nelmo

Doesn't have to be anything clever; minimum is manufacturers name and VIN. Some people put axle weights on - don't see the point personally because if you get those weights wrong, you can fail IVA. 

Picture of mine in my blog post: https://zerolifebuild.blogspot.com/2016/12/christmas-lights.html

Nice to meet a few of us, despite the fact most still only had a rusting wreck in their garages 

Many thanks to Nigel for hosting us at his country estate - great bacon butties 

1 hour ago, apgodden said:

I am differently up for this.....

I think that's a good thing? 

Final reminder for tomorrow....

(I'm extending this out to non-members as I'm not being inundated with interest )

I am hoping to do a week long tour of (mainly) France in June, 2023 and would really like to have some company- a bit less interesting on my own  . If you've not done anything like this before, it is a bucket-list ticker - French roads are smooth and empty and the Alps section in particular is beyond pretty (think Scotland but with sunshine, bigger mountains and no traffic or midges).

Below are some rough details - please let me know if you are interested.

A rough route:

(I'm only using Google maps to get this overall view of the trip but it's too darn clever for it's own good; I think it's taking into account closed mountain roads and current COVID restrictions, so it can't calculate a route for the 2nd half of the trip, hence my roughly drawn thin blue line - I hope you get the picture)

Dates: 10th - 17th June, 2023

Day 1 - ferry to Calais (or Eurotunnel if we can stretch to it) and then a slog, mostly on Autoroutes to Limoges (about 470 miles).

Day 2 - Limoges to just north of Montpelier, via the Millau viaduct (260 miles)

Day 3 - to Cannes along some hopefully nice bits of the French Riviera (230 miles).

Day 4 - possibly a couple of hours in Cannes to see the sights then a short hop up the famous Route Napoleon (145 miles)

Day 5/6 - Hairpin Heaven - typical Alpine roads past famous ski resorts and a brief squirt into Italy (170 miles per day)

Day 7 - Lake Annecy, Jura mountains - last stop near Dijon (190 miles)

Day 8 - slog on Autoroute back to Calais and ferry home (360 miles)

Cost

Around £1,300 all-in (ferry, fuel, tolls, food, accommodation etc).

Rough breakdown:
    Ferry - £100-£200 (more for Eurotunnel, unless you get Tesco vouchers which makes this free!)
    Tolls - £50-£100
    Accommodation - £400 (7 nights)
    Fuel - £400 (I originally costed this out before the current situation, so this may be more, unless prices drop by next June).
    Food - £200

NOT included: insurance and breakdown cover

Format

This is a single, circular route, staying at different places each night. I will be providing sat-nav routes which we can stick together on but you're welcome to make your own, go your own way etc. My routes avoid motorways (except day 1 and 7) so if you're feeling too tired on a day, you can just navigate by the fastest route to the hotel for the night.

Personally, I like the driving (and at a decent pace) rather than sightseeing, although regular coffee stops are a must! I'm not an early riser, so I tend to be up at 7.30am and out by 8.30am (unless you consider that early, I guess?).

A kit is obviously preferred but you're welcome to come along in anything you want.

What now?

Nothing - I will probably start booking things in the Sept/Oct 2022, so there is no rush and I don't need to know numbers yet. This post is just to make you aware, have a think, start saving and begging with the other half/work to let you have the time off.

Should you need any persuading about the joys of mountain roads, have a look at my Alps trip from 2020:

https://zerolifebuild.blogspot.com/2020/07/alps-2020-day-1.html

So, hope a few of you want to join me - watch this space for updates.

PS: I am happy to put a few people up for a night before and after, if you have to come from further north.

Very nice - seems a little too cheap, though? I'd have said £8k at least, no? 

They are, as far as I am aware, the only dedicated kit car roof/door makers in the country and are probably snowed under. The fact they can't answer the phone is not a reflection of their work, so if you want it from them, you'll have to just persist.

The only other option is a boat sail maker (chandler?) - they often make custom covers/roofs for boats. I don't know of any but Google is your friend...

+1 for the above.

The clicking is the gear coming out of the starter motor to engage with the flywheel but if you're not getting any cranking, that is either a dead solenoid or dodgy wiring/earth.

