All's well in Aston Martin land

[roughrider]

Over the years on this forum, its been great to see the positivity for such a strong domestic brand building up to what we see now. So many happy contributors/owners. Its what we all dreamt of as kids when we played with the DB5, and then stripped the hoover down looking for ejector seat man.
I will mention one contributor, [hope he doesn't mind], robgt, and Molly of course. He is such a realist, and every time i have met him, i can see him welling up when we talk about Aston Martin, and what it means in terms of an aspiration.
How many businesses have been started, with the entrepreneur dreaming of one day owning an Aston Martin. How many of these guys and girls have i been lucky enough to meet. How good has Aston Martin been for Britain?

This is actually a great advert for not posting on a forum after a few pints of Hobgoblin.............

[PiloteAM]

Heh, that's exactly why I started my last business :-)

[Simon T]

Awww You should tell him how you feel...

Simon

[Little Donkey]

Like most, the first time Aston Martin entered my psyche was of course the DB5. Even today, I would love a set of tyre shredding spinners and machine guns would definitely be an option box that I would tick today! But my first real encounter was the Lagonda. One was parked outside an office building on my route home from school and I used to stop everyday just to marvel at this incredible looking car. Then the AM V8 found its way into my heart and this was the wall poster that replaced the cliche Lamborghini Countach. I recall at the time it was the fastest car to 100mph - around 13 seconds if I remember. I'd still love an AM V8 now: we'll see!

Then a time in my life dominated by fast fords, 205GTi's and golf's meant that I was distracted by stuff that I could actually afford and my desires turned to 80's MG's. I liked to be different, but the main reason was the futuristic digital dash so similar to the Lgonda all those years ago. And it talked......sometimes!

But my passion for the brand was reignited by the birth of DB9. That Top Gear train vs DB9 episode was fantastic and having done a similar journey with my parents and girlfriend on holiday once, I could really appreciate just what an awesome motor vehicle had been born to the world. That was it, my sights were set and I used to confidently proclaim that I would have one by the time I was 40. I'm not sure how many believed me, though.

So after a lot of hard work, risk, stress, sheer determination and thankfully a little success, the day came when I could afford one. Off we went to Grange, had a test drive, got the numbers sorted................. and ended up buying a Maserati Gran Turismo. Why? Because the four of us could fit in it and as much as I tried, it was never going to happen in the 9. Gutted!

The GT never really did it for me and was just a trophy that covered just 2000 miles in two years. I swapped it in for the S version which was better, but it wasn't an Aston.

So wind forward to present day when I can afford to make sure we have a car each and of course, the ubiquitous range rover and now I'm the proud owner of a V12V and just because I can, a rather beautiful DB7 Vantage Volante. Everything else I use to get somewhere. The Astons? Well, they're just power, beauty and soul.

[roughrider]

PiloteAM said:

Heh, that's exactly why I started my last business :-)

Well done..

[roughrider]

Little Donkey said:

So wind forward to present day when I can afford to make sure we have a car each and of course, the ubiquitous range rover and now I'm the proud owner of a V12V and just because I can, a rather beautiful DB7 Vantage Volante. Everything else I use to get somewhere. The Astons? Well, they're just power, beauty and soul.

Fantastic

[MollyGTi]

roughrider said:

I will mention one contributor, [hope he doesn't mind], robgt, and Molly of course. He is such a realist, and every time i have met him, i can see him welling up when we talk about Aston Martin, and what it means in terms of an aspiration.

This is actually a great advert for not posting on a forum after a few pints of Hobgoblin.............

Never a truer word spoken (the advert/Hobgoblin bit that is)

I could add a lot of other things about Rob but the mods would probably have to delete the post so I'll leave it at that

Ironically Paul I think the last time we saw you was at Shelsley Walsh last August and we've been back there this morning! Considering the weather there was a really good turn-out for the first Breakfast Club meeting of the year (probably boosted by last weeks Top Gear visit to the venue). Road conditions (huge puddles and hidden potholes) too rough for Pearl so we went in the pick-up instead & Rob insisted on the dog going too Only one Aston there today and that was the V8VR of Faye & George.

Rob & Christy on the hill



Chris goes off where Hammond did in the Nova



Plenty of pork in the yard



Lots of variety too



& plenty of colour



We feel better for a bit of a petrolhead fix this morning even if all we saw of our Aston was a quick peek in the garage on our return home

[roughrider]

Wow, a perfect day out, so early in the year! Did you get all the way to the top?
Would love to be allowed to post a time at the Hillclimb this year..

[MollyGTi]

roughrider said:

Wow, a perfect day out, so early in the year! Did you get all the way to the top?
Would love to be allowed to post a time at the Hillclimb this year..

They serve a good breakfast and the place is full of car enthusiasts and all manner of interesting cars - whats not to like

We only walked up as far as 'Hammonds corner' and it was easier going than the longer walk up through the woods

Would be great if you can 'post your time' there too - let us know when