Jesse D

Well you could buy it and leave it in Newfoundland for the Targa next fall (something I'd love to do). Back in the 80's there used to be quite the parking lot up in northern Maine where folks would try and bring a gray market car over the border, thinking that some obscure border town would be best- they would be told to "park over there between the Ferrari and the Porsche". Better bet would be Windsor/Detroit at rush hour.

That would be the new guy here:flag: Drove down with Chris from Sevens & Elans, as he had built it, and took it back on a trailer to Chris's shop. Not that it needs anything, but there are a few things I'm planning to do. I'm tall enough to want a higher roll bar, and I'll put competition belts in while leaving the ability to put the inertia belts back in. My thanks to Rick, car was exactly as described, clean and well cared for. I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions for you all, and I'm looking for a trailer as there will be occasions for towing. Anyone want a mint bright yellow 1989 BMW Z3 with 15,000 miles? That is the car that was willed to me that is one of the reasons for me buying a seven- my theory is buy in the fall, sell in the spring, but I'll sell it now- could be just the car for someone's significant other by way of affection or appeasement.

Thanks to all for the welcome- it seemed appropriate to follow John's instruction as it seemed so gentle- on the sailing site I frequent the immediate response to anyone posting for the first time is "f** off and show us your wife's . . . ." which either drives people quickly away or gets them used to the nature of some of the talk. I'm expecting to buy a car, not build a kit. I'm trying to build a small boat for the grandsons, because I can handle wood and fiberglass, but two projects would be a bit much. With boats I'm happy sailing or working, with this car I'm focused on driving.

I just joined this group, and understand an introduction is in order. Sometime in the winter of 64-65 I stood in the Lotus showroom in Manhattan looking at a Lotus 7 that was mounted sideways on the wall and took home all the literature I could. My efforts to convince my father that letting a fifteen year old assemble a kit car was a great idea completely failed, but the thought of having one of these cars has never gone, and 50 years later circumstances may finally allow me to complete the deal. Basically I'm looking for a car I can drive the back roads of Maine in, and maybe do a little auto crossing. I've spent a few days at Lime Rock with instruction. Targa Newfoundland is a fantasy. I'm working with Chris at Sevens and Elans as (I blame my father here) I'm not real strong at the technical side of these cars. I can fit in any Caterham (6' and 165 lbs.). Sailing is my primary recreation (I sail multihulls, which are the 7s of sailboats). Currently unmarried, but my daughter has no objections and my grandson will think one of these cars is cool (he is only 6, so won't want to drive it for a year or two). Trying to retire, but that means selling a small specific business to a very limited pool of buyers. I'm hoping to be able to get the group's help going forward- take pity on the new guy. I do understand that there is no controversy about the issue of which of these cars is the best- the consensus is Westfields, right? Jesse Deupree Portland Maine