Big day finally arrived! Copenhagen to Crewkerne in one go with a huge decrepit trailer. Met Ben and was offered a cup. From then he took me through many, many aspects of the Atom. Received the "Handbook" (mind you it's not a manual) and all the bits. Shortly after, a 20 minute jaunt on the surrounding country roads. In my new Atom. My first time actually driving anything made by Ariel.
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Then up on the trailer backwards she goes, ready to start the long drive through the tunnel, four EU countries and half of a fifth.
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Despite heavy rain along the whole route, the journey proceeded without a single setback.
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Spec-wise I had to save the Öhlins for another day, so standard coils and dampers, but otherwise uprated shift bushings, forged wheels, one piece sport brakes and AP Racing calipers in silver (which I think look sooo amazing through the forged wheels), roll bar, TC, boost knob, bias adjuster, electrical cut-off switch, trackday uprated cooling, baffled sump, LSD, click-off wheel, CF tail tidy, front number plate bracket (I have hopes), reversing cam, the fat harnesses with anti-sub straps and nice Ariel pads. What else? Third brake light, black stainless fittings, locking fuel cap, USB, red powder coat. Would really have loved more CF but my savings have already evaporated enough...
Driving this car is just such an amazing experience. The car is always telling you something, and it takes some time to be able to take all the feedback in and process it. But I love language, and I look forward to the new vocabulary. Speaking of words, I also need to get used to the questions everyone asks when you fuel, and all the attention it gets in traffic. People react. Not really my favorite aspect about the Atom, but maybe I'll paint the mudguards and panels with that ultra-black stuff so nobody will see me.
Can't wait to get out on the track. Super happy how the car turned out - and yes BOTB bought it and gave it to me basically, so that's nifty too.
-Tim
