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Deauville Cars have been extremely……….busy over the winter months and this weekend’s Detling Show will see a string of new models and also the introduction of a paint process developed specifically for fibreglass products, which I’m told is revolutionary with paint applied by a roller, giving a superb finish with the cost of painting a car body being less than £200! Intrigued? Make your way to the Deauville Cars stand to find out how. Incidentally, actor, singer and all-round good bloke, Ben Richards – son of Deauville boss, Mike) will also be making an appearance on the stand on Sunday April 15.
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| New Rondo from Deauville Cars debuts at Detling... |
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| ....as does a new fuss free and affordable GRP paint system. |
Popped along to a very sunny…………..Harlow, Essex on Good Friday, for my annual trip to DJ Sportscars Easter Open Day. Good weather, a good crowd and some lovely examples of the DAX marque, highlighted just why the company are one of the UK’s very best kitcar manufacturers. Indeed, the company are celebrating their 40th year if continuous trading in 2007. In addition to the hordes of Rush, Tojeiro and other models made by the company over the years, were a couple of oddball projects. A Rush chassis with a bike engine installed in the back caught my eye as did Dax technical man Gary Sanders’ own personal project, A Rush installed with a Rolls Royce Allison engine formerly found residing in a helicopter! Meanwhile, Duncan Cowper’s new Rush was also on show in rolling chassis form featuring monster Geoff Page Racing tuned Hayabusa, a Formula One turbocharger from a nineties Benetton and the debut of the new factory inboard front damper set-up for Rush models. It will also feature ‘fly by wire’ throttle technology, and knowing Duncan will be a cracking thing. The new front suspension arrangement is available to order now and prices are expected imminently. More from www.daxcars.com or 01279 442 661
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| Good Friday in Harlow, Essex was DJ Sportscars' open day and it was the busiest yet... |
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| ...our mate Gary Sanders - DJ's technical engineer - with his latest creation. A Rush powered by Rolls Royce Helicopter engine........GULP! |
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| Another mate, Duncan Cowper displayed his equally trick Rush, which features turbocharged Hayabusa engine complete with an ex-F1 turbo. According to Dunc this one will be his most powerful yet. If you know the previous missiles he's built, then that's quite a scary thought! |
Calling all Vintage Van enthusiasts…….just received info on a very interesting vehicle in the style of the old Ford C Cab (so named because of the curved window behind the doors for better manoeuvrability and visibility in traffic). The original Redfern Vantage (pictured) was built as a delivery van/mobile workshop and features rear horizontal half doors. The top half (with optional window) folds up to provide shelter during access when it’s raining. The lower half folds down to extend the flat bed or (with adjustable fold-out legs) provide a workbench. It could also be made available with rear seats and more side windows, or as a pick-up/open flatbed with optional frame and cover. The Redfern can utilise Ford or BMW donor gear and be supplied in a variety of formats from a complete vehicle to self-build modules, plus mid-range options (e.g. a rolling shell for you to finish). Although cost depends very much on individual spec, their aim is to supply a quality product to meet a wide range of uses, but on a sensible budget. Whichever format you need, there is plenty of body panel space for advertising your business or adding artwork/custom graphics. There are also plans for a wider body if the demand is there. Whether you’re looking for a working vehicle, a practical, multi-purpose vehicle (perhaps with more than two seats) or the base for a wild ‘n’ wacky custom hot rod (perhaps with wider arches!), you may find it worth talking to John on 07703 289 833.
