Classic car mechanic’s weekly motoring – Health & Safety

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

This week we're going to keep the blog nice and tight. We held our first ever open day a coupla weekends ago and we've got a fair few photos to go through, so we'll give them a little more space than the usual ramblings.

It was a day of ups and downs. The ups were many. A great turnout and a load of customers visiting to have a look around and a chat to the team. On top of that we also raised a nice amount for our chosen charity, 'Help the Heroes'.

On the downside, this week has seen a significant breach of the 'Health & Safety' rules that Ingrid has championed since day 1. Needless to say, staff retraining has taken place and thankfully everybody is safe and well. I'm not going to dwell on the subject, but one of the pics below tells you all you need to know. Names have been changed to protect the guilty.

Finally, we've now introduced a 'car of the week' competition, as voted for by the CCM team. Next week I'll reveal the first results. I'm leaving it a week so the tension can build and not because I've lost the photo Ingrid sent me....

The weather seems to have changed for the better. Time to get out and about in your whip of choice.

Enjoy.

Olli.

The first of the arial drone footage from our open day

Only a couple of years back Eric had a workshop in the garden and one ramp. Look at us now!

I do like a Rover P6. And this is a beaut. Shrimp eye with 'baby'. This Mini has been in more shows than John Barrowman

This absolutely mint (and very rare) Talbot Samba Cab dropped jaws all round this week. Absolutely stunning condition, loved, pampered and cared for. So much so, the owner requested we remove the engine from underneath as the least risky option re potential for bodywork scratching. Careful though we are with all our customers cars, their requests are are always respected and we happily do what they ask us. We share their passion so understand completely

The sun shining on our Open Day

Lewis has been eating his greens and is now 7ft 8. Either that, or he has a thing for tiny motorcycles

I'm not sure how to explain this really.....This beast belongs to Lewis and is about to take part in a 6-hour endurance race. Why? That is a very good question....

.......apparently Eric did all the embroidery....

The 996 in for more fettling. This time, new shocks, springs and bushes all round. I think I'm just going to set up a recurring direct debit payable to CCM..

This employee (let's call him 'Bryan' to protect his identity) has undergone extensive re-training and has now been approved as 'safe' to work in the office

Alfie thinks he's spotted a badger asleep under the bonnet. He's frightened of badgers. One once stole wagon wheel from him when he was a child and he's been suspicious of them ever since

Eric and his father-in-law, who despite his better judgment is still talking to Eric, irrespective of this week's shade of trouser (parma violet?). Eric is very fond of a pastel-shaded pantaloon

Shrimp eye Justin tries to coax the badger out with some Red Leicester on a stick. Alfie aint going anywhere near it...

I love this. Those BBS alloys are a perfect match for this Golf

Several hours in and the unicorn is motoring

Ant was in this week for a 'Classic Car Mechanic' experience session. I think we've been toying with the idea of running a few more of these. The techs were impressed with his knowledge and I understand he enjoyed his day with the team. Well done, Ant. Praise from the techs doesn't come that easy normally. I usually get a tut and a head-shake whenever I have a go at anything I'm allowed near (which isn't much if I'm being honest)

Another week, another Bristol. Lovely interior on this one

Write out 100 times 'I will not fly the drone in the office'..... 5 minutes later, employee 'Bryan' had been forcibly enrolled in H&S re-training.....honestly, you can't make this stuff up