alanrichey

The organisers have just sent out the invitations for this years show.    This show is a bit unusual as it is limited to 500 cars and they automatically invite everyone who went last year.    That means any new owners have to hope people have turned down the invitation.    The register process has just opened so I would recommend anyone who wants to attend and hasn't received an invitation to get in early.    There is an optional runout for anyone who fancies it but that is very limited in numbers so you need to get in really early.

There is no cost for entering, but it is for charity so they recommend a £5 donation which they collect at the entrance.

As in previous years we have been allocated a Club area so make sure that when you register that you specifiy you are a member of the Robin Hood Club.

Any other questions just ask.

Four days ago, sorry.  Pity, it was a nice day and we almost had the museum to ourselves.  See you on the Stilton Run.

Al

Although we have a busy 3 weeks coming up with the Stilton Cheese Run and Stoneleigh there is still time for one more meet.   Weather looking good early next week so we are going to visit the Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum near Sleaford (NG34 8QR) on Monday at 12:00pm.    All welcome.

Al

Bit confused here, are we talking about chassis numbers or VIN numbers ?   I'm not aware of a 'chassis' number.   VIN numbers are the ones that have to be stamped into the chassis. and are then displayed on the V5.  I think my VIN number was made up by the builder (in 2008) although he took advice from Robin Hood Engineering. It starts with SSP (SuperSPec ?)  then a few numbers a string of 7s and ends in 18.   Maybe the 18 means something ?

24 minutes ago, nelmo said:

However, your screenshot of the portal screen has a scroll bar on the right, which suggests you can scroll down further - the member map option is next under 'Leaderboard'.

How embarrasing, missed that .  Many thanks.

How odd.  Must be a setting somewhere.  I wonder which one.

Later:  Just noticed I get the same limited blue bar on my iPad as well, on Safari, Edge & Firefox  (I collect browsers).  Maybe it's a setting on my profile rather than on the PC.

Have to wait for an expert to comment.

Thanks.   Yes I see it's there in Edge & Safari.    I use Firefox and it looks like that top line is obscured.  Obviously something wrong in the rendering.

And if I use the 3 bar option I get

and selecting Portal just gives me

No sign of Member Map.

So until Firefox is fixed I will just have to use another browser.

Al

I've been on this forum for years and I thought I knew my way around it, but suddenly I can't find any way to access the Member Map.   Could someone enlighten me ?

If he's not a member then he probably won't be on my list, so that would make 40 current Superspecs we have traced    When he realises he is not going to sell it (In 9 years of watching Superspecs go up for sale I have never seen one sell for more than £6500 and that was almost brand new) can you get him to contact me either via the forum or at alan@rmrsoft.com as I have a ton of useful information on the car and engine that he might find useful.

Thanks

Al

You missed a cracker.  I have never seen so many cars at the event.  The forecourt was jammed full and the approach roads had cars parked on both sides for a hundred yards.  Predominately Zeroes of course, although lots of other cars of all shapes and sizes.  I'm ready to be corrected but I think I was the only Robin Hood car there (probably the oldest and certainly the scruffiest) .   As usual free coffee and one of the best selection of cakes and biscuits I have seen for a long time

And the drive up and back was glorious as well.  No need for heavy jackets and hats and the sun is now high enough so I don't get blinded heading South.   A lovely day.

Al

Anyone going tomorrow ?   Weather looks great, think I might bimble up.   Need to test my cooling system.

Al

Very nice, relaxing time.  Weather was as predicted and very pleasant.   And we met a new member from Lincolnshire who is keen to get involved.  

My time was slightly spoiled as the car dumped most of her coolant half way through the return trip.    I have always carried a 2 litre bottle of water with me so that was enough to get through another quarter of the trip, then the final quarter was completed thanks to a friendly house owner who filled my bottle up for me    Kit cars, don't you just love them.

Weather for next 10 days looking really nice so time to get out again.   We are going to brave the cold a bit and have out first picnic of the year    Tuesday 15th, 12:00 in the grounds of Burghley House (PE9 3JY), everyone welcome, even in tin tops if you haven't de-sorned your kit yet.

35 minutes ago, Mark Prescott said:

....it is being built for me in Coventry. I will ask Martin to have a look on the block for the engine number. The engine has never run it is effectively almost 20 years old and brand new. I will download your attached file and certainly will keep in touch.

