Rapier

Last weekend's VSCC Autumn Leaves run was as to be expected a gentle drive out through the near-by "Hills" to one of the Yarra Valley wineries where we enjoyed lunch in some excellent company. The Drive home was uneventful and KG was moderate regarding it's thirst consuming slightly less than half a tank of petrol. Driving for some of the way with Vines lining both sides of the road there was no shortage of Autumn Leaves. With Winter just around the corner we were lucky to have an excellent day in every respect. As virtually always, we had the hood (Folding roof) securely tucked away in its own compartment in the rear of the car. BJ.

Further to the above, it is driving in the Lagonda Rapier that keeps me "young" and fit & healthy enough to enjoy this sort of activity. Out in the open air with, as always, the hood safely stowed away. Today being a Sunday we had another great day out in the Lagonda Rapier. Today again per courtesy of our friends in the VSCC.

Now we have a VSCC event on this coming Sunday, not a long drive but at least we can get out in the car and enjoy a morning's proper motoring! Bj.

The Mille was held in September 1997 and it is still strong in my memory, the remarkable thing is that despite being a regular competitor in events many that only varied from the Mille in that they were run over two or three days instead of the Mille's four days, road conditions and average speeds were much the same, the Lagonda Rapier looks and drives in exactly the same way. Having had the minor damage to the two rear mudguards (wings) repaired and the car having been given a polish in addition to its usual wash and rub down, looks as good if not better than it did seven years ago. It's Michelin low pressure (20psi) tyres are wearing well and should see another 6 to 12 months use. Quite possibly more. At almost 87, the driver is more likely to "wear out" long before the Lagonda! Bernie Jacobson

The more I think about it not just "KG" but Lagonda Rapiers in general are really something "special". Even more so the ones that have had their engines enlarged to 1500cc as our car has. "KG" has during its life time and even more so during our long ownership, the engine has undergone a series of "developments". Big valves, modified cam profiles, raised compression ratio, polished ports, fully balanced, it goes on & on. Not just the engine, I have talked earlier about the work done on the chassis and gearbox. (ie. NO CLUTCH.) one of the benefits of a "pre-select" transmission! And yet it is easy and delightful to drive. Despite my advancing age I cannot see a time when I would be tempted to sell it, but then it distresses me to see it standing unused in the garage. Bj.

More or less, it was a "Touring" event covering a 1000 miles of back roads, some gravel, in four days. We were the only "pre-war" car entered, competing with Austin-Healy, Triumph TRs, and MG "A" & "B's". An interesting four day's drive. This one was a professional photographer's photograph. It gives you some idea of the conditions.

As you can see from today's photograph, both rear mudguards (wings) are back in their correct shape and the Kangaroo is a shinning example, complete with a new coat of chrome plating. The two (small) wing nuts on the "Number-plate" board are to secure it by the two hooks that hold it onto the tubular rear cross member and prevent it from "swinging" on the main spare wheel carrier. This is actually not supported by the petrol tank but by another "bracket" attached to the chassis. Turn indicator lights are mounted high on the "body" at either side of the petrol tank. The "quick release" fuel tank cap it conveniently placed in the centre of the top of the tank easily reached from either side of the car.

Meanwhile there is one truly unique feature on the Rapier. That is the Kangaroo sitting on a Boomerang! Two things that are truly UNIQUE to Australia. The Kangaroo is one of those animals you are unlikely ro encounter anywhere else in the world. The Boomerang is likewise unique to Australia. This is a weapon with characteristics you are unlikely to find anywhere else in the world. When thrown by a person trained to use it. IF it misses its target it will return to the person who threw it. When thrown by an expert is will land back at their feet. Mounted on the Rapier it indicates that the car will always come back, "get you home, no matter where you may roam"! Bernie j.

Oh dear, looking at the above 17 pages of waffle, no wonder very few very brave people risk making any comment other than an occasional "Thumbs up". Really despite this the good people at the AACA continue to host this forum. I think that my time on this forum has just about "run out". Bj

What more can I say, another week has passed us by the Rapier remains sitting quietly out in the garage and as (our) autumn quietly goes on its way, we now have only Winter's chilly days to look forward to. The only consolation is that Spring cannot be too far away. Bj. Ever the optimus. Or in the words of the song, "Look on the bright side of life!"

Now some considerable time later I still have had absolutely no replies or contact with any DKW owners. There must be some one out there but they remain elusive. I cannot help but wonder where they all are perhaps all the existing cars are carefully tucked up in European garages and are unlikely to ever see the "light of day" again. Bj.

Six (approximately) months later and nothing has changed. The Morris is still out at our son Steve's. He is currently assembling a motor for it. I will probably leave it out with him in the short term at least. Looking at it again last weekend, I was reminded what an attractive car it is with lots of potential. Apart from the motor, 90% of the work is done. Seats are upholstered in red leather. Interior trim still needs some work, final assembly. I have just recieved a "post bag" with the (2) sump plugs in it. Bj.

But that says nothing about our 2006, water cooled, "Jetta" Diesel four door sedan. It still drives very much the same as it did when new. It is our trusty every day driver. Bj.

