It's arrived!

I'd had reports from various colleagues:

 "Dean's been on the 'phone.  He's really worried that you'll be disappointed"

"Dean's been on the 'phone.  He wonders what the f**k you want that for!"

Sure enough, Dean turned up looking rather worried and kept me waiting most of the day before we went to unload the van.  This is what we unloaded:

The front tyre fell off when the 'ped was lifted into the van yesterday morning!

I had been warned that the seat was missing.  The luggage rack is a bonus - my other Ariel 3 doesn't have one.

Ooh! Time to open it up and have a look at the engine...........

Strange, I thought those leaves would just fall off.........

The engine?  It's in there somewhere.....

Are you ready to see the engine, Larry?  It's here.  Underneath that birds nest!

What a vision of loveliness!  It did make me laugh......I think it could be quite a challenge but nothing a hoover and a bit of polish won't sort.  I've got a spare seat somewhere.  It might need new tyres too!

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

How exciting!

Ariel 3 was collected this morning and should be delivered tomorrow.

Apparently, it is a rotten heap of rotten stuff.  Never mind, they're all like that.....

I'm looking forward to it!

Ariel 3 - brief update

Nice subbie at work has agreed to collect the "spare" snot-green Ariel 3 for me and bring it to Telford.

Some Ariel 3 links for you:

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0510.htm

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0246.htm

BSA Victor 92 HOH - update

I don't know if anyone remembers this blog post:

http://kittensandmotorcycles.blogspot.com/2010/02/some-of-you-may-recognise-above.html

I was pleased to read in Old Bike Mart today that the BSA Victor outfit has been traced.  Nice to have a happy ending and I look forward to reading more of the story in OBM.

Ariel 3 - getting Larry in the mood for engine piccies!

Before I managed to "win" the Ariel 3 engine on ebay (which turned out to be damaged but I couldn't be bothered to argue the toss with the seller) I drafted a Wanted ad to be included in the NACC magazine "Buzzing" requesting a spare engine and any other parts.

As a result, today I had a phone call from a very nice chappie called Chris who has had a complete Ariel 3 sat in his shed for a long time and who would be quite happy to accept £30 to be rid of it.  It is all in one piece but it is located near Gatwick (about 3 hours away).  I don't know if this is a "girlie" thing but I did ask what colour it was - I always really wanted the snot-green one - he confirmed it was largely snot-green with brown (rust?!) bits.

To me, snot-green is the correct colour.  This is mainly because of a BSAOC trip to the most excellent transport museum in Coventry, back in 2006.  At the time there was what can only be described as a "snot-green" corner, which I remember included a snot-green Ariel 3, a snot-green Allegro and a snot-green Marina.  You'll be disappointed that I don't have a piccie of the Marina but, for your delight, I do have piccies of the Allegro and the Ariel 3.

Of course, only a complete fool would drive 3 hours each way to collect such an abomination as an Ariel 3.  So. to prove I'm not such a complete fool, I'm hoping to convince one of "our" subcontractors at work to collect and deliver it to me because it is sort-of on his way-ish..........

Happy New Year!

Snow!

Well, we've not had huge amounts of snow but we have had enough to make driving interesting.  Most of the snowfall was over Friday night and Saturday.  We drove as far as Tesco, the worst moments being people stopping for no apparent reason and the idiots who insist on tailgating.  The road into Ironbridge was closed but we didn't need to go there so weren't too worried.

No more snow fell during the night but it was cold enough that my car was frozen on the inside and there were great clods of frozen snow hanging behind the back wheels.  We'd thought it might be fun to venture out on the two XL185s so we dragged them out of the Green Shed.  Well, to be honest, Gus dragged them out of the Green Shed while I struggled to open the three padlocks on the back gate, two of which refused to co-operate until I'd poured boiling water on them.

Herbert (No 1 XL) started fairly easily but Horatio (No 2 XL) took a little more persuasion but only because he needed me to hold the choke on while Gus kicked him into life.  Gus took Horatio on a recce just beyond the end of the road to check out just how good an idea it was to take the bikes out.  The considered opinion was "Sod that for a game of soldiers".  Having seen the front and back wheel sliding around I think I would have been somewhat ruder than that and using the Bad "F" word........We put the bikes away and headed off in the car for a very delicious Sunday Lunch at the Robin Hood in Ironbridge.

Oh, I'll try to post some Ariel 3 engine piccies over the Christmas break for those who are interested!!!