Update 30th July 2010

Hi Folks
Got my act together? Well for tonight maybe, but don't get used to it 'cause it can't last long!!

We continue to produce various parts for customers with kits clearly being at the top of the list.
We are now full with orders until the end of the year and so any new orders taken now are for work that will start at the end of January 2011!

We were supposed to be heading off to France in the very near future but that has been stopped by the NHS who now want both of us in for surgery during September. So those plans have been shelved for another few months. This is the second time that we have tried to get to France in the cars and the second time that we have failed. You know what they say about third time lucky.

The next show we are at is Shugborough. Never been there before so hopefully it will be a good day. We are also booked into the Triumph Sports Six show at Stafford in August, the Coventry run in September and then finally Kettering steam fair to end the year.

I am hoping to do all the ground work before Stafford so whilst the car is on the stand I can do a quick video of the car and the business and get it onto UTube. Anyone wanting to lend a hand with any ideas pleas give me a call, all offers of help are welcome!!!

See you soon,

Geoff

Update for the 3rd July

Hi Folks
Since last speaking we have attended Newark and are planning on visiting Hollowell steam fair tomorrow.
Work is continuing with our current orders which is keeping me very busy and with each kit I build I can incorporate some fine 'tweaks' so soon I will be happy that I'm where I want to be.

We were looking forward to our break in France but it would appear that the national health service has put paid to that idea! They have decided in their wisdom that September would be a good time for me to have some more surgery and if they can't manage to get me in then they will have Ellen in instead to sort her arm. so one way or anther it looks like September is a non starter for a break and so we are back to the drawing board to work out what to do next.

I received an email from Elwyn in Sweden and a photo of him and is Gentry with the 'Best in Show' trophy. I was going to put the photo here but I think I'll put it onto the website instead.

Can anyone help with my next invention please? I want a mechanical finger, probably on an arm, attached to the top of my computer. Then when I switch it on, if there is anything I haven't yet done, the finger pokes me in the left shoulder area to remind me that there is an outstanding issue.
Anyway, enough from me. The plasterer is here dealing with the garden walls. Soon I will have a nice relaxing place to chill after a long hard days work so I'm off to supervise for a change!
See you in a fortnight.

Geoff

Newark update

Hi Folks
Work on re-building and re-arranging the workshop space has now finished and so it is heads down and get some work done!
Very happy with the way it has worked out as I can now leave the jig tables up all the time and we have finally managed to get the best use out of the space available. At long last the days of taking down the tables and moving them out into the trailer have gone!!!!

We are off for a leisurely drive to Newark show today. For the first time since we started we haven't got a stand inside the show and will be attending as Gentry Register members and parking our car on the club stand like all other members. This was partly because we didn't think we would be able to attend the show and so booking a stand would have been a waste and partly because I have my own views on the value of shows from our point of view.
It will be interesting to time to have a walk round and and check things out without worrying about people on the stand.
Anyway North East Secretary, Peter, has planned a BBQ for this evening and so hopefully the weather will hold out so we can eat in the dry!

Not much I can say about any future development at this stage as we are too busy with orders to consider and new directions. I have floated the idea of a TD version of the car with 'open' wings etc and would dearly love to develop a 3 wheeler Gentry but Ellen gives me some very stern looks whenever I mention it!!!!

See you all soon, get out and enjoy your cars while the weather lasts.

Geoff

Update Thursday 27th May

Sorry, much too late I know but I have been too busy to sit down at the computer!

Work has started on the alterations to the workshop and so for a few days it was total chaos.

Photo shows how small the alterations are but doesn't show how major the effect is on everything else that is happening.

With the 'extra' space it really does have a significant effect on work and space available. Once it is sorted and running normally pop in a have a look. We always look forward to visitors popping in, it gives us a chance to rest and grab a quick cuppa!

Not much more to report at present. Still working flat out trying to keep ahead of the game!

See you soon

Geoff

At last an Update!!!!!!

Yes I know I have been very remiss and missed most of April and in no time at all the weeks have flown by and no updates to read.
The simple fact is that firstly I was very busy and secondly I dropped the laptop and managed to smash the hard drive thus losing all the info etc etc. After the repair it was Stoneleigh kit car show time and I still couldn't find enough time to write even a few lines on the blog.

Anyway, the show has come and gone, the computer is repaired and work continues at a fast pace.
We have a roof on the house, the windows are now stained and protected, the walls have been rendered and painted and the scaffolding was removed on Bank holiday Monday whilst we were at the show so everything is slowly getting back to normal. Very soon I will have the wall removed from the workshop and can settle everything back down to normality.

Anyway back to Gentry news, the show was again very busy with lots of interest and enquiries we are booked up till October November time and with luck I could manage to do some more to the Police car over the winter. Trouble is that as we get closer someone else places an order and work on my car gets postponed! What a terrible position to be in!

For those that don't know I had another minor op and managed to burst open my stitches within a week or two of the op and so it has taken a while longer than expected to heal. it appears that I may need yet another procedure in an attempt to solve the issues. Great, just what you need when you are self employed and work is stacking up.

I'll try to be back in a couple of weeks, but you never know!!!!

Geoff

Seat photo update

A couple of photos of the 'new' seats. We think they are very comfortable which is always good but also suit the car well for looks.

These are covered in leather to match the rest of the cars interior but could easily be covered in vinyl.

Geoff

Delayed update!!!

Well there's a surprise I hear you all say!!

We were away last week on the Southern Area rally. All was going great, meeting some of the Southern area members we had never met before and then the drive shaft broke! It can be very annoying at times. There are people that took their old ones out of their donor and dropped them into the Gentry. They have never had any issues from them at all!

We buy a reconditioned pair that are uprated with thicker shafts for racing purposes so that they are more than man enough for the job. 350 miles later and then fall apart!!!

Recovery courtesy of the AA and a quick strip out and examination and we find that ours has a faulty casting. The good news is that they are being replaced as clearly they are faulty, the bad news is the car has to be off the road whilst the new one arrives and then I have to find a few hours to refit and bleed the brakes.

Above right is a photo of the shaft for you to see what it looks like when the casting is faulty and it gives up on you.

Anyway onto better things. I have just collected the red Gentry from the trimmers and so we can get a first glimpse of the 'new' seats in situ. The ones in the photo's (photos will follow in the next update straight after this one) are not yet bolted into place but you get a very good idea of what they are going to look like.

They are designed to look similar to the bench seat arrangement but are actually 2 individual seats one runners so that each one will move on its own giving you the freedom to move the seat position to suit more than one driver.

We love them and if I can find the time will be changing the demonstrator seat, which is a fixed bench seat, for a pair of these.

See you all next week

Geoff