Saturday, 26 November 2011

End of term report!

Wow - almost six months to the day since I got my Seven build finished and on the road. It's been a fantastic summer season, I have 3,100 miles on the clock now. I told my friends that building the car was the most inspiring and creative thing I have done in many years - and now I have to add that actually driving the beast is at least as exciting as doing the build! What the other owners say is exactly correct - you pop out to the shops on a Sunday to get the papers, and get back 2 hours & 100 miles later... you just can't help it!


The other thing that really gets you going is the Lotus Seven Owners Club, with local groups all over the UK. In my area it is 7ReHaB: the Reading, Hampshire, & Berkshire group. A really nice bunch, and there are twice-monthly meetings at a local pub. And every weekend (if the weather is appropriate!) someone has created a driving route through our lovely British countryside - starting early in the morning to avoid the day-trippers, and stopping off for brekkie at an interesting local spot (usually an airfield!).


Cotswold Airport

Goodwood!

Regarding the car, it's been a real trooper. I've been pushing it fairly hard, and it has survived with flying colours! The only things that I have had to do over the last 3000 miles is clean the brake light switch, and re-glue the front cycle wings on (which I had not done properly in the first place! See my post from April. I should have used the "big heads" here )

I've also swapped out the original 14" wheels with 15" Compomotive jobbies shod with Avon CR500 rubber. I'm still "getting to grip" with these - I'm certain that on the track this will be an improvement, but on general A and B roads I'm not sure yet...

Wheels look good!

I hope to be driving the car on-and-off over the winter depending on the weather - I'll be updating the blog as and when necessary. There's a lot on the cards for next year - I've booked up for Classic Le Mans and I want to to drive some of the Alpine passes - Keep watching!