Steve's GKD Legend

Steve's GKD Legend
Still, On the road again!

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Wednesday 19 October 2011

Pushing the limits of mans endurance and stupidity!

I perhaps have already mentioned that a well known Swedish saying goes something like this “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!”. After all the years I have lived here I’m finally beginning to agree. With a ski hat and goggles, gloves, scarf and nice thick jacket I have driven at +3 oC not including wind chill, which at 80km/h is probably quit high. If it’s only cold we’re talking about then I’m all for going lower but yesterday it was a test of both cold as well as rain. Kevin was over from the UK for two days and as it was he who re-planted the idea of building a kit car of course I had to take him for a spin! What happened yesterday?
Arrived home wet and cold, ready for a pizza and couple of pints!

It was the worse damn day for anything especially driving an open top car. I should have realized when I hopped in the car after work and noticed a centimeter or two of water swilling around inside (I forgot to take my trusty tarpaulin) this wasn’t going to be a good day to show off my pride and joy. But I’m a Britt abroad and nothing, but nothing was going to get in my way. It took and hour to drive from the south of Stockholm to the north through heavy traffic and heavy rain. At one point I drove through a large deep pool of water and it was like something out of the Poseidon Adventure; just as I looked up a huge wave of water flew up and over the windscreen and crashed down over everything. If I had been a small boat I would have capsized. Eventually found Kevin but the only thing we could do was to shelter at the nearest petrol station until the rain subsided.  
 He looked well happy as we drove back south again, still drizzling and with the feeling that every driver on the road must have thought we were complete idiots! But on the positive side the car performed well with not one electrical problem. Just the large hole in the roof to fix.
 
Chocks away - Like the pioneers of the past, no challenge is insurmountable!

Started to design a possible extension to the dashboard at the weekend for a clock and air temperature gauge. Cut out from cornflake packets I'll eventually cut it in aluminium sheet, solder it and then cover in black leather or similar.
May put a small lockable door on one side for small items.      
I'm going to try and keep driving the car when ever the skies are clear and the sun's shining at least until winter tyres are needed - I'll probably be alone though!

Saturday 8 October 2011

Out and about


Even though the weather is getting colder I have still managed to get out for a spin or two. Out again yesterday, temperature around 10oC. Went for a drive to the Cafe down at the lake, not exactly a motorcycle meeting place but still nice with a view across the water.

Neil - was going to have a go driving but motor cycle boots tend to spread over two or three pedals.

Then it was off down to Rosenhill again. It was good to see there were still some hardened MC riders down there, it's thinning out every week though!
A quick spin up the road but will wait until next spring for a new challenge!
Too much grit on the road

It was great on the way to work the other day but after lunch the heavens opened. Lucky I took my trusty tarpaulin with me, it didn’t look so professional but it kept the rain off!  I did notice that one has to take it very easy in wet conditions. A heavy foot and the back wheels slip very easily. The first time it happened it was a bit scary (only did it twice). Perhaps I need traction control?

Out last weekend to Rosenhill cafe, a popular motorcycle meeting place. Sunday out again along some great winding roads. The car corners very well, even Neil on his Suzuki Bandit 1250 had a problem keeping up! Actually that's true, cornering is much faster in the car but while the engine isn't tuned properly it still kept up quite well with the MC.

 
Here is Berndt Jansson one of the great Swedish rally drivers of the 50' & 60's at Rosenhill. I should have offered him a drive in the car!

On the way to Mörkö for a coffee

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