One of the major benefits from membership of this club is the help many of our members receive when carrying out modifications etc to our Zeds.

 

I've had an idea for a while now which could benefit many of us even more...... by having a club TECHNICAL DAY/WEEKEND.

 

It would comprise a national meet, somewhere fairly central, where subscribed members who need help and guidance carrying out some modification/repair/service/upgrading/etc. to their Zeds could get together and, under supervision of some knowledgable person, carry out the work required.

 

The 'some knowledgable person' might be a knowledgable volunteer member and/or a qualified Zed mechanic who would be re-imbursed by a 'meet subscription'.

 

The location would ideally be close to a garage with ramp facilities and, if a weekend meet, close to camping facilities.

 

This is only the seed of an idea and would require a great deal more thought and organisation (which I would be glad to contribute towards). I am sure there would be many hurdles to overcome, but I believe it would be achievable and many members could benefit from such a meet.

 

Do you think such a meet would be a good idea?

 

Please vote in the poll and post your comments here.

Sorry Murt, I didn't mean that! What I was pointing out was that the meet would be intended for members who actually have something they want to do at the meet, not sometime afterwards.

 

So why couldn't you come along and watch and learn while someone else fixes there car?

 

This seems like a good idea. The only problem is going to be finding place big enough for all those trailers :rofl:

 

Good luck with it. I prefer to pay someone to work on mine. it usually works out cheaper.

 

Darrell

So why couldn't you come along and watch and learn while someone else fixes there car?

 

Hi Darrell - This is a popular question which is difficult to answer at this very early stage. I think it will largely depend on the number of members wanting to attend a TECH. DAY/WEEKEND.

 

I initially thought it would only be used by members with some specific task to be carried out on their own car by themselves. I thought that having perhaps dozens of 'interested' parties looking over your shoulder whilst you try to carry out these tasks might be somewhat offputting.

 

But at this stage I suppose we should keep an open mind on this subject and see what suggestions and interest the membership put forward.

 

At the moment there seems to be a healthy interest but I think there needs to be a lot more interest before too much time and effort is put into organising such an event. For a start it's going to be a fairly formidable task finding a suitable location. So we should take it a step at a time.

can of worms is what im thinking !

can of worms is what im thinking !

 

Why do you think that, Paul?

can of worms is what im thinking !

 

Precisely. Too many people expecting freeby repairs. Who gets priority, members or non members. These cars are not bread & butter mechanics and can be temperamental. What happens if after a quick tweak it wont start, or runs like a one legged chicken. recriminations. I would certainly go along with a Conzult day, perhaps in conjunction with a rolling road day, but defo locally as numbers could get out of hand.

Precisely. Too many people expecting freeby repairs. Who gets priority, members or non members. These cars are not bread & butter mechanics and can be temperamental. What happens if after a quick tweak it wont start, or runs like a one legged chicken. recriminations. I would certainly go along with a Conzult day, perhaps in conjunction with a rolling road day, but defo locally as numbers could get out of hand.

I would agree with you there, alot of people take their conzults to meets anyhows.

Precisely. Too many people expecting freeby repairs. Who gets priority, members or non members. These cars are not bread & butter mechanics and can be temperamental. What happens if after a quick tweak it wont start, or runs like a one legged chicken. recriminations. I would certainly go along with a Conzult day, perhaps in conjunction with a rolling road day, but defo locally as numbers could get out of hand.

 

I'll not argue with your comments, in fact I welcome them. I realise it's one thing to have a 'good' idea and another to bring it to fruition, but I really do believe such an event could be practical and useful. As has been said before, there would be many obstacles to overcome...some of which you've mentioned...but some of your comments have already been answered.

 

"Too many people expecting freebies"?...Post 13 - The intention is for members, who do not have the knowledge to carry out a specific job that needs doing on their Zed, but do have the general electro/mechanical abilities required, to carry out the job themselves using their own tools and parts under the GUIDANCE of someone qualified to advise.

 

"Who gets priority members, or non-members"?...Post #1 - It would comprise a national meet, somewhere fairly central, where subscribed members who need help and guidance carrying out some modification/repair/service/upgrading/etc. to their Zeds could get together and, under supervision of some knowledgable person, carry out the work required.

 

"These cars are not bread and butter mechanics....etc"...I didn't see this as a 'major tune-up' type of meet, more a sort of DIY/fit-it-yourself as stated above (modifications/repair/service/upgrading), examples that spring to mind are, 6k service, 60k service, lowering suspension, fitting HID's, fitting indiglo dials, replacing brake pads, replacing silencer etc.....etc.

 

I think your idea of a 'tune-up' day at a rolling road seems like a great idea, but would attract a different type of member than would be likely to attend the 'TECH. DAY' meet that I am suggesting. Maybe the title I am suggesting is wrong....perhaps your idea should be called 'TECH.DAY' and mine perhaps 'FIX-IT DAY'

Sorry but no way would I be involved if someone did their own 60k service and fooked it up! Yes they would have done it themselves BUT they would always say "Well duffer checked it for me blah...". The more I think about this, the less I can see it working. I don't mind helping people at all but thats what this site is for. If someone doesn't know how to go about a particular job then maybe the only option is to pay someone else to do it. There's an old saying - "A little bit of knowledge is dangerous" ;)

what if i said:

 

i want to fit a new thingamybob to my zed, i've had it for 6 months now and not got round to fitting it because:

 

1. none of my mates are in to cars and i find it boring working on it on my own

2. i need someone to hold the other end

3. i don't have any ramps and i'm too fat to fit under it without any

4. the missis would skin me if i did it on her driveway

 

can anyone provide:

1. some company

2. a hand

3. some ramps or a lift

4. a place to do it

 

 

the next day my thinamybob is fitted and we all agree it was a good meet and we should do more like it as standing in a carpark in the rain gets a bit boring......

