Caterham 7 SV build day 4

It's starting to look like a car! That's the diff in place - thanks Caterham, your instructions weren't great for that - the driveshafts, the De Dion tube (a sort of rear subframe for the suspension and rear wheels) the rear suspension and brakes. This weekend we need to finish the rear brakes, fit the rear wings and roll-over bar then fit the interior, sort all the weathergear - windscreen, hood etc, and the electrics - lights, indicators and wipers. We'll then fill with fluids - coolant; engine, gearbox and diff oils; clutch and brake fluids, connect the battery and try and start her.......

Caterham 7 SV build day 3

Another good saturday afternoon's work at the club. That's the exhaust, fuel system, radiator, heater, cooling system, pedal box and steering column all built up.

The diff is proving problematic, but a phonecall to Caterham this week implies that this is common, and "drifting" - hitting with a large hammer - should sort it out.

That just leaves sorting the diff and the rear suspension before finishing the bodywork and body electrics and starting the tests - watch this space for mores

2010 Caterham 7 SV Build Day 2

The engine and gearbox are in! After 2 afternoons work it feels as if we are on the downslope. With all the front suspension, brakes, engine, clutch, starter motor, gearbox, gear lever and engine electrics all in place it feels as if we're over halfway through.

Next weekend we'll fit the exhaust, radiator, water and heater pipes, propshaft, differential, driveshafts, rear hubs, rear brakes and rear suspension. All that we need to do after that is fit the interior, rollbar, windscreen and the prestart checks, lubrication, brake and clutch fluids. Then it's off to the DVLA to be tested. Keep an eye on the window for further progress.

2010 Caterham 7 SV Build Day 1

Yesterday we started building our new C7 Roadsport. Beautifully painted in Lamborghini Pearl White, it will be fitted with Matte Black cycle wings and finished with a red stripe! We hope to have it finished by early March, so that we can get it registered in time for the new season with a 2010 plate (a "60" plate I think...)

The build is being done in the downstairs window so any passers by can see the progress.

We made good progress, and have mostly finished the front suspension, steering

and brakes. The engine is next - we'll start that next weekend. Watch for more updates on the blog.

The Classic Car Club goes to Skye

For our next club weekend we will be heading over the sea to Skye. This is a return to an island the club last visited in the October 2005, when we enjoyed wonderful autumn sunshine, wide open roads and plenty of traditional island hospitality.

We will once again be staying in one of McKinlay Kidd’s favourite and very Scottish hotels – Eilean Iarmain.

Sheltered by a gently curving bay, this charming whitewashed hotel sits right on the seashore, enjoying expansive views over the Sound of Sleat to the wilderness of Knoydart. This is a Gaelic-speaking community and the bar is a convivial meeting place for the locals, who mix happily with hotel guests, often to the accompaniment of traditional music and Gaelic song in front of the roaring log fire. Twelve bedrooms (six in the Garden House) are decorated with pretty cotton and linen chintzes and there are also suites in the recently restored stables, each enjoying superb views across the water to the lighthouse of Isle Ornsay.

Candlelit meals in the wood-panelled dining room reflect the estate’s culinary riches, with wonderful shellfish and game featuring prominently on the menu. Langoustines are landed at the old stone pier, and oysters come from the hotel's own oyster beds.

Outline itinerary (provisional and subject to change)

Friday

As usual we will plan a lunchtime meeting location, probably in the area north of Fort William. We then will cross to Skye by the community-owned ferry from Glenelg- takes just 6 cars at a time so we will arrange a rota! Then it’s just a short drive further to the hotel.

Dinner tonight will be in the bar, where there will be traditional music and plenty of local ales!

Saturday
After breakfast the day is your own to explore the island – and we will give you plenty of recommendations for lunch options.

At the end of the afternoon we will gather again at the hotel for a tasting of Gaelic Whiskies’ products. This will be followed by dinner, this time in the hotel restaurant.
Afterwards relax in front of the fire in the lounge or head back to the bar, where there will be more live music – this time more contemporary!

Sunday

After breakfast depart for home, with a choice of routes, over the bridge, by ferry from Mallaig or back over by Glenelg.

Price: £210 per person.

This is based on two sharing a superior twin or double room ensuite.

Single occupancy of a double room available for a £40 supplement.
Some suites also available – price on request. These can work well for families.

Price includes two nights’ accommodation including dinner both nights, the ferry from Glenelg to Skye, a full route plan, the whisky tasting, live music in the bar and Robert’s Recommendations on what to see and do in the local area.

How to Book:
Call Robert Kidd on 0141 202 0638 or email robert@mckinlaykidd.co.uk to reserve your place.
Contact Matt to reserve your car.

Classic Car Club Spring 2010 Weekend - 23rd - 25th April

I promised everyone a little more advanced notice of the next weekend away, so here it is. After feedback from the last couple of events, we have decided to revisit one of the favourite locations from a previous trip. This spring McKinlay Kidd will be organising a return to the Isle of Skye, where we last ventured in October 2005. More details will follow in January, but do keep the date free!
Here are a few pictures from that trip - you will note the stunning weather, now there's a challenge!

Classic Car Club Weekend 9/10/11 October.

Classic Car Club Weekend 9/10/11 October.

Well it was another great trip organised by Robert and Heather Kidd. We headed North – almost as far as you can go on the mainland. Cars included the Ferrari, Porsche 911, TVR, Boxster, Healey 6/100 and the Elise.

The route beyond Inverness included stops for lunch at the very busy “Storehouse of Foulis” and then further north on the A836 to Crask Inn. A wonderful place to stop – apparently it is bad luck not to stop – so we had tea & cakes and although one or two had a glass of beer.

Resting inside Crask Inn.

This road is single track with passing places, super views to help along the way, and then you get to the coast with it’s beaches, cliffs and of course the sea.

The hotel we stayed in was The Tongue Inn, in Tongue and provided a warm welcome, clean rooms and good food.

Picture: diners at Tongue Hotel.

The attached pub provided the beer – we drank them dry of “real ale” on the Friday night.

Saturday, a dry start - we went east – some to John O’Groats others stopped in Thurso – a busy town with the usual coffee shops, museum and walks by the river.

Lunch was at the award winning Captains Galley, at Scrabster.

Picture of restaurant. Inside and out.

Famous for it’s fresh seafood and we enjoyed some fantastic food during the afternoon there. Some took a long route back to Tongue – again mainly single track roads.

Saturday night we were entertained by the locals in the hotel bar and we enjoyed an impromptu darts match which stretched late into the night – more because of the poor scoring than the excitement of the game.

Photo: Hotel bar.

Elaine’s looking forward to the next one.

Myke