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Neat little track hack. Non Porsche


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Kit cars = not for me

I bought a Westfield clubman a few years ago, really well built by the guy that brings kits into Aus - it was his demo car. Flew to Sydney and on the drive back to Melbourne, steering column telescoped out and on a sweeping right hander I speared off the road with steering wheel spinning in my hands. It was a busy road, thank Christ it was a right handed otherwise I would have speared into oncoming traffic.

On another occasion after a spirited blast around red hill, i heard a clunk when I pulled into my driveway - upper wishbone rose joint had snapped, back wheel leaning over at 30 degree angle crab walking up the driveway. I was then advised all rose joints need replacing every year or so.......,,. In both cases I was very very lucky. I did quite a few track days - imagine either problem turn 1 Phillip island? Threat to mortality forced sale. Hate to think what less professionally built kit cars could throw up.

Factory built and non fiddled porsche for me thanks.

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Kit cars = not for me

I bought a Westfield clubman a few years ago, really well built by the guy that brings kits into Aus - it was his demo car. Flew to Sydney and on the drive back to Melbourne, steering column telescoped out and on a sweeping right hander I speared off the road with steering wheel spinning in my hands. It was a busy road, thank Christ it was a right handed otherwise I would have speared into oncoming traffic.

On another occasion after a spirited blast around red hill, i heard a clunk when I pulled into my driveway - upper wishbone rose joint had snapped, back wheel leaning over at 30 degree angle crab walking up the driveway. I was then advised all rose joints need replacing every year or so.......,,. In both cases I was very very lucky. I did quite a few track days - imagine either problem turn 1 Phillip island? Threat to mortality forced sale. Hate to think what less professionally built kit cars could throw up.

Factory built and non fiddled porsche for me thanks.

Wow! Surprised to hear that about the Westfield and I believe they are the better of the kits? :blink:

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^^ Your idea of 'really well built' must be different to mine!

Ah, yep - perhaps I should have said "seemed well built"!

Wow! Surprised to hear that about the Westfield and I believe they are the better of the kits? :blink:

Apparently steering column harks from mg - relies on a grub screw to "hold" the upper and lower shaft together. I must have pulled the wheel toward me as part of getting comfortable and the upper section telescoped out of the lower section. Instead of relying on grub screw friction, I put a cotter pin right through so it could never dislodge again. Lost the collapsible column but with harness less of an issue.

Anyway, its history now but I won't be buying home built cars again! Sorry to hijack....

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