soareyes

Was it this one? http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_01/FawcettOld0711_468x721.jpg Had mine hung above my bed in my college dorm room!

I went through all his build pictures, and wow he did a nice job! Good looking mirrors too.

I must have missed this thread when it started a few weeks ago! I still plan to go May 10th, but I'll probably take the Birkin out and go to the March 8th British car day too. At least the sun will be coming up sooner than when I went last month. Thanks Martin for finding the extra date!

Since I've owned two Birkins in four years, you would think I would have done things differently if I had to do it all over again. But in reality, it was probably a good way to go and I might suggest it for a newbie too. My first Birkin was 2 years old when I bought it, very stock, and under $20,000. It was great as a "starter" Seven to see if a Seven was something I would want to own for the long term. Of course I loved it, and when I started planning the inevitable upgrades, another 2 year old Birkin became available locally that had pretty much all the upgrades I wanted at a good price. So, I bought it and sold the first car. It did take a few months to sell so I was lucky enough to have two Sevens in my garage for awhile! :7drive: :7drive: Financially it was a bit of a stretch though till the second one sold. Before I bought the first Birkin, I was on the wait list for a Stalker kit and I would have had kit #48. Registration difficulties in California, my own limitations as a mechanic, and the availability of an already built and registered Birkin at a good price conspired to convince me to cancel my order! I still have the desire to build my own Seven someday, maybe even go the Locost route from scratch.

Here is a interesting comparison of the Hartley V8 to a Chevy V8: http://www.dpcars.net/dp1test/recent.htm

Just a few more: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1631006539_DSCN2949.jpg New GT2 and GT3: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/2072176790_DSCN2970.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/680168453_DSCN2973.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1502973145_DSCN2974.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/193553697_DSCN2981.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/672077431_DSCN2990.jpg old mini with new Vtec: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/2132076803_DSCN2998.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/707066533_DSCN3008.jpg Rat Rod! The coolant overflow bottle is a Mississippi Mud bottle :ack: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1078959009_DSCN3020.jpg I've never seen a cycle like this before: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/978498357_DSCN3027.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/766679895_DSCN3030.jpg Stopped at the Apple store on the way home: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/900961447_DSCN3036.jpg

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/556057863_DSCN2953.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1666801850_DSCN2960.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1112650823_DSCN2961.jpg These next three are street legal All three had tags and were driven to the event! http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1024216755_DSCN2965.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/393697020_DSCN2994.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/83495636_DSCN3015.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1683919189_DSCN3014.jpg

My wife and daughter were busy this weekend with their own project, so I set the alarm for 4am :sleep: and headed down to Cars & Coffee with the Birkin this morning :7fume: I live in the high desert area of S. California and it was a chilly 28 degrees when I left the house at 5am, but by the time I got to Irvine 90 minutes later, it was probably close to 50. The large parking lot was already filling up at 6:30 even though the official start isn't till 7:00! There was an incredible variety of cars, lots of friendly owners and spectators, and tons of questions about my Birkin. Since this event attracts mostly "car guys", most seemed to know what a Seven is although mine was the only one there today. Mostly they were interested in the various engines setups we use (mine is a mostly stock Zetec). The British car owners were all talking about the big turnout they expect for the British Car day on May 10th, so it is probably a good idea to get there by 6:30 that day. I definely plan to go! A few pics today: My Birkin fit in well with the Brits: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1628306183_DSCN2954.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/962213245_DSCN2979.jpg Pair of Mercedes SLR's, a coupe and convertible: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/584514366_DSCN3000.jpg A nice Jag set up for racing: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1244632788_DSCN3019.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/237284926_DSCN2976.jpg

My new background: http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii248/SBR1000/Lotus%20Eleven/316_frontthreequarter-1.jpg

Good to hear there is a plan B for getting the S2k on the road! Any idea if you can go the whole year on extensions? Took me awhile to figure that one out! :crazy:

Great! :hurray: I'll plan on this. So we have two S. African Birkins, a US Locost, and a US Ultralite and/or a US Weinermobile attending a British Car event. Maybe we need a token Caterham? :lol:

We ought to pick a Saturday and meet up with our Sevens at the event, and maybe a short blat afterwards? May 10th is on their calendar as British Car day. Who in S. California might be interested? :7fume:

Did someone say BEER? Best beer ever: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1895854848_DSCN1689.jpg To stay on topic, no I haven't used v-mail to e-mail either, but it sounds like a good idea. :cheers:

Hey, I thought Mattole Rd. was smooth as silk! Oh wait... I was in a Lexus... :leaving:

Congratulations!:cheers: :hurray: Hopefully the coming joys of ownership will help you forget the problems you had getting the car home. I thought it had orange wheels?

From the Jackal's website, his music video compilation of a blat in Sussex, England, May 2002: http://www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/movies/sussex_blat_new.wmv This has been my favorite 7's video since before I got my own car! He has many more traditional-type track videos on his website too.

Wait! That picture is actually a pic of Gert's (slomove) garage. Here is a picture of mine I just took. Not much neater, but at least I can park cars inside! My poor Birkin has been sitting idle under the cover for the last few weeks even with our decent weather here in S. California :nonod: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/735015878_DSCN2903.jpg

I got a new set of cams! I've got to quit cruising ebay, it is a very expense habit. I don't know how to install the cams yet, but I know that if I get into trouble, Gert's Garage™ is just a phone call away!

Hey Dion, looking good! :thumbs: How did the car do? I can't remember if you've had it at the track before.

This was in my new Road & Track magazine, and now online: "The Lotus Seven Chronicles" He has owned three Sevens! I'm stuck at two, but won't rule out a third. :crazy:

Yes, I believe it is as I've seen it on several other Birkins.

We have a great motorcycle-rides web site for California, www.pashnit.com. Unfortunately they now charge $20/year access to the site, but I find it well worth the price.

Mike, here are the photos of my air box (not the best quality but it's dark out there!), The foam is temporarily attached till I get the thickness right. The box butts up against the hood and air would feed through two banks of louvers in the hood. I had calculated the square inches of total opening, but can't remember it now. However, it was larger than the air intake on my 225 hp sedan, so I'm hoping it is enough. Without: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/380080417_DSCN2892.jpg With: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1406741886_DSCN2897.jpg

Mike, I recently fabricated an aluminum shroud that surrounds the air filter so that the only air source is through the hood louvers. Like your car, the air filter in my Birkin is located at the back of the engine comparment close to the firewall. I first made a cardboard mockup to use as a template, the reproduced it in aluminum sheet. I lined the edges of the shroud with foam so it seals against the hood. I haven't tested it yet on the road, and I was concerned that the hood louvers weren't large enough for good air flow, but it runs well in the garage! I'll try to take some photos to post when I get home.

Sounds like I need his phone number if you don't want the car! :lol: