Robert Coucher
Discussion
coppice said:
Eurotrash- abusive term for rich people with more money than taste ; habitat varies according to season as they are a migratory species. Call is noticeable - even in different languages- a loud braying noise. Like shiny objects , especially watches worth more than my car and females often seen in unfeasibly deep tan plumage, regardless of time of year.Males tend to mate with significantly younger females.The species tend to become over excited when their hideously over restored classic car wins some bauble awarded by a C list celeb judge ; also seen on Grand Prix grid where they profess their long held love of motor sport /F1 (The terms tend to be interchangeable in their language ). Background reading - the front pages of Octane every month .
Heaveho said:
coppice said:
Eurotrash- abusive term for rich people with more money than taste ; habitat varies according to season as they are a migratory species. Call is noticeable - even in different languages- a loud braying noise. Like shiny objects , especially watches worth more than my car and females often seen in unfeasibly deep tan plumage, regardless of time of year.Males tend to mate with significantly younger females.The species tend to become over excited when their hideously over restored classic car wins some bauble awarded by a C list celeb judge ; also seen on Grand Prix grid where they profess their long held love of motor sport /F1 (The terms tend to be interchangeable in their language ). Background reading - the front pages of Octane every month .
There's a few gems in his column this month, but this one takes the biscuit:
Robert Coucher said:
The Corniche wafted us down to West Sussex in comfortable style and at quite a lick. We aimed to arrive at about 11.30am and I navigated Pascal along the secret backroute directly to the front gate. Sure enough, we did not come upon any traffic through the leafy lanes. The charming parking attendant took one look at the gleaming Bentley and directed us to the V-VIP parking area on the grass, thus avoiding the large dusty parking bowl. Le Mans Classic should take note.
SrMoreno said:
There's a few gems in his column this month, but this one takes the biscuit:
Am I missing something here? A Bentley Corniche?Robert Coucher said:
The Corniche wafted us down to West Sussex in comfortable style and at quite a lick. We aimed to arrive at about 11.30am and I navigated Pascal along the secret backroute directly to the front gate. Sure enough, we did not come upon any traffic through the leafy lanes. The charming parking attendant took one look at the gleaming Bentley and directed us to the V-VIP parking area on the grass, thus avoiding the large dusty parking bowl. Le Mans Classic should take note.
I am guilty of agreeing in many ways with coppice (a bend I never ever got completely right incidentally) in that the hooray henry look-at-me brigade are taking over from many of the original enthusiasts, and corporate sponsorship seems everywhere. I remember when the Festival started, how as press we sat on the straw bales and took photos, how the paddocks were all accessible and the drivers too, and then I stopped going for some years when the champagne-swilling brigade had no idea of the difference between a De Dion or a DB and heard someone ask David Piper if he had ever been to Daytona.
As a member of the GSA, which predated the GRRC, we were invited by his Lordship to an evening extravaganza when the council finally gave permission, and on that November 1997 day the conversation was scintillating.
But I go no more. In 2011 I was standing on the balcony, Veuve Cliquot in hand, looking with rapt attention down at the cars going past, with two of the above types swilling it back and not having a clue what was going on around them.
As a member of the GSA, which predated the GRRC, we were invited by his Lordship to an evening extravaganza when the council finally gave permission, and on that November 1997 day the conversation was scintillating.
But I go no more. In 2011 I was standing on the balcony, Veuve Cliquot in hand, looking with rapt attention down at the cars going past, with two of the above types swilling it back and not having a clue what was going on around them.
lowdrag said:
I am guilty of agreeing in many ways with coppice (a bend I never ever got completely right incidentally) in that the hooray henry look-at-me brigade are taking over from many of the original enthusiasts, and corporate sponsorship seems everywhere. I remember when the Festival started, how as press we sat on the straw bales and took photos, how the paddocks were all accessible and the drivers too, and then I stopped going for some years when the champagne-swilling brigade had no idea of the difference between a De Dion or a DB and heard someone ask David Piper if he had ever been to Daytona.
As a member of the GSA, which predated the GRRC, we were invited by his Lordship to an evening extravaganza when the council finally gave permission, and on that November 1997 day the conversation was scintillating.
But I go no more. In 2011 I was standing on the balcony, Veuve Cliquot in hand, looking with rapt attention down at the cars going past, with two of the above types swilling it back and not having a clue what was going on around them.
In reality, there's more pleasure to be had making good progress on various British B roads in/on a variety of interesting vehicles at 0530hrs on a sunny summer's day. Although the totty at Goodwood is always worth a leer or two (have I won "sexist comment of the day"?) As a member of the GSA, which predated the GRRC, we were invited by his Lordship to an evening extravaganza when the council finally gave permission, and on that November 1997 day the conversation was scintillating.
But I go no more. In 2011 I was standing on the balcony, Veuve Cliquot in hand, looking with rapt attention down at the cars going past, with two of the above types swilling it back and not having a clue what was going on around them.
He is the worst aspect of Octane by far (closely followed by Stephen Bailey).
I recall that he made some disparaging remark about "baseball caps" with reference to the Festival of Speed. What do we see him wearing in the next issue? Only a bloody baseball cap whilst driving a Porsche 356 in South Africa. And then? Him wearing a baseball cap on the Mille Miglia!
The name dropping and obsequiousness is almost as bad - his last column lists a whole load of names and then calls them "important car types" - and then, with no hint of irony, praises them for their lack of car snobbery!
It's moronic things like that which grate. He's made the classic error of believing himself to be wealthy and important because he hangs around with wealthy and "important" people. I wish the magazine would drop the pseudo "gentleman" rubbish and stick with the cars because that content is generally excellent.
I recall that he made some disparaging remark about "baseball caps" with reference to the Festival of Speed. What do we see him wearing in the next issue? Only a bloody baseball cap whilst driving a Porsche 356 in South Africa. And then? Him wearing a baseball cap on the Mille Miglia!
The name dropping and obsequiousness is almost as bad - his last column lists a whole load of names and then calls them "important car types" - and then, with no hint of irony, praises them for their lack of car snobbery!
It's moronic things like that which grate. He's made the classic error of believing himself to be wealthy and important because he hangs around with wealthy and "important" people. I wish the magazine would drop the pseudo "gentleman" rubbish and stick with the cars because that content is generally excellent.
Stephen Bayley is the pontificating aesthete, not atheist! Mind you, he might be both for all I know. But Coucher's name dropping really gets up my you-know-what. In fact, it was only this thread that made me look at both their articles in this month's magazine. Oh, did you know that I know Gary Bartlett too? (Sorry folks, but it is so). Out of preference, my first page is always that of Tony Dron, whose page, since he has now quit motor racing, is now entitled the derogatory (too me anyway) Passed it. But not for much longer I fear. The recent multitude of pages on Ferraris - mostly modern - the other month have led me to the decision to cancel my subscription when it is next due.
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