How we used to drive

Here's a 1935 Studebaker Commander. I was looking for more old cars to draw and photograph and it turns out there's a huge collection only a mile from where I live. Unfortunately most are going to be sold at auction in a few weeks. I'm going to try to get back and do a few more before they leave.

This sketch was done at A3 instead of the usual A5. I'm not entirely happy with it. It took much longer to do and doesn't have the looseness of the smaller sketches. Perhaps I should have used an even bigger pencil...

How we used to live

These reconstructions were in the Peat Moors Centre in Westhay. They had a fire going inside and it was really quite cosy...

Camping Holiday in Dorset

We spent a few days relaxing on the south coast. Lots of very picturesque villages and beaches - but also quite a lot of people this time of year.

Here's Lulworth Cove...


Dancing Ledge...



Wareham...
and Studland Bay...

Blagdon

Went for a nice pub lunch on saturday and walked it off around Blagdon - a very picturesque town on the slopes of the Mendips. Here's a very quick one of the church...

And here's one of the beam engines at the reservoir pumping station - it's open must sunday afternoons through the summer. I'm not entirely happy with this one - I think I'll go again sometime and have another go...

VSSC Hillclimb - Prescott

Went to the VSCC 75th anniversary Hillclimb and did lots of sketches instead of the usual photos. I really enjoyed it - I'm definitely going to do some more. Highlight of the day was a brief ride on the Stanley Steam Car.

My favourite machines are the Specials - particularly the GN's. Unfeasibly large engines - sometimes from aeroplanes - bolted onto spindly cyclecars. They were the cars to have for hillclimbing in the 20's and 30's...
Thanks to Alan Cox I now know this is the Grannie Special...
The Thunderbug has a thumping great 4.3 litre V-Twin. There's a clip of it here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcsoQi7C0gs

This was a beautiful machine - with stunning details and patina. Wooden chassis, V8 aero engine, offset seating, stylish lettering - everything about it is perfect...

Mike Clark's Stanley steam car - the one I was lucky enough to go for a ride in. 70mph and almost silent - the perfect vehicle to mow someone down in...

I'm hoping this is a Brescia Bugatti - I'm not so good on my Bugatti models...

As I was saying - not sure of the model that this was in - perhaps someone could help fill in the details...

Whoever built this definitely had a Meccano set when they were younger. It looked fast and frightening, all in black with a huge 6 cylinder AC engine in the front. Here's a clip too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E007fxpW3X0

Hay Tor - Dartmoor

Went on a landscape photography outing to Dartmoor and managed to squeeze in a quick sketch too. It's a bit too clinical I think - should have used a pencil.