Ultima Can Am Build: A Mini-Diary
Discussion
It's been a while since I updated the thread, so with the interior just about finished, here's a few more shots... Leather trimmed, centre console painted, stalks fitted and computer running:
'Cos I'm rubbish at taking pics, this is the GUI on the computer's touch screen:
Final push to the finish line and hopefully I'll be putting in the IVA paperwork next week
'Cos I'm rubbish at taking pics, this is the GUI on the computer's touch screen:
Final push to the finish line and hopefully I'll be putting in the IVA paperwork next week
Aaaaaaannnndddddd, finally the car is in one piece! 22months after receiving the bare chassis, she's done! Well, done in as much as the build is complete, now it's time to prep for IVA. First of all tho', I had to celebrate build completion with a wash down and a few pictures.
Before the pics tho', I'd just like to say thanks to everyone on this forum (and a few who are not regulars here of course), for all your help, support & advice over the last 3yrs. It's been quite a journey to this point and I'm hoping that I can complete the final IVA hurdle without too many traumas (yeah right!!!), so that I can finally hit the road.
Before the pics tho', I'd just like to say thanks to everyone on this forum (and a few who are not regulars here of course), for all your help, support & advice over the last 3yrs. It's been quite a journey to this point and I'm hoping that I can complete the final IVA hurdle without too many traumas (yeah right!!!), so that I can finally hit the road.
highflyer said:
Got to say it looks good without the rear spoiler, especially in black, well done top job Mark !!
I have to agree with you Russ it does look good without the spoiler. I did enjoy mine with the aeroscreen and it does look good but the weather usually spoils the day. Having been caught out in the rain it's no fun. I didn't have a nice leather interior to spoil! I hope you get blessed with some sunny days Mark as you've built a stunning car.Cheers chaps, I had always planned to go spoiler-less as with the aeroscreen, it exaggerates the car's low lines. Going aero-only will always be a gambol in this country, I know that. I got a bit wet in the Atom a few times over the yrs, but that was a lot more open. I've got a rain cap for it for when it's parked, but I hope I don't need it very often!!
Evening all. I think it's time to call an end to this mini-build diary, as today I passed my IVA test! First time, no advisories, woohoo!!! It's been an interesting 23mth journey to get to this point from a bare chassis and I've thoroughly enjoyed the build. I should get registration completed next week and then I plan on enjoying the V8 at every (dry) opportunity! Starting with Le Mans.... any other Ultimas going along?
Thanks to everyone on here who's advised when I've had daft questions (I'm sure I'll not stop asking those though!) and special thanks to..... the factory, AutoBionics & Race Technology or all their support over the last 2 years
Thanks to everyone on here who's advised when I've had daft questions (I'm sure I'll not stop asking those though!) and special thanks to..... the factory, AutoBionics & Race Technology or all their support over the last 2 years
Hi Mark
Congratulations on a first time pass.
You are a very brave man going to Le Mans next week with no real shake down!!!
I am going on Tuesday for a week. It's my first time so I have opted fore the easy way using Grandstand Motorsport to organise it for me. Staying in a private house in Le Mans with grandstand seats. No tent for me - too old for that.
My son is acting as luggage carrier in his new Boxster so if you see a silver Ultima and black Boxster it will be us trying to avoid a ticket!!
Email me if you want to swap phone numbers - just in case!!!
Paul
Congratulations on a first time pass.
You are a very brave man going to Le Mans next week with no real shake down!!!
I am going on Tuesday for a week. It's my first time so I have opted fore the easy way using Grandstand Motorsport to organise it for me. Staying in a private house in Le Mans with grandstand seats. No tent for me - too old for that.
My son is acting as luggage carrier in his new Boxster so if you see a silver Ultima and black Boxster it will be us trying to avoid a ticket!!
Email me if you want to swap phone numbers - just in case!!!