We'd need some more details; what engine, gearbox, which type of speedo dial and some pics of these.

Are you happy to work on the car yourself? This will probably require taking the dash and panels off and possible wiring changes.

If it helps, you can change to a GPS speedo - again, if you're happy re-wiring...

SoftBits are very good but very popular and I believe they have long wait times at the moment...but worth it IMO.

Size isn't the problem (phnarr!) - when you upload them, there is an 'insert' link next to each attachment - if you click that, it will insert the image into the post.

Just a reminder...

What you have to realise about the DVLA is that they are bureaucrats - they know NOTHING about cars. They're just ticking boxes on a screen - tell them it's a 2 litre, send a picture of the engine number, tell them that means its a 2 litre and I'd be surprised if they ask for more. 

There are around 30 members in that area because I emailed them about a meet next weekend - did you get that? 

I don't think many of them come on the forum.... 

The test itself costs £450 and you will need to do work on the car as well to meet the standards (I can see that you don't seem to have a reversing or fog light, for starters).

More details here:

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual-vehicle-approval

Hi,

Following on from our inaugural SE meet at the Chalet cafe a week or 3 ago, Nigel has kindly offered his house as the location for our second meeting. I say his house but it sounds more like a country estate (he's got his own fishing lake!)  and he is happy to accommodate us all.

Apart from some lovely roads in his neck of the woods, he is also bribing us with drinks and bacon butties, so no-brainer for me 

Date: Saturday, July 30th
Time: From 10am until we've run out of bacon...
Address: Robertsbridge, TN32 5EU

I will be sorting out a route from Reigate/Horsham to Robertsbridge so if anyone wants to join me, please let me know and we can arrange to meet somewhere along the line.

Hope to see some of you there...

Mine is similar to Dean's - just a black ally mesh cut to shape and a 3D-printed badge:

Sorry to hear that Nige... hope you get better soon. 

Personally, I would never expect a kit to sell on an owners forum - after all, most of us already have a kit. Put it on eBay (as a classified ad, not an auction - you'll pay less that way).

Have you got the long wings (proper name?) that start at the scuttle and run up over the front wheels? They are known to catch the air and make the front end light. 

(Posting on behalf of Tony)

The End Of Season Bash 2022 is on Friday 2nd September to Sunday 4th at Market Harbour Show Ground LE16 7QB

September may feel a long way away but we need your help and commitment to get your tickets booked as soon as possible.  This really helps with the organisation and logistics of this event. 

The Committee and non committee members work so hard on this event behind the scenes and we need more people to turn up to ensure that this event can carry on year after year.

The End of Season Bash itself is a great event with marquee, bouncy castles, live band, bar, food van, Saturday ride out and loads of entertainment. Day tickets and camping tickets available.

Even if you are not a member of our club and still at the building stage of your car this event would be so beneficial to you..... The amount of experienced people who have already built their own cars and are always more than willing to help and advised. Just seeing the cars and meeting people with same interest we give you the push to get your cars finished.  Who knows you could be with us September 2023 in your finished car.....

I urge you to join us please book your tickets on the following link.

https://ticketstripe.com/EOSB2022/

or

End of Season Bash 2022 - RHOCAR - The UK Kit Car Club

We look forward to meeting you. If you are booking for the first time please message me, I can let you know what is going on, come meet you on the day and introduce you to other members.  

Tony Godden

My user name is apgodden

Wow, I'm going to sell my car in Europe - have you seen the prices?!

If you use that Scout24 site and use 'Caterham' as the model, you get lots of other kits, including this RH 1.6 from 2000 for almost £14k!!!!

Or a Pinto-engined Tiger for £20k?!

Yes, it does sound expensive BUT it depends on the market in Belgium - are there any alternatives? If not and you want one badly, you have to pay what is being asked (haggle first, obviously  ).

What is the car market like generally in Belgium - more expensive than the UK? I visited Stockholm many years ago and cars there were all twice the price of the rest of the world because of the huge taxes on them.

No problem- I'd be interested to see your car - never seen a supercharged Zetec...

Lovely weather for the Surrey Massiv to come out (OK, 4 of us and only 1 from Surrey)...Nice to meet up and chew the fat...

Always a great selection of cars at the Chalet: