I've mentioned before that a chum runs Mexican food stalls from converted Airstream Caravans and occasionally I get called out to repair something or position a vehicle at one festival or another. I popped into the Latitude festival a couple of months ago....

... and this week, Fairport Cropredy. I understand that traders very much enjoy this event - aging hippies, many of whom whizz about on mobility scooters, are not too troublesome. Oddly enough, Fairport Convention have earned the nickname the 'British Jefferson Airplane', a band that headlined at the one and only music festival I ever attended. That was Knebworth, and a very long time ago.

It would have been a serious omission not to take in The British Motor Museum at Gaydon whilst I was down that way.

Why on earth no one put this prototype into production, I can't imagine. Mini based and a very pretty little sports car. Apparently, it was meant to replace the MG Midget, but sadly, it was not to be.

A sectioned MGB GT. The simplicity of now classic cars is remarkable. Often noisy, cold, and uncomfortable, they were nonetheless great fun to drive.

Another inspiring Special. At intervals, I try to persuade The Great Collector that a racy Special on something like a Bullnose chassis would be just the thing for his collection (and some Edwardian motorcycles) but he grins and ignores my obviously self-interested schemes!

One of the Bristol bucks that was recovered when the works closed not so long ago. A work of art in its own right.

I always like a Brough, and as an ex-sidecarist, especially with a handsome Swallow-built chair.

The Dart was not a car I liked. I hitched a lift in one travelling back to school from the Army's Officer Selection Board down at Westbury. As I remarked earlier, noisy, cold, and uncomfortable, but it motored well enough.

The blue Alvis 12/50 has been struggling to run properly, so I've rebuilt the two carbs - which are themselves a modification from the original single carb setup.

I went away again during the week, this time to Gloucester - a 350-mile round trip. As car electrics are completely baffling to me, leaving the wiring for even a day, means I have to reacquaint myself with everything I've done from the start to get back into it. Drives me nuts.