Drive it day

[Forumadmin]

What a joy!

The Javelin and Jupiter were finally taken out of the garage yesterday and what a joy to once again be driving a Jowett. Between showers I had the hood down on the Jup and gave the replacement water pump a shakedown and checked out the front sidelight (now an indicator) after its kiss with a Lithuanian white van. Chris knocked out the dent but left some cracked paint as patina! Hopefully the Jup will do the trip next weekend to Shrewsbury on the Jupiter Spring Weekend at the Lion Hotel. I am going to a funeral of my step father in law in Oxford on the way.

The Javelin too had a short run having been fitted with a new radiator and new oil filter housing seal with O rings, new core plugs as well as semi fixing the oil/grease leak on the steering box.

To celebrate I bought a good piece of steak from the local butcher and cracked open my last bottle of Premier Cru St Emilion bought during a personal tour by the wine maker after a rugby match in Bordeaux in 2002.

So hopefully get the two cars or perhaps three, if I can clear the garage, out on Sunday for DRIVE IT DAY. I did suggest to Jack he used the Javelin to go to Switzerland this weekend where they are skiing. He seems to prefer his Zafira with LPG conversion!

[Forumadmin]

So which car did you take out?

[Drummond Black]

JUPITER

[ian Howell]

Just to add to the fun - I have AT LAST managed to get my 1930 Long Four back on the road after about 9 years of 'Repairs'.

I still have to re-do most of the upholstery and all of the body fabric, but IT GOES and that has been my aim since before Wakefield (See the video for evidence of wild guesswork!).

All went reasonably well except that I came to a quiet halt just after entering a two-mile stretch of dual carriageway when the engine just died. It turned out to be a duff condenser. This was one of the original pattern brass-bodied condensers so it was probably about 80 years old so I am not complaining.

My son James has apparently put some video on You Tube - whatever that is.

In line with my oft-stated aim of 'repairing' rather that 'restoring' the car I have now stripped and rebuilt the condenser. YES! Rebuilt the condenser.

Actually I have re-packaged a modern condenser inside the original casing. It all works and looks 'right' too.

I now hope to get to a couple of local rallies before Basingstoke. I am not too happy about committing to a 200 mile round trip without a bit of mileage on the clock first.

Happy Days!

[Forumadmin]

Will subterfuge never cease? We will have to bear that in mind, if you put it in for the concours. Non-original part!

[Tony Fearn]

That's good to know Ian.

Perhaps I've published this photo of you with the car at the Centenary Rally ay Wakefield previously, but don't apologise for doing it again if so.

May I book a turn about the Rally field?

Tony.

[ian Howell]

Tony (and any others interested!): -

You are definitely 'booked' for a drive at the rally field ASSUMING we get that far!

The 'repaired' condenser has yet to prove itself over a reasonable run and there are a couple of other minor matters that need attention.

Not least the brakes.

They have been relined throughout but I have not been able to check them since the initial 'run' - apart from the OSF which had nice shiny shoes.

Also, we are off to Wales again for a couple of weeks so there will not be a lot of time for proving runs before a nail-biting 200 mile round trip.

Still, thanks for the photo again Tony and for those of a curious turn of mind there is - I am told - a video on YouTube under '1930 Jowett Long Four'. The quality is not good as it was taken from the passenger seat of my son's left-hand drive Capri which has competition suspension and gives a very rough ride. (You can run over a penny and tell if it heads or tails).

Also I am not yet used to all the noises coming from the various areas such as gearbox and engine, so I have a bit of confidence building to do.

As ever - we shall see . . .

PS (for Keith): - Three of the tyres have at least SOME of the original air in them! I am not saying which three.