MK Indy Build Diary - Feb 2003

Saturday 1/2/3

Picked up my alloys today at Mac#1 - very nice too (I don't think they have a kettle though) 4 new Team Dynamics 'Mirage' 15" 5 Spoke Alloys with BFGoodridge 195/50/15 tryes. Took them to MK - I agree with PTM - it gets more like a social event every week - which is nice from my point of view, but not great for making things. The alloys are a 38mm Offset, and seem to fit ok with the intended bodywork - however what about the disks Chris? The car will look good with the wheels filling the arches - just hope they are not too wide (sticky out) from an SVA point of view.
Had a good chat with PTM and MK about the build - I'm off on holiday soon so this is it - next time I see the car It will be almost complete (so I hope).

Things discussed and (maybe) decided today:

Gearstick - will be of the short stubby style as I will use the Kliktronic all the time, and this will keep the movement of the stick (caused by the Kliktronic) down to a minimum, but keeps the facility for the lady in my life
Internal pannelling will be Plastic (at the moment)
Dashboard will have centre mounted bike clocks and thats about it
A single stalk will mount almost all the switches needed
~~Will have a start button mounted on the tunnel too~~
Will have a start button mounted on the centre console, along with switches for reverse gear/Hazards etc
Fireblade wing mirrors
Stick on Rearview mirror (if SVA Compliant)
Yellowbox Speed converter to be fitted to compensate for the gearing differences

Thursday 13/2/03

Well, holiday over. Very nice it was too. PTM didn't sound to chuffed when I asked "Is it drivable yet?" but when I got there I could see that although there are few obvious advances in visual completion, A LOT of work has gone on over the last 10 days. The electric reverse is fitted, as is the Klicktronic controller and Ram.

Sat in MY CAR for the first time ever - not a bad seating position taking my leg problems into account. Both seats on runners I need them all the way back (or just one click forward) P will need them all the way forward i think. I'll probably need a bolster cushion just to make it slighly more comfortable - once I've had my hip replaced though shouldn't need it.

The Dash - Again

The Dash - well - we've done it again. Dash Changes - research needed over the next day or two :o(
I have two choices either use the clocks and plastic dash - or UPGRADE IT!!!!!! ;O) - I'm having funnt feelings about the dash - I know I'm not going to be happy if with the dash if I stick with the standard dash and bike clocks - so 'we' are having carbon effect dash (straight across - no center console) - need to look for clocks asap!!
Martin's arranged for a yellow bonnet bulge and bulkhead too - should look good. Yellow looks great in thier shops - and hopefully great outside too.

Monday 17/2/03

Purchased the Clocks and dashboard lights - Bought Caerbont Automotive Instruments Telemetrix from Merlin Motorsport (Same as Smiths?) speedo, fuel and water temp will be with PTM tomorrow, 4 weeks to wait for the Tacho (See Here for pictures) No I just need to decide - Cram them infront of the wheel? or offset them in the centre of the cockpit?

Friday 21/2/03

MK Emailed me pictures today - that was a surprise! :o)
Didn't get any anaswers to the questions I asked mind - but he's a busy man, and as they say "a picture saves writing things down". Pictures of the car with its clothes on are here and here. I've been really cool about it all for the past 4 weeks, and anow I'm starting to get impatient! Not because MK and PTM are taking too long, in fact they are doing it faster than they reckoned - at the expense of his own car too, just because it looks so close to being ready I NEEEED it!! I can understand how it must feel if you are putting one together in your garage, week after week, I don't envy that at all. I have decided though - if I ever get a double garage I will have a go at building one myself.

Saturday 22/2/03

The car is looking excellent - I didn't take any pictures (that are any good) as it was away in the corner and Steve was trying to wire it up in the middle of a full scale riot. It will be the shiow car for Stafford, which is nice, but I'd really like to be able to have a go before - I've been really patient, then really really impatient, and now a bit *shrug* for various reasons. (Not MK related really) Need the car!