paul the 6th
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 12:55 PM |
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When telling people about your plans to build a car, did you get "that" look
honestly, the guy at the bodyshop over the road asked me why I'd bought a welder so i explained quickly about the locost/roadster books and that
I've got a few mates who are building... He was hiding a rye smile and giving me that look of "you'll never do it"
Some of the lads I work with occaisionally still give me it when henever the build is mentioned (asside from one lad who sat there and said
"You'll never f*cking do, you're crap at everything" , the father in law does the same and starts talking about cricket.
I'm a bit of a whiz with computers and very technically minded with gadgets etc, but not so much with engines/mechanical bits.
Am I just being paranoid or did you get the same doubtful look from various people when you talked about your plans to start a build?
Welder has arrived today btw 
GoDesign.me.uk - Self Adhesive Vinyl Artwork, Wide Format Printed Artwork and Customised Heat
Pressed Clothing...
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http://picasaweb.google.com/haynesroadster - Roadster Photo Build Log
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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balidey
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:01 PM |
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Building your own car????? Are you MAD? 
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mcerd1
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:01 PM |
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I get it all the time from everyone 
then you get the standard question "Whay don't you just buy a new car ?"
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:02 PM |
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Usually all I get is with my cars is the - IS THAT LEGAL TO BE ON THE ROAD?!?!? well technically no but...
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nick205
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:07 PM |
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That look (and we've all had it BTW) is not what it seems
People are actually thinking...
"shoot - I always knew this guy was a winner and now he's going to prove it big time. I know, I'll fake a look of utter contempt to
hide and protect me inner feelings of total inadequacy and lack of vision"
That's my take on it anyway
The best bit is when you've finished and you rock up outside their house/work in the car and have every right to flash the...
"HaHa I told you what I was going to do and look, I've done it"
..look at them 
Before scaring the crap out of them in it
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:07 PM |
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HAHA! It's true. Last night my wife looked visably worried when I mentioned taking our little lad out in it.
She asked - "is it safe? what if you roll it?"
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nick205
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Dangle_kt
HAHA! It's true. Last night my wife looked visably worried when I mentioned taking our little lad out in it.
She asked - "is it safe? what if you roll it?"
...he's shorter than me so I guess he'll have a better chance
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Benzine
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:11 PM |
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The question I get asked more than any other is "so, when will it be finished?"
Why can't anyone ask anything interesting?
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oldtimer
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:23 PM |
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The doubters are usually people who's lack of faith in themselves is the main issue.
By 'you'll never do it' they probably mean 'I could never do it'
Not everyone who starts, particularly from scratch rather than buying a kit of parts, will make it - but the fact you are questioning yourself now
indicates that you will make decisions after careful thought, which is always the best way round!
Do it, best of luck, and, like me, use this site to help along the way.
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chrisg
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:37 PM |
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When I built my first Locost I had my father-in-law telling me about how you couldn't use an engine from one car in a different one.
When I explained how it was possible,techniocally, he told me it was illegal!
Ignore the doubters, it's mostly jealosy
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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paul the 6th
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:37 PM |
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Thanks for all the replies guys - I'm by no means doubting myself or thinking twice about starting this.
I know there will be times where I'll question whether it's worth it or struggle trying to make things work, but I wondered if it was only
me who received this look or whether it was a recurring thing amongts outsiders looking in.
Yes it is massive job and takes a lot of time/passion/determination/swearing (from me anyway) but I have read the champion book over and over for
about 3 years running and the gibbs book for about a year. I'm well aware of what each stage of the build will entail, but for those looking in
without any prior knowledge of what it takes, it may well seem impossible.
If anything, it really does make me think "fair enough, but you'll really want to have a thrash when it's on the road"
GoDesign.me.uk - Self Adhesive Vinyl Artwork, Wide Format Printed Artwork and Customised Heat
Pressed Clothing...
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paul the 6th
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:42 PM |
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The only thing I have seriously been pondering is:
Should I sell my 2005 suzuki sv650 sport in order to help finance the project?
It's an absolutely pristine machine with 5k miles on the clock & tonnes of bits already done to it. I've also got a 2005 gsxr 1000
shock to go on the back and some custom made maxton springs for the front but with it being winter I've not had chance to ride it, let alone
think about modding it further.
The lack of 2 wheel action on the road has led me to think that it's a waste of money and an expensive toy which could be better used by someone
else and to help pay for a donor/tools as I go along.
the only thing is i know i WILL miss it when summer turns up for 3 weeks in april and all the weekend warriors turn up
GoDesign.me.uk - Self Adhesive Vinyl Artwork, Wide Format Printed Artwork and Customised Heat
Pressed Clothing...
