It was a beautiful day today and that brought out this old Rolls Royce convertible, compete with leather interior - of course.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
It was a beautiful day today and that brought out this old Rolls Royce convertible, compete with leather interior - of course.
It is a strange fact that after the second world war many taxis in Edinburgh were Rolls Royces. (I can't remember if it was the same in other cities), and thinking about it I guess that they were stored over the war when other cheaper cars were scrapped, or flogged around running on coal gas - at least in London.
I also remember seeing a Rolls Royce with its body panels filled with concrete and a railway line front and back in local 'banger' races. Nothing could stop it, so long as the driver managed to get it to turn sufficiently to get around the cinder track!
I have a car 1948 MG. That car has been sold ten years ago. I love the car very much. I used the car. Its style is old but heavy. The car made by England 1945. After world wer2 has remodeled and improved the car TC. It has 1250cc engine and four-cylinder.
I have a car 1948 MG. That car has been sold ten years ago. I love the car very much. I used the car. Its style is old but heavy. The car made by England 1945. After world wer2 has remodeled and improved the car TC. It has 1250cc engine and four-cylinder.
I know this model well - but confess when TC drivers waved at me as I passed them in my Morgan +4, I didn't respond as I knew my car wasn't an MG and was far superior - in my opinion! They fetch 'silly money' nowadays - have fun.
Villa d'Este Concours 2019. We made it! One of the big things on my bucket list, and - we actually got there. A fabulous event and they also had a magnificent motorcycle display next door at Villa Erba. I will post my shots of the bikes elsewhere on our site, but for the cars, have a look at this report. Much better photo coverage than my happysnaps. https://www.sportscardigest.com/conc...rt-and-photos/
Wow! Even my wife liked them. That would be something to see in person.
Edit: To look at the pictures, brings back a feeling of the passion and love for automobiles that those people had. Today, cars are cookie-cutter, like motorcycles really. But back then, they didn't have air tunnels, and designers could dictate what a car looked like. They designed with their hearts. And maybe it was a loser is real life, but at the time, it was wonderful.
If you haven't taken time to just go through the photos slowly, I urge you to. You'll love it.
Chris
Elnathan - 2014 BMW F800GT
IBA# 49894 True Rounder = 0-20's - Rounder -- to -- 100's+ Red Hot Rounder
Yesterday it was a nice looking Bug-eye Sprite, a row of garish-looking over-powered Dodge things with wings and an interesting-looking Kansas race car. Quite a contrast.
A friend had a 1961 MkI bug-eyed Sprite. It was in the early 1970s. This one was more than standard and was raced on the track also. It held the under 1100cc lap record at one of the local race tracks for many years. In those days Mini Cooper S was the car to beat and the little Sprite would. If I remember rightly, my friend managed to bolt a 998cc Mini engine, bored out to 1030cc, pointed it north/south and ran that engine in it. There was a local engineer who used to build racing engines for Morris Minis who helped him. A pair of 45mm Weber carbies and a very lumpy cam. I think he also fitted a Austin Healey Midget gearbox. Sitting in the passenger seat the induction roar was deafening. It went like a scalded cat, all power to weight ratio. The thing weighed next to nothing!
It was the time of Holden releasing the first Torana GTR (pre UX1 days). Many a GTR pilot was left red faced by the Sprite. Because on its on going development, the Sprite became too unreliable for the road and lived out its life on the track.
padaek - A putrid and fetid smelling fermented fish sauce from Laos.
Glad you enjoyed the pix from Villa d'Este, guys. Here is a link to my favourite year of this event, 2014. Richard probably remembers me posting it previously, but I can't help myself https://www.sportscardigest.com/conc...cture-gallery/
Cruise around the Sports Car Digest site, and order in pizza - it's gonna be a long night...
That 1919 Ahrens Fox fire engine is a beautiful design and has fantastic workmanship, Selden. I would hate to take it anywhere near an active fire.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
For its last active service as a fire engine, it was loaded on a freight car and shipped to Baltimore, where it pumped for more than 24 hours straight at a big fire. I shudder to think what the restoration cost, but they did a beautiful job. Note that this is a volunteer fire company, so the entire restoration project was funded by contributions from the community. The building it's parked in front of was the town's fire hall 150 years ago. The horse-drawn engine went in the middle bay, and on either side were stables for horses.
