MadaboutKitcars

Night Rider
You can now add golf clubs to the list of odd things I've carried in the car.



Took the M25 to Bletchingley Golf Cub to meet an old work mate for only my second game in 4 years.

Warm sunshine on the way there meant it was still T-shirt weather for the drive.

Thankfully, I also remembered my ear plugs this time, which helped with the wind noise.

Last time out, I'd left my hearing aids in, which amplified the very noise that made me deaf in the first place.

My game was very rusty, but managed a few decent shots along the way.

But it was dusk by the time I was leaving the car park.



I had brought a jumper for the return journey, plus I tried out my white neck roll.



Which left just my glasses exposed under the flap cap, covering my ears, nose & neck.

I must confess that the M25 at night will not make my Top 10 Swordfish drives.

It is certainly not for the feint hearted, especially given the UK's poor standard of lane discipline.

So I was very glad when I made it back to my local shop for a quick Pit Stop.

Unfortunately, my attempt to take an atmospheric photo ended up being a bit shakey.



Until next time, take care, Paul.

On The Road

Saturday, 27th August 2016 - First MOT attempt = Fail.



Wednesday, 31st August 2016 - MOT Re-test = Pass.



Saturday, 31st August 2019 - Three years and just over 4,000 miles later.



OK, so a car park in Greenford isn't the most glamourous way to mark this milestone, but it was the best I could do.

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Swordfish For Sale (Potentially)
A number of 'real work' projects have been cancelled / fallen through lately.

Now this is the life of a consultant and I am pretty good at managing the highs and lows of irregular earnings.

However, if things don't improve in the next six months, I may need to put my family's finances first and sell my car.

So if anyone wants to make me an offer I can't refuse now, please do so via a PM, thanks.



[color="red"]Please Note:[/color]
This is not an excuse for certain forum members to post on this thread telling me that my car is worthless.

As I've tried to keep both my 'Build' and 'On The Road' threads honest and I've never pretended that my car is anything other than what it is.

So I am not interested in debating the value on here, as it can only be what someone is prepared to offer that I am prepared to accept.

Thankfully, I am not desperate for the money at this stage and could probably wait until next Spring if required.

So until next time, take care, Paul.

Hi Paul, That is bad, but between now and Spring something could turn up. Ignore the naysayers, you know what it is worth. When you have created something it becomes part of you, something people who have not done it do not understand. Look for other solutions first. Good luck. Dave

Paul
Something will turn up for you. Hang in there.
Every effort will be rewarded, at times very unexpectedly.

Paul.
If you do sell it you'll only miss it and want to build another one .

It'll be a very sad day if you have to part with your car, but needs must and family has to come first. Good luck and I hope work picks up for you.

Concentrate on getting the work in that pays the bills. Chances are you will land something between now and Spring time anyway.

Hi Paul

Here's hoping that there's an early upturn in your fortunes. I sincerely hope that your creation stays where it belongs.

Regards, Mick

Yes, that's a Lotus Seven S1 from about 1959. I owned one for about 20 years. It would have had an A Series (or Coventry Climax) engine originally but a Ford 1300 had been "transplanted" with the exhaust running via the passenger footwell. I bought it with a bent chassis so had it repaired at Arch Motors with an S3 front end. Paranoid about the alloy nose, I copied it in GRP for everyday use. Another car I should never have sold!!!

Thanks for all the kind words gentlemen.

I certainly hope something comes up on the work front.
( I'm currently waiting to hear back on two things. )

Cheers, Paul.

Hi Paul,

I really hope something will come up and you will not have to sell your car, it would be such a shame...

Regards,
Deni

Hi Paul, keep your head up. I fully understand your position as I am also a self employed Consultant / Project Manager and signed a 20 Month contract in April with my current client only to be told last Friday that the project I was working on is no longer going ahead because of financial reasons so I was given one months notice and will be finishing at the end of September. Life is a funny thing as I was driving home contemplating the news I received a phone call about another project for a year at a company 3 miles from where I live. Like you just waiting now to meet them and hopefully get the job so its a topsy turvey life being self employed but you will get something very soon I am sure, I would be devastated if I had to sell the car but needs must so I feel your pain. Hope all works out for you and pretty sure it will

Deni & Alex - Thanks chaps.

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Measure twice and then don't cut at all…
In an effort to finish the last few jobs on the car, I decided to continue work on the handbrake gaiter.

This involved dragging stuff up from the Summer House to the front porch.





And leaving my welding helmet out in the sun to re-charge the solar panels.



Previously, I have mocked up a four part cover like so.



This had an odd shape to accommodate the small box section sticking out of the top of lever.



In my head, this was connected to the hand brake warning light, which I'd already removed.

So the plan was to angle grind the top off and then beat it flat and weld it up.

Thankfully, a closer inspection revealed that this box was actually protecting the hand brake mechanism.



It turned out, that while the warning light switch did sit above the lever, it was attached to this small hole along the side.



End of Part 1…

Sunday - Part 2:
There then followed a prolonged period of trial and error, with the emphasis on error.

I looked at the option of cutting the cover and making a small extra section to cover the box…



Considered how to ensure the gaiter could be fitted over the thickest park of the handle...



Eventually, I ended up with something like this.



Which is mostly make from a single piece of material, with just a small insert in the front section.



In the end, I had to tape the mock up material in place on the inside of the alloy…



To ensure I was able to properly mark up the shape I will need to cut out of leather.



