Mike Crewes

Roger Have a word with Bernie, The Courier Editor; I'm sure he can come to some arrangement with you. Regards Mike

Please remember that if you are fitting a seperate switch for reversing lamps that is not operated by the gear lever, it must also have a tell tale light on the dash. Many switches will light up, or operate a seperate light. Just a reminder. Mike

How about a photo of someone dear, kids, better half, dog, etc in the original tax disc holder? BTW, I recently bought a metal tax disc holder for the Stag, can I send it back and get my money back? Regards Mike :-)

Roger This is a great idea, but what about sending them into The Courier for publishing to ALL the members as well? All the best Mike

Guys I have had a brief email conversation with Ben Broadbent, our General Secretary, and drawn his attention to this thread. CoM have been discussing it and it is on the agenda for the next meeting. Ben has also reminded me that Register Secretaries already have access to post their articles on the main website, so most of the Courier could be on there now, if they posted their articles. Still, democracy in action. It'll be interesting to see what is decided; it's not an easy, or straight forward descision as we have debated. Regards Mike

We put an electric pump on our 2000 rally car, then we had to take the pressure down, it was far too powerful. Regards Mike

I have bought Club hoods in the past and found their quality to be extremely good. Small hoods usually mean they were on the bottom of the pile when it was cut; i.e. the panels are cut in batches with the cloth laid on top of each other. If the cutter is not dead upright the bottom panels will be either too big, or too small, or out of shape. If you have such a hood, most manufacturers will replace them without any quibble. As an aside, if you wash your hood with detergent you will gradually wash the colour out. Never use detergent, brush the hood off and use plain water to keep it clean. Regards MIke

I was always told by auto electricians that the relay capacity should be double the capacity required to prevent it over heating and sticking on. Certainly, I have found that low powered relays have burnt out, or stuck in the past. ... and there is NO cost saving! Regards Mike

Colin You have some valid points, maybe you should send your ideas to CoM. Regards Mike

Colin Sorry, but I disagree. The taxation is a VAT problem and quite complicated to get right, you simply HAVE to receive your printed Courier. Furthermore, if everything was on the website why should anyone join? Everything you need will be on line and easily accessed free! I am not anti website, or electronic information, quite the reverse; I just want to see the Club survive and be healthy ... and debate (like this) keeps it healthy. Regards Mike

John When us dinasaurs are all dead you will have free reign! :-) Regards Mike PS Why not ask Bernie to email all the pdfs to you so that you acn read them electronically. Ok ok, I know that's missing the point. Sorry must go nice juicy leaves calling!

Like tyres, you should always have better dampers at the rear. You don't want the car set up for oversteer, understeer is better, if you can't get neutral handling. Regards Mike PS 12/80422 Can we know who you are, or are you under cover? ;-)

JohnD Sorry John, but I'm another dynasaur against the idea! I agree with everything said against your idea. Sometimes it's nice to sit in an armchair with a cuppa and just muse your way through the mag (I am in deapest Cornwall and it's not true that we have superfast broadband!). The other consideration is the tax advantage, which I know CoM review from time to time, so if this advantage diminishes beyond any real advantage, I'm sure we will hear about it and be asked our opinions. I agree that the Forum and Courier could be more joined up, but it's difficult when one is, essentially, two months behind the other. ... but it's good to debate! Regards Mike

Paul Pouring it away is probably illegal, but I bet your local refuse centre will have somewhere for it. You could also phone your local council for advice. Regards Mike

So has mine, panic over! Mike

Thanks for that, I was beginning to worry, It's usually here well before now. Sorry 1904 Vitesse, but if anyone can get any details, what's the point of any of us being members? ... and I bet most other Clubs have a similar view! You would be most welcome if you joined us. Regards Mike

You will need to fit car specific seat belts, GT6 belts may not be long enough. NEVER fit secondhand belts, you don't know their history. Although new belts may be expensive, you want them to work at their best and protect you when you really need them - what price your life? As Kevin said - Clubshop! That's where I would go/have been - no quibble, quality guaranteed! Regards Mike

Robins When we had our Triumph 2000 rally car we looked into this question ourselves and we couldn't find ANYONE who thought there was any advantage with swapping to SU carbs; EVERYONE told us that properly set us Strombergs would give better performance and economy than SUs. We got all parts from Chris Witor (and a load of advice) and rebuilt the carbs. That car is the fastest T2000 I have ever driven and got us well placed in several rallies. Hope that helps. Regards Mike

Well done Navyguy You must practically have gone past my doorstep when you were in Truro! Good luck with your project. Regards Mike

Re bleeding. You do not have to bleed both circuits together. Even if you did, you would not be able to bleed the same amount of fluid out of each circuit to keep the PDWA shuttle in the centre. Have a look in the workshop manual, there is a procedure for doing it (which wheel first, etc.) which will recentralise the PDWA shuttle at the end. The procedure works, I've done it and it's not difficult! Regards Mike

Thanks Ess Jay My experience was with SUs, so there might be a difference. Regards Mike

I used silicon in the brakes once and it was enough! The pedal was longer and soggier, so I have NEVER used it since in the brakes, although it is perfectly good in the clutch, but why complicate the issue with two fluids? Every garage I have ever spoken to has advised against silicon in the brakes and my experience is part of their reasoning. All seals and rubber hoses should also be changed when the change is made and the system should be flushed out before changing the type of fluid. In my book it's not worth the hassle, or safety risk - one day you might have to rely on good brakes and the best fluid might just make that difference! Regards Mike

Sorry Peaks and Kevin, but I disagree. Based on past experience with two identical Spitfire 1500s; if you are just changing the filters, you will get away with just adjustments, however if you are changing the exhaust manifold to an extractor manifold as well you will need new jets and springs. These used to be available as a kit from Club Shop (i know, because I help set the kit up!). In an old article by John Thomason he showed how this was the single biggest way of improving performance. Both Spitfires that I had experience of generated around 30% more power by just doing these mods. The rest of the engine was completely standard. Doing the whole job makes the car a little bit more driveable in modern traffic and is worth the outlay. BTW, they both had full sports s/s exhausts as well. Hope that helps. Regards Mike

A fellow member is asking for any history on a Vitesse MkII Convertible VCV100H (Registered in Cornwall). If you have any, please contact me and I will pass on his email address to you. Many thanks Mike

John The Moderators are discussing this off line and support your views. Whilst there is no timetable, atleast the discussion is happening. Now BREATH! Regards Mike