Conference terri::cars_uk

    Depends on whether you're suggesting long-term lease, or short-term,
    such as by the hour/part-day. It's a good idea, BTW, I have a feeling
    it's been done before, with 'experts' on call as part of what you get
    for the money. I can't think where and when though.
    
    Laurie.

    Let me expand on the idea a little.
    
    I had envisaged meeting a variety of needs:
    
    Storage, long and short-term
    Working space without the restrictions of walls everywhere
    Somewhere to do the messy jobs like pressure washing major assemblies
    and spraying
    Workspace where you can leave a job half done and come back a week
    later to find everything just where you left it (half the problem I
    experienced in doing the Granada up was the need to keep clearing
    everything up and putting things away in the garage......)
    
    35 squid for 5 weeks is Ok, Chris but you gotta take everything there
    to start and remove everything afterwards.
    
    I'm trying to keep the cost down by assuming that most people will be
    prepared to tote their tool box around, but would want to leave the
    car, say, up on axle stands in between work sessions if it wasn't
    mobile at that stage. Assume that every occupier would need to carry
    his/her own risk/liability insurance. It might be possible to arrange
    major facility sharing like oxy/acetylene facilities, but I'd rather
    restrict the facilities supplied to light, power and air.
    
    Remember this is supposed to be a low-cost low-risk venture!
    
    So let's put some boundaries on things. What would people  be prepared
    to pay for the exclusive use of a space 30' X 15' with the basic
    facilities (light, power, air) for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or a
    year and what would people pay for a simple storage space for a vehicle
    under wraps for similar periods?

    You should also be working this backwards, and looking at what it will
    cost you to provide those facilities... Being a cynic at heart, I'd
    guess that people's expectations will not meet your costs. You should
    also be more specific about your 'market'. Are you aiming for the
    Saturday afternoon change the brakes/oil/plugs brigade, or the
    kit-builder? Or, perhaps, the whole spectrum. If so, the costs issue
    comes much more into it, as the long-term stuff will be *significantly*
    less remunerative than the short-term stuff.
    
    Laurie.

    Re several back....... I hear what you write Laurie.
    
    At the moment, my thinking is more around the provision of minimal
    offering at minimal cost. I certainly won't be getting into the
    business of supplying specialist tools etc...... there are too many
    rental places around at the moment!
    
    Nothing's set in concrete at the moment... I'm just thinking out loud
    about all the things that a fat redundancy cheque can do!
    
    I'll keep posting my mental meanderings on this subject until it's no
    longer possible so to do.......
    
    If anybody that is interested in seeing this to a reasonable fruition
    wants to send me their address/'phone number, I'll be happy to stay in
    contact after my demise.

    
    
    Yes, I have realised that I have to take all the pieces home soon after 
    2.00pm having started a major piece of surgery and not completed it in
    the alloted time. 
    
    The use of a suitable area with just heat and light would interest me.
    I would not expect any more as I have access to all the tools including
    the esoteric already.
    
    I guess the two main criteria that would influence me would be location
    and length of time. Do you have any ideas on cost per square foot as a
    starting point ???  You may find you can take on quite a large building
    and sub let it based on size and time. 
    
    Some deciding to take on a piece for a reasonable length of time an the
    remainder being let on a weekly/monthly basis. Less than week is
    probably not worth the effort unless you meet the proverbial gift
    hourse.
    
    					Chris.
    
    

    
    I've jumped in at the end of this a bit, just scanning the previous
    notes, so accept my apologies if this has been covered :-
    
    What about Insurance? This sounds like a potential landmine for the
    owner's insurance (Ah, but the car was in a commercial garage sir, it's 
    their problem, not ours!) and an even worse one for the operator,
    should he suddenly get stung with bills for stolen/damaged parts and 
    vehicles.
    
    Equally, what sort of security could/would you envisage being provided?
    Even with adequate insurance, few kit/classic owners are going to use
    your facilities for long if their tools/rare-parts (ooh err, Missus!)
    are damaged or go missing?
    
