FACTORY FIVE AND TECH AUTOS
Dec 10th
Monday’s feature was but eight miles from TKC/totalkitcar towers. However, I had to travel a bit further afield on Tuesday, about 150-miles further west, in fact and a journey to sunny Poole in Dorset.
Once upon that town would almost certainly have involved Ray Christopher’s GTD or in later years Lionel Gooch’s Super Stratos or Jon Ridd’s Gaia Cars, but those three have long since closed their doors, so on Tuesday I was in Poole for a visit to Tech Autos run by Dan Walsh.
A full and indepth feature on my visit and the activities of Dan, which primarily revolve around More >
HAWK ON THE ROLLERS
Dec 10th
Catching up with the backlog of features that I couldn’t do at various times over the last ten months and I’ve been out and about this week.
First off, I was at CCK in High Hurstwood on Monday morning to watch as Hawk Cars’ beautiful aluminium-bodied Cobra Daytona replica was put through its paces. There’s been plenty of East Sussex’s finest input in this car’s build.
The paint has been applied by the artisans as Kingswell Coachworks, the engine and suspension set up carried out by AJ Barnard Engineering of Bodiam, while Shaun Rainford’s rolling road was used to set up the More >
KITCAR BUILD UP SERVICE
Dec 10th
The days when every town in the UK, almost had a company offering a kitcar build service have gone. I’m guessing because back in the day most manufacturers didn’t offer a build-up or turnkey service.
There are still some good ones – strategically placed in the country it seems – about though. Sussex Kit Cars close to totalkitcar towers in East Sussex is one, while Lancashire-based John Clarkson Kit Cars is another. Across the Pennines in Hull is RoadRunner Racing and they’ve worked on a wide cross-section of cars and makes. Then, located in Coventry, is Martin James of Irntam Kitz.
Sure, More >
BACK TO THE SEVENTIES
Dec 10th
There have been lots of superb book releases in 2020, which is great given that we all had a bit more time on our hands and also another sign of the renaissance of the hard copy publication!
When considering my personal book of the year award there were several live wire candidates and until just recently it was a toss-up between Steve Saxty’s brilliant book ‘Secret Fords’ or the great book on the life of the late John Haynes…
However, a late entry and just about snatching victory is Richard Heseltine’s ‘Excess All Areas’. A well deserving winner even if this review More >
REDUCING HOSES
Dec 10th
These new hose reducers from Car Builder Solutions will find favour with many kitcar builders and enthusiasts. You can choose from three sizes – 63mm to 50mm (part number #AHR6350), 76mm to 63mm (part #AHR7663) and a 76mm to 50mm (part #AHR7650).
They are 80mm long and have a 1in wall thickness. Prices from £13.20 inc VAT, with more information from www.carbuilder.com ENDS.
DON’T KICK THE BACKSIDE OUT OF IT!
Dec 10th
The brilliantly named On Its Arse car care range is one I’m fond of and the comedic name belies the fact that their products are very good.
They’ve just been in touch to tell me of their open weekend on December 12-13, which also coincides with their move to larger premises.
They’ve even got a brand-new special product to help them celebrate – Project Xmas, which is a standalone, quick detailer spray. It leaves a silky-smooth finish that enriches gloss and enhances paintwork to a mirror-like shine.
Having used it last weekend I like it despite iffy weather doing its best to spoil More >
YOU ‘WATT’
Dec 10th
The Watt’s linkage (also known as the parallel linkage) is a type of mechanical linkage that allows the axle of a vehicle to travel vertically while preventing sideways motion. As the name implies it was invented by James Watt and was included in his patent specification of 1784 for the Watt steam engine.
In spite of its long history the concept works just as well today and it forms the basis of the Burton Watts Linkage kit intended for the Ford Escort Mk1/2 (but given the kitcar applications that can use it highly applicable here) made for Burton by GRP4 Fabrications.
The More >
BEETLE DAMPERS
Dec 10th
Winter’s here and by now many kit and classic cars will be tucked up in their garages undergoing a seasonal refurb.
It’s just the time then to remind you about GAZ adjustable GT dampers for the VW Beetle 1300 and 1500. Plenty of kitcars based on those donors.
GAZ fully adjustable GT dampers enable the damping bump and rebound rate to be adjusted to suit the conditions, load and driving style. They have adjustable damping rates which can be altered by means of an easily accessible knob on the side of the units.
GAZ can set these dampers up for general road use More >
ONE SIZE FITS ALL
Dec 10th
Laser Tools is excited to announce their new professional workshop ‘one battery powers all’ cordless tool range. All the tools in the range feature brushless motor technology designed and built for daily use; efficient electronics manage an array of power requirements across the range using one common battery. The battery delivers cleaner, more consistent power, lasts longer and delivers more run-time in the harshest jobsite conditions
There are five professional power tools in the range: the angle grinder, the impact drill, the impact screwdriver, the impact wrench and the professional bodyshop polisher. They are provided in a kit that includes two More >
ANOTHER LEVEL
Dec 3rd
Big fan of the LMP kit by Bulgarian company AeroMaster and their Group C-inspired package has won many friends for the Sofia-based operation. Kit prices start at €7500 and one UK customer, in particular, is well on the way to finishing his car.
I’d definitely love to see a road-legal one. Imagine popping down to the supermarket in an LMP.
An exciting new development from Joey Lee’s company is the Pro chassis variant, which has lots of upgrades on the original frame and is fabricated from CNC-cut aluminium, as are the uprights, with tubular steel double wishbones, adjustable push-rod suspension, full rollcage More >
