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Many of you will be aware of this book, published back in 2000: Due to it being out of print for many years and rare used copies being on sale for at least £35, I decided to try to track down the authors and see if I could permission to create a digital copy for the club's archives. After quite a bit of investigation work, I finally tracked down Jeremy Bouckley today and we had a lovely long chat on the phone. Now truth be told, I know about copyright laws and my begging bowl request was rather cheeky, so I wasn't surprised or upset when he very, very politely turned my request down. On the good news front though, he is working on an updated version of the book to bring it up to current, with plans to print and sell them. I've asked him to keep in touch with me with any developments on that front so I can pass it on to the rest of the club. Fingers crossed! Oh well, it was worth a try...

One of me and Rob today, my first time out since October due to an operation. bl**** cold and very slippery 😂 but nice to back in the weapon.

Also our first run out of the year, in the Hope Valley, Peak District

Hey BillyP came out of hibernation and it was great to see him and his Boxster, we even shamed him into putting the roof down for the run out Dave and Andrew also joined us despite both travelling around 1 and half hours to get here, Dave over high ground too. It was very light rain when we arrived, the snow was confined to the tops thankfully. We all disappeared into the museum cafe for a warm and a good chat. When we came out ithe rain had stopped and the classics had arrived so we took a few photo's, waved a hello and took off into the Peak District. With it being half term I was keen to drive through Matlock Bath, the kids love to see the cars and it encourages tourists to come if there is something different to see, so we gave them a wave along the way. Hopefully they will learn what these cars are and it will spark an interest in the future generation, it's important is that. The driving felt good, we even got a glimpse of blue sky, I extended the route slightly because of this. With there only being a few of us we thought we would go to a favourite but small pub of ours, the Cock and Pullet (laughs childishly) but the notice on the door read that it was closed until the end of Feb, oh well it made for some nice photo's. We finished at Hassop Station cafe for lunch before departing our separate ways. Thank you guys for coming out in challenging weather but, hey, it was soooo worth it, for the driving and for the excellent company xxxx

I drive my Westfield like I ride my bike. I'm a life-long cyclist and I've never been hit by a car and part of the reason for that is that I have a certain mindset when I'm on the bike...I assume that no one will see me - ever. That means I can rightly expect drivers to pull out in front of me as if I wasn't there. It means that when they pass me that they will not give me an acceptable amount of room. It means when they finish passing me that they will pull back into the lane in front of me and effectively cut me off. I also never ride my bike through the center part of my city and I find routes that will see little traffic but might be slightly longer. I spend as much of my cycling time on nearly empty roads with good sight-lines. And lastly......I always wear bright colors and use a tail light to make myself annoyingly visible. I drive the Westfield the very same way. I assume I'm not going to be seen and given room, I always choose my routes carefully to lower my risk, and I always drive with my headlights on and my car is bright orange. The Westfield has fantastic active safety...it can stop and turn to avoid a collision better than most anything else on the road but that puts the responsibility in your hands to see the guy pulling out in front of you like you didn't exist. Done this way I feel an acceptable level a safety. Driving a Westie like it's an SUV and it won't go that well. I hope that makes sense. dave

At Upton Bridge Farm this morning for hot chocolate and cake with my little co-pilot. The sun came out to play too!

Not sure if all that effort and gymanstics is worth it . Hope so ! (2.98 longer 1st gear, new synchros bearings seals etc in gearbox, new UJs in proposhaft, and 4.3 vs 8 kg flywheel), new steering rack etc. But if started must end .. Edit - waiting for spring

Filling up on the way home on Thursday night. A tad chilly and very slick conditions but great to be out. First run this year.

Great and not too intrusive... until you walk into the pub dragging your car by the cable, wondering why walking feels so exhausting when you haven’t even had a drink yet..

In the Peak District today, don't think the sunshine was coming out to play this time

We managed two cars and 8 members last night.

