MHKflyer52

I know our prices are high but you have to realize we get four practice runs of four and the we get the official timed run which consist of one warm-up run and three timed runs but I now believe that we pay way to much compared to the east cost auto-x price that I paid ($30 as a SCCA member). When the gal at registration said $30 dollars please I had to ask her a second time and then picked my jaw up off the table as I was expecting a lot more money to be leaving my wallet. Again thanks to all that I meet while back in the Phila area and I wish I had spent more time with all of you as you are a great bunch of people.

Oct. 14, 2007 Well yesterday (Oct 13, 2007) was quite a day as I had the good fortune to be able to meet several of the members of the forum, Mazda, Tom, Jon and Norm. Jon was gracious enough to actually offer and let me co-drive his Caterham at the auto-x. I have to say everyone that I had the opportunity to meet and talk to was more than friendly not just the guys from the forum. I still am just blown away by Jon’s generosity to let me run his car at the auto-x knowing that he had to drive back to New York (about 3.5 hours one way). Now you have to understand that Jon had never meet me before except on line and had not been in the parking lot ten minuets when he told me to get into his car and move it to the grid area. My reply was are you sure and he said go for it so I climbed in and started his car put it into what I though was first gear and promptly stalled it not only once but three times as Jon stood their not saying a word or moving towards me to jerk me out of his very nice car. I finally found first (was trying to start in third [head down feeling real stupid] wondering how Jon was going to kill me) and finally got moving. Man that is one sweet very close ratio six speed gear box. Pulled the car into the grid area where I climbed out of the car and turned towards Jon who was trotting over to were I parked the car and said, “man that is one sweet car” and the steering is so much lighter that my car and that really rips and on an on until Jon stopped me and said I had better go to registration and get registered to run. Still can hardly believe Jon was (well did) letting me co-drive his car after stalling it three times and not ever having meet me before..quite a nice guy. Jon let me go out on the first run on my own and then did his run and then asked me if he could ride with me on my second run which I though was really strange as it is his car and I would have been happy at that point if he had said ok your done but he didn’t and climbed into the passenger seat. About half way through the course Jon is telling me to go faster and push it into the corners when I looked over at him and thinking is he nuts but his look was dead serious. I took his instructions and his pointers on how to run the course and I think knocked 2+ seconds off my previous time. Jon then climbed into his car and bettered my time by at least a second as I recall and that was with me in the passenger seat. My next run Jon climbed into the passenger seat and I was doing well until I spun out and DNF on that run. Jon’s next ran the course again and bettered his time even though he spun out after crossing the timing lights and took out the cable to the timing lights with a cone stuck under his exhaust pipe (fits his T-shirt that he was wearing). Everyone took in stride but they did move the cable to a safer location for the rest of the runs. I have to say that Jon, Mazda, Tom and Norm are real great guys and they all can drive their cars very well. I think Norm had the fastest time of the day with Tom taking second and Jon third even though he took out the timer after crossing the lights…just a little dig from the guy in the spin cycle in a borrowed car. I have to say I had a great time and if any of you get out to the SoCal area you had better call and stop in not that I can say that their will be an Auto-X to go to but we defiantly have some great rods that you can drive my home built on if you want. Again thanks Jon, Tom, Mazda and Norm for letting me enjoy your company..it made the trip for me. Now I just have to get some more power for my car and some track tires.

First thanks JonW for inviting me to stop in and see your cars. They are both works of art and very well done. Your BMW7 is just amazing and very well made. The craftsmanship that you but into that build is just amazing. I now see why you have been featured in so many magazines. I am really impressed with the nosecone that you made even though you say it is rough, but I guess you are the only one that would say that about it. Not many builders have gone to the extent that you have when building their cars skin, side panels all one piece, all aluminum nose, reinforced dash cowl, rear deck behind seats, seats built from scratch, etc. and you drive it as a daily driver. Just amazing my hat is off to you and your abilities. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/986583179_DSCN2197.JPG Now as for that Clone Atom that you are in the middle of building and how you have come about building it without ever seeing a real one in person except in photos. It is really amazing and shows just how talented a builder you are. I think the people in Ashland, Or. are going to due some double takes when the see your build and incorporate some of your more subtle mods into their autos if they get the chance. Just one thing though I hope to be back in Penn next year same time and I sure would like a ride in your Atom as just sitting in it has the old gears between the ears working on how much cooler your car will be when finished. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1626674556_DSCN2202.JPG Thanks again and if you get out to SoCal you better give me a call.

