Special K

Is it me.. or are these 'glue-on' bodykits merely a pain-in-the ar*e? The only person I know who has an add-on hairpiece like this without a problem so far is GT86 Ian. But that was installed by professionals. And I won't mention Nige's saga... Our cars, in standard form, are capable of 140mph. A lump of self-stick glassfibre which flies off at that speed - or even at 40mph - can invite a swerve/accident from a following car or kill a pedestrian. I really do hope you self-stick guys are declaring these 'bling' mods to your insurers.. I think you are totally irresponsible. Spec K

Lauren, I am not 'Club Secretary'. That is a formal role and I think Rob275 is drinking from that chalice.. mine's empty... For the information of this Club's Members - I have no active role in this Forum (which is a company and complies with company law) - I am merely a Trustee, which is the equivalent of a 'shareholder', and I proposed the constitution (to the current directors) and paid for the 'company limited by guarantee' incorporation to get it off the ground. (..and I was sober at the time... ) The constitution of this Club (company) is a not-for-profit organisation. All excess income must be devoted to improving the services/facilities provided to its members, none of whom are asked to buy shares nor are required to pay subscriptions. The directors get zilch, the trustees get zilch - it is done through a community enthusiasm. Those that do (pay subscriptions) get certain financial benefits, as determined by the directors - those that don't pay subscriptions still benefit from free access to the Forum and the assets which the Club continues to accrue. (Most of these are event-related, for obvious reasons..). It costs quite a lot to keep this 'Forum' going (just in terms of 'Forum' internet access and maintenance) and it would help the finances if many of you cheapskate freeloaders ^^ww enthusiasts were to take 'Premium Membership'.. oops. Mission statements are for evangelists in Africa. If anyone wishes to devote effort to learning more about this Club our Mem/Arts of Association are freely available from Companies House. I am sure the directors will rectify any errors I have made. But I think I've got it about right, Lauren. Spec K

Got back yesterday afternoon following a really great week in Malta. First time there... a petrolhead paradise where the 420,000 locals own 380,000 cars between them! First words a baby learns is not 'Mama/Papa' but 'where's my car?' A taxi driver told me he used an MX5, I asked him about spares and he told me he had three of 'em to plunder... classic MGB's, Corvettes and the like, in beautiful condition, can regularly be seen on the roads.. True to his word Andrew met me at the airport and ferried me to my hotel in his GT86. The roads are appalling - potholes that eat Transit vans - but that didn't deter him from drifting his rear end about like a demented Lauren... the driver/car combo is good which is more than can be said for their petrol at 87octane.. he has to load 30 Euros-worth of octane booster into each tank of fuel every 2-3days... ouch! A positive step is to go water/meth injection, should get rid of the need for accelerator. Like me, Andrew and his gorgeous girlfriend Julia (who has not passed her driving test yet but already owns an immaculate ex-UK WRX STI) are food gourmets, so we had a number of superb meals. When left to my own devices I did the touristy stuff - the Cathedral in Valetta is a fantasic example of Baroque architecture, I spent over two hours there and the walled city of Mdina is amazing with an a-v presentation of its history and that of the Knights of Malta - fifty minutes of fascinating history for 12 Euros. If you're a beach bum there's loads of places to get your kit off and roast yourself but beware, the UV factor there is amongst the highest in the world... There were two especial 'treats' - I chartered a 37ft yacht for the three of us for a day (with a skipper) and we cruised up to Comino and back with a swim at the lunch stop, with Julia pushing a reluctant Andrew off the bathing platform... tsk, tsk, who's idea was that..? Shame there was not a trace of wind so we couldn't hoists the rags but had to donk everywhere - turned out that Adrian our skipper was into IT so he and Andrew were having techy conversations whilst Julia and I engaged in convivial imbibation... I got sunburned to blazes, it was so damn hot.. Second treat was Thursday evenings trip to the drag strip. This is the only spot for 'motorsport' on the island, if you want to track your car you have to ferry to Sicily.. Met up with all of Andrew's chums - including Kim who has a Ninja GT86 and thus two-thirds of the island's GT86 owners were present. This is real manicville - just join the queue and blast up the strip whenever you like. Run what you brung.. music at 120 decibels, food and booze on call, it was so laid back it was horizontal.. The friendliness and goodwill these guys have towards each other is amazing and I was made so welcome amongst them it was like being at a TSS round... I was also given a special treat as passenger for a run in Andrew's car as we logged some data for Adrian (Fensport) to tweak a bit.. Andrew's friend with a Skyline insisted on drifting it around the paddock and finally blew a rear tyre, stopping inches from the rear of a Golf... quick wheel change and no harm done.. and Andrew beat the Skyline over their run together.. respect! Finally met up with Andrew as I prepared to leave yesterday morning - he was in total awe of his new map from Fensport and it was a shame I did not have time to experience it. He hopes to drive up to the UK some time in October and I have offered to show him around and see if we can get some track time / social meets organised. This is one seriously committed Forum member, as can be seen from his detailed postings on HKS s/c installation, but in addition he is a bloody nice guy who went out of his way to make my visit memorable. And is sure was. Spec K

