panamericano

The July post has all Mario's contact info. Let us all know if there is stock.

Oh, no! Not a spin.

From Andrew Frankel's very favorable review of the new Cat Super Seven 1600 in the November issue of Motorsport. Applies to a lot of old sport cars, beside any Seven. You may not be aware of it, but we’re always correcting and making allowances for modern cars because their weight, size and softness means they respond only in an approximate manner.

A bit out of an article by Miles Collier. The article is about a drive in his 1914 RR. This goes to the point for some of us semi luddites. As the old adage goes, “they don’t make them like they used to,” and they don’t operate the way they used to either. What’s in play here is the concept of mastery. Mastery is one of the seven pathways by which we engage with historical automobiles. The other six are: nostalgia, aesthetics, history, technology, competition, and fellowship. Mastery is the attraction of interacting with the automobile as active, vibrant, and working matter. Expert operation, tuning, maintenance, and just the sheer pleasure of driving are all aspects of mastery. Starting a pre-war Rolls-Royce on the crank from cold is a practical example. Mastery is the ability to care for that automobile through correct praxis, the necessary strategies and actions to prepare, use, and maintain a specific automobile in all of its idiosyncratic technical complexity. It is this ability to care for that artifact in this physical way that creates deep understanding of the mechanical confection that is any given automobile. Mastery is a way to interact with the automobile as a dynamic archive of obsolete practices and skills. And, ultimately, it is a way to connect to the known and unknown geniuses who designed, built, and maintained the car in the past.

Those are some brave lads standing by the course.

We won't have nearly the problem of folks with production cars, trying to keep them standard and/or original. Our cars are pretty adaptable, for the most part. Obviously, early Lotus cars want to appear as original as possible, but for us later types, that hardly matters in many areas. Electronics will be the hardest for trying to keep a production car original. We could just adapt another system, as many here have done anyway Tires are already a bit of an issue for some that don't want to change wheels. I can't see putting 16-18" rims on a Seven. There are several low volume tire choices and there will always be Avon. If you look at the Vintage F1 scene, it is about all Avon. They are the only ones interested in making the right sizes. Sold a 1993 Ferrari F1 on Avons. Body should not be too hard. Fiberglass and aluminum both being relatively easy to work. Don't worry, be happy!

The key chain has cycle fenders like my car. It had a full windshield, but it broke so now it matches my Brooklands.

I bet most car drivers never think about working on car keys, or switches. Good thing Seven owners are not anal. When I got my Birkin, the original owner just left the key in the switch, even if parked in the open. Super good karma? The problem was that the ear of the key jammed against the padded lower dash, so the key could not rotate to LOCK to be removed. Not having led such a holy life, one of my first projects was to remove the key. I patiently fiddled it with pliers and bit by bit got it out without damaging the padding. Next step (besides getting a duplicate) was to cut off some of the side that was fouling. I do like the idea of putting a switch in the dash, rather than the column lock. The switch is on the right, and it is a RHD car. I have to bend over and insert the key from outside. Once seated, I can't see it and it requires a bunch of fumbling around.

To echo the rest, YES, go for it. I have a suggestion for storing one of your other cars. I could move the wife's car out of the garage...

Good idea, scannon. I might have to do that. Thanks.

" I suppose under-bonnet space is at a premium, but river fording is definitely out." Well, not being in Texas, it is not a BIG 4X4. also, wet sump limits imaginary boulder clearance. At least it is hung with tie wire, so that's something.

Hurray! Another right side drive Birkin. Welcome.

Congratulations. Now you re golden. My car is titled as 1965 and it makes everything so easy. This is another example of the variety of attitudes at different official offices. A beurocrat's attitude can have a very real affect on the individual. Never give up after a bad experience, just try another office or clerk. Sometimes the letter of the regulation does not matter as much as how the spouse treated them before they went to work that morning.

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Prescription safety glasses in clear and tint. Great price at Sam's. Sometime a shorty motorcycle helmet (chrome for visibility). Caps won't stay on much over 35. Brooklands give more wind that a windshield, but direct instead of buffeting all around, so I prefer them. For long highway cruising, a closed helmet makes it as smooth and quiet as a limo. Gotta have my ear plugs.

Now y'all see what we in the old Birkin yahoo group were enjoying for years.

Thanks for posting that one. It's nice to know someone still knows how to really work a camera.

Congratulations and welcome to the nut-case community. Great car.

Welcome, Tex. I'm in Dallas, close to Love Field if you get up this way. Love the color, much like my Birkin, but I don't have the snazzy yellow snout. I would like to see how your exhaust is routed, as I may want to do something like that. My car is Loud right under my ear. Enjoy.

What a lovely road. You're making me jealous again. If I had roads like that at my disposal, I might go sane.

Impossible to guess the mileage of the old Birkin. Built between 1986 and 1989. Engine change 1990, when imported by original owner from South Africa. I got it in December 2013, and finally titled and registered in Sept. 2014, after a miraculous recovery from the dreaded Lost Title Syndrome. I probably put only 1500 miles a year, since there are no convenient and worthy roads nearby.

How do you make the various holes?

Well deserved.

IF it came right down to it, Cat could probably make a light enough car if they shot for a range of 100 miles. I don't think many hard butts really go further with any regularity. Anyway, I like my noise.