Springfield Flyer.

[tauruck]

Its been really hot here so I ordered slow hardener with my Epoxy resin.

The next day it started raining and the temperatures dropped.
Nothing is curing. I'll have to invest in another hardener and then the weather will probably improve.

Peter from BSPE called and said he had some good seamless 38mm tubing for me if I wanted a few lengths.
Willie and I jumped in his Mercedes Vito and picked up the pipes.
Peter has quite a big facility.

[tauruck]

The forum is a little slow these days.

Are you guys hibernating?.

3.55AM and I've been grafting for an hour already.

I wish I could say I was busy on my liner but not so.

Turning other people's dreams into my nightmares.
Halfway done on the Dakar race truck project.

Got a huge shopping list that needs $$$$$$$.

[55chevr]

Most are just resting.  We didn't get to break much on the salt flats this year. 

[tauruck]

I figured as much.

 

[Captthundarr]

Always slow around here till after the holidays, when folks start playing with their toys.

[lsrjunkie]

Start?!?!?!

Some of us have never stopped! 

[tauruck]

Joe, we're addicts, what can we do?.

I just hope I can be there when Hank hits the salt.

That will be emotional. I'll bring the Kleenex.

[Captthundarr]

Should have said new toys

[tauruck]

Frank if things just go my way you, Joe and Geo should have a few toys for Xmas.
Trying but work keeps delaying my best efforts.

I've been doing 20 hour days to get the Dakar truck parts out.
It needs to be on a cargo plane by the end of the month.

Funds generated will keep me going on the real project during December while
everyone is blowing their bonuses on a vacation.

The guy that normally does the composite work on the race team's trucks couldn't/wouldn't
do Carbon panels but the Portuguese client wanted the good stuff.

I got really lucky. The door panel came out good and after a good clear coat it should
be fine. I tried to keep the splices to a bare minimum and not too visible.

Two pics of the vacuum process and finished product.

[manta22]

Nice work, Mike!

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[lsrjunkie]

Awesome work as usual Mike!

If Santa Claus happens to bring me some presents from Jo'burg, I'll be the happiest boy in the world!

Keep up the push brother! If it helps keep ya going, Hank is making good progress in all areas!

[Geo]

Yah Hooo!

Parts look good Mike! I'm sending some cold weather your way.

Geo

[wobblywalrus]

That looks great.  The reflection tells the story.  No waves or distortion.   

[Captthundarr]

Mike, Joe took the words right out me mouth. ( hay i got it right) Your work with composites blows me away. Glad your making some project money.

[tauruck]

I'm embarrassed.

I have to finish the wheel discs and the Jag dash. It bugs me that I've let things slide.
I had a youngster that was going to work with me but things never worked out.
He was going to assist on your projects to get experience.

Sean Morrow has just finished 5 years at University studying aeronautics and he's got a temporary job
with a guy developing drones to monitor the Rhino population. They're building composite planes and he wants
to work weekends for experience. He's been here twice and he's a big help so we'll do the Jaguar dash together.
Might as well throw him in at the deep end.

Manufacturing a dash using the original vinyl and foam factory part is an exercise for the very brave.
I've walked away so many times it's scary. You can't give up and eventually it clicks.

Mark from Marcom Aeronautics and Space has given Shaun a project to do a comparative CFD modeling programme
on the long car. He sends his results to Mark and hopefully he'll get a permanent job next year.
I even want to work for Marcom.

My crew is growing. We'll get together soon hopefully.

We're not Roush Racing but like Don Martin says "It's all fun".

Riaan Lingenfelder (manager and hydraulics).
Victor Moore. (instrumentation).
Sean Morrow  (aero and composites).
Pritesh Makan (logistics).
Willie Mulder (planning).
Clive Cabe (drivetrain and composites).
Theuns Visser  (structures).
Nasen Padayachee (turbos and engine management).

These guys are all awesome people I like, trust and get on well with.
 

Thanks all for the kind words and motivation. It goes a long way and keeps me grafting.