Yes, it was good. Very good. But it was Andrew who made it special, as not only do we share that common interest which promulgated this Forum, he is a bloody nice guy with really nice (maniac!) chums... a really special treat for me ... not an 'ageist' among 'em, how could I get grumpy..? The yacht charter was excellent but with no wind I couldn't display my 'Americas Cup' trimming skills and get him honking over the rail... needs a force 7 in the North Sea, preferably in December, to bring it back to reality... Serious for a moment, as I have been giving it thought since I returned... there is a crying demand for some sort of trackday facility in Malta, if only to meet their petrolhead populace. The finances are available... the enthusiasts are there... but the political desire is not. All of the infrastructure development in Malta is supported by the EU - everywhere there are billboards stating as such. It only needs a petition of 10,000 registered with the EU to get Commissioners asking questions... ( why does it take a Brit on holiday to suggest this..?) And a direct petition to the EU works downwards - a lot of Maltese civil servants arses would twitch.. Also bear in mind that, here in the UK, a petition of 100,000 demands an answer in our Parliament - mebbe we should raise support for this by petitioning for removal of their George Cross due to 'lack of government support for motorsport development' ? After all, motorsport contributes £7billion to the UK's economy.... and Idrew has spent most of that with HKS/Fensport If I had a year to spare I would take this on... Spec K Spec K

As many of you will know, the uprated transmission broke at the TSS round at Woodbridge. It started when I lost 3rd, then 2nd and finally 4th couldn't make its mind up.. I managed to nurse the car back to Fensport - by the time I arrived on Sunday evening (60-odd miles) I was left with 1st and 6th gear, even reverse was slipping. (Driving a car in this state brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'intelligent anticipation', particularly with Sunday drivers faffing about..) It took me a week in Malta to dispel my despondency and, whilst I was away the 'Angels of Chatteris' tore the broken trans out and replaced it with my new spare, brought in from USA a couple of weeks beforehand. The broken trans has been shipped over to SSP in the States and arrived last week. Kris and his team are about to strip it down and, hopefully, find out what went wrong and why. Then it's a question of whether it can be put right.. In the meantime I collected the car from Fensport yesterday. Transmission is working perfectly on the road power settings at the moment but I am not going to risk any competitive events/high power settings until I have a definitive answer from SSP. This is turning into an expensive learning curve, both financially and in terms of TSS points... Spec K

The EU has decided that all Euro notes will henceforth be printed on Greece-proof paper

A man walked into a pub, went to the bar and ordered a beer. "Certainly Sir, that'll be a penny." "A penny?" the man exclaimed. He glanced at the menu and asked " How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?" "Five pence" the barman replied. "Five pence?" the guy exclaimed. "Where's the guy who owns this place?" The bartender replied "Upstairs with my wife". The man asked "What's he doing upstairs with your wife?" The bartender replied "The same thing I am doing down here to his business".

Red Lion at Boreham? Musketeer is the local guy, he can confirm.. Spec K

Hopefully Andrew will read this thread... he makes fairly frequent visits to London on business so I've invited him to try and make a weekend soon for a Grasshopper social and mebbe a 'hoon as my guest... Spec K

Thanks for the comments - I could wax lyrical about the place and the people, it makes a big difference when there's someone like Andrew on hand to make all the introductions.. seafood you would die for, booze at realistic prices, fags at less than a fiver a packet.. national dish is rabbit, about time a use was found for 'em.. A leisurely three-day drive down there... a week in the sun... leisurely drive back..? Just an idea we chatted about, whereupon he committed to organise a shipment of V-Power for us... no holding this fellah back... Nige - I just could not get grumpy, most disconcerting, my persona down the toilet... the hotel was full of ancients with 'singalongapiano' nights... no screaming brats... sheer bliss... Spec K

I think Idrew has programmed autofold mirrors on his Malta-based car... might be worth asking him. Spec K

Evans quote..... ".... male, female, young, old....." hehe..... Spec K

Yes, I am chuffed. And there's more to come, as Adrian says... Spec K

I have complete faith in Jay and am more than happy to wait until he is in a position to fabricate up a set for me. If however he decides that one set of burned fingers is enough that is fine by me and I would understand. Spec K

