Upper Middle Petrol Head:

The Shed (internet images) UMPH has been looking forward to a day trip to Dunalley's newest eatery for months now, and not just because he's been itching to use the corny title The Day We Went to Bangor !   Everything that he's heard about the Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed ( http://www.bangorshed.com.au /)  has been positive, from the quality of the food and wines, through to the beautiful views over the vineyard and across to Blackman, Marion and Norfolk Bays. The roadworks that had until fairly recently blighted the trip from Hobart to Dunalley, forty-five minutes' south-east of Hobart, have been finished, which is a relief for anyone that doesn't want to chip their duco or risk a cracked headlight or windscreen.  The whole route is now well-sealed and offers an enjoyable drive all the way to Bangor, and beyond to the Tasman Peninsula, should you feel like an extended journey. With the X1/9 on full-song, the UMPHs chose to head past Bangor and on to Mur

Regular readers will know that UMPH has a sometimes strained relationship with his Exxie.  He adores it when it's going, the only problem being that, more often than not over the past year, it's been gathering dust in the tenebrous back corner of the local Italian specialist's workshop.  (Please see https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=377536526271448757;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=44;src=postname .)  Then there are the electrics.  Even UMPH's regular auto-electrician baulked at sorting the spaghetti-like fuse and relay box, the equally labyrinthine mess behind the centre console, the defunct central locking and the non-functioning headlight motors, before relenting and taking the project on.  However, handicapped by a lack of wiring diagrams that at least vaguely resembled the chaos before him, he still couldn't get the headlight motors operating reliably.  Fortunately, help was avail

What is it, exactly, that makes a classic car classic ?  For some people, it's about pedigree, and the history and mystique of a marque ; others may feel that nostalgia plays its part, with their favourites being fond reminders of earlier times.  It might also be that classics are a rejection of too much 'progress', whereby contemporary vehicles have become a little bit soul-less and more like appliances than classic car buffs would prefer.  Whatever the answer is, UMPH is still regularly amazed at the breadth and quality of Hobart's classic car scene.  This Sunday was no exception, with many, many cars he'd never seen gracing Sandy Bay for the monthly get together. Take this Mazda RX2 for example.  Owned for twenty years by the same bloke, it features a stock 13B rotary engine, five speed 'box and four-wheel disc brakes.  It's tastefully finished in blue metalic duco and Simmons wheels, and features a nice set of Recaros in the cockpit.  It's