Leaderboard

A good spot by @AndrewBClarke - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-68257883 You'll all be pleased to know, I won't be putting a frock on today! Happy 50th Birthday Bagpuss! 🎂🍺 I hope to get to celebrate my car's 50th Birthday too!

Quick trip to West Bay today, first time with the roof off this year. Beautiful day, though a tad chilly!

Found some “high” ground on the Somerset Levels today in the sun.

Whelp - I finally had the stars align and I had the needed parts, and the time, so I got the new Denso alternator fit to the S2000. The alternator itself is a good bit lighter and that was expected (the Honda unit weighs 5.2kg) so that was easy weigh loss. I also ditched the stock belt tensioning system and that saved nearly as much weight as the alternator did. In total the weight loss was 3.9 kg (8.6 lbs) and as an added bonus it comes off the driver's side of my car. This should bring total car weight down to 545 kg at this point. The alt charges at the desired 14.6 volts and I spun the engine up to 9000 rpms a few times and nothing went bang and came fly up through the engine cover so I think I'm off to a good start. Once we get some warmer weather I'll put some miles on it just to be sure but I suspect it will work out fine. Maybe now it will finally start snowing here so I can stop fussing around in the garage and snowboard instead...a boy can dream during the warmest and driest winter in 30+ years here. dave

I recall, when Phill Lloyd was building his S2000 engined car, he changed from stock, to Jenvey ITB, a small Denso alternator and an electric water pump. He weighed what came off and what went back on. (So loosing stock TB and manifold, alternator, water pump, belt tensioner etc). I'm sure he said even with the new parts fitted, he'd saved something like 17 KG

Happy birthday Bagpuss!! Only 50!! Thanks for the confirmation that @Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AOis not going to wear a dress today.

Prices have shifted somewhat in recent years.... The Westfield is still a lower entry when new than an equivalent Caterham. 2022-R-Range-UK-Retail-inc-VAT-V1-4.pdf Add a few options to the base 170 (660cc) Caterham and it's well over £40k for a 85bhp car. If you are 6ft 5" like me, a Caterham isn't a viable option anyway. I've driven a couple and are fantastic cars but I couldn't live with one as they are just too small for me. A base MK Indy RX5 these days is £10k plus donor plus options (normally circa £15k to build from what I'm told). The Cup 200 and K20 engined cars are significantly more (well north of £20k). The Tiger Avon is no longer a "bargain" at over £23k plus options. New-avon-factory-2023prices.pdf The GBS Zero kit now sits between £13k (plus donor and options) to over £30k dependant on engine choice and chassis.

Only fits under a V8 bonnet. It's a massive engine for a 2 litre 4 pot!

I reckon @Robin Parker (Red Spider) - Yorkshire AO you just felt guilty cos I'd taxed mine 😉

I think that sort of entry level is very reasonable, and would be a good target for Westfield. If they want to engage with the younger generation then an affordable start point for a self build is essential. I have my own reasons for buying my car fully built, but I wouldn’t consider spending £30k or £40k on one to build! As has been said, plenty of affordable and well built cars to buy used, but they don’t help the factory’s sales so I do agree that they need to avoid pricing themselves out of the market.

I guess to some extent it partly depends if you really love the building process as well. I'm very firmly in the - 'go out and buy a ready made one with as high spec as you can afford' camp. It saved me thousands, probably at least ten! I just have no urge to build one despite having the skills, I just love to drive the damned things!

I’ve only just got my Westfield on the road but I have loved the few drives I’ve had. I’m smiling ear to ear after them. I briefly looked at Caterham and dismissed them due to price and I wanted to build it all. I would pass on the comments from the IVA test centre re Westfield vs Caterham … Westfields seem much better built, with care by their owners, and safe for 1st drives at the test centre however many Caterhams just don’t seem to be as well build and sometimes just don’t feel safe. Happy I chose Westfield despite the difficulties the closure of ‘old’ Westfield caused me in registration.

Had to use the weather window this morning! Quick meet up with Ben for a coffee and then to Donington to meet the Burton Classic Car Club guys

I'm thinking of registering this in early April if anyone is interested. it will be registered as a new vehicle ie a 24 plate. The cost will go up slightly as I will be paying GBS to do the paperwork for me so £14,400. Barry

Built another bike and tidied the work bench & tool wall.

A fun, if wet drive through Cheddar Gorge for Roger and me.