Al N.

I'd be up for that...also Jon and NY area area folks...let's take Manhattan someday...just for giggles. I have a guy who wants to film a drive down Broadway...could be fun in the early AM of a Sat or Sun. Also, if anyone wants to see me lose my Auto-X "virgin" status...I'm considering Aug 19 Philly Region at Warminster...pretty close to my house, so we could BBQ afterwards (especially those people from the North and East).

Damn, that's the saddest news I've heard all day! Bart...are your panasports 1 piece or multi...and would you consider selling those separate?

Damn, that's some of the saddest news I've heard in a while...hopefully Pepper will go to a good home. Bart...are your panasports 1 piece or multi...and would you consider selling those separate?

MIRROR SOLD! Jim, I'll correspond with you directly.

I do not have the longer extension...checked this weekend. As for the fit on a standard windscreen...it might if you don't have the leading edge of the scuttle covered with that plastic coping like I do. It needs at least 1 7/8 inches (that's the size of the mounting plate. To help get Tom on the road for PNW, let's try and have a definitive answer by Wednesday night (7/25): Here's the running order: Jim Steve (but I think he wanted it only if it fit with a full windscreen) Tom Again to clarify, I DO NOT HAVE THE LONGER MOUNTING POST.

So yesterday, I bought into all the hype and went to the local Borders for the Harry Potter VII launch. It was actually pretty fun and well managed. Some of the people who came in costume were really really out there. Talking in accents and staying in character...mind you, these weren't Borders employees...just fans of the series. We got there at 9:35 and left at about 12:30, book in hand. Isabel would have started read it on the way home too, except she had chosen to ride in the Seven for that leg of the trip. Ava got the cushy Pilot to take her home. I'm still tired.

Bruce- I think they are still working on that....I think this is ANOTHER one that they ordered due to inquiries from walk-in customers seeing ours and asking "are those for ATVs?"

Did Robert O have the same reaction (pure joy) that Jon C. did?

Can anyone who was in this shot (and the others set up by David from Hemmings) who might have out takes please email me your shots? TIA. -Al

Mike- You are an iron man...have you owned from new? I've had my car for 2 years and it's only got 3100 miles on it! Speaking of fused vertebrae...last year at Skyline East, I spent about 9 hours in the seat in one day and could barely walk the next day! -Al

FYI, these trailers were built by Mission. Here's a thread with some specs and costs... Trailer Thread

Folks- If you are looking for an all-aluminum trailer with a single axle and electric brakes, the place where Bruce W. and I got ours has another one available. While not the cheapest solution (I think this one has the $500 aluminum deck option, too), these trailers fit our cars nicely and tow easily. Fit and finish is pretty good too. I think the deck is 6.5 x 14. See below for shots of my trailer empty/loaded up. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/720853277_IMG_1575.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1179024539_IMG_1576.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1053939627_IMG_1577.jpg Contact Glenn Ergott at Performance Trailer in Flanders, NJ: 973-347-3472. http://traileroutlet.com/

X-Post from the event thread... Tx. Michael for being one of the biggest cheerleaders of the event since last June. One of my favorite things about the weekend was driving up to the Crossroads on Friday AM and Saturday AM and seeing Se7ens waiting for us. You and Norm B on that wet Friday AM and Cherik, Jeff P., and Graeme G. on that Saturday...with the Ohio reinforcements rolling up as we were heading out.

What, do you have 2 enclosed trailers, Mr. N?:jester: I'll put in the order at the end of July, so please speak up if you haven't already.

I think our timing was very good. In both micro and macro terms... The early AM drives gave us a clear road, before people were up. And the non-parade also beat the crowds. The fatal accidents which happened in the week after we left are tragic reminders of what can happen when you over cook corners on 129. I'm pretty sure that in the wake of all that, there will be constant police presence on the Dragon for a while.

This in from Darryl Cannon: "I haven't heard anything negative...only a few comments from those who admired the cars. Not much feedback though, which can be taken as a good thing. ;)"

When I looked at the flow charts, the Cosworth Zetec head was well beyond the Ford Racing head. I don't have them handy at the moment, but it was a substantial improvement. You can see the prices and specs over on Focus Sport. It's in line with your ballpark costs, Seth. I think you might be suprised at how "ungeneric" it is. I also had talk with Ken over at Cosworth... Rolla7...I do know about the SVT option, but a talk with Ben at RMSCi made me think twice. Apparently you have to fabricate a flange and weld and....more than I feel like doing. And gosh, it's situations like this when I wish we had one consolidated forum (I'd have to dig up my CCC password again). Of course, there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat. Maybe I'll just rip out the Zetec and put in an H-1 (don't I wish!!!) I am going to find out what the Cosworth Cam is like compared to the Kent that's in my Superlight. BTW, does anyone know if it's the Focus 12 or Focus 2 (or the FZ2003)? I've put a feeler out to Cody, but heard nothing back yet.

