My uncle now departed built a westie in 1988 , my dad decided to build a ron champion locost in 1998. I was tought how to weld at the age of 12 building a large drip tray frame for a plastic company. Finished school went to collage for industrial model making droped out after 14 months as had trouble with the written part of the course. Worked for a company that made school furniture as a welder for 8 weeks. Started racing in NASA autograss after seeing a poster in the chip shop thought that looks like fun, got a cheap 150amp mig and built my first of 4 xr2 stockhatch on the drive. Upset all the neibours and had to look for a workshop. Built lots of cars for other people mostly rollcages and body work.
Started at a local sheet metal shop and was there for 5 yrs, firstly as a general production welder making fork lift stillages for a batch run of 4500, which gave me the nice mottle effect on my fore arms. Got moved up to fabricator, welding every thing from 1mm sheet up to 15mm steel plate. Decided that I'd had enough of working round CNC punch machines all day, as I watched my coffee walking along the bench as the octo put more 25mm holes in 5mm sheet.
Wanted a change so became a postie for 5 yrs, payed better, working out side,got to see more people, get to drive round the local area for free and lose some weight. Get to finish early and get in the workshop to play with more cars. That is untill I found I had artha in both legs,elbows and wrists, so that was the end of that.
Came across chris's book in the local car spares shop, thought that'll keep me out of trouble while I look for another job. Wife said either the workshop and race cars will have to go or you make it work for you, taking her point of view on board I borrowed £200 from the house keeping and brought the steel for the first chassis.
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