Hi, let me intoduce myself...
Hi, let me intoduce myself...
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gopher

Original Poster:

5,160 posts

289 months

Wednesday 14th May 2008
quotequote all
Hello fellow Griff Owners (you'll not realise how long I have been wanting to say that!)

Despite finding myself on PH some 6 years ago when I first started looking for a TVR for various reasons it never happened - job insecurity, buying new house, too expensive holidays etc etc - Well today it happened and I picked up "Katie".

Named by her previous owner she is a beautiful 4.3 in cosmos blue and recently refurbished OZ wheels. She was living in Lancashire and has been looked after by the very friendly people at Track v Road for the last 8 years (visited today with previous owner just for a last minute check) who rate her very highly, and Rob Ingleby gave her good going over just to make sure (thanks Rob, if you're reading this the cheaque's in the post, honest! (well tomorrow it will be)).

Had an "interesting" few hours getting to know each other, I managed to kangaroo her in 1st and 2nd the first few times but soon got the hang of that, and it took me about 8 stalls to reverse her into the garage once back at the holiday cottage we are renting, but I think she's forgiven me for that now.

I'm very fortunate in that my first few days with her are going to be spent in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales (God's own country) where I will spend a gentle few hours getting to know her little foibles and she can shout at me for getting things wrong!

I suspect I will be spending a bit more time on the Griff forum from now on , she is the most powerful and difficult car I have ever owned but have read enough of the horror stories to know that I need to treat her very gently and will always do so, I know who's the boss!

I think a change of name is required (for me, not her, Katie really suits) , I'll have to see if "GriffGrin" is available because that's what I seem to have permanently attached to my face now!

Cheers

Paul

D14 AYS

3,696 posts

240 months

Wednesday 14th May 2008
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Good luck to you in your new car, I recently sold my 4.3 and miss it a lot.

GJR

827 posts

310 months

Wednesday 14th May 2008
quotequote all
Hi Paul and welcome to the Griff side biggrin

I can certainly identify with the length of time you've spent waiting & wanting, thought in my case it's the other way around..!! I had four fun years driving my Griff until I put myself back into education.... and the Griff into storage frown

Now.. dare I say five years on! I'm waiting to get the car back on the road... soon... soonish !! I can't wait... smile even bearing in mind any problems after such a long period of storage!! Until then I can only enjoy everyone else's experiences driving

So.. enjoy and have fun smile

G


Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

297 months

Wednesday 14th May 2008
quotequote all
Welcome Paul to Griffith Ownership a thoroughly enjoyable experience smile

And Graham how long before your back on the road?

BB

Barreti

6,689 posts

267 months

Wednesday 14th May 2008
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Welcome to the madhouse Paul and congratulation on purchasing what I consider to be the best TVR there is - a Blue 4.3 pre-cat.

I know I'm biased but who cares ehwink

It looks like you've got your head screwed on as far as understanding the car is the boss, so I hope you enjoy the next couple of days getting to know it in my birthplace - you lucky boy!

LordGrover

34,171 posts

242 months

Thursday 15th May 2008
quotequote all
Well... second best anyway. Clearly a green 430 would've been ideal. biggrin

shout Now let's see some polaroids!

Oh yes, and welcome the the exclusive precats club. thumbup

GreenGriff400

386 posts

287 months

Thursday 15th May 2008
quotequote all
gopher said:
I think a change of name is required (for me, not her, Katie really suits) , I'll have to see if "GriffGrin" is available because that's what I seem to have permanently attached to my face now!
GriffGrinn has gone, its a guy from the wirral , though Im peretty sure hes recently sold his immaculate red griff.

GJR

827 posts

310 months

Thursday 15th May 2008
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
Welcome Paul to Griffith Ownership a thoroughly enjoyable experience smile

And Graham how long before your back on the road?

