From where did you get inspiration to start your own build?

[flyerncle]

Fancied a Westfield but never got one and got the book for Xmass one year and thats what started it,had the basic chassis built in a few hours and been at it for past 2 years.

[DStanley1809]

I was bored at work one night and picked the book up off the shelf and had a flick through. Started talking about it with a colleague and some silly suggestions for donor cars came up (V8 engines, Evo based 4x4, Supra twin turbo etc).

I ended up buying the book and then towards the end of my time at uni I realised I was really bored with everything and had no sense of achievement from anything I had done and had no proper job lined up for when I finished. I thought it would be great to have something I could look at and say "I did THAT!"

So just before my final exams I bought a Sierra and decided to build the car while I worked part time and looked for a decent job. Doing it now kind of makes sense to me. Still living with parents so bills are minimal and I have no serious work commitments. The only downside is a lack of money from working part time

[Davey]

Been fiddling and faffing with cars since I was three years old, taught loads by my Dad who is the world's greatest engineer, no really he is . Qualified as a light vehicle mechanic in '81 and have always fancied building a car. Fast forward to last April and I spotted a ratty Locust in my local breakers (150 Yds from my workshop ) and after a bit of badgering bought it for £150 then my son bought me the book. So I'm building the bastard spawn of the devil using the bible for inspiration .

D.

[RAYLEE29]

David where do you work to have the book on the shelf?
we have the book on the shelf where i currently work lol
OP my inspiration was ive always wanted to build a seven and i had loads of stuff waiting to go on a car
so i found the book then found half the stuff i had wouldnt be of use lol
2 years in and its sat on the floor looking 75% complete and nearly driveable
Ray

[spud69]

I always had a love for the cars but being 6'7" new i could never fit my lanky legs in one and be able to drive one. About 7 years ago i bought a Mazda Rx-8 because i thought the styling was very similar, in a kind of way, to a roadster - moreso in the way the front wings where sculpted around the front wheels. And the drive and handling was very similar, a very nice car.

THEN, on May bank holiday in 2008 was walking past WHSmiths and saw the book for half price, bought it and read it over the weekend - misses weren't to happy. Realised, due to the chassis being larger, could possibly fit in and drive the extended version at a reasonable build cost. Got stuck into building one and fell in love with the concept and build. First car on the road 7 months later, January 2009, and the rest is history. Plus it never really appealed to me to buy a kit and bolt it together, the confidence Chris's book gave me to build a car that i made myself cannot be underestimated - single seater too i'm sure.

Now just picked up the new donor car today, a mazda Rx-8, and about to combine the 2 loves into 1.....

Good luck new builders (it ain't hard).....AndyH

[DStanley1809]

RAYLEE29, I work in Halfords (cue laughter and ridiculing )

As much as I know Halfords get a lot of stick for employing lots of youngsters who don't know much about anything there are some of us who know a fair bit. I'm not claiming to be an amazing mechanic or anything (I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as you guys here!) but I get quite a few customers coming back to see me specifically because they are fed up with the staff in other stores.

[RAYLEE29]

David, me too 765 poole, parts desk/fitter, very over qualified for my part time job but it fits in with my current situation
Ray
p.s dont tell anyone lol

[londonsean69]

I used to do a lot of SCUBA (fully paid up resort instructor) and then had a pretty bad bend (decompression sickness).
Basically, I was not going to be able to dive again, which was the only hobby I had had for about 8 years, so was looking for something else, equally as expensive, to fill the void.

Saw the book, bought it on impulse, and thought it looked a jolly good wheeze, so ordered some steel and got cracking. Spent plenty of money on nice toys, Myford lathe, portamig etc. and have learnt loads.

Problem is, I've now since been signed off fit to dive again, so the car is taking longer than planned, as diving does swallow money, especially when you take a housed Nikon D90 camera with you and always planning the next holiday

[DStanley1809]

You have the exact same job as me

Although for the last four weeks I have been a temporary duty manager/key holder with the promise of a permanent job when one opens up. I'm on loan to the second Coventry store. At the end of the week this role disappears as the person I was covering is coming back.

This means that although I am employed by Halfords I actually have no where to go as my original store has no hours to give me anymore and this store has all the people it needs . I hope to rectify this in the next few days lol

I'm normally in 762 Coventry but in 425 at the moment. I think I was on the phone to Poole the other day, we may have spoken to each other

[HandyAndy]

I first thought "wow gotta have one of those" when I was at a test day at Mallory Park, I used to race bikes & on the test days ( not a track day) the cars had the track till 1pm then it was the bikes turn, so whilst in the paddock waiting for bike track time I used to wander around & look at all the cars & watch them on track etc.

I carried on racing bikes for 8 yrs, a costly hobby so all funds went into the racing, eventually retired from racing.....getting old & bones weren,t healing so quickly as they used to ( racing a bike will guarentee you will crash)

Long story short, I missed the rush of the bikes so thought about having a 7 style car that I could use on the road & do the odd track day, mentioned it in a "pipe dream " sort of way to my wife, a few weeks later my birthday = a prezzie from the Mrs was the "book" , that was November 08, enrolled at night school at the local tech college, started course Jan 09, joined this forum , finished the welding course & bought the steel & started cutting it 2nd April 09.....& now the car is almost finished .

I must say, choosing to build a Roadster has been one of the most satisfying & enjoyable things I,ve ever done, learnt lots of new skills & the big plus point.......have met lots of like minded builders during the build, even some that I,ve not even met , only through this forum but all are regarded as friends, without them my build wouldn,t have been as much fun as it has been.

After that first read of the book, I,ve never looked back........bring on the Single Seater Book

cheers
andy