BB April 2

Despite this being an entry on April 1st, this is all true! Had the first real drive of the Brooklands today as I went for
the registration check at the peterborough DVLA. This all went according to plan and it was inspected by a super chap
called Terry Hill. He looked it over, we went through the paperwork and he said it will be assigned an age related
plate, and because of that the Ł38 first registration fee isn't needed. The paperwork should be with me tomorrow at
which point we are road legal! Hard to believe it has taken nearly two years.

One thing that had worried me a little was how the donor records worked now that the government are getting touigh
on car tax. I checked this with Terry and he said the right thing to do is make sure that the donor is declared as
SORN, and keep the V5 documentation and VIN plate from the donor. Then when registering the kit, submit the V5
with the "scrapped" declaration filled in and signed along with the VIN plate.

Anyway, the car is a hoot to drive, although it isn't for the shy type. Being so open you notice lots of odd smells and
noises which you start to think are the car about to let you down -it'll take a while to relax and trust it. Off the line it
really wants to go and the handling is good although there is some body roll - the trade off is a fantastic ride.

I only had two problems, one was the rear nearside mudguard stay fouling the tyre, which was fixed OK for today but
the U clamp probably needs to be replaced, and a stutter when running at a steady 60mph as though the engine kept
cutting out. I suspect that this is either the fuel pressure is too low as I tweaked it up and the stutter moved up the
speed range or the carb floats need adjusting.

A couple of other tasks also need seeing to; fitting aeroscreens, resolving a small oil leak from the timing cover, some
form of tonneau cover, glovebox lid, clutch adjustment.

Oh, and serious polishing ready for Stoneleigh!

True to their word, the paperwork arrived on Friday 2nd April, however it wasn't of much use as on that evening we
droive down to Gatwick for two weeks in Florida. Arriving back last weekend, the V5 was on the doormat. I had the
plates made up and fitted them Monday evening, just in time to go to to Finland for the week - if there's one thing
worse than jet-lag, it's confused jet-lag.

I did, however, get the chance to have a look at the "stutter" I experienced on the was to the DVLA. I thought it was
fuel feed related, and most of the comment I received when I asked on the MotoBins forum agreed, although there
were some suspicions of the ignition.

So I whipped of the float bowl covers and had a look - sure enough the floats were set too low, a legacy of my efforts
to pass the emissions test at SVA (although this wasn't a cure). Access is great now the SVA paraphernalia has been
removed, so detaching the carbs, turning them over, setting the floats and re-assembly took all of 20 minutes. I had to
deliver a letter, so took the opportunity and what a revalation. Starting and cold running was far better and the
stutter had gone.

So onto this weekend. Late back from Finland on Friday night, and Saturday was the start of "kitcar redemption".
This is like lent, except that instead of giving things up, I do good works, such as decorating to repay the time spent
building the car.

On Saturday afternoon, however, Nic wanted to go to a quilting show in Abbots Ripton ,which is a few villages away.
So I showed her how to use the gears and off she went. I was really pleased as I was concerned that she would
never drive it, and I built it for family use. Here you can see the video of her return from her inaugural test run
before she went.

She had assumed that it would be a safe outing, as quilters would not be even vaguely interested in her more of
transport. Unfortunately, she forgot about their (in some cases) bored husbands and she was thronged with questions
which she couldn't answer. The best part however, she related when she got back. Upon her return to the car park
two chaps were looking at it and she overheard one say "it looks like a million dollars". While she was talking to them
the wife of one of them returned and said "it's no good looking dear, you can't afford one." Whilst I was glad it
looked that good, I so much wanted to be there and say "oh yes you can.........". It also made me realise how lucky I am
as Nic has never said that to me (although there has been the odd remark about how much I've really spent).

After she returned on Saturday, we decided to go to a local(ish) pub for a drink, so I picked up Dabe who has been
so much help during the build and gave him a taste. We agreed that it was just like riding a motorbike, but without the
comforts.

Today I have been decorating again and after the second bottle of wine I'm not really fit to tinker in the garage.
However, the rear seats are on order and the aeroscreens should arrive Monday. The fuel gauge works, but
backwards so I'll have to look at that one, and I don't seem to be getting full throttle - I also need to re-balance the
engine after fiddling with the floats. I also have a starter that doesn't engage when the engine is hot, but I can't
look at that until after Sunday when I get back from Stonleigh.

I'm conscious that there have been very few photos. I promise to rectify that on the next update.

Been working away again, but on Tuesday my aeroscreens arrived along with the badge. The aeroscreens are lovely
items, chromed brass and with "Brooklands" etched into the base. I know that they aren't made specifically for the
car, but it's a nice co-incidence.

Fitting them was just a case of being careful. Scottys in Huntingdon had stainless steel M4 countersunk socket head
set screws (in fact, they have almost never failed to have exactly what I've wanted) along with washers and nylocs.
There was some compromise though. Driving without the aeroscreens has made my eyes sore (even with glasses on)
as my eyes are sensitive at the best of times, so I set the screens higher up the scuttle than is perfect from a strictly
aesthetic perspective, but if I can't see then aesthetics are irrelevant anyway. I have some goggles and they suit the
period of the car, but I feel it looks very contrived. Having said that, I have started to look longingly at flying
helmets.............

Last job for the night was attaching the bonnet badge, which I feel is really the end of the build. Simply attached
with two copper rivets.

Next trip will be to Stonleigh on Sunday. Please, please stay dry. The Pembleton owners will be on pitch 21B on
11th Street, so if you're there come and have look at the Pembleton barmy army and their magnificent machines.