Race Retro: Stoneleigh Abbey

On Sunday, we braved the howling wind and driving rain to attend Race Retro, an historic motorsport show hosted at Stoneleigh Abbey near Warwick. The four large exhibition halls were jam-packed with shining examples of classic sports cars and racing motorcycles, including the gleaming Ford GT40 pictured above. One hall was dedicated to "Auto Test", a motorsport that involves driving at crazy speeds in first gear using only the handbrake to spin around cones in multiple directions.

Despite losing the feeling in our fingers and toes, we enjoyed the rally stages. Classic rally cars from the 80's and 90's hurtled around the track. My particular favorite was the Audi Quattro; this was the car I desired most as a schoolboy.

Thanks go to the author of the Car List Blog for the recommendation for this great day out.

Official Classification?

As a fanatical cloud spotter, I tend to spot the difference between cumulus mediocris radiatus and altostratus translucidus. K is convinced that I make the names up as we drive along and I slip the odd classification into our regular conversation. But I don't make it up; far from it. The study of clouds is a rather specific science within the subject of meteorology. In fact, there are more than 30 varieties within 12 different species of 10 distinct genus of cloud (did you follow that?). 

So I just had to take a photo of this beautiful specimen last week. Problem is, I've been studying my various books on cloud genus (yes, I admit to possessing a rather large, sad collection) and I can't identify this one. The time has come for me to contact the ultimate cloud guru for advice; Gavin Pretor-Pinney, the Chairman of the The Cloud Appreciation Society. Answer hopefully to follow....

A Noisy Reminder from the City That Never Sleeps

During my most recent trip to New York, it struck me just how noisy the city can be all night. I remember clearly my first night living downtown in the city because the din throughout the night was deafening; car horns, sirens, traffic, music and interludes of general shouts and screams from the drunk or generally deranged local inhabitants. It's something that we got used to quickly, but any period away from the city removes the resistance one builds up against it.

This picture is of the road below my hotel window at midnight; total gridlock. 

Waymarking Part III

The temptation to waymark a little more of the Shakespeare's Avon Way was too strong, so I volunteered to help along another stretch from Weston on Avon down to Bidford. It's always great to be out walking, but this stretch of the Warwickshire countryside is, I'm sad to say, less than pretty. It's not ugly, it's just a little bland. This photo of Bidford sums the walk up; not beautiful, just rural.

But the air was fresh and clean, and I stomped a few miles in my boots, so it was much better than painting the hall, which is what I have successfully put off for months.

I love Iris, but don't tell anyone

Yes, I love "Iris". It's a retina scanning machine that allows British citizens to skip the massive line at passport control in Heathrow. It took me 5 minutes to register (it's free!) on my latest trip out to New York and then, when I returned to Heathrow, I walked straight up to the machine, blinked my eyes and walked straight through. I didn't have to show my passport. I was literally on the other side before the person I was walking behind from the plane had reached the end of the 300+ people queue!

But don't tell anyone. If it becomes popular, I won't get through so quickly!