Looking forward to interviewing Matthew Marsh on the Drivetime Show on the phone in Hong Kong tomorrow. He is going to be talking about plans of the Hong Kong Le Mans team to race in the 24 hour race in June. Also look out for old pal Jack Kellett, Sussex musician, and long-time Le Mans fanatic on the show.
Good to see Eric Eggleston and Pete Webber in the Rocket FM guestbook.
Anybody can have a go so please sign in and let us know what you think.
Partying last night as my mum and dad celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary - 60 years! Good to have a break after the first week on Rocket - ahead is a brutal week with the Drivetime Show weekdays and the Bonfire Show next Saturday plus BBC Southern Counties Radio in Brighton on Friday morning from 07:00. Thanks to Dilly Barlow for sourcing "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs - the top selling single in the US in 1963 - and recorded in the Norman Petty Recording Studios in Clovis, New Mexico. The Brylcreem boys were hot before the British invasion changed everything.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
On air
Three shows in for me and Rocket FM is settling into the run. The reliable phone-in is adding greatly to the spontaneity of shows.
The excitement of the upcoming 400th anniversary of the gunpowder plot is building.
I've been invited to appear on Southern Counties Radio on 4th November to talk about the build-up as 'guest of the day' and review the papers.
One concern is that as many as 90,000 may attend Bonfire on Saturday 5th November - the Lewes folk would prefer fewer visitors from outside the town as there is a limit to numbers that can fit safely in the narrow streets of the town and can be accommodated at the firesites.
The excitement of the upcoming 400th anniversary of the gunpowder plot is building.
I've been invited to appear on Southern Counties Radio on 4th November to talk about the build-up as 'guest of the day' and review the papers.
One concern is that as many as 90,000 may attend Bonfire on Saturday 5th November - the Lewes folk would prefer fewer visitors from outside the town as there is a limit to numbers that can fit safely in the narrow streets of the town and can be accommodated at the firesites.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Friday, October 21, 2005
Remember, Remember
Back in Hogtown - aka Toronto - and getting ready for a night flight to Gatwick. The 400th Anniversary of the gunpowder plot approaches and I look forward to our fifth season of Rocket FM from Lewes, East Sussex in England. Listen out for me on the Drivetime Show and on Bonfire night itself. Good luck to all the bonfire boys - be safe. Now listening to the test transmission on broadband internet. Loud and clear. This is as good as it gets.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Chi-town Hustling
Off to Chicago on Tuesday following an invitation from the Illinois Institute of Technology to show the smart car to their Architecture class. They have been doing a project on "the car dealership of the future" and are inspired by the smartcar. Thanks to Alex Campbell of ZAP in Santa Rosa, California for putting this together.
To get the car into show condition we took her out to the Wash N'Go self-serve carwash at 4000 Dundas Street West in Toronto. We gave her a thorough cleaning inside and out. Several people asked questions about the car including one gentlemen who very politely asked if he could see the engine. Edward Garcia, our sales representative at the Mississauga showroom, recommended Mothers California Gold Showtime Instant Detailer and we have had great results. On the tires, we used Meguiar's Hot Shine Tire Spray. It works well on rubber floor mats too!
Architect Tom Brock, from IIT, phoned to confirm plans for Wednesday's event. At 05:45 on Tuesday I set out from our underground parking garage heading for the 401, turned off on the 402 to Sarnia and across the Bluewater Bridge to Port Huron, Michigan. I rolled into Chicago by teatime covering a distance of approximately 530 miles. It is not our smartcar's first visit to Chicago this year as we started our Route 66 Odyssey on Sunday, July 10th at Michigan and Adams.
Essex Inn, Chicago: "I really got here around 15:15 - I had forgotten to deduct an hour for the time change. Blazing hot in the car - 72F - not October weather at all. I spent two hours detailing the smart car on arrival - the guys at the valet parking are going crazy over the smart - fetching water, shop towels, windolene etc. Short rest then dinner at the Artists Cafe with Tom Brock - he is a very interesting guy - great conversation. The car will be on display outside the school of architecture."
