Touring in a Westfield

[David Alexander]

First post - here goes...

Just bought a second hand 1800 Carbon Sport from Holly at Westfield.  Great car and great service.  My query is with regard to taking the car touring in Europe next year.

What solutions have people come up with for carrying (at least a small amount of) luggage.  I've seen a couple of pictures on this site of bags strapped onto the top of the boot box.  But how secure is this?  What other solutions have people come up with?

[adhawkins]

There's a guy on here (although don't think I've seen him for a while) called Paul Ashwick (his ID is paul ash I think). He makes a luggage rack that is secured to the roll bar (he does them for standard and RAC bars). Myself and Luned used one to tour the UK last summer, worked very well.

Andy

[Leon B]

Hi there,

Good purchase there, wont ask how much you paid

You could get a rack made up like this one..

[Westfieldman]

If you have a standard RAC bar I can make you up a rack just need to know a few details I can do it in Mild steel and powder coated or stainless steel

I also do Wheel carriers for track days have a look on my web site [www button below]

Just had a look further than the beer on the one linked to above and the welding is s**t

[geelhoed]

Also, welcome!

I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun driving your new aquisition. If you're touring Europe be sure to make a stop at the Ring

[Blatman]

Depends how creative you are with the space available...

You'd be surprised how much stuff you can get in the car behind the seats, as well as on the scuttle shelf above the passengers legs. You can use luggage straps to secure all manner of stuff to the roll bar and to various bits of the chassis inside the cabin, and don't forget all the fresh air behind the spare wheel. You can get *lots* of stuff in the spare...

Either of the two Pauls luggage racks will be excellent. Also, Caterham make a rack that attaches to the spare wheel on to which you can attach a a small suitcase, although for a week or so you should be able to manage without a suitcase. My brother and I have managed a week in France before now, and I don't actually have a boot box on my car at all. Think motorbike rather than car when packing things, and be brutal when deciding what to take. Pare your luggage choices down to what you will *need* rather than what you'd take "just in case", and you'll be fine...

[Steve L]

If you go through Germany, you might be able to get in touch with some German Seven drivers.

Here are two popular forums:

http://www.seven-ig.de/7forum/index.php

and

http://f25.parsimony.net/forum63446/

Even if you post in English, quite a few people will be able to read and respond.

Steve

[BEN99W]

I saw a westy at le mans last year which employed a luggage net over the back of the car which looked like a very cheap, easy, secure and capacious solution. I'll be using a similar idea myself in future...

[Jed]

It might be worth reading this site for ideas - and they've got a smaller car than you I guess.

click here

[scott beeland]

If you go through Germany, you might be able to get in touch with some German Seven drivers.

Here are two popular forums:

http://www.seven-ig.de/7forum/index.php

and

http://f25.parsimony.net/forum63446/

Even if you post in English, quite a few people will be able to read and respond.

Steve

I've been to a 7IG/tour meeting with these guys. Very friendly/ very into their cars (and HUUUUUGE rear tyres) and some great scenery.....Oh and of course a few beers and large lumps of cake/ meat

[SteveF]

I use a bungee cargo/roofrack net - which did have a set of hooks around it when I bought it - but if you take these off - I found I could fasten it over the top of a bootbox (full but rolled up) tonneau cover using the press studs which hold it on, and hold the front of it on by passing it under the harness mounts. It has been used to hold a big soft holdall on there without any problems which travelling at speed

[neilwillis]

Of course, it's much easier with a caterham, you just get the butler to follow in the Silver Ghost!

[7SE]

For advice on touring with a Westfield, or other Lotus 7 derived car, you can do worse that subscribing to the touring e-mail list on se7ens.net and asking for tips.  You will also find plenty of people to tour with

[8336]

Hi

Agree with 7SE, I've done a few tours both independantly and with the se7ens touring list, up till now all in a Caterham I used to own. (which though smaller than my SeiW Westfield, does have a bigger boot, bigger fuel tank and more range.) Longest to date two weeks, for me and son. each of us have a small sports bag, two of which could be fitted (just) in Caterham boot. If it wouldn't fit bag, it didn't get taken. I'm off on along tour in the Westie next summer - 3500 miles, 3 weeks. haven't yet decided what to take and where to put it. But basic advice take less will apply. I usually buy clothes for touring that pack small, are easy care, can be washed in hotel bath/sink and be dry by morning without need for ironing. Have found Rohan clothes excellent for touring. Roll everything up cigar shape before packing.

I never needed to hang stuff off the back of the car. Though the Caterham hood bag, a big sausage which the hood fits into and sits on top of the boot cover, velcroed to the roll bar was a really useful bit of kit. Thinking of getting something similar for the Westie.

John Gathard

[deano.1]

Of course, it's much easier with a caterham, you just get the butler to follow in the Silver Ghost!