Right then, finally a bit of time to ramble and upload some photos.
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.
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Where has the last couple of months gone?!
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For starters Ben
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(Ben), Pete
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(Pistol Pete), Lee
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(Pete's brother), Adrienne
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(my other half) and I took ourselves off on a road trip around the Highlands:
http://goo.gl/maps/85ahb ![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
, stopping over in Edinbrugh, Inverness, Thurso, Fort William and Keswick.
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Amazing journey, amazing scenery and something I'd recommend to all.
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It's often forgotten that we have such incredible locations right on our doorsteps
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(well, bottom of the drive maybe
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).
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Just a single shot from the journey.
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There's hundreds on FB for those interested.
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1210_zpsdc7ebc48.jpg)
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Olly, the guy I bought the Busa from, bought himself a Spire GT3 with the proceeds
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(plus a chunk more) from the Busa.
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He has joined the RGB
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(Road-Going Bike-engined cars) racing series
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(
http://www.750mc.co.uk/formulae/rgb.htm ![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
) and I'm acting as part of his pit crew.
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It's been a steady learning curve for us all but we're finally understanding the car, what adjustments it needs and finding our feet in the series.
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So far he's had some good results, however this weekend
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(Anglesey) we're hoping for a good step up results wise.
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For anyone interested you can follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/emileoracing?fref=ts
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Mule IV
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(Mule Busa) wise there's not a huge amount of work done really.
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It wasn't bought for me to have to rip it to pieces and start everything again, so it's more refinements and maintenance
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(and terror runs!).
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One issue I did need to address was the front driver's side wing as it was too close to the tyre and caused stones to get caught, rubbing away on the underside of the carbon.
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So much so it actually rubbed a hole in the carbon!
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The mounts have now been adjusted to add extra clearance, so I took to patching the hole.
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I toyed with the idea of swapping the wing but decided against it for now because it's a car to be used and not just pampered.
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I might swap it in the future though, we'll see if it bugs me enough.
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.
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As a patch I bought a 3M carbon patch kit, the type I've used in the past on my DH rigs etc.
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It's a similar look to the existing carbon and the weave pattern is the same, so blends nicely.
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1478_zps4bf6c15a.jpg)
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Weave matched.
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To protect the underside I've applied several layers of glue.
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It's mental strong once it's set and will add a good protective barrier to the weakened part above.
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This was the first layer going on.
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1481_zpsf2cae12f.jpg)
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Next up: Mule III
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(The Westy) has got a new home.
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In fact it's actually staying within the fold but I'll let the new owner detail that as/when he's ready
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It had been stored in a friend's garage for the past few weeks/months, so had only been started a couple of times.
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I was a little concerned that it wouldn't start or there'd be some other dramas when I collected it, however nothing of the sort.
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Once the carbs were primed it pretty much fired right up and purred away
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(Nick did a great job on this engine!
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).
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There was a slight issue with the brakes now quite releasing
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(lever not calipers) but some WD40 and a couple of miles all but sorted that.
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Once home it got a bit of a wipe down before getting ready for a night sleeping outside.
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Thankfully I'd fashioned a cover
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(pond liner and bungies) for the nightime, as we had a drop of rain in the night.
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.
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.
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It did it's job though
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1524_zps7a086cdc.jpg)
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MOT was next up.
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1526_zpsf4b1679e.jpg)
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Passed without issue
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1528_zpsaf191f86.jpg)
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A few shots before it went.
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That night off it went and we followed them out in the Busa, as a kind of farewell parade.
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The Westy looked awesome under the street lights, as it ploughed through town.
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We might have made a bit of noise though
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The following day was the Toyota only trackday at Blyton.
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We had planned to take the Busa however due to other commitments and a minor oil leak on the car we only attended as passengers/spectators.
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Still a great day
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(aside from the weather.
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.
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) and a good opportunity to meet a few fellow members and some awesome machinery.
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The new owner on said trackday in his new toy
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1570_zps104c6841.jpg)
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With a lunatic in the passenger seat
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1572_zps6b84077e.jpg)
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And so, onto Mule V.
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.
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Since I started this journey Adrienne has always faithfully stood by me and supported my various purchases and the amount of time I've spent on them.
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However, she's never really driven any of them and was always concerned she didn't want to be just seen as the girlfriend of the guy who owned.
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.
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.
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.
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etc.
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Well, due to some discussions and an eventual agreement regarding the Westy, I had an opportunity to change things for her.
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.
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.
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That little something being in the form of a certain
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'89 Toyota MR2 Mk1 SC Super Edition, which some of you might recognise.
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.
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.
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(
http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=168307 ![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
)
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
It was a complete surprise to her, which is amazing considering how long so many people had know about the plans
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So here it is, after the obligatory clean:
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1626_zps5bfdddec.jpg)
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Tape deck! Retro
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A whole new engine for me to make spotless
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Of course
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![Image](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/MuleDesigns/Mule%20IV/IMG_1598_zps79ff8b5e.jpg)
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Plans wise it doesn't need a great deal, as the engine, chassis etc have all fully sorted by Ben.
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The approach will be restoration+ really, to maintain and refresh anything which is starting to age too much.
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It's a rare and classic car,it doesn't need meddling with, it just needs enjoying
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Thanks for those who've run the gauntlet and read this post.
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I did say it would be photos and ramblings, so you can't say I don't deliver
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