First drive

[Matt No VAT]

After a small amount of tinkering with the gear linkage so I can now select all 6 of my gears, rather than just 1st, 3rd and 5th.

I took my car for her first proper little drive round the block, just to start her shakedown testing.

I'M VERY IMPRESSED, in fact I'm over the moon !! :~)

The car had already warmed up and that first squirt on the throttle will be unforgetable... the noise, the accelleration and the huge grin that followed.....

Well worth the wait without a shadow of a doubt.

Some cosmetic tidying to do, some adjustments to the rear suspension setup, but not enough to detract from the cars performance.. and don't they accellerate well.

Awesome, simply awesome! :D

[JohnB_SPY8808053]

Sounds Great - Congrats!

John B.

[BETANUT]

Nice one Matt!
I'm not at all jealous! Nothing like the first quick 'blat' in something you've spent money/blood/sweat/tears over!
Now all you've got to do is get a nice set of skinny snow/ice tyres and brace yourself for the winter :rolleyes:

[rutthenut]

Originally posted by BETANUT
Now all you've got to do is get a nice set of skinny snow/ice tyres and brace yourself for the winter

I can't see much need for that type of tyre down this way!


All the best Matt, glad it impressed you, because it's the sort of car that raises all sorts of expectations. I haven't yet heard of anyone who felt let down by their first drive, but you never know.

[BETANUT]

Right enough :p I'd forgotten you southern softies (just kidding! :D ) aren't used to the 'white stuff'.......

[Matt No VAT]

I've seen the Stratos Kits take off at Abingdon, I've heard them and been so close you I could smell em. I've sat inside one before I went off to purchase one just to check that I fit in OK - and I had driven mine off the trailer and into the garage, but thats with no seat and no bulkhead panel. So Friday was a real first.

I have to admit I was having difficulty setting my expectations as I have had fast road cars before, numerous Integrales including a stripped out track car with just about every engine and suspension modification you could think of (and that was a seriously quick car). I often wondered how I would react immediately after the first drive of the Strat.

It left me with a similar "buzz" to when I bought my Integrale Evo 2 in Milan. (Thats a long way to go just to buy a car) The 1200km journey home (Milan to Ostend in 9.5 hours!!) despite tonsilitus and a tempreture of 103 didn't detract from the experience one bit. I felt I had achieved something. (I had... I'd just crossed 5 countries in less than half a day - but it wasn't that, it was achieving a goal)

My car was actually faster than what I was expecting, but then I've never owned a car with anything other than 4 cylinders. Add the combination of RWD V6 power + circa 915kgs and now I'm into a whole new realm of driving. No toys like PAS/ABS/Trac. Control/Anti-yaw etc. etc. which is the way I wanted it to be.

This is what I wanted, a stylish, unique car that involves the driver 100%.

I simply cant wait... (but I'll have to) :D

To all those who are building.... You really are gonna love it !

[Andrew Way]

Well done Matt. I'm very Jealous. I'll hopefully be collecting my kit in the next few weeks, so stand by for plenty of 'how do I....' questions. I'm glad the short driving experience lived up to your expectations.

Andrew.:cool:

[Stratos]

Matt,

Congratulations on your progress. It's great to hear of another car running.

We'll all look forward to seeing you competing at Abingdon next year?

[Matt No VAT]

I'll certainly be up for the Sprint Event but I don't think I'm quite ready for the Rally stages yet... I might need a few pointers off some "Old Hands" like yourself and Mr Rutter ;~)

I'm looking forward to being able to arrive in style though!

[chris.richard]

Well done Matt, I'm insanely jealous. I'm hitting a time problem with a staff shortage and the busy season coming up (the NHS as it is today), so I doubt if I'll make much progress in the next few months.

[Stratos]

Originally posted by Matt No VAT
I'll certainly be up for the Sprint Event but I don't think I'm quite ready for the Rally stages yet... I might need a few pointers off some "Old Hands" like yourself and Mr Rutter ;~)

I'm looking forward to being able to arrive in style though!

Here! Less of the "old" - I'll have you know I'm not a day over ...... S**t, am I that old?

AND, after the day I had yesterday, I don't think you should take any pointers from me - but that's for another thread, which i will post later today, when I get the car photographed.

[JohnB_SPY8808053]

"Photographed" - Sounds to me like somebody had a bit of an off!

Hope it wasn't a bad one.

John B.

[chris.richard]

Going to post some pictures Matt? I'm sure we'd all be interested.

[stewart]

Hi Guys,

'I'm excited' as a well known tv host exclaims over here...I've just had my first drive around the block (well, a couple of blocks a couple of times actually!). FANTASTIC!! Who cares that a Uni assignment is due today, who cares that it was threatening to rain, who cares that I don't have a windscreen, who cares that it isn't registered....

I have been promising for ages, but there always seemed to be another little job that had to be done or redone. It has finally happened though, I have driven the yellow beast around the block. Did 5.8km to be precise if the speedo is accurate. I think it is a little generous but if it is right my right foot is going to need to be a little lighter. I only hit 4000rpm (130bhp as per dyno graph) and my peak power is at 6500 according to the dyno.