Having a couple of days in the lake district.

Have you tried one out? See who is around your local area who would take you out for a trial blat. I'm an ex-motorcyclist so the Westfield is quite enclosed compared to a bike. The thing i love about it is the openness of it. I drive without doors unless the weather is filthy. Being able to look at the road going past just next to you is brilliant. It is a small very low car and can be missed by the unobservant. Keep lights on and drive defensively, keep to the sensible assumption that pretty much every other driver out there is an idiot who is trying to kill you. A noisy exhaust helps draw some attention to you. Find empty twisty roads, put your foot down and suddenly it'll all make sense...

Interior nearly all redone!! Blue carpet gone, nice new shiney CF instead…

Six of us met in Exeter last night for a ‘Christmas Curry Night’! Most travelled by train, Matt and I meeting on the train from Crewkerne at Axminster, whilst Jens decided to bring his camper van and sleep over! 🚐👌 Trains being trains, we were late arriving, and after meeting Dan, Colin and then Jens in the Farmer’s Union pub, we wandered across to find a very patient Steve waiting in the Gandhi curry house. The food was excellent, drink flowed and a good time was had by all. Steve wandered back to his hotel, and the rest headed off for trains around 10.15/10.30 leaving Jens to an apparently cosy and uninterrupted night’s sleep in his van 👍 A couple of photos showing Steve, Jens and Colin deep in what looks like a very serious conversation 🤣, and the obligatory selfie of all of us. Thanks Chaps, a grand night out. Stu

I have a hat, a mask and a cape, but you’d expect that from me, wouldn’t you?

Firstly, a big thanks to @Chris Broster for all his efforts in recent years, both in our area and beyond for the club. With Chris' time taken up with other things, including an ambitious rebuild of his car, it gives me the chance to become AO for the area. So, three and a half years after building my first Westfield I'm looking forward to taking on the challenge and getting more involved with the club. And thinking about our area, Bristol & Bath is a great city region, but we also have the fabulous Cotswold area on our doorstep and it's my favourite go-to place for run outs, so we're changing things up slightly and combining into a new area - Bristol, Bath & Cotswolds - a slightly bigger patch with a lot more opportunity for adventure. I'm open to any and all suggestions for activity so please post here or drop me a line with any ideas. I try to be fairly active and I'm usually out in the Westfield for a blat most weekends, although I do hibernate and sorn over winter, emerging at the start of March. I propose to collaborate closely with Kitnet (www.kitnet.uk) who are a national kit car club but with their base in Bristol, and I know quite a few local members are already part of both clubs. Kitnet are a friendly bunch and they already organise evening meets and various activities across the wider south west patch, so I'll be bringing the clubs together and signposting to the Kitnet events too. My thanks to the chiefs at both clubs for readily agreeing to this mutually beneficial approach. I'm looking forward to being at lots of events throughout the year - but it would be great to get a regular monthly meet going. My initial thought is to organise morning run outs, perhaps something on the first weekend of each month. Let me know if you'd be up for that and I'll look to get the first one organised. I will then complement that with everything else that's happening. I've got a couple of events that I'm already looking at in April and May so will also post about those separately. Roll on spring and some good weather! Cheers all, Paul.

Pics of the car.

What have I learned over the years of driving a 7 car- Lights on at all times. Leave a larger gap between yourself and the car in front, also when in a queue stationary. Soft grippy tyres fitted, ie PS3 or Rainsport 5 tyres. No point in having a standard hood, it's claustrophobic and condensation aplenty in cold weather, dress appropriately in bad weather. Be courteous on the road, especially in your home town, other drivers will know who you are very quickly in an open unusual car.

what the devil !!!!!! Was @Julie Hall - WSCC AO Representative feeling alright ! Should we get her checked out? Has she been cloned or something 🤪 Is she putting you all on a secret diet 🤣🤣 @Andy Westwood would have passed out without cake .

