The Blonde Bombshell and the King of Iraq

Dick Francis the racing author has always been a hero of mine – have been collecting his books for forty years. I was delighted last week at a Society of Authors’ symposium to sit next to and chat with his son Felix, who has continued to write the Francis thrillers.

He had been to Royal Ascot in a 1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom, once owned by ‘Blonde Bombshell’ Diana Dors, and which was also owned by the King of Iraq. The car ended up in Istanbul – happily out of Iraq when a coup occurred, and was then driven back home to Britain.

Felix Francis still has a house in the Cayman Islands to where his father moved to escape horrendous British tax rates, and has a new book, ‘Damage’, out in the autumn.

Tip From Across The Pond

Now that car/bike season is here, and most of us will be detailing cars and motorcycles to show (or sell) or just plain drive or ride, now we are seeing those pesky rock chips that have appeared over the winter months on our paintwork.  A friend of mine, former president of Griots Garage, told me about these little handy items.  Shipping cost was more than the item but well worth it.  I used to use splinters of wooden toothpicks dipped in touch up paint to fill in rock chips, but these are going to be so much nicer--here's what he wrote to me that convinced me to order them:.

Great! I think you’ll like using these. I found them long ago before the car care world knew they existed. I was at a dental lab where my brother in law worked. I was poking around and saw these things. They were using them to do dental bridge and implant work. I asked if I could have a few and he gave me the whole container. I called the company on the label and we started private labeling them with the GG logo. The rest is history.    These come in many sizes so I always opt for the smallest. The link I sent look like very small tips. They are like a miniature puff ball that has been exploded in to thousands of little bristles. Very nice to use. Plus you can bend the ends providing you with a different attack angle for applying paint. They are disposable and this package will last you a long time unless you’re driving behind lots of gravel trucks.

I bought them, where else, Amazon.  Here is the item in case you'd like to buy some, too:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FZZH2S/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

and here is the packet just arrived in the mail, sitting on my desk, and next, the garage (and no, I'm not on commissionn--have nothing to do with this company other than having bought one of their products--I just wanted you to know about this cool and new-to-me product, too):
From Diane Brandon

Booksigning in Monmouth

A Fisherman’s Tale

        Or how to catch a Sedanca

A friend of mine fishing in Inverness-shire spotted a sumptuous Rolls owned by a fellow guest and mentioned – well done Pete, my Charles Rolls book. David McQueen of the Scottish section then kindly ordered the book, which was despatched post haste for an old friend who was retiring, as a present.

David also kindly agreed to let us put a photo on the blog and here it is in it’s finery – a 1934 Phantom 2 Continental Sedanca – a stunning 7780cc in rich Burgundy Red – chassis number – hope I have it right – 183RY. Thank you, David – a magnificent car!

Manchester Midland Hotel Lunch

Great fun, and a privilege to speak at the Midland Hotel Manchester on May 4th, for the 110th Anniversary of Rolls and Henry Edmunds meeting Royce. Travelled as Rolls did, by train via Crewe and Stockport to see forty or so cars splendidly parked outside the hotel,and not a drop of rain in sight. We forgot to bring a camera – so sad.

Cars had come from the Netherlands, Derbyshire as well as all parts of the Northern Section organised by John Beecroft.

Lunch was launched with a toast to Rolls and Royce by Graham Mead, and grace given by Northern Section founder, Roy Brooks, who was sporting a Rolls-Royce hand injury after fighting  a losing battle with a stiff nut on his car.

Roy sat next to me and said his first car cost £30 – those were the days!. His grace was succinct and fitting for the occasion:

            Dear God we thank you for this food

            For family, friends and all things good

            For our cars and their creator

            Rolls in sales and Royce the maker

            In this year of celebration

There’s lots of joy and jubilation

May we all these blessings share

And hearts be grateful everywhere.  Amen. 

Stephen Beers of Northern section was on our table, and told a splendid tale of himself, as a ten year old boy, patting the mascot on a wealthy neighbours Silver

Cloud, on the way to school each   morning.   .When nabbed by his neighbour, he told him he wanted his own Rolls-Royce one  and was told to work hard and then he would have one.

Now he has. A splendid Silver Spirit…see photograph .An enthusiast indeed.

After lunch Yours Truly gave a light hearted , yet well received talk on Rolls , followed by David Dudley’s masterly forensic tour of the Cooke Street works(now demolished)..another true bowler hatted enthusiast.

 Agreat day out and the train “Took the Strain” ,from Manchester back to Shrewsbury.

Wonderful Welsh Weekend – A new boy’s view.

With no little trepidation did the trio of self, spouse and Lady Jane (Huw Lloyd’s Silver Spirit) set off for the Welsh Weekend rally in Llandrindod Wells.

Had only driven the beautiful Deep Ocean Blue car on three occasions, but felt confident enough, having spent the previous weekend on a deserted Welshpool Trading Estate, practising reverse and other manoeuvres, which left the Lady unmarked and the estate still intact.

Fully fuelled with petrol, LPG, and sandwiches we drove through beautiful sunshine and Mid Wales via Kerry, LlanbadarnFynedd and Crossgates to Llandod and the fortunately wide open spaces of the Metropole car park, where several splendid cars were already in evidence. Herself, acknowledged with the regal wave, the occasional   Powys inhabitant as we passed in stately fashion. Such was the chauffeur’s skill that Madame rarely clutched the car door, but we were happy to reach our hub of Powys destination unscathed. .

We receive as ‘newbies’ a warm welcome from the other fifty car owners duly assembled .The food, pool and rooms were fine and a few libations with friends dispelled the rigours of the day. Hospitable people these car enthusiasts; they even know where the bonnet catch is, of which more anon!

Others will describe the Saturday route, a little less enjoyable due to a lack of sunshine, but although I have travelled the Mach(ynlleth) to Llanidloes mountain road several times, the reverse route is a little steep, but  one naturally felt the  brakes more than adequate. Some of the older cars may have sensed their advancing years, but all arrived in the ancient capital of Wales the stronghold of Owen Glyndwr, in good heart and in search of lunch- well done Robin and his Merry Men (and ladies!).

Sunday was glorious- the weather, the cars, the stately home,  Berrington  Hall, near Tenbury Wells made the best weather day this year so enjoyable .The display of costumes in the hall including the fiery wig which Kiera  Knightly wore in the film The Duchess were matched, by the finery of the fifty or so cars in the front of the great house ..a splendid sight…see photos.

A little mishap back at base saw a minor Lawson panic, when a window jammed  down, but one kind and knowledgeable Northern guest and Tony from Leicestershire’s combined experience saved the day, and they showed the ‘newbies’ wherein lay the bonnet catch and all was well.

Happily, we were able to return the favour when Tony’s hub-cab went missing and my encyclopaedic  knowledge of Powys cattle grids enabled us to retrieve the   wayward item from the roadside, and return the splendid yellow hubcap, to its grateful owner .see photo.

All in all, a pretty good do ..and  spring/summer may be here at last .

Montgomery Civic Society

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Did the longest talk so far in Montgomery Town Hall on Friday, 5th April.  Good audience (paying!) of about sixty, with a couple of Rolls-Royce enthusiasts there to keep me honest, two of whom travelled over forty miles.  One enquired as to my fee for a future gig – might be something in this speaking lark!

Off to a Welsh weekend in Llandrindod Wells, this weekend the centre of Powys.  Did you know that the county is one hundred and twenty-three miles deep and half the size of Jamaica?  Two thousand square miles with just a hundred and thirty thousand inhabitants.  Perfect for driving Lady J (1986 Silver Spirit), gently avoiding all tractors and stone walls.  Will report anon.

Indeed, Powys has four thousand miles of roads and some six thousand miles of off-road rights of way.  This is equal to the distance between Llandegly International Airport – a mythical airstrip near Penybont - and Alice Springs in Australia