Eunos Chump

MX5 was returned this evening with the new Exedy stage 2 clutch fitted, and so far it's excellent .  It's certainly stiffer than the old one - from a standing start it's quite on/off and I need to get used to it - but it cushions the abrupt power delivery and of course doesn't slip .  I'm very happy and relations with the garage have been restored.  MOT was passed at the weekend too.  If it wasn't for the wintery weather and super-unleaded at £1.26 a litre it'd be back on commuting service.  It's cleared for track day hammering though!

MX5 returned from MOT yesterday, it failed on a leaking front caliper, ineffetive rear caliper, weak handbrake and a holed exhaust.  Emissions were fine, surprisingly.  The exhaust is 2 years old but still under warranty so I've sent a photo to MX5Parts (it's one of their own-brand stainless steel dual tailpipe jobs). One of the hangers has come away and torn a small hole in the pipe, it's not really noticeable in the car, what with all the other noise going on.  All of the calipers were new last June so I'm annoyed about them (I like being annoyed), the warranty was only 6 months too (double annoyed).  I've ordered a new front one (got a bit of discount), I'm hoping the rear is just down to handbrake mechanism as the piston moves smoothly.  I would be out fixing it now, only the linear-halogen bulb my inspection lamp requires has been outlawed by the EEC! Had a bit of an uncomfortable talk about the clutch issue with garage-bloke, he reckons he put in an up

I was INCANDESCENT WITH RAGE last night.  I had a new clutch put in the MX5 yesterday, and it was returned with a bill for £403 with even worse clutch slip than before!  I didn't get home until gone 8pm so Mrs B had already handed over a cheque.  I had an ANGRY ANGRY night with little sleep, and was on the phone as soon as the garage (who I've been using for years) opened.  I remained fairly civil though and we've come to an agreement where he refunds me the cost of parts (an incredible £222) and fits a clutch I supply for free.  I've ordered an Exedy stage 2 kit from MX5Parts which should make clutch slip a thing of the past, even if I replace the engine with a Merlin. Got a new windscreen fitted in the 5 today too, from the not-particularly slick Auto Windscreens (my insurer wouldn't accept Autoglass).  The screen is blue tinted, I'd never noticed that before. Formula 1 season starts tomorrow, woooo!  I think we're in for bloody Alonso ending up champ

Went to the first Goodwood Breakfast of the year on Sunday, it was extremely cold yet there was brilliant sunshine - I've got my first pink face of the year.  The theme was anything pre-'72, and I've never seen it so busy.  Did I mention that it was really, really bitterly cold?  So cold that despite the sunshine, I drove home with the roof up?  Mazda was running very well though, the clutch slipped a bit at first but strangely seemed to improve after some serious thrash.  It's had another dose of Tuner Studio's Autotune and is much better for it. In other news: I wish to complain about the VMware course I'm on this week, it's 9am-7pm (or longer) each day, and they've done away with the hot food!  IT training is supposed to be paid skiving, what's happened?

A Chinook made an emergency landing on the edge of the village this evening, so monkeyboy and I went and checked it out.  As you can see, it was a very boggy field and my work shoes got covered in mud, but it was all very exciting for simple plebs like us.  It had a hydraulic leak, but I didn't offer them the use of the roll of gaffer tape I keep in the MX5. I didn't much enjoy the trip into work in the Mazda, it was very frosty so the roof had to stay up, and the clutch slipped when I gave it some beans.  And I'd forgotten what a pain a manual gearbox is, I felt like the fireman on a steam engine!  It'll be all good when I get it on a track, I'm sure.