An awesome and emotional experience with 13 new and old 3 wheelers from UK, Germany and France gathered to remember one of the heros of WW1 and the memory of all who served on both sides.
Capt Ball coined the description of the 3 wheeler as "The closest thing to flying without leaving the ground" and I think we honoured him in a way in which he would have approved!
Thanks to Rich and Darren from MotorPunk for the idea and the "disorganization", to Matt (we look forward to the pictures and film) and to all the participants, old friends and new.
I look forward to meeting again, if not before then for the 100th anniversary next year
Awaiting depature from St Omer Aeroclub:
The Memorial at the crash site after laying the wreath accompanied by fitting words from MDH:
Couldn't make it to France for the Albert Ball Blat...maybe next year...but did get out and do a sort of lap of the Cairngorms, from Aberdeen through Braemar, over Glenshee, by Forter to Glenisla then assorted back roads past Meikleour to Perth dropped in to RPM for a chat, got away without buying anything (distracted Russell by talking about racing) then up the A9 where unavoidable and the old A9 where possible to Aviemore, then Cairngorm, Nethy Bridge, Tomintoul, over the Lecht and back to Aberdeen. Apart from the first few miles it was tee-shirt and bare head the whole way under blue skies and not much traffic. Factor 50 on and just lightly suntanned. Photos in the Morgan Gallery.
I was delighted with the prospect of a sunny day this weekend and an excuse to drive to Broadway in the Cotswolds for a horse event (daughter, not me). Aside from the usual waves and smiles and Dads nudging children to look, which are always gratifying, my reception on arriving at Ragley Service station was something else. I filled up with the usual audience of one dad and two offspring and went in to pay at the kiosk. The kiosk was unmanned, and I was told by the queue that this was due to the cashier having had to go out to photograph a car that had arrived on the forecourt. That would be mine I said, so some frosty stares as we all awaited his arrival back to take our money. Still gratifying!!
Calum give us your impressions about the Weatherproof tyre & how its wearing.
Tim
Tim, the Nokian having now been driven in warm dry conditions still seems to be really rather good, grips well but can still be moved around when appropriate, good in the wet and that undefinable thing "feel" seems decent too. Haven't really done enough miles on it to be able to say how well it is wearing but after about 350 miles or so over the weekend it doesn't have that shredded look that I would expect of an overheated tyre so I don't think it's a big issue. To sum it up; at the moment if it got an irreparable puncture I would be happy enough fitting another one.
Took my co-pilot out for lunch today in Thumper. Not bad for four weeks after a partial knee replacement. The colour scheme of the pub was carefully chosen to match the car and, no, the 'Elephant & Castle' is not in Sarf London.
Finally got back home today and got out for a run about in the sun, before food in the Marine Hotel in Stonehaven then finished off with a potter along the somewhat less sunny beach in Aberdeen.
