The car is now almost ready for the 0-60 challenge.The new shock absorbers are on and the gearbox is back in.Sad news is that some thievin' b******s nicked my "new" caravan from the outside my house.Thanx very much for ruinin' the start of the season for me.There is a reward for the persons who nicked it,just come round my house to find out what it is............
Watch out for news from Elvington after the event on this very page.
Later.....

At last I've got the car on the ramp and the box/converter are out,freshened and ready to go back in.The only thing that needed changing was the band as it had a bit of burning in the centre.The reason for that is the drum is worn slightly so I'll order a new CNC billet high gear drum from Racetuf,Australia for the next build at the end of this season.I was pleased to see that there was no major damage in there though.Must have been a good trans builder..........
Richard Perry of Peach TV came to do a profile on me for the 0-60 challenge.It's going to be an hour long programme on Granada Men and Motors channel in a documentary style featuring amongst others me,John Sleath and Sue Jackson so look out for it soon.
A bit of a milestone for the site as well this weekend as the 20,000 hits has clocked round.Thanx to all the people who have visited us since June 2001.Oh and don't forget, Let's see lots of your views and tech questions on the message board.
Tara a bit.....

Not that much to report this week as it's the usual calm before the storm period.I'm just waiting for my Trans overhaul kit to arrive from LA Racing Parts so I can freshen the gearbox before the 0-60mph challenge,I'm also waiting for the new Strange rear shockers from RRC.Both have said they'll be here this week. On the 0-60mph front I had a phone call last week from the TV company asking if they could do a couple of visits to my garage to get an insight into what it takes to build and race a car like mine.Mmm that should be interesting,also check out a video called Smoke ,Fire and Thunder,there is an excellent piece on the CCSE including the dulcet tones of Ian of the FB's,Steve the "Greek" and yours truly.The video will be available shortly from Powerpoint communications at £14.95 +p+p.
The sponsorship situation is looking very disappointing this year,with only three sponsors staying on board,which is very strange as I've had more publicity than most.I guess the belts are really being tightened for most companies, although it doesn't help our cause much.....
On a brighter note the newly designed "hero cards" are being printed and the new T-shirts are being designed as this is being written.At least we should look really professional this year(especially with the new crew shirts courtesy of RRC),hopefully we'll be going much faster too..........
Till nex'time

A few bits of news to report this week.Firstly,at the CCSE awards bash on the 25th I picked up a couple of very nice trophies thank you very much! The RRC racer of the year was a gorgeous crossed con-rods trophy c/w 4 crew t-shirts of our choice(thanks Andy and Kate) and a Brantwood auto breakers 150mph jacket.(see pic below).I also watched the fat boys picking up their coveted 8sec jacket and then laughed when they had to give it back coz it had 9.98 sewn on instead of 8.98(sounds about right at 148mph chaps eh?).Thanx to everybody involved in the organising department for a cracking evening(what I remember of it anyway.......)
 

 
 

Secondly I had an e-mail from Extreme Machines inviting me to the 0-60mph Guinness world record attempt at Elvington on March 15th.This should bring plenty of publicity to the CCSE cause especially as John Sleath in the bad to the bone Audi has been invited as well(can't wait to see their faces when we turn up and start the cars up at Elvington!) Hopefully traction will be OK for us to show how fast the CCSE cars really are.Dependent on the TV companies we might be profiled on the telly (until they hear "awrite skip" and laugh that is..)We'll see eh.
This news has pushed the gearbox strip to the forefront of jobs to do so it'll be in the workshop as soon as it's convenient.
I have also been in contact with some T-shirt printers to do a long awaited follow up to the Red Victor 1 t-shirts.If they come up to scratch with the artwork I'll be having some done.Cost will be £10 if bought at the track,and plus P+P if ordered by e-mail or by phone.
That's it for now,back later next week