You know the funny thing is that when I posted a link to the pix of our meet over on blat chat...we got many thumbs up and compliments. One person even remarked something to the effect of "I think mixed-marque meets are the way to go for you guys over in the US". It's only the uber-purists who have gotten hung up on the "historical accurracy" of the date — there were quite a few regional meets over in the UK on 777...I think they had worse weather that day than we didd.

I'll try and get that from my shop and post a pic soon...it's the standard Caterham "fuel injection" tank...that came with my Superlight...has the integrated fuel pump and level gauge sender. I went to an ATL 55 liter fuel cell, heeding the many admonitions of friends who said "You take your kids in that car, Al? I'd think abou a fuel cell."

That's not too bad...I don't think I have the taller bit lying around...I'll look for it. In the Mirror GP: Jim has pole, and Tom is alongside in the first row of the grid. Do I hear any takers for the fuel tank and/or the aeroscreen??? The rollbar will be off my car shortly...I've got an FIA bar on the way....

The SVT head is actually different (and a rare bird to find salvage, I've been told)...it's got bigger valves BUT has the ports is different locations...meaning my TBs wouldn't be a simple bolt on. And considering I've already cut a hole in the bonnet to fit them... Drew...how did you get that 3.8 time? Using a Traqmate or something?

This just in from Ron & Nancy Johnson... "We heard nothing negative. The locals are pretty used to seeing unusual cars so not much heard from that front. Guess no news is good news." That backs up Mazda's POV that "it's not like other small towns".

I didn't get out on the roads much, but here are a few anecdotes: • When I took Nancy Johnson of TailoftheDragon.com out (though we were held up both ways by slower, less considerate traffic), she remarked "So, you don't even have to brake going into some of these turns, hunh?" (The funny thing about that comment is I pretty much said the same thing to Mazda & Scott at lunch at Skyline last year...I was such a newb!) • When driving back from dropping Nancy off at their roadside stand up at the crossroads of 28 and 129, I was behind a cruiser for a lot of the way...on the descent down to Tapoco a "motard" (dirtbike with slicks) came up behind me fast. The cruiser finally pulled over at the bridge down near the dam and I opened it up a bit. The motard gave chase and I gave him the point through and pushed hard to stay with him before turning into Tapoco. He looked back a few times to see where I was...which was pretty close to him. Those motards are quick...I doubt that I could have stayed with him for very long. Some of the quicker drivers probably could have though... • Sunday night, Laura and I popped out for one quick drive up to the crossroads. On our way back, a church bus got inbetween Mazda (giving Jon C. a "see, this is the kind of power you need in the SV" ride), so we took it easy. But a local in a Mustang must have followed us out of the gas station...he came up kind of hard on us, and I slowed to create a gap between us and the bus...then right before the 90 degree at the bottom of the hill, I gun it. The 'stang gives chase, but we catch up with the church bus right quick. The funny thing is that the church bus pulls into the Tapoco drive to let us by...but by that time I was ready to call it a night. The Mustang powered down 129 toward Robbinsville. I have to say that I was near the limit of grip in that 90 degree...was enough thrills for me (and Laura).

Tonight I did something crazy. Crazier than trying to co-organize the Dragon meet. Crazier than a Cosworth head swap on a 200 HP Superlight R. Tonight I sat in the passenger seat of my car — while my wife drove it. Believe it or not, today is the first time in the 2 years and roughly 3000 miles we've had the car that she's driven it. She's never shown much interest, perhaps due to my rants about getting hit in the face with pebbles or blown hoses (Raceline water rails for everyone!) or how scary fast it is that I can't even bring myself to wide open throttle it. Keep in mind that Laura learned to drive a stick as a teen (probably before I did) and was the only person among myself, my brother, and his wife to successfully drift a full 360 on the wet skidpad when we all went to Skip Barber many years ago. Inspired by the sight of Erin V. at the wheel on the Dragon non-parade, Laura started talking about driving the car from the moment we left Robbinsville. And so, with our kids up at my folks for the week for summer camp, we made a date to go out on roads she was familiar with (she declined my offer down at Deal's Gap). We ran down to the local ice cream joint. And we both lived to tell. Since it was her first time, she didn't really wind it out much. I did notice that she shifted a bit too slowly, not used to how the revs fall off so quickly compared to the TT, so the first few miles were a little rough. But she got the hang of it and even seemed to enjoy herself. To her credit, the one time that she put it into first instead of third (), her speed and reaction time was such that she didn't over rev the motor.... I'm looking forward to more drives in the passenger seat. Perhaps we'll have enough significant others interested in driving to have an "estrogen run" (Erin V's words, not mine) at the next national meet.

Thanks for that tip Mr. G!