--------
http://picasaweb.google.com/haynesroadster - Roadster Photo Build Log
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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mcerd1
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
The question I get asked more than any other is "so, when will it be finished?"
Why can't anyone ask anything interesting?
only my boss asks me that one now - everyone else gave up asking that years ago
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DIY Si
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 01:59 PM |
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I wouldn't worry. I was building one, until the missus told me I had to stop. But then she gave me £5K to go buy one! And now the bug has
bitten, most of mates get bored now and then with what the next plan is. And they've all promised to help build my Epona. If they're
really lucky, or I'm drunk, I may even let them drive it too!
Just got to put the engine back together and make it run, then mate it to a gearbox, then build the car around it, then (I)SVA it, then argue with the
DVLA.............
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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RK
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:27 PM |
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Only from lazy bar stoods who don't have hobbies. When it's done, and they ask if they can have a ride, I'll have to say "nah,
you wouldn't fit".
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JonBowden
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:31 PM |
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I'd been planning to build a car fro scratch since the early '80s but I didn't tell anyone as I knew what their reaction would
be.
Then I saw some program on Sky showing how people were building sevens from plans in a book.
I realised I had been overtaken, but at least I wasn't the only one who wanted to build a car from scratch.
Now that I have told everyone, they think "I always knew he was a bit strange an deluded"
Jon
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by RK
Only from lazy bar stoods who don't have hobbies. When it's done, and they ask if they can have a ride, I'll have to say "nah,
you wouldn't fit".
quite right!
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Z20let Corsa
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:36 PM |
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i find everyone i know thinks things are much easier than they are. they all expect to see a massive difference every time they see the car (every few
days) and are dissapointed when they see it and not much has changed visually, but the few people that have helped me with various jobs i think have
realised how time consuming etc the job really is!! and yes i get 'that look' all the time but i just think itll be soooooo good when i
roll up outside various peoples houses etc in it!!!!
locost +4 v8 in progress.
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Triton
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:40 PM |
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You want to try working in the Industry then...blimey folk think i'm barking and I get fed up explaining that "yes you can make your own
car".
Lost count on the amount of times I have tried to explain how and why but hey they obviously can't do it so y advice is get in the garage and
"just do it"
Oh and keep the bike as you will need it for your sanity when the build gets a bit "heavy".
I'm building a mad streetfighter to keep me sane....
Cheers,
Mark
My Daughter has taken over production of the damn fine Triton race seats and her contact email is emmatrs@live.co.uk.
www.tritonraceseats.com
www.hairyhedgehog.com
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:44 PM |
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I always tend to get funny looks from folk when they see my desk which usually is covered in doodles... few seem to understand the concept of
building a car far less one that looks like and antique
who can deny the huge grin you get though when driving a self built car through town, I know I do. The buggy made me laugh at the comments it got or
people almost crashing when they see it. Once had a heap of girls moon me from the back window of a bus when driving the falcon!! LOL
the most satisfaction I get though is from my r/c planes, when I design one from scratch and then finally get it flying perfectly, its a black art to
many, sole destroying if it ends up getting crashed
Image deleted by owner
[Edited on 10/12/08 by Mr Whippy]
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02GF74
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:47 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by paul the 6th
I know there will be times where I'll question whether it's worth it or struggle trying to make things work,
Is it worth it? I am not sure it is but it is the challenge. It is like climbing Everest or taking the escalator.
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 02:54 PM |
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I always get asked "when will it be done?" Like every sodding day from one lad I work with just to wind me up I also carry pictures
of it on my phone then I don't have to be forever explaining what it is. People just can't get their heads around a car that has no
windscreeon or roof let alone one that you build yourself, from metal and spare parts
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 04:09 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
I get it all the time from everyone
then you get the standard question "Whay don't you just buy a new car ?"
But thats a question I have also asked myself more
than once during my build!
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adithorp
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 04:32 PM |
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I didn't mind people asking questions. What I got sick of was the STUPID questions.
"Is it a car?"
"Will you drive it when its finished?"
...and my personal favorite. Stood in front of a bright orange body shell...
"What colour will it be?"
I had to smile when a little girl had listened to her brother asking dozens of "How fast will it be?" type questions, was prompted by her
Dad to ask me something, said "Why isn't it pink?"
adrian
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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mcerd1
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| posted on 10/12/08 at 05:22 PM |
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as well as all the above - every now and then I meet someone who 'gets it'
(often they are building/moding there own car of some kind - sometimes there on here)
they normally ask about the spec, then how much I've left to do, then how long its taken - then for some reson with out fail they tell me to
'hurry up' or 'just get on and build the thing'
-Robert (3.5 years and counting......)
[Edited on 10/12/08 by mcerd1]
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