Flying Carrot Steve Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 1 hour ago, Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO said: So after a mammoth (self induced) period upgrading my front end to wide track, protech, westy uprights, willwood brakes etc I managed to make it to the start line for my summer trip round Wales - Bill 7 H's Welsh 500. For clarity, I am Billy (long story, beer required...) and H is my mate on his trusty BMW 1200 RT. H has done many a bike tour of Wales but generally in the pack and not planning or leading, I've done none! So quite rightly, I left that bit to him. Having got the car finally together on Bank Holiday monday night I set off to see Dave Gallop, Track Developments, North Of Castle Coombe - he worked his old school magic and the car came back handling a dream. Rear wheel alignment and height setting Bump steer adjustment - including machining down the camber adjusting nut and making a castor adjusting shim to go under the steering rack. I then struggled to bleed my new brakes but with help from the forum and local members I got this done Thursday morning and finished the final bits - cycle wings etc on Thursday evening approx 2200! We set off at lunch time on Friday, meeting at the M48 Service just before the Severn bridge... Via Chepstow, and heading to Raglan to pass over the Brecon Beacons heading West....or we were until my left Cycle Wing stay undid itself and picked a fight with the tyre! H drove and found a garage that was kind enough to provide some bolts, washers and spring washers which allowed us to get to Abergavenny to raid the Motor Factors for more appropriate bolts and threadlock. (voices of I told you those bolts might be too long echo from Tim Thall...). Checked the RHS too and they were starting to undo too! Onwards again! Glorious roads over the Beacons with little traffic we shook down and worked out riding/driving styles and comms too. In the end my cheapo phone mount kept popping off the windscreen (@Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO I need to follow your lead and bolt it to the dash!) so H lead most of the way which lead to him nimbly overtaking at every opportunity and me painfully waiting for a suitable spot to stretch the Westy's legs. All was well with only a few showers but as we headed down into Cardigan we hit a lovely forested section with great bends going downhill but both H and I realised that the roads were still wet and a tadge slippy! But we made it safely to Flambards Hotel, Cardigan where we parked the motors round the back nicely out of sight and after a quick change had an awesome Rib Eye steak dinner and few sleeping juices. Saturday morning we refuelled before we did the same with the motors and then off for a monster drive up the West Wales coast dipping in and out for some of the best bits to end up in Snowdonia. Easy drive up to Aberystwyth for a coffee stop on the sea front having just missed the Rally of Wales WRC! However, what we didn't miss was one of H's detours for a more interesting single track scenic diversion - beautiful to look at for him up high on motorbike, but I only saw the hedges and the long grass in the middle of the track - Oh yes and the chuffing big tractor that won the face off. Battle scarred and muddy we cracked on! Some of the valley roads and inland forays were truly spectacular and we just kept going until we arrived for a late lunch at Bala - memories of old from my youth in my 1275 Mini GT were strong! By now we were running a little late so we applied some haste and made up some ground by cutting the corner North from Capel Curig to Bangor finishing some nice roads in the process and then onto the Great Orme for an Ice Cream. On arrival at the top we both baulked at the £4.50 minimum car park so took some snaps and headed back down, taking the lower Orme roads that circumnavigates the rock (one way traffic too 😉) and gives stunning views out over to a foggy Anglesey... From here it was a easy run down through Conwy, including the Tunnels, no excessive throttle blipping was conducted M'lord... We arrived at Furnace Farm, Bodnant for our accommodation which was top notch and we certainly enjoyed the local Welsh Lamb cutlets and beer too! Next morning, Sunday, was another beautiful day and we had a hearty breakfast in the Farm Shop Cafe before I borrowed a hose to wash the car, making H sit in to keep it ticking over, or was that to ensure he got his fair share of mud too! After kitting up we set off back into the heart of Snowdonia for the return leg to Bristol. This was again a blessed route with little car traffic and plenty of bikers who, having a bike escort, treated me nicely! Back through Bala and then out onto the moors and those lovely flowing roads. We were there early enough to miss the hordes that we saw heading there later and had some nice drives with other enthusiasts including some mega fast sports bikes, touring bikes and a blinking fast Westy that caught us up! Apart form one caravan, dispatched quickly and a single 'driving miss daisy' couple we had glorious weather and empty roads again! This was truly epic for me and really let me stretch the legs of the car and test the braking, steering and suspension mods to the full - all good happy to report! Stopping for a late lunch at Crossgate Biker Cafe it was clear that the Westy was a rose between thorns (in my view) and did indeed attract some nice comments and intrigue, especially when they found out I was paired with H on an ex-Police RT! We did a final top up of fuel and set off for Abergavenny and the final stretch down the Wye valley. By the time we got to Tintern Abbey it was baking hot and so an Ice Cream stop was in order! What a magnificent building this must have been in its day. Then it was the final stretch down the Wye Valley with its thankfully shaded sweeping bends and out over the M48 Severn Bridge again to land back in England. H peeled off to head South on the M5 and I pootled home to Bristol. Gave the car a quick check on return and no new issues. Stats for the weekend were: 560 Miles 68 L of Fuel 37 mpg overall Smiles a million Next year either Devon & Cornwall or NC500.... Great job Chris! I'd chalk that up as a mega-win mate. Wasn't 100% sure you'd be ready in time when I visited with the torque wrench but you pulled it off mate, I'm seriously impressed with what you achieved 👍👍👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarbonWest - Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 1 hour ago, Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO said: Did the steak cost more if cooked? 