..... and so it begins

well here goes ..........

my first attempt at writing a blog, come to that it's my first go at putting things that i have done down in chronological order for my future reference and to provide interest to others....

so today I waved goodbye to the S2 Exige as it was driven off into the grey cambridgeshire flatness on it's journey to a new home in Belgium.

Nice fella who bought it. Belgian ex racer called Hermes Delbar. Could have listened to him all day talking about his racing exploits at Le Mans and Spa. He must be well into his sixties but loves his Loti. Bought mine and a number of others from thenUK to sell through his dealership due to the Euro being so strong at the moment.

Sad to see it go but go it had to....... to make way for the new project. Got on the phone the moment the nice lady behind the counter at HSBC had checked in the last of the £20 notes - "Phil" (fellow selocers will know him better as 'junks') "we are on, when can you bring her round".

The Project

A scan through the Pistonheads and Autotrader classified had not thrown up anything in the 2 weeks between taking a deposit on the Exige and when I would be getting the cash. The plan was to pick up a sound (read straight and not a rebuilt write-off) Elise S1 that over the next 4 months would be stripped bare and rebuilt for the Production Class of the 2010 LoTRDC Elise Trophy. Was happy to accept any condition, poor paintwork and mechanical condition didn't matter, just wanted a complete car. Problem.......... the supply of 'cheap' S1 Elises that seemed to have been around in late summer and early autumn had just dried up!! ......... Apart from the odd one or two cars between £9k and £10k that seemed to have been around for quite a few weeks, there was nothing around.

This was potentially a disaster with the project at risk of not even getting off the ground. I am on a very tight budget and was not planning on spending much more than £6k on a donor S1. What was I to do?.........

To the rescue 'junks'....... tucked away innocuously in the PH classifieds was an ET project car being offered by Phil due to a change of his plans. The car had the right history, 33k miles from new, already had the clams and 'difficult to remove on an older car' bits removed and comes with some race prep. bits ready to go on. A quick email reply to the advert to Phil and a short negotiation over some other bits that I would need and the deal was done............. perfect! the project is on!!

The donor car

Phil has very kindly agreed that he will bring everything over on his trailer on Friday cos I don't have a trailer of my own yet. What I have to start the project is :-

1998 Elise S1 (33k miles) with 'S' rear boot lid, new screen, Safety Devices A frame and petty, set of new Compomotive MO's, front ally bells. Plus afew other bits and pieces that I knew I was going to need and that he had lying around -

1 x VVC engine complete

1 x new PG-1 c/r gearbox

1 x lightened flywheel

pair of vernier cam pulleys

emerald ECU

janspeed s/s silencer

set of one way rebuilt Nitrons

ands a few other bits and pieces..........