    Having said those negative things, the concept sounds attractive. I
    think it's pretty unlikely that I'd want to build a kit in a garage,
    but maybe I would in somewhere like you describe. (Now should I build 
    an XKSS replica or an XJ13?).
    
    Mark

    
    I suppose I ought to think about charging twice for a car on a trailer,
    Elaine!, but probably not. 
    
    Keep the ideas coming....

    
    I wish as well. Working on your own car in Germany seems impossible.
    
    Most underground carparks associated with flats expressly forbid any
    work on your own car.
    
    Jonathan Stubbs
    

    
    Yes, 
    
    I'm more than tempted at that rate. How many people do you need to make
    a go of it ??
    
    Chris.

    Colin... I can't beat 2 quid a week or whatever tiny rural rate you are
    paying.
    
    Chris... I'm getting enough positive vibes to make some very serious
    enquiries of my source about the financial side of things. If I play my
    cards right I could work a scheme that could make things possible with
    about 5 or six people in on the scheme. It will probably depend on the
    ration of people that want to either just use space for storage and
    those that want work area.
    
    Anybody else.....
    
    If there were to be inside the workshop a large milling machine able to
    cope with head skimming and a lathe capable of doing things like
    shorten drive shafts and skim disc rotors and flywheels, would that
    make things more attractive? Throw in a couple of decent sized pillar
    drills too.

    
    Dick --
    
    
    Didn't expect you to match the deepest Welsh rate! That's to a little
    old lady who has a spare empty shed, & she likes a victim at which to 
    natter!
    
    I reckon your rate is fully competitive around here. I know you will
    have no difficulty getting the folk - especially if you extend your
    search a little outside DEC. The issue of light fingers is a very
    serious one, & that may be your key determinant of who you want to be
    involved (hence my comment on one make clubs, or similar
    shared-interest groups who are likely to be careful with, & of, other
    people's kit).
    
    Colin
    
    

    Thanks for the input, Colin.
    
    I will be persuing this one more thoroughly now and will attempt to get
    some kind of notice out to all the troops that gaze over this conference
    when something gets off the ground.
    
    Don't feel that the conversation stops here, any and all opinions
    welcome.
    
    I will probably go outside DEC in due course.... I have a friend that
    works for ICL that is mad keen on '60's Riley 1.5's and also has a '51
    (I think) Lanchester Saloon that his dad gave to him (s'okay, he's got
    several others, so he didn't miss one!).

    
    Dick -
    
    It so happens that I have a '59 Riley 1.5 sitting in the garden as
    something I once thought I might rebuild for classic rallying.
    
    Very faded, but rebuildable (considerable effort required). Complete, 
    but no registration number currently allocated (gone to the Gilbern). 
    Available to your ICL pal for spares/rebuild for a reasonable offer.....  
    
    All he needs is somewhere to store it!
                              
    
    Colin

    Re last....... the property I have in mind has space for about 8
    "contributors". I'd install a separate meter to measure the consumption
    of electricity by each bay, but cover basic lighting in the rate. I
    had'nt planned on any heating.
    
    You're right in that the insurance aspects are the biggest hurdle and
    causing the most headaches......
    
    I'll keep working on it!

    
    Dick.
    
    Great idea. My car, although still used every day, needs attention
    to bring back to any former glory but I don't have anywhere suitable
    to do the work. The idea of lifting an engine or dropping the gearbox
    without having to rush to complete the job sounds appealing especially
    since the job can be revisited exactly as it was left. Anything to
    make life easier.
    
    The only other factor I would need to consider is ensuring that I have
    something to get me too and from work et cetera before taking the Alfa
    off the road.
    
    Keep us posted.
    
    JN.

   Dick,

   I would be very interested in such a facility. I am looking to store
   and work on my MGB roadster over the winter (see note 1872). 

   If you manage to get anything setup please contact me.


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	David... 

    I think the author of .0 no longer works for the company.

re -2

Yes, Dick has left Digital. However, I see him regularly and will pass on
your numbers.

	Dave