I thought you northerners were all tough? 😂 Just shy of 200 miles round trip to the MK open day last Saturday. Aeroscreen and no heater but I do have half doors and a heated jacket for when its below 8'. Once I'm on the road I get all the comfort I need from the V8 exhaust note. Kenton pic from warmer weather last year. Millau bridge

Thank you to @Chris Broster and congratulations to @Paul Baker - Bristol Bath and Cotswold AO. It looks like this area is going to be a great place to own a Westfield and it will be wonderful to watch it evolve. Meeting with other club's is an excellent idea, I combine my WSCC events with meets put on by the local car museum, of which we are members of also. Look out for Paul's car on your WSCC calendar for February (tomorrow), I had a peek earlier today👍 We should also very soon have an AO for not only the North East but also Scotland, so there is everything to look forward to as we all emerge from the winter hibernation. Great news.

Red,yellow,blue are so last year 🤣 so here’s Porsche grey it goes from looking light to dark grey depending on the lighting

I’ve lit the blue touch paper, tossed in the colour grenade and promptly left the room…….

Thanks for the info Steve. I have a habit of saying it is no secret why I am the size I am, and that it took a lot of expense in chocolate and pies to get here! 😟 I know I can lose weight. Prior to Covid I lost over 40kg through diet and exercise. I kept this off through most of Covid but somewhere around the last lockdown I lost the plot and it has crept back up since then. I have a kind of ‘switch’, so can be quite polarised in that I’m either on it or not. Hopefully I will re find my way and get back on it, I will certainly be much more comfortable in the car when I do, and it might even go faster 🤣. The car isn’t going anywhere, I’m committed to it so will just have to ensure I can get into it more comfortably in future…. So, if you see me, don’t offer me cake! 🤪🤣 BTW, this is my motivation to do it again! I know that I can. I might even iron the shirt next time, I didn’t need to in the image on the left!

My first blat of 2025.

I’ve been following their progress on this beast with interest. They’ve had huge issues creating this monster of an engine but the end results are amazing. Go straight to 8:00 if you want to hear it and watch the car in action - enjoy the sound. There’s a license plate holder on this thing. Can you imagine rolling up for an IVA inspection in this thing and see their faces? 🤣

