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Car Forum / UK Car Forums / Classic Cars (UK group) / May 2008My sad news day
I went to my local garage this morning - the one that has looked after MOTs and welding on all my cars for the last 33 years - and it has changed hands. The mechanic who has looked after my daily driver Triumph since I bought it 24 years ago, (and done most of the repairs for the last two after my joints got a bit too creaky) has retired. Instead of someone taught in the traditional ways, who really liked to work on pre-electronics cars, I was meeting someone who reminded me of a Qu**k F*t fitter. I have booked the 2000 in for an MOT anyway, but whether he knows that the test is to different standards for pre-1974 cars remains to be seen. Whether he wants to do any work on it if any is needed remains to be seen. Whether I trust him to do it properly at a reasonable price if anything needs doing is also bothering me. How does someone find a garage that can be trusted with old machinery these days? Any suggestions? Jim > I went to my local garage this morning - the one that has looked after > MOTs and welding on all my cars for the last 33 years - and it has [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > How does someone find a garage that can be trusted with old machinery > these days? Any suggestions? Tell us where you are Jim, someone may know of a trustworthy garage in your area. Personal recommendation is way better than any advertisement! Badger. >> I went to my local garage this morning - the one that has looked after >> MOTs and welding on all my cars for the last 33 years - and it has [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > area. Personal recommendation is way better than any advertisement! > Badger. I am in Bath. The garage I used is Midland Car Company, so recommendations wanted other than that one. I have a couple of options. There is a body shop in Bath that specialises in MGBs but will tackle anything of similar age, and he doesn't do MOTs so he must have someone he uses for that. And there is the Morris Minor Centre that has recently moved from Bath to Bristol, but they might have a recommendation in Bath. So I can ask around, but any suggestions from the NG gratefully accepted. Jim HI Jim >>> I went to my local garage this morning - the one that has looked after >>> MOTs and welding on all my cars for the last 33 years - and it has [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] >but they might have a recommendation in Bath. So I can ask around, but >any suggestions from the NG gratefully accepted. I bought a used Moggie traveller from the MMC in Bristol - and based on that experience, I'd thoroughly recommend them. Much more 'traditional ways' than 'quickfit'.... Equally - anybody in Bath that they were to reccommend should be OK... <g> Hope this helps Adrian > HI Jim >> I am in Bath. The garage I used is Midland Car Company, so >> recommendations wanted other than that one. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Hope this helps > Adrian I will see what the MOT results are, and get an impression of the mechanic from the way he describes what he found. And if he doesn't find anything unaffordable wrong, I am inclined to let him do the work and judge him by how it is done. After all, he will be putting his name on the MOT certificate afterwards. But if I do think I have to go somewhere else, I will speak to Charlie Ware (he lives in Bath, and I often see him around), pass on your appreciation, and see what he has to say. Thanks for the recommendation. Jim HI Jim >> HI Jim > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >Ware (he lives in Bath, and I often see him around), pass on your >appreciation, and see what he has to say. Thanks for the recommendation. No problem. To jog his memory - it's the Almond Green '64 Traveller that he sent to the stained glass guy in south-west Ireland...... ...that should narrow it down a bit <g> Good luck Adrian >> But if I do think I have to go somewhere else, I will speak to Charlie >> Ware (he lives in Bath, and I often see him around), pass on your [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Good luck > Adrian I met Charlie on Monday and passed on your message. He didn't say anything apart from Oh yes I remember that one, but he looked really pleased. Jim HI Jim >>> But if I do think I have to go somewhere else, I will speak to >>> Charlie Ware (he lives in Bath, and I often see him around), pass on [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Jim Ah - that's nice..... Never met him in person - but we've spoken several times on the phone, and he seems like one of those people who knows their stuff on Moggies... Thanks Adrian > Ah - that's nice..... > Never met him in person - but we've spoken several times on the phone, > and he seems like one of those people who knows their stuff on Moggies... > > Thanks > Adrian He is a very interesting man to talk to, though he always seems incredibly busy and never chats for long at any time. He was once a millionaire who fought (and won) a running battle with the council who wanted to demolish a row of Georgian houses that they had deliberately allowed to go derelict to make them worthless. Charlie stepped in and bought them from under the council's nose, restored them and then forced the council to rethink their development plans because what they intended to demolish was no longer unfit for habitation. He sold them on and used the money to buy up another set of derelicts and restored them. Unfortunately at that time there was a property price crash and he lost most of his money because this latest batch sold for less than it cost him to restore them. Having found himself with insufficient cash to restore property he decided to start restoring something else and settled on Morris Minors. And as the business grew and became more profitable, he bought another Georgian terrace, restored that and used it as his business headquarters. He also started up a factory in Sri Lanka which now makes his parts for his restoration business. Before the second World War, there were several garages named Ware's, most of which got bombed. I don't know if they were his family or not - I have never asked him - but my guess is that they were, and he grew up in an environment where cars were repaired. He certainly knows a lot about classic cars which would have been current cars when he was growing up. Jim Hi Jim >> Ah - that's nice..... >> Never met him in person - but we've spoken several times on the phone, [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > crash and he lost most of his money because this latest batch sold for > less than it cost him to restore them. Sounds like a man after my own heart ! I'm running a campaign at the moment the bring back the Swansea-Cork ferry - which is a vital link for tourism & industry out here in the South-West of Ireland www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com with an online petition if you or anybody you know is interested.... > Having found himself with insufficient cash to restore property he > decided to start restoring something else and settled on Morris Minors. > And as the business grew and became more profitable, he bought another > Georgian terrace, restored that and used it as his business > headquarters. He also started up a factory in Sri Lanka which now makes > his parts for his restoration business. Ah - that's interesting - have heard mention of a factory out that way that's making Moggie spares - didn't put 2&2 together though.... One day when I'm rich I'm going to get Charles's organisation to biuld me a new Moggie - but then - that'd take away all the fun of patching up the odd hole in my 'original' one <g> > Before the second World War, there were several garages named Ware's, > most of which got bombed. I don't know if they were his family or not - > I have never asked him - but my guess is that they were, and he grew up > in an environment where cars were repaired. He certainly knows a lot > about classic cars which would have been current cars when he was > growing up. From the few chats I've had with him he's certainly a mine of information on the Minors... Regards Adrian - West Cork, Ireland > I'm running a campaign at the moment the bring back the Swansea-Cork > ferry - which is a vital link for tourism & industry out here in the > South-West of Ireland Ooh I used to use that "quite often" because a good friend of mine lived at Ringaskiddy. His family were a bit famous around those parts since they had an Island named after them. > www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com > > with an online petition if you or anybody you know is interested.... Just as long as it's not an aging Greek reject this time and hopefully the loos won't asphyxiate people in their sleep or the windows in the bar break during heavy weather. Hi Steve >> I'm running a campaign at the moment the bring back the Swansea-Cork >> ferry - which is a vital link for tourism & industry out here in the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > at Ringaskiddy. His family were a bit famous around those parts since > they had an Island named after them. Sounds interesting.... >> www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > the loos won't asphyxiate people in their sleep or the windows in the > bar break during heavy weather. Well yes..... On the website we _do_ say ==Just to clarify one thing - we’d all like the Swansea-Cork link to be restored, preferably with a modern, comfortable (different!) boat, operated by a responsive, efficient company. This may or may not be “Swansea Cork Ferries” - but, whoever is involved in operating it, the Swansea-Cork ferry service and the onward ‘land-bridge’ must be restored as soon as possible!== Even though the last boat was a bit of a tub, it was, at least, a link.... and without that link which gave easy access by car from the UK / EU to South-West Ireland - many holidaymakers are simply not making the journey.... - and the tourist industry out here is suffering. As I say - all e-signatures are very welcome ! http://www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com/html/e-petition.php Adrian >Hi Steve > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> >> Ooh I used to use that "quite often" because a good friend of mine lived I used to make quite a lot of use of it for work-trips - I'm involed in a joint project with UC Cork and it was just dead easy to get the bus to Carmarthen, train to Swansea and then catch the ferry over to Cork overnight. Getting there any other way is a PITA. >>> www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com >>> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> the loos won't asphyxiate people in their sleep or the windows in the >> bar break during heavy weather. In justice, I think the last one was an aging Japanese relic. Still, I've travelled on worse, and you were generally OK if you could get an upper-deck cabin.  SignatureAndy Breen ~ Speaking for myself, not the University of Wales "your suggestion rates at four monkeys for six weeks" (Peter D. Rieden) Hi Andy >> Hi Steve >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > bus to Carmarthen, train to Swansea and then catch the ferry over > to Cork overnight. Getting there any other way is a PITA. Agreed..... We moved out here about 18 months ago - just before the ferry ceased. Nightmare of a journey from Suffolk to Swansea (2 dogs, caravan, gigantic removals lorry) - sleepless night on the boat, inedible food.... BUT (and it's a big 'but') it saved us two extra days' worth of the removals guys time, and a rotten half-day journey from Rosslare this end... The annoying thing about the whole SCF business is that nobody's giving a straight answer. There are all sorts of stories and rumours - but nothing seems to be getting done! (meanwhile the tourist-related businesses are