2013 - An unusual year for MM.

[Mystery Machine]

2013 has been the year where I've posted on and contributed to Retro Rides the least since signing up in 2008.

It's also been the year I've worked on less of my own projects due to virtually non-existent funds and, as a byproduct, taken less photos and updated my threads less than ever before. 2013 is also the year I've put more into Area 52 where possible - maybe not generally known about, but lots of changes have happened which are changing the way Area 52 functions and focusing more as a really strong community.

But most of all, 2013 has been a year that has seen a welcome progression away from unemployment (3 years and not claimed a penny for anything) and into a whole new line of work, something I enjoy doing; photography and film work. You could call it a dream job - getting paid to do something I absolutely LOVE! It's still early days, but we all have to start at the beginning and work up, don't we?

January, Corbs (Corwin) asks if I'd like to come along and help on a film shoot for Audi cars with the new RS4. Of course I say yes and before I know it I find myself, by chance, becoming the 'behind the scenes' photographer for the production company:




Full details and the finished video itself can be seen here. I'd like to tell you it was amazing to be part of, and luckily, I can, because it was:
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/146303/audi-duel-exclusive-scenes-round


Late January I find myself selling something I never thought I would. My Bedford Rascal.

This was my first 'Retro Rides' car which I bought not long after signing up to the forum. I had a lot of love for it and so did most people who ever saw it. My build thread only covers about 30% of what truly went into this little van. I really ought to try and find the time to get more of the details in there. It was a fun build and a fun van...and I do miss it.




Build thread here: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/42909


The Escort went under a change - namely a set of rare US spec Escort GT alloys...oh, and an engine conversion. But you can't really see that.


It also got featured in Classic Ford for their 'Dare to be Different' issue. Bryn took the shots and did an amazing job of the article. Thanks Dude.


I need to fix pretty much ALL the photo links since the change over on Pro-Boards, but here is the link to the build: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/138494


We all love buying cars, and as compensation for the impending departure of the Rascal, I got myself something from the other end of the van sized spectrum. A Dodge Ram B250 van (with B350 badging for some reason?)




It's more behind schedule that I'd like, but updates are long overdue on this build thread: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/145881/1980-dodge-b150-freak-supplies



The day after saying goodbye to the Rascal I was on the most frustrating and long winded road trip to collect this thing....about as far removed from anything you could ever predict I'd buy.





A week later I was finding out how a complete lack of money and an expensive to repair British classic meant my 'something for the weekend' car was going to a off the road for longer than I'd have liked. It didn't stop me and Pollitt getting busy with the plans to get it sitting a bit closer to terra firma:


Again, woefully behind with the updates, but here is the build thread. I LOVE this car... retrorides.proboards.com/thread/146638/1968-daimler-gentlemans-express-leaks


A few weeks later I found myself on a road trip down to Dez's. I've made this trip many times before, but this time was to take a good friend, Mark (Speedy88), to collect his new car. A trip to Dez's is always a joy. James (Vilerug) came along too.


Mark and his new ride. That was a GREAT day out....



Shortly after that was my last ever visit to Ryan's (CortinaRyan) place. I've been many times since being on Retro Rides (just up the road from where I live) and the yard/workshop were such a great place to visit. Anyone who's ever been will know what I mean - a sprawling mass of characterful lock-ups and containers spread amongst a few acres of lovely land. The land, however, had been sold to a housing developer and this was the last time I was going to see the place. Ryan is in a nice unit just down the road now, but it'll never be the same as this:



Mid-March and while on holiday I stumble, by complete chance, on a full blown rally stage. Literally 100yds from my cottage in Pembrokeshire.




Full thread and a few photos of my encounter here: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/149449/morning-glory-pics



So that's the first four months covered. Things go a bit quiet for the rest of April and pretty much all of May (apart from Area 52...but details of that to come separately). Pt2 to come...

[Mystery Machine]

Apart from Area 52 (which, as said, I'll cover separately) we can skip forward to mid-late June where I frantically put the finishing touches to the Escort because it's been invited to be on the Classic Ford stand at the Classic Ford show at Santa Pod.

