Lagonda Rapiers

5 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

So what would you pack into your car when you are going away to the "other side of the world" for three months? Remember there is no going back to retrieve something that you have forgotten or left behind! Also that you will be in "touring mode" never stopping for more that two or three nights at any one place. Finally remember you are travelling in an 80+ year old two seater sports car. That and we still have to fit in our personal "Hand Luggage"  brought on an International Flight from Melbourne to Paris. after a week of soaking up French Culture in Paris we fly from Paris to Stanstead to go and collect the car then firstly replace the gearbox into the car before driving off, not into the night but First stop the Ferry Terminal at Poole then ferry back to France via Gurnsey and Jersey arriving at San Marlow.  Our first Event  starts that comming weekend. One of our favourites The APPF Fougeres Rally. ( You can look that up on the internet).
 
Why via Gurnsey and Jersey? We had visited Jersey in 1999 for the Centenary of Motoring (on Jersey) Rally but we have never been to Gurnsey.
Having read earlier this year the Victor Hugo book, Toilers of the Sea, I decided that I would like to visit this Channel Island too.
 
Lagonda Rapier : Contents of Tool Locker etc. 2019.
Tool Locker at rear of car:
Jack and Handle.
Tyre Pump.
Trouble Lamp.
Battery Charger
Reflective Red Triangle
Funnel and hose pipe.
Ignition “Points” etc
Hand Towel.
Blue Overalls
Wheel “K-O” copper hammer.
Wheel Chock.
Tin of small parts.
Inner tube
2 X Tie Down straps (blue)
Hood (Top).
 
 
Behind Seats:
Umbrella
Fire extinguisher.
Straw “wisk” brush.
Radiator “Blind”.
Petrol tank “Dip Stick”.
Driving Gloves (BJ)
Polishing cloths.
White Container, Nuts washers bolts etc (Gearbox.)
Starting Fluid.
Chamois
Gearbox lifting cradle.
Bell housing.
Rain-ex Wind-screen cleaner.
Octane Booster
Radiator Stop Leak.
Clutch Pedal and links.
Box spare globes etc.
Packing (old White dust coat & old Blue pullover)
Front carpet under-felt.
Blue APPF bag (two yellow safety vests)
Purple “Ever-rest” bag (Check Travel rug, Towel, Sheet, APPF Vest, , 3 Caps, VSCC Sun Hat).
Pr Brown Mens Driving shoes.
Black leather tool bag. c/w spanners etc.
 
 
Battery Box. Kill switch at front.
Battery.
Folded Blue plastic Rain Poncho.
2 x Small zip ties.
3 x Open end spanners
Roll Toilet paper.
Battery post cleaned (Wire brush)
Orange Hand Cleaner.
Solvol Hand wipes.
GP First aid kit.
Drive 2 Right First aid kit
Small lead light.
 
Door Pocket (Left hand side)
Small Grey, Zipp close bag. containing:
Torch
Compass (Drawing)
Map compass
Swiss Army, pocket knife.
Cork screw, bottle opener.
2 x Ball point pens.
High-lighter pen
Plastic Carry bag (empty)
Australian Flag (Radiator mount)
Black Marker pen
Small (pocket) Torch.
Bottle Loc-tite.
SUN glasses (Driving)
Steel 300 mm Rule/straight edge.
2 x Ball point pens.
Tire Pressure Gauge
Windscreen wiper blade
Rear axle dip stick (Cable tie)
Map reading ruler.
 
 
Helen’s Bag:
Sun Visor (tartan).
Black woolen gloves,
Red wool scarf.
Beige sun hat
Chante Loup Beret
Rapier Register cap
Fur lined Cap.
BJ’s Fur lined cap.
 
Also
5 Litre Engine/gearbox oil (Penrite)
10 litre Petrol container (empty)
Radiator water bottle.
 
And these are just the "essentials".
Remember that "new" Black leather ladies hand bag?
Here it is stocked up for its new role in life.

We are slightly different to the "common herd" of tourists. Going on a "Cruise" is the very last thing we would want to do but we have been taking our beloved Lagonda away with us for some time now. It's first such adventure was in 1984 when I went off to the VSCC (UK)'s Golden Jubilee. That trip I did not venture out of England.
The next trip both Helen and I went to the next VSCC Jubilee in 1994 we went on from there to France and Switzerland and a tiny bit of Italy. Then 1996 there was a FIVA Rally to Celebrate 100  years of Motoring in England. We stayed on after that to visit our Friends scattered around England. Since then we have made it a habit to go away and take the Lagonda with us every five years.ie, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and now again in 2019.  The Lagonda is booked to leave here tomorrow morning to be shipped to England again. It is a little different this time as there is no gearbox in it. My first task after we arrive in England is to install a fully rebuilt gearbox. Perhaps not an ideal start to a holiday but that is the way I am. It should onlt take a day or at worse two.
Todays Photograph is of the Lagonda Rapier waiting to be collected for transport to the docks tomorrow morning. We will follow it by air in about seven weeks time.
We have already entered three Rallies in France. As we are all three now in our Eighties, we do not know if we will ever do this again.