No need for loud, bold statements.

Weds.27.02.08. Each small accomplished task produces a sense of great satisfaction. As much due to the notion “that it need never be attempted again” because this genuinely and absolutely is the ‘definitive’ and not yet another ‘practice’ or ‘dry run’; it is the ‘Truth’ and not ‘Perhaps’. The build has experienced phenomenally rapid days followed by lost days which have, probably, equal importance and achievement but not the ‘pizzazz’. The rear bolts that tie the chassis to the tub have been re-drilled, countersunk and glassed. A dull five hour job but tremendously significant. The mesh to underside the bonnet halves have been secured by bolting a right angled aluminium extrusion to the hinge: a relatively simple task but the transformation to this section has been immense. There is an analogy of ‘Queen front and Mary Ellen behind’, ‘fur coat and no knickers’ or ‘look Ma I’m dancing’ in there somewhere but I am not exactly sure where. But it is often the unseen, forgotten labour that underpins the bold loud statements.

Thurs.28.02.08. The mesh has been clamped to the bonnet hinge by 10x4mm stainless dome headed nuts and bolts. The front and rear edge will be protected by a rubber moulding which will also aid in the fixing of the entire cladding to the under surface. Meanwhile Chris is compiling an order for Paddocks, Woolies and Europa of all the missing items to complete the build: this could be, possibly be, not exactly be, maybe, or even perhaps be the last occasion that we will need perform this exercise. I wonder how many components we shall forget to request or how many we already have but have misplaced?

Fri.29.02.08. Reporting on the progress of the car has now become a ‘list’ of jobs achieved as opposed to detailed description of ‘development’. At this stage in the build this should be the case rather than exception but to think in these terms feels uncomfortable and improper. It is difficult to comprehend that all the ‘R and D’ is now behind us and it is simply a matter of bolting on the appropriate definitive parts permanently, not temporarily. “Nothing now is coming off” was the short message offered to the doubters in the pub that evening. Such an uncomplicated statement at the time, did not hold a great deal of significance but on reflection it is quite monumental because is does in fact mean that we are not for away from achieving everything we set out to do: create a wonderfully constructed vehicle from a very flawed but basic proven design. The curves, lines and image were already in place but presented in a rough, crude and naïve form. The car has evolved organically; it has been modelled, moulded, and honed into a mature, sophisticated, beautifully engineered machine.