Another week gone and what have we got to show for it? Where would I be without the two most important things in my life first and foremost my devoted wife Helen then some way behind her, the Rapier. Both keep me active and glad to be alive. Bj.

Hello Ben That age business is always with us, the trick is to learn to ignore it. That I can promise you is harder than it would seem. The trick is to try to ignore it and carry on with your life as if it did not exist. The Lagonda is two years older than I am but I have never heard it complain (too loudly). I know that it is doing its best to make our lives enjoyable. It would be mean not to take advantage of its willingness to get out and be driven! I think that it is going better today than it ever did with its earlier owners all those years ago! And YES It does talk to me! That and it has never looked better! Bj.

This photo of the Rapier dashboard shows the much maligned Saint Christopher medallion. So far we have "gone our way safely" so we will leave it in place. Markings on the MPH speedo show both Suburban and Country speed limits. It also shows total and trip distance travelled in miles and 1/10 of a mile. The (manual wind) clock requires winding every seven days so tends to "miss out". Taco (rev counter) runs up to 6,000 rpm. Dashboard timber is Queensland Black Bean. a favourite for executive office furniture. (Senior management desk etc.) Looking at all this makes me aware that I am growing older, This in turn makes me think I must look for more opportunities to drive the Rapier. Just how I am going to do this is something of a puzzle. But don't go away, I will be working on it. Bj.

Going back to the Lagonda Rapier (KG) I have no way of proving this but I believe that Beatrice Shilling, if she were alive and active today, would be simply amazed at the cars comfort and its performance. I have no way of comparing it with any of the "other" Australian Rapiers. They simply never come out to VSCC or similar "club" events. The photo below was taken in England some years ago bur apart from the "script" on the bonnet side and the luggage carrier on the rear of the car, very little has changed.You could almost go so far as to say "Nothing has changed!" In fact the most notable changehas been the total of miles travelled as registered on the speedo. Just this morning I have driven,in Helens VW Jetta, in to pay VICRoads this years Road Registration for the Rapier, this includes Third Party personal accident insurance. The main benefit of this is that it gives me permission to drive the car on the roads of Victoria (our home state) This, when in conjunction with recognised club events, and or in preparation for any one of these. Again this is covered by the proviso that any road use is entered in the car's official "Club's Log-book". Bj.

Hello Dr Data As promised we drove out to Yarra Junction yesterday, Our son "Steve" was working on the Morris engine, fitting up the "big-end" bearings, so some progress is being made. He has "a lot on his plate" so I am not pushing him to have it finished. We did talk about how to "get around" the lack of "Breathing" in the engine. It is side valve with just the one inlet port so just a single carburettor. One way to over come this would be to fit a (small) supercharger.(Blower) But it would be difficult to justify the expense. Bj.

Now some simple mathematics. 2014 was the Rapiers 80th Anniversary. It is now 2024, ten years later making the Rapier now 90 years old. We can only hope and pray that we are all in such good order and conditon when we turn 90. Some of us, no names mentioned, are not all that far behind! How far away is 2034? Bj.

This next one should be self explanatory, 1000 miles in just four days! This event was only run this once, the Rapier was the only "Pre-war" car competing against a whole rash of "Modern's". As the photographs show through a variety of weather and over a variety of roads. We would do it all again but we cannot find any other potenial starters.

For all those unfamiliar with the make, the boots are from the famous Australian Boot-maker, R M Williams, the side of the lable you can see/read shows their address in Adelaide in South Australia, 5 Percy Street. I have been buying and wearing their boots for as long as I can remember. That is during my adult life......

Going back to the "boots", The makers have a service to repair/replace worn out soles, there is just one problem, they have just replaced my leather soles with some hard wearing "rubber". I can only hope that IF I wear them often enough they may start to be as comfortable as they were with the original leather ones.

These are essentially the "other" two walls. The photographs represent quite a range of makes & models. Some very rare such as the "Dixie Flyer", Other makes not so rare although the individual models combined with the bodies, which tend to be examples of my "handi-work". Marques include Austin, Citroen, Dodge, Packard, Riley, SS Jaguar, Singer and of course Lagonda although not necessarily in that order. So there is a challenge for you. Identify each car shown here.

Ancient and Modern: These two photographs hang on my "study" wall, one shows the first Rapier that I owned, it was bought as a basket case the had been left out in the open for children to play in. I.E.Vandalise, At the stage that you see it at in the photograph it is virtually finished and ready to "register" so that it could be legally driven on the road. The only thing was that I had to sell it before it went any further, it is seen in the photo parked under the "carport" of a "Flat" in Blackburn where we were living having sold one house and waiting for a new one to be finished so that we could "move in". The only thing was that it too had to be sold. The "new owner of this Rapier had it repainted dark green". The other photograph is of Helen with our present Rapier, This car we have owned longer than any other car. It was bought as a"project", the ex-Beatrice Shilling racing car, it was rebuilt as you see it here, an Eagle two seater. Somehow I cannot see it ever being sold, to is such a good car. The whole wall is covered with photos of most (some) of the cars I have owned including three other Rapiers. Bj.

Hello Ben or perhaps Hell No Ben I have lived 87 years so far but have no ambition to live to be 100. Just what the next 13 years hold us "Anyone's Guess"............ Bj.