I'll hopefully see you around then! I need to get a booking but its a bit late notice. Hopefully i can get into the show instead of just the car park 

Some snaps of Big in Dundee... 

So today was spent getting the most of the Scottiah sun. We.t to St Andrews west sands which on the same strip of land as the legendary open golf course....
Then went back to dundee and to broughty ferry.....




...

Just a mile from home....




Where do i get a new one?

I've forgot to update this little blog!

So, yeah...

The gear stick got welded back together from the lads at EMS EuroWeld in Dundee. Great chaps put a sleeve over the crack, welded around and ground the material back to create a seamless finish which was like new. Impossible to tell it ever broke!

I decided to ditch the EMPI quick shift as it was a nightmare to set and well I didn't really need it to be honest. Was cool to say "yeah it has a quick shift" but meh, it's a pain in the proverbial!
Other than that I didn't really use the buggy much recently as poor weather and 60+ hour weeks have stopped me from using it. However I did decide I HAD to make Pier Pressure in some form with the buggy.

So with that I took some brave pills and went!

It's been the furthest I've ever driven the buggy, and longest non-stop to boot. I set off from dundee at around half past two, before arranging to meet Dave aka blinggp11641 at a point where it would be suitable for us both, and along the cruises intended route.

I reccy'd google maps to see a place where I could park and meet up with the buggies, which ended up being right on a roundabout exit into a farm road at the Kincarden Bridge. It was not a proper exit for the roundabout, I think its mainly used for run off or parking if you get lost? I duno it served its purpose well!
The road to there from Dundee was 60 miles which may be nothing for some, but for me it was brilliant! I was quite nervous of a breakdown heading along the first part of the motorway towards Perth, but after I passed there I gained belief in the car (and ultimately my own work) and continued to the meeting point without problem!


Shortly after arriving Dave and his buddy Rab showed up with a very bling bling Red GP and a beetle based trike. The GP had tonnes of chrome, looked amazing and well 
As did the trike too,just shy of 1800cc with monster back tyres would wheelie everywhere! The noise as well 




We meet up with the cruise as the pass by stop for some quick stickers and head along the coastal road towards the capital. Going through a few small villages tooting and revving. Anything to get attention to the lead cars for the charity, until we hit the Fourth Road Bridge.

This bridge is under severe road works as average speed cameras are installed, along with the new by-pass and flyover for the new bridge replacement. Which is some sight as you drive along, every time I go passed its slightly closer to the two roads connecting over the water.... A cheeky picture of us on the bridge after getting through monster congestion....



The congestion (Rab I feel for you with that clutch, who needs the gym!!) was to continue into the city where the local lads of Dave and Alan took over to guide us through the centre of Edinburgh. Which is currently hosting one of the biggest cultural festivals in Europe! So safe to say it was affy busy. Lots of pictures, videos, toots, waves and general good times were had as we snaked through the thousands of tourists to get to Holyrood, where we stopped for a quick blether and some pictures.



It was good to meet up with Chad and George again, after a brief introduction at the Haggis hunt last year they were very welcoming, generous even though they looked a bit tired and hungry after their adventure along Scotland, and its isles. It was also great to meet Alan, who's blue Doon buggy I seen at volksfling in May

We took off again through until we got to another pit stop for the lads to finally get something to eat! After another good natter we decided to part ways and for me, dave and rab to head off back north.

Rounded up a fantastic day, in which I hope some people who seen us all go by look at the site and decide to donate. With about 150 miles added to the clock, I hope some have!!!

My only issues really were I get a fair pop and bang out the exhaust... The experts diagnosis is carbs out of sync/mixture... timing or tappets needing adjusting. Despite the bags full of tools and parts I took, I only needed the Maltesers on the way home.

Great time.

The Question is....
When will the new Queensferry crossing being build be blessed by buggy's!?!?! .... 

Today was the celebration of the 50th year the Tay Road Bridge has been open. The bridge officially opened on the 18th of August 1966, and today the council put on a large celebration of 50 years standing.

The bridge allowed a much quicker route into Fife, which was effectively an island prior as road links were so poor.

Anywho' I heard that the local automotive museum, Dundee Transport Museum, were going to put on a bit of a show along with a local lambretta and harley owners club to celebrate the occasion. So I thought why not take the buggy for a razz. Its "vintage" isnt it?!

Starting on the fife side of the bridge the cars slowly starting to trickle in, from 1930s bentleys to ferrari enzo's, old buses, HGV's and even a willys jeep. They were all there! until 1pm when we hit the road in a convoy, across the bridge towards the newly redeveloped water front through the city and crowds.

Lots of noise was made, I think I've worn out the ahooga horn! It was such a good day. The convoycame to an end parking in the new waterfront development where the public could get close and see all the cars. It was here I was given a rosette for taking part in the celebrations and I feel very chuffed!  Lots of stalls to nosey around, but no car jumbles. Just the usual home made jams etc. Still a great day and use of the space.

And to celebrate all this I decided to clean out the garage while the buggy was out and build up a new steel locking cupboard to put all my other tools in... Good bargain from Aldi if anyones in the market.

























I asked if I could put the gimpy on the buggy roll bar. He said he didnt have his spanners to swap it over

Sorry, too late to edit.

But for anyone interested here's a video of all the cars going along.... Spot the Beach Buggy!

https://www.facebook.com/1011906388826699/videos/1388348847849116/

Visited the Tay bridge building as a nipper on a family holiday using the vauxhall velox that must have been 63 or 64 after they had a big set back with the build. There is a 8mm film up the folks house somewhere of it.

Small world!

From what i believe there was a few deaths so it may well have been that? A new commemorative stone was put up but i didnt see it coming out the car park. Will have to check it out

Past couple of weeks have been on and off buggy weather so i have been out as much as possible.

With work being so busy for overtime i have clocked up a fair few 60 hour weeks. So obviously that means the buggys going to get some stuff it doesnt need! Meaning a new exhaust system and an ignitor 1 eletronic ignition.


I went to the local powerflow exhaust fabricators to get the cannons remade as the old ones were crusty as hell. Im fairly sure it was the baffles that held them together!

So its a full stainless system that routes the pipes away from the valve heads so i can do the adjustments without needing to remove the exhausts.

Old


New

Got new seats today! Yahoo

They are great! A slightly higher seated position and much firmer padding. Not to mention they arent full of holes or falling apart!
They are full vinyl with some sexy yellow pipework.





Unfortunatly they are rather close to my speakers and im looking to get shot of them for some slim line low profile numbers....
Does anyone have some recommendations?

The ring does not touch just the mesh if it is well clear of the speaker will it push in concave or flatter to clear.

It does snoopy, not the best pic but it touches a fair bit.

After a lot of faffing about trying to get the speakers to be inside the side pods to make it all flush was a nightmare... So i've decided to buy some thick felt and I will pad the speaker where it rubs with it.


Just looking to get a decent carpet now.

Ok. So in for an MOT today and passed clean as a whistle.

Mileage states over 1100 miles last year which is pretty good if you ask me!

Not much else has been going on. I fitted the seats and new belts. They are a bit tight though.

I thought about making a large spacer. A solid cylinder bored out about 50mm long and using longer bolts where the roll cage eyelets are for the seatbelt mounting. That should give me enough room to wiggle around in.

Just now i can fit in fine but its just to make a bit more room.

Or should i just get thise seatbelt extenders?

LESS PIES

 

I was waiting for that! Its the new seat shape honest! or the new belts are short. Plenty of length on the shoulders etc just the waist ones are tiny!