Its a trip of madness - NLC - Atom content

ikarl · Post by **ikarl** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:10 pm

chris_c201 wrote:As I sit on the train heading in to central Edinburgh for a meeting....I couldn't be more jealous...

When I can afford to up the fleet to 3 cars an atom is definitely on the list...

Look forward to the next update!

Shotgun!

tut · Post by **tut** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 1:34 pm

Alarm cock works quite well actually, alerts the wife into jumping out of bed and making the tea.

tut

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 1:43 pm

Actually thought alarm cock was quite apt!

So arrived at the factory just before 9am, to be greeted with my steed noses pointing out of the garage, and looking awesome!

Its a minimalist place, nothing showy, everything functional, with an almost hidden sense of understatement to the performance of the cars lurking through the gate, and behind the roller doors.

Brought back loads of memories from 2007, but the place is blossoming, more staff, lots of work, still a good order backlog! Delighted for them, as it would be a great loss if they suffered as a result of the economy.

Met Steve, the friendly chief mechanic chap who famously wrote my DP Atom number plate in felt tip after i lost the real one in France, with the last car.

"You'll know all about it. Its ready. Of you go, be back at 1pm for service post run in!"

Fair enough, and after some drooling over the V8, headed out, with new dash most in my mind. 10 way adjustable front shocks lasted 3 miles of geriatric road settings.

The noise is epic, a whine, like a troup of squirrels getting fed in to a blender right beside your ear, makes you want to put your foot down again and again, and to feel yourself getting pinned hard against the seats! Grab a gear, f*** another, another, change up light flashing at you like a seasoned pro in uncle Bennys, its such an awesome rush.

Bonded within seconds, and my god did i forget about the level of attention.....ooops. Nothing i have ever been in draws people to it like the atom, kids waving, cameras, phones, random drivers, people wanting to chat anytime you are vaguely stationary, and god help you if you get caught fuelling!

TRaffic down here is heavy as the kids are still on holidays, and after 20 minutes i was longing to run it in north of the border. What a pain. Arguably in the fastest overtaking car there is, and I still cant break free of the lines of traffic.

Patience, not a Gordon hallmark, and eventually by a cunning tactic of choosing any town that has a B road to it, I end up in the middle of nowhere, a few punters to rush by, but some awesome roads. Some of the postcard "tunnel of trees" variety, and the scenary is rushing by.

Off to some lake, a quick break & a can of juice, and then onwards again this time hunting for fuel, which it appears SC Atoms love - blending squirrels is clearly thirsty work!

A run in with a bike proves entertaining, and after fueling up, I'm headed factorywards, which gets pretty tedious as the traffic is kack. But i dont care, I'm bonding with my toy, getting time to notice the small chnages they have made that have escaped me while applying corrective inputs previously. Every excuse to "blend a squirrel" is taken, and off roundabouts I'm catapulting past cars!

Back to the factory, brief chat about what they need to check, and good laugh at the wear I've put on the tyres in 140 miles, and its time for the check service. "We havent seen tyres looking like that before after 140 road miles. You've clearly been enjoying yourself!"

I realise this thread needs photos, but you might have to wait till i can get a phone signal good enough.

Shortly heading back over to pop her on the trailer, get the cover, and point the rangie northwards.

Suspect I'll be back by mid-night. Not sure what i'm dreading more, the drive, or 7-8 hours in traffic knowing i've got the quickest car sitting behind me and I cant drive it till i get home........

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 1:51 pm

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1345726276.450772.jpg

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 1:52 pm

Awesome!! Can't wait to see it!

Post by **Shug** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 1:58 pm

Can't remember if your last one had the side plastics - do they help any? The overriding memory I have of the last one is it trying to rip my helmet off (steady...) on the back straight at KH...

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:05 pm

Awesome! I'd love to try an atom sometime.. Must be such a buzz actually buying/picking one up!

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:06 pm

Do the little windscreens make much difference?

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:09 pm

Justin wrote:Do the little windscreens make much difference?

I believe they do. Ali C has something similar on the 211 and says they make a remarkable difference.

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:11 pm

Shug wrote: The overriding memory I have of the last one is it trying to rip my helmet off (steady...) on the back straight at KH...

Same here !

graeme · Post by **graeme** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:15 pm

Awesome! Looks great in yellow too... I'm nursing a snooze button here.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:24 pm

I'm suffering now the adrenalin has ebbed from my body! Rubbish.

Still nearly time to go and load-up

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:57 pm

Awesome thread and can't wait to see it in the metal tubes!

Ages since I had a good roadtrip wish I was there.

dirkpitt · Post by **dirkpitt** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:20 pm

bugger me sidways fun

....if i were you i would just go straight to brands and get it on track

...you know it makes sense

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:44 pm

376 to go and just the best sight in my rear view!

Scottish Elises