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Dear fellow members As this is the time of year when people start looking at their holidays for the next year, the committee are letting you in on one of our plans for 2016 a bit early - earlier than we'd like, but we think it's wise to tell you now. The WSCC have secured a club stand at the Silverstone Classic 2016, which runs from 29-31st July (Friday-Sunday). The bumph from the website is here - please read: Silverstone Classic This is an absolutely huge event, with over 10,000 cars and 100,000 people attending over the three days in 2015. Lots of classic racing and racing cars: "The World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival features the cream of historic racing action from Formula One, Sports Cars, GT and Touring Car grids. With over 20 races and demonstrations, and over 1000 race entries, this is more racing action than you will see anywhere else in the world in one weekend! Friday sees a full day of qualifying from every grid, whilst Saturday and Sunday will host around 10 races each day. The full motor racing lineup will be revealed with 3 further girds announced over the coming months but already confirmed for 2016 is the addition of a major Can-Am race to mark 50 years since the series started in 1966." Live music: "As well as all the racing action the Silverstone Classic is equally about the rocking. The concerts on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the event provide a great live music experience that all the family can enjoy. The full line-up for 2016 will be announced in due course but previous acts have included Status Quo, Paul Young, Bonnie Tyler, Canned Heat, The Hollies, Stars From The Commitments, Adam Ant, Mike and the Mechanics, Suzi Quattro, 10CC, Wishbone Ash, The Yardbirds, Dr Feelgood, Santana and Pussycat Dolls, plus plenty of tribute bands to some of rock’s greatest bands." Aerial displays: "Silverstone Race Circuit is based on a WW2 airfield, so it’s only fitting that the Silverstone Classic features some great air displays over the weekend. Previous years have featured classic aerial displays from Spitfires and Mustangs, daredevil manoeuvres from the Breitling Wingwalkers, breath-taking shows from the Wildcat Aerobatics Formation Display Team; spectacular displays from The Parachute Regiment Freefall Team – The Red Devils; and some fabulous hot air balloon displays at dawn and dusk, including a stunning night glow during the evening concerts. In 2015 we even included a twilight pyrotechnics display from Twister Aerobatics to kick off the evening concert from Status Quo." Shopping village: "If you’re in need of a break from the all-action racing on the famous Silverstone circuit then look no further than the Shopping Village for a spot of retail therapy. With over 150 exhibitors attending there’s something for all the family including: Motoring Memorabilia Vintage Clothing & Accessories Toys & Models Motoring Books & Literature Restoration Services Art & Photography Cars & Car Parts Antiques & Autojumble" In fact, there's so much happening you should just read it yourself here So please leave these dates in your diaries for next year! BUT PLEASE DON'T BUY ADVANCE EARLY BIRD TICKETS YET! - the club will be providing members with a special members only code that will get you a substantial reduction on entry fees for one, two or all three days of the event for two people and includes an infield parking pass so you can come on to the club stand - that's very important, see below. An announcement will be made online in the Members Only Area in the next few weeks with the code to use when booking. One more reason why you should come (and why you need to wait until we tell you to book) - a BIG reason. We have been working behind the scenes with the organisers of the show and on either the Saturday lunchtime or evening (TBC), all the WSCC members parked on the club stand will be given the privilege of doing an exclusive parade lap around the full Silverstone GP circuit in their Westfield (maybe two laps). This is something we're very excited about indeed, and we want to get as many Westfields on the parade lap as possible, and with as many models as possible, especially pre-lits and Elevens, and in as many flavours as possible. This is going to be a once in a blue moon opportunity for us all, and will be an extremely memorable event. So please keep these dates free in your diaries, we'll keep you informed as soon as we get more info so you can make plans and be there. It's going to be a great one! *This event is in addition to the National Kit Car Show at Stoneleigh in May - we're doing both.

Well done all SSOT. Your time and hard work on all this is much appreciated. Happy to buy a round for you guys Saturday.

The 3 mm rubber was bought from ebay as was the heavy duty velcro. The surfaces were cleaned with white spirit and warmed with a hairdryer before sticking the velcro on. I will leave them for 24 hours before going round the edges with waterproof silicone. Once that is dry I will put them together and then see if it works.

Found out that the engine would hit the chassis if I put the diff where I intended to. A***. This meant some hunting through the spares pile and a bit of Googling - turns out Mazda use the same CV joints and spline pattern on the 1.6 and 1.8 Mk1 cars, but the 1.8s have 20mm shorter half shafts... This meant I could swap the NS drive shaft to a 1.8 model, shift the diff over 10mm, and it now clears, happy days! Knocked up a build table - a big sheet of MDF, some old beams from some pallet racking and a bit of chipboard underneath to brace it all. Solid, flat and weighs 110kg! Had a weekend away at the Race of Remembrance - an amazing event and won Class C, bonus! Ordered MSA compliant roll hoop and other bits of CDS tubing for the braces and harness bar - great service from Tom at tube-bender.co.uk. Diff came back from converting by Douglas at Westgarage Engineering. I spent a few hours pondering how to do it and it's not as simple as it first seems, so sent it to him... Cracking job, not cheap cheap but good value I'd say, given my lathe wouldn't be man enough for the task and there's a lot of work in it. 16T front and 54T sprockets, for 530 chain (big beefy b*******, sprockets are a touch under 9mm thick!). Total weight 12kg, so a good chunk saved there over having a full casing and crownwheel/pinion. Chassis arrived today. Well, I say chassis... Decided to go balls out and go for round tubing. Much harder to work with but should end up lighter and stiffer than box. So decided I needed a bit of help to get all the joins nice and tight... First tester - done a few of these now to do some practice welding tonight. Find doing round tubes quite tricky at the moment, so plenty of test runs needed - have found a few tips online so going to give them a go. Also updated the chassis design a touch, worked out how to mount the diff, ordered a chain, and spoke to a local fabricator about extending my headers... At the moment it fouls the billet sump, but chopping and adding 20-25mm into them should do it. What's making it tricky is that the tubing is titanium, but it can be sorted. The other option is a dry sump - but then you need remote electric water pump and controller, and all the other plumbing / tanks - suddenly adds a fair bit of cost and complexity, so not keen to go down that route really. Will update again in a few weeks, hoping to get cracking properly now, should have some bits of chassis tacked up for next time

During last week's moist matlock mystery tour a few of us discussed a weekend in Yorkshire ..so we can sample the excellent roads. The plan was to stay over in a BnB. I have looked at a larger house to rent (sleeps 20) for a weekend and we can stop over for probably £50 - £80 a head for a 3 day weekend...less for 2 days. I need to check the exact price but I have stayed at similar places in Devon the last three years and if you get a large group it is a really cheap way of getting accommodation for a group. see http://www.groupaccommodation.com/properties/wharfedale-lodge-kilnsey-north-yorkshire Hopefully buttercup can help us with routes and days out, and the growing Kingster clan oooop norf will join us? I can organise a food and drink (tesco delivery) so we have food morning and evening .. and a few beers to finish the day. This post is to gauge interest. If there is enough interest I will suggest some dates and get some prices... we need 15 to 20 people to make this economical to book a whole house. Words of wisdom for the week are... Spring is nature's way of saying, Let's party!” ― Robin Williams

Sounds like a good idea. How about incorporating your weekend with the Yorkshire 8 run. This is normally at the end of May so should be easy enough to get the dates and runs sorted out.

Hotel booked for Friday and Saturday night. Just need to locate Russ's tent in case there is any spare breakfast going

How dyou turn a fox into a pig ? Marry it

Cheers thank you

A young rating was leaning out of the porthole throwing up when an old sea salt came up behind him and 'serviced' his rear end. "OUCH!" cried the young sailor, "What the hell was that?" "Don't worry son" said the old salt, "It was only the roll of the ship!" "Well", moaned the boy, "It felt like a roll of f****g lino!"

Yeah he is sound,does not rush and got plenty of time for talking/explaining what he's doing etc Plus he loves cars himself so plenty of car chat to be done

I too know nothing / but to help you identify the night sky you you can get some really good apps for your phone where you point the phone up into the sky and it will show you what's what

Hopefully pending final quotation and some more detail having his turbo conversion so will be leaving the car with him for a while I guess, really pleased actually been having a really good rummage around for feedback and have not found anything negative which is amazing in this moaning world!!

eww Pussycat Dolls hey

I'd start the search for information by contacting the previous owner to see how much they can remember about past owners and the cars history. The v5 will list the address of the previous owner and also the number of past owners. The few receipts and paperwork you have might also be able to furnish you with an address. Westfield themselves may also be able to advise if the car was sold as a kit or factory build, but for obvious reasons probably wont give you any personal details of the purchaser. The 10th digit on your chassis number will also give an indication of how long it took build the car. A "V" for example would be a chassis built in 1997 whilst W=1998 X=1999 Y=2000 1=2001

Hi Julie Yes not quite overnight kind of crept in!

Back in July 2015 my Sport E electric Westfield was very badly damage due to a 'racing incident' at the Curborough sprint circuit. The car rolled three times and in the process ripped off or bent all four corners of the car. None of the wishbones, uprights or wheels escaped undamaged. In addition all the bodywork was broken in some way. On the face of it this was a total loss situation. However, amazingly all the electrical systems, motor and battery remained undamaged and in full working order. Fortunately I work for Potenza Technology. We had worked on a number of Westfield related design and development projects in the past. As a result Potenza were able to find a complete set of suspension parts and enough body panels to make the rebuild possible. The first job was to strip the car down to the chassis and check its condition. The main battery was hard mounted within the engine bay and so must have strengthened the chassis because it proved to be completely straight. On the other hand the wishbones and mounting clevises must have absorbed the crash forces. Also five suspension mounting clevises were either bent or ripped in some way and would need replacing. So with a bit of welding and a lot of kit building and the car could be back on the road again quite soon. But here's the problem - apart from my lack of driving skill, one of the reasons the car crashed in the first place must be to do with the unusual weight distribution. The engine bay battery weighs in at 160Kg. The motor, power controller, battery charger and cooling system were all mounted behind the rear bulkhead. Thus about 100Kg of weight was carried mostly behind and above the rear axle line. This weighty rear end made the car over steer and I found it quite difficult to control. Plan B. The original car carried batteries in both the engine bay and in an under tray beneath the car. The under tray weighed in at 200Kg so order to lighten the car for 2015 I removed these and reconfigured the remaining engine bay batteries to maintain power levels. Thus the car was 200Kg lighter - and faster - and unfortunately less stable! So for the 2016 car I will revert to the under tray battery, remount the differential in the correct orientation, fit a prop shaft and mount the motor and power controller etc into the engine bay. I calculate these changes will increase overall weight by 50Kgs to about 720Kg all up. This should result in a better balanced car that's easier for me to drive - and when people ask, where is the electric motor? - instead of pointing to the back of the car, I can open the bonnet and say 'in the engine bay'.