MOT passed - brakes still feel a bit funny but it's pushing me to get the bits for the BBK together and then in the new year get it fitted. Got a bit on over the next 2 odd months with work so messing with the car isn't an option. That and the pish weather we have!

Kumho KU31's? yeah the 255x40 certainly are sitting good on the wheel and do fill the arches. Obviously haven't had a chance to push them yet but will bed them in nicely and see if they rub with cornering load. Not likely in this weather though at least I have a full tread to lean on!  ¶ 6:11 PM 0 comments

  excel tip for changing month text to integer - indeed found this little gem to change Jan into 1 and it goes like =month(1&A1) where cell A1 has Jan in it. Full acknowledgement and explantion found on this website . Has a nice description of what that code is doing and why and we all like to know why something works!

Labels: excel, excel month text to integer, month to integer

  ¶ 2:24 PM 0 comments

  MOT time - er it failed lol. Rear tyres on / below legal limit which is fine I have no complaints about that at all. Coming into the winter with on the limit tyres is plain dumb and it's forced me to actually pick a tyre brand / model! So after much deliberating and trying to find someone with tyres I've plumbed for a completely new brand to me but recommended by folks running the same car as me.

Choices were for widths

245x40x17 - I know they'll fit without rubbing but waste of a 9 inch rim
255x40x17 - now you're talking and it **shouldn't** rub - note the use of shouldn't

Uniroyal Rainsport 2 - couldn't get them in any size I wanted
Goodyear F1's D3 - not impressed with the last set I had
Hankook RS'2 - not on sale anymore
Falken 452 - got good feedback from folks using them


Kumho KU31 - again good feedback from folks using them and I know someone running them


Bridgestone SO2 - Porsche fitment with the real aggressive tread wear


So I plumbed for the Kumho's in 255x40x17 so hopefully they'll be good - usual new tyre warnings apply - they'll grip like a wet bar of soap on lino til they wear away the mould releasing film!

Steering gaiter split and front brake balance dangerous. Ho hum, all getting fixed as we speak. Bloody cars

Labels: Bridgestone S02, falken 452, kumho ku31, mot, Uniroyal Rainsport 2

  ¶ 1:50 PM 2 comments

  amazing day out! - was such a sunny day I had to go out for a drive. Jet washed then polished car then drove it for 180 miles. 100 of which were in brilliant sunshine though not always warm, that's what the heater is for eh! Bunnet and sunglasses were used, I must have looked some state hehe. The drive back was in the dark, car behaved perfectly throughout the trip, ripped past traffic when asked and gave me one hell of a ride. The A85 from Tyndrum to Dalmally is an amazing stretch tarmac

Some pics below
on the road to Crainlarich



beside Loch Fyne




front fogs have been refitted, front end looks great

Labels: A85, Aberfoyle, Crainlarich, Dalmally, inveraray, stunning drive, sunglasses, Tyndrum

  ¶ 11:18 PM 1 comments

  some pics - taken from the caravan after the rain in Inveraray



after a jet wash and polish

Labels: caravan, jet wash, polish, rain

  ¶ 9:57 PM 0 comments

  rain X and sun - before the IMOC drive I put some Rain X on the windscreen and boy was it fabby. Really makes a huge difference to when you need to put the wipers on. Weirdly the slower you go the more likely you are to need to put the wipers on. Go faster in the rain and it's all clear. Reality 1 logic didn't


Been sunny today so I went for a wee drive. Loved it. Jet washed car, wee run stopped up and gave the car a quick polish. Then drove home hehe. Sad but I enjoyed it  ¶ 5:32 PM 0 comments

  on another note - seems like some people like linking to other websites pictures and claiming them to be their own, or at least own the item in the picture. Due to this I've had to add some copyright info to the pics and that's a real bind. I don't have the software to make it neat or tidy or even quick so it's all manual. I am however tempted to change the pic that's being leeched to something off the scale. Any suggestions, keep them clean but Carry On style most welcome....

And all because folks don't credit the original source, pah

Labels: leaching pictures

  ¶ 1:15 AM 0 comments

  Trip to Inveraray - just before I did the IMOC run I spent some time in Inveraray. Usually I chill for a bit then head into Oban one day and the other head to Crinan. This year I decided Oban and Keillmore, except the road doesn't go to Keillmore. it kinda stops before it but how was I to know. Anyhow, it was a sunny day out which was nice and I took some of the usual dodgy pics, see below

Labels: Dunrostan, inveraray, Isle of Danna, loch coille-bharr, loch sween

  ¶ 1:08 AM 0 comments

  trip to Ullapool and Skye - a wee trip away to the sunny delights of the North of Scotland. First off meeting the guys at the Carnigorm carpark which of course was shrouded in mist pretty much all the time we were there but I got some pics, usual disclaimer - I take crap pics :-)





a three drain of water from the mountain


the 2 miles away in the carpark


After a run to Ullapool, put the tents up and then went to the pub. Woke up in the morning to this view, darn it was pretty with the sun cutting into the day


A beach on the coastal! road to Applecross


Applecross beach


er no more pictures as I kinda didn't take any. Bad me, but I had a great time away and as usual the folks from IMOC were a great bunch to hang out with for a few days.

Labels: applecross, imoc, skye, ullapool

  ¶ 11:18 PM 2 comments