Richard Quinn
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:01 PM |
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Dilemma - Please help...
OK, so here’s the thing… My car has done the grand total of about 200 miles since being SVA’d and registered in April/May last year.
Despite the unusually pleasant weather we’ve had recently, the car has only been out of the garage once.
I really enjoyed the build but the fact is I generally can’t be *rsed getting the car out to drive round in a big circle just for the fun of it. Is
there something wrong with me?
I know that there are some serial builders on here and some that just wanted to buy a car and get out and drive it. I don’t want to rush into another
“project” as I think that it would just end up going the same way.
I think one of the underlying problems is that I have spent a lot of my time previously involved in or around motorsport of one type or another and,
despite driving high annual mileages with work, I used to really look forward to racing at the weekend. The idea of the kit was that it would get me
away from this and allow me to go out when and where I wanted on a pretty fixed budget but it hasn’t worked. Going back into racing isn’t really an
option at the moment as I don’t have sufficient disposable income and attempting it on a budget generally doesn’t work too well.
So, over to you lot. I know that you are all impartial and completely unbiased amateur psychologists so what should I do?
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tegwin
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:08 PM |
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I always feel I get more from building various projects than actually using the end result...
It is nice when you have to go somewhere to drive the "special car"..... but I am usuually too busy to even do that 
The couple of times I have taken the car out is has been very special and memorable though 
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Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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eznfrank
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:09 PM |
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Are there any local meets from here, Pistonheads etc that you could go to, makes it a bit more of an event then.
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SeaBass
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:10 PM |
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This started to happen to me.
The best thing is to try to put together a bunch of mates - (doesn't really matter what cars as long as they can punt them along) and plan some
trips along the best roads you can find. Plan a lunch stop etc etc.
During the summer I used to drive the car over to a "Saturday Workshop" at a pals where we would work on cars that anyone had brought
along.
JC
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afj
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:10 PM |
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you need to get out more driving on your own is rather dull what ever your driving get out with some fellow locosters and rack some miles up 10 of
us went out last monday and did 125+ miles around cambs/beds and had a great time
eerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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smart51
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:11 PM |
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join a club who organise driving events. South Brum Locosters used to have a monthly drive during the summer months, with a chat in the pub
afterwards. We also organise a day trip about once a year too.
Go on a track day. £100 - £200 per go might be a lot, plus petrol and tyres, but it is cheaper than racing.
Go to work in it once in a while. I finish early on a Friday so can take the scenic route home.
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coozer
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:16 PM |
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I managed a boggling 900ish miles in my Striker over 10 years. I really enjoyed changing the engine every 5 minutes more than driving it, even though
it was hoot.
With Bumper I talked myself into getting out more and so far have racked up about 4500 miles in the couple years he's been on the road.
To satisfy my building addiction I'm now embarking on a 4x4 thing that I can do the building with and still have Bumper when I fancy a drive.
And, there's always the repairs when I do what he's named after
So, every time I get the urge to take Bumper to bits I go find a new project, got a few on the go atm but I never get the urge to finish one before I
start a new one..
Log burner and garage extension are next, just trying to resist the urge and finish one of the other scrap heap challenges first
LG,
Steve
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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t16turbotone
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:16 PM |
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Have to say ime suffering from the same condition! Ime begining to realise that i enjoy the build more than driving the feckin thing! I am considering
selling my 7 just through lack of use. Maybe we should organise more road trips?
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sucksqueezebangblow
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:22 PM |
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(a) Yes there is something serious wrong with you.
(b) Get out and have a blast at some track days.
Better to Burnout than to Fade Away JET METAL ~ AndySparrow © 
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r1_pete
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:28 PM |
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I'm the same with the Jag, bought it ready to use but couldn't resist loads of little jobs over the winter, have done 250 miles so far
this year, and making a list of what to do over the winter, new back wings and boot floor are top of the list. Megasquirt for the ignition will
probably be a running conversion.
Steve hurry up with that log burner, I want to copy the design before SWMBO gives the bottle to the tatters.
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jimgiblett
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by SeaBass
This started to happen to me.
The best thing is to try to put together a bunch of mates - (doesn't really matter what cars as long as they can punt them along) and plan some
trips along the best roads you can find. Plan a lunch stop etc etc.
I totally agree. For me it is not just the car but the people you meet.
I used to be a trackday addict but now I am happy to tour (yes even in a BEC). In just over two weeks I, and a gang of mates who I have all met though
kit cars are off to tour the French, Swiss and Italian Alps in our kit cars. And not all posh hotels, this is locost style camping where we can and
where we want. Can't wait.
- Jim
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jabbahutt
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:50 PM |
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Richard
I'm in a similar situation and only down the road from you. My main problem is getting into a rut of driving the same routes over and over and
going out without other drivers gets tedious after a while.
I'm sure there are other owners in our area. Maybe we can arrange a meet at a decent pub with a beer garden and go out for a blat. I'd
appreciate other peoples input on decent driving routes in our area.
Nigel
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JimSpencer
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:55 PM |
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Not all motorsport is expensive..
