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Recently i had a bigger ego than my brakes & tyres could handle. So the Nose & passenger quarter panell came of 2nd best when i kissed an armoco on the way through some twisty hill climb. Luckily no other car was involved. No physical injuries were sustained by my passenger or myself.
Here is what it looked like

had it been any other way I wouln't be writing this

But thats not the whole storie. Apart from sustaing massive injurie to my Ego, It also meant the bonnet and headlight wouln't close. After getting home & groveling to she who must be obeyed, It meant, Gawwwwd i have to cancell wakefield for a 2nd time.
Last time was the old mans birthday when i had to cancell wakefield. Not turning up for the old mans birthday would have been seriously bad taste.
Anyhow after speaking to a few club racing officials & people in the know I decidet to give it a go as the chances were pretty good at getting the car through scrutineering with 2ndary belts & plenty of race tape to make sure the bonnet wasn't goung to flip open. (my ego wouln't be able to cope with that sort of thing either.)

So i was talking to Bigus Dogus (borrowed from the Hon. Garry) through the week. & he mentioned something about a shed in his back yard & someone else he knows has some panel beating skills.

So this morning i turned up at Big Dogs place.

Firstly we removed the Front bumper

the passenger side barn door was also removed.
The damage was then seriously looked at. & the realisation that it was a fair amount more complicated than first invisaged.
Here is what it looked like from the top. & the side

It wasn't just you simple bang it back into place. It has some serious crincles in there.

So what happend next is what this is all about.

John & Dave worked on \"the Almost stock 1.6\" with hammers 4B2 pieces of wood, drills, sledge hammes & even a pulley was used to to straighten part of the Cassis. I'm just Gobsmacked

The result is. The bonnet closes & locks The Pop up head light Now closes again & with a little race tape, I'll be able to cover up some sharp bits for srcutineering.


Now even if i stayed in the MX5 Club of NSW for another 15 years. Id stilll be ahead. Without being a club member This would unlikely have happened.
The club is about sharing a passion & helping each other when apropriate.
in Johns words \"what comes around...goes around.\" ...(And No.... its not a bible quote.)

Looks like I'll be installing diffs for the next 30 years to make up for today.

Now i don't want every Jack & Joe to Harras Big Dog & Dave to help them.
It is up to them to offer thier help.

I just want everyone to know Big Dog & Dave...you are truely legenday.
Im truely humbled by what you did for me today.

you are both a huge asset to a fantastic Club.


StanTheMan

Stefan/Stan/Steff......Thats a location Joke

Bigus Dogus and his Shed are indeed wonderous things.

Great to see an (almost) happy ending to this.

Top work Gents. I think I can guess who will be buying beers next time you all end up at the pub.

Nice to get some good news on the topic Stefan!

Stan the Steffan ( ) as said yesterday, it was good to be able to help.
It's not something we would do for anybody, (and probably most would rather take it to a professional to get it done properly anyway!), however given the circumstances and your need to have a functional rather than cosmetically perfect car for Wakefield, we were pretty confident we could assist. Besides, the NSW Dodgy Days needed some panel works to round out the reputation! (Can't have the Mexicans having a more complete service now, can we? )

tinsfci wrote:Great to see an (almost) happy ending to this.

Top work Gents. I think I can guess who will be buying beers next time you all end up at the pub.

well the plan is once i get a new bumper & quarter panel. Its getting a full respray.That will be an ongoing project.
Gotta be happy with that. Its all good. Its been a little learning curve for me.

Dave wrote:Stan the Steffan ( ) as said yesterday, it was good to be able to help.
It's not something we would do for anybody, (and probably most would rather take it to a professional to get it done properly anyway!), however given the circumstances and your need to have a functional rather than cosmetically perfect car for Wakefield, we were pretty confident we could assist. Besides, the NSW Dodgy Days needed some panel works to round out the reputation! (Can't have the Mexicans having a more complete service now, can we? )

Well done guys! You are a credit to MX5 owners everywhere.

Now, just one little point.... you guys are the Mexicans.

Good to see guys! Yes, that shed is a thing of beauty. And yes again, Dave and John are great people.

It's always great to see a bunch of guys help each other out!

Now all you need is a trip to Adelaide so Astoboysoup can finish off the paint!

Good luck with the rest of the repairs Stefan.

ROFLMHO...sab...should make it via Melbourne & do the notorious Reefton Spurr. So if there is any offs......we can fix them whan i get to Asroboy's place.....

I Think i'm in good hands. Moral support is what i'll need plenty of. The prepping is the hard bit. Thinking of hiring a sprayboth when i finally get there. Prolly a good 6mths off. Will have a panel beater look at it when i get closer to that time & see if there can be any improvement. But I'll seriously doubt it.

Great work Stan. Good to see it semi straight again.

Those Hunter boys are absolute legends and magicians. Top work guys.

Hahahaha... Stefan, the Reefton Spur, plus some of the other roads around there would be great!

Are you sure your brakes and tyres can handle it though???

Ohh yes but the tyres will be officially cremated at Wakefield on Mon .....so I'm not sure yet as the Azenis are not available in 16 inch size i require.

But The Ego is the real danger....lurking

Its good to know there is still some free help around.

I thought that kind of self-less help has died with the Dodos.

Well done guys.

Dodgy Dodo Day?