Garages. Workshops.

[binhoker668]

Tell me this. Does anyone reside in the East Midlands, have garage space/a pit/dry area and generally enjoy pottering with vehicles in spare time? I'm consistently frustrated in my shitery with being unable to fix or attempt stuff myself simply because of crap housing scenarios. I have toolage to a half decent degree, and masses of enthusiasm, but lack a mate to just generally have an old go at stuff with. Does this even make sense? I dunno. Pisses me off trying to find funds to get stuff fixed when I know I could probably sort it myself. Especially if someone else was there slaggin' me off and egging me on. Just a thought.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Not in the Midlands but exactly the same situation....

[binhoker668]

I have equal time to join in and lend a hand with everyone else's cockamamie projects too. It's proper good fun after all. 2 victories for every fail like! Everything I know about vehicles and mechanics (and believe me, it's not much) has been learned from necessity of keeping wheels on the road. I want more hey!

[Richard]

I think there is a thriving Autoshite community in the Midlands, with regular spannering meets and auction visits.

[binhoker668]

Any ideas who's involved?

[Richard]

Here are some of the threads that have popped up, which should give you an idea of who's involved and what they get up to.

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/17644-yo-midlands-massiv/

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/18876-autoshite-events-the-midlands-massiv-post-christmas-tour-de-cafe-its-new-years-day-folks/

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/20622-midlands-massive-convoy-to-shitefest-all-commers-welcome/

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/16987-sunday-spannering/

[inconsistant]

Yep, I share your frustration, I'm in the same situation in the South East. Ive got tools, enthusiasm and non working mota but I've found (via doing a very non beginners job... replacing head gasket) that car mechanics is very hard to learn from Internet based distance learning/forum advice from experts and is much better learned by working with someone who knows what they are doing.

 

I've looked at doing evening classes before but there's nothing at a hobby/beginners level, they all seem to be over a couple of years and lead to garage mechanic qualifications.

[binhoker668]

Sometimes just having someone else around while you work/give it a go boosts your confidence loads.  Even if they're not getting their hands dirty.

[binhoker668]

They look like great meetups, and exactly what I'm talking about.  I usually lack the funds to get that far out of Nottingham though - it all goes towards seeing my kids....