A rare Loti might be landing on our Kiwi shores

[Kylie]

Right O an update, been over to see the missile at Kens, put up on hoist again to evaluate what needs doing for final time. Loads of rot marked by compliance guys that needs replacing. Hes going to clean up the lower suspension arms, replace brake lines and part of the fuel line. Got rotors coming from UK for all four corners. EBC reds in the front and green in the rears - thats done. A few other minor things to be sorted. So hes going to keep it over the xmas period while I am away and work on it. My compliance period should be extended so I dont have to pay twice - bonus!

The rest Simon and I can plug away and replace all the rusty bolts over the next year. Suspension all needs doing as well but ok for now. I just want to hurry up and enjoy it, its a beast of a thing

[Kiwi XTR2]

It's been a month. Need an update

And a forecast of when she'll be on the road so George can arrange a cruise

[Kylie]

Hi mate, cars still not home and located with KW. I am waiting for these feeking rotors to be made and shipped from the UK. I was flogged off till after xmas and they have to machine cross drill etc from scratch. The wait to get these done will save me a few grand which I think I can handle. I can get off the shelf stuff in much quicker <1 week but its twice the money for similar performance.

Dont worry well be doing plenty of hooning soon and making plenty of noise.

[Kylie]

Update on precious...



Finally got these rotors from UK as AP racing replacements; 320x30mm fronts, rears are slightly thinner of course. Think they should do the trick.
Simon dropped off at KW this morn and should be all go by next Friday. I haven’t got anymore fingers to cross, they have been crossed too much the last few months So now I resort to wishing and preying to the service gods to do the good deed..

[Kiwi XTR2]

Maybe you should sacrifice an Austin Princess on a bonfire

Any news on how Black Beauty is liking her new home ?

Edited by Kiwi XTR2 on Wednesday 23 January 03:41

[Kylie]

I heard Saabs burn well .........JUST KIDDING ROGER!!

Havent heard from Tim & black beauty this year, so will get on to that and see if I can score a picture or two in its new home.

[BruceNZ]

Kiwi XTR2 said:

Maybe you should sacrifice an Austin Princess on a bonfire

Any news on how Black Beauty is liking her new home ?

Edited by Kiwi XTR2 on Wednesday 23 January 03:41

Oi!
Dare I say it, I have an Austin Princess in my garage as we speak!! I drove it about 50 miles and actually found it to be quite a good car! Shame it will be stripped in a scarificial ceremony!

[jamieheasman]

Weird isn't it? One of the ugliest, worst built cars ever to come out of the British Motor industry (and we've had some mingers) and it's fitted as standard with such a lovely set of calipers.

They're still sought after today - imagine what they were like in the '70s.

[Esprit]

jamieheasman said:

Weird isn't it? One of the ugliest, worst built cars ever to come out of the British Motor industry (and we've had some mingers) and it's fitted as standard with such a lovely set of calipers.

They're still sought after today - imagine what they were like in the '70s.

Indeed.... I bolted a set of those on my TR7, made a world of difference! TR7 original calipers were a JOKE, totally underspecced for the car. I remember chewing through a set of new front pads (good quality ones at that) in less than 400km! And that was when the new engine was being run in... I went on a couple of runs up and down the hills and when I stopped at the bottom, the front of the car would literally disappear, misted out by the columns of smoke arising from my front brakes.

[Ffirg 005]

jamieheasman said:

Weird isn't it? One of the ugliest, worst built cars ever to come out of the British Motor industry (and we've had some mingers) and it's fitted as standard with such a lovely set of calipers.

They're still sought after today - imagine what they were like in the '70s.

I saw a Marina the other day. It was even going around a corner.

[GravelBen]

Ffirg 005 said:

I saw a Marina the other day. It was even going around a corner.

Mates of mine had a Marina paddock racer for a while. It was bright orange and went sideways easily enough on wet grass, mud, gravel etc. On sealed roads it cornered on its door handles though.

[Kiwi XTR2]

Esprit said:

Indeed.... I bolted a set of those on my TR7, made a world of difference! TR7 original calipers were a JOKE, totally underspecced for the car. I remember chewing through a set of new front pads (good quality ones at that) in less than 400km!

