Our Ashley Sportiva at
Le Mans in 2010
Having read in the Fairthorpe S.C.C. magazine that a mystery Ashley was seen at Le Mans we could not resist writing to tell you that it was us - Steve, the proud owner, restorer and driver and Anne the 'other half', navigator and master of 5 words of French - and about our adventures in France!
Our Ashley - a rescue car was originally constructed in Redcar, Steve was persuaded by the then owner to purchase it for restoration - probably a familiar story - 'would you like to buy this car as a restoration project' 'no thanks I have enough on' 'oh go on have a look at these photos' ' well..........' and being a sucker for a challenge and someone who can't leave a once grand old lady to rot away he was suddenly the owner of something that resembled a heap of fibre glass with bits of metal work!
Naturally, being 'work in progress' many years passed with intermittent work taking place - then the challenge was conceived that Steve, his dad and brother in law would take their classics to Le Mans 2010! Feverish activity followed - on the Ashley and also a rebuild of his brother in law's TR6.
Early June, Ashley had her first taste of the road since 1965 going to get her MOT certificate - this required a 60 mile round trip. With the exception of a couple of losses of power, we made it and were certified!
All go for the big push to Le Mans.
What to take? 1 small bag of personal kit, 2 tents and minimal camping equipment, TR2 and TR6 boots full of tools and 'spares'
So to mid June, a little convoy (very little at this point 1 Ashley and 1 TR2) set off from Saltburn on Sea to Brighton to meet up with our 3rd vehicle. All went well for the first 40 miles then - just short of the Weatherby services splutter & coughing started. We staggered to the services - the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered - was this the end of our adventure already? Peering under the bonnet the combined mechanical brainpower diagnosed a problem with fuel - this was resolved at this time by ensuring that the fuel level was never allowed to drop below half a tank.
Off again, provided we kept her well fuelled all went well, until we stopped for a break, much needed by then because the seats were not all that comfortable! As we pulled to a halt steam!! The radiator hose had 'gone' - the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered - but gaffa tape and reserve water supplies got us to Brighton where an overnight stop gave the opportunity for replacement of the radiator hose pipes
Next morning our longer convoy set off Ashley, TR2 and TR6 causing a lot of interest - all over the country there must be people puzzling over photos of this delightful convoy.
To the port - embarking required the headlights to be switched on - unfortunately switching on the headlights resulted in an electrical 'problem' - smoke bellowing from under the dash alerted us to this problem - the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered - but switching the lights off resolved the problem, just leaving a 'minor' concern about the possibility of electrical fire.
The journey to Le Mans continued with little drama, those that went to Le Mans will appreciate how hot it was but how much fun - classic cars to view & other enthusiasts to mull over the intricacies of restoration.
We had a great time and even managed by some fluke to do 6 laps of the circuit - little did we realise how lucky we were to successfully navigate at 60 - 70 mph around the circuit!!
As the gathering came to an end our journey continued, touring the local French countryside. We went to a camp site & where we spent the next 2 nights, going out on the day in between for a drive to the south west & exploring some lovely villages around & about - going through fields of sunflowers - they were stunning.
The second evening was the 13th July - the French celebrate 14th big time - (Bastille day) there was a massive firework display over the little lake that we were camped next to with partying starting at 11.00 pm going on until 04.00 ish!!!
Next day 14th we started moving north - as it was a national holiday EVERYTHING was closed!!!! After a couple of hours we started getting smoke in the car belching into the driver side footwell, so we stopped, had a look could see nothing - all was deemed to be ok so we started off again & then flames came out of the bonnet!!! I leapt out and ran - Steve got out opened the bonnet and pulled a load of wires out & sprayed fire extinguisher - fire out!!! - lots of burn damage including inside the engine bay! the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered but a few minutes later wires were taken a few from 'non essential' places & using sticky tape & crocodile clips put the electrics back in place and off we set.........
