Thurs.15.06.06. The decision that the screen is ‘as good as it gets’ has been settled. I have transported the important components to Mark and Andy to be welded and re-tapped. We believe initiating valid bolted connections will produce a rigid frame, eliminating the idiosyncrasies of the folding mechanism, perhaps not a true engineering solution more like a denial of our inadequacies. Most of the body parts have been finely rubbed down and are almost ready to be delivered to ‘Gordon the Great’ (painter extrodinaire). Dave Brown has not yet been in contact. We desperately need his input for the design of the dashboard, the re-cutting of the engine panels, the construction of the luggage compartment and finally the re-shaping of the cockpit. There still remain several areas of the chassis to be reinforced; some re-welding is necessary together with some final sealing of the box section ends.
I received a letter today from the dreaded DVLA informing me that “because of discrepancies with their received information,” my car now needs a full inspection before a registration document can be issued. I cannot afford to pass this news on to Chris. His suspicious, comprehensive distrust along with his irrational hatred of anything ‘official’, particularly any association with the car trade, runs deep. I feel sure that given this information he would spit out his dummy, quite probably he would immediately consider abandoning the project. “You will never be able to have this car passed road worthy by those bastards at the DVLA, believe me, they are a joke!”
Fri.16.06.06. The rear wings have been bolted to the central tub to complete the dry build. The internal profile of the nosecone, originally asymmetrical, has been re-modelled producing perceptively superior balanced contours. The other additional minor modifications that have taken weeks to design and build are finally coming together. We were able today to ‘take in’ the entire car.
The sweeping curved lines of the wings against the body tub, the extended headlight mounts, the fixed and raised scuttle top, the lifted bonnet ends, the re-cut engine panels, the numerous improved alterations to the chassis also including the exhaustive difficulties encountered whilst manipulating the installation of the Morgan folding screen are collectively proudly displayed, more importantly, enormously appreciated. It has felt as if all the graft of the past ten weeks has come together in one day.
We have faxed our requests to Rimmer Brothers, once again, but have not yet had a reply. I just hope that we don’t have to go ‘cap in hand’ to the Sheepdip brothers for the stock if Rimmers ultimately let us down. Slick has promised to send the box of ‘bits’ to Cyril next week to be sandblasted and powder coated. The box contains the wishbones, engine and gearbox mounting brackets, rear half shafts, suspension turrets plus vast quantities of UNF nuts and bolts that have all been rescued from the dismantling exercise. A call form Andy and Mark also confirmed that they have re-welded and tapped the screen for the final test. This has been an extraordinarily good day.
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