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Channel IX, 1960 Mark IX

Fri, 24 Oct 1997

Channel IX - The hiccup and mine's red too

You guys are just too good for me!

We hadn't thought of the weak fuel pump... that really has me thinking hard now... but for now I'll stick with the fuel blockage from running the port tank down just too far.

Embarrassment was not needed thankfully, we *just* made it to the crest of the hill and lo! she picked up again - and never missed a beat for the rest of the trip. (on second thoughts though, I might try some tests on a steep hill near here - maybe that port fuel pump is a teesny weensy bit weak) . But, then again, I haven't checked out where the suction is in the tanks, front?, back? - how high is the suction inlet from the bottom of the tank? - - maybe someone out there has dismantled a IX tank and knows the score!

Later on, a very nice gentleman came up to us. he was driving one of the E's that flashed past us on the hill. He kindly ahd thought of stopping - he said he heard the engine stuttering - but when he saw us over the top of the hill and carrying on he knew we were probably OK. It was so reassuring to know that someone had cared about us!

Onwards and upwards we went! - the skies cleared just as we arrived at the first vineyard - a well earned break and a couple of scoops of the new vintage Chardonnay. Here we met up with Mike and Edith - a couple of Rover nuts in a P5 3 litre (straight 6) - badges in their hats, badges all over the car and a special perspex protector over his Viking ship badge on the radiator... This was their last rally for the year, they are taking their Rangie off on a round the world trip (!!) for a year, driving across Aus, through the jungles, deserts, onto ferries, ships - up through Malaysia, Burma, India etc etc. quite an adventure. Mike felt naked if he didn't have thirty seven bags round his neck - video camera, 2 35mm single lens reflexes, Rover car club books, sandwiches, flask, hats, badges, more badges and even three sets of sunglasses ("you get lots of different sun" - wow! nice guys though and good fun.

A few showers crept up on us for the last hour or so of the trip to Tauranga but by now many of the cars had caught up with the main group so there was lots of honking and waving as the E's passed the Stags, the Stags passed the Austin Sevens (!) and the old couple in the Daimler drophead sports just serenely cruised on oblivious to all the fun going on...

The first stopover - Mills Reef Winery - a glorious spot; the winery set up on a low hill with about an acre of lavender in full bloom sweeping down the banks to the car park (well, a beautifully mown field) where we all gathered. We stood up on the main patio in front of the winery with our (was it 1995 or 1996?) Chardonnays and watched all the other cars rolling in - a glorious sight - especially the MkV and the two MkIVs - their enormous headlights glinting in the late afternoon sun.

We really did feel so proud of ourselves - the IX had performed superbly with only a minor hiccup - all the work on the brakes, the belts, the horn, the handbrake had all come together very very nicely. Even the timing (remember I had replaced the vacuum advance gadget?) had been spot on.

Do you know what guys - having seen the almost concours standard cars in the rally with amazing two-pot metallic paintwork, the new carpets, the new seats, the new this the new that, the gleaming engine bays and polished ignition coils - we felt that we were *not* going to do the same to the IX. A little bit of wear and tear, the worn leather, the faded woodwork - gives the car a comfortable feel - like she has been used and appreciated with pleasure. The shined up showroom standard cars looked too *nice* to be real. We watched the chap with the pristine Jowett Javelin arrive, lift up his bonnet and start polishing his radiator hoses, the engine bay - everything. Even his wife in the passenger seat looked as if she had been restored!!! Sorry if I have upset any concours freaks here - just some thoughts popping out - maybe I'll get bitten by the bug and start polishing my vents with cotton buds...

The evening gathering at the winery restaurant - full to overflowing and everyone jabbering away nineteen to the dozen - the noise was fantastic! "My cord wangler hydro-valve needed reaming so I went to this chap..." "My dear, the wind was fair ripping through my skirt!" (the lady in the 1914 AC) and "There we were, 6,000 revs in second, racing up this hill when..." Our table presented us with Ian and Mary of the Bristol 401 and Wendy and Graham from the '92 Roller - talk about chalk and cheese! Graham has the Roller "just for everyday use" Wendy doesn't drive it much "it's too quiet" - - we wished we had more time on the rally - we both wanted to sit in the back of the Roller and be seen drinking champagne... Ian and Mary were great fun - both retired and both mechanical - Ian and I spent an hour or more discussing vacuum washers - the Bristol has almost the same system as the IX (but cunningly hidden away under those front wing sections which lift up). (Trish & Mike Duffy - we have made contact with Barry - both our washer units are going to be fixed! thank you for the advice) Wendy lays eggs for a supermarket chicken supplier (Tegal for you Godzone people) - 300 chickens in a barn all laying eggs - John and she got on well - we have chickens here at home (all free-ranging though!).

Oh for some extra days to have gone on with the rally...

But back we go to the motel for a well earned rest.

The next morning sees the IX amongst two Austin 3 litre Princess's and two Land Rovers - and we are all out there leathering off our cars, sipping tea and chatting away. The sun is beaming and there is not a cloud in the sky - crisp and clear for the morning parade in the main street. Of course, we have to remember to check the oil (none missing!) - the water (still full!), the tranny fluid (a little bit down) and a bit more than a bit down on brake fluid (the nearside outer cylinder is weeping a fraction) - hoses all intact. All the chrome ("sparklers" I think they call it in the trade) is with us - we had to check to see if our hose clips have kept the rim embellishers on! - yep, all there.

The multitude gather in the main street as the police wave us through the road blocks and into our parking spots - the organisers manage to cram 300 cars into a street barely 500 yards long. The band is playing and flags are fluttering in the breeze as we hear that famous exhaust note (multiplied by ten) as the MkIIs and E-types roar up together - gives you goose bumps!

At this point we become a little sad as we realise we will not be travelling on with the rally. We do join in with the departing parade but peel off to head back to Auckland. A pleasant drive - in sunshine all the way (we got sunburnt with the sunroof open!), stopping here and there for coffee and snacks.

An uneventful trip, no more hiccups and the motor purred beautifully. A brief fling gave us a fillip - a hill with a passing lane (bad memories!) up ahead, a truck in front doing about 90k's and a wretched Nipponese box with more power in his stereo than under his hood behind us. I can see the stereo driver itching to flash past this "old car" in front of him. He has weaved behind us for some miles now, trying to pass. His chance comes as we approach the passing lane on the hill... but wait! - a flick of the wright wrist, out of impulse drive and into hyper - the faintest puff of blue-grey haze from the twin pipes and were are steaming up that hill at 4,000 rpm - leaving Mr Stereo dead in our wake. Take that! We crest the hill doing something miles an hour (the speedo is still not working) and flick her back into cruise mode, wide grins spread across our faces. The IX gets a pat on her walnut dash - "thanks old girl, you've got still got fire in your belly, that's for sure".

- -------

P.S. She gets a rub down and a big bag of oats that night, for a job well done.

P.P.S. When is the next rally? Can I get the speedo working? Do we now get shares in a petrol company - we sure did use a lot!

PPS Our main beam indicator is red as well.

PPPS German vehicle inspectors must have been taking lessons from our guys in Godzone!

------------------------------

Channel IX


Saloons

MK VII-IX

 

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