 

 

a better example may be : few months ago one of the girls on japgirls wanted a hand with her engine so a load of us packed up some tools and drove over there, did the job, had a good time, and learnt quite a lot

That's really valuable input from both Andy and Ian, many thanks guys for giving your considered opinions.

 

I am interested to note that most of the posts on here come from experienced members like themselves, and most of them are not being very encouraging, even though the voting is!

 

As this 'TECH.DAY' meet would be highly dependant on support from members such as these, there would be little point of progressing the idea forward without such support.

 

I have to listen to those more experienced than myself, but I will wait until the end of the poll in a few days before making any final conclusions.

 

Please vote on this poll if you haven't already done so.

well all the times at meets I have seen Andy under someones bonnet, explaining what is wrong, what has made it wrong and what would be needed to put things right, telling them so they can do it themselves. This is a tech day but on a minute scale.

 

Bloody hell he tries to explain to me all the time, I just do not have the mechanical intelligence to comprehend!

 

Basic maintainance is one thing, trying to oversee someone rebuilding their engine would not work.

In my opinion, The guy's with the know how in this club, do an excellent job giving out FREE advice, and help. but why should they give up their time FREE of charge. most, who are at meets (Like Andy) dont mind having a quick look under members bonnets to point them in the right direction as to what the fault is, or sometimes even fixing it. but you are asking them to give a day up, to teach members how to work on thier own cars, I just can't see it coming off.

Thats the worst excuse EVER and has just earned you a lot of working saturdays helping me out at the unit :tongue: :rofl:

 

LOL, I see the idea BUT and its a big BUT, the way i see it is potentially it could take business away from the likes of duffers, jimmer and swz, i'd also love to learn more about the car but i think i'd rather pay Andy Duff to do my work, sure he's over an hour away but its worth the journey IMO and if something goes wrong and you need to order parts you could be left stranded miles from home.

 

Dont get me wrong, its a good idea but just not for me.

Sorry but no way would I be involved if someone did their own 60k service and fooked it up! Yes they would have done it themselves BUT they would always say "Well duffer checked it for me blah...". The more I think about this, the less I can see it working. I don't mind helping people at all but thats what this site is for. If someone doesn't know how to go about a particular job then maybe the only option is to pay someone else to do it. There's an old saying - "A little bit of knowledge is dangerous" ;)

 

Been watching this with interest and i must say Andy sees it the same as i do as it could have repurcussions or someone strips their car then finds they dont have the right parts to complete the job or the 5minute job turns into a nightmare which does happen,Then someones getting the bus home.In theory it would be great but in reality it could turn out to be a disaster.

lol im having ramps put in at my place along with the pit and spray booth thats already there was thinking about letting it out for a weekend for you guys but starting to change my mind now BUT my advice is this if you are a competent mechanic/specialist you should have the confidence to see a job through with no f**k ups also i would recomend whoever is going to submit themselves for the watchfull eye technician of the day produces their qualifications whether it be ata accreditations city and guilds gnvq etc so you know that they are qualified..

 

even better idea why dont you all book a free health check at the local nissan dealers then you get your cars checked out by a specialist with lots of ramps and its free with tea and coffe for your meets lol

OK - Well the poll is over and I think the number of 'yes, its a good idea' votes is encouraging. So I think it's worth while going to the next stage and seeing how it goes.

 

First, would those willing to GIVE some help please post here (or pm me).

 

Second, would those interested in RECEIVING some help please put 'jobs I'd like to do' on the list below.

 

NAME - - - - - - - JOBS

 

Z32dave - - - - Fit HID's - Lower Suspension(Tein) - Service

Well, enough of you warned me and I've not been exactly overwhelmed by the response to the last post (that's an appropriate two words).

 

As I said in an earlier post "I realise it's one thing to have a 'good' idea and another to bring it to fruition" and those words have proved to be prophetic.

 

I think it's a shame and I am still convinced it could have worked, but without members support it has obviously been doomed to failure.

 

I thank those who gave verbal support to this thread and also those who gave their considered opinions against. The nett result, however, is there will be no 'Tech. Day/Weekend'.

 

Would some kind mod please close this thread and put it to rest.

 

Cheers - Dave.

closed as per request

lol im having ramps put in at my place along with the pit and spray booth thats already there was thinking about letting it out for a weekend for you guys but starting to change my mind now BUT my advice is this if you are a competent mechanic/specialist you should have the confidence to see a job through with no f**k ups also i would recomend whoever is going to submit themselves for the watchfull eye technician of the day produces their qualifications whether it be ata accreditations city and guilds gnvq etc so you know that they are qualified..

 

even better idea why dont you all book a free health check at the local nissan dealers then you get your cars checked out by a specialist with lots of ramps and its free with tea and coffe for your meets lol

 

Qualified what???? I've had so called 'qualified' apprentices who forgot to fit a ****ing oil filter on a fresh rebuild before starting the car - qualifcations show NOTHING...

 

Dave your idea was good in principal but you need to see it from the other side to understand why it wouldn't work...