The further adventures of Westfield pre-lit #52

[Mojoluthier]

Otherwise known as my first Seven. Parked on stands in my garage at the moment, an 1800's one car wooden structure, and sharing the space with my Greeves Silverstone wannabe and my latest generation Ducati Multistrada. The Westie is on stands because I have removed the third member entirely and have taken the diff into a local shop (Sonoma Caterham dealer) to have a howling demon exorcized. Since I have not yet had the car a week I am feeling like I have gone in full tilt. There is a fair amount to learn about this specific car looking around in the forums, and it has clearly had its trials and tribulations, but I love the way it drives and it's crossflow seems to run very strongly through the T-9. The car appears to have changed hands a couple of times lately, and an earlier seller had a bunch of very cool parts that are no longer with the car, sadly, but the car itself seems complete and sortable. My name is Bruce, and I am in Petaluma, ca, pleased to meet you!

[magnusfeuer]

Hello Bruce,

Welcome to the lunatic fringe of car ownership. We are here to help you if you have any questions or are looking for advice.

/Magnus F.

[Mojoluthier]

I have the car back together and have put a few miles on it.

I bought my first welder and cut the pedals to fit my body better. Yet another new adventure! It is interesting to try to optimize them for such a straight legged posture, my ankles alone are not quite up to the clutch task.

I was surprised to find I have trouble breathing at 70 mph in a cross wind. Turbulence takes on a whole new dimension. Wearing a helmet would solve the issue, but seems like it would attract unwanted attention from public employees in cruisers.

The bench seat was flat on the floor as delivered, so I am messing with tilting the front up a bit, and while at it this morning I have sculpted an EPS foam pan shape that seems like a step up. Then I made a trip to the fabric store for vinyl covering material to upholster it. I learned to use a sewing machine a long time ago, so the task should be within my grasp. None of the padding material at the fabric store seemed up to snuff, way too soft, I wonder what others use?

[Doug Liedblad]

Turbulence is actually a LOT less if you switch from the flat windscreen to Brooklands or an aeroscreen.

[Mojoluthier]

I took off the wind wings and like the turbulence a lot better. Also, wearing a bandito bandana over my face helps me breath and may prove useful the way I drive.

Participated in my first AutoX last weekend and had the time of my life. I now realize I have had a number of cars I could have done this with, over the years, and wish I had. Now I have to wait for the next season, apparently.




This allegedly competent copilot doesn't look relaxed to me.


It fact he looks like he's screaming!


And finally, resigned to his fate. Am I making this up?




I believe I am out of control in this one (70 degrees to intended direction), though I recovered w/o losing all momentum. Later I spun properly while the camera was averted.

[centerfireman]

Seats...

I have the car back together and have put a few miles on it.

I bought my first welder and cut the pedals to fit my body better. Yet another new adventure! It is interesting to try to optimize them for such a straight legged posture, my ankles alone are not quite up to the clutch task.

I was surprised to find I have trouble breathing at 70 mph in a cross wind. Turbulence takes on a whole new dimension. Wearing a helmet would solve the issue, but seems like it would attract unwanted attention from public employees in cruisers.

The bench seat was flat on the floor as delivered, so I am messing with tilting the front up a bit, and while at it this morning I have sculpted an EPS foam pan shape that seems like a step up. Then I made a trip to the fabric store for vinyl covering material to upholster it. I learned to use a sewing machine a long time ago, so the task should be within my grasp. None of the padding material at the fabric store seemed up to snuff, way too soft, I wonder what others use?

I have a Caterham which had the original bench seats; I decided that they were used by the CIA if a suspect resisted waterboarding. The bench seat was tens times more uncomfortable than the most uncomfortable car seat I had ever sat in. I eventually put in Caterham leather seats (expensive, easy to install and well worth it).