f1steveuk

Two things I'd like to point out, simply as observations. 1] When David and Sandra first put a web site up for the project, it was in French only, and they added an English version after being asked to. The site against the project is in English only! (or was, haven't looked lately, but I do from time to time to gat a balanced view!!). This might tell you something. 2] Just to show this ISN'T a race track. I was asked recently what form the track would take, advertising controls, how many layers of ARMCO etc etc. The track has NONE of these, as it ISN'T a race track. Safety barriers are disguised as grass banks, and there will be NO advertising baords, as it's a demonstration track for old cars. This has been one of the problems. Ill informed angst against something that insn't actually being built. Certain people think it's going to be Brands Hatch or Silverstone, as they appear on telly, it isn't. It will look like a country road of Edwardian times. A micro light landing strip, not on the list, YET!

It's NOT a race track, it is a circuit for the demostration of classic cars, silenced classic cars, and the track, although large, is not THE central item, there is, as I said, an equistrian centre, fishing, a health spa, a hotel a restoration workshop, all to be built in an area desimated by a storm, which would take a very long time to recover naturally. I did also mention that the Brooker-Carey's company, is French based, and employs nearly 100% French staff, and is NOTHING to do with cars. The figures I qouted were supplied by local French government, although as a television researcher, I will admit I have not substatiated them, as yet. My comments as to researching was after a personal dig,at me not the circuit, suggested that if someone couldn't keep to the discussion point, and wanted to have a go at me, they should research who they are insulting before hand! Yes I support the project, but as I said, I have read up on what the objectives are, and how they will be achieved, much like I did when I helped set up the first Goodwood Festival of Speed.......................

You're going to have to explain that one! Because I don't live 16 inches from there back door I can't know them? I really don't understand your inference. 99.999 % of the people complaining about the proposal haven't even read ALL of the information on the proposal, let alone spoken to those actually involved, and are more than happy to prefer assumption to knowledge, but if you don't know what your talking about, it's better to shut up.................... I will just throw this into the mix. What a lot of the carping Brits don't know is that they "assume" David and Sandra are just sitting in retirement spending their money on a new toy. What they don't KNOW is that they run a company, in France, that employs French people and it is the money from this they are trying to put back into the French system, still, best not to look further than the end of our own gardens or worse still noses.................. And if the circuit was to be near me, I wouldn't have a problem, much the same as I don't about the airfield near me, that I knew was there BEFORE I moved here. What p#**+s me off is when someone actually tries to put something back, and help the community they have moved into, we whinge, yet I know of one town where the Brit's whinged until they were allowed a cricket field, and now wont let the French play on it. Yes I am a petrolhead, I like my cars, my motorbikes etc etc, and I understand that there are those that dont feel the same, what I will not do is try and inflict MY interests on to others. What the Brooker-Careys ARE doing, is working with the local community, to ensure the proposal includes education, employment and allowing for other interests (horses, bird watching, fishing etc etc) to be developed. As you don't know me, or my background, or anything about me I'd rather you kept to the subject, and research you comments rather than spouting!

[quote user="sweet 17"] The very thought of the track is horrible and, making no apologies for my own in-built prejudices, the people look horrible as well![:-))] [/quote] The Booker-Careys are friends of mine, and they are very very nice people! The idea for the track was actually to use an area destroyed by a storm and bring some very much needed commerce into an area slowly dying. The plans include much much more than just a track (not for racing, and not for racing cars par se, which would be silenced), so just ignore the hotel, the equistrian centre, health spa etc etc, and that 90% of the staff will be locals, who are desperate for work Oh and ignore the fact that 90% of the objectors are ex pat Brit's, not the local French, and of those, 75% moved there AFTER the plans were announced................................

well I took pictures, and I'll inform the insurance, just in case, but it's still working!! Mind you, it's still raining as well!!

We have just got back to a huge storm that filled my pump house (all 1.5 cubic metres) in about twenty minutes. This submerged everything in it, yet this morning, it all works. I suspect short term it wont have done it any favours, but long term???

I can concur, with everything, that SD will be out on his bike, that, that is a proper Duke, and that I wrote to that address and got everything I needed to get my Paso registered.

I'll pm as well, but no he's not which is a shame, as I really need his help changing the nut for a bone (or graphite) one, and I'm not happy with the neck, I'm just certain I'm not doing it right, but it still holds it's tune, and plays well!!

Real Fender pick guard, proper bridge, hours of soldering an Esquire wiring loom, 36 coats of antique wax, but she is finished and sounds brilliant! [IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t215/f1steveuk/PDR_0063.jpg[/IMG]

I gave trying to work out what Bernie was thinking years ago! Ask for an insuctrial VCR (£85,000) and he's say "get ten". Ask for £30 petty cahs for stamps, and you'd wait six months and be given £10! Paul Ricard has the advantages of weather, and an runway attached to it, but, as happened to Elio de Angelis, it's miles from anywhere if you need it. If I were going to pay money to go to a GP, I'd go to Budapest!

