David Jenkins
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 08:46 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
It's almost like the poor bloke's been set up for a fall - the programme is called kit car crisis after all.
I think the title is a bad word-play on "mid-life crisis", a subject that comes up at the beginning of the programme.
DJ
|
|
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 09:14 AM |
|
|
he moaned about having to do 400 with an air riveter
Sounds like he's really up for building a kit. I don't have the channel to watch this but if I did I think I wouldn't bother.
Idiots like that can only be bad publicity.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
tony9876
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 11:11 AM |
|
|
Does anyone remember the canon gt1.The maker of the dominator is one other than Paul Legot who made that car.
|
|
|
tri
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 11:49 AM |
|
|
i missed it last night but if this is what is going to replace american hot rod i think i will be spending more time on the pc instead of watching
that
Tri
|
|
|
Spyderman
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 01:06 PM |
|
|
Come on Guys, give the man a chance!
Everyone starts somewhere and not all have a good grounding in mechanics or engineering.
There must be lots of people out there just like him who have built their cars from a background of "ignorance". There must surely be just
as many who have aspired to the same and never completed their cars.
The fact that he is starting from ignorance gives the show more credence for me as you know that things are not predetermined. Showing all the common
mistakes that novices make will hopefully do more good for those in similar circumstances as they will then be able to avoid them. You learn far more
from a mistake than by doing it right first time (usually by chance).
Everyone complained about the Mark Evans programs because he had an expert do everything slightly more technical than changing a wheel. Most people go
into their project with the plan they can do more of it themselves to save money. By doing it the hard way more can be gained in experience and
pride.
A lot of folk say they know their limits and don't do the things they might struggle with. Fine if that is your way and you can afford to do
that. Not everyone knows their limits and the journey is often more enjoyable than the goal.
If he crashes in his first race he will then have learnt something else. What is wrong in learning?
I for one enjoyed the program! 
Terry
I'll get down off my soap box now!
Spyderman
|
|
|
Lawnmower
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 06:02 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
1)They build a shed instead of a garage - it would have been just as cheap to build a garage of that size.
2) It's all being done in the back garden of a terraced house with no access other than through the front door. I'm sorry, but even the
biggest prat in the world wouldn't do that, they would hire a lock up nearby.
(I havn't seen the show, dont have home and leisure 
This way of building it looks like it may well be my only chance!
Definatly not my first choice, but only option! What problems did he have regarding building in the back yard?
Did he get in contact with a crane company first???
Could rent a garage is suppose, but would cost, plus its not like you could just nip out and do a bit for 10minutes!
Best of luck to him!
|
|
|
zilspeed
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 06:09 PM |
|
|
I suppose the point I was making was that they built a timber shed which was just as big as a garage. Just the door wasn't big enough to get the
car out. Wat was the point in that - they knew that a fully built car had to get out of the door - why build the wrong thing ?
Not unless it was another artificially introduced difficulty.
They then hire a crane in a later episode to crane the car out of the back garden and into the street.
So, they build a shed to build the car in and once the car is built and craned out the shed is redundant and the car has nowhere to live........
Bonkers.
|
|
|
DaveFJ
|
| posted on 8/5/05 at 09:48 PM |
|
|
Just to put in my two pennorth...
His mate (who's advice he seemed to ignore) is an editor of PPC mag I believe! - Just when I was gaining respect for that mag, can't
remember a quote now but the guy (the mate) came out with some complete crap.
Apparently you can't be competetive without a hyabusa engine! And why was he so desperate to get the very light motorcycle engine a few inches
backward ? would it really of made any difference ?
The guy seems to be in well over his head.
[Edited on 8/5/05 by DaveFJ]
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
|
|
|
Jasper
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 11:48 AM |
|
|
I have no problem with people not knowing very much and learning the hard way - it's what I did after all. But where's the research?
What gets me with this chap is that he seems to have more money than sense, and the fact that he's making his life so hard KNOWING that he knows
very little about anything.
I, for one, would never have attempted to build a BEC without the help of people on this (and other) lists.
This is compounded by the fact that he has given himself a ridiculous deadline.
What builder on here with no knowledge at all would pick an obscure untested manufacturer, with no build manual or proper company back-up, who
hadn't actually completed a car with that engine combination and raced it?
What arse would buy an expensive engine diff assembly FIRST, then try to find a chassis to fit it?
And if he's main interest is to race and presumably win, is he so bothered about looking different and original? Maybe he just wants to look
good in the paddock?
As for the shed with no proper door in the garden - where does he intend to keep and maintain the car when racing? Does he have any idea how much
maintenance/repair work he will have to do even to stay vaguely competitive in the RGB? Is he gonna do this in the rain, out on the street?
Me things a very nieve chap - but good luck to him!
Anyway - rant over, I for one will be watching with interest 
|
|
|
NS Dev
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 01:02 PM |
|
|
First off, I don't race on circuits, but I do race in autograss (which is a lot rougher most of the time and cars have to withstand high
stresses)
My viewpoint is as follows:
If he has £12,000 to hand, then he is lucky!
I built my current 4 car block-built, concrete floored, proper garage/workshop myself for well under £4000. I had never built a building, layed blocks
etc before but needs must! It passed all inspections etc!