*** Deposit Taken *** Westfield SEIW Sport Carbon Limited Edition No. 23 of 25 Registration X963LUY - 2001 Originally factory built with all new parts but over the course of 24 years, many high specification upgrades as described below. Genuine 10900 miles (although mileage will increase but only slightly). Engine - The original 1.8 Zetec replaced with a Dunnell 2ltr blacktop zetec engine package, dynoed at 232bhp (over £13,000 in receipts for the engine, ancillaries and management system). Dunnell exhaust system, Coolex alloy radiator with spal fan, Dunnell lightweight alternator and throttle bodies, Cambridge motorsport lightweight starter motor, Aces programmable shift light/ tacho system with all invoices, certificate of origin and engine test data (dyno plots) from Dunnell. All correctly recorded on the V5. Fuel - Original Westfield fuel tank replaced with a Procomp Long range fuel tank (£525 - roughly twice that of a normal Westfield so you have a decent range), twin fuel pumps with swirl pot. Fire extinguisher system (currently removed as out of date but only takes 10 mins to fit/remove). Lightweight battery. Gearbox/Diff - The original Ford Type 9 replaced with a Quaife Type 9 built by SP Components (Steve Perks), full alloy cased, straight cut gear set with hydraulic clutch (currently retail for £4300). Sierra Limited Slip Diff. Suspension - Original Westfield dampers replaced by Procomp with matched Protech dampers, extra widetrack fully adjustable front wishbones (inc castor), adjustable front anti-roll bar, rear anti-roll bar, poly bushed / rose-jointed all round, widetrack rear with extra wide rear arches (£1965). Brakes - Original Westfield front brakes replaced with AP 4 pot brakes with vented discs. Sierra rears, Carbon Lorraine pads all round, Procomp bias pedal box with Willwood in car adjuster. Wheels and Tyres / Steering - Team dynamics prorace wheels with 205 rear and 195 front Nankang AR1 tyres (new last year). Quickrack 2.4 turn rack, good turning circle with no lockstops and alloy rack mounts. Bodywork - ZK Type in Canary yellow and black, bespoke rear diffuser and front splitter, Carbon canards, Carbon half doors, Caterham style indicator pods, Caterham style teardrop bonnet side vents, mudflaps, wind deflectors and full windscreen/ mirrors/wipers/washers and heater. Partly flat floored and gearbox hoop replaced with straight bar for good ground clearance. Full 'Caged' roll cage. The bodywork is not as new, there are some hairline cracks in the fibreglass and small chips here and there, it is 24 years old after all. Interior - Tillet driver's seat with 6 point harness (£655), Westfield race passenger seat with 4 point harness. Tactile but lightweight trimmed interior panels with centre console (storage for phone etc) and a 12v socket for phone/satnav. Alcantara removable steering wheel with indicator switches. There is an ignition key plus a battery cutoff and Anderson connector. A previous owner (an area rep for the WSCC for over 18 years) refurbished much of the car during their ownership including blasting/repainting suspension, removed the engine to repaint parts of the chassis, repainted engine block and mounts, new fasteners, alloy header and breather tanks and a new cambelt kit in 2017. During my ownership the car is always garaged, serviced every year with Miller's motorsport oil, Bosch filter, Fuchs Titan Race Syncro gearbox / diff oil and AP racing brake and clutch fluid. I have also installed a new cam belt, tensioner, auxiliary drive belt, spark plugs, rocker cover gasket, ignition leads, ignition coil, front fuel hoses, rear fuel hoses, fuel filters, Dunnell lightweight alternator, Cambridge Motorsport lightweight starter motor, ignition switch and some of the hydraulic pipes. I have a lever arch file full (and i mean really full) of receipts dating back to the original bill of sale from Westfield, all the dunnell books, all previous MOT's (expires May 2025 but more than happy to renew). Within the huge history file there is plenty of evidence to warrant the mileage and further evidence of regular oil changes and other maintenance. It's a quick car, handles and stops superbly yet is very useable with a light clutch and decent ride. It’s a proper driver's car with good feedback and a very stiff chassis thanks mainly to the cage. If you want a car that can be enjoyed on the road (as long as you don't mind the straight cut box- although it is quiet in 4th) or quick on a trackday then look no further. It's a very special car and is roughly equivalent to an R400 caterham but with slightly more power to weight for a lot less money! Genuine enquiries only please, strictly no time wasters, tyre kickers or test pilots. Please call or whatsapp me 07980 290945. I am based in Somerset not far from Taunton. The car is ready for this season with all fluids replaced over the winter, fresh engine oil and filter, gearbox and diff oil, brake and clutch fluid. Price is £14995 ono Available by separate negotiation a brand new Soft Bits for Sevens Half Hood and full waterproof cover.

My home-built project that needs an owner who will actually use it. Time to accept I gave no thought what I'd do with it once I'd built it..... A common refrain from me, "we have 3 cars but barely need 1". In 2023 the Midlana went to the MOT & back and that was it. Last year Vickie 'encouraged' me to use the car more so we did get out in it once or twice, which I enjoyed, but the truth is I just have no use for it as I am practically a recluse these days. So, as the saying goes, 'genuine reason for sale'. It's not a 'good' reason, but it is true. £16,000 If the asking price is achieved, sale will include a bunch of spares etc as follows. Engine gaskets, spare set of used ignition coils, spare throttle pedal pot, spare MAF, spare suspension parts, spare diff (used but good), camlocks for the V6, plus any other pertinent bits (spare wiper motor, spare dash clusters etc). Will include all the templates I used for making the body panels, screen template, assorted 3D printed parts files to recreate them if required. Car currently has inertia belts but will include harnesses as shown in the shot below. Spare master cylinders. If the asking price is not achieved, none of the above listed parts will be included but can be purchased separately. Last time I sold a kit I practically gave it away, along with lots of valuable parts. Won't be doing that again. (Added for clarity, no spares will be offered for sale unless the car sells below asking price. If that happens, any left over will be advertised separately.) Can be viewed any time by arrangement. A few pictures so you have an idea what it is: Very briefly: Car has MX5 NA front & rear uprights, front suspension is double wishbone with inboard vertical dampers with rockers & pushrods, rear is lower semi-trailing arm and upper wishbone. All suspension joints are 1/2" rod ends or larger, or spherical bearings in cups. Pro-tech 1.9" dampers. Steering rack is MX5 (currently a de-powered PAS rack, was originally a manual rack but I found this a bit 'slow'). Front brakes are Wilwood Midilite with Focus ST 300mm vented discs, rears are Hyundai i30N calipers with BMW JCW Mini vented 316mm discs. Wilwood pedalbox and master cylinders. Engine is a stock Alfa Busso 3.0 V6 taken from a 1999 Alfa 166 so makes around 220bhp/200lbft. Gearbox is a 6 speed from a 156 V6 for the shorter diff ratio. ECU is stock from the donor 166 so includes working cruise control and passes a CAT test with ease (although it doesn't need one at MOT being a Q plate). Instruments are modified Alfa 166. Loom is mostly derived from the donor car and retains all the original switchgear and functions, including the Alfa CODE engine immobiliser system integrated into the ECU. Dash has a home-brew fuel gauge calibrator to match it to the Exige fuel tank & sender, which makes it accurate. JK Composites seats. Since first building it and getting the IVA in March 2021, I've fitted LED headlights, put a Sparco steering wheel on it with a QR, swapped out the harnesses for inertia reels and made some suspension mods at the back to add some extra droop travel. Last year while I had the engine out to do the suspension mods, I also fixed an oil leak that had developed, so it had a new cambelt and yet another water pump while it was in bits as well as a complete new set of all oil seals. Located near Evesham, Worcestershire. chris.savage.01@btinternet.com For more detail than any sane person could want to know, please see the following threads: and: https://www.stratosec.com/Forum/showthread.php/3073-Non-Stratos-build-project?highlight=non-stratos and finally: https://www.midlana.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=651 which was where the idea came from originally. (last two sites may require you to register??)

Apologies if I’ve posted this elsewhere. I had wanted a table sign for our meets to make it easier for new members to identify us, so I 3D printed this. Someone then suggested lighting it up, so I did 🤪🤣. Just battery powered with some LED strips 👍. Must have too much time on my hands, thought it never feels like it!

Hi Dates for your diaries!! Summer is coming 😁 Please find below confirmation of the National Kit Car Show in Malvern that we already knew about plus the new replacement of the Newark Show which is now in Lincoln and combined with the Sports Car Show at the end of August.

That looks like a lovely view but a properly dumb place to camp (left of photo). Reminds me of a time I was in Gran Canaria. Bloke was in his tin top, in a sandy recess next to a mountain on a curve of a busy road, miles from anywhere, all by himself and playing a tuba in his car. One of the most surreal things I've ever seen.

