Dangle_kt
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| posted on 7/2/09 at 10:27 PM |
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continental tour - in a bec?
Hi guys,
As my car gets closer and closer to being road legal my mind is slowly getting round the idea of actually driving the car, as opposed to work on it,
and sit it in the garage.
Now the obvious sunday blasts, and trackdays apart - has anyone done any trips in their BEC's?
I'm not talking "daily driver" type journeys, but special continental tours, Nordschleife trips etc.
Is a BEC up to this? Obviously it would require a good few months post registration to shake down and remedy any teething problems, but say late
summer 09, is it feasable?
Its a 893 fireblade install in a live axle locost.
I have a trailer and a super reliable tin top, so might do the liverpool - continent on a trailer, then find a friendly B&B farm house to deposit
the car and trailer at.
I once hired my best mate an E type for his stag do, and me and him drove round the wilds of scotland all weekend, going where the mood took us, it
was an epic weekend that will live long in my memory - and whilst my car is NO e-type, could I get close to a slightly more manic version?
Your thoughts gents, and ladies?
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mackei23b
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| posted on 7/2/09 at 10:39 PM |
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One of the kit car mags did an article on some car that went to France, some were BECs
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roadrunner
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| posted on 7/2/09 at 10:52 PM |
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To me it's not whether the car can take it but the animal driving it.
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YQUSTA
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| posted on 7/2/09 at 11:09 PM |
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I have thought about the same thing i cant see why it would be any different to any other car.
Bike parts are every where the only thing I would pack for the car is a spare clutch and throttle cable as these maybe harder to find.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 7/2/09 at 11:20 PM |
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Hmm mine gets pretty wearing after a couple of hours, but trail to a B&B in central France then cast about does sound pretty good.
But then mine is minimal with open exhaust, a bit of work on quieting it down would resolve most of that.
Only thing to be wary of is legislation on spares so you will need triangle, bulbs etc incase you get a tug, I have noticed abroad people are far more
interested in odd/nice cars than in the UK.
Once there book up a track day on the way home, Magny Cours maybe then drift over to Nürburgring on the last day as you do have a trailer just in
case.
Infact starting to sound very attractive !!!
Regards Mark
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prawnabie
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| posted on 7/2/09 at 11:27 PM |
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I've been to the nurbugring twice a year for the last 5 years in my tin top. Planning a week in spain this year so hopefully will go back the
the ring in the kit car later this year when i have put some miles on it!
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james h
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| posted on 7/2/09 at 11:54 PM |
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I was just on pistonheads and thinking of doing such a thing, i have a year out from uni - providing i get the car done, I would love to go on a big
ol road trip!
Maybe we should organise something with people on here...
James
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Steve Hignett
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 12:05 AM |
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http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=101366
quote:
Originally posted by james h
I was just on pistonheads and thinking of doing such a thing, i have a year out from uni - providing i get the car done, I would love to go on a big
ol road trip!
Maybe we should organise something with people on here...
James
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james h
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 12:26 AM |
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Aha, just thhe thing Steve! Regarding Santander, i saw this video after looking at pistonheads:
Linky - seems fantastic!
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idl1975
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 06:53 AM |
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IMHO, the "BECs are undriveable on the road" stuff is made up by people who can't get their head around a bike drivetrain. I.e.
relatively low flywheel effect and quick revving.
My '893 engined 3.62 Indy is more flexible in its delivery than my wife's 182 Cup, which (stating the obvious) is a 2 liter mill driving a
comparatively lightweight tin top.
There's no reason at all you shouldn't tour in your car that has anything particularly to do with the drivetrain. Whether you have a
weather kit fitted and whether you want to work out teething issues in a foreign country are another question, but those points apply whatever the
drivetrain.
quote:
Originally posted by Dangle_kt
Hi guys,
As my car gets closer and closer to being road legal my mind is slowly getting round the idea of actually driving the car, as opposed to work on it,
and sit it in the garage.
Now the obvious sunday blasts, and trackdays apart - has anyone done any trips in their BEC's?
I'm not talking "daily driver" type journeys, but special continental tours, Nordschleife trips etc.
Is a BEC up to this? Obviously it would require a good few months post registration to shake down and remedy any teething problems, but say late
summer 09, is it feasable?
Its a 893 fireblade install in a live axle locost.
I have a trailer and a super reliable tin top, so might do the liverpool - continent on a trailer, then find a friendly B&B farm house to deposit
the car and trailer at.
