Capri Bullock News November '07

Why is it you find something is broken just when you need to use it, and not when you have time to fix it? I can usually come along to the various meetings, but sometimes because of shift work I can’t. Last months new Friday meet at Mickey’s Diner was one such occasion. Luckily I have a boss that understands you work to live and not live to work and I was allowed to go in late enabling me to attend the meeting. To ensure that I could get to work as early as possible I decided to take Tango. This is when I discovered that the heater in the Capri had packed up. Not having had time to look at it yet I’m guessing that the temperature controller has come apart in some way, fingers crossed it will be that easy. The journey to work was cold but bearable. The journey back home again all 70 miles was bloody freezing. The inside of the car windows etc were freezing up and it was difficult to see the road ahead because of the fog created by my own breath. Also, I could hardly move my fingers, it was sooooo cold. On my arrival home at 7.30am I was lucky to find Mrs Bullock still in bed, and they do say if you find someone suffering from hyperthermia the best way to warm them up is with the heat from another person. My survival instincts kicked in and into bed I jumped. I must remember to look at that heater before I next take the car out.

For Bonfire night this year I enlisted the help of my brother in-law Kelvin and his trustee chain saw as being a tree surgeon he always has one handy. Bert’s Barn and surrounding grounds had become overgrown with trees and nettles that required cutting back. So on Sunday 28th a few of us gathered to build the bonfire from the material which Kelvin was cutting down. Peter, me Dad, set to with a bloody great machete cutting down the nettles and overgrown weeds around the base of the fire. Bonfire night looks to be an enjoyable safe evening. Photo’s and write up to follow next month.

I now have another Ford estate car parked outside my garage. This was purchased on eBay. My Dad no longer has a car to remain part of the Club with after selling his Capri and having disasters with the Granada’s he purchased so I went on the hunt for a suitable replacement. The requirements were a rear wheel drive Ford, automatic, estate or MPV, and not a rusty old shed. The estate part is required so that his mobility scooter can be transported to events, enabling him to participate without causing himself so much pain the next day. After checking out the various models on eBay every other day I found a very clean Mk4 Cortina estate 1600GL Auto. Its very tempting to put a bid in early, but knowing that you only push the price up I waited till the last minute before placing one. I managed to win the car with seconds to go for the very reasonable price of £620. I phoned a friend of mine Paul, who is in the motor trade for advice on anyone who has a car transporter. It so happened his son Danny has one but there was a problem as the cam belt had snapped the day before I rang. They were in the process of repairing the engine and Paul assured me that the transporter would be ready for the next day Tuesday, this being my only spare day off for the next 2 weeks. The car had to be picked up from Norwich and without MOT or road tax this was a bit to far to chance driving it back. Me and Dad travelled up with Danny in his Ford Transit car transporter the 133 miles to Norwich to by greeted by a funny looking local in an even funnier looking hat. Its always a chance you take with internet auctions that the item you are buying is as described and luckily the Cortina has turned out to be better than expected. All that is required is an MOT and it will be on the road ASAP.