I am going to try to be their by 8:45am and spent the day but I will have to leave when it is over and get back for a family get together as my wife and I will be on the big bird to the west coast on Sunday at 6am. Boxologist I might take you up on that offer when I get their if they will let me so we will see.

I will see you their for sure. Going to try to call JonW and see if I can visit him tomorrow evening as he is only about an hour northwest from were I am at. In Exton, Pa.

I am planning to be their just to meet some of you and see your cars.

Those folks that are that way an drive a Caterham of Westfield or Berklin and tend to have their nose pointing up are just JELLOUS when they see how much cheaper our cars where for us to acquire.....Just my belief.....and if I had the money to buy a new Caterham or one of the other makes I would still take and build my own as I have done just for the satisfaction.

I though that line "featuring driveway lubrication" was just for 7's that used BMC motors.:jester:

Check SpeedWay Motors as they have several different types for street rods that should work.

Good one.

:hurray: Well I guess I should say hello to the 500th member, so hello:seeya: . I missed on the date that the forum would have 500 members by only :rofl: 9 days. It shows that the founding members of this group did good so here is a :thumbs: to them and all the members that make up this group.

That is really a good one.

You due know that Toyota only makes toy trucks for people who think they need a truck when they only need a car.

This is nuts but cool. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8959221252413764426&hl=en

:crazy: Looks like my Oct 10, 2007 might be a good guess.

I have been know to let people drive my car after talking to them for a while and giving them a ride and then taking them to a large parking lot and showing them how quickly the car can turn and stop and then usually let them drive back to the house or shop or where we started from. The youngest person to drive my car yet has been an 16yr old and the oldest person to my knowledge has been 73yrs old. I have to say the youngest person seemed to have a bigger smile than all the others so far and the rides have helped convince several people to either build or buy a 7 for their own pleasure plus it is just neat to see those smiles and to make new friends.

That just is not right.....it needs a PA with a sound track of some sort.....just isn't right.

My Vote is a SEAT the Spanish built Fiat. Not an uncommon site in southern Spain to see farm animals being transported in the family car.

Thanks Mazda. Hope to see you their if all goes well and I can do some finagling on the home front for Sat Oct. 13th..

Tom, Mazda, Al, Jon, Box an EvilR, I am defiantly going to try to get together with at least a couple of you and try to get to the auto-x. Just have to coordinate it with my brother and my wife. Who knows maybe I will get my brother to drive down on Saturday to see the Auto-X and any of you that will be their. Maybe someone can post directions or e-mail me the directions to the Auto-X. I wonder what type of rental car I can get…Hertz dose not have Caterhams or Westfield’s for rent. Just joking.

Hi Tom, That would be great if it is not to far into Md. and at what time would it start as I will have to try to make sometime on Saturday as my wife has informed me that we will be in Oxford at my brothers home for dinner but I will see what I can due. Keep me informed.

Great Photo. Now where is that rifle or bow.......

Hi Friends in the North East, I will be in Exton Pennsylvania area from Oct 7, 2007 to Oct 14, 3007 and was wondering if their are any of you that might be close by that area. If you are and you are up to it I would really enjoy meeting with you at your leisure. PM me and I will give you my schedule which is pretty flexible and my phone number so we can get together while I am back east.

Mazda I just figured that is from all that torque your motor puts out. :eek:

Al, That is a very good description and story of how you came to have possession of fine "7". I have to agree with your wife’s comment that anything else would leave you wanting a "7" but you know that now as most of us due know besides you can always buy one of the other cars for another toy to have if your wife will buy off on it. By the way you should write more as you seem to have a knack for it.