Classic car mechanic – At times I literally have no clue…

‘In the corner of the workshop, Olli Ragbin sits watching events unfold before him’

From my quiet corner I concentrate most days on watching. That and the obligatory handing out of clean rags keeps me busy enough thank you very much. Whilst I watch, Siobhan normally logs, documents and photographs the goings on as a record of the week’s achievements. This is handy for a number of reasons. Firstly, it gives me something to go on when it comes to summarising the week for readers of our blog. Secondly, it provides an opportunity to quietly catch out an unsuspecting tech with an unusual shot that often leads to more questions than it provides answers.

Most weeks we seem to get shrimp eye Justin moonwalking. Not in itself a necessarily unusual activity. If you have the talent, why hide it under a bushel?

Today though, I have a number of shots that leave me with questions. Mainly because I haven’t got a clue as to the subject being photographed. I admit, it’s a little embarrassing that I’ve been watching fastidiously, yet am unable to remember what car which bit came from.

Here is a perfect example.

(There's a book on MGBs..... maybe that's a clue?)

What’s this bit when it’s at home? Why does it have 2 gaps in it? Why is a tech prodding it? And why isn’t someone hitting it with a hammer? Surely that’d make whatever was wrong with this thing a bit more right-er?

I often proffer this sort of wisdom toward anyone who’ll listen…. Failing that, to anyone within earshot (listening or not) and failing that, I’ll get a picture of it and a week later suggest in writing that the thing is hit with a hammer.

My success at converting advice to action is currently 0%. Has been for months now. At least I’m consistent and not getting any worse. That’s got to be a plus on the CV, no?

Second up this week is a picture of something attached to something else.

I half have a suspicion that a crankshaft is visible. I can’t be sure and I definitely don’t know which cars shaft this is cranking.

Now the next one I do know. It’s an MBG (I think) with new suspension components and a Spax shock. All shiny and nice looking.

We’re doing a lot with MBGs at the moment. A popular choice amongst our customers it seems.

In the meantime, this week’s hide-and-seek competition saw some rather more innovative moves. Shrimp eye spent a good 2 mins weighing up the option of diving headfirst into a spare cardboard box and then closing the lid using on the dexterity of his feet. He didn’t quite pull it off and either over-estimated the carrying capacity of said box or underestimated his own volume. Either way he was first out when Eric saw knees, shins and attached feet protruding out of a box probably only capable of harbouring a small-ish dog at best.

This photo captures perfectly (if not quite as zoomed in as I would have liked) the moment of contemplation.

Finally, we leave you this week with a picture of 14 people looking at a camera and smiling beautifully. Exactly as they have been politely asked to do. Person 15 is however a rebel, a cad, a bounder and an absolute rake who thinks it highly amusing do 50% of what he has been asked. Honestly…. Some folk.

(Eric’s portrayal of ‘lead heckler’ resulted in him carrying on this disruptive behaviour into the cast photo. That’s method acting for you. Commitment to the role. As an aside person 16 isn't in shot, but he did put his hand up at the back of the class to ask if he could be. 'No' came the terse response.)

And so another week passes. The clever folk at CCM have been caring for the classics, running the business and generally doing our customers proud whilst I’ve been doing an average job of even remembering what’s going on. I know Eric is insistent that I never go near customers cars. Perhaps if I can name at least 5 of the 10 parts photographed next week he’ll change his mind (as long as he’s forgotten about the oil change service I was allowed to do on a bike we jointly once owned).

So, from all of us here, Siobhan, Dr Ray, Shrimp-eye Justin, Young Chris, Izzi, Ingrid, Alfie and Nell Gwyn’s nemesis, have a great day.

Olli

(Fame at last. These Bristols have made it into the blog a number of times. We’ve also now made it into physical print! Page 41 of ‘Practical Classic’s mag has the full story. Fame at last and a lovely to see our work recognised by our customers)