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Cleaned & ready to go on track for the first time. I had an instructor booked yesterday to give me guidance before I tackle a track day. What a great time I had improving my technique and entry lines. The car felt epic and very predictable, when the rear broke away it was progressive and easily caught. I even had a hero moment of oversteer at the hairpin after that I steadily improved my lines to avoid this and carry more speed.

Provided the weather looks ok, I will head up to Dartford in Winston. This will involve Crewkerne - Dartford - Wokingham - Dartford - Crewkerne ie 450 miles in two days! 😬🤪🤣

Great setup , love it, I once had something more basic, but the scope got smashed during a house move when a standalone wardrobe fell on it, gah. Never replaced it as I got the Westy and the cash went on that, lol. Do keep posting these , love em.

Well a short run out ( about an hour) to check all my recent mods work and didn't fall off. Pleased to say yes and no in that order. Just my local park on a lovely sunny day ( not often can you say that around here !).

These are through dedicated solar telescopes. The ‘red’ image is through one which filters on the Hydrogen Alpha frequency and shows the flares (prominences) off the side of the Sun amongst other things. The white image is through another filtered scope which shows all frequencies and through this you can just see the sunspots. I took the photos by holding the phone up to the scope eyepiece. The phone on its own won’t do this, so please don’t try 😬. Likely the best would be to use some eclipse glasses if you have them. This is my setup today:

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Great images Stuart, amazing what a phone will do, is that through a separate filter or one built into an app / phone itself. Not really explored the new phone yet, seems the more you tell me the better it gets, lol. Maybe the PC is headed for the scrap pile after all....

Ah, that's the day that I pick up my 80 year old mum and all of her luggage from the cruise terminal. I'll let her know... D

If anyone has eclipse glasses, do take a look at the Sun today. There is a huge sunspot which is visible without a scope, just make sure you check them for holes or damage first. Some poor phone images here just to show the size of it, and of a prominence nearby. The spot is about 17 times the size of the Earth. If you are somewhere dark, there is a strong chance of being able to see the Aurora tonight to the North as there have been up to five flares ejected recently and they are heading our way 👍. I think early hours of the morning will be best but will check the alerts.

There is also an early morning blat around Essex before the meet. 8:15@ The Barge- then back for brekkie. 👍

Just taken the Westfield for a half hour blat around the lanes outside Crewkerne to check all is well ahead of a big day tomorrow around Exmoor 👍. Doors are off, and it’s great to be back to basics again.

Great. Are you booked in? If you are, ask if you can park with us.

Is bias a bad thing ?. And I have no issue with a V8 in any car, great engines , stunning sound.

But that makes it an issue with the electric stuff only, and does sound a little biased, as by that logic I could put a great V8 in a Midget and that's nothing like the original but would be OK.

All being well I should be able to drive then, will take a pic when out and about. Thank you

For the 9th year in a row, May the 24th is the official National Drive Your Westfield to Work Day, which contrary to the title is actually a week where we encourage you to leave the normal daily driver at home and experience driving the Westfield to your place of work, raising smiles on both your face, and those who join you in the daily drudge. Of course, some of you may no longer frequently travel to a place of work (lucky you!) so like previous years, you can also get creative and get a picture of yourself with your Westfield! A selfie, a picture taken by a member of your family... as long as it is a previously unposted recent picture, everything is submittable! You have the week from the 20th to the 26th to participate 👍 Have a look at previous years: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017. Sadly I can find nothing for the 1st year, 2016, so you just have to take my word for it

Well for me, and I am biased here i loathe electric cars, but to be honest as I see it, folks are buying old classics, throwing the ICE engine away and fitting electric , now that is different in my eyes to an engine or gearbox change which at least is trying to be as close as possible to what the car was, I do not disagree with resto mods as long as they retain some form of ICE engine. I agree its complicated, but perhaps this evidence gathering may lead to a change in the law, we wait to see what happens.

How does that differ from an engine/gearbox change? The tax class may well alter, which is a separate issue, but it's still an engine change (potentially) making it no longer the classic it once was...... There are many gaps and holes, but on the whole, I suspect the system is currently working.

I think all classics that have ditched the ICE should be registered as a "replica " of sorts, as it is no longer the classic it once was. Yes, folks are now cashing in with modern tech and free everything, its not on to be fair.

Hi Robin, I'll be coming up in my Westy to say hello.

I have had a quick scan but reading this does raise some issues as I see it. for example if you have an accident according to how I read this in a Westfield repairing a chassis could lead to a new Biva. Whereas if you replace a damaged chassis with one from Westfield then you can still keep the identity. This is the problem with something like this as why should it be an issue to fit a new front end on a chassis. A lot is in the wording as to what the interpretation will be. A lot of this is being driven by the trend to electrify classics and possibly to stop the ludicrous situation where a handful of bits become a sought after classics with old registrations to add value. i will read more as time allows

As long as this does not affect my cars ability to become a "classic" in just 9 years now. I know an MOT will always be needed ( on a Q plate) and I would always get it done anyway but would be handy to ditch the darn road tax, my car since it's existence must have resurfaced many many roads in that time, yet my road is dreadful !!. Not sure what I put on that form thing though, as it may come back to bite me on the bum...

Thought this was worth posting as kit-built vehicles get mentioned - not had a chance to look at it myself: https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/news/article/dft-and-dvla-launch-call-for-evidence-around-registering-historic-classic-and-rebuilt-vehicles From the FBHVC website: Today, 9 May 2024, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) have launched a call for evidence around the existing policies and registration processes for historic, classic and rebuilt vehicles. The aim is to seek expertise and knowledge about whether these policies need updating to reflect evolving technologies that support the restoration and rebuilding of these vehicles. DfT and DVLA are very keen to tap into a range of experience, views and research to help identify areas of potential change, whilst ensuring that road safety and accurate vehicle records on the national register remain a key priority. The call for evidence asks for evidence on a number of topics including: historic/classic vehicles registration rebuilt and restored vehicles kit-built vehicles vehicles converted to electric propulsion Q registration numbers the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) This call for evidence runs until 4 July 2024 and you can respond by visiting the link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/registering-historic-classic-rebuilt-vehicles-and-vehicles-converted-to-electric-call-for-evidence

Thanks Ian 👍

I'm sorry to see this great car go @Scotty72 That's a great offer you've put together and I don't expect it to hang around for long.