suffering - read the stories on the website!) That's why we started the campaign..... >>>> www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com >>>> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I've travelled on worse, and you were generally OK if you could get > an upper-deck cabin. We paid 2 x £10 for our two dogs to be housed in 'kennels' on the journey. Turned out the kennels were simply metal-and-fiberglass crates in a corner of the car deck - poor creatures were terrified, but, of course we couldn't visit them during the journey... one of them's still phobic about the sound of running water 18 months later There was an awful lot wrong with the previous boat, (and the company!) - but at least it was a link...... If you'd like to add your e-signature to the website then that'd be great Regards Adrian > That's why we started the campaign..... Have you thought about approaching LD Lines? They recently re-opened the Porsmouth/Le Havre ferry which takes a similar time to the Swansea/Cork route and are providing a good quality service at a reasonable price. >> That's why we started the campaign..... > > Have you thought about approaching LD Lines? They recently re-opened the > Porsmouth/Le Havre ferry which takes a similar time to the Swansea/Cork > route and are providing a good quality service at a reasonable price. Alternatively, have you approached DFSD? They are popular for routes across the North Sea, and according to my brother who used them once, a nice comfortable boat at a sensible price. If the channel tunnel has made a dent in their passenger numbers, they might have some spare capacity to move to Cork. Jim HI Jim / Steve >>> That's why we started the campaign..... >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Jim Now this will sound like a cop-out - but I'm hoping that the actual chatting with ferry compaines can be done by somebody more experienced than I. Our situation at the moment seems to be that the people in the Dail in Dublin either are unaware of the problem or don't care about the problem - either way - we aim to highlight the situation... The website's full of reports from people whose businesses are suffering from not having this link in place. I came from Cornwall - and it's like digging a great big trench across the A30 and the A38 - having the same impact on our tourist industry. Thing is - it looks like such an easy problem to solve - get a boat! - but for some reason whi we aren't being told, it's being made more complicated... Anyway - off the soapbox and out to sell some stained / fused glass to the few tourists who have got through the 'blockade' <g> Thanks for the signature, Steve Adrian > Hi Steve > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Sounds interesting.... I think nowadays the Island is under the Ringaskiddy terminal. It's certainly not in the harbour. IIRC there's a plaque to the family in question somwhere in the terminal. They used to have a really nice cottage a few doors down from the pub. > >> www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com > >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > / EU to South-West Ireland - many holidaymakers are simply not making > the journey.... - and the tourist industry out here is suffering. That's a shame. I've still got fond memories of weddings, wakes, nights out at the pub and cheese making. > As I say - all e-signatures are very welcome ! > > http://www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com/html/e-petition.php I shall probably endorse your petition. HI Steve >> Hi Steve >> [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > I shall probably endorse your petition. Many thanks - it's appreciated Adrian > > I shall probably endorse your petition. > > Many thanks - it's appreciated OK, I haven't done it. I don't want to subscribe to a newsletter and the "code" whatever the f.ck that is isn't visible so the website won't accept my comment. Another triumph of fuckbugwittery over common sense when it comes to website design. Hi Steve >>> I shall probably endorse your petition. >> Many thanks - it's appreciated [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Another triumph of fuckbugwittery over common sense when it comes to > website design. I hope you're joking...... cos your comments came through fine.... and are on the website now. The 'code' is the three-letter 'captcha' image that should appear just below the comment box. It's designed to stop those darn 'spambots' that otherwise clog up such online forms - and it was working OK the last time I looked... Where does it mention a newletter..... ? - can't remember putting that in there... Adrian > Hi Steve > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I hope you're joking...... cos your comments came through fine.... > and are on the website now. No, I'm not joking. > The 'code' is the three-letter 'captcha' image that should appear > just below the comment box. It's designed to stop those darn 'spambots' > that otherwise clog up such online forms - and it was working OK the > last time I looked... No sign of it and I didn't enter one. <checks> No, it's still not there. Would it by any chance be some sort of Javascript thing? I don't run Javascript from websites, for fairly obvious reasons. > Where does it mention a newletter..... ? - can't remember putting that > in there... On the home page: "To show your support for our campaign - please support our 'e-petition' here and we'll add your name to our e-newsletter and keep you up-to-date with any developments." Sorry it's an e-newsletter obviously not the same thing as a newsletter. > > I hope you're joking...... cos your comments came through fine.... > > and are on the website now. > No, I'm not joking. They're there when I checked just now. 