Richard (OldStager) Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 33 minutes ago, cast iron said: a bit of a reverse strategy for me. Loved cars but didn't work in the car business, bought a Westfield, ripped out a pinto and fitted a Zetec SE decided i needed to get in the car game and have worked for nissan for 22 year, and been round the world with them as a cylinder head assembly engineer I often wonder if I should have done that, I kind of 'fell' into electrics and got stuck in a rut with that, was an enjoyable career but cars and mechanical things were my first love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerglas Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Old Stager...the clocks all all finished similar but different due to the way the acrylic paints work so no two clocks are the same, I could make another one for you, are you wanting one by any particular date? Alternatively, I could get a clock base cut for you and you could impress your sister by your own artistic hand, the clock motors are readily available. I don't take commissions for profit because the clocks would be too expensive so they are generally presents or car boot items. I'd be happy to help whatever you choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard (OldStager) Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 1 minute ago, Kerglas said: Old Stager...the clocks all all finished similar but different due to the way the acrylic paints work so no two clocks are the same, I could make another one for you, are you wanting one by any particular date? Alternatively, I could get a clock base cut for you and you could impress your sister by your own artistic hand, the clock motors are readily available. I don't take commissions for profit because the clocks would be too expensive so they are generally presents or car boot items. I'd be happy to help whatever you choose. I'll PM you, I just saw what you did and thought of my sister who is a big Squirrel fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exitus Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 I'm an Army Officer. Nothing desperately interesting - I deal with education and training, largely training design and management these days. It has it's moments though - the UK 'exports' a lot of training to foreign armies, so I've been able to travel a fair bit and get involved with lots of different parts of the Army, which keeps everything interesting. As yet nothing even vaguely mechanical though, so I'm completely in over my head with the Westfield! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewan Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 I have next to zero engineering, mechanical or electrical knowledge or skills. But I do have a mobile phone and AA membership, so I guess I'll be okay. Anyway, I thought these Rover V8's were bulletproof... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 29 minutes ago, Ewan said: I have next to zero engineering, mechanical or electrical knowledge or skills. But I do have a mobile phone and AA membership, so I guess I'll be okay. Anyway, I thought these Rover V8's were bulletproof... They are..... My experience is that they'll tolerate all manner of things wrong with them all at once and still run.... but they don't like 20 year old Land Rover wiring looms that were shoe-horned in..... mine had a meltdown ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff oakley Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 I left school at 16 to become a mechanic and then moved into workshop management followed by regional management in Tyres, Exhaust production, Radiator repairs and for the last 24 years in the parts supply trade. I enjoy every aspect of car building except cleaning them, in fact I enjoy everything mechanical and can spend hours chatting with (mainly men) about there stationary engines put putting away or rare cars and bikes at shows. Funny thing is my Teacher at school, Who was the singer Tony Christies brother, told me I was obsessed with cars and would never make any money out of it and should grow up. I never have grown up according to my wife and have made a very good living from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chester Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Nothing car related at all in my career. Left school at 16 and started a telecomms apprenticeship with GEC in Coventry in 1980. Had some fantastic opportunities during my 4 year apprenticeship with them. Somehow then managed to get involved in software development where I've been ever since. Stayed with GEC/GPT/Marconi until 1991 until I left and moved to a small software business where I met my other half (still together after nearly 30 years!). Left there after 2 years and joined Ericsson in Coventry. Spent 17 years with them doing a variety of software roles. Then moved to a company in Loughborough for 10 years and just (January 2021) joined a company in Coventry. Have done a variety of roles in software development from coding, team leading, development manager, project manager and my current role as a scrum master. My car interest came from being a broke apprentice and having to learn how to repair my 1976 850cc Mini that I had at the time. I now find having the Westfield (just worked out that I've had Westfield's for 19 years) is a complete change from my day job - I just love spending a few hours in the garage with the car (and driving it when allowed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobMet Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 I'm a partially retired Meteorologist / Weather Forecaster, but most of my working time now is spent advising on weather services to MoD weapons test Ranges. The knowledge comes in handy when planning trips out and outdoor work! Prior to 31 years in forecasting I was a physics technician in instrumentation and geophysical fluid dynamics research, for 11 years all told, making a total of 42 years so far in the Met Office. I guess my kit car and motorcycle enthusiasm came from my father who was a successful club racing driver up until he retired when I was in my mid-teens. He did all his own race car prep and I was allowed to help out a lot, spending nearly every weekend at one race circuit or another. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Taylor Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Absolutely nothing that’s transferable to a westy but I’ve been coopering since 1978. old school indentured apprenticeship, where we were taught how to use hand tools to do the whole job start to finish with no machines ! Changed days now unfortunately... Taught the in-depth effects on oak types , geographical effect and cask sizes and how they effect maturation of spirit. The older coopers taught us other effects of spirit and many “life lessons” which nowadays I’m sure would end up in a court case !! Worked in Spain , France, Belgium , Holland , Switzerland and USA teaching and setting up various workshops. Lectured on the above all over Uk and Europe Apart from a brief encounter with a distillery I’ve been with the same company since 1978 it’s been good to me, some highs and lows along the way and still on the tools doing PBR work, aches and pains a plenty at the end of the week but it’s a good life and pays for the toys 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen_I Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Proper old school craft and skill by the sounds of it! I have made a promise to myself and that's when redundancy catches up with me I am going to try and use this as the kick up the backside I need to find a job where I can be passionate and enthusiastic again....unfortunately that has diminished in the past couple of years for me and whilst I blame the group who own us, ultimately its down to me to make those decisions but at the moment the working hours suits my 8 and 11 yr old daughters.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westy turbo Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Am a fitness specialist so not much weight to loose that's why my carbon list is growing 🙃 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hunter - Club Secretary Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Generally my career has involved moving boxes in and out of larger boxes, using boxes with wheels on.... occasionally I've even made things to put in boxes to then move into other larger boxes. I've been involved in the rock and roll lifestyle of Logistics and Supply Chain since I gave up on the idea of an Army career and left Sandhurst (didn't like being told what to do.... still don't! 😂). Over the years I've done almost every exciting facet of moving boxes (warehouse, transport, planning, projects, manufacturing, consulting etc) for many industries (food, pharma, non food etc). These days I fund my wife's incredibly expensive horse habit by heading up the UK retail logistics, ecommerce and manufacturing for Holland and Barrett. Joking aside, I actually thoroughly enjoy what I do. I'm a small part of a team of over 1,000 people who do an amazing job, this last 12 months they've made me especially proud. My love of cars I got from my Dad. He raced grass track back in the 60's, was always tinkering with the old bangers we called the family car (105E's, Avenger's, Viva's, HB Victor's to name but a few) and would regale me with tales of Colin Chapman's genius. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainCameron Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 As a yoof, I loved maths and physics and TD, and was always impressed by my Dad who did all his own spannering on a a variety of strange cars, including a Citroen DS23, so I guess I've always erred on the technical side of things. I left school at 18 and joined the Royal Navy where I spent 6 years navigating ships around some interesting places before sub-specialising in flying. After several years of flying Commando Helicopters into some 'interesting' places, and off some very dark flight decks, I left the RN in 2005 and set up a building company in mid-Wales with my neighbour. We did that for 7 years, until NatWest screwed us (and several others) and after a bit of a nightmare CVA process etc (long story, needs beer), my wife and I bought a place in Shropshire and I started building for the most demanding customer yet. I've always loved making stuff, but timber has been my material of choice. The last year or so have been really fantastic, benefiting from the incredible array of skills on here, and just 'having a go'... no training and virtually no knowledge, but every day's a school day! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - a15cro Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Sorry if this is long and boring, but Im quite proud of my carrier transformation. I started out in the motor trade following in my dads footsteps, transitioned from mechanics to body repair, and I had always been around cars so it was inevitable I would be a petrol head! However due to my boss retiring he paid me off and closed, so that started a career in manufacturing as a painter, Komatsu, Nissan, until moving to Rolls Royce Aerospace, got tired of false promises of promotion so jumped ship to Property Management, shopping centres and then retail parks, until finally trying it for myself and setting up my business 12 year ago, expecting to wear a suit and sub-contract everything out from my office at home, it’s kind of gone in a different direction, I’ve now ended up with a unit, staff and vans 😬 That was the turning point because one day I realised I had people relying on me for employment (as well as my family) and a Westfield was a safer option than high siding/crashing at Cadwell on the bike! The Boardroom as found, Westfield was bought, friendships were formed, I have recently discovered it gets under your skin and I can’t shake it off and as they say............... The rest is history. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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