BB
Hi Simon... and thanks for the .pdf smile

Originally the plan had been to be off the road for just a year while I did an MSc.... but, one thing lead to another and I ended up doing a PhD which I'm hoping to complete around Christams time. So, as long as I can find a job scratchchin I'm hoping I'll be all ready and back on the road for Griff Growl 2009. biggrin

There are a few things to get on with in the meantime... The dash is suffering from crack/peel syndrome and since re-covering the roof panel the folding header is crying out to be done too. I'll probably replace most of the pipe work, HT leads etc. Once it's had a good service I'll know more about what may or may not need doing. I'm fairly positive though. Considering the length of time it's been SORN'd it gets regular TLC, still runs fine and all the electrics seem to be in good working order. smile

Still I have to say after 5, nearly 6 years I haven't forgotten how good these cars are to drive which I think is a testament to their reputation as great sports cars. biggrin

In the meantime I can enjoy the fun you guys are having on your trips to the GG, Le Mans or just these amazing sunny days were having at the moment... I'm only a little bit jealous wink

Paul... you're gonna have fun smile Enjoy it ! driving

G

monoloco

289 posts

222 months

Thursday 15th May 2008
quotequote all
Do I count as a newbie too? Just inherited Matt " Midnightblue" Dury's Griff 500 after his sad demise (see 'Midnightblue' in Gassing Station -bit new to this forum malarky so don't know how to link through yet). Had a Griff previuosly (a new one back in '95) loved it/hated it, swore I'd never do it again etc. But somehow the memories of the fun have lasted more than the ones of the breakdowns and there was that little itch to get some real grunt again. Here I am 13 years later back in the club -just utterly gutted by the events that got me here!

Meanwhile, talking about jobs ( GJR above) what's the PhD in? I just happen to run a technical recruitment agency so if your PhD is in somehting engineering/science based I might just be able to help....

Edited by monoloco on Thursday 15th May 17:54


Edited by monoloco on Friday 16th May 09:26

gopher

Original Poster:

5,160 posts

289 months

Thursday 15th May 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the welcome everyone, I really do feel like a member of a very exclusive club and I'm learning more every time I take her out such as

Yes it's true it gets very hot in there!

Yes it's true the cooling vents are no use at all!

Yes it's true too much time with no PAS and wheels that wide are going to give you arms like Popeye!

Yes it puts a smile on your face that is very hard to remove!

Shame GriffGrin has gone - it describes the feeling perfectly oh well gopher for ever. Right then is there still room at the hotel for the growl? (I'll ring them when I get home)

Cheers

Paul

GJR

827 posts

310 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Hi Simon (monoloco),

Thanks for the link and I'll certainly contact you when I start applying for positions, hopefully that'll be around the Autumn time. My PhD is in the area of Solar Terrestrial Physics, more specifically high altitude (noctilucent) clouds. Their presence has only been recorded in recent decades and they are believed to be an indicator of Global Warming.

I used the scratchchin icon when I mentioned jobs as (you'll probably know) there's a real funding crisis in UK Science. We're all a bit worried about finding work when we've finished... esp. those of us whose OH's are demanding homes, weddings, babies etc.. eek Oooh and getting TVR's back on the road. wink

Still I'm sure things will get better smile Getting a bit OT here eh ? wink

Paul... what about GriffGirn grumpy ? (sorry closest icon I could see to a Girn biggrin)

G


Pasco

6,652 posts

258 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
wavey Hello to you new guys fingers crossed for some decent weather and see you all at the Griff Growl 08 thumbup

HRG

72,863 posts

269 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
GJR said:
Their presence has only been recorded in recent decades and they are believed to be an indicator of Global Warming.
Don't you bloody dare....

Global warming my arse. CO2 levels are increasing yet global temperatures are in decline punch If you believe in that, why haven't you bought a Nissan Pious?


fking global bd warming bks. It's an exercise in taxation, nothing more. The piss poor pseudo science behind it really curdles my turds. Planet heats up, planet cools down. That's just the way it is. Oh, and why does an increase in CO2 follow a period of warming, not precede it? Cause and effect, it's a simple enough concept even for a luddite such as myself to grasp.

This lesson in science was bought to you by Janet & John's book of science 1A.


