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Nice run out this morning, after being up at 5.30 on puppy duties. Managed 120 miles: Whitchurch -> Ruthin -> Cerrigydrudion -> Denbigh -> St Asaph -> Mold -> Bangor-on-Dee -> Whitchurch. Even clocked up a little milestone; 10,000 miles. Pulled over to take the photo, hence Water Temp up from normal 88 and Oil Temp up from normal 85.....

Turn petrol into noise... I have just been out for his first post resurrection, summer evening, local village blat and it was great. Nothing obscene, just a few nicely timed blips from 3rd to 2nd (now he's got a 2nd) when in ear shot of the local pubs. And nothing back except approving waves and smiles. If God created a better way to convert hydrocarbons into noise than a Xflow with Webers, I've yet to find it... I am now going to petition for electric vehicals to be mandatory, anything to make the remaining petrol last longer so immature middle aged men can explode it...

Oooh, yes please. Thanks Dave for the prompt. Sorting an email now Andy

The Xflow doesn't leak oil it sweats power !

You will! Just like with the T Shirts last year, we'll take them to Silverstone first, where anyone that didn't get one at Stoneleigh can collect one. After that, just like before, we will ask anyone that still not got one to post up in a thread we'll start for the purpose, and let us know which AO/Area Meet you want to collect from. Then we will get them out to the relevant AO's. Once we're sure everyone that wants one has received one, then absolutely, we'all raffle the remainder off for charity.

As has been said, a top weekend only soured a bit by the wall-to-wall sunshine Huge thanks to all of those who helped run it! As always, great to catch up with familiar faces and meet some new ones. Stuck a couple of vids together... P1 Saturday - did it on my road wheels / tyres for a laugh. These are some 185 section (f*****n narrow!) 'Eco' tyres. Hilarious fun and not that slow - time was a mid 72 I think. T1 Saturday, back on the medium 888s. Class win but - slight moan - the target time was fairly unrealistic so there was no chance of decent points despite a good lap (with 3 wheels off through Lancaster, ha). T1 Sunday - car was weeing out coolant at an alarming rate by this point (found it all over the rear arches, ha...) so just did one timed run and went for an early bath. Still a class win and max points, happy days. Have got loads of 'slidey bits' which I'll stick together into one vid when I get time - including a hilarous drift / save / scandi flick through Curva Grande

Thanks Robin and Marcus. More than happy to donate... more than happy. I have been trying to learn a bit more about how to work on Buttercup and have started to get a few decent tools together as find it a bit embarrassing when something happens and I don't have a clue. I can now change my throttle cable.... please don't laugh.

Well. The police certainly had their chopper out.

Hello all, new Westfield owner in sunny Glasgow . Recently purchased 1800 Speed Sport for use in Hillclimb and Sprint events along with dry day outings. Absolutely love it, great to drive, isnt too heavily modified ( yet, not sure about this MT75 gearbox tho !)

R1R seem to be great "all-rounder" in that they give you a little forgiveness in the wet whereas r888r give phenomenal dry weather grip. Depends what type of,and in which weather you intend to do most, driving. Afraid you pays your money and takes your choice

Thanks! I'm the other end I'm afraid, Henley way!

Brian, I know for my landy, It is LT77 box too, I fitted a heavy duty clutch fork. Unsure what the difference is but its taken the punishment I have given it off road.

So today we woke to an over cast Mousehole but left the roof off and water proofs in the boot. We thought double sausage and bacon would provide the water proofing. We had a lovely walk round the harbour before getting Mrs P ready for today's adventures. As we took the storm cap off a tall elderly New Zealand gentleman, about 75 ish walked over and shock my hand and introduced him self as a member of the NZMG club. He told of his last adventure in his MGA roadster taking 17000 km round Australia, NewZealand and believe or not Canada. We talked the talk, he left and I thought ummm, what if! We set of along the coast via,Newlyn, Penzance, Marazion, Helston and the Lizard, even some seals came to say hi along with the biggest Cornish pasty I have ever had the pleasure of eating Next we went Gweek to the Seal Sanctuary, yes I'm 6'2" 19 stone ex British forces and rugby player but their so cute, you gotta go! But allow 2 hours. We always take the shortest route we can, it gets you to hidden gems. After Gweek we went to, Brill, Treverva, Falmouth and Pendennis Castle. Next we took the ferry over the river Fal to St Maws then headed north literally hugging the coast and best guessing as we could then it happened. PORTHOLLAND. It's a secret don't tell anyone. We then left to Boswinger and a few others to Mevagissey for our rest for a couple of nights. Yes I know still no mention of rain but after touring Scotland with @Geoffrey (Buttercup) - North Yorkshire AO, @Garyt and @ziplob anything other than you needing an Ark isn't rain Night all

All moved! I think I'm going to have to confiscate your cider, in your own best interests of course, it's obviously affecting your posting!

This is my mum and dad at Lands End taken in 1959. I know they did get a mini when they were first launched, so probably went in that.

Booked

I'm booked one with a garage

@Terryathome needs another one for all his new spanners.. rumor has it he can change a 3.14 diff in 3.92 minutes with em

ill collect for you both @Terryathome @Geoffrey (Buttercup) - North Yorkshire AO as long as they are available, generous donations accepted :-)

I could pick it up for you.

Around 9000 now.

