La Vida Viva: the Resurrection

[spike]

Well, here it is.
My name is Spike and I am an old car addict. Finding an old heap, fixing it up and giving the owner of a newer car a run for his money – that’s a thrill all its own...
Face it, a newer ride outruns you, he can’t brag without looking silly – you whip his tail, he looks worse.

The story started with Betsy, a 210B 120y, in which I put an A15 engine, modifying it over time. After many fun years I started dexing, but by then, illegal loggers started destroying much of the 4 mile long road to my home through the forest. That was the end of the road, that was the end of Solodex participation, and after a year and some, that was the end of Betsy.

I got a Korean thing to deal with the road (here it is on the estate)

- but that is another story.

I then acquired a Vauxhall Viva shell and put Betsy’s engine in it. Other modifications followed. A young, inexperienced fool, full of empty words in an emptier head, referred to it as a “Frankenstein car” due to the multiple sources used: Datsun engine, Vauxhall body, Cortina suspension, Nissan B13 rear disc brakes. His idea of modifying a car seems to be limited to putting on a turbo and changing wheels. Frankenstein, huh? I’ll scare the crap out of him if I ever meet him on the road. (Remarkable thing, most of those remark makers don’t own cars..)

Here are some shots from that first makeover...





and the finished product...


here's a shot of ol' Betsy's heart - A15 polished, ported, shaved, headers...

Then for a dex in Wallerfield, I tried on a 32/36 Weber. Didn't take it off afterwards. Ever.

then it turned out that the paint job (this one)



was only meant to look good as long as it took the ink on the cheque to dry (that I swore was the last time I ever paid anyone to do anything to any of my vehicles) and the old girl started looking like she had alligator in her ancestry. When I couldn't stand the bad sunburned look anymore, and with a Solodex coming up in a few days' time, I cursed the Bling gods and their acolytes, then whipped out the brush and the red Chinese lacquer. It was the precise colour I had wanted - the peeling paint looked orange in bright sunlight. However, after viewing the sore's bandage, I put old Nick on the bonnet...

That way, after viewing the unholy thing on the bonnet, the paintwork might seem less hideous.

Then later, The Kent went in, 1600cc of sheer joy.

Will try to fill in the blanks between then and now later on.
Thanks ever so much to all those camera-folk who chose to snap this banger at dex. And, of course, thanks to Betsy.
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big red rice-eater

[MG Man]

[Plex]

Nice...I seen this car at dex...Do keep this thread moving..

[wagonrunner]

but what d hell?
the amount of class bu............................. *phone rings.

hello. what yuh mean yuh just called to let me know there are no more tetanus shots available in the country? steups*

what was i saying again?



good start meng.
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PROUD MEMBER OF D WAGON BOYZ @ DEX
I Refuse To Have A Battle Of Wits With Unarmed Persons


Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.

[zodiaque]

Wow! The day has finally arrived! Spike posted a project thread!
I have heard stories and legends of such a day.

It was written in the great books that he shall cometh from the bushes of the northernmost tip of the land of trinity. He shalst have in his hand the lacquer of Chinese in bright orange.

When he cometh ye shall hear the engine of Kent as he rides his orange steed. He shalst wield the knowledge of the old school and shaketh his stick at your front wheels driven and your gone against computerized ways.

Yay, though I say onto thee.....



Oh, I better get back to work now.

Great to see your thread here Spike! loving the retrospective pics and information!
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Proud member of the TME and Old School Tuners clubs

[spike]

...Yea, though I drive through the valley of doubt
I shall fear no fwd
For torque is with me
Thy c-rods and thy free flow exhaust they comfort me...


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big red rice-eater

[zodiaque]

[spike]

Preach it, brother, preach! Amen!

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big red rice-eater

[MG Man]

nice shot
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I know it's so, for I told me so

[zodiaque]

Hey, who has Number "520" at Dex. Is it an active number I wonder? If not, why not apply to take it as your own to match plates?
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Proud member of the TME and Old School Tuners clubs

[spike]

Ermmm, I heard stories about someone running down (stalking?) the lady who was the inactive holder of #7 in order to have the number 007... not me pardner, oi be happy wit' wat oi gots. Besides, I dug up the Summary Results sheet of my first race that has my Datsun as #198... Should I revive that number? Hmmm, but 690 has a rather naughty look, a "why did the pervert cross the road? Because the chicken was on the other side" sort of ring to it...

Ahh, MG, you lika da shot, hmm? How bout dis one?

or how bout dis?

or dis?

(we pause for a moment of silence in memory of those no longer with us, or under the knife - or held prisoner on a balcony somewhere...)
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big red rice-eater

[spike]

hey! just realised why that pic of your MG was familiar, it's the same one you use on your posts... ah well, at least I know for a fact now that you would like it...

All four shots were taken on the same day, same dex
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big red rice-eater

[VK-Sportsman]

[spike]

You took that shot? You have my gratitude! Thanks plenty, multiple hirsute offspring and all that... One of her earliest shots, if I remember rightly.

She has been at dex regularly since then, and I have every intention of attending the next competition run, but BYCCs seem to have lost their attraction.
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big red rice-eater

[VK-Sportsman]

Yup, that pic was for BYCC2 of 2007.

I guess we'll soon have the zorce solodex crew once the yellow british, *cough*, junk is finished, and the white World Rally Lancer is ready
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Feel the Power of the