NB - passenger side guages are Defi fitted into a Blitz panel - boost guage, oil temp and oil pressure. It does require surgery, as beneath the fascia is metal and this needs hacksawing out to get the guages in.. The guage in drivers air vent (also Defi) is transmission oil temp, taken off trans sump.. both running at 90 degrees after a blast up M11 and around M25 to clean up the brake rotors .. on the dashboard I have a switch, which turns on the (electric) transmission oil pump and fan and is on permanently when I'm on trackdays. I probably won't need it at Sprint but it gives me the opportunity to leave it running when ignition is off... Wheels are Team Dynamics Motorsport 17" x 9.5" ET35 (they only do one 'style' for 17" rims). Fitted Contisport Contact 5 (235 x 45 x 17Y). I've run on Goodyear F1 Eagles, Michelin Sport Pro thingies and these are my latest set. ( Might look at a change before year end, now that I'm back on the 4.1:1 std rear axle ratio..) When new the Conti's are fantastic in the wet, better than the other two makes but I've not tried them in the damp now they are part worn... and they are likely to get a bl**dy sight 'worner' next weekend at Woodbridge ! So I'm taking my Rota Blitz rims with the F1 Eagles on as spares for Sunday, if my mate brings my battle wagon up as promised.. (oh, I do wish that the F1-S class could use MSA 1b listed tyres... hint, Adrian...) Spec K

Thanks Rob Spec K

(... but, knowing Nige, you may be located in a body bag in the North Sea come Friday... haha...) Sorry... East London humour... courtesy of the Krays.. Spec K

I am treating my mean machine to a full set of new Stoptech calipers and rotors ('cos AP don't make what I want and Brembo's are mighty money) so I am selling my current kit. These are not the big ones (330mm?) - these fit within my existing Rota/TDR 17" ET32 rims but OEM wheels would require spacers. K-Sport 8 pot front calipers, standard rear calipers, both fitted Ferodo DS2500 pads. Blue/white K-Sport writing on fronts. Rears are painted blue (I found a really good colour match, Dulux Weathershield, haha..) Front 2-piece/rear single rotors are Stoptech. Because the car has been laid up the rotors are rusty but they were new less than six months ago and I'm breaking them in. If my Stoptech's don't arrive by the weekend, I will run them at the Woodbridge TSS with 100% confidence - they are superb for a n/a car and will fill any driver with total confidence.. it's your crap tyres which will let you down, not the brakes... If you want to view them, go to the Fensport website. That will tell you the size etc. The DS2500 pads are awesome - absolutely no fade and no squeal. I'd recommend you buy a set of braided hoses if you are replacing the standard stuff. Pedal feel is exemplary - if you're clumsy with your heel/toe you'll stand your car on its nose... with the right suspension setup you can stop on a sixpence.. Front calipers have done about 10k miles, I reckon. Rears from new, so they've done 33k. Rotors have done less than 3k miles. Whole lot cost in excess of £1,500 without the OEM stuff, so I'm asking £700. Carriage extra if we don't meet up. No offers, guys - I need my head examining to give 'em away at this price... Spec K

2.00pm, likely to be there for couple of hours.. You like Excellent Adverture as well... Andrew, I will do what I can... took some photos on my phone today so will get these posted to this thread, if Rob275 will do the honours.. Spec K

Wait for the phone to ring for the ansaphone message. This is the actual message from the Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia.. http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwghabw4N80?rel=0 Spec K

Mark - had you had the aircon on, specifically in the 'demist' position? How does the crack line up with the windscreen vent? Merely a thought.... Spec K

What does it say? "... you fecking eedjit..!" is what is says... (.. it thinks you're a skip....) Spec K

Yes. But Summit kit is a lot cheaper than Superpro, I believe.. I run it on track. And you will wait years for Superpro kit - I've been waiting 18 months for steering rack bushes - they are a total waste of space/time, in my opinion. Spec K

Good choice, Bles. As Rob says, email Yukiko and she will sort them. I don't agree that they are too stiff, I like to feel what my wheels are doing but I do understand that if you are carrying rare birds eggs or similar in the back of your GT86 you may wish to float on a feather bed.. No, you do not need GPS for roadgoing. I use it because I can tune my suspension to a circuit and then 'remember' it for the next time I go there. It gives me a base setting which I can then play with for dry/wet conditions but for road use it is not necessary. EDFC Active needs some modifications to the boot lining to cater for the motors/covers. If you would like see how it is achieved PM me your personal email addy and I'll send you photos. Spec K

Tareim - calculate £stg cost using today's exchange rate and, if you are paying carriage, add that. If it is carriage paid, ignore this. Duty ex USA will (normally) be 3% of that total. Add that to the total cost, (cost+duty) - VAT will be 20% on top. HMRC change the exchange rate daily but the diff is marginal. As an example - £1,000 cost (incl. carriage) will incur £30 duty. £1,030 plus 20% VAT will cost a further £206, so your final bill should be £236 Spec K Spec K