craigdmcd

Kenny, I just thought you were a Master Debater

Got to admit, agree with Robert on this, Goodyear Eagle F1's are very good. There are other good tyres out there, but the F1's are a great allrounder

Not wishing to stir things up but I have no idea the relevance of this? I am sure that he is a nice guy, I am sure that he is a great help and has done so much for the Subaru community at large and will continue to. But who is slagging him off? What is the point of this thread? I was of the understanding that he was unhappy with the club and had decided himself to leave.

The initial relevance is to thank Neil, as I know that he, as many others do, sometimes visit the site without logging in. I am always grateful for his help, as have many people been in the past, but few were quick to wish him well or try to change his mind when leaving. As for helping the Subaru community at large, I think you will find he will confine it more to people he considers friends, rather than the broader spectrum of this forum, which is a loss.

If you are looking for a deeper meaning to this thread, it has about as much point as at least 50% of the threads on this site, so why shouldn't I post it?

but big Terzo Neil was round the garage for a chat last night as I was splitting an engine out of a P1, and had to get the crank pulley bolt off. It had the wrong front pulley on it so the special tool wouldn't work, so whilst I locked the flywheel, Neil undone the front bolt. Just as well, it was tightened up to at least 300Nm.

The Big Chap put all of his size behind it and undone it.

We may slag him off, but he is always willing to help out when needed

Top bloke

We'll looks like the money is a gonner now so what the hell.

I was doing some work for Stewartyboy towards the end of last year on his Saab and his G/F's Daihatsu when I mentioned that I was organising a trip down to the Autosport Show on Friday the 14th of January. I asked if he would like to go, as I had a couple of seats spare in the car, and he told me that he wanted to go and his mate would take the other seat. Fuel money would be about £20, and a ticket was £25 each. Fine and dandy I thought, that fills the car.

Then, just at the start of December, I was just getting reay to stop work for the arrival of my son, Stewart contacted me and asked if I could get 2 front tyres for his G/F's Daihatsu which had the very weird size of 165/50R15's. I said that I would order when I started back work no problem and even match Blackcircles price of £55 per tyre. Now, due to the very bad snow and ice at that time, and Xmas was looming, I was able to get one tyre within a day or so, but due to lack of deliveries from England, the second tyre never came till early January when everyone got back to work.

At this point I tried getting hold of Stewart to let him know I could get the tyres done for him, and let him know also that I had the tickets for the Autosport show booked in his and his mates names. He was quite hard to contact at this point, but eventually let me know 2 nights before we were due to leave for the show, that he couldn't make it because he was trying to get a standby ticket to Australia but he would cover the cost of the 2 show tickets regardless. Apparently his Aunt and Uncle were caught in the terrible floods that hit Brisbane, and they hadn't been heard from in 10 days, so he was heading out there to find them!!!! So I went to the show with Devlin, and tried to call Stewart on the way home, and I got a text saying that he was at a family do and couldn't talk!!

I talked to hime a couple of times during January and early February, and sent him numerous voice and text messages since those converstaions, but he has never yet appeared to get the tyres fitted or tried to pay for the tickets, and I have given up hope of ever seeing the money.

So is it wrong of me to name and shame now???????

In fact, it was enough money that I might even have paid for a membership for Big Diesel Hands

If you were a paid up member..................

Well, there's my point, if I had been paid the money I was due, I would happily pay for membership

At what point does it become acceptable to slag someone off for their behaviour in front of the general public/on a forum when they owe you money and you have parts specially ordered for them?

Judging by the lack of favourable respnses Neil, I guess nobody will be asking for any help any more. I'm going to guess I might just see you at the garage then?

Can't believe this thread is dying, I'm only half way through my popcorn!

I'm quite happy with the apologies about the poor conduct of the officials/moderators and the deleting of the old "For Sale" threads. I have no issue with the fact that paid up members should get extra benefits, as long as it is not to the detrimenet of the community as a whole.

As for the £20 fee, I have no issue with that either, as I spend more on the Snap-On van on a Thursday afternoon, and as soon as people square me up for some debts I am owed, then I will happily pay my dues to hopefully keep the club alive.