The General Lee showed up at Alice's Restaurant today. I give the owner a lot of credit for driving it around the very "blue" San Francisco Bay Area.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
It was Bathtub Porsche day at Alice's Restaurant this morning. Photos attached.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Here is a selection of old and new sport cars that I saw today. Which ones do you like. That Austin Healey sure looked nice.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
With warm and sunny weather in the SF Bay Area for the past month (not a single drop of moisture in about 45 days so far) this very nice restored Mini Cooper showed up across from Alice's Restaurant yesterday. Sorry about the upside down photo. No matter how I edit it in my files, it still remains upside down when I post it here.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
With warm and sunny weather in the SF Bay Area for the past month (not a single drop of moisture in about 45 days so far) this very nice restored Mini Cooper showed up across from Alice's Restaurant yesterday. Sorry about the upside down photo. No matter how I edit it in my files, it still remains upside down when I post it here.
Ahhhh,, the mighty Mini. It was nicked named the 'Brick' here in Australia. The police drove Cooper Ses in the late 1960s, which were a bit more than standard. The Mini won a few years at the iconic Bathurst 500 race against bigger and much faster cars.
padaek - A putrid and fetid smelling fermented fish sauce from Laos.
As of Mon, 1st Feb 2016- ;
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift (that's why it's called "the present")
#1 tip I ride by: Ride as though you're invisible, not invincible
Bikes so far: Honda CB250-Traded, Suzuki GS500F-Traded, '07 F800ST Matt Graphitan-Deceased, '10 F800ST Night Blue-sold, at present bikeless
That is right. Complete with a rear wing that automatically rises and falls on a piston with your speed. McLarens are a dime a dozen around here. One of their showrooms is in Mountain View on El Camino Real, right next to the Tesla dealer. No lack of money and fancy cars in that area.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Here is an interesting car that I have never seen before. The owner drove it to Alice's Restaurant for a short while before driving off down Highway 84, heading toward the coast. He said it was a 1953 Fiat 1100, which made about 40 hp. I followed it down 84 for a while and it really scooted around the corners of the highway. He was definitely exceeding the speed limit.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Check out this 1972 Ginetta. I had never heard of this car before. The owner said that it has a 2000cc 4-cylinder engine making 175 hp and the car weighs about 1400 pounds.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Here are a couple of interesting cars that I saw today at Alice's Restaurant.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Today I saw my first two 2020 Corvettes. Photos attached. And if you care about such things, the Skylonda General Store finally installed new gas pumps in front of the H2 station, which just sits there humming away and is showing a red light beacon.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Today I saw my first two 2020 Corvettes. Photos attached. And if you care about such things, the Skylonda General Store finally installed new gas pumps in front of the H2 station, which just sits there humming away and is showing a red light beacon.
Those 2020 Corvettes look good. The combination of white and black just accentuates the modern look. The wheels aren't bad as well. They remind me of the black racing wheels I bought off 4WheelOnline a few months ago.
I saw this cool-looking 1939 Ford V-8 pickup truck at Alice's today. However, it looks like it might have been lowered a bit and the wheels don't look quite right.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
It was a beautiful sunny day at Alice's Restaurant today, which brought out this interesting 396 Turbo-Jet Corvette. That is the first time I have ever heard of that model. Is that a factory car, or some sort of kit car? Sure looks factory to me.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
It was a sunny and relatively warm morning at Alice's Restaurant today. So this beautiful 1950's (I assume, not being a Corvette expert) Corvette showed up in the parking lot.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
No photos and not yet classic but driving around the Somerset Hills yesterday I spotted two McClarens in about 20-30 mins. I think one was a 570 and the other 720. If I win the Lottery....
2009 F800ST (Night Blue Metallic) l 1999 SV650 (Naked & Red) l l 2012 G650 GS Sertao l 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT-S (Mrs. Meteor's...)
No photos and not yet classic but driving around the Somerset Hills yesterday I spotted two McClarens in about 20-30 mins. I think one was a 570 and the other 720. If I win the Lottery....
I see so many McLaren cars parked at Alice's restaurant this year that I don't even bother to take pictures of them any more. They all look really nice and really expensive but are nothing unusual anymore. There sure is a lot of money floating around here during the past few years being spend on fancy cars and fancy homes. (I have a friend who was looking to buy a home located closer to San Francisco and found one for sale about 10 miles north of Oakland. The home was offered for $1.5 million and the selling agent gave prospective buyers 3 days to put in bids on the home. The winning bid was $2.5 million!. My friend has given up trying to buy a home in the San Francisco Bay Area this year.)
