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If an electric starter is a creature comfort, I’d say changing your current car that uses a crank handle to start it is long overdue. 😦

Calling @IanK (Bagpuss) to the board room!

@Julie Hall - Peak District AO & @Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary Yes Julie you are right ! 2 cakes a sticky chocolate and orange and a cherry Bakewell roulade , and Dave in our family you have to eat quick or you loose it 😂 take care A&B

Thanks Robin, we are really looking forward to it. Dave, just to confirm we will make our own way there as we will be in a tin top.

Hungaroring, what a master class from Merc, after the previous fiasco. Can you imagine being dealt that tyre strategy, the plan being for a last lap overtake! Lewis was cool as a cucumber.

i have an titanium x sport 2012 which would be the same shape as Paul cant really comment on the mk5 but i suspect a lot of the bits are carried over. Lots of toys as he said on the high spec ones and my guy ticked some nice options from new i have had a drop link and a rear bush in 3 years , cost me apx 200 to fix. Mine is currently on 110k bought at 85k My expeirence has been so positive I will probably buy a mk5 st-line in couple of years

Ace to see you getting stuck in despite the issues 👍 Hope the gasket fix works!

The side to side movement of the gear stick in the corners indicates transmission is moving a lot....of is it a built in roll indicator?

As I wiped away the tears (metaphorical) in a lonely car park (not a metaphor) in Gainsborough I had a quick look on google. - sort by motor factor open on Sunday. Found one in Lincoln about 35 mins away. Called them - they had the belt but not the hose. I headed over to get it. Belt collected, I sat in another car park and ate the pack up my wife had made me 😄 which was good because the card machine was out of action at Blyton and I never have cash because it’s 2019. Got it back to the track at 1325 - now to change the alternator belt (2 hours remember) you need to get at it from underneath and it’s a massive pain. I asked ‘next door’ if I could borrow some stands. We had a chat and he suggested I try it from above, just in case. I did and it worked! Because I’d had the killer bolt off last week it was easy! Now to bodge the coolant hose - @BCF suggested I take the Westfield hoses with me while it’s got no engine in. Good lad, voila! Up and running for 1410! Enjoyed the rest of the day, although it was very hot and Lionel had a slight issue that it was starting to get a tad warm after 3 or 4 laps. 1645 I decided to call it a day, borrowed a compression tester from next door and got 140 100 100 140, so looks like head gasket failure between 2 and 3. Ill stick some K Seal in and see what happens on the next one....

Looking forward to the video. 😉

A bit apprehensive and a sleepless night before the day - I was a Billy no mates on this one, in an untested car I’d had off eBay for £430. Prior to the day id swapped the brake caliper and put lowered springs on (both included in sale). I also replaced the shredded alternator / water pump belt, put a battery on it and partially stripped it. When I did the springs it was clear the shocks had seen better days, 3/4 didn’t rebound at all when compressed, but in the spirit of budget I left them on anyway (mistake!) Brake fluid was changed for some superblue I had kicking around, but brake pads came on the car. Put some ten year old tyres on that came with some wheels I bought from @Rednop1 The car had sat on a farm for 2 years by the way (and smelt like it) Got to the track nice and early, quickly made friends with the guys next door and exchanged oil for a go pro mount that I’d forgotten. Sighting laps went ok, engine seemed strong. Did a 10 min session and all was mostly well - through the fast left handers the knackered shocks made the loaded front wheel bounce and skip all over the place to the point i thought it was going to fall off. Had to really fight the wheel to stay on line. 5 mins into session two, flat out through port froid (85 in Lionel), a huge bang, followed by an instant spin and a brown interior. The alternator belt had let go (the tensioner had been rusty) and took out a radiator hose depositing water (clever see - water rather than coolant to minimise track clean up!) over the back wheels. Dejected, towed off the circuit at 1045 and the day was over for me. I called @syman84 to give him the bad news. ”You can fix this, you absolute legend! I believe in you! You’re the best!” He said. The alternator belt was a pig of a job first time round, but I figured I could probably do it trackside in 1.5 - 2 hours if I had the parts. (I had a huge array of tools with me). So off I went to Halfords in Gainsborough who stared blankly when I said I needed a 4PK885 and ANY 90 degree bend hose (sorry we don’t have any Mk1 mx5 parts etc). They suggested I try a motor factor close by, I headed in with hope in my heart. alas they had no hoses, they did have a selection of belts (even let me go out back to look) but nothing I could use - not even a 6PK i could cut down. so so I tried, I failed, the day was a complete disaster. Or was it...... to be continued

Interested depending on the date 😎

Hi Geoffrey, interested but depends on the date - as above! Cheers, Roger

I think Russ wishes some of that water was in his engine...

Red Admiral sat on the car yesterday

@Jamie1 Oh, thats a shame, perhaps next year then. London is a long way to come from, so we applaud that! Calling all McWesties, we have only so many runs in our short season, so dust off your steeds and come along for a fun drive.

A great day out again guys, despite the rain. Thanks to Gary for the heads up about the show, and thanks also to Alastair and Lorna for the excellent hospitality facilities! Very much appreciated by all. David

Quick run out to Mallaig and back yesterday after work. Back road past the Caledonian canal and then onto the main route. Morar beach as busy as I have seen it. All photos taken on the move. What weather though and roads not so busy with tourists although a single Westy can usually get past most.