As for the banter, the place to be, was last Saturday at my garage. Myself, Neil, Jimser and Lostboy ended up there together for an hour or so. Just as well we are all thick skinned - well 2 of us definately have thicker skins than the other 2

Getting back to Neil's original point, was it really necessary to delete all the old "For Sale" adverts instead of just letting them run their course and slowly disappear to the bottom of the pile?

Myself and Neil were talking to Robert (STi Pretender) recently and were stating to him how we were getting ready to put our hands in our pockets (and yes, I know that Neil has short arms and very deep pockets) and put our money back in to the club, but this issue has left a very sour taste.

I have myself run a car club (a not inconsiderable one called the RS Owners Club) and do appreciate how much of your life running a club can swallow, but at no time did I ever use foul language to the general population of the club.

Perhaps something to think about for those that are now in control

Thanks for the recommendations boys, but nobody can find me if you don't put the 'd' in the middle of my name

Never saw this thread to start, but do you not mean a sump to hold your Waffle's Graeme?

Stewartyboy has had to call off at last minute, so I have his 2 tickets and space in the car for anyone interested in heading down to the Autosport Show tomorrow (trade day passes with admission to the Engineering Section).

Great day out - tickets are £25 each and £20 for fuel if heading down in the car

PM me if interested

Just a wee quick one to announce to the world, the arrival of my beautiful baby son, Scott Douglas McDowall. He came in to this world just before 21:45 on the 9th of December, and weighing in at a very healthy 7lb 13oz, not bad considering he was almost 2 weeks early.

Mum Donna did very well, but did take lots of pain relief since she had to be induced. Both her and Scott are doing fabulously.

I've already got 2 official Subaru race suits for him that used to be worn by one of his big sisters, although they do fit 4 and 6 year olds, I guess I will have to store them for a while yet. BTW, if anyone has any of the suits for older kids, I'd quite happily buy them from them.

So if anyone has been looking for me, and I haven't replied, I do apologise, but am just starting to get back to normal now

Just getting him used to GT5 now

You will never get them back to exactly where they were before moving them no matter how closely you mark them but for road use it would probably be close enough ish depends how carefully you mark them.

Well, years of moving the heights up and down on a Group A Impreza and a modified Group A Mazda 323 soon taught us that it when you put it back to where you were, you weren't far enough out of your settings to be concerned about.

Patsy, the best way is to mark the struts with a touch up paint where the adjusting collars are at present, and then move it up, then you can wind them back down to the exact height. As for geometry, just get a cheap tracking check done, which won't really be that far out, and when you lower it again, just get the tracking done again. The camber won't change enough with a couple of inch height change to massively upset the car, especially given the conditions we are having to drive in.

handling will be rubbish and even lowering it back to the same settings again would need a geo setup im afraid

Why would you believe this. Once the springs are returned to their original position, everything sits exactly as it was - I know this through actual experience of carrying out this procedure.

Got a set of 16" UK turbo alloys that clear 4 pots with a set of almost new Nokian winter tyres on them - £250 for the lot if you are interested

I had rust issues on the roof of my 2004 WRX SL back in 2006, so duly told Halley's about it at the next service (it was 2years 9 months old at the time) only to be told it was stone chips. Argued with the area rep about it but got nowhere, so I've vowed never to buy another brand new Subaru again, and if I get one, it will be a JDM, as the lack of aftersales care is appaling. BTW, the "stonechips" were behind the sunroof - what a joke!!!!

Where are you located?

Hmm, is a load carring GT-B allowed along to the party? I think I may be tempted, and I do love the roads up North.

Yes Chris, it is now very much the appendage enlargement club, very few people can fully drive a car on normal roads with much more power than you had in the last car, but everyone wants more. I prefer to give my money to dancing Polish girls - far more enjoyment that way.

Oh, BTW, remember I was the one at Dastek, and did actually see your last car make 403 wonderful horses

So what's the Hampden Roar then Chris, did you spill some of the soap down your throat and it cleaned out your mouth and thoughts?