Brian,

It's the brainchild of the chap that runs Heritage Motorsport outside Bicester. Lee is ex-Blue diamond and a vintage car specialist / fabricator by trade, and I bumped into him last year when he gave my old MG TA a look over. Turns out he's the new chairman of the MCC Ltd, the long distance trials folk. I used to trial many years ago, so we had a good deal in common from the get go. He's a really good sort, too.

Back when I was trialling in the late 80's, there was a car just put on the market called a Troll. This has been very successful as a tough little car, but as time rolls forward the all Ford running gear is either expensive or rare, so Lee had an idea...

Aided and abetted by my excitement, he's making a limited run of 21 of the new breed cars that he's named Kraken. Not after any liquid beverage or a sea monster, but from a chance chat with a spectator in Devon who told him "He's a crackin' car, mate"..

I've now got a part time job doing something that is so exciting it's like having Kevfitz as a neighbour..

Based on easily obtainable donors and part supplies, the aim is for the cars to be made IVA ready with the option of a trials kit should anyone wish to dabble. One is earmarked for sprinting so far.

Mine will have a slightly longer cockpit for my long legs, but is a 1600cc MazdaMX-5 Mk1 based version. Time moves quickly though, and there has been a huge upsurge in Mk1 interest so the new donors will be early Mk2's probably. I specifically hunted a 1990 donor as I want to run simple carbs, and the emissions regs start post this date.

This is Kraken K1 playing in the mud :


[Linked Image]

Steve