Well, another year passes by and I find that the Legend is having trouble staying alive!

Ford Fair seems as popular as ever - loads of great looking Fords, brilliant weather and dare I say, better entry to the circuit this year? Not too sure as I got there at 0910 instead of my usual 0730 - reason being I arrived in a Skoda. Excuse me did you say Skoda Dr Brooklands? er Yes I did. Don't worry it's an RS turbo with 227 horses under the bonnet. That's not the point is it? This is Ford Fair and therefore I should be driving a Ford, in fact a Capri, in fact a Capri 280. Correct. So I didn't get it out of the garage - first time ever at FF without a Brookie. There's a good reason - I couldn't let a fly pitch on this one - it's just too stunning to let out. More details later..........

As per previous years there was a tremendous turn out from all over Europe by the sound of strange accents (I don't mean Dudley or Widnes!) The standard of cars was again very high - but one display I just could not get on with - that was the Ford Focus RS parade. I looked down a line of about 30 of these cars and at first I thought they were lining up to be loaded on a transporter - until I realised they were part of a club. But they were all blue, all the same and all in a line - maybe it's me but I couldn't tell them apart - anyway sure they were nice enough but I walked quickly past looking for the Capri 280's......... where were they?? (Yes, I know 280's are all green and all the same - but they're different aren't they - oh you know what I mean - Focuses are a bit boring and front wheel drive and too expensive and........ somebody stop me)

I shuffled round and found 4 in total. Maybe five. - all quite nice-ish, a couple of working 280's really. The only one on show as such, which to be honest had too many fancy bits on it to make it authentic - somehow brass, gold or red and polished bits look weird under the bonnet of a 280 - or is it just me? OK I'm weird) The others were in need of a restore or else had poor interiors or pattern wings with gaps that Jo Brand could squeeze through. One or two were fairly nice but I have to say, I bet a lot of people missed good old Dr Brooklands 280's in the Cars for Sale section this year. I checked it out - not a 280 in sight. That tells me something - either there are less around than ever before or people don't bring them to shows like Ford Fair??

I know of at least 4 Capri 280's that are locked away and not used - waiting for what I'm not sure? Better be careful that you don't keep them stashed until they're either illegal or not Politically Correct enough to use on the roads!

There were lot's of good after market stalls this year and a load of spare bits and bobs for every Ford under the sun (and under the Sun we were!). I was wilting in the heat looking for Raven head rests, centre caps and touch up paint - oh well nil out of three can't be bad.... I have a suggestion for next year - how's about having a tannoy speaker system where people can announce their wants and any seller who has the bit can either contact the control box or ring a mobile phone to arrange with the buyer?? How's that for a hot tip for 2005? OK we'd all get cheesed off with constant messages - so maybe a couple of matrix signs like on the motorways or at airports - silent but effective.

Here's some pics of my favourite cars of the day - and it doesn't include a 280 - just not tidy enough I'm afraid. Wait til you see mine - totally stunning, totally mint, best I've ever had - may post some pics later.

(* pics are '3 pass progressive', so may take a few secs to fully load)

 

ADDENDUM *

Had a bit of a ticking off tonight - had an email from the owner of a wonderful 280 at Ford Fair who stated I had trashed all the 280's as they weren't worth snapping and putting on my website. Well, I was a bit tough I suppose - only 'cos I was well dis-chuffed by the overall appearance of most I saw. Clearly there was an exception to the rule - and I obviously didn't look closely enough at Mr Bakers 280!! - well shut my mouth and cut some slack - I was a bit Blunkett when I should have been more Kennedy (any satirists out there will know what I mean). Apologies to all owners of 280's that are very clean and well looked after. And a plague of locusts on all you who dare to put a dog on the club stand..............hope that makes amends CB??

Look I'll bring mine out of the dust bag and you can throw Autoglym all over it next year - fairy nuff?

 

Sexy X pack! Those Cologne arches........

Was this a 3.0 Mk 1? It was a bit gorgeous

This 2.8 Special had to be the cleanest Capri I've ever seen - even if the wheels were 15" !! nice one Mick.

So until next year I'll still being trying to Keep The Legend Alive, with a little help from my friends - but it's getting tougher each year.

 

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