New Member - Just saying Hi

[Pooh]

Hi everyone

 

I've been into bikes for many years and due to a kind gentleman in a Merc 350 estate turning into me in a built up area a couple of weeks ago and T-Boning me and my BMW K1600, I now find myself without a toy ( Cat B write off ) and serious dents in not only my left scapula and ribs but also my confidence re two wheels. It takes a while to heal when you get to my age.

 

Anyhow enough poor me's. 

I'm thinking it might be time to look at some 4 wheeled fun and an old friend of mine had a Westfield for years and loved it, so here I am, just dipping my toes into the water to begin the journey of finding out about Westfields. It's like walking in to a room with all the lights off so I hope over the coming weeks and months to turn on a few lights and build up some knowledge on the cars and figure out if it's indeed for me and what I want.

 

I have done a lot of touring in Europe on my bike and wonder if that is something that is practical to do in a Westfield. So would like some road legal fun but also the option of potentially mashing it round a track occasionally.

 

I have driven Caterham Super Lights on a track day a few years ago and loved it, great fun pushing them round corners on the edge of traction with the squeal of the rubber complaining all the way round.

 

I'm reasonably handy with a set of spanners and have a few tools so not afraid to get my hands dirty. Most of my experience is on bikes though so I'd have to learn about these 4 wheeled beasties.

 

I look forward to reading up on the subject and picking lots of brains. Nothing like having a pool of experts to tap into.

 

Thanks for the indulgence and once this CV-19 madness is over and my bones are a bit better it would be good to pick some brains in person. I'm based in the Midlands, near Daventry, Northants.

 

Here's my old friend and toy 😢

 

[IainCameron]

Welcome, Pooh.  I'm also getting a bit too creaky for my bike even though I haven't had the horrors of a T-boning.  I'm most of the way through building my first SEiW, so can't tell you about the joys of owning and driving one yet.  What I can say is that this is a great community, and you'll find all the wisdom and help (and a bit of mickey taking) that you could wish for, so I'd join up and get yourself a kit or car asap!

[Howard]

Welcome!  there are plenty of ex-bikers here, myself included, and quite a few that do still ride.   Sorry to see the state of your bike, but at least you're ok.  I chucked numerous bikes up the road but thankfully never got knocked off.   As Iain has said, this is a great community with all the information you could need, and if you can't find it, just ask 👍.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Welcome, glad to hear you’re on the mend. As the others have said, plenty of your fellow bikers have trodden this route, so lots of experience from that perspective.

 

When  we’re all eventually able to get area meets back up and running, do try and get along if you can, having a chance to get a closer look at the cars and chat to the owners, without the distraction of it being a showroom/sales situation, will help a lot, getting a feel for the cars and what you want.

 

Do feel free to join any of the virtual Area Meets, in the meantime, too, just let whichever AO is organising one you fancy joining know, and they’ll make sure you get an invite and are made welcome!

 

You might not see the cars, but you can still ask plenty of questions!

[Gary Taylor]

Hi Pooh, welcome from sunny Scotland 

if you’ve toured on the bike then yes you can in a westy, we did n/e Scotland to Switzerland and back last year and many other members do euro trips aswell.

take your time and read as many build threads as you can to give you an idea of choices and what to expect. Have a read through the for sales section ( even the sold ones) to see what to expect for your £’s

Above all feel free and don’t be shy to ask questions. There’s a wealth of knowledge and information in the members here and they are only to willing to help

cheers Gary

[Kingster]

Welcome. 
 

As has been said - going from bikes to Westies is a fairly common route. 
 

Like yourself, one too many “offs” made me think it was time to move on after a 35 year love affair with bikes. 
 

I never, ever, even remotely thought that this “roller skate with an engine” would even start to scratch the surface of my love and passion for bikes. But it has!

 

I love it - and after many years of touring the Harz and Alps on my bike I have enjoyed touring the Alps and Highlands in my car - despite it being more “track focussed” with an aeroscreen and cage. You just need to wear decent bike waterproofs and a lid 😁

 

 You will not regret it!

[neptune]

Hi Pooh

Welcome from Northampton. I too chose the Westfield to replace my bikes. After hip replacements, sadly bikes seemed too much of risk to my body! 

Happy to offer a passenger ride once the madness is over...

 

[Pooh]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the kind words. 
 

Maybe the start of the next chapter. I can’t see myself getting one this year as it’s going to take a few months for the body to heal properly by which point it’s mid to late august.

Maybe a good time to buy would be the turn of the year. 
 

Let the learning begin...

 

Just on the off-chance, did anyone know my mate Ian Welch from Ilkeston, Derbyshire ?

 

. 
 

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by Pooh

[si_salisbury]

Welcome from Stamford,

 

happy to meet up to give passenger rides or join up and meet once you have a car.

 

sinon

[Andrew O Byrne White - Ireland AO]

Welcome aboard! Westfields are excellent for touring. Mine has been to 23 countries so far - and all of those were in the first 3 months of registering it. With a well set up car you can rack up serious miles in them without it tiring you out. Space is naturally a little limited so you have to pack light and smart, but if you're coming from biking I doubt that'll be much of a concern for you! 

[Kingster]

28 minutes ago, AndrewOBW said:

23 countries so far - and all of those were in the first 3 months

You need to up your game Andrew - I mean most of us do that in the first few weeks 🤣

[Andrew O Byrne White - Ireland AO]

16 minutes ago, Chris King - Webmaster and Joint North East AO said:

You need to up your game Andrew - I mean most of us do that in the first few weeks 🤣

I'll sort a visa for Russia next time. See how far East I can get! 

[Jude - The Mad Widow]

Welcome @Poohfrom just down the road in Winslow. I'm an ex biker too, the Westfield is the nearest you can get to a bike but you can carry dogs and wear shorts! 

[SootySport]

Welcome Pooh.     Have considered a bike engined Westfield?   There’s a few about.  Whatever you decide good luck on choosing your weapon.

[Rob Hunter - Club Secretary]

Welcome from South Derbyshire, glad to hear you are on the mend!

 

I'm on my second Westy in under a year, they are great fun no matter what your budget is and you couldn't ask for a more friendly and helpful bunch than the people in this club. 

 

Good luck with your search 👍