Magny Cours has more than ample parking, it's just that the place is in the mddle od no where, with NO hotels anywhere near. We stayed about 45 minutes north in Sancerre, which is fantastic! Magny Cours lacks atmosphere, it;s a bit sterile really, and I can sort of understand why Bernie Ecclestone wanted it moved (that and the fact he owns Paul Ricard where he's like the GP to be!!) In summary, if you choose Magny Cours, be prepared to drive quiet a lot when you get there!!

Good GP to go to. I worked for Bernie Ecclestone for a few years, and Spa was one of my favourites, but getting in and out was a nightmare!! Parking is minimal, but they did run a sort of park and ride system from the entrance just after Eau Rouge. I believe, although I never used it, that there was another entrance that did a similar thing at the Stavlot/Malmedy side of the circuit. The last two years I worked there we stayed in a holiday camp, with log cabins, which was in Stavlot, but we used to get up about 4 in the morning to beat the rush in, and getting out was worse. Really good event though.

Just in case anyone is thinking of doing a guitar kit, or another one I found some even better ones!! Pick the shape, the neck, the type of hardware etc and build your own!!! http://www.kmguitars.com/ I now HAVE to finish the Esquire!!

I got an e mail from my guitar tech mate, who tells me his tour ends in May!!! On a more postive note, I have finally tracked down a genuine Fender Esquire pickgaurd, sadly an eight hole one, not the five I'd have liked. Got some strap buttons coming (real Fender as well) but as yet no proper metal volume/tone knobs. Now I have found an Epiphone SG that needs rescuing and in need of "some work", so I may have another project on the go soon.

When I worked in F1, I refused point blank to have a hire car to get to and from the hotel to the circuit, especially for Monaco, where it was just too busy car wise, to get in and out quickly. Regardless of the fact the company I worked for didn't really want to play ball on this, they did find a French company that hired all sorts of bikes, from 50cc scooters up, and I recall a 600 Hornet was 240 euros for four days, plus insurance etc. Now I have to be honest, I cannot remember the name of the company, but it shows they did/do exsist!

Hi, my son, whose band's first single comes out Marh 24th, has had a go and he said it sounded "phat", which is good apparently! It has the treble attack it should have, but I decided to wire it as a simple single pick up, there was so little to gain from a full esquire wiring job. I let the whole thing settle for over a month before tackling the set up, and I'm still tweeking the neck, but so far I'm really happy. Once it's finally sorted I am leaving it for a year (apart from playing it) and then I'm going to think about doing a proper paint job.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the forum! The guitar tech is currently on tour earning a crust, and is somewhere in New Mexico. So if you still need a nut job, he will be back! I have managed to trak down a real Fender Esquire pickguard at last, sadly an 8 hole one, not the 5 hole I was after, but beggars etc etc. I was toying with buying some pickguard sheeting (blue pearl) but once brought, posted, cut, and fitted, it was just cheaper to buy a black one. Also if you visit  The Music King (a quick Google) you'll see they now do SGs, Les Paul Juniors, Thinline (e.g. semi acoustic) Tele's, a Gibson Firebird/Explorer type and a Paul MaCartney violin bass etc etc etc, and the prices haven't gone up much!

That's about typical, there are two things I have alot of lying around  (twin and earth and leaves) and both are useless and in one case worth nothing! I don't really fancy atripping out all of the cores, sounds mind numbing! I've sent you an e mail Mon. Gluestick, but the short answer is "fine thank you, You?"

I have a sneaky feeling the earth is isulated on mine, don't suppose that makes a difference!!?

I have several rolls of British twin & earth, and a large wiring job to do. Can I actually use twin and earth in France?

When we had our wood burner put in, we were supplied a very detailed list of woods to burn, and what heat the would create (as a calorific scale) oak is a medium to high, but maximum heat comes fro Hornbeam, which also has the best (eg slowest) burn rate. Never, but never burn pine.

Interested? Yes, but what on earth can he have done to ruin the rad/cooling system?

Can't see a wheel bearing making a noise AFTER the engine is switched off!! If it is a turbo, it could be one of two things. Turbo's spina HUGE revs, and can spin for 5 minutes after the engine is switched off. You should never, NEVER rev the engine prior to turning off, indeed some people say let the engine idle for two minutes before turning off, this is because once the engine is off, the oil supply to the turbo bearings does not function, yet the turbo is still spinning. The whine could be failing turbo bearings because of this. Having said that, some manufacturers fit a oil resesvoir that once the engine stops, a solenoid releases, and this then pumps oil to the turbo for a while while it spools down. Sadly, my money is on the first of these two suggestions

The Eunos is indeed now French reg, but not by me! I was lead to believe it was done a european CofC as there are few differences on the MX5/Eunos of that age. The headlights were changed by me, as the pop ups are round units, and the car is available as a French market version. Now I feel quite jealous when I see my old car going around!

Is it a turbo diesel?