retrokev
06-09-2008, 06:45 PM
Let me introduce myself. I'm Kev from Rockhampton Central Queensland. As most of you would be aware there are not many Excel's running in this area. Inspired by Justins build I want to have a go building the first Excel in CQ.
I raced at Morgan Park as a kid in an FC Holden back when it was a dirt track. But work and girls changed my direction in life and I moved about Brisbane and Toowoomba and eventually settled in Maryborough where the only racing was speedway, not my crew. I had road bikes for a long time but after a few spectacular crashes I gave the bikes away.
Anyway the marriage ended and I decided to move further north and money was tight for a few years.
A few years ago I remarried and we have had a son and I wanted to give him the opportunities I never had as a kid and I was talked into giving karts a go. If anyone ever tells you they are a cheap sport they are wrong. I poured money into them for 2 years in the name of learning how to set up a kart for my kid when he is old enough. And somehow the frame with wheels and a motor still seemed to me to be a kid sport.
That is when I started researching Rally.
I narrowed it down to 3 cars as i wanted to run P1 as it seemed a good entry level class. Daihatsu's were ruled out as parts are going to start becoming hard to find as they stopped importing them and I had an Excel and was luke warm about owning another one, so I decided to give a Suzuki Swift a go.
I purchased a GTI with the intention of building my own car and in the mean time found a 3 cylinder version which had trauma to the rear. I tried pushing out the damage at the rear and found it all popped out pretty well and i started using it for a test and finished up running it in motorKana and rally sprints the whole year so far.
Which has been a laugh as it is the slowest car running with 38 killer wasps but it has a 100% finishing record which means it either wins or places in the C grade events.
It has been a great little car to learn some driving skills
So time to start thinking about next year and I think Excel is the go.
I plan to continue on my Rally sprints and motorkahana's and when I get bored with these have a go at some stage rallies.
Now the toss up. I found a 96 at Airlie Beach so we went for a drive and picked it up for $300.
I was not expecting much and it did not disappoint I did not get much.
It won't run as there is a problem with the fuel pump, the guy said he was a mechanic and cannot find power to the fuel pump and has pulled things out everywhere I assume trying to find the power. He says he got the tom tits with it and wanted to get rid of it.
I want to try running power from the battery to see if I can get it to start as that may seal it's fate.
The more I look at it the more I find wrong. The door check on the drivers side is broken and the drivers door is out of alignment. The RHF guard is stuffed and needs replacing. The passengers door has no window as it is broken and the dash has a crack that goes all the way through above the instruments.
I am not sure whether to work on it or use it as parts for something else.
I like the idea of MSA Excel shell with the cage deal as it would save a lot of time and I don't really have a shed I can leave a car in in pieces. But as business is not good at the moment and money is tight maybe I can just keep running the Swift until I get the Excel going and in the mean time I can work on the interior. You know pull all the trim out and get rid of the sound deadener that would get rid of the spare time for the next few months.
I have to sell some of my projects as i have too many cars in the yard now.
I also bought a Celica ST162 as I bought it for the right price but I think it would need a lot of money spent on it to make it a competitive car and it is too big for my trailer.
I would appreciate any advice anyone has.
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0491.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0494.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0495.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0496.jpg
I raced at Morgan Park as a kid in an FC Holden back when it was a dirt track. But work and girls changed my direction in life and I moved about Brisbane and Toowoomba and eventually settled in Maryborough where the only racing was speedway, not my crew. I had road bikes for a long time but after a few spectacular crashes I gave the bikes away.
Anyway the marriage ended and I decided to move further north and money was tight for a few years.
A few years ago I remarried and we have had a son and I wanted to give him the opportunities I never had as a kid and I was talked into giving karts a go. If anyone ever tells you they are a cheap sport they are wrong. I poured money into them for 2 years in the name of learning how to set up a kart for my kid when he is old enough. And somehow the frame with wheels and a motor still seemed to me to be a kid sport.
That is when I started researching Rally.
I narrowed it down to 3 cars as i wanted to run P1 as it seemed a good entry level class. Daihatsu's were ruled out as parts are going to start becoming hard to find as they stopped importing them and I had an Excel and was luke warm about owning another one, so I decided to give a Suzuki Swift a go.
I purchased a GTI with the intention of building my own car and in the mean time found a 3 cylinder version which had trauma to the rear. I tried pushing out the damage at the rear and found it all popped out pretty well and i started using it for a test and finished up running it in motorKana and rally sprints the whole year so far.
Which has been a laugh as it is the slowest car running with 38 killer wasps but it has a 100% finishing record which means it either wins or places in the C grade events.
It has been a great little car to learn some driving skills
So time to start thinking about next year and I think Excel is the go.
I plan to continue on my Rally sprints and motorkahana's and when I get bored with these have a go at some stage rallies.
Now the toss up. I found a 96 at Airlie Beach so we went for a drive and picked it up for $300.
I was not expecting much and it did not disappoint I did not get much.
It won't run as there is a problem with the fuel pump, the guy said he was a mechanic and cannot find power to the fuel pump and has pulled things out everywhere I assume trying to find the power. He says he got the tom tits with it and wanted to get rid of it.
I want to try running power from the battery to see if I can get it to start as that may seal it's fate.
The more I look at it the more I find wrong. The door check on the drivers side is broken and the drivers door is out of alignment. The RHF guard is stuffed and needs replacing. The passengers door has no window as it is broken and the dash has a crack that goes all the way through above the instruments.
I am not sure whether to work on it or use it as parts for something else.
I like the idea of MSA Excel shell with the cage deal as it would save a lot of time and I don't really have a shed I can leave a car in in pieces. But as business is not good at the moment and money is tight maybe I can just keep running the Swift until I get the Excel going and in the mean time I can work on the interior. You know pull all the trim out and get rid of the sound deadener that would get rid of the spare time for the next few months.
I have to sell some of my projects as i have too many cars in the yard now.
I also bought a Celica ST162 as I bought it for the right price but I think it would need a lot of money spent on it to make it a competitive car and it is too big for my trailer.
I would appreciate any advice anyone has.
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0491.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0494.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0495.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq46/bigkev08/100_0496.jpg