I once hired my best mate an E type for his stag do, and me and him drove round the wilds of scotland all weekend, going where the mood took us, it
was an epic weekend that will live long in my memory - and whilst my car is NO e-type, could I get close to a slightly more manic version?
Your thoughts gents, and ladies?
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iiyama
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 08:20 AM |
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Same thing has been going through my mind. My sister has a house down near tolouse and there is a guy on the Westy site by the name of Norman who owns
The French Blatting Company, (or something similar), He's about an hour or so south of Le Mans.
As with most BECS I dont have a screen or weather gear, but I guess if youve got the right clothing on, (as per riding a bike!), it shouldnt make any
difference as to what the weather throws at you.........within reason!!! 
If its broke, fix it. If it aint broke, take it apart and find out how it works!
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Guinness
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 08:37 AM |
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I did a decent trip from mine (in Newcastle) to Fort William and back last summer. I know it doesn't sound much, but it's 265 miles each
way! It was fine TBH. Broke it up with a couple of stops to re-fuel / have a coffee etc.
(Mind you we have done over 300 miles in a day, just blatting round the Scottish borders / Lakes / Pennines).
Am planning a similar trip with the NE7ER's this May, Ncle to Fort William, Fort William to Inverness, Inverness back to Newcastle. That should
be about 800 miles.
If that all goes smoothly, which I have no reason to doubt, then I'm planning something continental. I'd love to do Le Mans, but driving
Ncle to Calais is putting me off.
I could do Ncle to Amsterdam on the ferry, and be within 220 miles of the Ring.
Mike
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designer
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 09:17 AM |
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We get loads of Seven, and classic car convoys staying around here for a night or two on their way south, and then again on their way back home.
Even the noisiest car can be a dream on a clear and quiet B road in France!
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ReMan
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 09:18 AM |
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Go for it!
Not been transcontinental in mine yet, but would have little hesitation in doing so.
I have done a 400 mile round trip from Hinckley to and round North wales and back and if you consider the Northe Wales terrain, then if an 893 can
manage that then anything bigger/newer should wee it!
If you trust your car to do 100 miles then the rest is just multiples, any car CEC or BEC could break, but as long as you're covered an take
reasonable precaautions with the car and your clothing there's no reason not to do it
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minitici
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 09:44 AM |
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Jonathan Rarity (Scottish Hillclimb Champion) regularly takes trips abroad with his pre-lit Westfield (Honda Blackbird)...
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brycheiniog
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 10:07 AM |
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Jonathan normally does tours organized by the tour7 email list on www.se7ens.net. The picture above was taken on our trip to Spain and France last
year which I organized. This year Jonathan is organising a two week trip to the alps in July. If anybody wants more info I can post it here, but it
would be better to sign up for tour7.
On the subject of doing long trips in beds dan (brother of BenB) has done the last few long tours in a zx9r powered striker without any significant
problems. The Spanish trip last year was over 2000 miles..
Jonathan
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richard thomas
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 10:37 AM |
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Took mine to Le Mans - no screen or heater in it.
Pack plenty of weather gear, make plenty of stops (you will for fuel anyway...) and take plenty of ear plugs.
You'll love it! But will likely be exhausted when you get back.
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aka Keith
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 11:17 AM |
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FWIW,
I am planning a trip to the Norshcliff (spelling) later this year in mine. BEC will be driven all the way there, a couple of days at the ring, and
then driven back.
I cannot wait.
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BenB
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 12:24 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by brycheiniog
Jonathan normally does tours organized by the tour7 email list on www.se7ens.net. The picture above was taken on our trip to Spain and France last
year which I organized. This year Jonathan is organising a two week trip to the alps in July. If anybody wants more info I can post it here, but it
would be better to sign up for tour7.
On the subject of doing long trips in beds dan (brother of BenB) has done the last few long tours in a zx9r powered striker without any significant
problems. The Spanish trip last year was over 2000 miles..
Jonathan
Well almost without trouble. There was the time the sump plug fell out whilst blatting down the French motorway 
But yes he's done 2 Euro trips in the ZX9R Striker and also 2 GB trips and 1 Eire trip in the now departed Fury Blackbird... Neither have
screens or heaters I think that's the current count anyway.... And the ZX9R car is possible the loudest car in existence....