Note: I still need to tidy up the overlapping edges for both sewing and fixing into place.

By now it was 4pm and with the sun shining I headed out for a quick drive.

This may be my last day in shorts and a T-shirt as it was definitely chilly when the sun went behind a cloud.

Just stopped for one quick photo on the way home.



Until next time, take care, Paul.

PS
I will make an effort to catch up on my replies to other threads tomorrow.

Handbrake Gaiter
Cut out the two sections of leather from what remains of my old sofa left overs.



Folded the two edges that will joined on the underside of the lever at the front.



Then folded the top edge, where I will be using a black zip tie when fitting to the car.



Put a second zip tie holder a bit lower down.



Note:
As I look at this photo, I realise this needs to be the full width to pull the cover over the lever properly.

So it looks like I will be re-doing that piece later on today.

Folded the top edge of the small connecting piece.



Then joined this to the main section on one side.



As always, it needs a bit of forward planning to make sure the joins are the right way around on the 'sunny' side.



With a bit of luck, I will be able to finish this today.

Because tomorrow, I will be at….

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Goodwood Revival 2019
In a last minute changes of plans I've just arranged up to volunteer at this.

I will have to do an unpaid six hour shift on each of the three days, although I'm not sure what I'm doing yet.

But at least I will get a chance to drive my car to Goodwood, which was always a dream while building it.

The weather forecast looks good, which is just as well, as I will be camping on site.

More news when I have it.

Until then, take care, Paul.

And the air turned blue…
The day started well enough, as I cut out the first attempt and sewed in a new section.



I then finished sewing the front section in (inside out).



Which now looked like this, when pulled the right way out.



I roughly sanded the alloy panel and drilled all the holes required for the rivets.



Then drilled the matching holes in the base of the leather and riveted it all together.



This is what it looked like on the underside.



So I was feeling pretty pleased with myself as I carried this up from the Summer House to fit it.

Unfortunately, I can't really print the tirade of abuse that I was uttering when I realised it was the wrong way around.



Needless to say, I was not a happy bunny, as I figured I had blown the chance to get this done before Goodwood.

I took my mind off this biblical schoolboy error, by packing the boot for Goodwood:
- Tool bag
- Tent
- Air bed
- Pump for air bed
- Sleeping bag



I then covered all of this with a rug, before heading up to top up with petrol.

When I got back, I bit the bullet and drilled out all of the rivets.



I then discovered that I didn't have enough rivets to match the ones I'd used previously.
( Sorry, not a great photo. )



But, by this point, I was happy to use the smaller rivets, as long as they worked.



Fitting - Take 2





I then left the car parked on the street.



Which will allow me to push it down the road at 'Stupid O'Clock' tomorrow.

That way, when I start the engine I don't disturb any of my immediate neighbours.

Right, I need to finish packing.

So, until next time, take care, Paul.

I've done that before and had to re-do a bunch!
Don't forget some rain gear for the Revival!
Wish I could make it this year, but $$$ is not there for the
airline tickets from the USA.
(member of the Goodwood Transportation Corps)

here you go Paul..
Around 2007

Hi Paul,

The handbrake geiter turned out really good. Have a good time at Goodwood.

Cheers, Deni.

Hmmm now i know how too make my handbrake gaiter nice one Paul

Molleur - Great photo.

Deni - Cheers.

Deggsy - Glad my effort helps your build, as I know I 'borrowed' a lot of ideas from other builds myself.

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2019 Goodwood Revival
One thing that always gave me hope during the dark days of my build, was the thought of the Goodwood Revival.

As I really wanted to be able to turn up in a car that wouldn't look completely out of place lined up on the grid.

Even though I ended up going as a volunteer, I am pleased to say my dream finally came true this weekend.

It will take me quite some time to sort out all the photos and video clips I took, so here is just the beginning…

Unfortunately, the street lighting messed up what was a beautiful sunrise on Friday morning.
( That and the fact my hands were shaking. )



I did push the car down the road before starting it and creeped around the local streets in 3rd gear and sub 1,000 revs.

I had a pretty good run down there, with only one wrong turn.

But it was not until towards the end of the journey that all the classic cars started appearing from all directions.

Traffic did some to a completed standstill a few miles out, which allowed me to take a photo of my passenger side.

With the car cover, my kit bag and a clip board with directions in it.



I had left around 6.10am, so had a T-shirt, Jumper & my 'racing overalls' on and it was still a bit chilly.

It was also woolly hat and googles weather with my neck roll making a bit difference too.



Volunteers have their own camp site away from the main crowds.

This was Friday morning, when lots of people were still arriving.



I woke the next day to find this lovely Aston a few pitches down from me.



A few pitches the other way was this lorry, that had been converted into a mobile home.



Dawn breaking on Sunday morning, with the moon still visible in the sky.



Here I am on duty. ( More about this another time.)



And finally, for now, here I am on the way home on Monday morning.
( Sorry the photo is so big, it was taken from my GoPro footage. )



Until next time, take care, Paul.

Terrific!

Great pics Paul. Glad you got to enjoy Goodwood.

Oh and well persevered with the handbrake gaiter. It looks just right

Dave

I'd do a proper round up of replies after I manage to get all the Goodwood photos sorted out and posted.

I'll start with a lovely pair of Porsche 718s to help inspire Mister Towed's Speedster's build.









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Didn't really have the time to have a proper look around all the planes on display.



But I did manage to catch one of the displays with a Spitfire and two Mustangs.