went out for a wee hurl -

couldn't open the drivers due to frost, managed to eventually get into the car through the passenger side. Trying to get over the centre console into the drivers seat so I could start the engine (and take it out of gear) was not the easiest nor most elegant of maneuvers lol.

Got car started and let it idle for a bit then cleaned off the ice from the windows. Drove off very carefully as the entire street was a sheet of ice..... should have given me a clue eh? Anyways, a wee run up by Strathblane and down via Drymen was completed at a very sedate pace as the although roads were mostly clear, they had about as much grip as a skid pan. 2nd gear + boost = wheel spin, repeat for 3rd and 4th and I never tried fifth lol. Anything like positive boost pressure and the rears just couldn't hold on so I gave up trying :) A nice wee drive in the sun nevertheless.

Stay safe out there folks

sunday afternoon fun :) -

a wee run out with some friends in the typical Scottish November weather. Bit of rain, bit of sunshine and some fog thrown in just for that atmospheric feeling. Bend swinging behind a 01 plate 911 I'm thinking that handles quite well.... as I drift wide and generally have a moment! So with attitude adjusted I approach the corners a bit more focused. Fabby lunch in a typical country pub / hotel and then repeat the trip home.

On the motorway run home briskly pulled away from a roundabout and did everything right, no moments no under steer no drama. Got it nice and straight and then thought yep this is the time. Queue right hoof, 3rd gear, 16odd psi and as it pulls through 50 the back end starts coming round. Funny thing is the 2 cars in front of me were having exactly the same moment! Queue much swearing and opposite lock :) Fun fun fun

MOT passed -

nothing needing work, no attention needed everything ok. Tester looked at brakes and was heard to mention, yep that'll work! woo hoo! 16yo motor 126K miles and still amkes me smile. Still drinks SUL like Oliver Reed on a mission though lol

a wee weekend drive away -

ok so last weekend in July and a cheeky wee drive is on the cards

Friday kick off up through Glen Coe towards Fort William and it's tbars oot and on with the sun tan lotion


Somewhere north of Aviemore I find this strange character following me to Inverness - it is the Jaffa man



Due to leaving late afternoon and stopping off at Gaz's for a Chinese takeaway we were a little late in getting to Ullapool. So after getting the tents up we have a beer to celebrate a simply stunning late evening drive from Inveress to Ullapool and then legging it from the midges (no wind for once at the campsite = swarms of the barstewards)

Sunset at the campsite



Camp fire anyone - it actually didn't scare the midges off the little blighters


I cannot explain this picture though according to my phone it was 215am...


A couple of pics from the Saturday drive up by Durness and along to Tongue, tbars oot again :) A first for the club. A run with only MR2 turbos's, 3 tintops and 2 tbars (oot again and on with the sun lotion and shades)




some more bods arrive on Saturday evening but due to missed calls the tents were up in another part of the campsite however they were swiftly moved over




Another pic of the MX5, this was shot on Sunday after the pissing rain had passed and all the tents were down. Tbars oot again lol







As a complete aside, the car clocked up the 126k mile marker on the way home Sunday at Loch Lomond. Not bad going I reckon

car washed and polished -

by me so a rubbish job but at least it's done. A wee run coming up this weekend so the Sun God is getting plenty of attention :)

has it really been so long -

I've been remiss but to be fair naff all has happened! Weather has been shockingly bad so not driving anywhere and the final caliper from Japan has given up. Indeed the drivers side rear caliper has given up the ghost and has now been replaced. I have a working handbrake too which is nice. Car needs a good clean up and polish.

been a while -

so a wee update. New alternator belt bought, hope it's the right one lol. On the off chance I asked if they had any oil filters in and would you credit it they had them sitting on the shelf. I think that's becuase it's the same one the Yaris uses lol. It's got 3S-GTE on the label so that'll do me. Handbrake is getting sorted same time so yay parking on hills again.

Haven't driven the car much but it still makes me smile when I hit the loud pedal.Had to purcahse a new 9v battery for the multimeter / intake temperature gauge lol

nice day out -

went out for a wee drive on Sunday there, even managed to jet wash the blighter but after looking at it today dunno why I bothered. I also pulled the 3 ECU fuses, been ages since I done that and my goodness what a difference. Throttle response is much sharper and the boost is solid and it pulls like a train. This I from previous experience is normal, dunno why I've taken so long to do it but by 'eck what a difference. Usual Sunday drivers getting in the way, pah.

ah the joys of sunny Sundays -

so I decided since Sunday was a sunny day I'd dust the car off, give it some petrol and a jetwash then drive up to Inveraray. Well, I managed to fill it with petrol as the rain started coming down.... so I gave up on washing it.

The drive up was yeah it was ok. Some nice driving moments with some boost but you know sometimes I think the car just isn't pulling like it should. A fuse reset is required methinks. The weather was the typical four seasons in one 90 minute period which made it interesting for sure!

The run down however was in dry weather and mostly bright sunshine and best of all... I got the run from Loch Fyne eatery to Arrochar over The Rest and be Thankful with no traffic. First time ever and the run down from the Thankful was amazing! Roads had dried out and the car was digging in, the brakes were getting hot what a feeling. Bloody amazing. Nice day out for sure.

it's a bit slippy out there -

decided to check the oil, check the tyres and wash the car. Seemed only right to go a wee run to dry it of.....

Oil was fine, good colour and plenty of it. Tyres, er yes they needed blowing up ! Also bypassed the Charcoal Canister and plumbed the boost gauge into those lines and return the MAP sensor lines to straight and direct. Now whether that's made a change I don't know but the car did feel pretty good on the shake down run. Made me smile although the roads are pretty rough and ready. Roll on the warm tarmac days

double headlight failure! -

and of course it happened at night, when else. So I drove home with the sidelights on with the very naughty front fogs in attendance. I figured better to be seen than to either be invisible or blind everyone with the main beam. Seemed an ok plan til on the expressway some pirck decided to

• pull out in front of me into the overtaking lane and slow down


• put his rear fogs on


• crawl along near enough matching the speed of the traffic in the inside lane
  
• brake test me while alongside said inside lane traffic


• hog the outside lane after he'd eventually crawled past the slower (but only just) traffic


• then as I undertook him (naughty I know but I really wanted past this prick) he pulled right in behind me and flicked the main beam on

Thank you very much you fucking prick I am fully aware I was breaking several rules with my lighting set up it wasn't like I planned it or had options but in no way did I endanger other road users. Look at your own driving standards before you act the prick. I place the curse of a thousand traffic wardens on your arse and a pox on your wife and kids!

Both bulbs replaced and I now have working lights. Thanks for reading