 

If your builder has any questions tell him to contact me.   Do I take it you live in Wellingborough ?  If so my son lives in Woolaston and I go there regularly so could always drop by and show you what a competed one looks like

I think you will find your engine was built in 1995, so it is actually 27 years old.   It puts you in an awkward situation when you go for the IVA/MOT.   On the emission test, unless you prove the engine age you will be assessed against the current limits.   Your problem is that is no official way of proving it as Rover are now long gone.   We only know the ages by comparing the engine numbers from a database held by Rimmer Brothers when they took over Rovers spares when it was sold to China.   One solution would be to ask for a 'Q' plate, although you can actually get a brand new age-related plate.   The emissions test is then 'visible smoke'.   Just something to consider.

19 minutes ago, geordie40 said:

Maybe Alan can measure his seats as I sold my car last year (still got a 7 style though)

I agree they are a tight fit, and I hadn't realised how many adjustments they had until I took them out.    The relevant measurements are 18" for the blue line (touches the tunnel on the inside and is about 1" clear of the chassis on the outside) and 20" for the orange line which touches the tunnel and the top rail so is the limit.

Cheers

Al

Hi Mark

I'm a great supporter of the original seats. most comfortable ones ever

Anyway, welcome to another Superspec owner, not sure how I missed you on my recent trawl.  I am acting as first point of contact for all Superspec owners as I have had mine for almost 9 years and covered 25K miles so I think I know most of the details of the car now.   I am keeping a record of all the current owners and you make Number 38 now.  Not a bad strike rate as Richard Stewart guessed he sold 50 of them.  If you have the Rover T16 engine we have a huge bundle of useful information which I have bundled up at http://www.rmrsoft.com/Rover.zip  Well worth a download.  I've also written a software program that accesses the ECU to see how the engine is running.

Also, if you do have that engine, send me the engine number (Assuming you dont have a V5 yet, it's on the block under Number 4 exhaust).   I can tell you it's age, mod state and what car it was destined for.  Makes ordering spare much easier.

Cheers

Al

There will be people more experienced than me who will answer this, but just for completeness what make\model does it show if you put the number plate in the on-line vehicle check on the Government website ?

Hope everyone (and their cars) survived the storms.  I lost about 1/3rd of my back garden fence but the parts blown down were rotten anyway and needed replacing.  Overall the February weather been too bad to do much so far but next week is looking reasonable.   The 'retiree' chapter of the Lincolnshire owners (and honorary Lincolnshire owners) will be meeting up for lunch at New Lodge Farm, near Corby (NN17 3DU  https://www.newlodgefarm.co.uk) at 12:00 on Wednesday 23rd.   Some of you will know it as the midpoint break on the Stilton Cheese Run.

Any other retirees or self employed or unemployed....  are welcome to join us, and my offer to organise a weekend event for the 'real workers' among you still stands

I used a lock on mine.  Apart from the security aspect it meant it was almost flush with the dashboard (I assume that is why you don't want a handle).

Are you sure it's a 'K' ?   All the Superspecs I know of that have the original Rover engine have the 'T16' series.

Lovely day for a drive, winding country roads, wind in the hair..  (If I had any).   Tea Rooms very pleasant and a 'luxury' hot chocolate hit the spot nicely.

Quality if not quantity

OK, decision made.  As it's so cold we won't do our usual 'al fresco' picnic, we will go indoors   Venue is the Buttercup Tea Rooms for coffee and a snack. (LE7 9FE, https://buttercupstearoom.co.uk/).    Meet up at 12:00 on Tuesday 25th Jan.

Anyone fancies a run out, see you there,

Al

Fair point.  PM your availability and I will try and arrange one that suits you.

Like a few of us I haven't SORNed my car for this winter and it looks like the next couple of weeks are the reason, as the weather looks nice and settled.   Thinking of doing our usual run out and picnic lunch next Tuesday/Wednesday (25th/26th).    No destination yet, depends on where people are coming from, but we tend to go somewhere with in 50 miles of Stamford at the moment.    Anyone wants to join us, even in a tintop , let me know.

Have you not downloaded the IVA Manual ?  I’m sure it must be in there.

I believe GBS were given a government grant a couple of years ago to design and build an electric kit car.   Haven't heard anything since, so maybe they filed it under 'too difficult' ?