Team leaders from left to right:
Scott Harris - Customization
Jim Wilkinson - Suspension
Mark Gibson - Wiring and Dash
Steve McGilvrey - Engine
Jeremy Luchini - Head of build
John McEleney - CEO, SolidWorks Corporation
Adam Venti - Drivetrain
Lorne Silkes - Tooling
Richard Morse - Paint and Body
Scott Stanley - Wiring co-lead
Here's some cool pics from Richard's shop....he took delivery of our roadster just two days before Christmas and pulled off a miracle to get us the final product just 3-1/2 weeks later.
You can also see pictures of some of our best decisions on the project....a mahogany dash to match the steering wheel. Credit goes to Mark Gibson....who labored through about 15 coats of poly. And a special thanks to Scott Harris for a couple of outstanding - eleventh hour decisions to deliver both a custom set of engine bay louvers and a steering wheel center that features the SolidWorks logo.
- Jeremy
Its painted......its running.....
....and its on the way to New Orleans.
SolidWorks World 2007
SWRoadster unveiling will be at 3pm in the Partner Pavilion.
See you there....
I'll post all the great bodyshop and paintbooth pictures after the conference....the car looks and sound incredible.
- Jeremy
Here it is...the SolidWorks Roadster....built afterhours and weekends by SolidWorks employees in only 4 months! The car is now at Advanced Speed getting the body and paint work completed in time for its unveiling at SolidWorks World 2007 in New Orleans.
Plenty more final build day pics and video to come....
- Jeremy
We had to pull the engine back out on Saturday for a slight clutch modification. After putting the engine back in and with the SolidWorks Holiday party looming ever so closer, we decided to do the final bit of tuning without the side pipes/mufflers on her. Microphones just don't capture the true sound of an engine but you'll get an idea how it sounds in this state. You can't see in the video but most of those present had their fingers buried up to their knuckles in their ears, it was quite amusing. We made some minor carb adjustments and got her responding quite well.....as you can tell from the end of the video where the "well blow me down" comes from. Thanks to Jeremy for climbing all over the car and getting some good video, especially the dramatic ending. :-)
Steve Mcgilvrey
Last night Jeremy took the first drive in the Roadster. All the way to the end of the driveway and back.....several times.
:-)
Steve McGilvrey
Check out this video of MR. ENGINE...Steve McGilvrey, getting the blood pumping correctly in the roadster.....What a night.
Just a quick bit to say the engine is now connected to all the appropriate connections, electrical, cooling system, and fuel system. We fired her up in the car last night for the first time. We have 
video which will be posted soon. Thanks to Mark, Earl, Jim W, Howie, and Adam for helping out. I'd also like to thank Guy Gionet from Gionets Auto Repairs in Shirley for helping and allowing us to use his facilities on Monday to press on the steel distributor gear on the distributor. We would have been dead in the water without his help.
Steve McGilvrey
The engine is in the car......Yes!!!!
Big thanks to team leader Adam Venti for setting the pace....It was a big thrill to get the engine and tranny dropped in today.
Also thanks to all those who gave up their entire Saturday to work on the Cobra - Tom Sherman, Kaamil El-Rayees, Scott Stanley, John Pehl, Marc Leizza and Scott Harris. Team leader Mark Gibson was away from the garage getting the dash custom drilled as well.
For those of you who've never assembled a drivetrain....call Adam...he'll get you up and running. It was really cool to see how simple the system really is up close.
Bearing, plate, flyweel, clutch, bell housing, starter, and finally the transmission.
Enjoy the photos...and thanks to Mark L. for bringing his outstanding Ferrari 328 by the garage.
- Jeremy
