sr2

After more than 30 years as a professional musician I've accumulated rather more guitars than any one person can reasonably justify. I have always hung my acoustics on the wall, partly because I enjoy seeing them, and partly because it helps them acclimatise naturally to the room's humidity. About a year ago, gravity intervened. One of the guitars decided to part company with its wall hanger and plummeted onto a polished concrete floor, landing squarely on the rear strap button. The impact split the soundboard and lifted the top. While it wasn't my favourite acoustic, it was an expensive Ovation that had earned its keep over the years through countless rock gigs. As anyone who's played in a rock band knows, there are always one or two songs where the electric guitars get put aside for the obligatory acoustic number. Ovations are a bit of an oddity in the acoustic world. Their rounded composite backs and heavily lacquered tops make them incredibly stable, they stay in tune remarkably well, and their onboard electronics have long been regarded as among the best in the business. They are superb working instruments—built for the stage rather than the campfire—although perhaps they sacrifice a little of the warmth and soul of a traditional wooden acoustic. Unfortunately, none of those engineering virtues made the slightest difference when mine hit the floor. With little to lose, I built a custom cradle to support the body and began the painstaking process of gluing, clamping and coaxing the instrument back to life. Over the course of several months, I repaired the damaged soundboard, re-set the neck, dressed the frets and did a full setup. Against the odds, it once again became the solid, dependable guitar it had always been. There was just one problem. It still looked exactly like a guitar that had been dropped onto something bloody hard from a rather impressive height—which, to be fair, it had. My artistic niece, (she was once head-hunted by Wētā Workshop), suggested she paint it. My instructions were simple: "Do whatever you like." Her interpretation was nothing like I had imagined! She transformed the damaged top into a piece of art. The worst of the impact disappeared beneath an intricately painted skull entwined with roses and thorns. Running along the repaired cracks she painted surgical stitches, complete with subtle shadows and highlights that make them appear three-dimensional. Instead of trying to disguise the guitar's scars, she celebrated them. I'm still not entirely convinced it's my style, but the few times I've taken it on stage it's become an instant conversation piece. People smile, wander over for a closer look, and almost everyone asks the same question: "Where the hell did that come from?" Perhaps, like a few ageing musicians I know, (myself included) it wears its scars proudly. And if a broken guitar can be given a second life with a little patience, glue, and an artist's imagination, there's probably a lesson in that somewhere.

But if you love boats as much as cars, you need to own one to be able to say '...that's ma boat". https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1813701099366937

Guys, a little piece of advice—strictly between us. If you're struggling to justify what you've spent on your project car to the better half, don't waste time explaining the finer points of horsepower, originality, or why that "rare" part simply had to be imported. Just buy a boat. Within a matter of months, the overcapitalisation on your automotive pride and joy will seem laughably insignificant compared with marina fees, haul-out charges, antifouling, insurance, fuel consumption (38 litres an hour in my case!), servicing, repairs, and the endless list of "essential" maintenance that comes with owning something that spends its life trying to dissolve in salt water. Before long, she'll be looking at the car and saying, "You know, that was actually quite a sensible purchase." It's amazing how quickly a boat can make an expensive car look like a sound financial investment. (If the 'ever lovely' Mrs sr2 reads this post I'm toast).

Hi guys, quick Pantera update. Just finalizing a few more demands from our LVVTA cert man, (he's one of the good guys). It's obvious he's caught between what is safe and the "interesting" regulations his system insists he adhere to, but he's a team player and I'll be the last one to give him any grief. At this stage all we can do is to throw money at the project as we are so close to the finish line. I'm working on securing permission from the previous owners to be able to post the whole story, it's a great, sometimes unbelievable yarn. Will keep you all posted.

I'll be back soon guys.

LOL, speak of the devil, I was just on Facebook looking at the same thing when your comment popped up. What an awesome piece of classic performance kit! Possibly not much use on our Coyote crate motor but I'd love to have a good look at one.

Yes , had me fooled momentarily as well - the tie rod is to the front of the axel.

If everything is in good condition and working as it should all you can do is progressively reduce the master cylinder diameter until you reach the compromise of a useable pedal height vs. enough mechanical leverage to apply enough pressure to the brakes. As a side note just be aware that your Wildwood "proportioning valve" is simply an adjustable pressure limiting valve that sets a max pressure limit for your rear wheels - i.e. it hasn't a clue as to the % of proportion pressure the front wheels are receiving.

LOL. Opinions are just opinions where as facts are facts and "never the twain shall meet". 😇

You make a valid point mate, nothing more dangerous than someone who thinks they know everything. (I never got past the NZCE stage - they hadn't even invented calculators when I scraped through!). The point I'm making is that an engineering degree is not a prerequisite to becoming a LVVTA certifier.

I'm of the opinion that certification and compliance is well within the realm of what a competent, qualified mechanic is capable of. (With the proviso that excludes the VTNZ WOF "technicians")!

If any competent automotive mechanical engineer couldn't do all three thing you wouldn't want them near your car!

no offence intended Clint you have my respect for both your knowledge and the work you do but if anything your reply supports my case. Our current system it reeks of overlapping layers of complicated bureaucracies all trying trying to justify their own existence?

Quick update…… Loaded the DeTomaso back on to the transporter for a quick trip the North Shore Compliance Centre to have the Vin tag attached. Next stop was to our favourite mechanic for a check of all the mechanicals while we complete the paperwork side for the low volume cert - it has already passed inspection by the certifier. Once that’s done we’ll have to take it for a compliance inspection because apparently the clowns at NZ Transport/Waka Karitane know something the clowns at LVVTA don’t know and they don’t talk to each other! I’m no new-comer to coping with bumbling bureaucracy but this whole process leaves me gob struck.

Sorry mate, probably sounded like a bit of a tosser with that off hand comment. No objection at all with Willwood for street or track day cars, in their defence they are one of the few manufactures out there who are brave enough to market budget aftermarket brake components, (give them full credit it's a bloody minefield). At the sharp end they will never match the likes of Brembo or AP but price wise, in the right application are great value for money.