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Come the 23rd May, it was time to load Lucie up on the trailer again for the 51st Reliant Owners Club National rally. I think clonking the exhaust on the trailer at the last rally has dent the silencer as now if you drive the car onto the trailer the silencer catches the floor right at the back of the trailer. Looking at the silencer, it is at a slight angle so one I get a new exhaust made up, this should no longer be an issue, especially if I move the silencer to the back of the car rather than at the front. I have therefore, for the moment, decided to winch the car on and off the trailer and even then the silencer catches the floor slightly but not as bad.
At the National rally Lucie ran well on the Saturday though seemed a bit hot and bothered on the Sunday. It was a scorching day and whilst she always started, she would tick over unevenly. Talking to a chap called Wilfried, who had travelled from Holland, he also owns a Regal Mk in a saloon version (in fact the one pictured on page of my How to Restore Reliant Regal book) and he was surprised I had points and suggested that I fitted an electronic ignition as then she would always run smoothly. Looking around the car Wilfried also pointed out a large crack in one of the wooden door pillars and suggested that this was something I look at before things get worse. I had noticed it before though didn’t worry about it too much.
The Mk VI should also have mini quarter sized chrome bumpers on the front each side of the number plate. I have been searching everywhere for a pair without much success so I was over the moon when Wilfried gave me a set of fibreglass bumpers that he had made by taking a mold from a bumper from his Mk VI. Once they are chromed, they will look superb.
Lucie did extremely me proud at the National and as a result I came away with a handful of trophies which amazed me no end. I used Lucie for the manoeuvrability competition and despite not being able to see much we came first, Lucie also won the Rescued class Car of the Day, won a trophy for being the oldest car of the day and I also won a trophy for having the most points.
Once back home there was no rest as on 26th May, Lucie was off into Tamworth town center for a Reliant display for the Tamworth Anniversary weekend. There was a great turnout of vehicles and Lucie got to meet a couple of people who used to work for Reliant and actually worked on the Mk 6. One chap said that the chances are it was him who originally riveted the body together. The day was much cooler and as a result Lucie ran great. It seems that she much prefers a cool day rather than a hot one.
A lot of people have suggested that I leave her with the dirty look as they think it really suits her and gives her character. Whilst at the Tamworth Anniversary weekend, no end of people were saying things like, “My that one has had a hard life” and were quite surprised when they looked in the engine bay or underneath as it is so clean when compared with the look of the body. I think therefore it would be nice to repaint her and get he looking cared for.
Elvis Payne
May 2009
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