I built a rally car (together with a mate) pretty much from scratch, which was my first full car build, and this successfully finished many events
with no failures.
I then built my autograss car, completely from scratch, on a VERY low budget (sub £1000 excl engine) again with no prior knowledge other than watching
racing and generally being nosey! I won my class in club in my first full year racing. I didn't build it in a wooden shed, didn't need a
crane to remove it, it wasn't inspected by anybody else, I never had the benefit of practice (not allowed in autograss) and nothing (other than
a fuel pump and a fuseholder!) has broken in 2.5 years racing.
I am not a brialliant driver, and whilst I consider myself pretty competent as an engineer, I am no genius in that area either.
The programme sounds like the usual TV mishmash cockup, though I have not yet seen it, as I am too busy, usually with cars or house, to watch any TV
at all, let alone anything other than the news!
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 01:13 PM |
|
|
Just to get things into perspective, when I started to build my car I had NO experience in car building, just a bit of DIY car maintenance (cos I was
always broke!). I had done some model engineering (a steam loco) so I had a good idea how to join bits of metal, but no welding skills.
The difference is that when I started I didn't set myself ridiculous deadlines, I had a garage to work in, and was prepared to face "new
and interesting" tasks as they appeared - that was the fun part of building. I met major frustrations, cocked-up more often than I would care to
detail, and rebuilt bits when subsequent experience showed that I'd made a mistake.
I didn't whinge when I had to cut sheets of metal, or had a few hundred pop rivets to fix, or generally took longer to achieve
something.
I will also be following this series - unless I end up throwing something at the TV! 
David
|
|
|
DaveFJ
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 04:30 PM |
|
|
this thread makes an interesting read!!
http://www.bikecars.co.uk/Forum/topic.asp?intMessageID=2000
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
|
|
|
rayward
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 04:58 PM |
|
|
Reading the other thread(on bikecars) you've got to ask , if the suspension brackets ripped off by bouncing the supspension - would you still
take the car on the track????????.
Ray
[Edited on 9/5/05 by rayward]
|
|
|
NS Dev
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 08:09 PM |
|
|
true, if nothing else that chap is brave!
|
|
|
mad-butcher
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 08:12 PM |
|
|
a domminator is a copy of an mk gt1 chassis but not as well made (in my opinion) those air nibblers or shears are shite mine does the same thing cuts
for the first 3 inches then you have to really push and thats at 100psi with 150 litre tank
tony
|
|
|
Hellfire
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 09:17 PM |
|
|
That poor guy has been set-up to fail I reckon. It'll prolly end up on ebay as a part finished project like so many others.
Half the fun and memories are created when the going gets tough... it's all part of the learning curve.
|
|
|
bob
|
| posted on 9/5/05 at 09:27 PM |
|
|
Call me synical if you like but i smell a rat with this piece of TV,someones being set up but i'm not sure who.
|
|
|
donut
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 06:43 AM |
|
|
Looks to me like he had joined the 'donut' school of kit car building!!!
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
|
|
|
NS Dev
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 07:07 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by mad-butcher
a domminator is a copy of an mk gt1 chassis but not as well made (in my opinion) those air nibblers or shears are shite mine does the same thing cuts
for the first 3 inches then you have to really push and thats at 100psi with 150 litre tank
tony
I find the shears very good! I can cut 1.6mm mild steel sheet very easily with them and in very straight lines, which is something I would not like to
attempt with tinsnips!
The nibbler is useful but VERY messy, all the little half moons go everywhere!!
|
|
|
MikeR
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 08:30 AM |
|
|
like in your blooming shoes, socks, feet ......
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 08:41 AM |
|
|
I found that I would get 100's of the little bits stuck in the soles of my shoes, which would then transfer themselves to the carpet in the
house - not popular...
DJ
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 08:59 AM |
|
|
I use an electric drill mounted nibbler from one of the shows and it's been brilliant. It's done 3 lots of bodywork and various other bits
and it's still on its first cutting die. Oil the cut line with a blob of engine oil every couple of inches and it holds a lot of the toenail
clippings so you can wipe them up after.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
Jasper
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 10:31 AM |
|
|
Dominator themselves have now joined the RGB thread (above) - should make for some interesting reading in the future. He's defending the ripped
off suspension and other parts by saying they were adapted from standard.
|
|
|
DaveFJ
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 10:34 AM |
|
|
Not much of a defence really, we all know pretty much by looking if a suspension bracket is going to withstand a battering let alone come of whilst
testing in the paddock......
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
|
|
|
NS Dev
|
| posted on 10/5/05 at 10:57 AM |
|
|
My thoughts exactly!!!!! I can't see how they can have any defence when they seem to admit that although they were redesigned, they did weld the
brackets on. If there is one thing you can guarantee, it will have broken on the welds and not torn the bracket.
As for the chassis bending, jeez, there is no weight to support, how weak must it have been to have bent!!!!!
Flipping hell, there is a lot to get wrong on a race car, and a lot of development in chassis making, but to get one to stay in one piece and finish a
race is not rocket science. To win it is another thing altogether!
|
|
|
