First Day of Spring: Jake's Off to Respray

The first day of spring yesterday marked an important day in the calendar for me. A busy winter spent planning and discussing how 2015 should pan out.

Early on a very chilly Saturday morning, we were all up and ready to go. What were we doing? 

We were getting ourselves into gear and starting another project.

Remember Jake Bugg? The rare '67 Beetle has finally been sent off to go for his respray which has been nearly a whole year of finalising ideas, working out a cost and finding the perfect moment to send what is merely a semi welded bare shell away to be a fully welded bare shell with a lovely paint job on.

I admit, however we played it and at whatever time we decided to send him would ultimately cause a dilemma as it will mean a fresh paint job may be left outside over the winter, much like Lennon. Sadly, the overpopulated UK don't enjoy many warm days a year so we have a trade off. 

It's no sunny climate in the high 80's here.

I managed to depict the moment he was winched up onto the trailer, ready to be towed away to Jake's new undisclosed temporary residence for what is to be an approximate three months, where he will arrive home with a new lick of paint. Join me at some point in the next week where I will get around to talking about his colour scheme and various ideas we have in store.

As always, our interior plan is a hot topic and never to be disclosed.

During the next week, I will be updating you all on Watercooled affairs with what can only be described as...

...developments.

Setting the Wheels in Motion

What does Pirelli say to you?

Tyre supplier for the Formula One World Championship. Yes.

Production tyres for road cars. Of course.

Annual calendar with leather clad and topless ladies. You dirty bastard.

Wheel manufacturers for early VW Golf's? Really?

Indeed. Pirelli produced the P-Slot Wheel for both Mk1 & Mk2 VW Golf's with minor difference distinguishing both versions. 

As this isn't a tech-y blog and I would hate to steal someone else's handiwork and thorough research, here is a link if the geek inside you would like to learn more. 

http://cartype.com/pages/3610/pirelli_p-slot_wheel

But for all concerned, this is the Pirelli P-Slot Wheel.

An iconic branding masterstroke, incorporating the Pirelli logo into the design of the wheel, arcing around the whole of it.

After an inspired decision and various examples at VW events in 2014, I grew tired of wishing and ogling over wheel designs, so I went out and bought a set of Pirelli P-Slot wheels, incorporating and accelerating my desire for a Mk2 Golf GTI.

I bought a set for £160 including shipping and I must say that they don't quite look in the condition of the previous image, or at all.

The plan is to spend a little bit of time and money to get them reconditioned to a specification that resembles the originals and including my own personal quirks as I have displayed and showed off so very well.

Anyway, here are the WIP's.

It's evident that the wheel(s) have had a bit of wear over the 30+ year lifetime, but that doesn't mean that they are nowhere near salvageable. These will take a little bit of time to be in use, but will hopefully will coincide with the progress of the MK2 Golf GTI purchase. 

A quick note too, the centrecap's (pictured below) are worth as much as the wheel! These are original MK1 Golf centrecap's and will be duly sold in time. 

The wheels are in motion.

More soon, what topic it will be, I don't know.

Keep You Waiting, Stop You Hating.

Hi all,

Sorry.

Sorry for my frequent long periods of inactivity of writing to you. I cannot say I have been sunning myself in an exotic hot country or busy planning a new life abroad with someone I love.

Instead I have been contemplating. What about you may ask?

• Writing. 
• Cars. 
• Life.
• Fear...

I have been taking some unplanned time out to gather thoughts and get myself together as to me the winter time has always been a dark season for me and never one I can experience much emotion, elation, and joy in.

It's all about work, bed, work, bed, work, bed, alcohol, bed, work, bed, alcohol, drugs, bed until it's March time as that's what gets me through dark, ugly days where the days roll into nights and you never know what time of day it is, because the night grips you. Changes you into something you don't want to be. The negativity is strong, fear grips you about most things and we all hate it as it feels like the dark is never ending.

Don't even get me started on the weather.

However, it got me thinking. Back to beginning of the year to be precise.

I'm going to get a MK2 Golf GTI. Why? Because I think they're great cars and being a VW fan, I don't care if it's a Watercooled, Aircooled, Suncooled, or Hamstercooled, I like a good car when I see one.

So it's going to happen, their isn't much of a time frame but I can safely say that it will be a valued edition to the team.

March also marks the rebirth of Lennon, which I cannot wait for as he served me very well for the months I had him in 2014.

I have also been doing my own non-VW writing in the form of poetry. I can't see this being released on here or anywhere really but it has kept my mind fresh and involved.

BRING IT ON.

A perfect dream. Black Mk2 Golf GTI.

He's back soon.

Rag it 'til the Exhaust Falls Off - Autosport International Show, NEC, Birmingham.

Off Topic, but certainly VW related.

A tale about Rolo,

The Stickerbombed Polo

Went on a trip for some blog promo.

I was invited by a friend,

Who was driven around the bend,

And later wished he didn't attend.

20 miles away,

The exhaust started to fray.

Which was a great start to the day.

Poor Rolo's engine note was dire,

As it sounded like a Spitfire,
Not to mention it was as loud as a town crier.

140 miles later,
The journey home I had to cater,
and the problem grew much greater.

Sparks ablaze,
Town folk caught a gaze,
These were certainly the best days...


The Autosport International Show, held at the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) in Birmingham, West Midlands marked the first event of 2015 and coincided with my pledge to visit more, be more and do more over the year.

It was a thrilling affair; the show content was all about drifting, racing, and very attractive show ladies all doing their bit to thrill young lads and their loins as they collected second-rate goody bags of paper and pens as well as looking around the inevitable cheap tat that most fayre's display.