Later that day we pulled into a petrol forecourt for fuel & the steering snapped - thank goodness we were going at about .5 mph!!!! the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered so again all out - this time the car had to be jacked up using an inflatable jack & using stuff that looked like blu tack a temporary repair was made - with this we went very gingerly to a camp site up a long steep wiggly hill - Steve was clearly concerned at this time!!!
Next morning the lady at the camp site tried to find us a garage to do repairs - no where was available as they were booked up because they had been closed the day before so intrepidly we set off back into town to try to find welding equipment! Fortunately we found a Ford garage with the head mechanic being a classic car enthusiast who had also been at Le Mans - he pinned the steering in place for us - took loads of photos and insisted on no payment!
Off again for a fairly quiet couple of hours when suddenly we were overheating & then steaming! the water hose had ruptured again, out with the tape again & eventually off we hobbled to the next village where we found a 'plumbers merchants' he did not have a suitable hose but one of the lads who had gathered around leapt onto his bike & 5 mins later came back with just the right thing!!! Again it was fitted & they wanted no payment just photos!!
As we had pulled in to get the hose repaired one of the tyres went flat!! so over to the garage opposite where again they were really helpful - did charge but not full amount this time
Off again!
We camped up near to Calais for the last night & set off early to catch our ferry - we were lucky to get an earlier ferry than booked but not so lucky to get caught in firstly a long queue for the Blackwell tunnel tolls & then secondly in the queue following a nasty looking accident - once through that we had a good run back up to Yorkshire - with only the Speedo arm falling off and then the Speedo actually falling out of the dashboard!
Those words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' proved to be wrong, rather battered she had made it to Le Mans, 'touring' and back up to Yorkshire
In all Ashley had done approx 1700 miles in 10 days probably more than she had done in her previous 70 yrs! She had created a lot of attention - we must have been photographed by half the cars that went past us & at every stop a crowd appeared to chat about her - I got good at explaining that the body was built in 1960 the engine 1962 & the chassis including steering/brakes etc in approx 1940 all in my rubbish French.
Now?
She is having a well earned rest & being treated to much loving care in preparation for next years adventures.
My thanks to Anne & Steve for telling their story and allowing it to be added to my website.
Our Ashley - a rescue car was originally constructed in Redcar, Steve was persuaded by the then owner to purchase it for restoration - probably a familiar story - 'would you like to buy this car as a restoration project' 'no thanks I have enough on' 'oh go on have a look at these photos' ' well..........' and being a sucker for a challenge and someone who can't leave a once grand old lady to rot away he was suddenly the owner of something that resembled a heap of fibre glass with bits of metal work!
Naturally, being 'work in progress' many years passed with intermittent work taking place - then the challenge was conceived that Steve, his dad and brother in law would take their classics to Le Mans 2010! Feverish activity followed - on the Ashley and also a rebuild of his brother in law's TR6.
Early June, Ashley had her first taste of the road since 1965 going to get her MOT certificate - this required a 60 mile round trip. With the exception of a couple of losses of power, we made it and were certified!
All go for the big push to Le Mans.
What to take? 1 small bag of personal kit, 2 tents and minimal camping equipment, TR2 and TR6 boots full of tools and 'spares'
So to mid June, a little convoy (very little at this point 1 Ashley and 1 TR2) set off from Saltburn on Sea to Brighton to meet up with our 3rd vehicle. All went well for the first 40 miles then - just short of the Weatherby services splutter & coughing started. We staggered to the services - the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered - was this the end of our adventure already? Peering under the bonnet the combined mechanical brainpower diagnosed a problem with fuel - this was resolved at this time by ensuring that the fuel level was never allowed to drop below half a tank.
Off again, provided we kept her well fuelled all went well, until we stopped for a break, much needed by then because the seats were not all that comfortable! As we pulled to a halt steam!! The radiator hose had 'gone' - the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered - but gaffa tape and reserve water supplies got us to Brighton where an overnight stop gave the opportunity for replacement of the radiator hose pipes
Next morning our longer convoy set off Ashley, TR2 and TR6 causing a lot of interest - all over the country there must be people puzzling over photos of this delightful convoy.
To the port - embarking required the headlights to be switched on - unfortunately switching on the headlights resulted in an electrical 'problem' - smoke bellowing from under the dash alerted us to this problem - the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered - but switching the lights off resolved the problem, just leaving a 'minor' concern about the possibility of electrical fire.
The journey to Le Mans continued with little drama, those that went to Le Mans will appreciate how hot it was but how much fun - classic cars to view & other enthusiasts to mull over the intricacies of restoration.
We had a great time and even managed by some fluke to do 6 laps of the circuit - little did we realise how lucky we were to successfully navigate at 60 - 70 mph around the circuit!!
As the gathering came to an end our journey continued, touring the local French countryside. We went to a camp site & where we spent the next 2 nights, going out on the day in between for a drive to the south west & exploring some lovely villages around & about - going through fields of sunflowers - they were stunning.
The second evening was the 13th July - the French celebrate 14th big time - (Bastille day) there was a massive firework display over the little lake that we were camped next to with partying starting at 11.00 pm going on until 04.00 ish!!!
Next day 14th we started moving north - as it was a national holiday EVERYTHING was closed!!!! After a couple of hours we started getting smoke in the car belching into the driver side footwell, so we stopped, had a look could see nothing - all was deemed to be ok so we started off again & then flames came out of the bonnet!!! I leapt out and ran - Steve got out opened the bonnet and pulled a load of wires out & sprayed fire extinguisher - fire out!!! - lots of burn damage including inside the engine bay! the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered but a few minutes later wires were taken a few from 'non essential' places & using sticky tape & crocodile clips put the electrics back in place and off we set.........
Later that day we pulled into a petrol forecourt for fuel & the steering snapped - thank goodness we were going at about .5 mph!!!! the words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' were uttered so again all out - this time the car had to be jacked up using an inflatable jack & using stuff that looked like blu tack a temporary repair was made - with this we went very gingerly to a camp site up a long steep wiggly hill - Steve was clearly concerned at this time!!!
Next morning the lady at the camp site tried to find us a garage to do repairs - no where was available as they were booked up because they had been closed the day before so intrepidly we set off back into town to try to find welding equipment! Fortunately we found a Ford garage with the head mechanic being a classic car enthusiast who had also been at Le Mans - he pinned the steering in place for us - took loads of photos and insisted on no payment!
Off again for a fairly quiet couple of hours when suddenly we were overheating & then steaming! the water hose had ruptured again, out with the tape again & eventually off we hobbled to the next village where we found a 'plumbers merchants' he did not have a suitable hose but one of the lads who had gathered around leapt onto his bike & 5 mins later came back with just the right thing!!! Again it was fitted & they wanted no payment just photos!!
As we had pulled in to get the hose repaired one of the tyres went flat!! so over to the garage opposite where again they were really helpful - did charge but not full amount this time
Off again!
We camped up near to Calais for the last night & set off early to catch our ferry - we were lucky to get an earlier ferry than booked but not so lucky to get caught in firstly a long queue for the Blackwell tunnel tolls & then secondly in the queue following a nasty looking accident - once through that we had a good run back up to Yorkshire - with only the Speedo arm falling off and then the Speedo actually falling out of the dashboard!
Those words 'that's it we won't be going anywhere now' proved to be wrong, rather battered she had made it to Le Mans, 'touring' and back up to Yorkshire
In all Ashley had done approx 1700 miles in 10 days probably more than she had done in her previous 70 yrs! She had created a lot of attention - we must have been photographed by half the cars that went past us & at every stop a crowd appeared to chat about her - I got good at explaining that the body was built in 1960 the engine 1962 & the chassis including steering/brakes etc in approx 1940 all in my rubbish French.
Now?
She is having a well earned rest & being treated to much loving care in preparation for next years adventures.
My thanks to Anne & Steve for telling their story and allowing it to be added to my website.