DC's Motoring Diary
Chapter 10
	Time Changes Everything

If you've just read the previous chapter then you would have see it started .....1998 seems to have come and gone in a flash.  Well here we are towards the end of June in 1999 and it's well over six months since my last diary entry.  

My first year at Jaguar's Whitley Engineering Centre is drawing to an end, its about time I thought about extending my contract or look for another contract. I think the former is the easy way out.

As far as the Owners club goes its been a mixed year so far. Locally in the West Midlands support is still low for both the regular monthly pub meets & locally organised events. A regular turn-out of 2 to 3% of members is very frustrating.  Nationally, we supported the Bronte Run a last weekend and have just returned today from the Auto Italia meet at Broolkands.

The Bronte Charity Run and Car show is held in aid of the Holly Bank Trust special needs school and I am pleased to report that the X1/9 Owners club was again well represented.

After last years rain, this year was a mixed bag of overcast skys liberally interspersed with sunny periods and only the odd spot of rain ensuring that roofs stayed firmly in the boots. This years the 118 mile Saturday tour took in the Derbyshire Dales with good exxy driving roads linking the likes of Derwent Dale, Ladybower Reservoir, Snake Pass, Chatsworth & Hadden Halls. Watering holes, beauty spots and other places of interest were well marked on the easy to follow route which can be taken without any pressure at your own pace.

Sunday is the static show day at the school gala and six X1/9's lined up provided yet again the best and most organised club entry - thanks to those other five members in attendance.

Numbers overall were down this year, probably put off by last years rain & mud but with bacon butties before you start, an official "Starting" photo and cream teas on your return, as well a box of fudge and the obligatory plaque your made to feel appreciated. There's also the Huddersfield Hotel for the overnight stay which offers good accommodation, good food and a secure car park all at a special low rate for those on the run.

Those of you have attended past events will know what a warm and friendly Yorkshire welcome is extended to all entrants and as you drive you are mixing it with MGB's, Triumph Stags, the odd Jag, Gilbern and all sorts of 40's, 50's & 60's saloons in the most friendly way. Most importantly you know that as well as having a good time you are also supporting such a good cause.

Brooklands is an altogether different event. I only managed to attend on the Sunday, which was a bit wet after waht we were told was a hot and sunny Saturday, Despite the weather there were 40+ X1/9's lined up in prime position in from of the Brooklands Cub House. Well done Frosty!

Although Brooklands is fresh in my mind, I think I'll save my thoughts for another time.

Plan B to use E540 CGU as an every day car and keep the GF for "best" was eventually put into action as a bit of fiddling with the distributor, and a return to "standard" spark plugs.  I had fitted those Bosch plugs with the four electrodes so I'm not sure if they are a good idea.  Anyway the old hot-starting went away so E540 CGU got pressed into every day service. This lasted about three months until I thought that two X1/9's was not the best way to indulge my motoring ambitions. Look out for the outcome soon!

As for the GF the first job was to get it thought it annual MOT earlier this year.  In general everything seemed OK except for the binding rear brake caliper.  Fitting the new caliper is quite simple one off, mainly due to the hand-brake cable. My eventual solution, as some of you may have seen in the club magazine, was to design a make a small extractor tool which helped ease the outer cable out of the recesses and hence remove it.  I was very pleased when this worked very successfully and the cable was off and new caliper fitted in about fifteen minutes. My joy was however short lived as it did not work in reverse to re-fit the cable.  Eventually I had to admit defeat and do what I did not want to do and slacken off the Hand-brake adjuster. The Italian who designed that needs to be shot!

Anyway, just done and off to the testing station. After an anxious 30 minutes wait it was good to hear my efforts had not been in vain and all was well.  There had been one problem, carburation was off so it had failed the emissions tests but the thoughtful mechanics had adjusted this and brought it within limits.

Spurred on by the MOT success I've also attacked some of the rusty bits. Much effort has gone into taken them down to bear metal, treating with anti-corrosion solutions and painting.  If found that even with specially mixed aerosols the colour match is very good, particularly on the GF's metallic finish. I've had much more trouble with the clear lacquer in getting an even finish and blending it it to surrounding areas.  I know that this is not a "proper job" but a re-spray even of selected panels is not an option at the moment.  Even with all this treatment the old rust is starting to bubble up again in some areas so I still hav'nt got the process right. Another good reason for holding off the professional re-spray.

My next job on the GF is the starter.  The further you are away from civilisation or the bigger the crowd of onlookers, it has this habit of just going 'click'! So far after half-a-dozen clicks it will turn the engine and off you go. But I know there will come a day when this does'nt happen. So that's top of the list now.

  If you would like to read more of my diary of ownership click here

Pleas keep returning to my site for future installments or send you comments to: derek.coombes@virgin.net

last update  31/12/98

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