Wednesday 6th January 2010!!!!!

Hi All

first of all an apology, then a rant and finally the update.

As you are all probably aware we are having major building work done at home. Somehow, someone managed to remove our Internet link/telephone wire!! As it was heading towards Christmas no-one wanted to be bothered to solve the problem and so we had to wait until after the holidays to get it sorted. Well now it is sorted and we are back able to speak with the world, so I hope you all had a very good Christmas and that 2010 brings you all that you would wish.
We are currently working away under quarantine. Ellen in on the Tamiflu having been diagnosed with swine flu. I have broken out in itchy spots and may have succumbed to a bout of measles!! Now what a good start to the year that is.

Now for the rant. I know that this is not a political blog nor will it ever be one however, there are times when you just have to speak out. I'm all for free speech etc and that is what makes our Country as good as it is. However, if this government or the local police allow a demonstration to take place in Wootton Bassett protesting against our solders in various war arenas around the world then I hope the remainder of the sane world turn up in their thousands to show that we the British people will not allow such an occasion to take place. No matter how busy I am at the time, if they decide they are going to demonstrate, then I for one will be attending to fill the centre of Wootton Bassett with normal sensible everyday people. If we fill the town then they can have their demonstration about 10 miles away where they cannot be heard or seen.
Second more minor rant, is my memory failing that badly that or have I become confused? When I was a lad and it snowed we walked to school, throwing snowballs and sliding around, perhaps even, heaven forbid, falling over! If it was still too bad to go outside at break then we were kept inside. At 4pm we charged out of the school hoping that the snow hadn't melted so that the same fun could be had on the way home. Now apparantly at the first sign of a snow flake we must close the schools. According to one deputy head on the news today this was to 'look after the welfare of the students and teachers' What a load of bunkum. This country has lost the plot over health and safety and what we can and can't do. Don't go out unless absolutely necessary. For most of us who have to earn a living surely going to work is absolutely necessary. For those of us that drive a 4 x 4, most of the year we are treated like lepers, now suddenly the emergency services can't cope and would like us all to rally round and help reach difficult cut off areas as without our vehicles people will freeze or starve. Well make your minds up, Do you like 4 x 4's or not?

Okay, all the ranting is now over and I'm feeling calm again, apart form the itchey little spots that are driving me mad!!!!!!!

The most recent Gentry built went through the new IVA test before Christmas and passed with flying colours so that is good news for us and our customers that are busily building their cars. the normal little querky bits are still there but at least f you know about them you know how to deal with them.

A big thank you to everyone that has emailed or phoned with a solution to the lock problem. There are now several lines being followed and hopefully we will identify a long term solution that meets the requirements and also looks good.

My New Years resolution is to try to provide an update every 2 weeks. I know you've heard it all before and I do try my best. 2010 will show that I a making a very special effort to acheive that one simple goal. Updates will revert back to the normal Friday evening, so the next one will now be on Friday 15th January and then every fornight thereafter!!!!!!!!
See you all soon Sorry of there any mistakes the spell checker has stopped working, must be the snow!!!!

Geoff

Friday 13th November

Hi Folks

Things are really busy here at the moment. We are starting the body tub for the next kit and trying to work around the builders as they systematically destroy our house before building it back up again!

Thanks to everyone that emailed me about Ellen' injury. She is still in pain with her arm up in a sling most of the time. It couldn't have happened at a more difficult time. Unless we make the effort to do some tidying up at the end of each day then it really does feel like we are in the middle of a building site.

We are still working on the door locks for the audible alarms required by IVA and so if anyone has any ideas by all means drop me an email as all suggestions are welcome.

We have found a local firm that can powder coat small parts at a very reasonable price and a firm in Coventry that can powder coat our chassis as well. We have also had some steering columns made to the correct length for the Gentry to save the need to add extra bits.

Need to get some sleep now so I'll sign off for a couple of weeks when hopefully we wil have a roof back on!!

Geoff

3rd November 2009

Things often don't go according to plan!!
The immobiliser stopped the IVA from being completed and Ellen slipped and fell whilst loading the car for the final part of the test and so we missed the appointment!!!!
Car is ready and will be tested asap and the report will appear in due course.

We have received a copy of the Swedish Triumph magazine from Elwyn with a great article about 'Digby' with 3 full pages of write up and 23 photos!!! Well done Elwyn you get this years award for the most magazine coverage.
I will be loading the pages onto the computer so that I can put an extract onto the website.

I was asked by Steve form TotalKitCar magazine if I could sort out the 'imaginary' garage for him. He gave me an imaginary £10 million and a few rules on what class of vehicle I would buy. I didn't realise how difficult it could be to spend money! Ellen would claim that I have never had any problems spending it, but when it actually came to making decisions about so many classic cars out there it gave me a real headache trying to reduce the numbers of those I have said I would own if I had the money to the ones that I would actually go out and buy.
My choice will be int he next TKC magazine. If you don't get to see it once it is out I will put the choice on the Blog page in a few weeks.

Back to work, lots to do. See you all in a fortnight.

Geoff

Saturday 17th October 2009

Hi Folks
Two updates nearly on time! Things are getting better.

We have a car ready for the IVA test next week so if all goes according to plan by the next update I will be able to report on the latest rules etc and how the Gentry has done.

I have looked at the holiday issue for next year and the build of the police car (I was hoping to use the police car for the holiday) and decided that the holiday is on but having the car ready to use isn't. Simply not enough hours in the day to build kits for customers and also build me a car. Not to worry, we can always use the demonstrator instead.
The holiday will be a bit of a bus mans holiday as we take a tour round France in the car. We are planning on going the first two weeks of September and will hopefully be meeting up with some of the growing number of French Gentry owners. At present it looks like there will be two other Gentry's coming with us, so if you are interested in coming along then drop me an email. the plans are very fluid and likely to remain so throughout the whole trip. It is going to be a leisurely enjoyable saunter through France with enough time to enjoy the sites, food, wine and company.

I thought about adding a 'Fact or Fiction' part to our website as we hear so many rumours, myths etc I will see how many more I receive before adding a few of them to either entertain or advise you. You may be surprised by a few.

Must rush, work to do. See you all in a fortnight.

Geoff

3rd October 2009

Hi Folks
Nearly made an update on time! It'll never catch on!
Well at long last it feels like we are making some progress. The new heated screen glass has arrived and the first new frame is due back from the chrome platers any day now. To add to that we now have received the latest version of the grill and it looks superb.
I will be adding some photos of both to the main web site soon.

Thanks to all those who came along to the show at Stafford, it is always nice to meet other Gentry folk in person.
Our order books are now full until the end of August next year and so any new orders coming in will be for work commencing September. I'm told that this year (I think that's next year) I have to plan on taking a holiday and need to schedule that into the build dates.

The police car is sitting in my sisters garage as once again we have run out of time. It has a chassis, engine and gearbox. Very shortly I may get round to putting the front and rear suspensions. Then it will feel like I am making progress.

See you all in a fortnight, must leave as I have some work to do!

Missed a few Updates!

I have to say in my defence that things have been very very busy!!
The system works well by putting the blog update onto the computer calender, only trouble is that when it pops up to remind you to do the update you need to do it there and then. If you delete it and think I'll do it later it somehow gets missed.

The complete build we were doing is finished apart from the IVA test. We had a little enforced delay whilst we waited for the new heated glass to arrive for the windscreen. The delay meant that we were forced into missing the inspection date and so now have to wait for another.
The new screen glass is excellent and although it caused a delay now it is here is is well worth the wait.

We have produced some new seats with detachable headrests for the IVA test. They look great and appear to be very comfortable as well.
All in all the few modifications we have made to the current build will make things a lot better for any new kit buyers as several changes have brought some significant improvements.
As and when we see these changes develop I will be altering the website to provide all the information.
Off to Stafford showground tomorrow for the kit car show and so expecting a busy weekend.
See you all very soon
Geoff

Hey Getting Better! Only 1 day late!!!!

The time is fast approaching for our latest car to be submitted to the new IVA test. If you have followed the development of the IVA test you will know that there are a few subtle changes and some not so subtle ones.
The subtle ones include items like a warning on or near the brake master cylinder only to use the correct fluid, the horn now comes into the test for the first time, a reversing light and a second mirror on the nearside.
The not so subtle ones relate to the new requirement for head rests. If anyone has any design ideas as to how to incorporate a fairly large and high headrest into a 1950's replica sports tourer then please feel free to email me, call me, send me photos or sketches etc as I am struggling to see how to do it and still retain the good looks of the car.
I can fabricate a new seat with the headrests attached, that is quite a simple job, but trying to get it to look in keeping with the rest of the car is quite frankly a nightmare. Anyone wishing to help then please get in touch.

That aside we remain busy with order now taking us into the middle of next year so things are going very well with kits and cars being ordered after every show we attend.

We have been invited to attend the Asda charity day at Bruntingthorpe proving ground on Sunday 2nd August so if you want to attend then let me know as you need an entry form. These will cost you a £5 donation per car but I am told the day is well worth it with plenty to do and of course all the money raised goes to charity so it is well worth supporting.

I read somewhere the other day that we should 'Plan for the worst, hope for the best and then accept whatever comes along and get on with it' Sounds a bit like building a kit car to me. Must have been written by someone who built their own car.

See you all in a fortnight.

Geoff