HAWKNORTH

I hope the weather isn't too bad up there. We did have some snow here (chesterfield area) around 1pm Saturday. It didn't stay long and only fell for a few mins but it was snow none the less.

Take a shovel boys, snow is forecast. But have fun anyway.

Its very easy to remove the glass, but you will most likely need to remove the main side support brackets as well. Be careful when fitting the new glass, very easy to get things slightly out of square. I swapped the toughened glass for a laminated one on my 3A. The toughened one had been in the car at least 11 years with no problem. The laminated one cracked the first time out on the road after I had fitted it. When I looked I could see that the side of the frame was out of square with the bottom channel thus putting pressure across the bottom corner of the glass. I will need to replace for MOT in a couple of months. But do make sure you use laminated glass which does not shatter into millions of pieces. Mine cost £40 from a local glass supplier.

I thought the car only needed to have a current MOT to tax on line!

9 times out of 10 when you go out in the kit car someone will want to race you. They are an idiot magnet. Just do what the penguins do.

"Smile and wave boys. smile and wave."

As above statement.

If it isn't broken don't fix it !!

I was looking at these on e-bay last night and thinking what a good price they are. You're right Richard, what sounds too good to be true often is. Thanks for the heads up though.

Like most of us I don't set out in the rain, but have been caught out by the unpredictable British weather a couple of times. It's a lot easier to put the weather gear on the car than it is to dry out a sodden car interior.

Come for the weekend if you possibly can. 1 tent and a few beers is all you need.

I've bought a bigger tent this year, one I can walk into instead of crawling into after too much cider. Some of you will know what I mean, year before last!!

Don't forget about this chaps, just hope the weather is kind.

If Megan shows some of these drawings at Stoneleigh she will have a queue. Well done Megan,

I use the roof part but no doors, doesn't steam up that way and I don't get too wet. As with most things kit car wise there are plenty of combinations and options.

Got an early flight to Jersey for work on the Thursday morning so will miss this one. I think i've missed the last 4 or 5 meets due to working away. Hope to make it for the April one and do a bit of catching up before Stoneleigh.

I'm up for this too, as long as I'm not working away. Will be good to have a bit of a meet up!

Nice one Richard.

What a great offer. Well done Mick.

As above, with no problems and good results.

Mine does! Although you can't see it on pic below.

I got a pair of 125lb springs from Demon Tweeks for £56. That was just the springs not the complete coilovers. Don't know if that info is any help, but not a bad price!

You could have them a different colour to the rest of the car!

I,ve seen good and bad examples of of any kit car that can be named. A lot depends on the build quality and that depends on the skill of the builder to a great extent. if the repairs to Alan's car are carried out to a high standard and the areas given a bit more strength then there is no reason why many more years of safe motoring shouldn't be enjoyed. My 3A was built in 1997, I have owned it for the best part of 14 years, yes, cracks have had to be repaired and I have upgraded the front end cross channel but that's all part of owning a kit car. Besides, don't production line cars have to be repaired sometimes. !!!

That look nasty. The most upgrades I have done on my 3A have been in this area. The main one is a piece of angle iron that runs across the front and sits between the upper wishbone pivot point and the stainless mounting point. It is bolted at points across the front tub and therefore spreads the load. A bit hard to describe in words and I can't find the pictures I took at the time.

Full of cold and developed a chest infection., so staying in. Maybe next month.!