'Sent 05/17/2008 06:46:33'. Nothing better to do this time on a Saturday? ;-) > > The 'code' is the three-letter 'captcha' image that should appear > > just below the comment box. It's designed to stop those darn 'spambots' > > that otherwise clog up such online forms - and it was working OK the > > last time I looked... > No sign of it and I didn't enter one. <checks> No, it's still not there. > Would it by any chance be some sort of Javascript thing? I don't run > Javascript from websites, for fairly obvious reasons. It appears as just a JPEG icon here using an old version of JavaScript. Signature*Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses* Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. HI Steve / Dave >>> I hope you're joking...... cos your comments came through fine.... >>> and are on the website now. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > They're there when I checked just now. 'Sent 05/17/2008 06:46:33'. Nothing > better to do this time on a Saturday? ;-) Interesting.... In theory (!), if you couldn't see the 'captcha' letters, and therefore couldn't enter them - then your comment shouldn't have made it to the e-petition..... so I wonder how that happened.... I think I'll have to look into stopping the spammers server-side - there's a couple of easy checks that 'spot' spambot entries and 'kill' them before writing them to the e-petition file - maybe I'll look inot that and scrap the 'captcha'... >>> The 'code' is the three-letter 'captcha' image that should appear >>> just below the comment box. It's designed to stop those darn 'spambots' [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > It appears as just a JPEG icon here using an old version of JavaScript. It's a 'bolt on' feature supplied as part of the web editing program - much of the form handling is done in php, but I'm not sure just how the 'captcha' bit works... Thanks for the feedback folks .... Adrian > > > I hope you're joking...... cos your comments came through fine.... > > > and are on the website now. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > They're there when I checked just now. 'Sent 05/17/2008 06:46:33'. Nothing > better to do this time on a Saturday? ;-) Early start. Believe me I was looking forward to a lie-in, but the farmer's wives coven has a meeting over near Basingstoke and I was volunteered as driver. Yes, I can see that the comment is there, but the site gave an error message and I can't find the spamtrap picture at all and I'm bemused about why the site accepted the comment if the "captcha" thing is an essential part of the process. Still can't see it. Hi Steve >>>> I hope you're joking...... cos your comments came through fine.... >>>> and are on the website now. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > farmer's wives coven has a meeting over near Basingstoke and I was > volunteered as driver. You & me both - up 0630 hours to pack the car for the local Farmers' market... > Yes, I can see that the comment is there, but the site gave an error > message and I can't find the spamtrap picture at all and I'm bemused > about why the site accepted the comment if the "captcha" thing is an > essential part of the process. So am I - I'll have to have a paddle round the code.... <g> > Still can't see it. Aha - well - you won't now, 'cos I've taken it off <g> - preparing for the avalance of spambot bother.... It's more of an irritation than a big deal, 'cos everything had to be validated by me before it gets published (had a couple of daft entries early on) - but it's annoying ploughing through 20 spambot messages and deleting each one... However - I'm all for making it more 'user-friendly' - we don;t want to make it hard for folks to sign up to the e-petition... You don;t recall what the error message was, do you ?? Ah well - it's raining out here in West Cork this afternoon - ideal weather for hacking server-side scripts ! Thanks Adrian > You don;t recall what the error message was, do you ?? Sorry, no I wasn't pying attention that much. It seemed to be offended because Javascript is disabled in my browser and I got a error page that looked like it was generated by NoScript rather than by your site. HI Steve >> You don;t recall what the error message was, do you ?? > > Sorry, no I wasn't pying attention that much. It seemed to be offended > because Javascript is disabled in my browser and I got a error page that > looked like it was generated by NoScript rather than by your site. Ah - OK..... Odd that it let you post anyway..... Have modded the page for the time being to remove the 'captcha' thing - and modded the (hidden) admin page so's I can bulk-delete spambot posts. We'll see how it goes... Thanks Adrian > Yes, I can see that the comment is there, but the site gave an error > message and I can't find the spamtrap picture at all and I'm bemused > about why the site accepted the comment if the "captcha" thing is an > essential part of the process. > > Still can't see it. I had a quick look at the page source. I am not particularly good with javascript, because I never learned it, but there are enough similarities with Coral66 which I did learn 20 years ago to have some idea of what is going on. As far as I can see, if the scripts don't run, then the validation to decide not to send the form if there is a completion error doesn't run either, so anything gets through. Who hasn't tested the No Script conditions then? ;-) Jim HI Jim >> Yes, I can see that the comment is there, but the site gave an error >> message and I can't find the spamtrap picture at all and I'm bemused [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Who hasn't tested the No Script conditions then? ;-) Thanks for taking the time to look - appreciated.. As to 'who hasn't...?' then that'd be the folks at Netobjects.... <g> - the form handling was their product, part of NetobjectsFusion10. They're not very keen to sort out bugs in the scripts - I've asked them... seem to be much more focussed on the new version of NOF that's due out sometime soon (probably using the same scripts !) Ah well... that's life <g> Thanks Adrian
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