now the SPI has sold... I can introduce everyone to Sonic! '
I just got back from picking him up. I have done about 200miles today! I almost got wiped out on the way down. a bit of a brown trousser moment! You know those moments in your life where you get a felling somethings about to go down, and someting isnt right with the vechile in front? well I had one of those moments, then seconds later the full dumper truck in front of me on the m25 started to have embers coming out from underneath it, I was boxed in by heavy traffic either side of me and immdiatly started to slow down and look for a way to get away from it asap. A few more seconds past and even more embers started to come from underneath the truck then all of a sudden a big bang, some smoke (not as much smoke as I would imagine) but then plenty of tiny bits of metal cover the hire van I am in. this is the followed by a huge piece of pipe 45cm long, and pretty fat that comes bouncing out from underneath the truck! Right at me! I had already slowed a lot luckily but then had to break pretty hard, so hard that the dolly went up in the air a bit then came down again, luckily this pipe (drive shaft? prope shaft? whatever it was!) stopped bouncing down the road by the time I got to it and I ended up going right over it. If I was in the mini or most cars I dont think I would of gone over it. I saw a lot of cars swerve out of the lane behind me and can only presume that eventually someone hit it or hit someone else. The truck infront pulled over, i presume after losing power and I over took. but it was a bit hairy! I think if I hadnt slowed down at first when I did It would have hit the van.
Anyway, I got there safe in the end and didnt have any issues on the way back other than the rain! So here is Sonic! (below is one of the stickers that Martin-Roofless is currently making up for the pick up) I have a fair few stickers being created by roofless for Sonic. I have wheel centres, steering wheel centre, bonnet badge sticker, gear knob sticker, the below sticker and a couple of other custom stickers I have designed. I am really excidted about seeing how they have come out.
Loaded up on the towing dolly ready to be brought to London
Getting ready tp head off once strapped down and light board is in position (then I got 3 seconds down the road and noticed in my mirror that one of the wheels on the dolly was totally flat!
so I had to head back so I could pump it up. I had a pump with me, but only an electric one that runs of the 12v cig socket. so the guy I bought the pick up from let me use some juice from his astra to get the tire pumped up again. It was so bad that the pump didnt read any pressure in the tire at all! I think I had just towed it down there like that! towing fail! !!
Its had a new rear from the cab back. the tail gate still has the sticker on it.
Finally I made it to my mates (just down the road for me, he is going to get it ready for me while I am away in newquay all week. What a nice guy huh?!
) 
Time to unstrap and get it off loaded
Time to drive it off the dolly, unfortunatly 998 power + a wet dolly means it doesnt want to. Not enough power to get over the lip so my mate has to give it a good push for me.
Now it sits round my mates ready to be "customized" to my spec. whats the point in owning a mini if its not how you want it! Everything I am doing, can be put back to standard easily enough.
Sonic needs a new front at one point so Im not to worried about ruining the heritage look of it. its getting the mk1 grille from my spi with the black grill surround, the 13x7 black wheels off my Mayfair (see below picture)
these will be covered by Group 5 Euro arches like the ones I had on my SPI see picture below.
Mk1 grille from the SPI and moustach already black
The roof of the pick up, the mk1 moustache and the arches will all be painted black (thats whats being done while I am away in newquay) I also have some thick black bonnet straps to go on. The thick black ones are pretty rare I belive
I also have an order on hold with Chris at Retro retrims for a headlining, door cards, and dash backings. (the reason its was on hold was because there isnt really enough time to get it before L2b, so the Retro retrims interior should be in for one of the other shows) I also need to get a headlining frame (at the moment there is no door cards, or headlining at all) I know the headlining frames are like gold dust, but belive I have actually managed to source one. Its gonna cost a fair bit though what doesnt?! I will be at L2b this year with the pick up. we are taking Hannas Mini to Newquay as a lot of you know. Unfortunatly there isnt enought time to fit the stage 1 MG block, so I will be chugging along 998 style to Brighton!
I hope you all like, now be nice to Sonic!
EDIT: I got a book load of paper work and history I am looking though. Its got a carpet set bought from Newton commercial in 1998, and RC40 (i dont remember... it might have?!) and loads of other things like a after market rev counter, speakers mounted under the dash rails, 12v cig socket etc There is also a form for the number plate, there was an enquiry made into someone wanted to buy it for £350. The company sent a form to the owner to see if he wanted to sell. I presume he didnt!
Edited by E.L.M.O, 30 April 2010 - 12:11 AM.
