Al N.

Any other reports from LOG? Sorry I didn't make it this year....too many things on my to-do list and car in shop (minor stuff). Next year, though.

That Navarro is a total publicity hound! Thanks to Jamie for being a good sport about it all. Big thanks to Ross & Ann Robbins and Roy Pogue in Denver for helping get the car sorted before the 1200 mile adventure my daughter and I embarked on to get the car to LA for Jamie. Also to Morgan for addressing the thermostat gasket that was the only hiccup for Isabel and I on our leg of the adventure.

Looking for a stock, un-modded pre-cross head for "modern" Kent engine build over the winter.

Bess is in NJ, but in the shop right now getting some minor things sorted. I hope to have her out and about by Sept. Depending on my family schedule, may bring her up to LRP for vintage weekend (as spectator).

I have to admit, it's pretty amusing to have a car that talks to you.

I enjoyed the part I watched...who all turned out for the event?

For anything more than short drive (20 minutes), I pretty much always wear a helmet (to reduce effect of wind buffeting). And have always worn one on the highway. Now that I have a vintage car, I have been considering getting a Chapal or Pacto vintage style helmet. Very expensive, thought...even the cheaper Pacto is $1200 if you go for the visor and all.

They are the smaller "Lucas" style ones (vs. the larger ones later supplied). I've heard them called the 5" or the 5 3/4". These actually came with the car...and are both spotlight versions (originally, cars were supplied with one spot and one fog type lamp). I know of two sources: http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproducts.asp?sg=1&pgCode=010&sgName=Electrical&pgName=Lighting&agCode=0022&agName=Spot%2FDriving%2FFog+%2D+Lucas+Lamps AND http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=37223&SortOrder=30

Earlier this summer, I took my teenage daughter along for the car's 1200+ mile maiden voyage. Denver to LA. Some of it in 118F Deg temps (Phoenix). Car ran mostly fine...pinhole leak in thermostat gasket slowed us down a bit (waiting for car to cool down to check levels and top off), but nothing that prevented us from getting to LA by our target date. Some pix.

Wow. I met Ed at the 7-7-7 event and although he only stopped in for a day, his menacing car was a hit with owners and spectators (and journalists!) alike. I did correspond with him several times in the years since then, and he was always generous with his time and supportive of the club and our efforts. I was always impressed with his dedication to the hobby...shipping his car to join tours here and there. I'm happy to have known him and had the chance to meet in person. RIP HURAD.

Note that we added quarter-turn fasteners at the front (or was it rear?) of the half-doors as they were prone to unsnapping one of the leading (or was it trailing?) buttons at speed...I assume due to wind buffeting.

On our recent Denver to LA trip, we had to slalom around prairie dogs on the road out of Cortez, CO. And I also noticed (twice) that things that looked like paper or wood turned out to be living lizards sunbathing...so some more swerving was in order.

Speaking of "hot rods" I was nearly denied historic plates in NJ because, upon seeing pix of my car, one rep said "We don't do street rods here, you have to go to the main office for that." Thankfully, one of her co-workers checked their photo database and confirmed what the title person had seen the day before —*that the cars came looking like this from the factory.

On my recent 1200 mile trip, it got so that my 15 year old daughter could field questions when I was running in to convenience marts to get food or use the facilities. We stopped counting the number of people who took pictures when we stopped for gas or food (or repair!) not to mention those who took pix from moving cars.

Sent you an email.

Not bad for a "bitsa"! I'll recount the epic trip from Denver to LA eventually. Thanks Morgan for your help and for bringing Mr. Orange to meet his 52-year old cousin.

Photo credit: Morgan Segal.

My biz partner just spotted a Cat on the highway in NJ. Anyone from the board?

Well, not for me...a client. Over the past few months, my ad agency has helped American Collectors Insurance put together a web series that takes one classic car and one great drivers road/destination and mixes the up in each episode. The effort is called "American Detours" and you can watch it here: http://youtu.be/6FotOvcFswo Or go to the American Detours website: http://americandetourstv.com BTW, is anyone on here an American Detours customer?...I'd love to make a show featuring a Seven (and using my own seem like just a little too much self-promotion!).

If Morgan is so inclined, he should take a pic of the plate the folks at Exoticars USA fabbed up for Orange when it was in my care. I thought it was very sano.

Another pic. Top up.

Thanks all...playing with Mapquest tonight yielded a 9 day LA-NYC trip that hit Denver and Tail of the Dragon. Gert...thanks for the advice to carefully consider a desert drive.

Morgan: Oh noes (regarding Mr. Orange)! The noseband and wheels are my homage to my old car... Dean: 185/13s...from John Donohoe himself! But I'm planning to eventually roll on 165 vintage-style Avons. Engine is 1500 pre-cross flow lightly massaged..est under 100 hp. Car originally had 1340 (Ford 109e). Original Weber carb set up.

More pix. I was out to see and drive the car in Jan...in town for just 24 hours, otherwise I would have given you a heads up, Skip.

Folks- For those of you who don't know me, I'm one of the founders of the USA7s club and helped organize the 7-7-7 meet at Tail of the Dragon back in 2007. I've been without a car for a few years, but have remedied that situation with the completion of a vintage Lotus Seven (1961 Series 2) project. Instead of doing the smart thing and just paying to ship the car home via Intercity or Horseless Carriage, I'm planning on driving it home. Great idea, right? I mean, what could possibly go wrong with a 52-year old British car? The good news is that I'm planning on having some support in the way of my SUV and open trailer. While my exact route is TBD, I was thinking of trailering the car from its location in Denver to the LA region and starting the trek home to NJ from there...taking about 7-9 days in total. Probably end of May or early June. I want to literally go from Pacific to the Atlantic. Would love to meet up with forum and club members en route. Would definitely want to see the DC/VA crowd (Mrs. Rowe's anyone?) and the NJ/PA lunatics...but looking for Se7eners across the US. So let me know on this thread if you are interested. Any advice on routes or "must drive" roads would be welcome. -Al