The engine conversion is finished. Funny how swapping a 1.6 CVH to a 1.6 EFi CVH can be so much work! (Instagram shots I'm afraid)


Made it to the show after an 11th hour MOT and masses of help from Rich & James to get so many parts of the car sorted. Thanks guys! After the manic build up to the show with getting the car ready, it was nice to be able to relax at Pod the night before the show itself. Alone time just to recoup and drink a beer or two in the nice weather.


Photo taken by AB CarPix (Ade) at the show.


I got to spend the day wandering around the show with an old buddy - the first time we'd spent a whole day together in nearly 20 years! And if you're going to spend a day at Pod with anyone, who better than Bryn. I got to see all the sights, including some great viewing from the tower. Brilliant.


I didn't take my camera and to be honest, I probably wouldn't have taken any shots even if I had taken it. It was nice just to switch off for once.



A couple of weeks later I nervously awoke to an alarm that was set, quite literally, as "Never meet your heroes". DBizzle had rung me a few days before and asked if I'd wanted to do a last minute shoot for Retro Cars Magazine. I agreed immediately - before I was told whose car I'd be shooting. It turns out it was none other than Andy Saunders....a genuine childhood hero of mine, someone whose automotive creations I'd admired ever since I became addicted to cars. He, you could certainly say, was a big influence and role model for me. And here I was driving to Poole to photograph one of his motors!

Suffice to say, once I was there I just got on with the job in hand. What was great is that Andy is an absolutely top bloke and we got on great. A brilliant day, despite my initial fears. His Panhard was dead cool too.


That was a day I wasn't going to forget in a hurry. The article (written by Bizzle) was published in Retro Cars August edition (published in July)



A couple of weeks after that and I find myself in Pinewood Studios, in a workshop full of amazing leftovers from various films (including the big, sliding cargo doors from Prometheus which are the entrance to the office). I'm working for one of the main special effects guys for Pinewood (after getting chatting to him on the Audi video shoot). A day or two of setting stuff up and getting resourses sorted, I then find myself in an aircraft jet engine test facility in Essex for a film which contains jet planes, flame throwers, flares, explosives...all sorts! The location itself is amazing. Not dierctly car related, but I know you'll all appreciate it anyway.


Outside, apart from the typical Range Rovers, BMW's and Mercedes that most of the production company drive, one of the camera men arrived every day in this utterly beautiful Riley. He took me along the runway in it and I have to say, it was a hell of a lovely car. Three amazing days of filming, nice hotel and a passenger ride in this. I could get used to this life!


I won't post up the videos, but if you're at all interested, look up Kellogg's Krave 'Time 2 Melt' on YouTube. Some of them are fun.



A few weeks on again and I find myself involved in another video shoot. Again with Corbs, but this time for Mercedes. I won't go into the full details, but suffice to say it was three relentless days in the baking heat (no shade) setting up a track, then an overnight shoot with a couple of well known people and a fairly expensive Mercedes.

It involved LOTS of fire (look at the man to the right for scale, and this was only 1/3 of the fire)


These two guys:


And this car. This was 5am, sunrise, after being on the go for 22 hours solid.


Not my kind of thing, I don't really 'do' magic, but here is the result:



No sooner was that over than I found myself out on a location scouting mission with the director of the Audi shoot. After lots of exploring HUGE abandoned industrial areas in Kent, we finally ended up on the 350 acre site that makes up Sheerness docks.
It's pretty much impossible to demonstrate the vastness and diversity of the place, but here are two shots showing one of the outside spots and one of the inside locations earmarked for the shoot.


It was a pretty mental day driving around enormous hangers, berths and warehouses, but none of this would come close to what would happen here in a months time!



One of the many cool cars that visited Area 52 throughout the year. Ash's 300Z is probably the nicest one I've ever seen on the road in the UK. Daily driven too!


The reason for being at the unit on this particular weekend? Because the Daimler was finally ready to hit the road. Many months after buying it, I was now ready for its first drive. All sat there ready and waiting, it had been a long build up and in the morning, this beauty was going to have its first proper day out with me. One of the highlights of my year.


Part 3 to come tomorrow......

[Paul Y]

Well, like an excited 8 year old waiting for Santa, can't wait for the next instalement!

P.

[niwid]

You like to keep people in suspense Bruce, it's infuriating You do seem to have had some enviable adventures this year. Looking forward to reading more!

[Deleted]

wow, wow and wow!!!!!!

i can see why lack of posting on here.

