Gerald on Motering

[franfran]

If it has a weak spot anywhere I would say that it is in the front suspension and your garage must keep that area of the car well greased whatever happens.

True for most pre 1970 cars I would think. And I don't know how correct this is, but someone once told me that, with Minors, there's a "rust trap" around one of the mounting points on the front suspension too, so you need to check every now and then to see that there isn't any corrosion. Is there any Minor owner out there who could elaborate on this?

[AnneCook]

Hi Tracy

I expect you twigged she is our little granddaughter and our first (born to our first son and his wife)I'm a bit besotted lol

I dont know about rust spots but people who serviced their own moggies had to remember to feed grease with a grease gun into the nipples ofthe ball joints. If this was neglected and the joint was allowed to dry the wheel could literally fall off.


Btw If you are going to a modern garage with yours check that they are up to speeed with that.

G

Ruth did you find my tale??

bw

[Guest]

Tracy

It's good to hear that the Morris is kept sheltered from the elements in your Mom's garage when not in use. She must be so pleased that you have taken the car on since your brothers you say weren't interested - I think you wrote once that your boy friend Steve also isn't bothered with classic cars so thank goodness for you!! I have to admit I get a real buzz from knowing of women who have an empathy for the older cars and it's good to know that ladies like you, Ruth and Fran find them interesting and enjoyable!

Regarding manual chokes I notice you use the words "panic" and "lack of confidence". I have to agree but if I had used the words maybe I would have been described by some as "sexist" LOL! In defence of UK girls though perhaps I should mention that of course we don't get any temperatures remotely like yours in ND but we do get lots of damp weather, in fact here in south west England we do "damp" very well - the countryside never fails to look lush and green! But yes folk do seem to panic if the car doesn't start up immediately. I think also that drivers have to understand their own make of car - what works well for one might not be exactly right for another!

Gerald

When you wrote how many years you had been married I sort of had a feeling it might be a granddaughter. Although not married myself (yet!!) I can understand the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren I think. It must almost be like having children again but without the feeding, clearing up and broken sleep! LOL! Do you live close by or is it a fair trip to go. I know so many families now where the different members are spread all over the country, and abroad in some instances of course. Regarding that last point lots of Cornish men left this county when the mines closed down and went abroad to seek work. There is an old saying that wherever there is a mineshaft in the World you will find a Cornishman at the bottom! LOL!

Brian

[AnneCook]

Hi Brian,

Well we are in Nottingham and she is in Sheffield so it could be worse but it could be better. When i was growing up we had grandparents , uncles, aunts etc on the same estate. It was my generation which 'started the rot ' moving in my case 80 miles north when i was 18 and not coming back (at least not to stay) I was there last night btw and found out that my uncles Bentley may have gone to Bewdley (forgot correct spelling lol). My brother thinks my grandads car was a more modern Austin 7, but hes a lot younger than me sos i'm gonnna try to check that out. I did hand crank that for fun when i was 13. lol

I've heard that about cornishmen, apparently if something falls down a pit on top of them they always burst into song. Dont know what it's called but it's A Flat minor lol. the old ones .....

[franfran]

The SS on Chevys - it would probably be "super sports" if on a UK car but I guess I'm wrong!

And here's one I spotted while I was out to do some grocery shopping:

[Guest]

Gerald

Ouch! That's an awful joke! LOL!

Hand cranking an Austin 7 at 13 eh. I didn't confront a starting handle until I had passed my test (yes I know I led a sheltered life!). However I subsequently have cranked more than a few recalcitrant engines into life! It was one of those things you got used to with the older cars you could just about to afford to buy in the old days.

Yes it's getting rarer now for sure to find whole extended families all in the same town or estate. I have three brothers and we all live relatively remote from each other.

Brian

[franfran]

Not sure should have replied on this thread but as regards language we havent started on dialect yet. My favourite one is should it be peeeeedantic or PEDantic lol?

I hope you don't think I'm being pedantic, but I have never heard pedantic pronounced with a long e sound, and every dictionary I have seen has it as being pronounced with a short e sound. Perhaps rather than being a dialect, which is a regional or social variety of a language, it is instead a common mistake by those who are not educated enough to know how to speak English properly.

[Guest]

Fran

You have a terrific eye for spotting these interesting cars - and for then photographing them! Brilliant!

Brian

[AnneCook]

Sorry Fran but that's the joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,


Its a bit like when an American says aren't you being PAYtronising? and gets the response I think you'll find its PATronising lol

never mind eh?

best wishes,

G

[Guest]

Fran

You have raised an interesting, and maybe controversial, point about pronunciation. I don't know about the situation in Australia but here in the UK children are studying an ever greater number of subjects for their exams. At the same time good pronunciation, punctuation and grammar seem to be slipping down the list of what is important to learn. I think that I read recently about a pupil writing an essay all in "text-speak"!

Brian

[Guest]

Gerald - I'm afraid I missed the "pedantic" joke! Brian

[AnneCook]

Lol Brian,

I'll try to behave in future

G

[Sweet Ruth]

Gerald,
I went back and found the silver ghost one. Sometime it is difficult with so many new posts to not miss an important one from you. Good story.
Must have been exciting being raised on an estate with lots of family members.
Congratulations on the new girl. She will know a lot about cars from her grandfather. And, the stories she will be able to tell someday will be wonderful.

Fran and Gerald,
I see Fran has already gotten to the bottom of this one. Not going to let me researsh go to waste
However, here is what I found on pedantic:
pe•dan•tic
–adjective
1.
Ostentatious in one's learning.
2.
Overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.

For all,
Mom gave me two more to share:
The Hillman Imp was reportedly built as a rival to what other British car?
What is the oldest surviving motor racing track in Britain?

Fran, Do you carry a camera in your car? You always have the picture to fit the discussion.

I must to admit some of these jokes are flying over my head.

Tracy, I agree with you that regarding manual chokes the words "panic" and "lack of confidence" describes UK women. That was my problem until Gerald and Mom straightened me out. Both are great teachers and now we have Brian and Fran. I love learning new things and better ways.
Ruth
PS. Gerald’s quote “as regards language we haven’t started on dialect yet.” Can we begin???

[Sweet Ruth]

Gerald,
I went back and found the silver ghost one. Sometime it is difficult with so many new posts to not miss an important one from you. Good story.
Must have been exciting being raised on an estate with lots of family members.
Congratulations on the new girl. She will know a lot about cars from her grandfather. And, the stories she will be able to tell someday will be wonderful.

Fran and Gerald,
I see Fran has already gotten to the bottom of this one. Not going to let me researsh go to waste
However, here is what I found on pedantic:
pe•dan•tic
–adjective
1.
Ostentatious in one's learning.
2.
Overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.

For all,
Mom gave me two more to share:
The Hillman Imp was reportedly built as a rival to what other British car?
What is the oldest surviving motor racing track in Britain?

Fran, Do you carry a camera in your car? You always have the picture to fit the discussion.

I must to admit some of these jokes are flying over my head.

Tracy, I agree with you that regarding manual chokes the words "panic" and "lack of confidence" describes UK women. That was my problem until Gerald and Mom straightened me out. Both are great teachers and now we have Brian and Fran. I love learning new things and better ways.
Ruth
PS. Gerald’s quote “as regards language we haven’t started on dialect yet.” Can we begin???

[AnneCook]

Hi folks,

The pedantic question was just Gerald being what Brian calls a rascal -


Kind of wish I hadnt craked that joke lol

Gerald