New Member - GTM Spyder coming soon...

[sanzomat]

Hi All, having taken nearly 30 years I've finally taken the plunge and bought a kit car. Put down a deposit last Saturday and picking it up 1st Nov. The Spyder was registered in 2004 and has only done 15000 miles since then. There are a few small bits and bobs to make it just right (exhaust isn't great, front coil-overs need a refurb, throttle cable isn't right, oil pressure guage not working.) Other than that and a few minor chips its looking great.
I nearly bought a Midas Gold Coupe back in the mid 80s when they first came out but got all sensible and got a Vauxhall Cavalier instead. I saw the Libra as the obvious successor to the Midas but I think the Spyder is such a great looking car I couldn't resist it when this one came up. A few bits to sort means it was at a reasonable price that I could justify.

Really looking forward to getting my hands on it and will probably come along to a meet or two to show it off.

I'm keen on trying out a few track days in it to test out the mid engine handling.

I'm also a biker. Just given in to my mounting years and changed my R1 for a VFR800 - old war wound in the wrist was making the R1 too painful to ride. I did a bike track day at Castle Combe last July - great fun but the number of people leaving in ambulances was a bit alarming so I think four wheels is a more sensible choice.

I live in Yate so pretty handy for local meets.

Looking forward to joining in!

['The Gaffer']

Hi and a warm welcome to our club

The car looks really nice, look forward to catching up at a meet or event.

[Iancider]

Yehehh!

Welcome on-board sanzomat.  Love the car - as far as I am concerned they are one of the most beautiful creations ever - excellent choice.

Loads to do in this club and loads of friendly people.  Wise decision to gain two wheels - a little slide is a bit of fun not six weeks in hospital!

Looking forward to meeting you and the Spyder.

Regards
Ian

[Moleman]

Hi welcome to the club. Nice look motor mate. 

We are at combe this Saturday if you want to say hi? I'm also on a track day at combe on the 31st if you want to see what track days are like in a car rather than a bike. 

[Daley Down Under]

Great looking car - not seen one other than in press releases.  Reckon you'll enjoy that 

Cheers Adrian

[garry h]

Hi and welcome to the club 

[Bulldog Bri]

Very smart,

Hi and welcome, see you at a meeting sometime

[fullpint]

Welcome to the club mate. Car looks rather tasty 

[sanzomat]

Well, I picked up the GTM Spyder on Saturday. Couldn't believe my luck with the weather so got to drive back down from the midlands with the top down and a massive grin on my face the whole way. As well as the car the seller threw in a whole boot-full (of the daily driver not the Spyder!) of various bits, some which may come in useful, some are just junk but will hang on to it until I've had a good sort through though.

Inevitably there are a few bits to sort out. (to be fair the seller pointed out most of them, some of which I wouldn't have picked up myself). One that I wasn't aware of is that the heater slider seems to vary the cabin temperature between "hot" and "very hot" so will need sorting before next summer! Okay, I hear a few of you saying "heater! must be some kind of poof to have a heater in a kit car!"

The other one is the slow steering rack. This one obviously has the standard metro 3.6 turn lock to lock one. From the GTMOC site it seems that many people go for the MGTF 2.7 turn version. Its a straight swap but has to be the left hand drive version - anyone know of someone breaking a LHD MGTF?

The exhaust needs sorting (the car was built with a 1.4 8v K-series but the guy I bought it off has put in a 1.6 16v twin cam unit. Hes not done a bad job but he's joined the new downpipe to the old system and somethings not quite right) I think I'll end up getting a whole new system fabricated - any advice on local specialists would be welcome. It will do for now though as it seems gas tight, just looks a bit messy.

I was thinking about getting hold of a VVC 160 k-series but actually the 1.6 seems fairly fruity so I'll leave that for a while, maybe in a couple of years!

I'm really pleased with the car and looking forward to an opportunity to show it off!

['The Gaffer']

As I know from experience, there is always something to do when buying a kit car from someone else. It gives you the chance to personalise it though in the process. Look forward to seeing it.

[Moleman]

That's good to hear. Hope to see it soon. 

[Iancider]

Sanzomat

I enjoyed your first experience - it is important to bond with you car on the first day!

The steering rack sounds important and you should do that.  Engine - I would think is going to be very good so enjoy it and get to know the car well before such major changes - who knows you might just love what you have. 

For the exhaust you could try a local supplier

Infinity Exhausts  01454 837 543

3 Dodington Spring
Dodington Ash
South Gloucestershire
BS37 6RX

Good luck with it and use it a lot - looking forward to meeting you and the car
Ian

[sanzomat]

Well, It is a year today since I picked up my Spyder. Tax and insurance renewed and a chance to reflect on my first year of kit car ownership, and of course membership of the BKCC!

The weather today was fantastic and exactly the same as the day I picked it up last year - are all 1st Novembers sunny and mild?

Managed to stay within the 3000 limit on the insurance with a little to spare. About three times what I was doing on the bike in the last few years so changing from 2 to 4 wheels has meant I get more use out of my toy.

I've managed to join in quite a few club events: over half of the ADC meets including the Santa run, 5 1st Thursday pub meets, Redhill breakfast meet at Christmas, Stoneleigh, Combe in June (classic, retro and kit action day) including my first track session (and spin!), a very wet Combe in July for the BMC family day, the BKCC track day in August, Tyntesfield and Highnam. Also the MX5 "stripathon"

I've also had quite a few runs out with my wife too and she is really enjoying having the car (she only went on the pillion of the bike once and said "never again" but other than the occasional "slow down a bit" she's loving the passenger seat of the Spyder.

The car had to serve as a means of transport for a couple of weeks when wife's car was sold before the new one could be delivered and managed fine, despite it raining several of the days.

A few minor problems through the year: the wipers broke due to a problem with the linkage; A breakdown (requiring recovery) due to an immobiliser issue that turned out to be just a dodgy wire joint, A weird engine management fault that caused it to idle at 4000 revs (on the way to Stoneleigh - was a very wet run so maybe water related - cured itself)

I've learnt how to set up the suspension geometry (to a fashion) and have had some fun tweaking camber, toe, ride height and damper settings. I've stripped down and refurbished the front suspension and got some decent tyres on her now.

I've got a few winter projects on the go - engine upgrade (VVC engine now stripped down and going back together), replacement gearbox and driveshafts, engine loom and ECU (as part of the engine swap), change the gear linkage from rod to cable, upgrade the radiator, quicker steering rack, Rollover bar.

I have to say, this year has been a lot of fun. I've met some great people, had a lot of good advice and support and generally found being part of the club has been a substantial part of the fun of kit car ownership. A big thank you to everyone I've met for the friendship and for all the hard work put in by the club officials.

This really is a great club!

['The Gaffer']

Thats a great round up of the year. I'm really pleased you have enjoyed the club, and your car

Although I started this club in 2009 and have owned 3 kit cars down the line, this year in particular has been hard for me to find time to enjoy my interest in cars due to work commitments, but who knows, maybe next year I will have much more time and be able to write a similarly active annual report.

[Facial Hair Optional]

Welcome to the club Dave (I must have missed your New Member post in October last year!!! ha ha ha!)

Hopefully see you next Sunday all being well.

[Moleman]

Glad you had a good time mate. Where has this year gone.  It has been a good year. I don't think I could list everything we have done this year though.