Autosolo's are a tiny tiny fraction of what it costs to go circuit racing. They're £20 ish to enter, the cars Have to be driven there and
there's basically no running costs.
Even hillclimbs and sprints are cheap compared to circuit racing at around 1/3 to 1/2 the entry fee's but virtually no running costs.
My suggestion would be to join your local motor club too - see what clubsport there is going on locally and join in - you've got the right car
to start with
EDIT
Just noticed where you are - you ARE a member of the Liverpool motor club arn't you?
If not you certainly should be!
[Edited on 3/6/10 by JimSpencer]
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coozer
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 02:59 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
Steve hurry up with that log burner, I want to copy the design before SWMBO gives the bottle to the tatters.
Pete, gas bottle burner is done, rusting away in the garden atm - SWITNNO now wants a posh one in the living room!
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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TimC
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 03:29 PM |
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What you need to do Rich is convert your car to race spec, which you are bound to enjoy, and then let me borrow it until mine is ready.
On a vaguely more serious note, have you done any track work in it?
Alternatively, sell-up and see if you and Jamie can make one of those Class 8 things work on a track. 
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Guinness
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 03:38 PM |
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I've done 7,500 miles in the Indy now (SVA'd in 2007). 95% of those miles have been done with the NE7ER's.
Meeting up with other cars and going for a blat is what it is all about in my eyes. Having said that, I'm acutely aware that I am blessed to
have such a fantastic set of mates and roads local to me.
However, I'm hugely disappointed that because the guy who built my car was a complete arse and mechanical numpty (me) it's so bloody
un-reliable. This means I take it out far less than I should and spend far more time than I should underneath the bloody thing......
I'm 50/50 at the moment between bringing my winter re-build forward by 4 months, just to try to get a more usable / reliable car.
Mike
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Lightning
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 03:40 PM |
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thats strange. My car has been on the road less than a week and I have clocked up over 100mls. Ok, some of those miles the brakes have locked up and
it overheated once, but isnt that the fun of it
Steve
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 04:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by TimC
What you need to do Rich is convert your car to race spec, which you are bound to enjoy, and then let me borrow it until mine is ready.
On a vaguely more serious note, have you done any track work in it?
Alternatively, sell-up and see if you and Jamie can make one of those Class 8 things work on a track.
I can see it's resale value plummeting if I lent it to you for RGB :p
Nope, no track work done in it. Trackdays don't really appeal too much either as I tend to get a bit "focussed" and probably
wouldn't be able to help myself.
We've had various Autograss cars out on slicks at Anglesey and it's quite entertaining. We did contemplate trying to IVA a Class 10!
Sprints & hillclimbs aren't that cheap and the lack of reverse may be an issue.
I just think I need to get out more (so to speak) but my long hours and 40odd mile commute means I'm never in early of an evening and then
there's tea, dog walking etc. So that really only leaves the weekends when I seem to have to catch up with "those little jobs".
I dunno, keep the suggestions coming!
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pewe
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 04:13 PM |
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Jim ^^ is right. Providing you don't want to be the next Button/Hamilton/whatever a local club that organises Autosolos etc. has got to be worth
a crack.
Track days are OK but rel. costly and lack the competitive edge of knowing what your times are.
Son & I are doing our first Autosolo at Abingdon on 12th so watch this space.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe 
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 04:16 PM |
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Why not use it for the 40 mile commute when the weather is as it is today? Might reignite the enthusiasm and get you cruising just for the sake of
cruising.
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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ali f27
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 04:54 PM |
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i am toying with idea of trip to continent next year long road trip something like that might do the trick have done 7 thousand miles in 2 years also
hill climbs sprints track days etc going to get shopping now in it
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 05:41 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by jabbahutt
Richard
I'm in a similar situation and only down the road from you. My main problem is getting into a rut of driving the same routes over and over and
going out without other drivers gets tedious after a while.
I'm sure there are other owners in our area. Maybe we can arrange a meet at a decent pub with a beer garden and go out for a blat. I'd
appreciate other peoples input on decent driving routes in our area.
Nigel
Yup, I'd be up for that. There are a few locally but I know from just trying to arrange going for a pint that it is difficult arranging a
mutually convenient time.
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 05:48 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
Why not use it for the 40 mile commute when the weather is as it is today? Might reignite the enthusiasm and get you cruising just for the sake of
cruising.
Don't fancy that at all to be honest. 42 of the 45 miles are motorway and it takes in the very picturesque Thelwall viaduct!
The other potential issue is that I quite often have to call at a local site which means carrying my ppe with me. If I had to go to our workshop,
I'd be screwed as my BMW grounds on the speed 'bumps' on that estate.
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big_wasa
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 06:36 PM |
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Yep I am the same. ive loved (and hated ) building mine.
Once ive had a drive that will be it. I do it with every thing. Strip, rebuild then sell at a loss. the locost ive scratch built so its taken much
longer but the out come will be the same.
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whitestu
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| posted on 3/6/10 at 08:44 PM |
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200 miles a year! That's going it a bit by my standards!
I'm nearer the 150 mile mark.
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