Classic car mechanic – Watch out

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

If you could have a free hand over your time and an unlimited budget, what would you do?

Well, after I’d purchased the global supply of Haribo and built a glass stadium within which to store it and adore it, I think my money would go on a ‘no expense spared’ restoration of a classic.

Clearly I’d be commissioning one of our techs for the job and I would (much to their disdain and probable disapproval) insist on a comfy chair 5 feet away from the action so I could watch them weave their magic. Might even video it for the highlights reel.

At this point Mrs Olli is raising a weary eyebrow and wondering just how she got herself mixed up with a creature whom whilst at face value is mildly interesting, underneath it all is comparable to dishwater in dullness. Never mind. We can all dream.

As an aside, probably the second thing I’d do is commission the English watchmaker, Roger Smith, to make me a custom one-off watch.

Roger plied his trade by leaning at the foot of the master, George Daniels. Perhaps the greatest English watchmaker there has been. For his watches, George made every single component himself. Everything. He even made the tools to make the components.

When Roger arrived at the door of the master seeking an apprenticeship and bearing a watch he’d crafted himself, Daniels dismissed his efforts with disdain and told him to ‘go learn his craft properly’.

He said ‘you need to master 32 trades to be able to call yourself a watchmaker, now get ye gone ya young whipper-snapper’.

I thought there was only one trade you’d need to learn, that being ‘watchmaking’. I’m sometimes wrong, but not often by multiples of 32.

A year-and-a-half later back comes Smith with his new creation, every part self-made and, begrudgingly, Daniels finally declares him a watchmaker and allows him to study by his side.

Whilst Georgie D has passed on to meet the great timekeeper in the sky, Smith maintains the legacy and now I’m booking in my chair and hoping to split my time between the classic restoration at CCM and the build of my dream timepiece.

The techs are unhappy, Smith is refusing to take my calls and Mrs Olli is likely handing in her notice via a note wrapped round a brick and aimed (along with building velocity) at my bonce.

Where did it all go wrong?!

Obsessive about cars… obsessive about watches… there is a common thread here.

Dreaming aside and returning to the real world, let’s have a look at this week’s photos from the workshop. (My comfy brown imaginary leather chair noticeable only by its absence).

Ohhhh you’ve just got to love a late 90’s red boy-racer. Renault’s hot-hatchery at its very best

One of our workshop inhabitants in rally action. TVRs are not generally known for off-road, mid-river drive-ability. If Mrs Olli allowed me to wear a hat, I’d be taking it off and nodding in the direction of this spiritedly driven yellow beauty

I didn’t think we’d get another lift in the workshop, but here it is….lifting. Proven wrong. Again

Look at it…just look at it! The colour reminds me of 'BMW M Estoril blue'. Apparently, this is an AC Aceca. I had to ask mind. I pushed Eric for details but he was elusive as to motive power. ‘Bristol’ I think he muttered… will squeeze my beak under the bonnet when no one is looking to find out for myself

‘Put ya shoulder into it Shrimp eye’ .......S-E Justin’s version of eco-conscious propulsion. He’s good on MPG economy (petrol), but MPB economy (biscuits) is another matter

Finally, our version of blue and yellow…. A subtle and sombre recognition of our current political climate and a pause for a moment of reflective thought

Another week passes and the accuracy of the blog’s timekeeping has again been questioned by those on high…. Will try harder guv’. Improvements will be made once my custom watch lands.

That calls time (groan) for another week so from the gang at CCM, Eric, Siobhan, Tasha, Dr Ray, Shrimp-eye Justin, Young Chris, Izzi, Ingrid, Alfie, Will (I aint) and Jake have a great week.