MK Indy Build Diary - March 2003
Saturday 1/3/03
I DIDN'T GO TO MK!
Saturdays are busy for the MK lads and as Martin, PTM and Jon Ison all went to
Donington for a track day I thought I'd have a lie-in. The cat sat on my head
and purred at 8:30 :o( - justabout the time I would normally have got up to go
to MK - I just can't win.
Martin had called me yesterday, the car was 99% complete clutch springs
upgraded (to cope with the extra weight of the car over the Fireblade) new oil
(apparently filled by Mr Ison) coolant in etc etc. But it wouldn't run. Martin
isn't phased - he thinks its just the HT leads mixed up. I'll be 'phoning mid
week and hopefully taking half a day off to go over Thursday or Friday when it
should all be ready for the Show and SVA. Big update and photo's for next
weekend.
Saturday 8/3/03
Stafford Show - Pissing with Rain - not much more to say really.
Oh go-on then... Drove down to the show via a friends house in Cheshire and got
him to drive us there in his Subaru WRX Sti with a £2000+ repaired engine. The
guy on the gate got a bit confused as asked 'is this a kit car?' The obvious
answer was 'Yes' and one free ticket was gained :o) Not sure what that says for
Subaru build quailty (maybe it's just thar Kit cars are getting better?).
Anyway, I headed straight over to the MK stand, slap bang in the middle of the
arena, and my car slap bang in the middle of the stand. I'll admin that my
first thought was "damn that colour scheme is great" but I also have to admit
it was the Black car with white stripes that I saw first. After that though my
car looked fantastic! Unfortunately my digital camera has the worst flash on it
in the world so I only have a few pictures of the
day. The show was great - apologies to the man whose head I bit off as he was
stepping into my car :oS Martin was supposed to be keeping people out of it for
me, but I'm not sure how long he tried for or how hard. I don't suppose it
matters much though as the day after the show he sent me a picture of the first
'test' of the car. Bastards! was my first reaction, but i suppose that
it needed testing and if anything was gonna go wrong it's best it goes wrong
while they are driving. BUT DONUTS!! Please. You owe
me two tyres Martin!
Wed/Thurs 11&12/3/03
Had a few chats with MK, have had to source my own Quick Rack in order for it
to be fitted before I take delivery of the car - this has cost me an additional
£80 as I've had to get a full rack from
Motorsportspares and Martin will have to shorten it for me. Still I'd
rather it was done before I got it. Chased up the Tacho too - haven't heard
back
Saturday 15/3/03
THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE! I FORGOT MY CAMERA!
Turned up to MK about 11:30, over the past couple of weeks the car really
hasn't seemed to have progressed - I know it has but as I'm not the one doing
the fiddly completion it looks as if its standing still. All that didn't matter
today as I knew TODAY'S THE DAY I GET TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME
It was really sunny and the car was waiting outside for me so without even
saying hello to everyone I was in and it was started! Bit of a disappointment!
the engine wouldn't run, and when it did it sounded awful, but a quick tinker
called by PTM and a new spark plug transformed my car from a Honda
C90 into a true CBR900. After blowing the fuse on the elecric reverse (again)
MK took it for a quick spin to the pub and back (150 yds round trip) and gave
it back to me. "Pulls like a train" he lied and "I bet you stll it first time"
wished me on my way and 5 laps of the carpark later I was grinning like a
cheshire cat! Paula drove it next and to be fair drove it far smoother than I
had (I think I worried MK a bit - I DO like my straight line traffic light
grand prix)
This car IS mad-bonkers-manic-nuts-frantic-loopy and not least OTT. Martin
thought that the engine might be restricted as he didn't think it went as well
as it should - "leave it" I said. I dont know what I expected but this car has
exceeded my expectations by a factor of 10 and I haven't even started to
explore its capabilities. The car should end up with around 250bhp/tonne one up
with a tank of fuel - anyone reading this and thinking about building a car
with a bike engine - A FIREBLADE IS ENOUGH - and will remain enough for a fair
while (check back in 6 months - see if I've changed my mind) You can pull away
with ease, and drive it like any normal car round the ASDA carpark - Give it a
heavy right footed prop and you'll be in Sainsbury's without knowing how you
got there.
Just driving round in 150yd circles has given me great respect for this car.
Monday 17/3/03
MK rang - found out what was 'wrong' with the engine - a rubber tube had been
trapped behind the carb throttle assembly and the carbs couldn't open fully -
he reckoned only half way! I hope thats an exaggeration the car that I drove on
Saturday doesn't need 5% more power nevermind 50%
Sometime between 17-24/3/03
Credit card charged - Rack not shipped - B'stards.
Saturday 22/3/03
Finally bought the windscreens today - 2 Craft
VR1/R Raptor Helmets - Good price too £120 each - Mirrored visor needed
now :o)
Although I think that I may 'upgrade' to a real bandit helmet someday - Best
keep costs down a bit :oS
Sunday 23/3/03
SVA is next week - yay! MK hoping for the car to be ready for me by Next
Saturday - I bet that my bloody steering rack doesn't arrive.
Wednesday 26/3/03 FAILURE!
SVA failed - Emissions (the car needs full emmission tests as it is being
tested as a produced by a small manufacturer - even though it's a '92/'93
engine) - Handbrake warning light - must have a picture of a handbrake on it
(well, clearly marked anyway) - Doh!Am getting bored now, ho hum.
Thursday 27/3/03
Martin Called - he is putting in the effort on this build - as I'm sure he will
with the next turnkeys too.
The car has an MOT now and passed the full emmissions test (Just!). The retake
SVA is Monday Morning - Looks like I might have to take Wednesday off! Sent
martin the insurance covernote that should have gone straight to him in the
first place!. Also: Great News!! my Smiths Telemetrix Tacho has arrived. So MK
can fit that before i take delivery too! (Sorry Martin - I'm not taking the
piss you know). Shame about the Quick Rack otherwise it would all have come
together perfec'
Saturday 29/3/03
Wen't down to MK, still managed to miss the butties though - It's a conspiracy!
The car is looking good - SVA on Monday again, Target Delivery date -
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday Evening this week (no not in bits! - I'm just
hedging my bets) I cannot wait (well I can, I've waited far too long, but you
know what I mean :o) More pictures Here
Monday 31/3/03
SVA Passed! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday 31/3/03
Registered! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Q Plate Hmmmm???????
Registered! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next Installment
First Drive!!!
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