The dark side of Essex Scooby Crew
09 July 2020, 09:20 PM
#31
09 July 2020, 09:24 PM
#32
Scooby Regular
He used to be on all the forums and has basicly been drummed off them for bad workmanship or bad advice. Allot of the people who think he's good know very little about how a car should be mapped and why it's done that way.
09 July 2020, 09:57 PM
#33
as with duncan I wouldnt use them either due to the pothole incident.
09 July 2020, 10:32 PM
#34
Scooby Regular
each ot their own, but there is a big difference between once incident and multiple plus well documents bad working practises, but were now going way off track.
10 July 2020, 07:46 AM
#36
Mapping will be top notch but your car will be smashed through potholes on testing then the owner will try to ridicule you on social media
10 July 2020, 08:25 AM
#37
Just off what I’ve read over the years I’d use Andy F but I don’t even know if he’s still about, haven’t seen him on here for years?
I used Simon a few times and still would have but haven’t had a car mapped since he died as don’t trust anyone else willing in the SE. Does anyone down here do OS on bugeye?
Duncan mapped my mate’s car which was ok apart from the starting went to **** from the day it was mapped. Can’t say for sure it was the map but would crank and splutter to life like it was flooded and once it’d cleared it’s throat it’d run fine. It was a very smooth delivery map though, not my cuppa but no slam of boost at all just NA delivery almost but maybe intentional on a bugeye WRX gearbox. Was a long time ago though and he may be mustard these days or he may have been mustard and it was coincidental failure of something else (which is kind of the trouble I see with mapping)
I used Simon a few times and still would have but haven’t had a car mapped since he died as don’t trust anyone else willing in the SE. Does anyone down here do OS on bugeye?
Duncan mapped my mate’s car which was ok apart from the starting went to **** from the day it was mapped. Can’t say for sure it was the map but would crank and splutter to life like it was flooded and once it’d cleared it’s throat it’d run fine. It was a very smooth delivery map though, not my cuppa but no slam of boost at all just NA delivery almost but maybe intentional on a bugeye WRX gearbox. Was a long time ago though and he may be mustard these days or he may have been mustard and it was coincidental failure of something else (which is kind of the trouble I see with mapping)
10 July 2020, 11:24 AM
#38
Scooby Regular
10 July 2020, 11:10 PM
#40
In the end, I went with slowboy racing at brands hatch. At least on my car, the mapping has been spot on, and Neil really knows his stuff both mechanically and in terms of mapping (as far as I can tell, at least)
Happy to admit I'm a fan boy
12 July 2020, 04:21 PM
#43
13 July 2020, 10:21 AM
#45
Scooby Regular
Yeah not many if hardly anyone spoke,one bloke with the T shirt said they try and make newbies welcome but I didn’t see any of that anywhere,was talking to a nice guy with a forester,Chris I think his name but apart from that no one else seemed to make an effort welcoming newbies ,I probably won’t bother as I live out in the sticks a bit so driving on boring motorways and stop start along southend sea front is quite boring really so I’m better off going for a tear up on some proper roads with some of my mates, so unless there is even more craaap on the box I won’t bother with it
but like I said I went and was ok but nothing to write home about
but like I said I went and was ok but nothing to write home about
Last edited by Rock god; 13 July 2020 at 10:23 AM.
20 August 2020, 12:09 PM
#47
That was started by AF on 22B ,The worst thing is that Duncan Graham hates his customers but can map very well , he took on all the JGM maps after Simon went (sadly) Also he screwed over customer over customer in search of the buck 20 minute maps at srr , Charlie should be ashamed of him . So should Syvecs( in general) and Link g4 ect
20 August 2020, 02:07 PM
#48
Just off what I’ve read over the years I’d use Andy F but I don’t even know if he’s still about, haven’t seen him on here for years?
I used Simon a few times and still would have but haven’t had a car mapped since he died as don’t trust anyone else willing in the SE. Does anyone down here do OS on bugeye?
Duncan mapped my mate’s car which was ok apart from the starting went to **** from the day it was mapped. Can’t say for sure it was the map but would crank and splutter to life like it was flooded and once it’d cleared it’s throat it’d run fine. It was a very smooth delivery map though, not my cuppa but no slam of boost at all just NA delivery almost but maybe intentional on a bugeye WRX gearbox. Was a long time ago though and he may be mustard these days or he may have been mustard and it was coincidental failure of something else (which is kind of the trouble I see with mapping)
I used Simon a few times and still would have but haven’t had a car mapped since he died as don’t trust anyone else willing in the SE. Does anyone down here do OS on bugeye?
Duncan mapped my mate’s car which was ok apart from the starting went to **** from the day it was mapped. Can’t say for sure it was the map but would crank and splutter to life like it was flooded and once it’d cleared it’s throat it’d run fine. It was a very smooth delivery map though, not my cuppa but no slam of boost at all just NA delivery almost but maybe intentional on a bugeye WRX gearbox. Was a long time ago though and he may be mustard these days or he may have been mustard and it was coincidental failure of something else (which is kind of the trouble I see with mapping)
22 August 2020, 07:51 AM
#49
I agree 1st start garage is a joke
Let me start by saying these are my personal opinions based on the things i have seen and been told by other members.
I'm sure there will be divided opinions on a post like this but I think it is important to let others know whats happening.
I don't have an axe to grind or particular gripe with anyone mentioned. I have kept to myself and avoided getting overly involved.
I started attending meets with the Essex Scooby Crew a couple of years ago. I have several cars and belong to several different clubs going back many years but I have never seen a club run quite like this one.
At first glance it seems like a very well run club with lots of active members and a very active events calendar displayed on the facebook page. Upon joining you get a nice welcome message (copy and paste) from the 'boss' Cheryl and the members seem friendly. They have a monthly cruise and also a monthly social at an Essex diner which are well attended with around 50 cars sometimes. Attending these meets I found most people to be friendly and approachable. I have also attended numerous shows with the club and have found these to be well run and usually very well attended.
There is a dark side to this club though. There is a cliquey inner circle who are the eyes and ears who are always waiting for you to put a foot wrong. The members are also being fleeced by the club management and sponsors.
If you decide to join this club, know what you are getting in to. Cheryl is the self styled 'Boss' and runs the 'Famo' more like an MC than a car club. You will be pushed to use the club sponsor Mark Brown. The guy is an absolute clown who really knows nothing about scoobys and is buying the business from Cheryl. He has ruined several members cars and charges overly inflated prices even though members are promised a club discount. No less than 4 member told me that they had suffered engine failures after having work done there. When they reported this to Cheryl, excuses were made and they were forced out of the club.
You will also be expected to have your car mapped by Duncan Graham. I've lost count of the number of members who have had issues with his 10 minute flash maps. This guy may have been around for years but he has absolutely no love for his job. Literally every mapping day sees someone with a problem but they are quickly silenced. One member told me that he had sent his car to enginetuner to have it rebuilt after a Dynamite Duncan map exploded it. He was told by Alan that they see a lot of cars mapped by Duncan! If you dare to use another mapper then never mention it as this will also get you blacklisted.
Some of the inner circle may offer to service or fit parts for you at low prices. Beware as several people i spoke with said that either the job wasn't done properly or they didn't get the old parts back with the car (intercoolers, cats, exhausts, header tanks....). If you ask for the parts they will have already been deposed of only to appear on another members car later on.
You will not be able to meet or attend shows with other clubs. If you have other club stickers on your car you will be asked to remove them. You must have an ESC sticker on your car though.
You must not encourage or promote any other businesses at any time.
The club will not attend big shows. They stick to the local shows where the stand will usually be the largest there. If you want to go to the big shows, don't mention it.
If you disagree with this then you are welcome to your opinion.
If you are planning on joining up with this group, I hope this serves as a heads up of what to expect so you don't end up losing ££££s.
If you really dont give a toss, have a nice day!
I'm sure there will be divided opinions on a post like this but I think it is important to let others know whats happening.
I don't have an axe to grind or particular gripe with anyone mentioned. I have kept to myself and avoided getting overly involved.
I started attending meets with the Essex Scooby Crew a couple of years ago. I have several cars and belong to several different clubs going back many years but I have never seen a club run quite like this one.