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Gee, that makes the $150,000au we paid for our house here in Morwell seem like a bargain.
As of Mon, 1st Feb 2016- ;
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift (that's why it's called "the present")
#1 tip I ride by: Ride as though you're invisible, not invincible
Bikes so far: Honda CB250-Traded, Suzuki GS500F-Traded, '07 F800ST Matt Graphitan-Deceased, '10 F800ST Night Blue-sold, at present bikeless
I see so many McLaren cars parked at Alice's restaurant this year that I don't even bother to take pictures of them any more. They all look really nice and really expensive but are nothing unusual anymore. There sure is a lot of money floating around here during the past few years being spend on fancy cars and fancy homes. (I have a friend who was looking to buy a home located closer to San Francisco and found one for sale about 10 miles north of Oakland. The home was offered for $1.5 million and the selling agent gave prospective buyers 3 days to put in bids on the home. The winning bid was $2.5 million!. My friend has given up trying to buy a home in the San Francisco Bay Area this year.)
Seems folks are bit more conservative and old-school in these parts. I see a fair amount of Ferraris and tons of Porsches out and about but the McClarens and Lambos are more rare.
2009 F800ST (Night Blue Metallic) l 1999 SV650 (Naked & Red) l l 2012 G650 GS Sertao l 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT-S (Mrs. Meteor's...)
When H-D left Alice's Restaurant last week they forgot to take their tractor with them. Photos attached of this interesting machine. Not a computer to be seen on the Farmall, nor any plastic parts, either. Every part is made of real steel - and lots of it.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
When H-D left Alice's Restaurant last week they forgot to take their tractor with them. Photos attached of this interesting machine. Not a computer to be seen on the Farmall, nor any plastic parts, either. Every part is made of real steel - and lots of it.
Wasn't the steering wheel some sort of hard rubber? My grandfather's M always left my hands black.
2016 Yamaha FJR1300A; 2016 Beta 430RS; 2007 BMW F800S; 2009 Husaberg FE450; 2016 Subaru Outback; 2018 F150; 2013 Tesla Model S 85; 1983 Porsche 928S; 9 cats
Wasn't the steering wheel some sort of hard rubber? My grandfather's M always left my hands black.
Could it have been black Bakelite? That stuff would tend to melt in the sunlight. But I think you are right. That does seem to be a rubber cushion coating on the steel steering wheel.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Could it have been black Bakelite? That stuff would tend to melt in the sunlight. But I think you are right. That does seem to be a rubber cushion coating on the steel steering wheel.
That I've seen Bakelite is brown, brittle, and deteriorates in UV.
Then again rubber deteriorates in UV.
Lots of search engine hits on "hard rubber steering wheel"
2016 Yamaha FJR1300A; 2016 Beta 430RS; 2007 BMW F800S; 2009 Husaberg FE450; 2016 Subaru Outback; 2018 F150; 2013 Tesla Model S 85; 1983 Porsche 928S; 9 cats
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
The Fourth of July holiday brought out a few interesting cars to Alice's Restaurant. I believe that silver car is a 1963 split-window Chevy Corvette Sting Ray. Photos attached.
Last edited by Richard230; 07-06-21 at 08:21 AM.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Here are photos of a couple of interesting cars that I saw parked at Alice's Restaurant yesterday. And as a contrast, I will toss in a few photos of a fancy new Lotus, but I have no idea what model it is.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
Here is something a little different that I saw at Alice's Restaurant yesterday. Right after I arrived at their parking lot 20 minutes before the restaurant opened, a group of cars showed up and about 10 young men (with beards and man-buns) got out, two with portable TV-type cameras, parked three new small cars across the lot and started filming the cars - and a nearby redwood tree. The looks of the cars didn't impress me at all. Two were painted a pastel blue and one was painted a light tan. I asked one of the restaurant owners what was going on and he said that the three cars had been displayed at the Laguna Seca Racetrack on Saturday and were at Alice's to film part of an advertising (YouTube?) clip. Since the cars just looked like a typical Japanese eco-box, I was thinking why bother? Three of the cars took off and one stuck around for breakfast. Attached are a couple of photos of this exciting new vehicle.
I am sorry if you detect a bit of sarcasm in my comments. But motorcycles tend to impress me a lot more than Japanese eco-boxes with pastel paint and odd model names.
Richard - Current bikes: 2016 BMW R1200RS, 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.
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