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[Big Rod]

Well,

The hotels, ferry and flights are booked. The car is ready bar for a couple of minor details, (I'm actually waiting on some paint drying!!   ), and the paperwork's in order, (I hope!!). Got a couple of things to get, but a visit to Hellfrauds should take care of that. The Vignette is now stuck to the windscreen, (Thanks Dave and Mark!!   )

In a weeks time, all going well, I'll be sitting in Dover waiting on the Ferry to take us to Calais.

I'm absolutely beside myself with angst!! Kind of a mixture of excitement, panic and fear!!!

Anyway, I thought I'd show you a pic' of the car as it stands. It's not a very good picture, but you'll get the gist.

[Markie]

 

brilliant Big Rod, just brilliant!!

All the best on the trip too - wish it was me!

[barton]

Rod,
can't wait to see the pictures that come back from S2N, you know Dougie's taking an SRi 130 Cav II. we're doing some features in the mag on the Vauxhall contingent and think your omega looks effing brilliant. if I had my way, that'd go on the front cover.

also, chatting on the gallery pages, someone asked about the OOF getting a mention in TV, we've done the Clubs page for the autumn issue (on sale 29 October) and I'm going to try in a minute to upload a pdf of the page to my photobucket thingy (search: OOF in TV)

have also amended the league for the same issue: you're back on

Barton

good luck on the S2N, we'll be behind you (Dougie reckons more like in front) all the way

[TheBoy]

You need an OmegaOwners.com sticker somewhere on that

[Big Rod]

Rod,
can't wait to see the pictures that come back from S2N, you know Dougie's taking an SRi 130 Cav II. we're doing some features in the mag on the Vauxhall contingent and think your omega looks effing brilliant. if I had my way, that'd go on the front cover.

Now that would be cool!!!  8-)

have also amended the league for the same issue: you're back on

Outstanding, thanks!!  

good luck on the S2N, we'll be behind you (Dougie reckons more like in front) all the way

Thanks Barton the support's appreciated!!

[Big Rod]

brilliant Big Rod, just brilliant!!

Thanks Mark!!

[Big Rod]

You need an OmegaOwners.com sticker somewhere on that

Agreed! I might try and fashion something out of an old washing up liquid bottle, sticky backed plastic and a pair of Val's old nickers!!

Why not, it's what the rest of the car's nailed, (<------you think I'm kidding!!), together with!

[bob.dent]

Excellent Rod [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

I take it you got the huge exhaust from a Chavalier

[barton]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/bartonbris/TOV63.jpg



here's the link to the TV clubs page for the autumn issue, hope it's legible and big enough, if not, someone's going to have to buy the magazine and copy it etc.

Barton

[TheBoy]

Why not, it's what the rest of the car's nailed, (<------you think I'm kidding!!), together with!

Hope you found bigger nails - don't want spoiler dropping off again

[Marks DTM Calib]

You need an OmegaOwners.com sticker somewhere on that

Agreed! I might try and fashion something out of an old washing up liquid bottle, sticky backed plastic and a pair of Val's old nickers!!

Why not, it's what the rest of the car's nailed, (<------you think I'm kidding!!), together with!

Send me your address I have a spare one which fits on the inside of the glass if you want it.....

Got to say that it looks great, if/when I do another its going to be balls out on a paint job etc, this year we realy didn't have time to do the car justice.

[Marks DTM Calib]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/bartonbris/TOV63.jpg



here's the link to the TV clubs page for the autumn issue, hope it's legible and big enough, if not, someone's going to have to buy the magazine and copy it etc.

Barton

A mention in TV eh.....thats very much appreciated... if you have a question and answer section then feel free to seek contributions etc....

[Big Rod]

Send me your address I have a spare one which fits on the inside of the glass if you want it.....

PM sent Mark, Thanks!!  8-)

[Auto Addict]

Brilliant BR, absolutely brilliant [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Bo Bo]

That's cool  8-) Lovin it!

[Martin_1962]

Is that Staples as in the roundabout in London with a nearly glass processors called Crystal Units

[Big Rod]

Is that Staples as in the roundabout in London with a nearly glass processors called Crystal Units

The original 'rally' started at Staples Corner, (Start of the M1 I think!), but due to the complications of getting a large number of cars over the channel in some sort of orderly fashion, the rally(s) now start in Calais.

TBH Martin, I didn't really understand the last half of your question!!  

[Martin_1962]

Staples corner thats it - one of our customers is a couple 100m from there!

Was spelling mistakes in previous post

[Big Rod]

Thought I'd add a little history to the story...............

After signing up in 39th place for the S2N '06, the hunt was immediately on for a suitable banger. Now because I love Senators and Carltons, I wasn't so keen on using one of them as they're getting rare and I had no intention of bringing it back, so I figured a Granada or a big Volvo or something as I didn't even consider an Omega as I figured that a serviceable one would be well outwith the £100 cieling put on the cost of the car.

Imagine my glee when I saw a 2.0 CD WITH T&T for £100 not 40 miles away!! Me and one of my teammates went up there like a shot and as soon as I'd driven into the garage forecourt we were meeting at, I knew it was sold, it really looked too good to be true!!




So £100 was duly paid and we set off down the motorway back home, me in my MV6 and my teammate in the CD. We played leapfrog a bit and tested it at 'high' speed and it all seemed tickety-boo! Until, about 20 miles into the journey, my mate starts flashing lights at me to pull over. (We'd just passed a layby!!!!    ). So I take the next available exit, which is only about 1/2 mile further on and drive into a service station.

I opened the door of my car only to be met with the sound of a bag of bolts!!  

'How long's it been doing that?' I asked my colleague 'Only about 5 minutes.' he said!!  

I surmised that the failure was due to lack of oil pressure and that the bottom end of the engine had now gone the shape of a pear. So what to do? Turns out my mate had an XEV out of a Calibra that he sold me for a reasonable sum!!  

So we changed the engine over one weekend back in April.







Which was great, but had an annoying cam sensor fault!! Tried everything including buying new cam and crank sensors, and it took me a month to figure out I'd mixed up two of the loom connectors!!!!

Then, after having tried to upgrade the brakes to 24v Senator items, I had a load of trouble with bad pedal travel. So that took about another month and a fortune in brake fluid to get them just slightly better, and to cut a long story short, I got an MOT!!

So then I/we set about decorating it.....................

A few weeks ago...........................



And how it looks today....................





All in all it's been an adventure and I'm not even in Calais yet!!! I've spent less time and money on cars that I intended keeping!!!!

If I can get to Calais I think my nerves will settle down a bit!!

[Martin_1962]

Interesting story

Good luck and try to bring it back!

[Big Rod]

Interesting story

Thanks Martin.

Good luck and try to bring it back!

Won't be me mate!! I may 'donate' it to another team for return, but I won't be driving it back!!

[Elite Pete]

Holy Batwings Big Rod

The car looks cool, good luck with the trip [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Markie]

that was a great read Big Rod - really well writen and love the pics.

Looks like a cracking garage there too Rod.

Did you paint it yourself?

 

[Big Rod]

that was a great read Big Rod - really well writen and love the pics.

Thanks Mark!

Looks like a cracking garage there too Rod.

Even though I say so myself it is a stoater!! I could comfortably fit three cars in it before I put up all the worktops. Sadly I'm losing it in the near future due to an extension and I'm having a slightly smaller one, (about 2/3's the size.), built not by choice, (but the new one will have a pit!!!  8-) )

Did you paint it yourself?

Erm, yeah!! Me an' me mate, (the one who broke the engine!!), did it.......................
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
With two cans of B&Q exterior satin black paint and a packet of 'value' brushes. It needed two coats!

[nixoro]

Big Rod the car looks great mate

good luck with the run down to calais and across on the other side.

[Markie]

  @ big rod

maybe we should clarify the meaning of a stoater to our friends in the south.....or do we all know?

shame about losing the big garage - bet theres a wummin involved in that decision  

[Markie]

....actually upon showing my 9 year old this he want sto know if your going dressed as batman and robin whilst driving the route

I actually think this is a BRILLIANT idea  

Any plans?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Just like the guys on Chezk wrecks....



They did get a few questions at the Chezk border though and Batman clearly didn't shave that morning....

[Big Rod]

....actually upon showing my 9 year old this he want sto know if your going dressed as batman and robin whilst driving the route

I actually think this is a BRILLIANT idea  

Any plans?

What on earth gave him that idea Markie?  

This is my alter ego!!!!


My erstwhile colleague Tomm is going as Robin, and my other mate Stuart won't tell me what he's arranged, so we'll have to see, but I'm assured it's in the same theme.

I was gutted when I saw those two on CRX!! Still, they're out of date and had a pish car!!!  

[Markie]

 

wait till he sees this!!

[Jim]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/bartonbris/TOV63.jpg



here's the link to the TV clubs page for the autumn issue, hope it's legible and big enough, if not, someone's going to have to buy the magazine and copy it etc.

Barton

Fantastic Plug for the Forum 8-)

[Martin_1962]

WHy not Del Boy & Rodney

[Big Rod]

Well, I didn't sleep last night!!  

Gawd knows what I'll be like tonight!! P'r'aps a wee tot o' JD will help!!

Mark/Dave were you like this before you went or am I just being childish?  

BTW Mark, if you don't mind, would you be kind enough to PM me a contact number for you just in case I need any Tech Support? I'll only use it as a last resort, but just in case I need to check diag codes or something like that. I won't be offended in the slightest if you decline, I just figure you'd be about the best source of help shuold the worst happen to us in the middle of nowhere.

TIA.

Here we go, here we go, here we go, - here we go, here we go, here we go-o-o-o  

[Marks DTM Calib]

More than happy to do that.....will PM my mobile number.....if you get any problems with any of the cars then drop me a text/call.

Are you doing a blog or similar (although Internet access when we went was almost non-existant)....would be good to post your progress etc

[Big Rod]

Thanks Mark, yer a gent!!

Well, I had intended to update as we go, but as you say, interweb access might be a premium commodity, so I could maybe drop you a text message of an evening and you could stick a wee note up on the forum as an update like.

I probably won't be able to post a complete synopsis until well after the event as I won't actually get home until the Friday night due to work commitments, but I'll try my best.

[Markie]

Good luck big Rod - and happy (safe) driving!!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Thanks Mark, yer a gent!!

Well, I had intended to update as we go, but as you say, interweb access might be a premium commodity, so I could maybe drop you a text message of an evening and you could stick a wee note up on the forum as an update like.

I probably won't be able to post a complete synopsis until well after the event as I won't actually get home until the Friday night due to work commitments, but I'll try my best.

No worries, if you text an update I will chuck it on.....

Just remember that night time graffitti on other peoples cars is an expected....so take plenty of paint, tape etc....

[Big Rod]

Just remember that night time graffitti on other peoples cars is an expected....so take plenty of paint, tape etc....

Check!!  

However we have a secret weapon for revenge!!!  

[TheBoy]

Good luck with the journey. Be safe.

[Big Rod]

Thanks guys!

And thanks for putting my name in lights!!!  8-)

[Martin_1962]

Good luck [smiley=beer.gif]

[nixoro]

Good Luck Big Rod and be safe

[Elite Pete]

Good luck Big Rod

[Salty]

Good luck, have a pleasant and most of all safe journey [smiley=thumbsup.gif]