Area 52 - April 25-27. NEW PROJECT ARRIVING; OMG!!!!1!!

Just been hunting on Amazon for a DVD and saw an advert saying that LtB is coming to region2 mid November now, hooray for the UK ;D

LOL, just so you know it was seeing how low yours was that prompted me to remove the helper springs from mine. I never realised how uneven the roads are in my village. ;D Get some right dodgy looks from the old biddies!


Would love to come down for a weekend and help out / get to know people if I'm welcome? Looks like great fun!

Thanks Glenn - in return.....have a vid I took of my friends motor while I was out in Canada

Adam's Delica (which I lifted within 12hrs of arriving in Canada!!)during a long weekend trip off road in the mountains around Harrison/Pemberton:



....and how he treats it when I give him some encouragement:



I've got the original vid and some others of the Delica later that afternoon which make a good argument at how capable they are off road.

Hey Bruce! I've got an old pillar drill lying around here, needs a chuck and maybe a bit of wiring but if its of any use to you your welcome to have it. its not floor standing but pretty big so would need a sturdy workbench. I'll try and get a few pics if your interested?

Dave.

Dave,

That would be AWESOME and if it's OK with you, I'll take the drill and put it to good use! Many MANY thanks

If you PM me your number I'll get something sorted about collecting it sometime soon.

I can't believe how this place is shaping up - with so many kind contributions from RR people. Epic community spirit going on here ;D

Thank you again......

Dave,

That drill is so cool! What with the new 2 post lift arriving tomorrow, the workbenches going in sometime next week (hopefully) and possibly a load of heavy duty racking.....plus Chip83's offer of the bench grinder, now your pillar drill......an old unit is fast becoming a proper workshop!

RR and all the guys on here are flipping ACE!

Thank you everyone!

wow. That drill is sweet.

Thanks for the comments guys.

BIG progress happening at the moment - none of it possible without the help and enthusiasm of the good RR community.

Yesterday 8.30am I picked up Adam from his uni halls and we trundled over to a layby near the M4 where we met up with Tim in his Scooby Brat, and Pete with his Scooby Legacy. Pete jumped in the AX with me & Adam while Tim followed behind in the Brat (with his co-pilot Molly on board)


We headed down the M4. First destination on the agenda; Adam's house....Scooby & AX swapping the lead numerous times on the way


At Adam's place, the white RR convoy took over the drive....alongside Adam's retro-modern 500 (I do like these)


The reason - to pick up Adam's old Locost chassis which we were delivering to 10mpg. Tim had kindly offered to take it there. Mumma Adam, Li'l Sis Adam and Molly oversee the proceedings


Molly is satisfied that everything is strapped down safely and gives us the green light to head off for Bradfield


30 mins later we arrive at 10MPG's place and met up with Speedman (Steve) and his lovely better half, Kim, who was official photographer for the day


Steve had very VERY kindly managed to get hold of a (brand new) van which would be used to transport the 2 post lift from 10mpg's to Area 52. We first had to unload the Locost chassis for Ed (10mpg) then load a rather large engine into the back of the Brat.....then the fun could begin!





I didn't get any shots of this part because I was busy trying to strain my back and pop a few blood vessels lifting & shifting the 2 poster! I am sure Steve can fill in the blanks here thanks to Kim's excellent snapping skills.






Skip forward an hour or so and one brand new T5 is loaded with a rather heavy and cumbersome load:


Just needs a drop at the front for great stance!


Engine now loaded in the Brat, Tim hooks up the trailer ready to take it back to Adam's house


Rather large yank engine, 2 x gearboxes and large trailer give the Brat a mini-gasser look! You can't make it out here, but the mega positive camber on the front + mega negative camber on the back was comical!


T5 made up the all white RR convoy back to Bristol


Back at Area 52....


...the unloading begins






Once again - lifting & shitfing duties means I'm relying on Steve & Kim to fill in the blanks here.....




All unloaded, all stacked and ready for a serious install session next weekend!


Thanks again to Steve, Kim, Tim, Pete and Adam (and not forgetting Molly) for giving up their Saturday to help with this part of the mission! Heroes - all of you.

Next Sat (7th nov) is operation "All Hands On Deck" at Area52.....if anyone feels up to some serious lifting, drilling, wiring and spanner wielding duties, please get in touch.

The more the merrier and I reckon this one really will be a case of many (many) hands make light(er) work. ;D

With the all white convoy set we motored down the lanes to drop the trailer back off at Adams house (sorry for the slight fatbastard-flimsy plywood interface ) then hit the M4 bound for Area52

The biggest vehicle with the heaviest load sailed past the retros


Before joining the back once more for the final drive in

We passed this wobbly Squareback in the roadworks

We finally rolled into the yard and settled into a snacking session to build up strength for the unpacking



I had a good look round the coolness that is Area52, awesome place you 've got there Bruce




With the grub consumed it was time to flex the muscles again, the car dollies were called into action once more to make manoeuvring the heavier pieces around and with minimal fuss everything was stacked up once again ready to be rebuilt.





As clean as it was in the morning with only a smidge of yellow paint to betray its part in the operation today

The final instalment once the rest of the team had headed home was to test the concrete for its depth, the structure will require some hefty 6" bolts to secure it, my beefy drill sunk 9" into the solid floor and there was still some more below


With everything set we nattered Retros and said goodbyes, the happy but weary crew achieved a monumental task today, the might of RR brought together a willing group and showed what its all about.

We dropped Adam back in Bath before grabbing BK at the services on the M4, hard graft has never been so much fun ;D

Thanks for reading, the rest of the pictures are here, I can't take all the credit for them, Kim was on camera duty while I got busy with the lifting.