Monday 5th January 2004
Was last Monday really the first week back after the Christmas break? It seems like weeks ago already. I’d kept on top of most of the email I got over Christmas but there was still a pile of stuff to download on my return to the office.
Needless to say many of the emails were from kind souls in America offering me some superb deals. If I had the time to take them up on their kind offers I’d be immortal, have no beer belly, free cable TV and a penis the size of Belgium.
Back on the motoring front the news was full of the goings on in Detroit. It’s one massive show and our reporter on the spot was one of 6,000 present that day! We were treated to a few debuts including the new Cobra and the Mustang and that V12 Chrysler thing but the one car that did it for me was that Range Stormer jobbie. What an evil piece of work that is. If only they’d produce it then drug dealers worldwide would have a good reason to buy British.
Tuesday 6th January 2004
Still wading through the Detroit news… For some reason the Los Angeles Auto show is in the same week as Detroit which leaves it somewhat in the shade news-wise. Morgan launched the Aero 8 in LA and Lotus launched the Elise there. The Brits are once again making their presence felt in the US sports car scene. Lets hope that the slide in the dollar doesn’t throw a spanner in the works.
Wednesday 7th January 2004
Another busy day preparing info for PistonFest. There may be six months to go but the earlier we’re prepared the bigger the show will be. I spent a bit of time updating the website and preparing the info packs for exhibitors. Most of last year’s exhibitors want to come again as well as others so we should have no problem laying on a bigger event.
A bigger and better beer tent has been ordered – along with the Guinness sponsorship – and the Crusty Pie company has confirmed as well as another large caterer so that’s the important stuff sorted. Just got to listen to some music now before confirming our choice of bands.
Ahhh…. Autosport Show tomorrow – not enough hours in the day!
Thursday 8th January 2004
Up early to hack up the M40 to the NEC. Haven’t seen rain like that since Noah was a lad. Wasn’t too busy when I arrived so I had a good look around. Was a pretty good show this year with some nice cars on display and all manner of gizmos, clothing and accessories on offer.
The Live Action arena was a bit weird though. Tiff Needell dressed up as Darth Vader and a bunch of girls prancing about randomly like a school musical. I’m all for a bit of lycra but I was there to see some motors not fifteen minutes of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Had a look at the new Farboud. Seems to have had a bit of a negative reaction on the Gassing Station but in the flesh I think it’s got a lot going for it. I’m off to Cambridgeshire next week to get the full story which should be interesting.
Had the pleasure of joining the UK Viper club in the evening for a bit of a Mexican food fest. Top quality grub and some interesting conversation. They count amongst their members young Nadine, who has gained some notoriety thanks to TV coverage of her passion for Vipers. She’s a nurse by day and spends her spare time doing Viper things - like fitting a supercharger to her V10. And I mean fitting it – she installed it herself! Another one of the attendees owns four Vipers – which represents 5% of the Vipers in the UK! Now that’s just greedy :)
I was sat next to Chris from the Seven Workshop. Whilst not a Viper owner he had his own interesting tales to tell. Best of which was the V8 Caterham project he’s helping with. The 2 litre V8 is derived from two bike engines and has been in development for some years now. The 40 valve, two litre engine is good for over 300bhp if I remember correctly and weighs only 78 kilos. Definitely a project to watch!
Friday 9th January 2004
Didn’t get back from Brum until 11pm last night so a whole days worth of Viagra emails were waiting for me on Friday morning. Once I’d waded though those I found an email from some chap called Fred who wanted to “Piss on the heads” of PHers! Bit of a strange one that. Something to do with an article in the Spectator about speed cameras. Seemed a bit odd but I merely thanked him for his valuable contribution and got on with what I was doing. I thought the Spectator was supposed to be read by intellectuals!
It turned out that some journo had written an opinion piece in the Spectator (and republished in the Evening Standard) based on the article that appeared in the Times before Christmas about the alleged death threats. Sadly he didn’t bother researching it and once again accused PH of being involved in something that never happened. :rolleyes: Thank god it’s Friday… :drink:
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