HOWEVER. What made this a show of comedy gold was the following news flash:

'Stickerbombed VW Polo Hits More Trouble'

My exhaust went full retard and fell off the car, thus sounding like an absolute TANK in front of hundreds of people who assumed I was just another chav with Monster Energy stickers on a car.

I got some classic VW related photo's of the event, however I felt too embarrassed to capture an image of my ailing car.

What I Want to Happen in 2015: Part Three - Wishlist

The Wishlist.

Dreams are wonderful aspirations that for us mere mortals that live average or below lives keep us awake, keep us alive, and keep us longing and pushing for more enjoyment in this short time we have in the small world all of us slave away for.

Dreams are what make us human and what we ultimately develop into as characters when we grow up to be big and strong like our mother's and father's said we would.

Dreams are important and never should be forgotten or disregarded. Neither should be the feeling of achieving that goal ever elude anyone in life.

My wishlist is still alive and well, ever changing too. But I want to talk about one very special aim and addition to my dream team.

A Splitscreen. Ideally in the form of a Crewcab (two seats) or a Double Cab/DOKA (four seats) and make the leap into what would be an investment of time, funds and reams of lifetime intrinsic enjoyment.

HOP IN GUYS!

Most avid readers would see me as a Beetle boy through and through, growing up with them for as long as I can remember but it's not a change of heart or a change of affinity but pure evolution, addition, and inclusion into a wider VW family.

It's a very special car a Splitscreen, and those dreams like I say make things happen.

Expect more information later in the year as I would very much like to talk more about these fine cars as I learn more about them.

I think that's pretty much my 2015 aims in a nutshell, I hope you enjoyed the three part mini series!

Part Four:

WRITE MORE!

What I Want to Happen in 2015. Part Two

Shows, Shows, Shows!

Hello, Belgium.

That's the aim for 2015, more VW shows! But if you even mutter think about the word show to any of the Beetle's I've owned, then they won't start up (VolksWorld springs to mind).

2015 is the year though after missing 2013 because we were building up my first car, McCartney and the stillborn Lola for a brief period after she bit the dust thanks to a safety concern because it was fucked underneath, below, and everywhere in between. However, she did come with rare original chrome lightbulb housings.

2014 was a bit more in the right direction, I was still unable to travel under my own steam for virtually the whole show season again as McCartney failed on me and promptly sold for a cut price. He made way for Lennon and by October and the Brighton Breeze, the run for the fun really kicked in. I still managed to run a decent amount of shows that roughly hit double figures, so it was a decent show haul for a 'limited run'.

Therefore, I aim this year to do more shows. I already go with the famalam to the family friendly ones such as Dubs at the Park and Stonor Park (no drugs there unfortunately) but 2015 holds bigger steps in the right direction, travelling much of the UK to the largest events in the VW community such as Big Bang, Bug Jam and hopefully Busfest. The latter (Busfest), will be talked about more in my next edition for valid justification

I also want to make the jump into relatively unknown territory in the Bug(s), Europe and specifically the European Bug-In in Chimay, Belgium. For people unaware of European Bug-In, it is one of the biggest shows on the VAG calendar inviting and showcasing the meanest, fiercest, and sexiest VW's in the whole continent. 3 show days and extra days before and after in the town of Chimay are from hearsay, the best experiences of the year.


They even shut the town off to other road users and aircooled VW's rip down the streets bidding for the accolade oft the fastest 1/4 mile dragster over the festival.

This is going to be a very thrilling year, I am certain.

Part three next, the wishlist.

What I Want to Happen in 2015. Part One

First things first, I'm a realist. I don't plan to make an outrageous resolution where I know full well I would never have the means, nor the motivation or the funds to see it through. Being outlandish is admittedly something I can pull off, but only in small measures like the way I dress, or my character.

Until a couple of years ago, I was very much a nearly man because I never saw anything through once I achieved it, or merely once I laid eyes on the prize in waiting. But that attitude since changed. It doesn't mean I hit the gym everyday, filled up to my eyeballs in 'roids and whey protein because that isn't me in the slightest.

Any bloke on Saturday nights impressing the ladies be like "look at my roid's yo'"

However over the next few days, I want to outline my aims and goals over 2015. I could be very minimalist and say no more, no change for me because 2014 was pretty much there in terms of perfection, but I am sure like any champion or determined individual, I'm out to impress and impress I shall by what I do and how I go about doing it, with some time to rest and play along the way too.

Onto part one, Mr Jake Bugg.

The nearly man, but good things come to those who wait.

This has been a very popular name on my blog as there has been a lot of talk about him but not a lot to show for it. But this car is like me of two years ago, the nearly man. By no means has Jake been overlooked, it's just been poor luck and poor timing to why Jake didn't get a taste of the road under his own steam in 2014. Lennon is the reason why.

Lennon, who is Jake 1.0 effectively as he took shape with the original colour scheme and interior that was meant for Jake Bugg which we aptly dubbed Lime Cream with his creamy/lemon paintwork and lime green interior inside, a combination on paper easily scars the masses but when looked at, pleases the doubters.

I aim, with the help of my family and exterior team involved to get Jake Bugg finished and on the road before the end of this year. He will be our project for the year ahead and to me and my family that although it's just a car but the character is possess is just wonderful. I am certain that this will be a project that I will never forget.

Our plans for a colour scheme has been much debated and evolved over the 8 or so months we have collectively thought designing our Bug. I can safely say that I know full well what it is going to be, but it wouldn't be fun to run a whole restoration by telling you the colour's straight away?

Imitations wouldn't be well received, that's all I'm going to say with this one.