Not many people about but those who were showed plenty of interest. Tyre pressures were probably a bit low and she was a little twitchy, but brakes seeemd to work fine although peddle was a little softer than I would like. No left or right pull under brakes, and no suspension bangs or clunks. A little hard to tell though with the wind in my hair!

BLOODY WONDERFUL! There are unfortunately a few little jobs left to do before engineering approval (including finishing off this Uni semester) but I can see the end of the tunnel and the light is shining brightly.

As others have said, this is the time when all that blood sweat tears and money is proven to be absolutely worth it!

I can't get the grin off my face!,:D

cheers,:D

[JohnB_SPY8808053]

Congrats Stewart! It's good to hear about all the new & old kits getting back on the road.

John B.

[Sando]

Well Done Stewart!
If it goes as well as it looks, you're going to be in for a great time.
Looking forward to the 'Big Grin' myself sometime soon.
cheers
Rob

[Bernard]

Stewart....................WELL DONE !!!!

I can remember the feeling........... just !
wait till its road legal and you go for your first real blast........if you put your foot down hard.....make sure you have plenty of room to stop ! both in front and at the sides ! and make sure there isnt a "clown" up your backside !....have fun

Hope you are keeping well
Best Wishes
Phil (Bernard)

[Sando]

One Year Later...............:D :D

Didn't ever have a chance of getting out for a practice run so my first drive has been to the SVA test this morning (type approval) without any number plates.
The fantasmagorically, brilliant, best ever, mega news, is that it passed first time with just a slight tweeking of the headlamp aim. I even overtook a car on the way back I was so pleased (learner doing 20MPH......) Frightened them to death, oops sorry, got carried away! Just the Registration process to go through now for another week. Meanwhile I can get it back to 'my spec' rather than 'SVA spec'........

Big thanks to Bernard the Nipple Doctor for lending me his old 285 tyres, this made the speedo pass without modification. Secondly to Chris Smith and the other Guys who gave me the nod on the other bits to look out for. Not forgetting my mate Tony for moral support at 7am this morning when it was *issing down with rain!

Look out for a thrilling article in the newsletter sometime soon.......
cheers
Rob:cool:

PS Bernard, my left Nipple is much better now thankyou, you must be more gentle with me next time darling. xx;) :p

[Sando]

I wish it looked this good up close!
Still needs a good Tcut and polish.

Martin the SVA man. You were a star. Thankyou.

[Jerry B]

Well done Rob!!
If things go on like this, the roads will be awash with Strats soon. I look forward to seeing the car at Abingdon.

[Cloggie]

Hi Rob,
Great news, and congratulations. The car looks fantastic, and now it's legal too!

No excuses now not to be at Abingdon, and we'll look forward to meeting your car there......

All the best, Nico/

[Swamprat33]

Hi Rob - well done - she looks a beaut.
I cheated and bought one that someone else had built, but there should now be at least two new Strati making their Abingdon debut this year.

[guy mayers]

That's fantastic news Rob -congratulations!
Are you the first person to get a Stratos through SVA at the first attempt? Brilliant - please consider standing at the AGM as an SVA adviser to the Club!
Guy

[Bernard]

WELL DONE to Matt and my navigator Stewart !!!

Will you BOTH make it to Abingdon this year.......come on Stewart Australia isnt that far is it ???

Cheers

Phil:D

[AndyH]

Hi Rob,

Well done on passing your SVA..

Which test centre did you use??

Andrew

[Sando]

Thanks Guys
It was a very strange day, from having butterflies first thing to absolute euphoria by lunchtime. Back down to Earth with a bump then by the Registration process in the afternoon!

I think the positive attitude of the SVA man helped tremendously. Previous things I had been told about such as the seatbelt mounting welds were not an issue. It may have been that he had seen them on a Hawk before, but he was happy with just seeing things as they were.
I'll probably update the SVA thread with a couple of bits, but I'm always happy to help if I can.
The club can also have my SVA manual now, although it does need the latest update.

Cheers
Looking forward to Abingdon.
Rab

[CorseChris]

Nice one Rob.

Nottingham isn't too much further away from me than the Birmingham SVA centre - maybe I should take mine there as well if they like the Strat......give it more of a shakedown run too.

Tell us all your top tips though!

[Bernard]

Well Done Rob.............see you soon
Love from the NIPPLE Doctor..................:D

[stewart]

Congratulations Rob. It must be a great relief and I know the excitement of finally geting out and about legally.

Hopefully you'll clock up plenty of miles and your car will not sit in the garage for ages like mine is awaiting the tender mercies of the Bl%44#...auto electrician to fix his poor handiwork!

Sorry Bernard, I'm not going to make it to Abingdon this year much as I would love too...but Castle Combe on Aug 16 is looking like a possibility (sans car) so look out for a pm...got a spare bed handy?

Fingers crossed

[Sando]

Originally posted by AndyH
Which test centre did you use??

It was the Nottingham (Watnall) one, which is about 2 miles max from me, didn't have far to bed the brakes in!

You are welcome to use my place as a staging post, or even somewhere close if you need to make any mods on the day. I think for anything major you have to go back to the same test station - worth a thought if you come a long way.

cheers
Rob:cool: