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Well she arrived home this morning at 8.30 am on the back of a small car carrier... apart from the dirt of transit and the roof being on she is how I saw her last. Good to have her back, she is at the local garage where Danny the owner helped Brian to build her all those years ago... Will keep you updated as to her needs! I feel I might soon be light headed with the rush of money leaving my wallet

Strong interest, thank you. Let me have a discussion with the team and hopefully come up with a proposal. Have a good day.

This has come up a few times. In general I say with as much stroke as possible which never answers the question unless your going for zero drop, or dislike suspension of course. Then you need to start thinking about the restrictions to having a vast amount of stroke. These maybe as it is on the front of my car the wishbones touch the chassis if there is to much droop. But there are an infinite number of things which need looking at. Things like brake pipe lengths, driveshafts pulling out, driveshaft joints past design angles, rack joints locking, geometry sudden changes, .... The list is endless and varies from car to car. The best way of checking these things is to remove any damper on the car and jack the suspension though a full range of movement, measuring everything, eyes and ears fully open, full lock both ways ways and see where restriction is needed. The damper open length dictates the suspension fully extended length. The damper closed length unless there are external bump stops should dictate the suspension fully compressed length. These lengths are absolute and not load dependent. Within these absolutes tyres should not rub, brake pipes not stretch, chassis should not hit the floor etc and the list or real nasties is long but common sense Recently I have read where people have rubbing of tyres on the rear of there vehicles, also I was recently contacted by some one with 85mm lowered floors which naturally rub the ground from time to time. Increasing ride height/ spring rating/ damper stiffness will reduce the likely hood of the suspension compressing so far but its not absolute. A bigger mate or mid corner bump can still push the wheel up enough to rub. I have to design many kits for sale in countries like Germany which have rules for aftermarket modified suspension parts. There are many many considerations , reflector heights, load rating and ground clearance to name a few. So the suspension still needs to work with 1.4 x the gross axle weight while ground clearance is above 80mm and nothing else rubs. 1.4x gross load statically is supposed to take into account dynamic loadings. 80mm I believe is an arbtary figure based on a brick IIRC. I recently fitted some new dampers to my car. I took the opportunity to run a **tape measure** against my car. Closed length metal to metal (no bumpstop fitted) 240mm giving a center wheel to wheal arch measurement of 245mm, and fully open 335 mm giving a fully open center wheel to wheel arch measurement of 365. The average Motion ration across the full range of movement is there for (335-240)/(365-245)= 95mm Damper movement over 120 wheel movement =0.8 But the reality the MR drops off when the damper fully compressed so it closer to 0.85 for most the travel. *** tape measure measurements are approximate*** Theres at least a fingers gap between anything rubbing and in fact a shorter closed length could be used without car self contact. The ground clearance at full compression 60mm. This is with 195-50-15 tyres. Adding to the safety factor is that there will be a bumpstop but that is some what offset with the tyres compressing under load, and damper bushes squashing a little. Ground clearances depend of the type of vehicle and what you are using, and where. A LandRover used on rutted tracks needs a lot for ground clearance, where as a Westfield used on nice roads or tracks needs a lot less. With a factory 35-40mm lowered floor would be very close to the ground but I would say most of the time would be OK. The Compressed length of dampers can be adjusted a little to make longer by adding packers around the shaft and using different bump stops. The above picture (don't say the damper is mounted upside down, they also have 2 knobs!) Shows a plastic bump packer resting on the bump stop. These bump packers also have vent groves to allow air trapped in the bump stop to vent without trying to force air and debris into the damper seal. They can be stacked. Different bump stops and bump stop materials will change the fully loaded compressed length maybe. Dense expanded foam types still compress to very short usually 15-20% of the original length where as block of rubber simply change shape not volume so tend to have a relatively long loaded length 25-30% of original length. Damper open length, There may be little preventing you wanting a really long open length other then driveshafts pulling out etc. There will be restrictions in terms of what damper manufacturers can offer lets say you want 240 closed the max open length we can offer would be ~ 345 mm, in the case of the above dampers these are double adjustable so the maximum I could give myself was 335 open. Also if the spring dislocates at full extension there no point in having a damper so long it allows dislocation as once the spring dislocates there is only the undamped weight on the ground not offering much grip. MOT person dislikes loose springs too. In a normal tin top road car standard soft suspension will offer 75-100mm of wheel extension from ride height. The wheels will stay on the ground even on some fairly rough uneven surfaces while cornering bl**** hard. On a relatively stiff low center or gravity car like a Westfield used on smooth roads 50mm of droop is enough on the driving wheels, less on the non driving wheels. These figures are based on normal loaded to extended wheel position. I've driven many cars with much less droop and you'd not know. In the example of my car.. Open length is 335 giving a center of wheel to wheel arch of 365mm, typical damper length at normal ride height is 295 mm, 40mm of damper travel is ~ a little under 50mm of droop wheel travel. In the other direction from normal ride the car sits 15mm of a 40mm bump stop . In the case of the guy with 85mm lowered floors I'd look to extend the closed length of the dampers ~ 40mm to stop the car hitting the floor in bump situations, have the rear ride height ~ 50mm higher than mine and the open length of the dampers probably 40mm longer than mine too.. Assuming brake pipes, drive shafts can handle the extra extension... With such a large increase in ride i'd be concerned about the rear geometry as well ... Compromises are not always easy to make or agree.

Thanks Jeff for some great routes. Thanks lads for the company, even though you nearly left me there.

That was the format of the one I did with “the dark side” before I saw the light 😁 I’d be interested too and would prefer to learn control more than tricks.

Tuition in the morning, competition in the afternoon

https://youtu.be/wxtVTfq1XS0 https://youtu.be/CRoywyu7WxU

Well, long weekend, Thursday to Monday

Stress relief! Good call 👍

Today I have been mainly joining the ranks of two Westfield owners! Home again after collecting it from a friend who’d decided to sell. Now I can stop making myself ill trying to get the “beast” ready in time. It’s a car not totally unknown to the club, though hasn’t been seen much for a few years. A lovely crisp, revy and light, so very light, 1.6 Sigma engined car, that’s a hoot to drive. Will need a few jobs doing before I sell it after the Honda’s done, ut it’s a cracker in the mean time.

Seeing as you're in Yorkshire, why not come along to the next meeting on the 2nd of July. It's a free BBQ, and we might be able to talk you into keeping the car!

Yes I did realise that to be honest. I just thought, “poor old cow” sounded better than “poor old bull” Good job It wasn’t a load of bullocks.

Even though my car is not finished yet (and unlikely to be by the time this would be organised) I'd still like to come and watch and hopefully learn some stuff. Just really depends on location.

Cheers Andrew Yes did you notice the frantic waving in the last race, after I had a few words and blinkin boost boy ha ha

I visited Duxford with my younger brother, and we were pointing out planes we'd built as Airfix models when we were kids.. some were even hanging up like the ones on our bedroom ceiling.

Brilliant to hear it's back and in one piece, and that you've got a trusted place to take it. The car will come back stronger, ready for its next adventure!

I'm interested, again depending on cost or location

Would be interested also thanks Ian

Now that the car is cleaned and dried out I would like to say a big thank you to all the lads for making it another great YDG weekend. The Nant-y-Ffin Motel was very good, food and beer good and some of the roads where fantastic and with great company it was good trip to South Wales. Jeff

Also interested. Have missed previous events so would be good to give it a go and hopefully learn a few things.

I visited Cranfield in the 1970s and saw this example. It was, I seem to recall, the only one that escaped Dennis Healey's shameful axe (both economic and physical). Edit: Since discovered that it went to Duxford in 1978 and was originally 'smuggled' in to Cranfield as a set of parts to avoid destruction. That was the story I was given by my contact there in the seventies - possibly around 1975.

I did one ages ago at millbrook and it was good fun. I echo the other comments that it would be of more interest to me if it was more skills / training based rather than simply hooning around. Lotus club do some good training where they really teach the effect of balancing a car on corner speed and help understand the negative effects of weight transfer from lifting off or braking. They do this by setting up a course in a big open space. I have also done drift courses that naturally follow on from the above and cover getting into a drift and holding it and transferring from one side to the other. I think data recording and videos are essential I am sure Adam could help come up with a format. David

There you go Mark. Watched your race one vid. Holy cow! you didn't 'alf get close to the yellow Linley locost! That last corner onto the straight is a tricky one isn't it. Before I drove the reverse circuit I always imagined that would be done easily flat? It caught a couple of heavy booters out. 😉 Isn't Mike Williamson's Evo frustratingly fast. Will watch race two tomorra..

Yes please - sounds like a great way to explore the limits of a Westfield at rarely experienced angles!

I'd be interested, never tried but always wanted to have a go.

Plan on being at Kilmahog around 10:00am. Probably get a brew in the coffee shop then head of for Tyndrum. Then go for a run up to Ballachulish and back down the coast road to Connel and back to Tyndum. Probably stop at the Oyster bar in Connel for lunch. Looking forward to the weekend.

Did one at Silverstone, really good experience but tough to make it round the "course". As you say Patrick, a Club special would allow more tuition and less competition and gets my vote, thank you.

Been looking at hairyplanes today.

very interested to subject to location and cost

I would be interested to subject to location and cost.

I did one at donnington a few years ago, it was great. I would like to do another one.

Would definitely be interested in this if I'm in the country at the time!

Interested @Westfield Parts Dept Thanks

I'm in depending on cost and location.

Ditto ^^^ Did same as Dave, but just one time @ Donnington

They also need to be set up to do this - high tyre pressures etc? Agree - not ideal using your own car unless you turn up and use another set of wheels & tyres. Mart.

You’d not want that unless you have a shed load of van tyres with you! 🤣

Hi Rab welcome back even though you never left, 1, due to hospital and work I can’t get away early , I think John Baxter, Jim and Laura, Jim and Jean and Brad and Diane are heading upwards not sure who’s meeting who though 2, as there’s not a large bbq , it’s up to folks as to wether they want to do a bbq at the huts and then congregate for a blether 3, Saturday morning breakfast at the real food cafe , time ???? How does 9 sound for breakfast ( I need to let folk know for joining us on the Saturday ) 4, the cafe is open until 9.30 and would see us together but would mean going into tyndrum and would be dry in case of inclement weather thoughts ?? Anyone

Thanks @Gary Taylor - Scotland AO We've got a great hotel recommended by a german biker colleague. They specialise in hosting bikes wanting to ride passes, and even program your sat nav with routes to suit your desired riding/driving requirements. The passes you recommend are a good 3 hours drive from our base in Nauders, Austria. If we get bored of the Austria and Italy ones, we can always pop over. Just need some dry weather to get there and back in, given I'm the only non 'screen queen' on our trip!

Sunday : check early : check Weather: check Blatter's down Avon gorge :check

Thanks to Graeme @Madda for the loan of a half hood for the cage. Might be testing this out at some point today!

Hi, Just to say hello and a big thank you to a few members I met at Stoneleigh yesterday. I purchased my first westfield a few months ago that I'm currently working on to get it road registered. Thanks again Matt

No problem. I didn't hang around there long. Had to park near the entrance due to a classic car event, but there wasn't any track action (circa 10:30), Marshalls were in place. So I headed out. Near got wiped out by a twonk in a MX5 who was entering the grounds way too fast on the bend by your loo. Luckily he locked up his brakes and ended up on the grass and didn't damage my pink nose. Regrettably I got soaked for the last 30 mins and my throttles started to misbehave 90 miles in on a 99 run. They were still doing it once home. Back to the drawing board for Omex I suspect. No cake stops were made.