EVENT: A GREAT WEEKEND IN PUTRAJAYA PART 1

In Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, the last weekend of May is about Millions of Youth Gathering, and most importantly for me, they organized a classic car show and invited Royal Selangor Club members to cheer up the moment with their precious rides. This time, lets approach things a little differently with more classics from west side, starting with this solid red MGB Roadster convertible.

But that doesn’t mean that every car was from western side. Some came from the land of JDM. Next to the MG was this striking yellow Civic CRX on stock OEM wheels.

Things became more serious with this super clean Mercedes Benz vintage, looking good on white wall.

Just around the corner, I was amazed with this unique Alfa Romeo…

...and more importantly, it is the original Alfetta GTV version. A very handful unit in Malaysia.

All types of the breed could be seen, including second-generation type cars like this Jaguar MKII.

And the event would not be a success without some Japanese classics…

...so one of Royal Selangor Club member brought his 510 Bluebird to impress JDM lovers.

One of my favorite vintage on that day, this Amazon 123GT was so attractive that I can’t resist falling in love with.

Hunting for hot babes anyone? This BMW 635C SI is a good weapon.

More French goodies on that day with this Peugeot 404. It may looked average from this view…

…but those pointing and sharp curves turned it into something.

If I am not mistaken, this was the car model that the Allahyarham P. Ramlee drove in ‘Madu Tiga’ movie, the Triumph Spitfire.

And this unknown vintage (apology for my ignorance) , but the design is pretty unique with the taillight at the same level to the wheel.

I don’t think this beauty needs a caption, and it is your lucky day to find a stock condition 280ZX…

...which it looks like just stepped out of dealership in 1980’s. You envy Fairlady enthusiasts?

Another pristine condition marque by Ford, meet this Escort MKI 4 door sedan.

With shiny and sparkling color, I just admired how they managed to keep their car up to this condition.

The icon of the world, and you are not living on earth if you do not know this bug.

Amazingly, this Beetle was restored with original Volkswagen parts. I believe the owner is a VW purist.

Undeniably yes, and it’s the matter of right foot…

The cutest little thing ever produced, this Mini looked business in brownish-purple color.

One of my findings from the event and looks like someone drove over this vintage Fiat 1100 from 1960’s. Another time machine? Ask the owner perhaps.

Along with much more from this amazing event in Part 2. Stay tuned.

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Beef Bourguignonne

At this time of the year we start to lean towards hearty warming dishes that we would not dream of serving up in a hot Queensland summer.
I make this in my slow cooker and when I but the mushrooms I find the smallest ones I can that are still fully closed and firm.

4 Tbs Flour                              1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Paprika                       1/2 Tsp Pepper
1kg Stewing Steak                   2 Tbs Vegetable Oil
300gm Mushrooms                  3 Rashers of Bacon diced
2 Carrots                                 12 Small Onions (pickling size) or 2 diced Onions
1/2 C Boiling Water                 1 Tbs Tomato Paste
1 C Red Wine                          2 Beef Stock Cubes
1/2 Tsp Dried Thyme               1 Bay Leaf
2 Tbs Butter

Combine flour, salt, pepper and paprika in a bowl.  Dice Beef and dredge in flour mix.
Heat oil in a heavy based pan and add beef 1/3 at a time browning well then transferring to your slow cooker.
Brown diced bacon in the same pan and then transfer to your slow cooker.
As soon as you have removed the bacon de-glaze the pan with the boiling water making sure you get all of the meat sugars on the bottom of the pan.
Then add the stock cubes and dissolve before adding the tomato paste then tip it all into the slow cooker.
Dice carrots and add to the slow cooker along with the rest of the ingredients except the butter.
Cook on low.
In my slow cooker I cook it for 6 hours but as every slow cooker is different the times may differ so refer to your user guide for the time on a similar beef dish.
Just before serving stir through the butter

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Huge Op Shop Haul

I have been asking around about preserving equipment at all my local op shops for a while now and had left my details with a couple of them.  The other day I got a call to say that some had come in from a deceased estate and would I still be interested as they had been in the shed gathering dust in the shed for many years.
I let them know that I was still interested and would be in the next day.

Well what a score look at what I got, a preserving unit, 2 crates of jars and accessories.

The haul
PS the kitchen Aid is mine and was not from the op shop

So here is what I got:
A small preserving unit with the front plug missing.  Well I assume that is what is missing, does anyone know?

See the little hole in the front

 There were a whole lot of rings stored in cornflour and they look to be in perfect condition.  Does anyone know why they would be stored this way?

Rubber rings stored in cornflour, well I assume that white
powder is cornflour.
If I am not back in a week you will know that it was not.

 I guess this is an indication of when they were last used.

Jars with a good layer of dust.

Sorry about the side ways picture.  But there was a stack of clips (about 30), lids (8 that were ok to keep), tongs and a thermometer.

So I did some calculations about what I got and the cost of buying new:

Jars
14 x Number 27 (800 ml) =  Not sure. I cannot find them new so perhaps this size has been deleted.
9 x Number 20 (600 ml) = $28 pack of 6
12 x Number 31 (1 litre) = $34 pack of 6

Clips = $15 pack of 12
Tongs = $16.50
Thermometer = $22
Rings = $4.50 pack of 12
Lids = $15.95 Pack of 12

Approximate cost = Over $220 new

And that is NOT including the preserving unit.

So what did I pay....

$20 for the lot!!!

I will need to pay to have the preserving unit electrically tested but there is no urgency as I have my stove top preserver which is much bigger than the op shop one.

I now have stacks of jars and just need to sort out some lids for the size 31 jars.  Then I will be preserving like a mad woman.

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A Sunday Outing

On Sunday Hubby and I took out dog Jessie to a local swimming hole.  She loves to swim and even though it was far to cold for us she was not concerned at all.
The swimming hole used to be a quarry many years ago and makes a fantastic swimming hole in summer.  Plus it is surrounded by trees and national park so is a good spot to cool down when it is hot.
There are BBQ's, picnic tables and composting toilets plus a big patch of grass perfect for a picnic or to dry off after a swim.

Posing for a photo

Here I come

Fetching sticks

Swimming even though the water was freezing

We chilled out in the sunshine

And Jessie just kept on swimming

Watching her shake always makes me laugh,
 her whole body shakes like a bowl of jelly
even her legs.

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In A Pickle

Oh dear I hope someone out there can help as I have got pickle problems.  Lime pickle to be exact.

I have made a batch of Lime pickle and I am about to bottle it but it is BITTER!!  I'm talking peel your lips back and make your eyes water bitter.

Does anyone know if it gets better with age?

I followed the recipe exactly and it smells like it should but it is so bitter that at the moment it is in-edible.

I really hope someone has some ideas.

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GATHERING: RANDOM SNAP AT MAYDAY THIRD ANNUAL MEET

This is the continuation of the previous coverage, the Mayday Third Annual Meet 2012. More number of cars and two-wheelers, but the number of drivers remains the same. That means? I leave the question for you to make a quick guess.

I just cannot help myself to start falling in love with third-generation Corolla, especially when they are equipped with full TE37 goodies...

...and a set of charming SSR Longchamp XR-4.

The long disappearing B10 2 door sedan, back in action for this special event. Everyone is going to love the headrest-less seat and flare-rubbing stance on deep wide AP Racing...

...and a brat concept Suzuki GS550 with a retro helmet, under transformation into a menacing ride.

If you guys wondering, the event took place at Luak Esplanade in Miri. A good spot to gather with your friends and enjoy watching cool rides (and hot girls to be honest).

Close look at the KE30, more shakotan gem with an oil cooler.

In front of the KE30 was this Marol's KE70 which just became a meaner machine with fabulous Enkei Apache all around.

A moment later, Romy showed up  and he did not fails to impress everyone with his freshly customized Honda CB360.

Last but not least, class album anyone? In this picture were the great guys who made the event success on that day. Keep it up guys, you are awesome!

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SNAP: MILLIONS OF YOUTH GATHERING IN PUTRAJAYA

Just a teaser... Buckle up and get ready for more amazing rides soon!

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Understanding Classic Car Auctions

Classic car auctions have always been a perennial favorite amongst car lovers, both young and old. So much so, that some of them willingly fork over huge sums of money just to get their hands on a rare classic car!

Now this article will shed some light for those of you who aren't very familiar with these types of auctions, so you might want to pay close attention!

First up, a classic car auction is a great event to check out all of the different types and models of rare cars belonging to different eras. But since the classic car market is a fairly tight niche, cars are often sold at high prices, compared to other car auctions. And because of this, most classic cars are often not sold at all.

Don't let this deter you from bidding on one though. A classic car at an auction will probably cost you less the amount you'd have to pay to a private owner. Besides, not all cars are sold at exorbitant prices; once in a while, you do come across a great bargain you can take advantage of - you'll just have to keep your eyes open!

There aren't that many classic car auctions around though, so you want to do some research. A good idea would be to flip through popular magazines and other publications that cater to this niche. You could also do a search on major search engine such as Google and Yahoo. Here are some great websites you might want to check out:

* http://www.classic-auctions.com/

* http://www.classic-carauction.com/index.cfm

* http://www.coys.co.uk

There's a ton of other classic car auction websites, so have fun browsing around!

As mentioned before, this is a pretty small niche market, so you'll need to be armed with some 'insider' secrets if you want to dominate it. Now this doesn't mean you've got to be an 'expert,' but a good knowledge on classic car auctions will help in the long run. For instance, it's always better to know exactly what type and model you're looking to buy, because problems could arise between the seller and you if you were to return the car after paying for it.

For the budding car auction enthusiasts out there who're on the lookout for great deals... well, here's good news for you: you can find a limited selection of very rare cars for rock-bottom prices, if you don't mind spending a good amount of time hunting around!

Now here's a fair warning - once you do find the 'ultimate' classic car, be prepared to participate in a frenzied and often raucous bidding war. If you're absolutely delighted with it, there'll be plenty of other classic car auction fans who're likely to feel the same way as you do.

Finally, you need to keep in mind that some sellers out there can sell you cheap replicas of actual classic cars. The best way to avoid being ripped off, is to take along an experienced classic car auction buyer. That way, you'd feel much safer when handing over the cash in exchange for a classic car!

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Fiat 600 Multipla, original brochure

I just came across this fantastic original brochure for the Fiat 600 Multipla.
The quality of these drawings would deserve to be framed.

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