First Post of 2012 "Back to the Drawing Board"

Well Happy New Year!

2012 is here and it's already looking busy.

First event of the year is coming up this Sunday (8th January), the Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic at the Newark Showground. I will be attending on Sunday and going round doing some skribbling as I go, so if you see me stop me and say hello as my eyes will be glad of the break. More information on the show can be seen here:

(click Image above)

In the mean time here are some more digitally painted sketches from 2011.

Vanguard Woody

Early Morris Rat Rod

The First Production 8 litre Bentley

Last restored 1987

ABC Aero Engined Special

UK Roadster & Pickup Nationals at Twinwood Airbase

On Sunday (3rd July) Twinwood airbase played host to the UK Roadster and Pickup Nationals, hosted by Dave, Lesley and Paul Brown at Clapham Classics.

An incredibly wide range of cars and trucks made the journey out to this lost gem of a WWII Airbase to enjoy the sunshine. Here's a few snaps and sketches from the day.

First sketch of the day was this Sherpley Sports known as "Beastie".

It was an apt crossover from my visit to the Bentley Drivers Concours D'Elegance last weekend. The car started off as a 1983 Freight Rover dropside truck. The build took 5 years and was based around the chassis and running gear from this truck. The engine and gearbox came from a scrap 1965 Vanden Plas 4R, the engine being a Rolls Royce 4 litre, straight six. The owner said it would look silly with anything smaller, and I must agree.

Second Sketch of the day was this fantastic early morris rat rod.

This I must say is possibly my favourite build, due to the execution and inventiveness that has gone into it. The owner is constantly changing bits on it as he said "I get bored". Since I first saw this car in Custom car it has had a new morris grill and bonnet installed, along with a fantastic use of an old oil tin to cover the air filter poking out of the bonnet.

Morris cars obviously run in the family as the father bought along his morris van too.

Third sketch was of these conveniently place early rods. Looking great against this period airfield building. obviously attracting a lot of attention.

The fourth and penultimate sketch was of the front end of this 40s Ford pickup. I love the art deco details that they put into the grills in these models.

The final sketch of the day was of this Vanguard Woody. A great little car with a one off woody body. There was a contingent of Vanguards on display, apparently owned by just one person. Hats off to the owner and his friends for bringing them all along.

Here's the full line up.

Had to include this early Ford pickup a real favourite

as my wife and I are currently looking for one!

As well as all the cars there was also the Twinwood Museum chok full of old stuff.

Whilst at the event I met Tim and Paul two very friendly artists from Raygun Industries. I would highly recommend visiting their website and checking out their artwork, DVDs and t shirts:

http://www.raygun-industries.co.uk/

Clapham Classic Events are running another shindig in the same location in September. I'd urge anyone who has an interest in cars to attend this event as Sunday proved that any type of car, truck or even bike was welcome at this all inclusive event. More info can be found here:

http://www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk/

Last but not least I'd like to thank Dave, Lesley and Paul Brown for organising such a wonderful event and making everyone feel so welcome.

Two more events to go in my 5 week Marathon:

VMCC 1000 Bikes Festival 8th - 10th July (this weekend)

http://www.vmcc.net/1000bikes/index.htm

Pre War Prescott 17th July

http://www.prewarprescott.com/

Bentley Drivers Club Concours D'Elegance

Bentley at the 1929 Irish Grand Prix

(oil on board)

A piece made for the 75th anniversary Concours D'Elegance.

The Bentley Drivers Club had their 75th anniversary Concours D'Elegance on 25th June. I was there enjoying the line up as well as running painting and sketching demonstrations.

1929 HJ Mulliner 4.5 Litre

Winner of the Patina Class

I really liked the owners run it as it is approach.

The First Production 8 litre Bentley

Last restored 1987

First Owner Jack Buchanan He was known for three decades as the embodiment of the debonair man-about-town

1923 Vandeplas 4.5 Litre

Brooklands Double 12 report

W.O. Bentley in Experimental Number 1 at Brooklands

(oil on board work in progress)

Part of my painting demonstration on the Saturday. I will be continuing this piece at this Coming Saturdays Bentley Driver Club Concours D'Elegance

My home for the weekend the ERA Shed.

An improvised set up.

One of the current residents in the E.R.A. Shed

The Napier Railton (24 litre Napier Lion Areo Engine) :

Holder of the outer track record at Brooklands

143.44 mph (230.84 km/h)) set in 1935:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier-Railton

Bluebird Sunbeam (350HP)

Originally built by built by the Sunbeam Car Company in 1922. It Was Later campained by Malcolm Campbell. More info on it's life and records can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbeam_350HP

This car was on loan from Beaulieu and was subject to some of my scribblings over the weekend. I couldn't pass up an opportunity like this.

Quick pen and ink Sketch

Watercolour study

As part of the celebrations they had three Napier Lion engines. Two were in cars the Napier Railton and the Napier Bentley. The other was on a trolley and had a propeller attached.

The real monster of the weekend was Chris Willaims' Packard Bentley a 42 litre aero engined black beast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard-Bentley

Pen and Ink Study

As well as the large areo engined cars there was lots of other exotic machinery to see. Including this Alpha Romeo Areo Spider. It was built in the 30s to run at over 200mph and was never completed. After a long spell in various barns in England it was restored in Europe (I'm currently trying to fond out more about its history). Unfortunately it only had a 6 cylinder engine installed, it was intended to have a 12 cylinder engine but Alpha Romeo never produced one. It still made a great noise though.

Originally designed to be a single seater it can now take 3 people with the driver in the middle. So McLaren weren't the first!

The front brakes are huge, you couldn't even see past them through the spokes!

There was a fantastic array of Veteran cars on display outside the front of the Club House.

1898 Henroid

Pen and Ink Study

The Henroid can run on either alcohol or petrol with very slight adjustment. This is the only known surviving example. Owned by Roy Fisher of Eastbourne, on the south coast of England, the 6 hp Henriod Duc, or “Madame Henriod” as he calls his pride and joy, is untouched, never having been restored, and is completely intact.

Large exposed flywheel can be seen lurking behind the engine.

Willy Wonka style oil resevoirs which drip directly onto various parts of the engine.

1897 British Built Daimler

Pen and Ink Study

The earliest surviving example a Coventry made Daimler.

The Morgan Three Wheeler Club were well represented on the day.

Special congratulations go out to Ian and Maria Parkinson for winning the Concours!

(photo by Trevor Seymour)

The Clive Lones Morgan

Baragwanath JTOR 996CC J.A.P. Engined Cycle Car

It Achieved 37 world records and in 1930 was the first Light Car to lap Brooklands outer Circuit at 100mph.

There were also some fantastic Austin Severn's out and about.
Chris Williams' Austin 7 special with a 3 Cylinder Light Aircraft Engine

An unusual short bodied Austin 7

Special thanks to all at Brooklands who made me feel so welcome and made such an amazing event possible. I fully recommend this event to anyone and urge you to attend next year.

Don't forget if your not already I would also like to recommend that you become a Brooklands trust member and that you support this amazing living museum:

http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com