Bangers & Classics

It's the Bangers & Classics Christmas podcast, featuring some sparkling (it says here – not that anyone will believe it) chat about films, film music, and cars. There's also news about the quiz. News which, it has to be said, proved to be wrong, thereby forcing the lads to step away from the delights of the B&C Christmas Party and make a last-minute correction. We'll be back in 2023 if James and David have recovered from the party by then. Merry Christmas.

Reports of our demise have been greatly exaggerated (by us, it has to be said), yet here we are. And to mark our return it gives us great pleasure (it says here) to present the Bangers & Classics Quiz. The rules are simple. There are twenty questions (unless we've contrived to get the numbers wrong, always a distinct possibility). Your job is to answer them and thereafter send your answers by Direct Message to the Bangers & Classics twitter account, @BangersClassics.  We're counting on you to do this, as we're stumped by quite a few of the questions and need all the help we can get.  If you get the outright highest score then you win a prize and we'll also give a prize to a runner-up (selected by lucky dip if there's no outright runner-up).  In the event that more than one person achieves the highest score then we'll select two prize-winners by lucky dip.  Each prize winner can choose between either a Bangers & Classics mug OR any one of the currently available books written by James or David. You've got until midnight on 7th December, 2022, to submit your entry. Prize-winners will be notified by Direct Message on 8th December.  The judges's decision is final etc.  Good luck. 

After their close shave on Halloween (not literally, to James's great relief), the intrepid (it says here) duo offer their unique take on Guy Fawkes' Night. But will this episode sparkle or just be a bit of a damp squib? Contains an excerpt from: 'After the Rain' by Keys of Moon (https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon), used under under a Creative Commons 4.0 licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and promoted by https://chosic.com/free-music/all/

It's Halloween and the B&C crew are on the road, doing their utmost to avoid witches, warlocks, ghouls, ghosts, and vampires. But it's not just politicians whom they must flee: enraged owners clubs, jealous admirers of Hammer Horror actresses, and EV advocates all want their pound (454 grammes for those working in metric) of flesh too. Undaunted, our dynamic (it says here) duo's journey takes them to dark places where people speak in hushed tones of the uncanny, the unfeasible, and the impossible. Will they make it to their journey's end or will they, in the words of Rabbie Burns, be caught by warlocks in the mirk by Alloway's auld haunted kirk?

As you huddle round the fire, clinging to its warmth and light for comfort as the veil between this world and the one beyond becomes ever more fragile, you'll be glad to know that the daring B&C duo have ventured forth into the darkness, braving all that lurks in the shadows for your entertainment.  They will return (we hope) on Halloween itself.

Finding themselves in 1975, David having legged it from 1972 after being made an offer he couldn't refuse and James having been, er, coaxed away from Hammer Horror actresses, the duo dive into the year's cars, music and films.  Their verdict: we're gonna need a bigger podcast. 

In this, the 83rd episode of Bangers & Classics, James and David take a wild on the wild side...in 1972. Whilst doing their best to avoid a bloke with big teeth and a cape (no, not the one who wants his dishwasher back...), they tackle the thorny question that's long been on everyone's lips (it says here): is the Fiat 126 a Banger or a Classic. There's controversy, too, as David disses a film regarded by many people as a classic as well as having a pop at one of Britain's best-loved cars. And to cap a typically erratic appearance on the pod, he manages to enter a car from the wrong decade in the challenge. James, meantime, gets on his bike in search of a certain actress. We'll leave it to you to work out which one.  We're sure he'll be fine as long as he keeps clear of disused churches and Triumph Stags.

In this Federal bumper-sized edition of Bangers & Classics, James and David travel back to 1982 – a year about which David has mixed feelings. [We're not saying it concerns a girl, but...it concerns a girl.] Be that as it may, this week's choice of car to face the Banger or Classic inquisitors proves somewhat divisive.  The challenge throws up (not literally – well, we hope not) a real curio, though perhaps it's better left in the 'lost, thank goodness' file. There's also much chat about music and films, the latter of which includes a surprising revelation. What is it? Well, you'll have to listen to find out...

Returning after a much lauded two week break, James and David travel back to 1960. They'd have stayed there too but for an incident involving James's beard, a Routemaster bus, and David's attempt to persuade a young Geoff Hurst that he wasn't really cut out to be a footballer... Elsewhere, an unusual subject is hauled into the Bangers & Classics courtroom, there's a challenge, and much chat about films and music. 

In this, the 80th episode of Bangers & Classics, James and David zip back to 1978, home of some good music and great films. Whilst there, and in between bouts of James strutting his funky stuff (it says here) on the dancefloor, they decide if the Fiat Ritmo has sufficiently street cred (or should that be Strada cred?) to be considered a classic. There's also a challenge, one which sees James attempt to claim victory on a technicality, and the inaugural motor show at the NEC gets a visit. Which leaves just one burning question: did they pay on the door or sneak in through the fire exit?