Car Maintenance Courses at Mansfield
Discussion
Good summary from Ace. The course, at least at first glance, is a bargain (FWIW it may be free if you're state-supported). You can bring your own cars (if you want) to fiddle about on under guidance. The site is very professional and clean.
Don't do what I did though, and follow TomTom to a non-descript industrial estate, assume it's the wrong Acorn Way, and ring your family to check the Yellow Pages, give up after 5 minutes, then ring the tutor for the correct address, who points out it's the great big
-off building you're sitting outside.
You need to bring your own Overalls and tough boots (don't have to be steel-toe).
Don't do what I did though, and follow TomTom to a non-descript industrial estate, assume it's the wrong Acorn Way, and ring your family to check the Yellow Pages, give up after 5 minutes, then ring the tutor for the correct address, who points out it's the great big
-off building you're sitting outside.You need to bring your own Overalls and tough boots (don't have to be steel-toe).
Edited by Lurker on Wednesday 9th January 18:41
Lurker said:
Good summary from Ace. The course, at least at first glance, is a bargain (FWIW it may be free if you're state-supported). You can bring your own cars (if you want) to fiddle about on under guidance. The site is very professional and clean.
Don't do what I did though, and follow TomTom to a non-descript industrial estate, assume it's the wrong Acorn Way, and ring your family to check the Yellow Pages, give up after 5 minutes, then ring the tutor for the correct address, who points out it's the great big-off building you're sitting outside.
You need to bring your own Overalls and tough boots (don't have to be steel-toe).
Overalls and tough boots? Are my usual choice in shoes / boots allowed? How about THOSE pink ones I wore to the Amber once? Don't do what I did though, and follow TomTom to a non-descript industrial estate, assume it's the wrong Acorn Way, and ring your family to check the Yellow Pages, give up after 5 minutes, then ring the tutor for the correct address, who points out it's the great big
-off building you're sitting outside.You need to bring your own Overalls and tough boots (don't have to be steel-toe).
Edited by Lurker on Wednesday 9th January 18:41
car.chic said:
Lurker said:
You need to bring your own Overalls and tough boots (don't have to be steel-toe).
Overalls and tough boots? Are my usual choice in shoes / boots allowed? How about THOSE pink ones I wore to the Amber once? The boots have to be tough enough to protect you from dropping spanners and the like on your feet. My own personal opinion is the pinker your boots the better.
stackmonkey said:
car.chic said:
How about THOSE pink ones I wore to the Amber once?
"You mean we're not in Texas anymore, Toto?"
Ace-T said:
Well that was actually quite interesting! The basic course consists of 10 weeks at £40 for the whole course. The course schedule is as follows:
Overview
Servicing
Brakes
Wheels
Tyres
Jacking and Drainage
Now it is not all dry classroom pointing at bits of car stuff, we are talking stripping down your brakes and refitting them, proper servicing of your car, tuning and fixing. We as a group can ask the tutors to cover what we want. We can also work on our own cars and the parts are apparently pretty darn cheap too. There are about 17 odd cars to practice on in there including a Jag and a Beemer along with less exotic machinery. Full MOT equipment is available including a rolling road!
To say I was surprised is an understatement. Nice clean premises that don't look like a college too. 9 including us so far and from what I can tell a mix of backgrounds. I did ask Lurker not to mention the cars we have, we used the Mini and the Alfa for our 'what car do you have' question thing so if anyone else joins us I would rather they were not mentioned until we were comfortable with it.
The funniest moment was when Lurker scribbled on his notepad Ace & Judas? and held it up for us to see across the classroom
I mentioned that others may wish to join us and they said if you were wanting to then you would need to get there a bit earlier than 7pm next Tuesday to register. C'mon you lot and play car mechanics with us!
May see some of you at car school then, but for now the MatStarkAmberThorpe meetings will not be sullied by our presence.
Ace-T
PS If I have forgotten anything Lurker, please feel free to add/correct etc
Sounds spot on ! Like Emma I've been looking for a car maintenance course for a while. I will endeavour to be thereOverview
Servicing
Brakes
Wheels
Tyres
Jacking and Drainage
Now it is not all dry classroom pointing at bits of car stuff, we are talking stripping down your brakes and refitting them, proper servicing of your car, tuning and fixing. We as a group can ask the tutors to cover what we want. We can also work on our own cars and the parts are apparently pretty darn cheap too. There are about 17 odd cars to practice on in there including a Jag and a Beemer along with less exotic machinery. Full MOT equipment is available including a rolling road!
