error
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| posted on 30/3/02 at 02:16 AM |
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whats up with ronchampion.com?
Hi all!
This is my first post on this forum, so I thought I would start with a nontechnical subject.
Well, the title say it all. What has happend to the site http://www.ronchampion.com/ ?
/Mikael "Error" Westerberg
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locodude
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 posted on 30/3/02 at 08:38 AM |
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Hi M
Mr champion has a history of being somewhat tardy when it comes to paying bills. Perhaps his hosting service has pulled the plug? It's not all rosy
behind that jolly fat man persona! Although we have to thank him for what he started, as a businessman he makes a good trapeeze artist.
No axe to grind, just my thoughts.
Chris PTM
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bigdaddyadd
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| posted on 30/3/02 at 06:31 PM |
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I read somewhere recently that shop he opened has gone bust or I hjust imagined it not quite sure which it's a busy place in my head. know wot I mean
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 30/3/02 at 08:09 PM |
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its been fairly common knowledge on 'the other list' that locost limited, rons company, went bankrupt end of last year.
I have seen no reports of people who have lost money to him.
I would just love a business oportunity supported by my own best selling book. I wonder if I would f*** it up?
ATB
Steve
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interestedparty
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| posted on 30/3/02 at 09:08 PM |
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This subject interests me because I hope to do at least some profit-oriented kit car stuff in the not too distant future. I would say that reasons Ron
Champion's problems have come about are all in the name i.e. Locost. If something doesn't cost very much then how on earth do you make any profit
out of it. It's okay for firms like Robin Hood and MK because they are basically engineering outfits that make the products they sell, and because
they are good at it they can make the parts sufficiently quickly to still be able to sell them at a price that many people wouldn't think it worth
trying to make them themselves. It is my understanding though that Locost Ltd were buying their stock in from outside suppliers. It's alright for
Caterham or Westfield at their prices to do that, but not Locost.
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list-- I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed-- who never would be missed!
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locodude
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| posted on 30/3/02 at 09:28 PM |
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Hi I
You're just about bang on there. You need a high profit margin to do what they were trying to do on what is basically a low value added product. All
the adverts in the press (none of which were paid for I believe) and sponser a race series does not come cheap. We all have to remember though that
Ron was a non-executive Director and did'nt want the company to fold but had no say. Just ask yourselves though, who were the Directors of Locost ltd
and who are the Directors of the company who were supplying chassis etc (who are still in business).
There are honorable companies out there selling parts and kits and we all know who I attach my flag to, no names, no pack drill!
Chris PTM
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andyd
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| posted on 31/3/02 at 10:29 AM |
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This is the Locost Ltd deal AFAIK...
As stated in a previous post of mine, my mate and I paid Locost Ltd a chunk of money to supply us with chassis + other bits etc. We placed an order
last Nov and five weeks later (the expected lead time) were told that although our chassis was made it had not been powder coated and "oh btw Locost
Ltd have gone into voluntary liquidation"  was our initial reaction based on the fact that they had nearly £3k of our money!!  was our
next!
After talking at length to the guy on the phone I got the real story which is...
Locost Ltd was indeed set up by Ron and run by a couple of other guys for him. We only ever met Mark Benton (sales guy) but I think they had a
finance guy too. Locost basically was a shell company who were really just a trading name. They used a totally different company to actually do the
manufacturing who are named Luego. The main reason that Locost went under was that they were not paying anyone (including Luego which they pretended
were part of Locost) but seemed to spend all the money on the race series sponsorship.
Therefore Luego are still in business and our continuing to supply/manufacturer "locost" bits. They used to make the Tiger chassis etc before
Locost Ltd presumably offered them a "better deal" oops 
Anyway just to set the record straight ('cause they've done me no wrong), Luego Racing are doing exactly the same thing that Locost Ltd were doing
but they are not sponsoring anything and they have raised the prices slightly (which again was a Locost Ltd faux pas). The guy that owns Luego has no
connection (to my knowledge) with Locost Ltd and the guy running Luego (Grant) is very knowledgeable and very helpful.
God only knows what Ron is up to these days but then I guess he's made a few quid from the book so I don't expect he care much 
Oh and BTW I have absolutly no connection to Luego. I'm just a computer programmer from Suffolk who doesn't like to see small companies given a bad
name through misunderstandings etc. This forum is a very powerful device. If we all slag off a company, the chances are that that company won't get
any business from the people that frequently visit here.
Just my 2p worth, if you don't agree then just ignore it and get on with life, you'll life longer without the stress
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locodude
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| posted on 31/3/02 at 11:00 AM |
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Hi Andy
I spoke to Ron at the autosports show in january and guess what, his tale is a bit different. Guess we'll never know the truth and who cares. I still
think it's best to stick with a company who have been on the scene since day one. Even though they are now try to distance themselves somewhat from
the Locost name. Two spring to mind. I can't say which one I would go with so I'll put it in code. M* Engi****ing.
Chris PTM
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 2/4/02 at 08:18 AM |
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Mmmm... and MK has the decency to be polite on the phone (when you can get hold of him). More than can be said for St**t T*yl*r, who were almost
offensive when I spoke to them last week...
David
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bob
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| posted on 2/4/02 at 07:03 PM |
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I found ST people offensive face to face when looking to buy chassis,more keen to sell you a finshed car than parts.
I asked the price of chassis and wishbones only, and the guy walked off and spoke with someone else looking at another car.
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chrisg
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| posted on 2/4/02 at 07:49 PM |
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It's Official,
ST smell of piss
Cheers
Chris
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Jasper
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| posted on 2/4/02 at 08:01 PM |
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I spoke to ST re a Blade car, he said not to attempt one without at least £6k (are you listening Jon!) in the bank, and a Pinto car without £4k. Me
thinks his parts are a little overpriced, and he wasn't exactly Mr Friendly. Whereas MK were great....
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merlin
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| posted on 3/4/02 at 06:34 PM |
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Recently ordered a pedal box from ST, got a quick response on the email but over a week after I sent cheque got a very cold reception on the phone!
shan't be going there again! (Oh yeah, and the pedal box needed more hacking about and bending than I thought!!)
Bugger!!!
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andyd
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| posted on 3/4/02 at 10:08 PM |
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Not being a smart a*** but it seems that my comment in a previous post in this thread is coming true...
"slag a company off on this list and nobody will buy from 'em" (paraphrased)
Any Stuart Taylor employees etc. take note Piss any of us off and you'll not sell much to over a thousand LocostBuilders!
I wonder if anyone from ST reads any these posts. If so... betcha sorry now! 
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