Pontypridd
August 9th 2008.
Pontypridd Park Classic Car and Vintage Vehicle show.
On the wettest Saturday in August we travelled out to the Park at the centre of Pontypridd where a full convoy of Classic and Vintage Vehicles travelled through the town centre. My Morris started having problems with it's engine just before we reach Pontypridd. Once we arrived at the park we were directed to the starting line to join the Grand Parade that would take us through the town. With torrential rain we had our wipers, Headlights and demister going full blast. It wasn't until that we got through the High Street that my engine started to splutter and shown signs of problems. Just as we reached the end of the High Street the engine came to a sudden halt. A kind tractor driver came to our assistance and gave us a tow back to the Park..
After looking for friends who might have given help assistance came from another Morris Minor owner who started to go thru the process of elimination. after much thought we decided that the wet weather played a good part in it's fault finding. After having another Jump start I was heading for home where it would be laid up in my garage for the next few weeks.
Having missed the next days show at Cardiff Bay and over the next few days my Morris Started every time. August 16th wa going to be the Classic Police car event held at Beaulieu Motor Museum with the PC-UK Club. Again I thought that it could be a mistake if I drove the 350mile round trip only to find that I might encounter problems at Septembers Pembrokeshire County Run where My Morris would be on the starting line ready to lead off the 500 vehicles there. The decision to leave the Morris home and take a well earned break in Bournemouth proved better. When I got back home I couldn't understand why my Morris wouldn't start. With the battery flat I managed to change the leads but it seemed that it mad things worse. With the Blaenavon festival of Transport the next weekend I planned to have the Morris transported up to Blaenavon. Using a large trailer, I got to the show ground and stayed with the car most of the day. Again the Morris was popular with visitors I managed to unload the trailer and park next to Lee Jones Austin 1100 Panda. Lee and a few mechanics gave the Morris another look under it's bonnet and found that I had major engine problems. After blowing a head gasket in June it seemed that I had blown another one. With renewed vigour I had to get it replaced again. Godfrey Crew was a great help and assisted me in having another cylinder head replaced. With a new barrery and a replacement head gasket I found that the bottom of the engine making horrific noises. Time was almost upon me as the end of august came. I had to miss another PC-UK event at Yeovill's Haynes Motor Museum.