Driving long distances in a Seven is IMHO the same whether it's CEC or BEC. The question is would you want to do a Euro tour in an open-top
sports car with little side protection from the wind and the rain. I did the Eire tour in a Fury and (being slightly more enclosed) it was pretty
easy. I think the same in a Seven would have been a bit more hard core......
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idl1975
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 12:45 PM |
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I'd agree with the point about weather protection being the bigger issue.
Actually, my Indy has a substantial aero screen and the weather protection is worse than any faired bike I've owned.
On my commuter hack TRX, I not only have more protection, I have left hand heating - reach into the fairing and grab the radiator hose... It
seems like the (well, semi..) laminar flow along the length of the bonnet means the top of your helmet and your right hand get absolutely hammered by
windblast. Can be a bit uncomfortable, and I don't think any of use would recommend steering a seven with one's knees! Plus, I think
the open space to you left allows air to swirl into the cockpit over the screen, so you can get a bit of a chilly draught.
Of course, if you're not worried about electrics and have no carpeting in the car, it doesn't matter if you get rained on a bit. If you
do, you could always make up or buy one of those half-tonneau things that protect the bit of the cockpit you aren't sitting in.
quote:
Originally posted by BenB
quote:
Originally posted by brycheiniog
Jonathan normally does tours organized by the tour7 email list on www.se7ens.net. The picture above was taken on our trip to Spain and France last
year which I organized. This year Jonathan is organising a two week trip to the alps in July. If anybody wants more info I can post it here, but it
would be better to sign up for tour7.
On the subject of doing long trips in beds dan (brother of BenB) has done the last few long tours in a zx9r powered striker without any significant
problems. The Spanish trip last year was over 2000 miles..
Jonathan
Well almost without trouble. There was the time the sump plug fell out whilst blatting down the French motorway
But yes he's done 2 Euro trips in the ZX9R Striker and also 2 GB trips and 1 Eire trip in the now departed Fury Blackbird... Neither have
screens or heaters I think that's the current count anyway.... And the ZX9R car is possible the loudest car in existence....
Driving long distances in a Seven is IMHO the same whether it's CEC or BEC. The question is would you want to do a Euro tour in an open-top
sports car with little side protection from the wind and the rain. I did the Eire tour in a Fury and (being slightly more enclosed) it was pretty
easy. I think the same in a Seven would have been a bit more hard core......
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 01:45 PM |
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Thanks for all the replies.
Very interesting stuff.
I'd be doing it with a mate, which i think would make the regular stops more enjoyable (I doubt there would be much chatting with helmets
on!)
What did you guys do for luggage, and storage of it? I've seen these boot covers with bags built in, is that the sort of thing?
I agree that reliability is essential to an enjoyable trip!
GOME always appealed, but this was aimed more at them "open road, going where we want, when we want" type thing.
cheers for all the comments.
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BenB
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 04:08 PM |
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For luggage the usual trick is boot box with bars to strap luggage onto. On my ST I've got 2 quite large recesses either side of the petrol tank
so at some point I'm going to make some waterproof bags that I can stash either side for tours...
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Meeerrrk
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 08:04 PM |
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its something id like to do. no doubt the car could do it, what about you though? as said, weather would be the enemy and my biggest worry is
luggage.
I drove my car for 350miles home when i purchased it, i knew it would be a long drive but i didnt realise just how long LOL. It was fine though, i was
fairly comfortable; i suffer back ache but that was fine in my car. Mine has no heater or screen either and it wasnt a problem.
As said its something i would love to do but wouldnt do it on my own & if i had a passenger would have no where for luggage. A group of locosts
would be fantastic though. group tour anyone?
For Sale : 2008 Aries/Stuart Taylor Motorsport Locoblade (954 Blade)
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brycheiniog
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 09:04 PM |
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For luggage simply strap some of these to the roll bar:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/160313071881
Touring in a group is great fun which is why I have spent my last few summer holidays doing it .
Pimping tour7 again, we do have a support truck which we take on tour with us which provices rescue and repair capabilities..
Jonathan
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chrisg
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| posted on 8/2/09 at 09:58 PM |
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Having done Le Mans in both types, I'd say it was much harder in the BEC but that's mainly because of the noise. It leaves you with a
vibration headache and a sore hand from all the gearchanging.
Just my personal opinion, don't shout at me 
Cheers
Chris
Note to all: I really don't know when to leave well alone. I tried to get clever with the mods, then when they gave me a lifeline to see the
error of my ways, I tried to incite more trouble via u2u. So now I'm banned, never to return again. They should have done it years ago!
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