😉 What a great trip and well written up too. Shame you were a solo Westie and more didn't join you. Ha ha bizarely it cost more to cook yourself but did allow me to get it done in my own way... This was a test run for next year when I hope to take the Bristol and Bath members out for a similar weekend of fun...I'll try not to leave the upgrades to the last minute! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarbonWest - Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 28 minutes ago, Flying Carrot Steve said: Great job Chris! I'd chalk that up as a mega-win mate. Wasn't 100% sure you'd be ready in time when I visited with the torque wrench but you pulled it off mate, I'm seriously impressed with what you achieved 👍👍👍 @Flying Carrot Steve honestly, neither did I! If it hadn't been for you, Tim and Mark coming round with tools, spares and advice and going above and beyond then It wouldn't have happened at all - not to mention all the great advice from the other folks local and on the forum! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Carrot Steve Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 4 minutes ago, Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO said: @Flying Carrot Steve honestly, neither did I! If it hadn't been for you, Tim and Mark coming round with tools, spares and advice and going above and beyond then It wouldn't have happened at all - not to mention all the great advice from the other folks local and on the forum! Yep, you have developed a great team around you mate, now we've gotta emulate some of the northern lads and get some regular meets and blats going especially for 2024 👍 can't let them think we are southern softies can we! 🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Carrot Steve Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Just now, Flying Carrot Steve said: Yep, you have developed a great team around you mate, now we've gotta emulate some of the northern lads and get some regular meets and blats going especially for 2024 👍 can't let them think we are southern softies can we! 🤣🤣 When I say northern, that's anything north of Gloucester just so the Midlands crews don't have a pop at me 😳😳😁🤣👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveB21 Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Out with the Surrey group last night, taking advantage of the sunshine! I think we got more attention than the convertible Rolls in the background... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonjh1964 Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 3 hours ago, Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO said: Dave Gallop, Track Developments, North Of Castle Coombe - he worked his old school magic and the car came back handling a dream. Last I heard Dave Gallop had retired, good to have a 'local' expert to do setups. How big a shim did you need under the steering rack, mine's 6mm? Looks and sounds like you both had an awesome couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarbonWest - Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 20 hours ago, jonjh1964 said: Last I heard Dave Gallop had retired, good to have a 'local' expert to do setups. How big a shim did you need under the steering rack, mine's 6mm? Looks and sounds like you both had an awesome couple of days It was a great weekend all round, not least for finally getting away on it! He has semi-retired as he got bored - so he has bought himself a little project car -Firefly, I think he said and has invented some new suspension set up for it and is fuel injecting the cross flow... He likes to do the odd job from his past customers but nothing new he said - pays the rent! And yes, brilliant to have a local specialist - don't know where I'll go when he stops! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Carrot Steve Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 45 minutes ago, Chris Broster - Bristol & Bath AO said: It was a great weekend all round, not least for finally getting away on it! He has semi-retired as he got bored - so he has bought himself a little project car -Firefly, I think he said and has invented some new suspension set up for it and is fuel injecting the cross flow... He likes to do the odd job from his past customers but nothing new he said - pays the rent! And yes, brilliant to have a local specialist - don't know where I'll go when he stops! Dave hasn't retired, he's just on suspension. I'll get my coat..... 1 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Baker Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 First drive after having a roll cage fitted, loving the new look. A big shout to the boys at Westfield/Project Shop for fitting the cage. I thought hard about doing it myself but having built the car I couldn't bring myself to start taking it apart again! I would highly recommend using these guys, nice to deal with and top quality work as you would expect. I intentionally stopped for a photo at somewhere I've been before so I could make a before and after. Here's the before: And today: 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Carrot Steve Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 1 hour ago, Paul Baker said: First drive after having a roll cage fitted, loving the new look. A big shout to the boys at Westfield/Project Shop for fitting the cage. I thought hard about doing it myself but having built the car I couldn't bring myself to start taking it apart again! I would highly recommend using these guys, nice to deal with and top quality work as you would expect. I intentionally stopped for a photo at somewhere I've been before so I could make a before and after. Here's the before: And today: Love the new look mate, a roll cage just adds to the fun and great looks of a Westie IMHO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djm Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 @Paul Baker who are "Westfield/Project Shop" and where are they? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Baker Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 @djm it’s the new Westfield company basically and they’re based in Bicester, just outside of Oxford. The new general manager at Westfield Chesil Ltd also runs his own business, Classic Project Shop, and they do a lot of the work now for Westfield, so it’s something of a collaboration. I ordered the parts and agreed the fitting with Westfield but the work was done at the Project Shop. If you google classic project shop bicester, you’ll find them 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djm Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 Ah l see thanks Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KugaWestie Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 I took the TVR to work today 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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