After a long day at the college demonstrating the car we manage a quick dinner at Heaven on Seven, a Cajun Restaurant in town. Alex Campbell heads for O'Hare Airport and a late flight back to California. I'm up at 05:10 and wheels turning at 06:00 - quite like old times - a quick pitstop at the BP garage on Roosevelt and I'm heading through the south side of Chicago in the dark. I busk my way to Gary, Indiana on Highway 20 and eventually join I-94 east, then I-69. I detour off the road to Olivet, Michigan where I take a late breakfast at the Main Street cafe. The friendly locals are intrigued by the smart car. When I ask the address of the cafe nobody knows - "it is the only one in town." If you are going to Olivet it is at 110 North Main.
Back on the highway and I'm nearly suckered into an accident by a lady in a black Chevy Impala who is photographing the smart while driving. I reach Port Huron but miss the turning for Canada as the sign is obscured by roadworks. I have visions of being stuck in Michigan for good. Back across the border and a last gas stop at Zehrs in Strathroy, Ontario - I'm struggling in the Toronto rush hour traffic and glad to be back at 17:30.
To get the car into show condition we took her out to the Wash N'Go self-serve carwash at 4000 Dundas Street West in Toronto. We gave her a thorough cleaning inside and out. Several people asked questions about the car including one gentlemen who very politely asked if he could see the engine. Edward Garcia, our sales representative at the Mississauga showroom, recommended Mothers California Gold Showtime Instant Detailer and we have had great results. On the tires, we used Meguiar's Hot Shine Tire Spray. It works well on rubber floor mats too!
Architect Tom Brock, from IIT, phoned to confirm plans for Wednesday's event. At 05:45 on Tuesday I set out from our underground parking garage heading for the 401, turned off on the 402 to Sarnia and across the Bluewater Bridge to Port Huron, Michigan. I rolled into Chicago by teatime covering a distance of approximately 530 miles. It is not our smartcar's first visit to Chicago this year as we started our Route 66 Odyssey on Sunday, July 10th at Michigan and Adams.
Essex Inn, Chicago: "I really got here around 15:15 - I had forgotten to deduct an hour for the time change. Blazing hot in the car - 72F - not October weather at all. I spent two hours detailing the smart car on arrival - the guys at the valet parking are going crazy over the smart - fetching water, shop towels, windolene etc. Short rest then dinner at the Artists Cafe with Tom Brock - he is a very interesting guy - great conversation. The car will be on display outside the school of architecture."
After a long day at the college demonstrating the car we manage a quick dinner at Heaven on Seven, a Cajun Restaurant in town. Alex Campbell heads for O'Hare Airport and a late flight back to California. I'm up at 05:10 and wheels turning at 06:00 - quite like old times - a quick pitstop at the BP garage on Roosevelt and I'm heading through the south side of Chicago in the dark. I busk my way to Gary, Indiana on Highway 20 and eventually join I-94 east, then I-69. I detour off the road to Olivet, Michigan where I take a late breakfast at the Main Street cafe. The friendly locals are intrigued by the smart car. When I ask the address of the cafe nobody knows - "it is the only one in town." If you are going to Olivet it is at 110 North Main.
Back on the highway and I'm nearly suckered into an accident by a lady in a black Chevy Impala who is photographing the smart while driving. I reach Port Huron but miss the turning for Canada as the sign is obscured by roadworks. I have visions of being stuck in Michigan for good. Back across the border and a last gas stop at Zehrs in Strathroy, Ontario - I'm struggling in the Toronto rush hour traffic and glad to be back at 17:30.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
I'm not looking for a New England
Dave Roadway writes from Keene, New Hampshire where they have been having floods. Reminds me of the old days in Lewes when my house filled up with water. Commiserations and hope for better days ahead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)