So, it's been a couple of weeks since I last blogged, a situation brought about in no small way by the failure of my personal laptop.
Unlike my cars it is neither aluminium nor British-made and hence completely unrepairable.
By contrast, both cars have suffered minor failure or faults in the last two weeks yet neither of them have become unusable as a result. This is reassuring to say the least.
The Land Rover suffered a near-catastrophic failure of a universal joint on the front prop shaft during the return journey from our weekend in Derbyshire. This manifested itself as a squealing graunching noise every time the vehicle pulled away, something Widget and I confidently convinced ourselves was categorically not a failing universal joint. We dismissed this so readily based around very extensive previous experience of failed universal joints all over the country. By chance, like most scientific discoveries, we came to the conclusion that if a laning trip is planned to anywhere with "District" in it's name, then a universal joint will fail, most probably on the return journey. But all was not lost. The front prop shaft was removed and the vehicle made roadworthy again, in two wheel drive only, in under twenty minutes, something of a personal best.
All this was overseen by tea and cake, obviously.
The following weekend the other aluminium car took it's turn as flagship of the fleet with a trip to the Isle of Wight for "WightBlat'08". We were treated to the sort of weather you'd expect for the South Coast in early spring, namely driving rain, localised flooding, hail and occasional flurries of snow.
This highlighted the second failing to blight aluminium car ownership this month, a leaky windscreen. A little moisture inside either the Caterham or Land Rover is not unheard of, due to the unique way they are made, but what was most interesting is that the Caterham seemed to remain dry where you'd most expect it to allow water in, and yet flooded with ease where you'd least want it to. In this instance water flowed freely through the join between the windscreen frame and the glass itself, almost precisely in the driver's field of view only. This was easily cured temporarily with judicious application of black insulating tape.
WightBlat itself was a roaring success. Being based in a holiday camp left over from the 1960s, this evoked something of a Blitz spirit among the assembled Caterham owners who were determined to enjoy themselves despite the venue smelling like a church hall, the breakfasts being rationed and the swimming pool having more than a little in common with neat Domestos. It occured to me during the weekend that the tolerance required to own and drive a Caterham is not dissimilar and this is probably why we had such a great time.
Both cars are now fixed. A new universal joint for the Land Rover and some silicone sealant for the Caterham.
And tea for me.
Unlike my cars it is neither aluminium nor British-made and hence completely unrepairable.
By contrast, both cars have suffered minor failure or faults in the last two weeks yet neither of them have become unusable as a result. This is reassuring to say the least.
The Land Rover suffered a near-catastrophic failure of a universal joint on the front prop shaft during the return journey from our weekend in Derbyshire. This manifested itself as a squealing graunching noise every time the vehicle pulled away, something Widget and I confidently convinced ourselves was categorically not a failing universal joint. We dismissed this so readily based around very extensive previous experience of failed universal joints all over the country. By chance, like most scientific discoveries, we came to the conclusion that if a laning trip is planned to anywhere with "District" in it's name, then a universal joint will fail, most probably on the return journey. But all was not lost. The front prop shaft was removed and the vehicle made roadworthy again, in two wheel drive only, in under twenty minutes, something of a personal best.
All this was overseen by tea and cake, obviously.
The following weekend the other aluminium car took it's turn as flagship of the fleet with a trip to the Isle of Wight for "WightBlat'08". We were treated to the sort of weather you'd expect for the South Coast in early spring, namely driving rain, localised flooding, hail and occasional flurries of snow.
This highlighted the second failing to blight aluminium car ownership this month, a leaky windscreen. A little moisture inside either the Caterham or Land Rover is not unheard of, due to the unique way they are made, but what was most interesting is that the Caterham seemed to remain dry where you'd most expect it to allow water in, and yet flooded with ease where you'd least want it to. In this instance water flowed freely through the join between the windscreen frame and the glass itself, almost precisely in the driver's field of view only. This was easily cured temporarily with judicious application of black insulating tape.
WightBlat itself was a roaring success. Being based in a holiday camp left over from the 1960s, this evoked something of a Blitz spirit among the assembled Caterham owners who were determined to enjoy themselves despite the venue smelling like a church hall, the breakfasts being rationed and the swimming pool having more than a little in common with neat Domestos. It occured to me during the weekend that the tolerance required to own and drive a Caterham is not dissimilar and this is probably why we had such a great time.
Both cars are now fixed. A new universal joint for the Land Rover and some silicone sealant for the Caterham.
And tea for me.
