open air adrenaline rush, as the photo might suggest. Now that was an interesting form of transport, but it was not exactly a car though... and certainly not street legal, in any sense of the expression.