Friday 28th September

Hi all

The last week has been a strange week. We don't appear to have had a minute to spare but I can't really see what we have done!
The most important part of the week was our meeting with David from VOSA who spent some time with us going over the changes we are proposing and talking us through some of the finer points. We really do appreciate his input and it has helped reinforce our view that the SVA is achievable on the Gentry, whilst still being able to maintain the stylish good looks the car has always had. So once again I would like to say a really big 'thank you ' to David and hope that the final car we send to Birmingham for the test meets his expectations.

We are going to be taking a quick break so nothing will be happening for a couple of weeks, so there will be little point updating the blog unless something that just can't wait occurs. Therefore the next scheduled blog update will take place on Saturday 13th October and thereafter we'll revert back to the normal Friday updates.

For those who are interested don't forget the Restoration show at Stoneleigh on Sunday 28th October (apparently that's the same weekend the clocks go backwards) and according to the adverts there are no advance tickets this time either.

We are still planning on having the launch of the car at the kit car show at Stoneleigh on the 4th/5th May. Nothing has happened so far to change that plan so we are pushing ahead with that date and hopefully will be able to achieve it.

Only a brief update this week but shortly work will commence on the body and then we should see the car starting to take shape.

Please keep returning to monitor the progress and if there is anything else you would like to see or know then drop me an email and I'll see if I can get it into the blog.

Geoff

Update Friday 21st September

Doesn't time fly when your having fun and being kept busy?
Another week has flown by. All the relevant parts have gone off to be refurbished, exchanged or replaced. My special thanks go to Mark at Jigsaw who is sorting all of the above.

The painting of the workshop floor continues. Wouldn't it be easy if these things could be done before everything is placed in the workshop! Still that would have meant that the chassis hadn't been built and so you just have to accept that painting is more like a life sized Rubik's cube and just keep moving everything round until the entire floor has been painted. Twice!

Next week will see the workshop completely finished, a visit from the SVA Inspector who is coming to consider the changes we wish to pursue and the final moulds off to the fibreglass man.

During the last week we have received an enquiry from Russia regarding the availability of the car for export. I have replied at this time by saying that we are receiving sufficient enquiries from within the UK to deal with at the moment, but should we consider expansion we would contact them in the future.

The works will be taking a short break in the very near future so I'll provide an update next week on Friday as normal and then provide you with the break details.

See you next week.

Geoff

Friday Update. 14th September 2007

The Donor Arrives

The Shell gets put out for 'Recycling'

The Chassis remains inside for the front and rear suspension to be removed.

Work has continued this week stripping out the donor to liberate the parts we require for the rebuild.

I have attached 3 photo's. The car on arrival and then the body shell left outside to be 'recycled' and the remains of the chassis inside with the front and rear suspensions still in situ.

This gives us an opportunity to photograph various important parts required from the donor whilst still in their original dirty greasy state and helps anyone undergoing a strip of the donor to see the parts in situ to help with identification.

All this relevant material will appear in the 'new' build manual.

I expect by the beginning of next week that all relevant parts will be lodged at Jigsaw racing ready for refurbishment whislt I continue to redesign the mould for the 'new' bulkhead. By the end of next week we should have all the various parts with relevant firms who are assisting and that should give us enough time to put the final touches to the new workshop before we set up the body jigs etc for a consultation visit from the SVA inspector and then take a break!



Off to Donnington kitcar show tomorrow, so if you are heading in the same direction we may see you, if not, I'm sure we'll be back at work on Monday to ensure that we continue to make progress.

Take care till next week.



Geoff

Fridays Update. 7th September 2007

Well great progress this week. Our first chassis is finished!! well apart from a couple of blanking plates to be welded on to the end of the main rails.

This is the chassis that will be used on the demonstrator.

I have attached a photo just to prove that it is completed, in case you suspicious people out there doubt our progress.

We are working closely with Jisaw racing from Desborough in Northants as they will be suppling the reconditioned engine, gearbox etc and as soon as Mark gets back from his well earned rest work will begin at their end on the reconditioning.

At some point next week the donor mark 4 Sptifire will be rolled in and the stripping commenced.

We are planning a short break in a few weeks time and so it is important that the relevant parts are removed and conveyed to Jigsaw before we finish.

What more can I say. Very happy with our progress this week. Hopefully this momentum can be maintained so that we continue to make progress as we race towards Christmas!!!!

Geoff

Friday 31st August 2007

Doesn't time fly when you are having fun!
We are now totally 'jigged' out and were hoping that the chassis would have been welded up today, but other aspects of the business kept getting in the way like collecting another 13/60 Herald that could end up as a donor.
I will take the weekend to ensure that everything is ready and correct and then first thing next week will weld up the chassis.
This keeps us on target and within our planned timescales.
The development of the body tub is continuing and some changes have been made resulting in new moulds having to be made. This work was expected and so won't cause any unexpected delays.
For the second week running things have gone according to plan and we remain on course for the 3rd May launch. When will something happen to cause a delay? Who knows? Something is sure to. Our only hope is to keep pressing forwards whilst we can and hope we have planned enough 'catch up' time into the plan for when it happens.
See you all next Friday and hopefully by then I will have a photo of the first chassis from the new works.

Geoff

Friday 24th August update

Okay so it's Friday! I know I said I'd update on a Friday and so here I am. Not a great deal more I can say about progress as the last update was given on Tuesday.
We have spent the last few days measuring and checking dimensions for the new chassis. It is now all marked out and some jigs made. Next week will see the final preparations completed and the new chassis will then be produced.
We are looking ahead at the body tub specifications working with the SVA inspector and the fibreglass specialist to ensure that the tub will meet everyones requirements. Hopefully the new bulkhead area can be fireproofed (not that anyone has ever caught fire!) and strengthened using the latest available technology. If the SVA inspector is happy with our proposals for the tub and seat belt anchorages we will move swiftly into the tub production so that we maintain our current momentum.
See you next Friday,

Geoff

The Build Commences

To all those of you who have been regularly visiting the Blog page to keep up to date with the progress then I apologise for the lack of up to date information. However, I can now report that the necessary building work has been completed and we have made a start.
Fairly basic stuff initially, making trestles and work tables.
We are now about to make the 'additional' jigs we need for the chassis and body tub. By next week we should be in a position to commence welding our first chassis and the one to be used on the demonstrator.

My intention now we have moved on is to ensure that at the end of every week our progress is reported so you can all monitor the developments as they occur. I will look to provide the update either last thing on a Friday night, or first thing Saturday morning.

Speak to you all soon

Geoff