It’s about time I introduced myself again. I’m James, an illustrator, designer and writer from the UK. My obsessions are cars, my dog Winnie and sci-fi. I’m currently working on a long-gestating new sci-fi IP. You can buy prints and merch of my work at mrjalco.myshopify.com Cheers!

For today's job I've treated the MX to a set of Whiteline ARBs....a way overdue upgrade, as I've not had any bars fitted since 2018 🤦🤣 With the ITBs set up great last weekend , and the suspension now sorted, I cannot wait to get this out on track 😁

Close to 150bhp at the flywheel, with a bucketful of linear torque.....this is going to be a riot to drive 😁

Still setting the map up, but man this is terrifying 😬🤣

Ok, let's see what the wee beastie makes.... assuming it holds together.....after all, I built it....😬🤣

When your only other options are a Volvo with a rear axle that needs a rebuild, or a supercharged Polo on semi slick track day tyres..... then an RX8 is a sensible winter car, right? 😬🤦🤣

So today was spent ticking off a couple of jobs on Risky and on the G40.... I'm pretty sure I've fixed the minor coolant leak on the RX8 and the G40 has had the supercharger belt tightened.....and oh man, is it ever an animal now it's getting full boost 😬🤣

"Risky" the RX8 had it's first proper day out on the Piston and Paned December run....and I have to say, what a car..... didn't miss a beat all day, and handles like a refined, grown up MX5 but with revvy and buttery smooth engine. An extremely thirsty one though 😬🤣

Sooooo....a couple of weeks ago, a risky decision was made and this was acquired as a non runner after being stood for over 6 months. Yesterday it was MOTd, taxed, and she's back on the road again..... she's not perfect, but deserved saving....and that rotary engine is just awesome 😊

I also had a great run through Snowdonia and got the first snow of the winter under my tyres.....not quite sure they're the right tyres for this weather though 😬😂

Had a great afternoon off heading up to Aber falls with Scrawn, and fair play, the old girl did well..... she'll sleep well tonight that's for sure 😊

Well, as I've already bought my Le Mans '26 tickets, and it's my 50th next year I'd best get this darned Camaro on the road and fit for an epic European jaunt...... she's still fighting me though, and slowly chipping away at my finances and sanity 🤣 Today's job....ball joints...yay! 😬

Despite coming close, I wasn't able to get the Mx5 ready for the rollers today, but at least my mate got his Beemer ready... unfortunately we've got a persistent misfire to try and cure. We think it's got a blocked injector though 🙄

Don't you just love it when you buy a kit that you're assured works with the standard fuel rail.....yeah, right. I'm not naive enough to expect it to just bolt up, but there's no way this is going to work without major modification to both the rail and the throttle linkage 🙄🤦

So, I guess today's project is to put all those shiny new bits into the embarrassingly filthy Mx....I'm not expecting big power gains, but she's going to sound glorious ☺️

After a successful radar change on Aberdyfi's lifeboat, I treated Scrawn, and myself, to a quick walk at one of my favourite places...the Torrent Walk near Brithdir 😊

New daily puzzles for #Twen25ive and #Hangram Twen25ive 🔗 twod.net/25/ Hangram 🔗 twod.net/hangram/

Well then. Purchase of a new daily has been agreed. Seller is going to MOT it before I collect. Should be ready within 2 weeks. So next week I’ll get a fresh MOT on Ruby before listing her for sale. If anyone is genuinely interested in taking on one of the UK’s rarest cars, drop me a DM.

Good progress towards getting the MX ready for Hillclimb and Sprint competition has been made today. We've replaced the gearbox and got her ready for MOT next week, then I get to fit my shiny new ITB kit and the ported, polished and lumpy cammed head. I cannot wait to give her a good thrashing 😁

I reckon that would have to be my 240.... I don't normally do car park photos but I was quite pleased with the old girl after getting her back on the road after a few months in storage 😊

So for this 4th of July I've driven Steel Kustoms Step-side to Tatton Park for the Stars and Stripes event....it was, err, interesting 😁

As it's 4th of July, I thought I'd share another American car job, admittedly done yesterday. A lovely C3 Corvette with a dodgy passenger window, took some dismantling but eventually got it sorted. Right, time to do my RNLI day job, then later I'll be taking the step-side to Stars and Stripes 😁😊

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Started building out a new shop for artwork, prints and merch. It will be a mix of my motorsport / automotive work, sci-fi stuff, and will provide an option for people to commission pieces. A bit scary as it's a LOT of work, but it's the only realistic way to make the Probe restoration happen.

