Interesting comment, I wasn't present at the event but I did look at footage from BBC, ITV and Sky and I didn't see any similar manoeuvre from anyone else on the parade. I thought the filming and sound to be quite spectacular and IMO Sky actually had the best coverage. My criticism of the BBC was that the presenters did too much talking, to the extent that they talked over some great band music including the pipe band, most of the time speaking trivial nonsense probably because they thought they had to say something.

Merry Christmas Graham! Hellish weather here but plenty of logs for the fire.

All sailors from shore bases or aircraft carriers can march - at least in the RAN that is the norm. Those from patrol boats are the worst followed by actual ships.

I was impressed by the Matelots at the Coronation, set a higher standard than the guards imo. RAF background so I'm not a expert though

Yes we have, also more a leisurely stroll than march, perks of being the Senior Service. Always happy to one up the other 2 services especially the Guards regiments of the army.

​​@@davidhoward5392You in the navy right now?

Oh dear, I agree we were, but look closely at the video at 00:24 second man back, right column, out of step, glad to see a matelot upholding the fine traditions of the senior service!

@@mikestrohm3271 You referring to the banner party?

We often dashed across Skye to get to and from the Uig / Tarbert ferry to Harris, when it was reliable and made the trip without breakdown. The Cuillens are always spectacular when they are visible but we doubt if we will ever return there again in the 7 due to the awful state of the roads. Aston performed well and despite dreich weather we managed the journey from Gairloch to Skye with roof down but we both agree that the seats are uncomfortable, the 7 seats are far superior! On another subject, we met someone recently whose Granny actually fed Percy Toplis at her house in Bellabeg, just after he fled the scene after shooting the farmer and policeman in I think June 1920.

It is a Cortina Lotus, I thought it was a really nice touch because both cars are classics and there is a possibility that the 7 was also fitted with the same engine as the one in the Cortina Lotus which was a 1557cc Lotus engine. Ford never fitted a Cosworth engine in their Mk I Cortina.

Wow it's been a long time since we were in touch Graham but great to hear from you. Ben Wyvis Hotel is a wonderful hotel but needs some TLC. Sad day that you traded up a 7 for an Elise but they are great cars, soon to be no more. I feel so disappointed that we missed you but maybe it was meant that we meet somewhere else in the future. I would bet money on you returning to a 7 ... great to hear from you

@@bluecsr7 one day we will meet i'm sure. i do miss the raw drive that a 7 gives, but love the Elise , and i no longer get wet...bonus....and the whine from the supercharger is awesome.

I'll make a note of that route, can't do it at the moment because I have been invited to join James May on a wee run kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5uxq2BqdtiFpMk

Yes, a favourite group of mine and taken from a favourite album In Search Of The Lost Chord. We also come from the same city

It came close last year so I hope for the sake of CLAN that we can all meet up to raise some vital funds for CLAN and meet up with old friends ... I have forgotten what Ross looks like :)

Thanks, sadly it was the last such event because asbestos was discovered in the field where the event took place. What a fabulous sound those RR Merlin engines make, watch out for the wee girle that jumps up in delight at the sound.

Hi John, great to hear from you, what a lucky daughter to have those two Astons available for her wedding. We changed our 4.3 for a 4.7, a big improvement and no judder. Today was to have been the East Coast Rotary Classic Car tour event, which had to be cancelled but the organisers have sent out a compilation of past events which is well worth a look. Good to hear from you and glad you like some of our adventures :) Here is the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5a4fpSnh5ZqhNU

Something to relish next year ... you have had more than your fair share of fun and excitement this year!

Plan is to go to GonS on Saturday. Denver sounds great as does the Mustang ... I hope you get a soft top V8 and not the wimpish ecoboost. No shortage of places to go in Denver, that's where they filmed The Searchers, True Grit, Butch Cassidy and one made in my year Colorado Territory starring Joel McCrea

@@bluecsr7 I'm a big fan of McCrea much better actor than Wayne. I'm thinking of heading north across Montana and into Canada and then a loop back through Washington and part of the coast but nothing is ever set in stone the plan as Moltke said never lasts longer than 15 minutes!

You were not paying attention Paul, there is a 1965 Series 2 at 4.40 There were a few beauties at Donnington but on their way to Portmeirion some overheated, some got lost and the one that did eventually make it to The Village was apprehended by Rover who removed the Lotus twin cam engine and replaced it with it's own 1.8 K series which won't sart ... it just clicks :(

You're most welcome Jake

Leonard McCoy couldn't have said it any better

Glad you liked it Jim. The location was Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

and drier!

どうもありがとうございます Doumo arigatou gozaimasu

I have the dates in my diary, along with Donnington Park 7-9 July, can't miss that event even for the sight of 1000 7's.

You are most welcome and glad you enjoyed the video. Kansas always conjurers up images of infamous cowboys, lawless gunfights and of course Wizard of Oz :)

Hi Ian, were you in the yellow VX220 following me? If so I noticed you had an on board cam. and I would be interested in swapping footage i.e. my rear cam recording for your forward cam recording? If you are interested contact me at [email protected] If you don't wish to swap footage perhaps you could let me know if you upload any of your film to KZbin? Meeting up with you guys was the highlight of our day, we were taking part in a charity run with East Sutherland Rotary Club and it had rained all the way from Dornoch to Durness to Overscaig ... you guys at least have a roof ;) Hoow did you find the video, was it through one of our Lotus 7 Club members, he said he would post a link on your club website? Best regards David aka Blue7

Hi Dave Great video. We have already put it up on our forum board. The bad news is I was Captain slow in the last of the yellows in the second group. I e been in Touch with General Fast in the yellow at front. He did have his go pro on but was facing backwards so only got 2 seconds of yoh as he went past, pity. But yes great weekend, we had 26 cars for 3 days from all over the UK. This was the 8 year of our Hoon We dont use roofs though, its part of our rules. May be next year we will bump into each other again Best Ian

+graham b Nice one Graham, heated jacket sounds good but my feet never get cold next to a 2.3 cossy! I have however considered buying a heated seat kit and I see that Caterham are now offering heated seats in their new 620R.

+Kemnay Blue yes they do have heated seats for the soft 620 owners,(hahaha) i have a bike tek jacket....its excellent and goes under your top coat they also do trousers & gloves, all parts plug into each other so only one extra circuit from the battery reqd. (on its own in line fuse)

+graham b Hi Graham, glad you liked the video, there are quite a few of them out there now, one of my favourites was chasing the Porka through Glencoe last year. Nothing wrong with an R300, they are mean machines! I would love to meet up but there is a bit of a clash of dates, we are on hols in Corfu until Friday 17 June. What route are you taking? We have a few northern blats planned this year, the July run will be the North Coast 500 run with a slight difference in that we will take the ferry to Orkney do a one day tour of the island. www.northcoast500.com/home.aspx We used to have our own website called Jock 7's but the owner took it down a while back so we now all keep in touch via our Lotus7 Club Secretary Nigel's Facebook page here: facebook.com/groups/365373096946651/ We are a cosmopolitan group, a Brummie, an Ozzie and others from Middlesburgh and Canterbury. Let me know your dates and route to see if it would be possible to meet up after we return from Corfu. You can reach me here: [email protected] best regards Blue

+Kemnay Blue we leave Epsom , surrey on the 10th june then our overnight stops are 1/ Lancaster , 2/ Dumfries, 3/Fort William, 4/ Ullapool , 5/ inverness, 6/ dundee, 7/ york ,home we pick up the NC 500 after fort william and follow it to Inverness. about 2100 miles for me

we are also doing wales again this year from 15th september 2016 for 5 days

+graham b Pity, it would have been nice to meet up but looks like a good run that you have planned ... apart from Dundee ... we have a saying up here "the best road in Dundee is the road OUT!" What is your route south after Inverness? Your best route should be Inverness then west on A96 towards Nairn (shortcut via Cawdor Castle) then A939 across Dava Moor to Grantown on Spey then on to Tomintoul and then over The Lecht, right to Gairnshiel on to Braemar on A93 (fill up at Braemar Garage, ask for Barry or Joanne, they own the garage and drive a very nice 7 ... tell them Blue said you would get a discount on fuel!) then continue over Glenshee to either Blairgowrie or Pitlochry. There is a taster about a quarter of the way into this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHzPkK16pN5pmKc Can't wait for better weather! Blue

+Kemnay Blue hi that is more or less the route i have plotted, but i may alter it a bit to take in some of your roads, do you fancy joining us for the wales trip next September ? also would any of your comrades like to join for our Scottish invasion?