Nick Harris and Rod Bowes made it round to the garage to attempt to mount the canopy. After numerous hours of work we reduced the gap between the rear hoop and the canopy to the smallest possible bearing in mind the shape of the canopy and then started to drill the canopy to the rear hoop.
Disaster...unfortunately when drilling the side of the canopy the pressure exerted to maintain the canopy bent into position cause the material to tear from one of the side rivet (screw holes). A five inch crack grew in the canopy.
In an attempt to recusitate the R15 000 canopy we cut the bubble in half at the rear canopy just millimeters before the start of the crack (which extended aftwards fortunately). With the two halves separated the stress in the canopy was now relieved and with little to no pressure througout the canopy was drilled.
This means that a 3 inch portion of the rear canopy will have to be cut to remove the cracked piece and the two pieces made to match each other at the opening of the canopy. Only when we attempt to install the rear portion will we know if we were successful in preventing the absolute loss of the canopy.