[Garry]

Never before have I wanted Christmas Eve to come more than Christmas Day. Really looking forwards to the next installment.

[grizz]

Change is good.

You have managed to manage your change.

Well done and thanks for sharing Bruce.

My life has no meaning ;-))

[wagoneer]

What a lot of jolly fun you've had! Thanks for sharing an epic (my 9 year old tells me this is a good word) year of car and photography fun. Your photography style is really nice and it's always a joy to read your words.

[Paul H]

Dec 23, 2013 0:36:20 GMT Mystery Machine said:

one of the camera men arrived every day in this utterly beautiful Riley. He took me along the runway in it and I have to say, it was a hell of a lovely car. Three amazing days of filming, nice hotel and a passenger ride in this. I could get used to this life!

That's a Riley 9 Brooklands (or replica of) - despite being only 1100cc, they are very potent racing machines. One of my dream cars - any more pics? One of these come 4th at Le Mans in '33, 5th in '34 with the same drivers, whilst also in '34 its 6cyl 1500cc siblings came 2nd & 3rd.

[lizardking]

More,absolutely more

[Mystery Machine]

Many thanks for the kind comments everyone. It's certainly been an interesting year to say the least and, despite being the most difficult and stressful year I've ever faced financially, it's also been one of the most fun and rewarding years I can ever remember.

With the Daimler finally 'ready' for the road for the first time since buying it at the end of February, I planned a great day out to celebrate having this wonderful machine in a state other than broken. It turns out that this day would spark the idea and form the template for a whole new side to Area 52 (details of which to come later)

The day itself started by a quick, but early, meet-up of some of the Area 52 guys at McDonalds and then a convoy over to the beautiful setting of Queens Sqaure in central Bristol for the monthly classic car meet.


The event is fantastic and I can't believe it had taken me so long to ahead over to it. I guess finally getting the shonky old Daimler on the road was motivation enough to make a visit. I'm glad I did and think the others did too...the diversity and range of cars is just brilliant.


Full details of the August Queens Square meet can been seen here: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/155178/bristol-classic-retro-queens-square

With part one of the day over, we started making our way across Bristol to another classic car show. This time on the outskirts, the other side of the city. Again, I had never been before but the day was beautiful and the company great, so it all seemed to make sense. We stopped for lunch in the Asda cafe before heading to the afternoon show. The line-up in Asda car park on a normal sunny Sunday was quite a sight.


On the last bit of drive near the show, Corbs snapped this of a rather happy Daimler owner. Finally driving this car was amazing. It's the least 'Bruce' car I've ever owned, but I love it.


I didn't do a thread for the afternoon car show, but here is a from it. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. Relaxed and very enjoyable.


With the weather so stunning it seemed a shame to call it a day, so some of us convoyed down to the coast just because it was a nice drive, the weather was great and we fancied fish & chips. The perfect end to a perfect day. Great cars, amazing friends.




So why have I put so many photos for just one day in this thread? Because this particular day was to inspire me to start something totally new and, hopefully, exciting for retro and classic car enthusiasts. It was also the day where my mojo for my cars returned, something that had been lacking most of the year....most probably down to circumstances other than the cars themselves. This day was a turning point for a number of reasons. It was also just a brilliant day in its own right.




You can see more details of the amazing day out in this page of my build thread...along with shots and details of both Queens Square and the afternoon car meet. And LOTS of shots of our evening jolly to Weston Super Mare: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/146638?page=13


Pretty soon after that came RRG13. The Gathering.

Something we all very much look forward to and something I've traditionally spent at *least* a month or so frantically working on a car for stupendous amounts of hours and very little sleep to ready for the event. But not this year. The Daimler was how I wanted it, it was ready and I was relaxed. For the first time ever, I was prepared. What a brilliant weekend (but you all know that already)

I didn't take any photos but here are a few taken by others. I left the camera at home and just had a fantastic weekend. I may* have got a little drunk:


The car made it there and back absolutely fine though. This pleased me a lot.






No sooner was I back from the Gathering than I had a phonecall from Corbs. "Remember that recce you did to Sheerness? Well, are you free next week?"

[Mystery Machine]

Less than a week after the Gathering I found myself in, on and around the vast docks at Sheerness. The first time a production company had been allowed the use of the site for filming and I was there, ready, with camera in hand for three very long, very tiring days.