Pasco

6,652 posts

258 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
HRG said:
GJR said:
Their presence has only been recorded in recent decades and they are believed to be an indicator of Global Warming.
Don't you bloody dare....

Global warming my arse. CO2 levels are increasing yet global temperatures are in decline punch If you believe in that, why haven't you bought a Nissan Pious?


fking global bd warming bks. It's an exercise in taxation, nothing more. The piss poor pseudo science behind it really curdles my turds. Planet heats up, planet cools down. That's just the way it is. Oh, and why does an increase in CO2 follow a period of warming, not precede it? Cause and effect, it's a simple enough concept even for a luddite such as myself to grasp.

This lesson in science was bought to you by Janet & John's book of science 1A.
nono Be nice to the new boys Rob hehe


ETA He's not a new boy Kick His Ass Rob yes punch

Edited by Pasco on Friday 16th May 10:04

HRG

72,863 posts

269 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Pasco said:
HRG said:
GJR said:
Their presence has only been recorded in recent decades and they are believed to be an indicator of Global Warming.
Don't you bloody dare....

Global warming my arse. CO2 levels are increasing yet global temperatures are in decline punch If you believe in that, why haven't you bought a Nissan Pious?


fking global bd warming bks. It's an exercise in taxation, nothing more. The piss poor pseudo science behind it really curdles my turds. Planet heats up, planet cools down. That's just the way it is. Oh, and why does an increase in CO2 follow a period of warming, not precede it? Cause and effect, it's a simple enough concept even for a luddite such as myself to grasp.

This lesson in science was bought to you by Janet & John's book of science 1A.
nono Be nice to the new boys Rob hehe
When it comes to MMGW that was me being nice biggrin

I'm sure he's fine, but I'm not having any of that MMGW st in the Griff forum!

LordGrover

34,171 posts

242 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Further evidence it's all bks! :click.
I'm with you HRG. We even had a short discussion on this very topic here.

GJR

827 posts

310 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
biggrin

Wondered if that might cause a reaction. getmecoat

HRG said:
nono Be nice to the new boys Rob hehe When it comes to MMGW that was me being nice biggrin

I'm sure he's fine, but I'm not having any of that MMGW st in the Griff forum!
Don't worry HRG... I agree with you smile Which is why I don't drive a Prius and used my Griff as an every day car. biggrin Besides you notice I didn't mention MMGW...

I just happen to be working on something that seems to be linked to GW.... I'm in no ones' pocket.. I get no funding... in fact I pay my own way. weeping My thoughts are exactly the same as yours.... "Planet heats up, planet cools down. That's just the way it is." But... isn't it better to have someone on the inside, fighting from within. biggrin

uuhhh... Paul... this is your thread.... do you have an opinion ? Just make sure it's the right one. biggrin

Now I'm worried that I'll get mobbed if I do make it to GG09 eek ! Please... Mods.. remove all mention of GW & MMGW from the TVR forum... I'm Sorry !! smile


HRG

72,863 posts

269 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Ok, I'll let you off for now thumbup

I just feel a duty to ensure we have a system of checks and balances in place when it comes to THAT :Spit: biggrin

GJR

827 posts

310 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
smile

Pasco

6,652 posts

258 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
HRG said:
Pasco said:
HRG said:
GJR said:
Their presence has only been recorded in recent decades and they are believed to be an indicator of Global Warming.
Don't you bloody dare....

Global warming my arse. CO2 levels are increasing yet global temperatures are in decline punch If you believe in that, why haven't you bought a Nissan Pious?


fking global bd warming bks. It's an exercise in taxation, nothing more. The piss poor pseudo science behind it really curdles my turds. Planet heats up, planet cools down. That's just the way it is. Oh, and why does an increase in CO2 follow a period of warming, not precede it? Cause and effect, it's a simple enough concept even for a luddite such as myself to grasp.

This lesson in science was bought to you by Janet & John's book of science 1A.
nono Be nice to the new boys Rob hehe
When it comes to MMGW that was me being nice biggrin

I'm sure he's fine, but I'm not having any of that MMGW st in the Griff forum!
Did you miss my edit Rob hehe