Only 4 jobs left to go... the final sprint to the finish!!

Latest pics from the shop.. nigh on 4 years later and the Phoenix Esprit is almost finally finished... a huge thanks to MVS for picking up the mess left behind by Phoenix Honda.

There are those who talk the talk when it comes to projects and then there are those who 'can'.

http://www.mvsracing.co.uk/

The mother of all front diffusers.. detail shots from interior

To help off-set the Group C rear wing and diffuser

Alfa ti super-tourer meets Prodrive Cataluyna Impreza WRC meets terminator

And more interior shots

Latest pics from the shop.. colour coding!!

Last list of jobs being finished off, more colour coding.. looks great> Mirrors, side sills, headline, wheels

Latest from the workshop (23 April).. front end, lights in!

Getting closer... tick tock.. latest pics in from the shop, body, paint etc pretty much all done!!

Front end is crazy.. hopefully we'll find a way to sort the front cover which has an annoying habit of turning up at the corners and spoiling the line but other than that I think the effect of the ZX lights and the Esprit is awesome! Lights look in great condition.

It'll look even more bonkers with the lower front splitter attached.

JB

Latest from the shop.. nice ass!

Pic of the rear (wip) minus bumper, diffuser and wing etc.

First impressions - 90s IMSA/GT-P car, very Le Mans..

New Lotus F1 cars hit the track - new livery takes shape on Esprit..!!

For anyone who is watching the new F1 Lotus cars hit the track.. the Esprit will celebrate the occassion with this new livery... I was just blown away by this picture recd tonight form the shop.

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March 2010: Latest from the workshop

The removable lower splitter assembly is awesome..

colour looks great; panels look spot on

can;t wait to see final result

More paint.. end in sight

Now that the dust has settled the final colour can be seen..

Classic Lotus Racing Green metallic.

The modification to the front light surrounds easy to see here - I like how Merlin has continued the line from the wings.. very lamboesque. Martyn's perfectionism paid off.

Paint.... lovely..

The silver base coat and Lotus racing green first coat now on.. woo hoo!

Some great colour effects as light hits it..

Almost ready for paint

Latest pics from the shop - almost ready for paint..

New lines visible.. front end looks good..

Final prep work before painting

the end in sight - latest pic form the workshop - final rub down before primer and paint.. not much left to do to shakedown and MOT..

then off to BHP to sale - circa £28k hopefully!!

TR8 Squadron Pictures - 'LAE'

LAE: Life After Esprit - Some TR8 racing pictures from the 2008 season - new wesbite will be: www.tr8race.com

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/MBlur/TR8%20Squadron/?albumview=slideshow

Latest pics from the workshop

Rear tailgate looks great with cover in place.. still wing to go on and rear mesh and lower bumper + diffuser.

Oil cooler clearly visible,

What a cockpit - now that's what I call a view.. Only gauge out of line of sight is the engine hours gauge.. chip gnassi nascar instrument binnacle retained and incorporated into the carbon dash.

Note - 50th anniversary Hurst NASCAR shifter

Sparco wheel is detachable and likely to incorporate starter button and a cpl of anicullaries switches.. all very f1 without looking too modern. D-shaped wheel makes entry and sitting position easier.

Hopefully we're on the final stretch now - finishing, paint, shakedown, mot then off to Coys.

Engine bay looks like new - very tidy and exhaust look great in ceramic coating

I suspect end result is going to hit the mark - an appetising buy for any [hardcore] track day go'er, racer or extreme road user..

[Merl says] "excuse the wires in the photos most have been putaway now apart from the one on the tailgae which is for the rear view camera.. its amazing how much longer the car looks with the tailgate on."

Thunder Racing 8s - Knockhill April 2009

The TR8 Squadron were 3-strong at the first rounds of this year's SMRC Classic and Sports Cars, Willie took 3rd in race 1, Gordon took driver of the day and Bary survived and beat his PB target.. aiming for 4 on the grid for the end May meet..

I took some (limited) footage and cut using my new editing suite..

Roaring engines, retro racing and rock n roll !!!

Dials n things.. comin along

Merlin almost there with central c/f console and dash - now working on gps-hud speedo and tft rear mirror then finish up with the warning lights, e-cut and extinguiser pull, switches etc.

Left to right: Oil P, Fuel, Diff temp, Engine hours -

____________________________________________________________________

Merlin: "i think all the clocks are now fitted, i left an extra space just incase of sumin in the future. tested your camera this morning looks better than i first thought, routed the wires for it too, just need the sparkie to join them together, if he doesnt turn up tomorrow as promised im going to give him the heave ho. header tank looks the bizz now its in place, i have just finished the fuel lines, im now thinking about throwing the air filter on and tidying a few loose wires in the engine bay that havent been tucked up properly. gears........ well im going to give up for now until its running because i could be worring about nothing, it may neeed the assist of clutch and turning, moving parts before its proper smooth. mounting the gps speedo neatly is going to be a challenge,only because of the wire that sticks out of the side. cheers merlin"

New gear linkage pics.. TFT mirror arrives

Merlin: "ok will keep an eye out for the fuel doofa, rear mirror turned up, looks easy to mount.having a bit of trouble with 5th gear, but im hoping that when its running it will be much smoother.had to do a few mods to the linkage nothing mojor thou, needed a bit more leverage on the rotation and that was that. iv had a new alloy header tank made which i will have to send you a pic of as its yummy."

Jon: New gear linkage pics below - not sure about the Anniversary Hurst shifter - plain white one may be better but not spending out at this point - perhaps my pa-in-law might wood turn me a new one... overall shifter looks like it'll do the job nicely.

Dyno graph and sheet from Knights Racing

Not as much as hoped but not bad for the small 2-barrell carb (420bhp/390ish lbft) on pump 97 RON - 470ish on a 4-barrell and easy switch if I wanted it and forego some economy. If I then want over 500 -550 I'll need to rebuild the engine and find the missing revs etc.

Given the problems encountered I'm quite happy with this.

So, for now..