I did, however, have a LOT of fun. And I got to take a couple of snaps too.

Here are two.....





....there are a few more in this thread here, with a LOT more to come when I get chance: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/146303?page=3


Not specifically retro as such, but the day the filming finished I drove literally the width of the country to the my favourite place of all, Pembrokeshire, for a week with my little dog, Jed, and many miles of the countryside to walk. Give me this over an exotic holiday anytime. My trusty steed for the week was my E34 TD wagon. The perfect mile muncher and brilliant all round machine.




Less than 12hrs after getting back to Bristol refreshed and relaxed from a beautiful week away, I head over to Shaftsbury to photograph a couple of lovely Mk2 Civics. Bizzle had arranged for the cars to be photographed but the actual shoot location hadn't been decided. A suitable place was found and I got snapping. The full article is in this months Retro Cars magazine (the current issue)




Within minutes of finishing the shoot I'm heading over to Bournemouth and, by complete chance, bump into Tiggs (Tigran) and Al (Boost Junkie). A spontaneous and brilliantly funny night of drink the pub *and* the house dry ensues. Luckily I remember to set my alarm and leave them to nurse some hangovers the next morning while I head over to meet up with my 'never meet your hero' again. His lovely Panhard had only just been featured in Retro Cars, but here I am again, photographing another of Andy Saunders creations.




Spending a sunny day photographing a lovely motor whilst chatting cars (and life in general) with the legendary Andy Saunders was sublime. What a day!



Just when I thought nothing could top these amazing events, I realise I only have four days before I head back to Pembrokeshire again. This time with a very good friend. And some cameras.

[ironmighty07]

Excellent word and images as ever Bruce.If 2013 has been financially challenging it certainly looks emotionally uplifting and all the better for it I suspect.

[jabbo]

Looks like a pretty awesome year to me!

When I was 18-20 I used to spend my uni summer holidays driving Audis and Porsches around Sheerness docks when they came into the country. Still probably the best job I've ever had.

[gotwood]

Cant wait for the next instalment of this , I'll let you finish your christmas dinner first though !

[Mystery Machine]

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you've all had a great day?

In the last installment I mentioned that I only had four days before heading off back to Pembrokeshire again with a good friend. Well, those four days came and went before I could barely blink and I found myself blatting down the M5 into Wales with Bryn.

We got to the B&B that I'd booked by about 10am (after a few stops along the way for some food, tea etc...), unpacked and were out the door in double quick time. This gave us most of the day to explore some of Pembrokeshire. And boy did we explore!

We explored a huge abandoned ex-military warehouse complex (this was one of a number of warehouses and buildings on the site)


Followed by some sealed up railway tunnels that led underground to bunkers that stored mines and ammunition during the war (this was properly spooky!)


This was followed by a brilliant little motor museum, some beaches and also some incredible old derelict Victorian industrial sites along the coast and finally a stop at the Blue Lagoon (Abereiddy) where they were just setting up for the international Red Bull dive championships. One look at the height of that dive platform and we both concluded, "SOD THAT!"


Some lovely pubs on the way back to the B&B and that concluded our day out together. A chance for a much needed catch up and also a nice break from what had been a busy time for both of us. A time to chill and recoup.

But this wasn't the main reason we were here in Pembrokeshire. No siree, this was just the starter, the entree, for what was to become the most a amazing main course. We had been very lucky in being granted press passes to a spectacular new event. A unique opportunity to partake in a piece of history that had yet to be written. To stand on a beach in SW Wales and photograph some guys driving some cars up the sands.

Yes, we were really here, not to look at old warehouses or diving events, but to cover the VHRA Speed Trials on Pendine Sands. If you haven't heard of this event already, then you realy have missed out. Get yourself over to this thread and read up all about it: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/156402/vhra-pendine-speed-trials

Only six press passes were granted for the event. To say I feel privileged to have been allowed one of them would be an understatement. The spectacle of seeing and hearing those cars run down those sands was truly beyond words, so much so that it was only after the event that the true enormity of how amazing it was hit home. It was *that good* that my senses almost shut down during the event itself. I can only liken it to those scenes in war films where an explosion occurs and everything seems to go muted. Everything goes quiet and is muffled, everything is focused. That was what I was like on the beach but didn't know it at the time, snapping away and loving every minute, but not allowing myself to get too carried away. Not at least until the action was over and the beach once again reclaimed by the sea. At that point it suddenly dawned on me that I had been a part of one of the most amazing automotive experiences of my life. Genuinely incredible. Emotional even. Unforgettable.





