There are times l feel you need to be a member of Mensa to understand the BBC's breaking news stories.

No way.

That'll mean he'll have to start paying road tax!

VW T2 Camper. A Milestone In Motoring. YouTube video by Driven It

Barry reaches 50 today.

So I'm celebrating. But also, can we make it to 500 subscribers? Probably not.

Anyway....here is how l know he was born on the 22 April 1976.

youtu.be/9Y014J2PUAY?...

Selective memory is a great thing to have.

I didn't even know Birmingham had an airport!!

We were staying at Somers Wood campsite this weekend. I could hear planes taking off in the morning.

I thought it was an RAF base. So you can imagine my surprise when l found out it wasn't.

I can't but feel a little empathy for Wonky Wheel as he limped along.

Live life in colour.

Parked in a boring dull-arse carpark of blandness.

I discovered the annoyance of stiff anti roll bars on my camper van.

Roly-poly but handled became a massive understeering water bed on wheels.

I feel the same would happen with the X1/9. And what makes it great is because it's soft, long drives are never a chore.

It totally amazed me on the track.

I had no idea about how big the roll angles were until someone pointed it out to me. And now l can't unsee them.

Photos by Jeff Bloxham from this week's Guild of Motoring Writers BIG day out at Castle Combe.

Had a blast in the X1/9 until the alternator started shrieking.

Prior to that, this little Fiat was amazing. The 165 section tyres were like magnets to the road. Even in the wet.

The STAR CAR from today's Guild of Motoring Writers BIG day out was this Morris Ital estate.

Family owned for many years, it was simply joyous to see it wobble around Castle Combe racetrack.

Funny enough @mattfd.bsky.social and l were talking about these yesterday.

Out and about with the GOMW BIG day out at Castle Combe.

Editor in chief of Auto Italia Chris Rees survived our session.

Sadly, it wasn't the rain that put pay to my early retirement on my third run but a noisy alternator.

And as l need to drive home, l thought it best not to push it further.

Forget the fear of spring compressors going wrong, the rotten front struts on Toby Visa scare the life out of me if this Resto Bodge ever hits the road again.

Thankfully l managed to find 2 NOS for not a lot of money.

Like horses?

I love how these had a rear hinged window like a Chrysler Sunbeam.

So the seat coverings of cheap poverty cars.

I'm absolutely amazed at how this cheap material is sold off as premium.

Is eco leather the new word for PLASTIC?

I didn't think they were allowed to sell the aftermath of a Euro NCAP test!

It is a win win when you can use an OEM switch.

What looks like a second heated window switch is actually a modified 2-way dash rheostat switch for the carb and rad fan override on the X1/9.

That's the fun of tinkering.

Wire speed 6

Wire speed 7.

My finest piece of welding and my not so finest.

And all on the same job. I'd knocked a setting on the welder. Ended up with splatter and just a mess.

And all because I'd unintentionally knocked my wire feed from 6 got to 7.

The Douglas Special was papped yesterday at Fuel Road House in Holmbush.

From the picture, I've noticed the the front plate on the wonk. I'd better sort this. Don't want to be classed one of these in the link.

youtu.be/qQ7w3rCJVjg?...

Something l learnt recently was the failed Alfa Romeo Tipo103 project went on to become the R8 in design.

And having learnt this, l can't unsee it.

Citroen Visa Body Repairs. It's Not Going Well. YouTube video by Driven It

Find other words for not *good. That's the Visa after l took a wire brush, and grinder to it.

*Pre Dave having a look.

youtu.be/dumqSyVBJK4?...

Ahhhhh, the tyres. And the pollution they themselves generate. Into the rivers. Into the air. Into our bodies.

1960's VW made a big thing of tyres lasting 25,000 miles on their Beetles. Lightweight innit.

Anyway, I've stockpiles of popcorn at the ready for when that tyre thing happens.

I saw this and was going to post it up too. Lazy journalism.

Cars have got heavier. That's it. That's the no story story. As much as I'm no fan of these SUV's, a VW T-Roc doesn't weigh much more than a Golf. Or vise versa.

I'm ashamed to be a fan of @theguardian.com when they print this.

Hahahahahahhaha.

I've still not forgotten that. And it still makes me LAUGH out loud.

Cutting out some crispy bits from Toby Visa.

It's, erm, not great. And this is supposed to be the GOOD side.