Paul
Thanks for the comments peeps! The odd thing is, while I was nervous going into the test, as it went on and I was talking to the inspector about what he was looking for, the more it became apparent that the IVA isn't as scary as is made out.
The guys are mostly looking to see if you’ve assembled the car in sensible and thorough manner. Of course there are rules to adhere to (electrical cables not clipped to fuel line, radius edges, wheels not fouling anything, brake lines secured / protected, etc), but for the most part it was a general inspection of the car’s build quality. The biggest concern for me was the aeroscreen….. the factory didn’t know if it would pass (and have now pulled support for it for road use) and the regs aren’t clear on it. As it turned out, it was a very simple pass (with a bit of clear edging on the top of it) because the rules really are quite vague in this area!!
The best advice I can give anyone going to IVA is, build the car diligently, properly secure / wrap / protect cables and lines, make sure there’s no sharp edges anywhere, have the right warning stickers / safety markings in place, dot white paint on all your suspension & drivetrain fixings (use TorqueSeal), present the car well and above all: show the inspectors you’ve taken their job seriously!!! Talk to the chaps about what they’re looking for…. Point out the things YOU’VE done to comply with their regs and I think you’ll have a good chance of success. I was in / out in 75mins. They hype / myth around IVA was scarier than the test!
As goes shakedown….. the car has now done about 270miles, following a day at Bruntingthorpe last week (coincidentally with Lee Noble and his latest creation, as well as the evo magazine guys, who all came over to look at the Can Am!). It’s run down the runway at 150+ and between these two outings hasn’t faltered, missed a beat, loosened a nut, or dripped a spot of fluid. The one thing the car really needs now, is a chassis geo. Now I’ve said that, watch it do something spectacular on the road to Le Mans!!!
Paul - Silver GTR & black Boxster, gotcha, I’ll keep an eye out! We’re heading down on Thursday morning (9:50 Eurostar – red 458, black S2000, white Focus RS & a VW camper van), so if I don’t see you on the road, I’ll look for you around the event. We’re camping Happy to swap numbers, just drop me a PM
The guys are mostly looking to see if you’ve assembled the car in sensible and thorough manner. Of course there are rules to adhere to (electrical cables not clipped to fuel line, radius edges, wheels not fouling anything, brake lines secured / protected, etc), but for the most part it was a general inspection of the car’s build quality. The biggest concern for me was the aeroscreen….. the factory didn’t know if it would pass (and have now pulled support for it for road use) and the regs aren’t clear on it. As it turned out, it was a very simple pass (with a bit of clear edging on the top of it) because the rules really are quite vague in this area!!
The best advice I can give anyone going to IVA is, build the car diligently, properly secure / wrap / protect cables and lines, make sure there’s no sharp edges anywhere, have the right warning stickers / safety markings in place, dot white paint on all your suspension & drivetrain fixings (use TorqueSeal), present the car well and above all: show the inspectors you’ve taken their job seriously!!! Talk to the chaps about what they’re looking for…. Point out the things YOU’VE done to comply with their regs and I think you’ll have a good chance of success. I was in / out in 75mins. They hype / myth around IVA was scarier than the test!
As goes shakedown….. the car has now done about 270miles, following a day at Bruntingthorpe last week (coincidentally with Lee Noble and his latest creation, as well as the evo magazine guys, who all came over to look at the Can Am!). It’s run down the runway at 150+ and between these two outings hasn’t faltered, missed a beat, loosened a nut, or dripped a spot of fluid. The one thing the car really needs now, is a chassis geo. Now I’ve said that, watch it do something spectacular on the road to Le Mans!!!
Paul - Silver GTR & black Boxster, gotcha, I’ll keep an eye out! We’re heading down on Thursday morning (9:50 Eurostar – red 458, black S2000, white Focus RS & a VW camper van), so if I don’t see you on the road, I’ll look for you around the event. We’re camping Happy to swap numbers, just drop me a PM
Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff