Superb weather so I had to take the coupe out, even going as far to look at the local map for some quiet country lanes and unmade roads. I took the camera with me as I don't really have any great shots of the car in action. At this point I'm going to blame Gavin and Mark and their "I'll drive my car anywhere,anytime and take plenty of photos to show the boys" ethos, for what transpired. This first shot was taken very close to home, unfortunately it was a little to hazy to see the rolling Cotswold hills in the distance.
The Coupe happily burbled through some beautiful countryside, past woods blanketed with blue bells,through picturesque market towns and speeding up to fly along the edge of bright yellow fields of ****.
So having taken the quite backroads I ended up at the end of a public byway I know of, an umade road that's cl***ed as a green lane. Years ago I remember riding my XR250 along it and how much fun I'd had. Mark and Pete will also tell you of the small section of green lane we managed to clear a few weeks back and that the coupe and roadster handled it in their stride. With that and my "do or die" spirit I headed up the track. Occasionally stopping to remove branches or stone from the path and once or twice to take photographic evidence of my solo adventure.
<HR cl***=hr SIZE=1 width="100%"> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->The track is approximately 3 miles long I guess and I was having great fun. It gets a little tight in places so much so that you'd struggle to open your door. A brief thought of what I do if I was to suffer a puncture was quickly put out of my head, convincing myself that all the great explorers before me wouldn't have let trivial matters hinder their adventures.
It was at this point the Good Ship Stupid ran aground! Yep, the ruts got fairly deep and my exhausts decided to dig themselves in. Memories of Becky getting the T stuck on the whoop of a Penine motocross track came flooding back. Remembering I was on my todd, in the middle of nowhere with no roadster to tow me out, I rolled myself a ciggie and hummed the Hamlet cigar theme music to myself. First things first, take a picture of the car beached and send it to a mate so that he can laugh at your misfortune . Next was to rummage through the meagre selection of tools to see what would be useful in this situation.
I know what you're thinking surely you could reverse out. 2 miles backwards on a lane this narrow, no way. And although it doesn't look like a serious case of ground clearance or the lack of, the ruts in places where more than 6 inches deep. Nothing else to do but phone the girlfriend up, admit what a plonker I was and ask here to bring a spade so I could dig myself out. Whilst waiting I managed to free the car by excavating the sunbaked earth with my screwdriver! Even managing to clear 3 meters in front of the car too. The lads on their motorcross bikes must have thought I was a complete *****, but thankfully didn't laugh in my face probably saving it for later.
<HR cl***=hr SIZE=1 width="100%"> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I got stuck at roughly 12.15 and by about 1.40 Monique arrived with a look of disgust on her face and a shovel in her hand. I started levelling the ruts out and I think I dug something like 20 meters out, enough to get the coupe to a farmers entrance into a field. I hoped to turn the car around in the field and head out the way I'd come. I finally manged to extract the car from the ruts at about 4.00. Knackered and gagging for a pint, I told Monique that with a little more air in the tires I reckon I would have made it.
Four wheelin in a hot rod, great pictures and story. Looks like great fun too. Except for the digging part!
Is this part of the Royal Wedding.....i just woke up... 32 Spitfire http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=332610&highlight=32+spitfire
I'm resigned to the fact that hotrods aren't Landrovers and this is why Bonneville is so flat! I'm also considering one of those small army shovels you'd normally see strapped to the back of an army Landy, lol Yep it was good fun, the country roads in this part of England always offer up some sort of a challenge and great scenery is guarenteed
I fore see sand ladders and sump guards in the future and possibly a wax jacket and camouflage trousers
Haha now that's funny.. Good to see your taking after me... lol. at least i had someone to tow me out.. Now you've flattened it you'll have to sort out a rod run
Very cool , I like the way you think chap , build it proper and then take it out and drive it proper! Coupe looked great out in the countryside. I'll bet the pint tasted extra special ( you chaps need to learn to drink it chilled though!)
Funny, when ever I take my roadster out for a drive about the only thing I bring is my AAA card, never thought of having a shovel in the trunk. Learn something new every day.
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