Last week I was at Le Mans. I did daily threads to cover the experience. If you're in any way interested about it, this will be a very interesting group of threads for you. Enjoy! 🏁

And that's a wrap on my first ever Le Mans adventure. It was a horrible journey home once I hit the UK, but I have to say, the 30+ year old little supercharged menace handled everything thrown at it without any issues. Right, I need sleep.....lots of sleep 🤣😴

We've made it.....and she's behaved faultlessly, apart from a slight wobble above 120kph which manifested itself about 50k ago 🤷 My friends bus has also successfully made it to their next stop too, so all's good. Time for a rest and some scran 😁

184km to go until Calais 😊 All's still good.....the G is keeping it's fluids intact, me less so 🥵 Currently surviving on stress and caffeine 🤣

Halfway to Calais,no issues and I'm getting more comfortable with running solo....my friends have stayed to carry on their holiday without me. To be fair, I'd have had enough of me by now too 🤣🤣🤣

Leg 2 of the return journey is about to start.....got 10 hours or so to do a 5 hour journey, should be reet 😬🤣

Ok, let's get the day properly kick-started 😋

Here's this morning's sleep-deprived travel wankerage 😁 Mon Dieu I am shattered.....going to need all the caffeine France has to offer to get me home 😴🤪😂

So leg 2 of the #ReturnfromLeMans is going to be played on hard mode. A combination of a fellow camper coughing up a lung all night, and me drinking all of the caffeine yesterday means I have had next to zero sleep....good job I've only got about 600 miles left to go 😬

Apologies for being a travel wanker, but the end of leg one of the return journey home has led to an awesome evening in St Malo....good food, great company and a beautiful city, what more could you ask for 😊

Leg one of the post Le Mans return has been successfully completed by both vehicles.....the bus may have puked a little coolant on the way to St Malo, but then I may have overfilled it a little in the dark last night after we'd checked the thermostat 😬🤦

Post Le Mans blues being starved off with the obligatory chicane pic as we start our slow, scenic run back home 😁

Our Polish neighbours are going to be happy tonight 😊 Forza Robert! #LeMans24

So I guess that was the Le Mans 24 hours race then.....gotta say, it's a bit better being here than trying to watch scalped streams all night on YouTube.....even if I've still got no idea who's won 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you to everyone who's made this happen for me, you know who you are, and I love you all 😊

Now I've got my little beastie back, I can finally relax 😁 Oh, and she got treated to a little blast down an admittedly small section of the Mulsanne 😉 #LeMans24

Just walked 10+km in the baking heat to go and get the G40 from the car park......only to find it's closed and my poor little car is all on it's lonesome 🤣 On the plus side, I did get the chance to walk on hallowed ground at Tetre Rouge 😊 #LeMans24

Well we made it to Le Mans without issue,, and after all of the work yesterday, the G40 behaved perfectly. Time for a birthday beer or three I reckon

Well she's made it to Norton Canes and caught up with my fellow 90's shitbox crew

A fuel tank change, and we're on our way.....Le Mans here we come..... hopefully 😬🤞

I'm supposed to have met up with my mates 40 minutes ago, but at least the new tank is going in as I type..... I'm so, so lucky I had a good spare in the rally car 😊 Le Mans here we come......finally. Hopefully 😬🤞🤣

Oh bugger! Looks like I'm changing the fuel tank before I head to Le Mans.....this afternoon 😫🤦

So as expected my last minute Le Mans preparation is going well.....had to replace both front tyres (and all I could get in my size are track day ones), a blown damper this evening, and found a dodgy wheel bearing which needs replacing before we leave tomorrow afternoon 😬🤦

Seems as the weather was perfect, I decided a small walk after work was in order.....3 hours and 10k later my legs were regretting that decision 😂 Still, it was a beautiful evening and there are some gorgeous views in the Afan valley near Port Talbot 😊

It's my little monsters 12th birthday today.....so Happy birthday Holly (aka Scrawn)..... here's to at least a few more ♥️🎉

It's terrible out here in north Wales today, don't know why I bothered really......🤣 Just sneaking a quick walk in with Scrawn on our way back home from working at Criccieth 😊