At first glance it seems like a very well run club with lots of active members and a very active events calendar displayed on the facebook page. Upon joining you get a nice welcome message (copy and paste) from the 'boss' Cheryl and the members seem friendly. They have a monthly cruise and also a monthly social at an Essex diner which are well attended with around 50 cars sometimes. Attending these meets I found most people to be friendly and approachable. I have also attended numerous shows with the club and have found these to be well run and usually very well attended.
There is a dark side to this club though. There is a cliquey inner circle who are the eyes and ears who are always waiting for you to put a foot wrong. The members are also being fleeced by the club management and sponsors.
If you decide to join this club, know what you are getting in to. Cheryl is the self styled 'Boss' and runs the 'Famo' more like an MC than a car club. You will be pushed to use the club sponsor Mark Brown. The guy is an absolute clown who really knows nothing about scoobys and is buying the business from Cheryl. He has ruined several members cars and charges overly inflated prices even though members are promised a club discount. No less than 4 member told me that they had suffered engine failures after having work done there. When they reported this to Cheryl, excuses were made and they were forced out of the club.
You will also be expected to have your car mapped by Duncan Graham. I've lost count of the number of members who have had issues with his 10 minute flash maps. This guy may have been around for years but he has absolutely no love for his job. Literally every mapping day sees someone with a problem but they are quickly silenced. One member told me that he had sent his car to enginetuner to have it rebuilt after a Dynamite Duncan map exploded it. He was told by Alan that they see a lot of cars mapped by Duncan! If you dare to use another mapper then never mention it as this will also get you blacklisted.
Some of the inner circle may offer to service or fit parts for you at low prices. Beware as several people i spoke with said that either the job wasn't done properly or they didn't get the old parts back with the car (intercoolers, cats, exhausts, header tanks....). If you ask for the parts they will have already been deposed of only to appear on another members car later on.
You will not be able to meet or attend shows with other clubs. If you have other club stickers on your car you will be asked to remove them. You must have an ESC sticker on your car though.
You must not encourage or promote any other businesses at any time.
The club will not attend big shows. They stick to the local shows where the stand will usually be the largest there. If you want to go to the big shows, don't mention it.
If you disagree with this then you are welcome to your opinion.
If you are planning on joining up with this group, I hope this serves as a heads up of what to expect so you don't end up losing ££££s.
If you really dont give a toss, have a nice day!
24 August 2020, 02:56 PM
#51
Scooby Regular
I think people should manage their expectations about the interpersonal skills of people who devote large amounts of time and energy to standing around in various Wickes carparks.
The following 2 users liked this post by RetroPug:
24 August 2020, 06:04 PM
#53
I was very worried about a meet that i organised, but then it was not at a car park, these people in small clubs should practice their friendly face's
I went to a south east scoobies meet recently and 75% were friendly
I went to a south east scoobies meet recently and 75% were friendly
Last edited by lockheed; 24 August 2020 at 06:07 PM.
24 August 2020, 08:01 PM
#54
Scooby Regular
24 August 2020, 09:49 PM
#55
Scooby Regular
the injectors are at RCMs for testing but Graham hasn’t got the diagnosis back yet. I just feel so gutted for him! 😕
The following users liked this post:
The following users liked this post:
25 August 2020, 09:07 PM
#60
Scooby Regular
I think the jury is still out. The diagnosis from Enginetuner is a dirty build. Mark is blaming a dodgy injector and then a bad map by Bob Rawle. Apparently he thinks the injector failed after Duncan mapped it otherwise it probably would have been picked up on the rolling road with the initial map. Mark didn’t flow test the injectors before fitting so they weren’t checked. The car was running like carp after Duncan mapped it and then was running sweet after bobs map so who knows. There was considerable bore wash apparently.
the injectors are at RCMs for testing but Graham hasn’t got the diagnosis back yet. I just feel so gutted for him! 😕
the injectors are at RCMs for testing but Graham hasn’t got the diagnosis back yet. I just feel so gutted for him! 😕
Why did he not use a specialist like Engine Tuner from the start.
Not had much dealings with 1st Start as they out of my area but they are aggressively promoted on the FB ESC group.
This is always the worry when using a generic garage who will charge you same as Scooby Clinic or Engine Tuner but don't have the knowledge or experience.
Is he banned from the ESC yet for calling out 1st Start.