March AEG Meeting

[tsellekaerts]

And how guilty did I feel having to punch early? I don't know who arranged having Nick come (if I delve into the whole thread I might figure it out) but it was very nice - the benefits to being in the group located in the same region as the factory!

[andydclements]

At the first one at the BIH, Brian Angus turned up, so it's not a regular thing to have a distinguished guest but very much appreciated when they do.

Brian, Nick and any other people they know are more than welcome at any event, I'm sure they know that.

Andy

[tsellekaerts]

Hadn't discovered it until you said something, but now I'm in there.

Too bad it doesn't seem to have the ability to sort by year, exterior color, interior color, etc. (Or I just haven't figured out how to do that...)

Brendan and Tobi coming from Cambridge! Us Norfolk lot were beginning to think there was a oneway forcefield around your county

Tobi your car looks stunning - Have you posted pictures into LEF Owners/Garage yet? I posted my car in today and i think they look pretty good!

Anyway well done guys! see you tonight!

Simonf

[OwenGT3]

Hi,

Have to agree with everyone's view that Tuesdays meeting was not only a brilliant turn out for a Norfolk event, but it was great to listen to Nicks stories of his involvement with Lotus and their projects.

Having meet Nick some 22 years earlier I know from personnel experience the quality of work he produces, having trimmed my Cobra replica back in roughly 1986, I can't remember the exact date, but I'm sure Nick can as he has an excellent memory for remembering names, faces, dates etc. To save a few pennies as my budget was tight back then, but also to gain some knowledge in the process of trimming a car Nick let me help in his workshop the whole week he had my car, I assisted in cutting patterns for the carpets and he showed me how to do this so the material would lay correctly, so I knew a little about what he mentioned relating to the cut lines to get the material to lay correctly on the seats.

Not only did Nick let me help him for the week, but he generously lent me his trailer to get my car to the workshop as I lived in Dereham, I don't know if Nick remembers, but on the way to the workshop with the car one of the skid retainer pins broke and the skid came crashing to the ground! luckily there was no one behind us, but in the process the light board got totally smashed. We finished our journey to Nick's and explained what had happened. I think Nick got the pin re-welded as that was all what was damaged, and I replaced his light-board, beings Nick had been so helpful lending me the trailer it was the least I could do, we had no problems on the return journey with the car.

Having had a short training course from such an expert it has helped me to tackle trimming jobs that some perhaps wouldn't entertain during my time in the motor trade. I would be the the one that always got the water damaged cars, these usually would only get new trims for the seats to cover the old frames, so you would have to strip the seat completely to fit the new trim, which can be a nightmare, so many little bits of twisted wire to bend, and if they have electrics as well it's even worse!

While I worked for possibly Lancaster back then Nick came to our company and trimmed an Escort cabriolet, not the simplest of jobs as you have to cut the hole for the rear window, so if you don't do it right its buggered. Well we had another Escort cabriolet to do, but this time they asked if I wanted to do it, which I did, and the car never came back, so I'm sure I've learnt something as not many mechanics would even entertain the job.

Nick also done a job for me about a year and a half ago in an indirect way, I had a VW Lupo with a webasto roof, well it got damaged so need a new one, so I took it to Robinsons who would do the insurance claim. It wasn't until later that I found out Nick was doing the work, so I said mention my name, he knows me to Robinsons, and he was possibly thinking, I know him, but I don't want to know his car! Apparently the roof was a bastard to fit, I know they can be difficult, fitted a few in my time, but to make Nicks life even more miserable, I didn't accept the job back as the roof fitted like a square peg in a round hole! I later discovered talking to Nick at the 40th celebrations last year he had told Robinsons about the problem and that it wasn't right.

Having been taught by the master I knew it wasn't fitting right, but knowing Robinsons, they were hoping I would accept the job as is (not the first time that had happened), but I didn't and they had to get a new roof cover again, this time the part fitted a lot better.

Nick is a true craftsman and with his son following in his fathers footsteps I'm sure the tradition is going to go on for many years to come.

Owen.

Some of Nicks handy work. You may see a couple of images of the this car in Nicks workshop if he still has the pictures on display.

[Kimbers]

Next meet in this area (Norfolk) MJK has agreed to guest.

[BC007]

I'd give up a night with Keira Knightley to be there!

Brendan

[Nifty]