If anyone who hasn't had one, but has an AO at Silverstone, check with your AO - they may be able to collect one for you! I can bring one back for @Wilfman Stu...

I'm going to take a look at making this my virgin track day. I'm already off work that day but it's supposed to be a family gathering....clearly they just need to come and spectate!

Hi, RenaultSport Cliov6. I have had mine (Phase 2 - 255bhp) for just over eighteen months and values are well and truly still on the up. It's an exciting car - just as impractical as a Westfield (from a space/luggage point of view) and just as intoxicating to drive. The values on the continent are even higher than here in the UK so to sell abroad would appear to be a way of further enhancing the investment. The owners' club (v6Clio.net) is on a par with WSCC, the owners as enthusiastic, and there are some excellent specialists around to keep on top of the cars. If a UR Quattro is a "Marmite" car, I guess the Vee could be considered the same. I had a guy come round the house to sort a lock problem on another car and he described the Clio as "needing an ASBO just standing still" ! Simon

Great write up Valey80, weather permitting i have similar journey coming up on Sunday, albeit it in the opposite direction. I too will be on Toyo 888's, so hoping for distinctly less rain than you encountered! Bob

A lot of the modern ish Astons have reached there bottom value and can only go up. Assuming they are not all time bombs full if disfuntional electronics. 12 years ago I bought a basket case 1969 DBS for 3k, With non original engine. My wife became pregnant and I sold it 6 months later. For the same price. Cars similar condition are 35-45k. Whata Mistaka to Makea! The challenge is to find an appreciating car you'll enjoy, and will not eat you out of house and home while you have it. So that even if it does not appreciate it's not been a waste of time and money.

Porsche 911 993s (last of the air cooled engines) are starting to appreciate well, ex-neighbour of mine bought his Carrera4 many years ago for £13k and sold it recently for nearly double that. 928s are getting more rare and are appreciating, handsome brutes even if the rear is a bit large! 944s, especially the Turbos, are also a good choice. Jenson Interceptors on the way up. Early Alfa Spiders are pretty and always popular. Lancia Delta Integrale, fast and rare, will hold its value. E46 M3 Coupe (obvious)

People are waving John to tell you that the xflow is healthily dropping oil behind you Seriously, its good to know you are enjoying the car again.............. have a blue one

Once again The Wirral N/Wales WSCC will have a stand over looking Cascades corner, we will also have tea, coffee and cake with all donations going to our local charity. last year we had twenty two Westfields on the stand on the Monday. Jeff

Loads of room in that TARDIS for shoes, too

I have a black Sabelt one I think. I'll check tomorrow.

Few more jobs ticked off the list at the weekend New seats arrived from Intatrim (custom designed to my spec), as did the new FIA approved Scroth harnesses. As the harnesses came with all new fixing bolts and eyelets I obviously wanted these fitted - problem number one the left hand side passenger eyelet cannot be removed without removing the rollbar. Rather than seeing this as a problem I took it as an opportunity to remove it, clean it, paint it and tidy up all the fixing bolts which were a bit grubby. As the rollbar removal meant removal of rear wheels it made sense to have a check of everything and clean anything that was looking a bit dirty Old seats out saw the opportunity to repaint and tidy up the interior (pictures make paint look patchy - its not, just were its still drying) New seats fitted and as I went for heated bases and backrests I took the plunge and wired them in (electrics are not my strong point) - following instructions and thinking logically about the cabling means its all neat and tidy (wiring running in transmission tunnel and two position switches neatly integrated (I think) in the dashboard As the Stack display had a few issues this had been sent off for a full stripdown and repair, I requested that the white face be replaced with black as I think its more in keeping with the rest of the car

WHi Simon I also suffered badly with my type 9 gearbox at Blyton I normally get 1 to 2 years between refresh (synchro rings and bearings) this year I managed 6 events I have tried to obectively collect info on why this might have happened this year For a number reasons it is only this season I have been able to use the full power of a recent 205 bhp engine upgrade This has definitely put the gearbox (5 speed straight cut Tranex year set) at the edge of its reliability profile The major factors for failure are wrong oil, clutch drag and driving style ( too quick on the down shifts and not toe and healing during the changes) The weakest point of the box that is the synchro rings which date back to the Ford Sierra days I do not believe the add you have seen is really honest as the rings are sintered bronze or expensive coated steel ones which still fail but in a different way to the bronze ones It really depends on your power output anything over about 220 hp will probably need either a dog box or a sequential gearbox The cost of both of these options is considerable as the clutch and flywheel are likely to need upgrade also If you do not have such high power the sensible option is to stick with the type 9, have it refreshed by a competent rebuilder, use the oil the rebuilder recommends and learn how to drive the car to minimise the stresses during the year changes particularly going down the box. I have learnt this the hard way so I hope you find it helpful? If you need more send me a pm with your tel no so we talk in more detail Regards G

Anyone interested in reviews on products then there is nowhere better than www.detailingworld.co.uk. Been on there for years and have amassed a small selection of products

The thing is with a snow lance, is that people get a bit carried away and turn their drives into an alpine snow scene. This may look fantastic and , i do wash my normal cars with this , but using a garden sprayer does a similar job , but with a jet wash and to cover the non- water tight Westie and makes less of a snow scene about it. Geoffreys drive last week