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Mar 24, 2006 14:07:26 GMT
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WARNING - NEGATIVITY! Maybe I'm just a boring old man filled with negativity - but at RCS I'm going to look at cars, talk about cars and take photos. The whole 'car in a day' thing sounds great, but in reality I fear that people are being more enthusiastic now than they will on the day...even if they don't realise it at the moment. The H&S issues with cutting springs, and the cut springs on the car afterwards are far too risky. If you want to make a car look good on a budget - especially if it's gonna have matt paint and stencils/fablon then it needs to be damn low - which is hard to achieve unless you're the actual person sacrificing ride quality, handling and in some cases safety in your own car. There is a potential answer however, if the bods offering the work are really up for it - something from the 2CV range...lowering is genuinely a sub-1hr job (faster actually, but I don't want to raise expectations) with a pair of mole grips - and it can be undone just as easily if the new owner doesn't want to make the sacrificies required to run it like that. It's an unexpected base (to the majority of the show goers), with a bodystyle that lends itself to the kind of Hot-Rod and Resto-Cal touches that are relatively easy to achieve quickly and on a budget (I'll draw the flames if someone else paints them!). Sorry guys, if my post is a bit of a downer, but I thought a different perspective might be worth hearing - I'm not expecting anyone to act on it at all.
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Mar 24, 2006 14:10:18 GMT
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Rollered budget custom examples from HoTWire: Bring it on then, good examples, this should be legendary! --- Sounds like the RR documentary is taken care of already but i'll do a bit of my own filming and pick out some interviews as it goes on, let me know if you need owt.
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,946
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Mar 24, 2006 14:16:54 GMT
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Gotta agree with a lot of the comments above
Regarding the car choice depends on what can be found before the show
It's gotta look good and show just what can be done with something that has "no percieved potential"
Remember
- Less is often more (trying to add tack doesn't get my vote here) - KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid - means it doesn't fall around our ears) - It's got to represent a really diverse forum activity and membership
but I'll go with the majority and will be happy to lend a hand on the day.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Mar 24, 2006 14:18:56 GMT
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Remember - Less is often more (trying to add tack doesn't get my vote here) - KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid - means it doesn't fall around our ears) - It's got to represent a really diverse forum activity and membership Great points!
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Mar 24, 2006 14:23:29 GMT
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Hey, Having been involved in one recent "do it on the day" project and been around a couple of others in the past (eg roof chopping a Hudson) most of what's been said is pretty sensible. I think what really needs to happen is for one person to take overall control of the project asap so that they are able to keep an eye on costs, ask for parts, tools etc etc. It would be best if they chose a car they are comfortable with and have some knowledge of since they will been to find out what is available and needed for it. Without someone overseeing it, all you'll get is loads of offers but then no-none will know who's bringing what. I'm not so keen on the neccessity to paint it on the day since with some appropriate decals, retro stripes and the like it can be made to look quite different. If the eventual fate of the car is e-bay (which I thinkis a better idea than trying to give it awy on the day - how would the new owner get it home?) then it needs to be done with some taste rather than being a p*ss take or no one would buy it. That way it should reach a higher price so more money for charidee too. Working on a car in a field is challenge enough and the easier it can be made by doing stuff in advance the better. Loosening all bolts tht will need to be undone would be essential as there would be nothing worse than spending two hours trying to get one bolt out for it then to snap and render the car un-roadworthy. It doesn't matter if it gets done in say three or four hours. Better that than working on it into the night after everyone else has gone home. As long as stuff is taking place during the middle of the day when most people will see it happening that's all you're really after. Hope no-one takes offence at this. Just trying to be constructive using the experience I've had.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Mar 24, 2006 14:26:43 GMT
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very good point about the timescale - it would be far better for it to take 4 hours than risk us not getting it finished.
i like Rmads idea about a 2cv - but i have NO knowledge of them at all
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Mar 24, 2006 14:42:17 GMT
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I think Seth has made some really note worthy comments. I agree totally that any major work should be trial fitted prior to the event.
Remember this is a demonstation not a challenge.
I also very strongly agree that the finished artical should be worth buying, especially when the money is going to charadee.
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Mar 24, 2006 14:51:19 GMT
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Would we be in a better position if we didn't auction it off at the end??
Basically we sort out a car for the demonstration, work out what we're going to do to it on the day, get everything ready and go from there.
