I've recently been reminded that I've not updated the site for a while, so here goes...

I've booked the Cossie in for it's first session on the rollers, at APT, near Lenwade in Norfolk, to find out how many ponies I’ve added with my tuning efforts, including a PTS Stage 1 chip, a 4x4 intercooler and a -31 sourced from Indycos on the RSOC forum. Hopefully I’ve added more ponies than have escaped through the exhaust valves, and not ended up at 204bhp!

The APT crew are also going to carry out a boost and fuelling check to ensure it’s not lean or rich, or at least not too rich, so I can rest easy on that front for a while.

It pulls like a train (well, it did that anyway!) but now all the way up to 14psi, according to my boost gauge. It feels different though, as you get the power just like before, but then just as you think it’s tailing off, it just carries on pulling! Unfortunately, due to the recent pathetic weather (I’m not a sun-worshipper, but I despise greasy tarmac), I’ve not been able to enjoy it fully.

Recently had a mini service carried out, along with replacement of the track rod ends, which has tightened up the front end immensely!! It now also drives in a straight line with the steering wheel straight, and turns instantly when I turn the steering wheel!

Last weekend, me and the other half drove up to Manchester, which is around a 220 mile trip, depending on which route you take. We decided to go up the M6 and have a go on the toll road, which thankfully bypassed the congestion on the normal M6. We set off at one in the afternoon, and arrived at half seven. A 4 hour trip extended beyond belief thanks to incessant rain and eejuts on the road. The A14 was a nightmare – at least 50 miles of the 100 miles of the A14 were spent either stationary or stop-start, which Cossies seriously weren’t designed to do. The real bitch was that I’d paid extra for 99ron fuel – if I’d have known I’d be idling or crawling for 50% of the trip, I’d have either walked or put 95ron unleaded in – seens as it’s only good for idling on a YB.

The only part of the trip where we did manage to reach 50 or above was on the 11 miles (I think!) of toll road! After we arrived at my brothers place in Manchester we were thoroughly exhausted, and thankful we hadn’t become another statistic in the rain.

The fuel gauge is an item of concern at the moment, because it’s lying. It lied to me good and proper - I ran out of fuel on a slip road coming off the M60 onto the A34 near Wilmslow. The gauge said ‘half’, and I believed it. It’s either stuck, or the sender/wiring is knackered. Either way it’s a pain in the backside. It currently says there’s between half and three quarters of a tank of fuel, but I’m more than sure it’s empty. Petrol Light Roulette, anyone?

On a happier note, RS ownership is a great thing – there we were, parked with the 4-ways on at the side of the sliproad, watching all the eejuts try and make that extra position as the road changed from two lanes to one, and I look up in my mirror and see a Moonstone Sapphire Cosworth bearing up behind. What are the chances?! It slowed down as it passed and pulled over in front of us – and the occupants got out to see if they could help! He said “Saw a Saff at the side of the road, thought I should stop and see if I can do anything.” Jo and I have never seen that kind of camaraderie anywhere else – and we both think it’s great! I think your name was Neil, fella – big thanks for stopping mate, hope to see you and your Saff at the shows this year, and maybe you'll even see mine moving!

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the front tyres are in need of changing, and there’s a vibration which I hope is just down to wheels needing balancing.

That's all for now – rolling road pictures, and Ford fair are coming up, and another update will follow!