I seem to recall someone going through a set of pads in about 4 laps at Puke

[Kylie]

Yehaaa! on the down hill slope now, had some issues with the rotors getting them to line up with the hats, so had to re drill some of the holes. New bolts fitted and brake lines. All that is remaining is a quick clean up of the lower suspension arms to remove some of surface rust then its going to be recomplianced and checked over again this Monday by the red tape brigade. Fingers crossed. If passes the cars coming home next week for a few months so I can actually enjoy and clean it up.



New brake lines added.



Deans old Londa behind.

[Esprit]

AWESOME Kylie!

I regret not having been in to see it yet! I've been so damned busy with work etc, that I've been unable to get over there.

Have you had the wheel(s) fixed up yet or s that still on the "to do" list?

Any idea what the old Londa was doing in there? I've not seen it since Dean sold her!

Just taken the seats out of the Exige this afternoon. Stage 1 weight reduction is removing the non-uses speakers from the rear bulkhead. Will store them for safe keeping if I ever sell the car, but that's ~700g that I don't have to pull around with the engine now Will have a cleanup under the seats etc this afternoon before putting them back in. Will also grease the driver's seat runner to stop my balls clinking about (oo-err!).

Car's being displayed at the Ellerslie Intermarque concours next weekend so got to get it looking fastidiously tidy!

[Kylie]

Esprit said:

AWESOME Kylie!

I regret not having been in to see it yet! I've been so damned busy with work etc, that I've been unable to get over there.

Have you had the wheel(s) fixed up yet or s that still on the "to do" list?

Any idea what the old Londa was doing in there? I've not seen it since Dean sold her!

Just taken the seats out of the Exige this afternoon. Stage 1 weight reduction is removing the non-uses speakers from the rear bulkhead. Will store them for safe keeping if I ever sell the car, but that's ~700g that I don't have to pull around with the engine now Will have a cleanup under the seats etc this afternoon before putting them back in. Will also grease the driver's seat runner to stop my balls clinking about (oo-err!).

Car's being displayed at the Ellerslie Intermarque concours next weekend so got to get it looking fastidiously tidy!

Geday!
Oh the car is looking rather sad on the hoist, plus its filthy. Re the wheels, no I havent done these yet, these are on the list to do once the cars home. Ive taken a crap load of detailed pics underneath the car so to remind me of what needs doing next. Its a massive project but a lot of it will clean up no problem. We have access to a sand blaster to clean up all the suspension arms and brake surrounding areas will get stripped. So we'll do this over the winter months and paint them up like new again. The drive shaft seals are nackered as well. These dont last long on the Esprit and have to be replaced frequently, otherwise gearbox oil will empty itself out eventually in the garage - not a good look! So thats high on the list.

The Londa honestly didnt ask. I just heard Ken talking to some guy that its the most reliable Honda powered Lotus in the country and he had to take the seat out for some reason. I was going to ask but naturally all eyes were on the big boy!!
Am glad your getting your car tarted up they way you want it. Mag article is a great read about the car, you must be chuffed to bits. Hopefully my car might get voted in for the Loti stand next year.
About your balls George, keep them in control will ya

[Kiwi XTR2]

Esprit said:

Stage 1 weight reduction is removing the non-uses speakers from the rear bulkhead. Will store them for safe keeping if I ever sell the car, but that's ~700g that I don't have to pull around with the engine now

I just saved ~70g by not upsizing my Down-Under Deluxe combo

[Esprit]

Kiwi XTR2 said:

Esprit said:

Stage 1 weight reduction is removing the non-uses speakers from the rear bulkhead. Will store them for safe keeping if I ever sell the car, but that's ~700g that I don't have to pull around with the engine now

I just saved ~70g by not upsizing my Down-Under Deluxe combo

Last weigh in, the driver was down to 75.6kg.... down from the ~82 I was last trackday season.... have to spend a LOT of money on the car to chop that sorta weight out

[RENN68]

Well, after consuming a few tax-payer dollars in the hospital system - I'm down to 86kg from 110 - I'd need 20kg of ballast for Bridgestone!

[Esprit]

RENN68 said:

Well, after consuming a few tax-payer dollars in the hospital system - I'm down to 86kg from 110 - I'd need 20kg of ballast for Bridgestone!

Glad to hear you're back mate! And that's quite the weight loss! Nice to hear you've full intentions of getting back into competition ASAP

Besides, ballast is good More tuneability!

[RENN68]

Thanks - had my first outing in the 968 since the op and it was a bit of a reality check - the body is still a wee way off being competition capable.