Wherever I've taken it - and that includes a Japanese sports car quarter-mile event and an Mazda MX-5 specialist - the Sportka's drawn an audience, which is quite a tribute for a car that has only 94bhp. Looking at that figure written down it doesn't seem much, but driving the Ford in such a way that it doesn't feel handicapped by a lack of power is part of the car's appeal; always keeping it on the boil.

Its first major service looms, which I'm hoping will cure a slightly lumpy idle when cold. I also need the garage to look at the driver's door hinge, which was cracked when the recent gales ripped the door from my hand, causing the door to drop and making it tricky to shut.