300SL Ride Along At The Pistonheads Sunday Service



















Well first of all apologies for not keeping this blog regularly updated, we've both been busy with work and the annual pre-Christmas rush, but still that's no excuse. Blogs are supposed to be regularly updated, that's what keeps them interesting and worth revisiting, so we'll pull our fingers out in the new year, to keep it updated at least a couple of times a month.

Now down to business. We went along to our first Pistonheads Sunday Service last week, at Mercedes Benz World at Brooklands. We weren't sure what to expect, it being our first Pistonheads meet, but what we experienced was a very chilled morning at a great venue, with a group of very friendly, passionate car enthusiasts of all kinds.

We'll post up some more general pics some other time, but for now, here is one of the highlights. Mercedes were providing ride-alongs on their track in two SLSs (SLS's?) and an original 1954 300SL. The 300SL normally lives in their museum and had only been outside twice this year, so it was an opportunity not to be missed, so we took our chance at a ride in this iconic machine.

The first thing that struck was how hard it was to fold yourself into, even though the SuperNinety-er who went in it is a small, slip of thing, there was an art to getting in. Once in the car felt very tight and precise on the road, without any of the expected 'old car roll'. In its era it must have been streets ahead of the competition. It was quite an experience to sit in the original deep red leather interior and hear the bark of the engine as it roared through a perfect, crisp December morning.

Thanks to Pistonheads for organising an excellent meet, and Mercedes-Benz for being impeccable hosts.

Porsche Classic At Goodwood Revival






We ended up taking so many shots at Revival that it's become a huge process to go through them, shortlist and process. So we decided to put them up in small batches over the next few weeks. This set shows the Porsche Classic stand at Revival, a full period workshop complete with vintage Porsche posters, manuals and tools. Plus a couple of motors and gearbox in various states of rebuild. Oh, and a pre-A, Speedster and Spyder parked up outside.

Martin Brundle At Goodwood Revival



Early morning on Friday in the Goodwood Revival paddock. As the sun makes its way into the sky and the whiff of bacon sarnies wafts through the air, Martin Brundle gets acquainted with the Ferrari 250 GTO that he and Mark Hales would eventually pedal to fifth in the RAC TT Celebration race on Sunday.

Classics At The Castle 2010


A few pictures from Classics At The Castle at Hedingham Castle this Sunday. It was our first time to this show and it lived up to its billing of one of top classic Porsche shows of the year. There was a very high quality of cars on display, and a really good turnout of all different pre-73 models, including the largest turnout of 356s that we've seen in one place. Add to that some very interesting displays from the specialists and Porsche Classic.

There was a very special display of ex-works racing cars from Maxted-Page and Prill, featuring the ex Herbert Muller / Gils Van Lennep – 1973 Targa Florio winning Factory Martini Porsche 911 Carrerra RSR (car number 8 on the gravel above), the 1974 Le Mans 2nd place 1974 Factory Martini Porsche 911 2.1 Turbo Carrerra RSR, and the ex Rudi Lins / Helmut Marko 1970 Le Mans 3rd place Factory Martini 1969 Porsche 908/2 Longtail Spyder (car number 27 above).

Car of the day for me though was the 1964 904 GTS on the M-P&P display (car number 14 above), chassis '068, which was raced by Peter Gregg in the sixties in America, in races including the Daytona 24hrs.

Sight of the day though had to be Andy Prill cooking bacon for passers-by on the exhaust of his amazing 160bhp 2 litre, twin-spark flat four 356 motor.


Thanks to the organisers for a great day, good facilites, the perfect location and plenty of rare metal to ogle at.