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| Interesting classic van kit could be become a reality if interest is sufficient |
Another 15th anniversary product re-launch from…….Richbrook is the DisCarNect Immobiliser that gained popularity with kitcar owners a few years ago. Ideal for those that stored their cars for long periods, as it enables the battery to be simply disconnected to prevent battery drain. The knob is simply unscrewed and removed and hey presto the battery is isolated. A by-pass fuse can be used to maintain current flow to alarms, clocks and other low watt items with the knob removed. If you forget or a weasel tries to start the car, the fuse will blow and power will be cut. This enables DisCarNect to be used as an effective, basic immobiliser for vulnerable vehicles such as kitcars. It will fit to any type of battery, including Ford flat connectors, and also provides a useful ‘switch’ when working on your electrics, while can also be used to isolate a second battery for an ICE system. DisCarNect retails at just £12.99 inc VAT and more details are available from www.richbrook.co.uk or 01328 862 387
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| DisCarNect from Richbrook has been relaunched and offers a quick and easy way to immobilise a vulnerable kitcar. |
Track Developments are a motorsport engineering……….company specialising in the areas of suspension and aerodynamics. They can help improve and develop all types of cars ranging from a simple Lotus Seven-inspired sportscar’ to a sophisticated single-seater. They aim to provide a complete, one-stop service, which can start with concept design, through to parts manufacture, chassis build, track and race engineering and testing. For drivers at all levels, the company offers technical driver training - this goes much further than the normal circuit-type ‘drive-around-the-cones’ training. Their approach teaches the driver to actually understand what’s happening to the chassis at various key points around the circuit. Track Developments will be showing some of their work at the forthcoming Stoneleigh show. A customer will be bringing his kitcar chassis to which TD have added wishbone rear suspension with the almost universal Sierra diff. At the front they have a full pushrod set-up added to off the shelf camber adjustable links. The chassis and suspension geometry were designed specifically for the customer’s 500bhp engine using Track Developments experience combined with their advanced vehicle dynamics software. TD will be displaying a chassis model to demonstrate how suspension design and chassis layout inter-relate with set-up and what they say are many of the common mistakes manufacturers make when designing suspension systems. For more information before the show, check out their new website at www.trackdevelopments.co.uk or see them at Stoneleigh stands 230/231.
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| Track Developements can offer the kitcar enthusiast all sorts of services, from a full build to suspension set-up. |
PMD7450 – THE ULTIMATE FLUID EXTRACTOR…Agriemach have at last come up with a fluid extractor that can truly extract or transfer any fluid, including motor oil, gear lubricant, coolant, water and any other liquid, neatly, powerfully and fast. The Agriemach Fluid Extractor is not only essential in the workshop, but also ideal for boat, truck and farm equipment operators as well. Designed to be used in inaccessible areas or confined spaces, the extractor features a low profile spherical design with a six litre capacity and a handy pouring spout with 5mm hose to fit down dipstick tubes, and has an unbeatable transfer speed of 4 litres of water per minute.
Regarded by many as the finest fluid extractor on the market today at only £63.92 inc VAT it is an essential tool for a variety of applications. More from www.agriemach.com or 01342 713 743
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| Although it looks like a model of Goonhilly, it's actually a handy draining device from Agriemach. |
The NEW Dremel Multi-Vise……….is the latest garage and garden shed must-have, making it easier to perform even the most intricate and delicate tasks. Boasting a portable design with removable, padded jaws, the Dremel Multi-Vise provides a precision clamp for both regular and irregular shaped objects making light work of a range of tasks around the home. The Multi-Vise is cleverly designed to clamp to any workbench, table or countertop up to 6.3cm thick. The ball and socket design allows the vice to rotate 360 degrees, tilt 50 degrees and lock into position ensuring ease of approach from any angle. Despite the flexible nature of the Dremel Multi-Vise, it has a specially hardened slide bar, which resists twisting and bowing keeping the device solid and stable. The Multi-Vise’s removable jaws may be used with the base unit or detached for use as a stand-alone bar clamp. The depth of the jaw is 19cm allowing larger work pieces to be accommodated with ease. The large jaws are cushioned which helps to stabilise oversized objects as well as protecting smaller, more delicate pieces from damage. Ingenious grooved notches allow the tool to hold unusual shaped or round objects firmly in place. And with the added benefit of a quick release button, removal of objects from the jaws is fast and easy. The Mult-Vise is compatible with other products in the Dremel range. A specialist interface makes it possible to attach the separately available DREMELite - a high intensity LED light that illuminates the work being undertaken. The Multi-Vise can also be used with the included multitool adapter turning it into a stationary tool holder ideal for sanding, grinding, polishing and more. The versatile nature of the Multi-Vise also makes it the perfect working companion for those that do not own other Dremel tools. It’s an essential bit of kit for every home and every hands-on creative enthusiast. More from www.dremel.com
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| practical vise from Dremel. |