To say I was surprised is an understatement. Nice clean premises that don't look like a college too. 9 including us so far and from what I can tell a mix of backgrounds. I did ask Lurker not to mention the cars we have, we used the Mini and the Alfa for our 'what car do you have' question thing so if anyone else joins us I would rather they were not mentioned until we were comfortable with it.
The funniest moment was when Lurker scribbled on his notepad Ace & Judas? and held it up for us to see across the classroom
I mentioned that others may wish to join us and they said if you were wanting to then you would need to get there a bit earlier than 7pm next Tuesday to register. C'mon you lot and play car mechanics with us!
May see some of you at car school then, but for now the MatStarkAmberThorpe meetings will not be sullied by our presence.
Ace-T
PS If I have forgotten anything Lurker, please feel free to add/correct etc
oopps,keep forgetting to sign in ! Vixta hopefully coming along with a madbadger in tow
Edited by madbadger on Friday 11th January 18:55
EmmaP said:
I don't have overalls, so hopefully they won't complain if I turn up in £5 jeans and an old t-shirt. I promise I won't sue!
We have a spare set you can borrow if they fit 
EmmaP said:
It'll be like a mini meet at break time
What makes you think you'll be getting a break? You're there to learn, goddammit! Not sit around like a bunch of old ladies gossiping!Just bought a brand spanking new set of overalls for me - they're only local so I just popped over to pick them up. So I'm all set for Tuesday
EmmaP said:
I don't have overalls, so hopefully they won't complain if I turn up in £5 jeans and an old t-shirt. I promise I won't sue!
You should be ok, but bring a jumper in case it gets cold. The heating wasn't on when he showed us round the other day, but he said it would be on Tuesday.Lurker said:
My illusions have been shattered.
I figured everyone I'd met at my rare attendances at these meetings was an expert on cars.
Yes, but it's nice to have what you think you know confirmed, or otherwise I figured everyone I'd met at my rare attendances at these meetings was an expert on cars.
I'm probably OK to do things like a service on a regular car, change pads etc, that sort of thing. But i've not done any car DIY at that level for years. I'd like to be able to put a spanner on the Bentley, but best to check on my A's, B's and C's first. I have a head full of 'how it works', but not much actually doing it.
I've just spoken with Trevor Burton, the course leader, and he says that you do not have to be a Nottinghamshire resident to attend this course. He is quite happy for people to just come along on the night. However, if you did not register last week he would like you to arrive at least fifteen minutes early so that the registration form and paperwork can be completed prior to the start of the class at 7.00pm.
Lurker said:
My illusions have been shattered.
I figured everyone I'd met at my rare attendances at these meetings was an expert on cars.
Well I can do an oil, filter, plugs change and things like belts. Have also made up a wiring loom and rewired a car from scratch. This is all on old cars though. Wouldnt know where to start on modern car electrics, fuel injection, ECU stuff etc. I dont have facilites to do much these days though.I figured everyone I'd met at my rare attendances at these meetings was an expert on cars.
What a venue! TBH, it doesn't really matter whether you learn anything much new or not, it was very interesting. And where else can you rent a workshop like that for two quid an hour?
I plan to put new brake pipes on the 'woo, and have a good fettle of the underside of BG.
Start planning those jobs folks, the ten weeks will soon fly by I reckon.
I plan to put new brake pipes on the 'woo, and have a good fettle of the underside of BG.
Start planning those jobs folks, the ten weeks will soon fly by I reckon.
I had so much fun tonight! I found it all really exciting - the prospect of actually doing some work on my own car I have a list already. It was a bit basic in parts but that was OK really. I thought the atmosphere was great too. A lovely bunch of peeps and great to see some familiar faces too. They must have thought we were a right friendly bunch too with all the hugging and kissing that went on
I have a list already. It was a bit basic in parts but that was OK really. I thought the atmosphere was great too. A lovely bunch of peeps and great to see some familiar faces too. They must have thought we were a right friendly bunch too with all the hugging and kissing that went on Gassing Station | Midlands | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff