Lancia Beta Forum

Well after an absence of 3yrs(did not realise how fast time could fly), i am back. Life kind of grabbed me for a while there and i don't think i have ever been busier. Since last on here i have three children under three(twins then an oops) and have set up a new business(modifying and kitting out 4wd's). This has at least allowed me enough brownie points with the minister of internal affairs to build a new shed for my Lancia's so the long awaited restoration can begin. I must say i can't wait to see it finished, finally a place to make my dreams reality's not to mention i am allowed to accumulate as many cars as i want as long as i can fit them in the shed, and it should be big enough for a few, it will be 16m long 9m deep and 4.5m to the eves with a hoist and a 3x9m mezzanine floor ;D.
I apologise for the mini life story, i just thought i should say something as when i was last here i was all excited about starting my resto then just disappeared, i had no idea just how much is involved with twins, single kids are easy as we found out later. Anyway i am looking forward to being able to contribute as much as i can to this great forum.
Here is a pic of my new additions, there just too cute to be cranky about not working on cars at home.

Hello.
Was going to ask how you got planning permission to build something that big.........................................then noticed you are in Australia !!!!!!! :D

Yep, living in Aus does have it's benefits. Shed's going in the front yard(what else am i going to do with the front yard). The plumber was around today to get the plumbing ready for the shower,toilet and sink before the slab is poured. in a couple of years time we hope to be able to extend it out to 25m.

Welcome back :-)

I was trying to recall the car and the "Kermette" gave it away!!

Is it really three years!   

Wow - I'd consider doing quite a lot of illegal things for a work area that big! 

Yep, three years can't believe how quick that went, certainly did not think it had been that long but when I logged back in I got a shock. And as for illegal activity, it should be illegal the amount of fun I'm going to have in there.

Hi there just picked up on this thread, whereabouts in Oz are you based? I am 35km south of Brizzy.

If you need any bits or advice let me know. I have a 1975 coupe, but has morphed into a race car now....

Cheers Ian

Well things have finally progressed and the shed has been built, took forever but it's up. All that's left to do on it now is wiring, shelving and benches and build the bathroom. I'm going a bit overboard on the wiring because i don't want to have to upgrade later so i'm running 16mm 4core and earth from the house to the shed, there will be 5x15amp and 10x10amp sockets internal and 1x15amp and 2x10amp sockets external as well as 2x 32amp three phase sockets internal as well. Just need to hire a trench digger now for the cable and i'll be set to go. Certainly would be quicker to get some one in to do it as i seem to be at work more than at home these days but the budget(and my male pride) means i'm doing it myself, though halfway through the storm water trench i was questioning my sanity. Anyway even though i have'nt finished yet i couldn't wait any longer so Kermette has now moved in and i have started pulling her apart(really need those shelves) so i'll have to update the members cars thread i started 3yrs ago ;D.



Hi Ian, i'm just down the road from you, sort of bout 700k's or half a day's drive, in a place called Medowie about 30k's north of Newcastle, love your car and and videos it sounds fantastic. next time i'm up that way i'll have to let you know as i would love to see it.
I'll try to get some pics up to update.

Heading to her new home ;D

Hi

Nice place, seriously jealous, curious why you need 3 phase and is that a standard supply in Oz?

Amused by your comment

"Hi Ian, i'm just down the road from you, sort of bout 700k's or half a day's drive, in a place called Medowie about 30k's north of Newcastle",

Do not know about others, but down the road is about 10 miles for me.......

Peter

Hi Peter, thanks we like the place to. Medowie is a pretty good place to live close to the beach and sand dunes close to the bush and not that far out of Newcastle(30ish kilometres). We only have an acre but at least it does'nt take too long to mow. As for distance 700 kilometre's is not that far for this country. To put it into perspective i manage a shop that modifys 4wd's for outback touring and offroad adventure's, at the end of last year i had to do a mercy dash to fix a broken diff on the edge of the Simpson desert at a place called Dalhousie springs. Dalhousie springs is 180k's from the geographical centre of Australia, i made it in 24hrs, that's 2200k's in 24hrs(and i don't ever want to do that again), i replaced his diff in the desert in 42 degree heat then went for a swim in the spring(like an oasis) followed by a cold beer got some sleep and kept going. All up i covered 7000k's in four and a half days taking in the sites of lake eyre and so forth. a comfortable max in one day is about 1500-1600k's if you have time restraints. When i was in England i was amazed at how close everything is. i thought it was funny that people thought i was crazy going from bath to liverpool in a day and mad when explained that liverpool was lunch and we were heading to blackpool(A place i don't want to revisit) as it's only 200 odd miles. I suppose it's all down to what you are used to.
 Didn't get a chance to reply or post any more pic's as we had to evacuate, one of the nice things about living here is the bush land but unfortunately sometimes it can bite back and we had a nasty little fire to get out of the way of. Took some photo's earlier in the day before the wind changed and it headed our way. to give you an idea of the scale of it the fire at this stage covered 1100 hectares(about 2700 acres), it now covers over 3500 hectares and these photos are taken from about 10k's away as i had the kids with me.

Here's a few pics of the aftermath, there is potentially worse yet to come on Monday.

Hello,
love your new home for Kermette! We are doing a similar project ourselves in Somerset, UK. (it's "just down the road" from us, about a mile or so, so we can walk or bike it to and from). (Not 700K that seems the norm over with you!) It's not quite as big but will have similar country views and room for a barbie!

Really hoping now you have got your garage built you are safe from these fires. That would be a disaster if you were caught out.
Post some more pics when you can.
Well done,
Chas and Anne. :)