Cyril the bullshitter

Thurs.08.06.06. The fitting of the screen has had a very satisfactory outcome. It had been a genuine struggle taking much longer than we had anticipated, but the final result is a bona fide development compared to the previous primitive design. Using then adapting Morgan components has inevitably enhanced the outward image of the car. These well machined stainless steel, aluminium and chrome parts have integrated beautifully into an already sound, but basic, design. Our frustrated efforts have been truly rewarded but it is now time to move on to other challenges. The screen now can be truthfully ‘signed off’. Take the chunks out of the fridge and open a fresh tin of evap.

During mid afternoon we planned to visit Cyril’s workshop at RG Engineering, a recommended name that we had been offered. Cyril confidently boasts he can perform miracles with steel, alloy, tin, chrome, brass, copper and any other metal that man has ever produced. We had earlier cornered Cyril at Slicks telling him about the restoration project. “Go and see Andy, the bloke with the big feet, he’s your man, I’m not there today, but you can count on him”. The advice from Cyril was entirely utterly convincing so we now intend taking the chassis to his workshop to have the welding finished off. Colin Brockbank, who has worked tirelessly on the chassis, appears to have spit his dummy out since he was criticised due to his crude solution regarding the fitting the screen, which uncharacteristically went catastrophically wrong, belly up, tit’s down. He has not called us and we haven’t called him. But, next door to Cyril’s place is a company that specialises in shot blasting and powder coating which, after welding, is the ultimate ‘rust proofing’ process for the chassis. “Don’t worry, the guys next door will do it for nowt, they’re proper iron, just slip ‘em some foldin’ and they’ill push it through as a council job, no questions asked” claimed brash Cyril, boldly. “Fuckin’ champion” I replied “we’ll have some of that, conveniently forgetting that offering a bung does constitute some form of payment”. It was only later chatting to Slick, that we discovered Cyril has in fact retired, has absolutely no understanding of welding and is a notorious bullshitter. Slick did, however, confirm that Andy was our man insisting that we must go to see him.

We introduced ourselves to Andy and explained our requirements. We left having had a master class in metal work from an extremely knowledgeable craftsman. Andy will complete the welding on the chassis, polish the brackets and mend the screen. At last we have found a quality artisan, straight talking and probably honest: a rare breed indeed, possibly the last one in captivity. Perhaps our luck has changed, maybe we can, at last, enjoy a consistent period of progressive achievement.