Classic car mechanic – Make your mark

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

We all like to think that we will leave our fingerprint on the world. A legacy remembered after we have long departed to the great Classic Car Mechanics in the sky. In recent years fame has spread its greasy tentacles ever wider with the new 'dawn of celebrity'. Fame, once the by-product of achievement is now available on a fast-track ticket with infamy. Sign up to the Big Brother house and become the person you'd least want to be stuck in a lift with and boom, you’re in the papers. Your parents are mortified, but at least you get to open a local Sainsbury’s.

This level of notoriety is transient at best. Not remembered for what you achieved, but recalled for public embarrassment. Personally, I’d rather eat my own hair than have that sort of tale hung around my neck.

There’s fame and then there’s fame. Proper fame. Individuals who are titans in the world. If you see it, you know it.

I was once on nodding terms with John Parrott down at my local chippie. It’s good, but gets flipped into a cocked hat by my mate who once stood next to Paul McCartney in the urinals at some posh sporting event. Paul McCartney! Good lord. Having a slash next to a Beatle. The only thing that would come close is having a pint with the Pope. Even that’s not quite in the same ball-park.

I spent 20 mins quizzing said friend on whether he took the opportunity to have a ‘quick peek’ at what McCartney was packing. He said he didn’t but I’m not convinced. Imagine getting busted by the chirpy scouser if you did have a look…. try and wriggle out of that little social faux pas....

At the CCM Christmas meal last week, Ingrid told me about her grandmother.

As we are all automotive freaks of one kind or another (to a greater of lesser extent), Ingrid’s GM made her own mark on history. There is a picture in the Collins archive which shows her astride a motorcycle (very much back in the day).

Her particular mark on history being that she was the first lady to ride a motorcycle in her county. The first....imagine that! This was back in the day where equality and a normal balance of things just wasn’t in existence. But she was. And rocking it on a big old bike.

Now that’s good, but that’s not the end of the tale. One story doth not a legend make.

How about this. The very same grandmother invented the Donkey Jacket. Apparently recognising a gap in the market for affordable outdoor wear for the hard-working human who gets exposed to the elements, the idea was rustled into reality and boom, a thing was invented and manufactured. All by Ingrid’s nan.

This lady was a force of nature. Not much was going to get in her way.

One sharp customer and a lethally sharp hand at bridge, she used to play competitively on the circuit. One day her and her partner came up against a proper old pro. Probably the most famous bridge player there has been. Omar Sharif. Dr Zhivago himself. Renowned raconteur also packing a lethal reputation for things on the romantic side of life.

After the game was over, Laurance of Arabia went to work with silky charm on the queen of the Donkey jacket. To absolutely no avail. Ingrid’s grandmother had already chosen her partner, Ingrid’s grandad. Omar never stood a chance. Come to that, Ingrid’s grandad never stood a chance either. When you’re the first lady on a motorcycle, run your own factory and rebuff Hollywood legends, when she picks you for life-long partnership, you're picked sunshine. End of...

I wonder if Eric got snaffled in a similar fashion?

It was a lovely meal and what a story about stamping your name in the history books. Remembered for who you were and the way you tackled life.

Back in the present and CCM continues to be busy as we race toward the end of the year.

I’ve only managed a few car-related pics from my corner of the garage this week.

(This is an engine with a bit missing)

(...and now the missing bit, missing no more....)

This 'lil thing is a heater control valve for our beautiful Sunbeam Rapier. We tried to source this part and the nearest available one was in Australia. Then, after a few calls to our friend, one turned up from the back of a shed. Connections. Important in this game!

(Young Chris has been playing with the Van Der Graaf generator again….)

(a packed workshop is a happy workshop)

As we roll toward Christmas and the UK is again more predominantly working from home, the boys and girls at CCM are busy working through the pipeline of classics so that history can be restored, maintained and kept on the road. Electrification and further virus mutations in the pipeline, but classics will endure.

And so with a respectful nod toward Ingrid’s grandmother, from Eric, Siobhan, Tasha, Dr Ray, Shrimp-eye Justin, Young Chris, Izzi, Ingrid, Alfie and Will (I aint) have a great week.

Olli

(we’re now proud to be registered as part of the ‘Trust My Garage’ approved scheme. We were audited last week and passed with flying colours. Go us…!!!)