West Yorkshire, UK Mini-Meet

Oh Bu%%er! Got visitors this weekend Paul, can't make it I'm afraid. Is there enough interest in West Yorkshire to set up a SOC branch? Apparently there was one, but it petered out? Was tossing up contacting Ebor or South Yorkshire branch, any experience of either?

Have fun

Al

in article 2fKAh.308447$ snipped-for-privacy@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk, Al at snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote on 14/02/2007 20:25:

I don't know either, but I reckon we might be able to start up a West Yorkshire SOC branch now a couple of lads from down Derbyshire have moved up and there seems to be a few more people around the area showing some interest. Aside from a few around Leeds, some in Bradford, I know of at least three in Ilkley, a couple in Shipley and I've seen a few regular waves in Halifax. That's just C900s and 99s. There must be loads of more recent owners who'd be interested.

I'll chat to the lads on Sunday and have a word with a couple of the others and someone at the SOC ... See where it goes. I was kind of hoping we might make this mini-meet a little more regular than just a one-off. We'll see ...

As it happens, it looks like I'll have to turn up on Sunday in our Italian funny car, rather than the SAAB. Aeromotive are doing a great job with the white whale's further renovations at the moment and Phil said, "maybe Monday night". Grrr! Ho-hum! I'd rather they did their thing without being rushed ... You know :)

She sailed the MOT, BTW :)

I have my headliner out and I'm about to re-cover it. Phil said you'd done yours ... Did you do it yourself, or use Darren Archer in Cleckheaton? I'm pretty sure I'll do it myself with loads of wallpaper paste to harden it and then black leatherette :o

Paul

I did it myself with Empire Grey material from Woolies, and several cans of glue. Made a bodge round the sunroof and managed to wrap the material round the inside edge of the liner, forgetting that it was supposed to go round the inside edge of the sunroof enclosure...DOH!

and just for good measure DOH!!!!

I stablised my liner with fibreglass in the areas it needed it. Worked OK, but means it's not as flexible as it could be, making installation a bit tricky.

I also had the classic problem with the seatbelt bolts stripping out. Got myself a "Helicoil" type set and solved that problem pretty easily. I'm unlikely to remove the headliner again unless I have to though for fear of having more of the same problem.

I know I've outlined the problem areas, but to be fair I am really happy with the result,and my colleagues at work were most complimentary. "well it's better than dodging the hanging wires, looks like you had bondage gear in here Al!"

Good luck with yours. I was hoping to make it after all tomorrow, but contrary to my understanding our visitors don't intend to leave Sunday morning now, they're staying until late afternoon....just as long as they don't want feeding again!!

Al

in article myzBh.287844$ snipped-for-privacy@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk, Al at snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote on 17/02/2007 09:04:

Cheers Al - I am well aware now that I need to leave a good 1.5" or so to clip up around the sunroof aperture on the car and not to simply finish it nicely on the headliner itself. My headliner is in good shape - there are just two areas that need strengthening; where the rear view mirror bolts up and one of the side holes where the grab handles fit. I'm going to use tape and maybe some balsa or plastic stripping since it is so minimal.

I suppose the next question is, how do I get the sunroof out? I am led to believe by a very good walkthrough that I can drop the sunroof cassette down onto the front seat headrests and a suitable platform at the back and then undo the front and rear attachments, moving the rear ones out of the way and then sliding the whole sunroof out.

In fact, this is what I'm aiming for:

... With the U-section around the sunroof aperture coloured black. I'm going to leave the sun visors light, which I think sets off the inside "very pimpalicious" :) Muhahaha! Can't wait ... Come on Woolies ... Bring me my foam and black vinyl!!!

Paul

I was up for this (being in York and all) until this morning, when Mrs. Derv needs to go to the doctors. :-/

in article 45d8069e$0$32026$ snipped-for-privacy@news.zen.co.uk, DervMan at snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote on 18/02/2007 07:53:

Bad luck ... Home the Mrs is okay!

Paul

Yet more tablets. One of her colleagues insists on going into work when he's poorly and infectious. Mrs. Derv isn't as hardy as most people at the moment...

Auch! How many doctors?

Two today...

in article C1F8C9CC.75C8% snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk, Paul Halliday at snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk wrote on 14/02/2007 14:14:

Great afternoon! Much enjoyed! Great to see you there afterall, Al ... and nice to meet the others and follow you all around in our pocket Ferrari :( I tell you what, that twin carb didn't do a bad job of keeping up ... Until the straights :)

I'll have the white whale out next time ... in a month, or so?

My pictures are here:

... More here:

... and a link to Al's noisy JT 8) We had a bit of hooliganism in the tunnel under the airport runway, but it sounds like Andy's camera just closed its ears and refused to record. Next time, eh? I tell you what ... that noise was hilarious ... I bet half the people in the tunnel thought a plane was coming through :) ... Aero, indeed! 8)

Paul

in article 45d8069e$0$32026$ snipped-for-privacy@news.zen.co.uk, DervMan at snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote on 18/02/2007 07:53:

We tended to agree that towards North Yorkshire would be good for a next meet-up and have some fun around the roads out of Knaresbrough would be good. My thoughts are, drive around, find a country pub, have a spot of bonnet lifting and some lunch, drive around some more, catch an afternoon ice cream at Ripley Castle (you know theirs is the best) and pick up exotic beers for the evening from 'Beer Ritz' in Knaresbrough :)

I let you know ...

Paul

It's the bonnet lifting that worries me. Can't we go and sniff diesel pumps instead? :-) Mine is but the TiD and an early one at that.

It sounds like a plan. Charlie will take some... err... persuasion. Or she can go shopping instead.

Oh Yes, I admit it, my JT sounds pretty awesome in tunnels, even when I keep it just below the speed limit like that....;-)

Great fun was had by all, thanks for organising it Paul, look forward to the next one. Good to meet the other guys too, nice to know there's a few of us around. Loved that shine Andy esp.the bonnet mirror pics!!

Maybe bring out the good lady and the ankle biters next time, my kids love "turbo grin" as we call it. The missus does drive a 9000 Anniversary after all. Looking forward to seeing Orca all spruced up too.

Cheers for now

Al