Wednesday 23rd December 2015

I like 'em dirty: PH Blog

Forget the bucket and sponge - a dirty car shows you care more about driving, whatever the weather

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I'm all for a clean car. But at this time of year you're on a hiding to nothing attempting to keep it clean. Unless you're one of those weirdos who thinks a zero miles Ferrari as an object d'art in the air conditioned underground man cave is preferable to one being ragged sideways around a track. 

Winter muck means it's being used!

The other week I took the PH Fleet BMW M4 for a two-day road trip around Norfolk, visiting Schnitzer, Zenos and Lotus. At the former it got a valet for shooting alongside their matching Austin Yellow ACS4 but it took all of a few miles to return to the grimy look I'd arrived with. There are dirty cars and there are cars that drive on rural roads through the winter - those familiar with the latter will appreciate the difference. And futility of even trying to keep the paintwork clean. You could do three laps of a winter's M25 and not get a layer of grime to match five miles from a Norfolk B-road. 

Anyway. This time of year it's too miserable to be outside obsessing about clay bars and all that nonsense. I say embrace it. There comes a point where a dirty car just looks cool, especially an already brooding and aggressive one like an M car. It does tone down the rather lairy paint in the case of the M4 too, adding to the shock value of quite how loud it really is when you do eventually run a jet wash over it. Weirdly I find myself getting extra fastidious about keeping the interior clean at this time of year, devoting time I'd have spent on the paintwork to weekly hoovering sessions and obsessive clearing of accumulated roadtrip rubbish from door bins and cup holders. 

Grimy GT3 - yes!

I've driven supercars in the winter too and I love the way you get a very visible demonstration of the way the air - and dirt - is directed over the car by the aerodynamics. The white GT3 we had last year was a good example, the feathered grime on the leading edges of the rear wing and its supports after lapping South Wales oddly beautiful in its way. I imagine the wing vents on the 991 GT3 RS do rather exciting things with spray with the blanking plates removed too - if there are any owners out there with photographic evidence please share! 

In fact, if you've just got a shot of your car resplendent in its winter patina let's have it. I recall someone sharing a shot of an F40 with a proper coating of road grime on it last time this was discussed - a high bar for sure but let's see what you've been up to!

Dan 

Photos: Dan, Roo Fowler

[loskie]

I used to AI cows and in the winter went to up to 28 farms in a day. Covered 60000m per year.Winter was the busiest time. I had a theory that after 14days the car could get no dirtier. We ran bog standard base Astras (1991 to 96). st would accumulate in the wheel arch just allowing room for the wheel and no more.

[loskie]

Willy Nilly said:

loskie said:

I used to AI cows and in the winter went to up to 28 farms in a day. Covered 60000m per year.Winter was the busiest time. I had a theory that after 14days the car could get no dirtier. We ran bog standard base Astras (1991 to 96). st would accumulate in the wheel arch just allowing room for the wheel and no more.

Let me guess, you gave up AI-ing cows because you have bad shoulders




No the pay was rubbish. It was in the days of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board. Fairly enjoyable job though. Times have changed now. Used to AI 4500 a year which was a lot in those days. Never had shoulder problems but I am quite tall so maybe that helps. One ex colleague has severe tendonitis after 25 years. I only did it for 6.

[loskie]

With a few exceptions; so far none of the pictures posted are actually that dirty. I may need to venture into the loft to find my old photos.

[loskie]

Hooli said:

What do I win?

some Showroom Shine waterless cleaner should do it!

[loskie]

Pereldh said:

After Christmas drive north & back.. In my Project Tight, a 2001 Punto Mk2.

I wish I could unsee those awful wheel trims.

[loskie]

After going to the Network Q rally in 1992 (Fleet stage) to watch Carlos Sainz

my car was like ......

[loskie]

A wee note on the back of the photo saying it was de fleeted at 2 years and 127000m. It hard a hard life. I was a bit of a mad 21 year old.

[loskie]

Fleet and Glengap stages are in the far background. Although they arent because I had to crop the picture as it was over 2mb

Edited by loskie on Friday 1st January 21:47