I've got a call into C.A.R.S organisers about the H&S issues, and their thought off the top of their heads was to put it on it's own stand (obviously with close proximity to Retro Rides) and cordon that off so public could view but not get close enough to get injured.
Seth and Rmad have a number of very good points as well.
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Mr K
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,993
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Mar 24, 2006 15:15:51 GMT
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i agree that we have to be careful about what image we put across here, cut springs, don't exactly make us look like a bunch of engineers do they, just a load of bodgers.
although i disagree with MWF in that a car has to be expensive to look cool, i think a majority of us on here spend peanuts on our cars but get good results, look at the red lowered Mk1 cav in the readers rides bit, and nightmares kaddett, two cool cars achieved to a good standard for not much money.
I'm with Rmad on this one, a 2CV is the way to go, and keep it simple and well prepared, if your taking it apart at the show, make sure you can get it apart at home first!
roller painting is the way to go, minimal masking without masses of over spray (in field with lots of nice cars... i don't think waving a spray gun around would be a good plan... not to mention the people walking pasts lungs.
its all about ease, planing, and keeping it popular... i bet you that if we did a bozu style car atleast 75% of people at CARS will think we are taking the p!ss out of the max power lot with our huge wing, wheel arches, and ridiculous styling, bearing in mind that they where made as a joke anyway! is we are going down the route of a p!ss take car then i believe a card board body kit would be a better representation of the UK maxing scene, rather than ripping it out of the rice racers who are 1000s of miles away.
Remember, it needs to appeal to every one, and it needs to say what RETRO RIDES are all about, not what we think of the other scenes, and equally copying another style in anyway is a bad move, as this is not RETRO RIDES STYLE! its some ideas we chavved off the net...
chevette or 2CV ftw... i am just down the road from a focus, so i can get the fablon in!!
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Last Edit: Mar 24, 2006 15:17:47 GMT by Mr K
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,946
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Mar 24, 2006 15:27:53 GMT
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I can't see the 2CV thing - sorry but I can't - they are weird and I know I've owned two!!!
Mind you 18 bolts and you can lift the shell off - revealing a termminally corroded chassis normaly
Shoveit, ovlov 240, Old shape astar all get my vote
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Mar 24, 2006 15:35:07 GMT
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2CV seems sort of a bit obvious cos they are so wierd. a shuv, micra, belmont, bluebird, laural etc springing to mind.
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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Mar 24, 2006 15:36:03 GMT
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Is there something we can get VERY cheap lowering springs off the bay for? As that seems to be the main technical hurdle..
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Mar 24, 2006 15:36:47 GMT
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thinking logically - what we want is irrelevant, surely it comes down to what we can get our hands on for peanuts/nothing?
or do we decide on a shortlist and then get hold of one for as cheap as possible?
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Mar 24, 2006 15:38:14 GMT
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That'd be the laural and give it back to spotted laural and we use it for fun!
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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Mar 24, 2006 15:46:09 GMT
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thinking logically - what we want is irrelevant, surely it comes down to what we can get our hands on for peanuts/nothing? or do we decide on a shortlist and then get hold of one for as cheap as possible? Thats a good point, we need to work out our approach to this... If we can get a car "donated" ie, someone doesn't mind us fiddling with their car, then great. If not I think we should make a short list of cars, and evaluate what we can do most with in a short space of time.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Mar 24, 2006 16:00:43 GMT
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If the car is going to be done so it looks reasonably respectable then it mgiht be possible to get one of the suspension firms on board to donate/sell at cost suitable springs etc. They would certainly get lots of good publicity on this board and from a banner on display at the show. I agree with Keefy and Hotwire. donated car would be best but if not then a cheapo taxed/mot'd one off eBay.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Mar 24, 2006 16:09:15 GMT
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i kinda know guys at KW susp, spax and a few others ... i would be happy to ask if you like
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Mar 24, 2006 16:13:10 GMT
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They're all 40mm (60mm at a push) on t'bay... :/
*n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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Mar 24, 2006 17:05:05 GMT
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I've got a set of Sierra lowering springs kicking about somewhere... Some really good points made here - we don't want it turning into something that nobody "gets". OK, not many people understand why we drive the cars we drive, but if we keep it simple and focussed we could turn out something really cool. Lowering, de-trimming, different rims, paint and stencils... all pretty easy things to do
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Mar 24, 2006 17:08:51 GMT
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I saw a rover 213 today, really early one - i got pics on my phone, will stick em up in a bit. I thought that'd be pretty cool
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