richyb66

400+ mile this weekend - no breakdowns but more importantly, NO RAIN.

So nothing for anyone to worry about then?

From what I understand speaking to Gaz, it's exactly the same format as when I last went in March with work (who paid for everyone on that occasion). If it is, then it will be like this: You book the venue as an individual (so Gaz is effectively the organiser). I think the limit is around 12 cars, Gaz has already spoke to his area members to get some 'definites' and now he's thrown it out to a wider audience to fill the remaining 7/8 places, of which 2 now seem to be filled. There was no noise testing, we just turned up and drove. We only drove the short course that didn't include the start / finish stretch as the shorter course has a safer run-off if you have a mishap. See here for more details: http://www.curborough.co.uk/curbplan.htm We took turns to marshall the entry / exit to the track to ensure there was only one car on at a time. We did 3 lap runs and we didn't do any timing although it wouldn't have been difficult to take a stopwatch. In March we had the venue from 12-30 until around 4-30, there was around a dozen cars there and as we were prompt lining cars up and getting them on and off the track, everyone got plenty of goes. With a whole day and a dozen cars, you should easily get 10+ 3 lap runs in. The facilities were a bit limited and it really down to everyone there to ensure it's a safe and fun day - which I've no doubt it will be. This offers excellent value for money and, as it's pretty informal, it would be a good introduction for anyone who's not done this sort of thing before.

There's no minimum distance specified. The brake pedal should be "capable of being operated easily from the driving position without obstruction or abnormal hand/foot position" and the pedal should be anti-slip.

The highly respected Kev Rooney of ACE has been on this very forum in the past on other topics related to legislation so maybe he'll be along soon with more information. I completely agree with what Stewart is saying regarding VOSA's desire to regulate vehicles that are radically altered from their original design and are on the road without any sort of formal inspection. In the past it has been too easy to get cars on the road that quite frankly, have no business being there and the IVA test (whilst far from being faultless), is a good step forward (even if Hot Rodders don't like it because they don't want a Q plate on a glass '32) If the EU really got their act together, they'd look at IVA and then see to it that similar schemes are adopted elsewhere in Europe and more importantly, that vehicles approved in one country can then be exported to another without further testing. However, I wouldn't want to see a situation where Poland for example, introduce their own approval (that's dead easy to pass and only costs £100) and then everyone takes their car there and we also end up get loads of badly built cars imported here and then sold.

If you drive to the IVA and they subsequently find a major fault, they'll issue a Prohibition Notice and you'll have to trailer the car home. Driving to the test might mean a breakdown due to a minor fault like a loose wire. If you're late for the test or no-show, you won't get a refund of the test fee. Driving to the test saves hiring a trailer, but then you can't take a tow car full of spares and tools for on-the-day fixes. Other than having your first legal drive in the car, I can't see a good reason for driving to the test.

Just a few photos from the weekend: A bit of a squeeze on the drive - That's Ed's car at the back, then Jez, Graham and Vic. I'm parked out of sight at the front and poor Gaz had to park down the road (well he was in a Dutton). Gaz and Jez decided to pitch tents in the garden - luckily I'd run the mower around. Saturday evening we went for a walk along the beach to the Ty Coch inn for a quick drink. The pleasant weather and live music brought the crowds out. A quick stop off in Criccieth on Sunday morning on the way home (no Ed as he was staying on in Wales for a few days).

OK this is still on for tomorrow. I'm already here in Wales and the weather is stinking hot, I'd drive out to the Rhug Farm shop and meet everyone there. Anyone who's afraid of camping is still welcome to come along for the day - you could easily drive back Saturday evening when the roads will be quieter and it should be a bit cooler (still 25 degrees here now and very sunny). I'm also planning on doing some food for Saturday teatime (assuming everyone's happy with that) so if you turn up - at the very least you won't be going home hungry.

Well it certaily isn't George Orwell.