Just had this on the dyno before its track day at blyton and then its first rally of the season. Found 20hp just by bypassing the clogged air filter! Great day to be a Triumph fan

I can only echo what others have said. Drive assuming no one has seen you and give enough space and distance. It can be intimidating on motorways with HGVs towering above you but same rules apply. I’ve driven mine around the M25 in rush hour and it’s quite ok. I was more worried about overheating than having a crash! They are lightweight rear wheel drive cars (duh 🤣) so need to be driven with respect; it’s easy to get caught out as I know from experience having visited a ditch once in mine, fortunately with no significant damage except a big dent to the ego. But, once used to the handling and grip then as has been said, that is normally enough to get you out of any trouble; last night heading home someone was playing silly b*****rs trying to undertake me completely unnecessarily. A quick prod of the throttle and I was three cars ahead and out of his way. If very concerned then you could consider a roll cage with side protection. I prefer mine lighter and easier to get into and normally drive with only half doors, or nothing at all in summer. I do have a decent roll bar with the triangulated supports rather than just a simple hoop, and use a 6 point harness as I feel much more secure with that. My wife does not share my love of the car. She calls it ‘the Pencil Tin’ and after her one and only drive to date said ‘it’s nice when you get out, isn’t it?’ 🤣🤣. That said, I doubt I would make a good Westfield passenger so do understand. One day I will take her on a nice relaxed drive on a hot summers day and see if I can convince her 👍 In summary, the open and low nature of the car only adds to the experience and is a big part of what I love; the rawness, noise and sensation of speed, even when within the speed limit are hard to beat and always put a big smile on my face.

Nah, a recent poll last year showed that orange was the most popular kit car colour. I voted 52,376 times mind you 😁 From memory, blue came second. Same as it does on the road in a race with an orange car 🤣

Hi all, I recently just got myself a Westfield from auction. The original owner built himself and it has 4k miles. Great to find this place! I am not familiar with all the body styles / models(?) of Westfield so if anyone can share information about what I have that would be great! here’s what I think I have: - 1999 SEi - 2.0 mountune built zetec on Jenvey throttle bodies - mt75 gearbox / LSD

And , just thought (don't be put off by this ! ,in fact, at least for me and looking at plenty build threads there, not only for me , that it's part of whole fun with all that "kitcaring") - apart fom safety vs trucks and SUV's, there is another area of safety in used kitcars - for example : cracked fuel tubes, inproper fuel lines clamps, rusted suspension elements , undone suspension, propshaft or driveshaft bolts, air in brake lines, poor aligment, rust everywhere ... etc etc. So worth to consider choosing from who You are buing, or (better but takes some time) take almost whole car apart and put togheter with lot of fresh parts - You will know what You have that way and gain confidence of (kit)car.

I know right! The mirror is click locked on and easily removable without tools. I just signed up to full international membership

Lovely weather for open tops.

Recived mine rebuilded gearbox with new longer - 2.98 1st, new bearings, synchros, gaskets, seals, cleaned inside and outside. Now excercise and acrobatics to install..

Orange is just really bright brown and that's science!

The honest answer from me is that owning one makes you a safer, more aware driver. No, it’s not as safe as a full blown tin top from an impact viewpoint but in 24 years of ownership, I’ve only learned of two fatal accidents (not sharing details) and one of those was a test drive by a completely inexperienced driver. However, I’ve read of a few dozen accidents in that time, a couple very serious, where the driver walked away. The tubular frame is far more effective than one might anticipate. Having said that, I give lorries and buses a great deal of respect and plenty of room, and I assume I’m invisible to everyone else on the road, including bicycles. I’m not afraid while driving mine. I think the first month or two of ownership is educational and as long as you take it easy and get to know the car, you’ll be fine. The handling can be confidence inspiring but push it too hard in the wrong place at the wrong time in the wrong conditions and you’ll be calling the RAC and testing your insurance.

Ive got 2 🤣

Can I just say that blue is the best colour by far. Some people seem to think (incorrectly) that yellow is. This is daft as all the flies etc are attracted to yellow and who wants to be in a car with lots of flies hovering/pooing/squashed over it?? And red are pretending to be a bit of jam…..

Here is my striker it’s Ford imperial blue pearl

Does blue and orange count?

If I had to choose a blue (I'm of Yellow or Orange preference) it would be this... (not mine)

You don’t need to lose weight, you just need to be compressed. Try Spanx and a whalebone corset.