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Update again. Head has been removed and inspected. At first we (well, @black st ) was scratching our heads as to what has caused piston 1 to be sitting lower than 4 when they were both on TDC ^^ number 4 ^^ number 1 On number 1 you can see a small lip to the edge, whereas number 4 sits flush with the head. Head gasket seemed ok, and so did the valves. The 'clean' lip on the bottom of number 1 matches a clean section on the head, so the first assumption was that the conrod of number 1 is bent (see the top of the valves in the below picture). After cranking the engine by hand and pushing/prodding piston 1 the piston was all of a sudden level again with number 4. So to conclude, the bearing has spun and causes the piston to go higher than allowed, consequently hitting the head 'edges'. I now need to take engine (bottom) out and remove sump so we can inspect crank and take it from there. May not get a definite answer until planned holidays are behind us, but we are hopeful that we can get away with a re-grind/replacement crank and new shells.

Tiny bit of rain in the air when I set off, but soon passed, and a tiny, tiny bit in the air when I got back an hour ago. In the mean time, got my usual burnt red forehead while watching the parade at Bakewell! Another fantastic day out, if a bit different And great to catch up with everyone again.

Have received the emailed final instructions for Friday's track day, and forgive me if it's all in hand.. (I see it says forms are available at signing on) but is it possible to have a downloadable / printable form, that we can fill in at home? .. I know I'm bound to forget my reading glasses and will be squinting at a form while trying to write at arm's length! ;-) Other TDO's usually provide this, and it streamlines signing on if there's no queue for pens tables etc etc..

Just waiting for some rain to pass at this end, then I thought I might pop down for this!

I wouldnt get so worried about exhausts popping, so keep your hair on !! Not everyone knows answers and are happy to read information by others and 300 people reading this thread is pretty minimal for the members here . It does depend on many factors on why an exhaust pops. usually caused by heat and unburnt fuel igniting in the system. If the engine is mapped in certain ways or even camshaft overlap is causing unburnt fuel to be cycled into the exhaust and exhaust heat causes igniton and causes pops. Using a cat , can keep the silencer cleaner from fuel deposits and so reduce the popping. By using ceramic coating or heat tape, can cause the heat to travel further from the head and manifold and into the silencer, thus causing an area to ignite and cause popping. As for damage, yes it can cause silencers to open up, but you'd have to have some really bad tuning to create that issue.

Here are a few things that I have learnt whilst on my travels. Its surprising how we all do different things but I have always learnt something different from other people. Please feel free to add to the list. A half hood, half doors and clear wind deflectors will get you through any amount of rain. Half doors are brilliant for touring. You can see so much as the surround on a full door is usually at eye level. Rok straps are brilliant for securing luggage. Buy the ones without the hook on them and then your car doesn't get scratched. Take plenty of microfibre cloths You can always wash them in a hotel sink but they will clean your car and dry up any water / rain. Autobrite Direct, Berry Blast is great for cleaning your car on a morning before you head out for the day. I keep a small bottle behind my drivers seat. A buff is brilliant protecting your face from the cold and in heavy rain. It also stops your neck getting sore if you have a coat with a zip that goes under your chin and irritates your neck. Not everything is about going at a million miles an hour. Relax, enjoy the views and make time to stop. It can be boring for a passenger who just gets to sit. Try to avoid “boring” routes. Plan that it will rain and prepare accordingly. If it rains, find a way to have fun and turn it into an adventure. This is what memories are made of and there is no need to let the weather spoil anything. Take two pairs of driving glasses. Sun glasses for during the day and a clear pair for on a night. You will wear less clothes that you think. You can wear the same pair of trousers for ten days and not stink. A lot of hotels will wash your clothes for you. Its usually about £5.00 per load. You can get everything washed half way round your trip if required. Take an umbrella. It is handy as a quick fix in a short shower. Remember to take sun block and a hat for your head. It is surprising how burnt you can get in a Westfield when driving every day. Make sure you have breakdown insurance that will get you and your car home. A GoPro battery eliminator is brilliant. You can keep your camera turned on permanently and not have to worry about batteries. I have a wireless remote clipped to the dash that operates the camera. Take tools, fuses and a throttle cable. An insulated food bag makes a great armrest if placed between the seats behind the hand brake. It can make a big difference if driving all day as your arm is supported. Plus you can keep all your odds and sods in it. Take a camera and a pocket size pair of binoculars. A she-wee is brilliant for a woman. Dont get to worried about petrol garages. There are more than you think. It can be expensive if stopping for coffee breaks every hour, especially if you are in a group. Budget or plan accordingly. A map book is great to take as well as a SatNav. If you get lost you can see more detail and area in the map book than you can on the SatNav. Keep all your clothes in dry bags. Lomo bags are really good and not expensive. Avon “Skin so Soft” is a brilliant midge repellant. Be aware that if you are in a group, some cars may be lower than yours so be wary of rougher roads. Take a credit card. Keep a small bag of change for parking etc. Don't take jeans or clothes that take too long to dry out or are really bulky. Clothes from somewhere like Mountain Warehouse are really good as they fold small, dry quick and are light and warm.

This is a brilliant road on the West Coast of Scotland. You just keep climbing up and up and up. Brilliant views throughout on this single track road. There are a number of hairpin bends just before the summit and these are great fun. Plenty of parking at the top and don't forget a pair of pocket binoculars. Just be aware that it can be sunny at the bottom but not at the top so its best to have something warm and waterproof with you....just in case. Here is a little video that shows sections of the road but it doesn't show the fantastic views . Sorry about the music. It may not be everyones "cup of tea."

For Le Mans virgins like the three of us, @greenstreak - it was a bucket list trip for him, to celebrate his ahem, fiftieth, this year @IanK and myself, we went, after much research by Andy, with Speed Chills, and what an excellent choice it was. Fairs, fair, it's certainly not the cheapest way of doing Le Mans, but especially for those new to it and traveling in silly little sports cars, they take all the pain and trouble out of it. Thoroughly recommended. You basically pick your route, in terms of ports, travel days, then add any options, like grandstand seats etc and that's it. A pack arrives with all the appropriate tickets etc. The campsites themselves, they have several, are fenced off within the main camping areas. We were at Bleu Sud, the smaller of the two main sites, but only a short walk to the main entrance. The site itself was kept neat and tidy, fenced and gated off, with our own security. We had our own toilet and shower blocks, along with a marquee, with a projector showing the Eurosport feed of the Race, a bar, along with tables etc. Breakfast and evening meals were provided. Food was, in all honesty good on some nights, ok, (a bit school dinnery) on others. Beer was plentiful and cold, when you felt like a change from the warm beer in your tents! The staff were all very friendly and helpful though. I knew we'd found somewhere decent, when the first thing they did on spotting three hot, dusty Westfields queuing up at the gate, was to hand us chilled bottled water! And yes, we flew the flag at Camp Krusty!

Myself and a few others from SKCC have just come home from one of our regular trips to the mountains. This tour was a week in the Dolomites, we had a great time fitting in as many mountain passes as the time allowed. We set off from Innsbruck Friday morning and arrived home that evening. 1,200 km in one day, is that a record? Kenton

Me and another four members are all off on our yearly jolly - this year we are touring Scotland starting in Killin then to the old military road through the Cairngorms onto Muir of Ord - next day we head over to the west coast down via the Isle of Sky and inland to Fort Augustus at the bottom of Ness - the last day we play around near Ben Nevis and work our way down stopping at the bottom of Loch Lomond at Balmaha No westies on this one but if those up North keep there eye out for Me in TVR T350, Tony in his ZK Jag, Dave in the Exige, Terry in the GTR, Brian in the R8, Dick in the Z4 (don't ask) and Mark J in the Morgan Aero 8 plus Paul in the support car Give us a wave if you see us any if you Scottish chaps want to join us for part of the route or an evening - let me know Will post piccies but cannot promise the excellent drone work that was featured in the other recent tour

I was trying to photograph the show cars at the carnival and these big, hairy legs kept getting in the way While we went to look round the car show, other member's went off to eat cake, without me, I don't know if I will ever recover, I missed the cake moment. They even admitted to it and told me all about how nice it was, I have to query their eligibility for future club membership We were busy having a Ginetta moment. And this car is, a, um, a nice car. A bag of chips (no cake) later and it was carnival time. Now this is where all you men get to dress up as women. It turns out that you seem to all have done it, which is ok, but you all seem to enjoy it so much, I am worried. There were more serious moments too, with brass bands and bagpipes, adding to the carnival atmosphere, and the Carnival Queen. More hairy legs. with a hairy face and tattoos even. Club Tropicana The Swinging 60's It's been great to catch up with Gail and Ali, after their trips to Scotland and Wales, screens for queens and all that. Dave and Ian, with their tales of Le Mans and last but not at all least the great company of Martyn and Sue. I got my cake in the end, we dived into Costa before heading off home, so that was better. Next weekend it's The Big Blyton weekend, see you there!!!!!!

Hi Robin, i will meet you at hellifield or gargrave as you pass through. Michael

'Er, Julie, can Dave park here, only I have OCD and we have to be in a red, white and blue formation' I am not mentioning any names... Nosey The Late Arrivals finally came, after the photo's had been taken, a good excuse for another photo eh. The Westfield Speed Series Fan Club. We soon visited the paddocks. I don't know who this is, but there was a much prettier face in it than the other cars Matt Watch out for these, cheeky monkeys Dave getting ready for action Dave in action At the lunch break we left Curborough and travelled through the Peak District to Bakewell. The roads were eerily empty and I indulged in putting my baby Zetec in front of these mammothly powerful Honda boys. It's fun, I will never leave one standing, but it's so much fun trying. Exit the caravan and off we go again. Dave's car filled my rear view mirror all the way. Nice and slow through the village, make sure everyone gets a wave and a smile. That landed us in Bakewell, straight into the Westfield's Only Reserved Parking Area There is more to come, but you may have to prepare yourself. The next photo carries a health warning.

I've got spare grommets Stu, if I can make Blyton I'll bring one, if not I'll post one over. (Car may be at Omex, fingers crossed, for final ITB sorting).

I wouldn't want to be in the petrol station when that thing starts up! It spews flames a foot long from the exhaust 'ports'!

I think it's a Mocal 10 row x 235mm with thermostat sandwich, remote takeoff and remote filter head - mounted just below the radiator. I had help from @Pistol Pete's friend

I'd like to see that, any particular colour in mind?

Might have one, I'll have rummage. If I can't get my thermostat fixed, you can nick one of mine on the day. It's a bit of a bodge, but a decent sized self tapper and some solid garden cane did the trick for me whilst I waited for a new set, kindly donate by Mr Eastwood, to turn up in the post.

You'll probably find if you fit an oil cooler with thermostat that your Polo rad will suddenly be plenty- that's what I have on a Zetec.

OK calm down boys! the forum members can offer help and advice based on their own experience, but it is always up to the individual if they choose to take that advice. We can not definitively say yes or no in such a way as to guarantee an outcome in my opinion. Edit to add: While there are a few definitive answers to questions we can't be expected to give answers that will guarantee an outcome in all circumstances. In this case, pros and cons were requested and that is what we got. All good info as far as I can tell.

So you obviously can't offer any advice,but feel it's OK to reply and moan that other people haven't helped? Perhaps you should change your username to 'keyboard warrior'!

The OP asked specifically for pros and cons, which is how the thread had developed. your contribution did little to add to the debate.

We should probably take a look at your plumbing and fan layout in case there's something wrong - the Polo rad can work pretty well on the road even with quite hot air temps

They've obviously no seen his driving!!

Your Beers for the weekend - by Irwell Works Brewery, Ramsbottom Hopefully something for everyone's tastes A well Hopped Ale & one of my favorites... 1/2 barrel / 35 pint A good flavoursome session Ale with less Hop than Costa... 1/2 barrel / 35 pint AND a few bottles for those that prefer something different: A Mild beer, with more flavour than most... 6 bottles of Tin Plate And finally a dark smooth Porter... 6 Bottles of Navigator

I've not had a problem, although even behind seat the water bladder's not directly on floor but usually around waist height. Pipe exit does need to be lower than rest of bag, and occasionally when little water left it can help to blow into bag before getting last out.

Try A Plan who will help and give you advice

Not an easy place to spot people I agree!

Thanks. I'm making my first major tour this summer, down to Lake Como and back. I'll be sharing this list with my friends, and I'll let you know what comments come back (for sure there will be some from the ladies!).

@Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary You did really well to get a shot of @greenstreak vertical we we did indeed have an epic trip though.

Here is our list for Euro trips: Items Allen Keys/metric/imperial Assorted M6,8,10 nuts and bolts Brolley (if you want) Cable Ties (assorted) Fire Extinguisher First Aid Kit Fuses large/small Gaffa Tape Hand wet wipes Insulation tape Jubilee clips assorted sizes Jump Leads Knife Latex Gloves Pliers Pressure Gauge Rags Scissor Jack Screwdrivers flat Screwdrivers pozi type Spanners normal Spanners ratchet Spare Bulbs (and any specific to your car) Spare fan belt Spare Throttle Cable/clutch cable? Tow Rope Torch Tyre Inflator Tyre pressure gauge Tyre puncture repair foam Warning Triangle (2 number?) WD40 Wire cutters Passport (each) E111 health card Insurance cover (European travel) Breathalysers (2off) check dates on any old ones you have Hi Vis vests (each) Driving license (both parts?) Car Insurance Doc includes for European travel Car breakdown cover (repatriation) V5 document Printouts of Ferry tickets and list of accommodation. Money (for beer/wine) let your bank know you may use your bank cards abroad