You can see many more of the pics in ^that thread just up there^


Bryn kindly dropped me home around 10pm that night, a few days I wish wasn't coming to an end, but all good things must. They can live on though in amazing memories. And some photos.

I'd loved to have prolonged the whole thing, but Bryn had to be in Silverstone the next day and I had something to attend. Something I'd spent a lot of time and effort planning. Something new and, hopefully, the start of something exciting.

With the sounds of vintage hot rods still ringing in my ears, I awoke very early to get over to Area 52 and dig out the Daimler. The destination, Queens Square again (via the familiar meeting place of McDonalds). The classic and retro car meet that I'd attended the month before. But this time, there was more planned.

The meet at the square was brilliant, I took lots of photos and was excited that the day was going great. The plan was then to head over to a different location for a bite to eat. I'd been in talks with a really cool diner called the Tube Diner and they had agreed to open on the Sunday JUST FOR US! This was to be the core of the new event I'd been working on. The 'Area 52 Lunch Club'.



As Queens Square started winding down, a number of cars (about 20, but this was only my first attempt at this!) headed over to the diner and we enjoyed some lunch from our own unique menu. Kept simple on my request simply because I didn't know how well this would take off, the menu was minimal, but boy was it tasty.



Getting to congregate with such cool cars in such an amazing setting and such great food is something I'm really proud to have started.

The downside? My memory card corrupted most of the way through the event. As a result, I lost all the photos of Queens Square and also of people eating and enjoying the diner. Charlie, the owner, rally did us proud by agreeing to open up on a Sunday and allow us to take over the place. Everyone, without fail, enjoyed the experience and it was great to see so many people making the most of this. Especially as it was a completely unknown entity, for all concerned.

Unfortunatley, due to my memory card losing nearly all of my photos, the ones I do have really don't capture the atmosphere. It was great, but I can't really show that with just the few photos I do have. You'll just have to trust me on this one.



The third and final stage of the 'Area 52 Lunch Club' is to then go for a nice drive to a different location again. The whole purpose - to get out there with our classics and retros and actually USE THEM. So many times you know cars are dug out to go to a show or an event and then head straight home to be tucked back into the garage. Well, the main aim here was to not only enjoy some lovely food at a wonderfully retro diner, but also to put some miles on the clocks, to have a nice drive and to end up at a cool destination.

The destination in this instance was Cheddar Gorge, about 40 mins from the diner. We drove in small 'blister' convoys rather than one huge one. We then regrouped at the location and chilled out, took in the scenery and went and drank tea/coffee in the nearby coffee shop. it was a brilliant way to end a great day. A classic car event, food at a retro diner, a nice drive into the countryside and a lovely location.

The general concencus was that this had to happen again. The success of the day cemented it in my head that my idea to run this was the right one. The hard work to get it all together had paid off and the 'Lunch Club' would happen again. Happy days....





You can see more details of the Area 52 Lunch Club here: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/155548/classic-retro-lunch-round-october

It ran for October too and that was also a success (despite the weather) but with the onset of winter, I decided to put this on hold ready for the spring. I didn't want Charlie to be opening up in November if the numbers would be low, even more so in December. I figured it best to get this up and running again in March. I knew the formula worked and that everyone liked it, I just want to give it the best chance to really take off, so getting it running with a full summer ahead will hopefully work better. Watch this space (around Feb) for more details.

So that concludes only one weekend, but what a weekend it was! A few days aways with one of my oldest friends, an incredible spectacle on a historic beach and the start of a new event of my own.

Next up, the start of something else entirely new. A major project which I have chosen to undertake. Probably the biggest car related project I've ever taken on....exciting times.

[Garry]

I'm REALLY excited for the next part.

[Copey]

What a brilliant thread! Looks like you have had an amazing year!

[Deleted]

amazing.

[Rich606]

Pictures like this...



...are nearly enough to tempt me back from France

This is a cracking thread, I can really enjoy the bits I missed out on vicariously through your photos.