Big Bang 2007

More pics from Santa Pod! This time it's the Big Bang VW extravaganza...

Click for the full gallery...

Oulton Park: Old Photos

I love Oulton Park, even though I haven't been for ages. It's my local circuit, and it's a great place to spend a summers day. I've got a big box full of old photos from the late 1980s and early 1990s that I'm slowly scanning in, they'll go into this set here. Hope you like them! If you have any information about any of the cars, please let me know!

Easter Thunderball 2007 Pics

Click to see the full set...

Four days of some mighty fine drag racing, lots of laughs and fantastic weather. Absolutely perfect!

Secret lives of Suburbia

So here's a brochure for the Austin Maxi, one of the definitive cars of 1970s suburban Britain:



Inside, apart from all the expected pictures of gear knobs and steering wheels, are a number of "lifestyle" shots, designed to show you (the unimaginative punter) what a successful and desirable family lifestyle you could lead if only you owned one of these Issigonis master-hatches.



Here's Mrs Maxi, with the kids:





And here's one of the mini-Maxis, with their pet pooch:




I am assuming it's Mr Maxi taking the photographs, as he is nowhere to be seen throughout.


Hang on a minute, as we turn toward the back of the brochure, who's this?



That's not Mrs Maxi! She's dressed in a much more provocative manner than 'er indoors. And why is the seat folded back like that?


The final picture:



Definitely the work of Mr Maxi, there's his camera and his car magazine. But what's the other magazine?

And there it is, slap-bang in the middle of a staid British brochure for a staid British suburban family hatchback. A copy of "Club International" magazine, adult reading for the "discerning" connoisseur.

The press department at British Leyland were obviously keen to show that there was a lot more to the Maxi than there may appear at first sight...