We’ve been discussing organising a run-out at our monthly meet for a while now so now it’s time to make some definite plans. So here goes: Date – Saturday 11th / Sunday 12th / August 2012, Drive up on Saturday morning, overnight stay and then drive back on Sunday. Other activities on the 2 days to be determined by the weather, and whatever people want to do. Destination – Llyn Peninsula, North West Wales with an overnight camp on Saturday night in Pistyll near to Nefyn at Penisarlon Farm, LL53 6LR – there’s some details of the site here http://www.penisarlonfarm.co.uk/ (it’s is still under construction – the website that is, not the campsite but it gives you an idea). It’s in a great spot overlooking the sea, nice and quiet (until we arrive) with all the usual facilities and the cost is just a fiver per person per night. The lower camping area will accommodate around 15 pitches so we should be ok for space, there’s a short track down to the lower camping area (20 yards) that isn’t really suitable for kits to drive on so the site owner says we can have a dedicated area to park at the top of the track if necessary. He’s quite happy to make arrangements that most suit us on the day depending on what we want to do. It’s in a convenient location just a 2 minute walk from my house so I won’t have to sleep under canvas and won’t be kept awake by rowdy campers. Please note however that the village of Pistyll is just a few houses and the nearest shop, cashpoint etc is a 5 minute drive away in Nefyn. People don’t need to make any bookings at this stage – all I need to do is get an idea of numbers and then let the site know a few days beforehand and then we can pay on the day. The plan is to have a couple of meeting points en-route and a stop off for some lunch. I have spoken to Gaz0571 and we propose the following: Initial meeting point 0900 - The lay-by opposite the Copper Kettle Café on the A5 between Nuneaton and Atherstone. This is the meeting point that’s been used in the past by Midlands members for the Stafford show. http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=52.567051,-1.512283&spn=0.002576,0.006958&t=h&z=18 Second meeting point approx 0945 – In the car park at the Tollgate Cottage Café, Four Crosses on the A5 WS11 1SF http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=52.682373,-2.064824&spn=0.002569,0.006958&t=h&z=18 The en-route stop off will be at The Rhug Organic Farm shop just west of Corwen on the A5 LL21 0EH http://www.rhug.co.uk/the_shop/find_us.asp There’s food available here, decent loos and plenty of easy parking. I’d estimate an arrival time here of around 11-45 depending on traffic. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Corwen+LL21+0EH&hl=en&ll=52.982007,-3.41015&spn=0.005103,0.013915&sll=52.477438,-1.863632&sspn=0.126302,0.695572&oq=ll21+0eh&t=h&hnear=Corwen+LL21+0EH,+United+Kingdom&z=17 The remainder of the trip will basically be via, Bala, Trawsfyndd, Porthmadog and Criccieth. I have prepared some more detailed directions that I can send to people if they’re interested and can be printed off. I plan on already being up in Wales on the Friday, so I will probably drive out meet up with everyone at the Rhug Farm Shop and give people the option of following me for the last part of the journey to save having to read maps for the trickier last bit. I’ve planned the route to avoid any of the nastier roads that sat-navs generally take you along. Overall driving time is probably around 4 hours from Nuneaton, there’s an option to avoid the M54 if people particularly want to avoid the motorway – it’s not especially busy, just a bit boring for 20 minutes. If anyone’s interested and wants to travel a bit lighter, I can transport their gear, tents etc up to Wales and back again as I will be taking 2 cars up there on either the Thursday night or the Friday morning (first come, first served up to whatever I can cram in the second car within reason). All you need to do is let me know what you want taking and either get it to me at home in Tamworth before Thursday 9th or alternatively I can meet up at the Malt Shovel pub (normal monthly meet venue) between 1830 and 1900 on Wednesday 8th August and collect stuff there. If you’re interested, stick a reply on here. If there’s any further questions, let me or Gaz know and between us we’ll try to answer them.

Too tight probably, the valve stem expands as it gets hot closing the clearance, meaning that the valve may not close completely. Dizzy and amplifier are in the boot of the car, will drop them round tonight.

Tonight's turn-out: Good to see a few new faces.

Jammed float in float chamber?

With a Sierra wheel fitted they would have to pass it because the whole steering system is unmodified from a manufacturers design that is already approved. Even though an after market boss is non-collapsable, like a Sierra wheel, they can argue it's a deviation from the approved system and hence a fail.

They'll phone you in the next few days.

If it's a Mini type Lucas motor, refer to this to take the motor apart: http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/wiper-systems/ On the drive gear, you can slide the plastic gear off the metal driveshaft and rotate it 180 degrees (as in turn it another half turn, not turn it over). This will mean that the tab on the plastic gear that triggers the park switch will now cause the motor to park at it's opposing end of travel. Or alternatively, swap the wiper spindle wheel boxes 180 degrees - i.e. if the drive tube is at the bottom of the spindle wheel box, swap it over so its at the top (or vice versa)

Do a search on the IVA forum using your test centre name which will show threads related to tests there - you can see what people fail on and make sure your car complies. Some inspectors have specific things they look for. My test was at Derby, and I saw a number of people had failed on the brake caliper bolts not having a locking device on them, so I made sure I had spring washers on my bolts (despite most manufacturers not actually using them). I didn't pass first time but my fail list was only about 10 items.

Don't fill up on the way to the test for the first time and find out you've got a fuel leak. Do it a good few days before so you've got time to sort any problems.

This is a bit short notice but I was only made aware about half an hour ago. Coventry and Warwickshire Motor Club Wheels Evening tonight 7 PM at The BlueLias Pub, between Stockton and Long Itchington, Warks. Full details are here: https://sites.google...display-evening Pictures from previous displays are here: http://www.facebook....38588?sk=photos and an event poster is here: https://docs.google....yMTJlNGVm&hl=en

Spotted Gaz's old trailer on Ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Robin-Hood-Westfield-Camping-Locost-Kitcar-Motorbike-Trike-Trailer-/330751695143?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item4d02565927 Starting bid £150 - a nice profit for someone maybe as it was sold on ebay 4 weeks ago for £70!

Date finished.

There is no mimimum clipping distance, the IVA manual just says "adequately clipped or otherwise supported". For my IVA the pipe were fixed roughly every 200mm and it passed fine. Better to use more clips that necessary, they're not exactly expensive and difficult to fit at a later date.

P6 V8 has a shorter water pump than SD1 so easier to fit if space is tight.

Obviously his tyres don't grip that well then or else he's spent some serious cash on it. I can't see many type 9s putting up with 330bhp for very long.