Wonderful Wiscombe again

We'd only just parked up when we spotted this fire engine red Guzzi

The annual pilgrimage to Wiscombe got off to a good start. We hadn't even got out of the carpark when Pete Low and I spotted this bacon slicer Moto Guzzi that had turned up to watch. Funnily enough, Pete and I just been saying that one of the unmissable experiences at Wiscombe was the breakfast bap in the morning after camping under canvas. For greatest effect the egg should be slightly runny and ooze all the way down your forearm. This year I surpassed myself and managed to get egg all down my trousers and on my boots. High performance breakfast baps are indeed something "special" at Wiscombe. Must be the critical mass of all those vintage specials

And here is one of those vintage specials - Wasp II (check?) - on opposite lock with cylinder heads akimbo at the recently resurfaced Martini Hairpin

The weather was good, too, despite being wet for days on end beforehand. The car park and paddock areas were a bit soft on the Saturday with some parts out of bounds to all boys (and girls) but there was plenty of space and the weather stayed fine right through until Sunday.

The moment their backs were turned....

I missed the Steampunks in Springtime event in Ladock but saw plenty of steam punk stuff that compensated for this clash of dates even if the machinery was of an internal combustive nature. No diesel punk stuff, though

Paul Winch on his 350 Velo

Although Wiscombe didn't look much different, since last year the track has been resurfaced. On Saturday we were treated to the motorcyclists getting the maximum lean and grip they could out of it. There was even a late afternoon run off between the national championship contenders. It beats me how these guys can shave a few hundredths of a second off their times when the heat is on. They must have Extra Special Powers to remain that focussed, that in tune with what their bikes are doing. The top riders were on the ragged edge all the way up, bikes wiggling under power on the straights and subtle bends, tyres skittering under braking and then biting into the track to sling them up the hill at the hairpins.

The RIP Special with some of its Morgan antecendants. Note also the numbers of Volvos in the background - a P544, loads of Amazons and a 144.

It's not just the cracking competition at Wiscombe, either. It's wandering through the paddock and admiring the rolling sculpture.

We had a long chat with Phoebe Rolt about Elva Type 200. It included a discussion

We had a long chat with Phoebe Rolt about Elva Type 200. It included a discussion on the tailfin - whether it adds or detracts from the car. I like it. Looking over this car it's obvious what a well competed machine it is. Those stickers are from scrutineering over several decades all over Europe and not obvious places, either.

I wonder what's going on here. Caption competition anyone?

After the customary slap up binge in Sidmouth, we turned in to discover in the morning that we had some splendid neighbours.

Black cars at dawn - the Monster Mazda with a Bugatti

Way before VW Beetles were called Bugs, Bugs meant a Bugatti. Imagine my delight to find a Bug camped next to me on Sunday morning. With a classic tent as well! I fell into conversation with owner who turned out to be none other than Oliver Way's dad - that's Oliver Way as in "For the design and for the making of interesting things." I was able to say how much I admired his work, especially the Salamanda Special (VT No.18), which has now been sold, albeit to a very appreciative chap who sounds like he really cherishes it. Then Pete mentioned one of his vintage car buddies and it turns out this chap works with Jeremy Way at Greenpower. Jeremy was at the meeting competing in Mrs Jo-jo (VT no.19)

Later on another one turned up, this time a straight eight

I never cease to be amazed by these sort of connections but I suppose it is a small community (whatever this community is).

Slowest of all was predictably the Carden

I took the opportunity to ask Mr Way Senior about all the nuts along the body panels, all wired together with copper wire. This is a typical Bugatti detail. Ettore didn't want his lightweight panels dimpled by the fixings being over tightened so he came up with this wonderful detail.

I asked if his car was an eight cylinder or a four and he not only showed me the exquisite four pot motor under the bonnet but also pointed out how you can tell the difference for the frame and bodywork are all to the same dimensions. It's down to the cables for the front brakes. On the fours it comes out of the chassis rail over the rear shackle of the front spring. On the eights, it comes out ahead of the rear shackle.

Three black cars at Wiscombe.

Later that morning another Bugatti turned up and I was able to nonchalantly put this knowledge to conspicuous effect, although I doubt anybody listening at the time was really fooled how well I knew my Bugs.

Mr Way Sr was good enough  to admire the Monster Mazda's engine bay, too. It didn't look too out of place with two black Bugattis next to it.

Mind yer backs!

Eventually, we struggled out of the carpark to actually see some racing and poke around the paddock.

The paddock at Wiscombe is a very special place

Nipping back to car for a smackeral of something built on the connections we'd made earlier with out Bugatti owning neighbour. Pete spotted an NG TA nearby and started an in depth conversation with the owner about kits cars. I joined in later and made a chance remark about a Hillman Imp based kit car that I owned. Noticing his interest, I added that it was a Siva Llama to which he said "You've got one of my cars!" This fellow was none other than Michael Saunders himself, who, with Neville Trickett, was responsible for some of the funniest cars in the fun car explosion during the sensational seventies. And if I hadn't made that chance remark we would never have known!

Tony Baller's supercharged Hotchkiss wasn't running quite right but it was fascinating to poke our heads under the extended bonnet

I am now convinced that the Japanese tourists I photograph in cities - with their own camera I should hasten to add - are members of the Yoshimura or Moriwaki families. If we could have broken through the language barrier what stories of tuning big Kawasakis they could have told!

The Cooper Vee Twin at Martini Hairpin

But then it was back to the racing in the sunshine.

Kevin Morton's Riley 9 Special - simple but effective - basks in the upper paddock at the end of the meeting

All too quickly it was home time - Pete setting off for Essex via a Matchless that was for sale and I headed west again.

Just as I set off or home I noticed this early Morris Marina in the carpark. Events like this draw out the rare stuff - how many d'you think are left?