Those of you that followed my paddock starter exploits may well be wondering how well it went, well the answer to that one is - pretty badly. After having burnt out yet another starter motor I came to the conclusion that none of the top race teams were going to be coming to me to purchase my dodgy solution and that perhaps a change of approach would be the best course of action.

I  had to trial fit the panel numerous times as each part got added, there is not a right angle in the whole assembly. Nightmare.

I modified the bracket to make it look a lot less chunky. I intend to make a solid aluminium footpeg to make it look more original, need to get the material first.

I finally received the decals had been waiting for and applied them to the tank, I am very happy with them but wish sellers would keep their customers informed, I was sure they were not coming so ordered another set that I now don't need - all a bit annoying. Anyway, having learnt from my earlier experience I stayed with the Motip lacquer, I knew it didn't react with the paint I had used and that it went on nicely. It dried out in the sun, I am quite pleased with the results, it will look even better once it's flatted and polished, I will leave it at least a week to go fully hard before I do that.

OK, calling it a muffler is pushing the truth, amplifier would be a better description. There are no baffles in these exhaust, this is how they were back in 1962 or whatever, just straight through pipes that produce an ear splitting exhaust note, it really has to be heard to be believed. Anyway, I had watched a video of Allen Millyard being a genius making the similar exhausts for his RC166 replica, he made it look so easy. Except it really isn't easy, it was an absolute bastard of a job. It may have been better to have done it in less than 35 degree heat but the fact is bending a steel sheet of that size requires a surprising amount of force and you have to do it without denting or scraping the metal, it's an absolute pig. I have to confess to not being 100 per cent happy with it but without having proper rollers to form the metal I have done my best with it. If I ever find some better ones I will replace them.

The downpipes were usable once the ends where they went from 4 in to 2 had been cut off, a massive bonus as I don't have the kit to bend pipe without kinking it.

The integrale and Renault loaded and ready to go, this was before the Lancia had a slight argument with a bollard but don't tell anyone. Russ will soon sort it, he's the best there is.

Research continues in to the fairing for my replica, I have a couple of interesting leads that might bring results but have also had quite a few dead ends, it's scary just how many bike and bike related businesses have gone under in the last few years. I found several fairing manufacturers that have gone, a couple of them local that would have been ideal. Oh well, like I said, I have a couple of possible leads, time is on my side, I will go to Newark on Sunday and hope I will find something there.