Al N.

thanks JIM! I sent you a PM just now...you don't happen to have a video of the non-parade do you? If so, ask Mazda for the club YouTube Account info...and post it in a new thread...I think that will get LOTS of views. -Al

i did when i was trying to post up on monday and tues...

I'll defer to the way Mazda had the states divided up...

Folks- When we were the acting slate of Club Officers, Mazda, Jerry, and I discussed that while national-scale meets are great (it was fun, wasn't it!!!) and all — for the club to capture the momentum of 7-7-7 and keep going, it is important to hold smaller regional events every so often. And to publicize and document them here. This way people can see the cars and people and make sure to attend future events within driving distance. To that end, we're looking for some volunteer coordinators to take on the task of working within the geographic regions defined here. If you are interested, simply speak up here. Some folks expressed an interest over the weekend and we hope they are able to follow through. The current collective wisdom is to try and have a national level meet every OTHER year, with larger regional meets in between. So perhaps 2009 we'll be back at the Dragon or somewhere else, and in 2008 have a number of regional meets that draw a dozen or more cars each. I'm going to post this in all the regional sections now, and hopefully people can run with it. -Al

Folks- When we were the acting slate of Club Officers, Mazda, Jerry, and I discussed that while national-scale meets are great (it was fun, wasn't it!!!) and all — for the club to capture the momentum of 7-7-7 and keep going, it is important to hold smaller regional events every so often. And to publicize and document them here. This way people can see the cars and people and make sure to attend future events within driving distance. To that end, we're looking for some volunteer coordinators to take on the task of working within the geographic regions defined here. If you are interested, simply speak up here. Some folks expressed an interest over the weekend and we hope they are able to follow through. The current collective wisdom is to try and have a national level meet every OTHER year, with larger regional meets in between. So perhaps 2009 we'll be back at the Dragon or somewhere else, and in 2008 have a number of regional meets that draw a dozen or more cars each. I'm going to post this in all the regional sections now, and hopefully people can run with it. -Al

Folks- When we were the acting slate of Club Officers, Mazda, Jerry, and I discussed that while national-scale meets are great (it was fun, wasn't it!!!) and all — for the club to capture the momentum of 7-7-7 and keep going, it is important to hold smaller regional events every so often. And to publicize and document them here. This way people can see the cars and people and make sure to attend future events within driving distance. To that end, we're looking for some volunteer coordinators to take on the task of working within the geographic regions defined here. If you are interested, simply speak up here. Some folks expressed an interest over the weekend and we hope they are able to follow through. The current collective wisdom is to try and have a national level meet every OTHER year, with larger regional meets in between. So perhaps 2009 we'll be back at the Dragon or somewhere else, and in 2008 have a number of regional meets that draw a dozen or more cars each. I'm going to post this in all the regional sections now, and hopefully people can run with it. -Al

Folks- When we were the acting slate of Club Officers, Mazda, Jerry, and I discussed that while national-scale meets are great (it was fun, wasn't it!!!) and all — for the club to capture the momentum of 7-7-7 and keep going, it is important to hold smaller regional events every so often. And to publicize and document them here. This way people can see the cars and people and make sure to attend future events within driving distance. To that end, we're looking for some volunteer coordinators to take on the task of working within the geographic regions defined here. If you are interested, simply speak up here. Some folks expressed an interest over the weekend and we hope they are able to follow through. The current collective wisdom is to try and have a national level meet every OTHER year, with larger regional meets in between. So perhaps 2009 we'll be back at the Dragon or somewhere else, and in 2008 have a number of regional meets that draw a dozen or more cars each. I'm going to post this in all the regional sections now, and hopefully people can run with it. -Al

Folks- When we were the acting slate of Club Officers, Mazda, Jerry, and I discussed that while national-scale meets are great (it was fun, wasn't it!!!) and all — for the club to capture the momentum of 7-7-7 and keep going, it is important to hold smaller regional events every so often. And to publicize and document them here. This way people can see the cars and people and make sure to attend future events within driving distance. To that end, we're looking for some volunteer coordinators to take on the task of working within the geographic regions defined here. If you are interested, simply speak up here. Some folks expressed an interest over the weekend and we hope they are able to follow through. The current collective wisdom is to try and have a national level meet every OTHER year, with larger regional meets in between. So perhaps 2009 we'll be back at the Dragon or somewhere else, and in 2008 have a number of regional meets that draw a dozen or more cars each. I'm going to post this in all the regional sections now, and hopefully people can run with it. -Al

Folks- When we were the acting slate of Club Officers, Mazda, Jerry, and I discussed that while national-scale meets are great (it was fun, wasn't it!!!) and all — for the club to capture the momentum of 7-7-7 and keep going, it is important to hold smaller regional events every so often. And to publicize and document them here. This way people can see the cars and people and make sure to attend future events within driving distance. To that end, we're looking for some volunteer coordinators to take on the task of working within the geographic regions defined here. If you are interested, simply speak up here. Some folks expressed an interest over the weekend and we hope they are able to follow through. The current collective wisdom is to try and have a national level meet every OTHER year, with larger regional meets in between. So perhaps 2009 we'll be back at the Dragon or somewhere else, and in 2008 have a number of regional meets that draw a dozen or more cars each. I'm going to post this in all the regional sections now, and hopefully people can run with it. -Al

Various people have emailed me great memories from the event...from being moved to tears (in a good way) to laughter and hilarity...please post up your thoughts and memories here to try and capture the memories while they're still fresh!:bigears:

Ned, I'm in the advertising/marketing biz, and I actually think Manik's (and autopro's) IMAGE is a lot more robust than other manufacturers/distribs. It feels quality, upscale. I've already mentioned this to them (and the others)...they'll get a more functional site going soon. Keep in mind that none of the outfits are all that big, and perhaps they are focusing on building cars than building a website. I know a bunch of Caterham owners who wouldn't mind parking a Westfield XI next to their Se7en — INCLUDING ME!!!

That's the date of the GRM "Ultimate Track Car Challenge"...which Jeff U. is going to participate in...it's a Friday. Sat and Sun are part of a NASA weekend. Anyone interested in meeting up to support one of our own? Jeff, do you want/need any helpers? (even to watch the dogs?)

Folks- Does anyone know of the origin of the "add lightness" manifesto attributed to Colin Chapman? And no, for my current needs, I do not consider Wikipedia definitive enough. I reviewed all my books and mags/clippings and can't find a direct quote. -Al

Okay, since the boys have exerted sufficient peer pressure on me, I'm planning to try an Auto X before the end of the year. If any of my carbon fenders break, I'm taking up a collection. But I want to get a Jack and Torque Wrench beforehand...sometime this summer. Anyone have recommendations? I do care about price, but a quick survey says that even the nicest jack isn't too expensive. Light would be good. Might be useful if it could lift the TT too. Wrench will be used mainly for wheel lug nuts. I'm going to get one of those jack "cozy" things so I can keep the jack on the trailer. Griots seems to have a few nice ones, but I did see that Sears had a special on a nice aluminum one.

Mazda...do you know when all the big (100, 200, 300)....membership milestones were met? Welcome aboard all new folks...please take the time to introduce yourself here: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=168

Scott Nettleship's S4 is also missing. So that's 9 cars missing. And I can't tell if one of the cars is Burke Ulrey's Scratch-built....anyone? anyone? Bueller?

Check out the group photo over on killboy... http://bp3.blogger.com/_LxZ4Mi3rR3Q/RpSXOTew5VI/AAAAAAAACM0/0m8z3nemGF0/s1600-h/img_0562.jpg It's cool to see how wide some of the cars are (ahem, Mr. Ebrahimi) compared to a narrow one like mine. But I'm really writing with a question... WHO IS MISSING FROM THIS SHOT? I'm trying to get a count for the journalists and don't know if my papers reflect the count. I know of at least 7 cars NOT in this photo: • Fred Kitch's Lotus S2 • Dick Brink's "Wine Sizzler" Birkin • Mark Rivera's Silver/Black Locost Auto-Xer • Heikki R-K's Silver/Black Locost • Ed Hudson's Caterham SLR • David Seybold's Red/Black Stalker (auto x champ) • Walt Hoffman's Ali/Red Caterham If I'm wrong on any of these, or you know of more that were not there, please chime in here.

I penalized him for "high flying" (as opposed to low flying!) But I think you guys did pretty well in terms of media exposure, right? That's the real prize, IMHO.

Copied from the Jalopnik article...the smiles say it all...taking a break at the Overlook on Friday AM drive (on a damp Dragon) with Jonny, Mazda, Norm, and Mike D. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/112536994_Mazdaandme.jpg

Want to blow your mind? Click through the string of photos that starts here: http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/OrderPage.aspx?pi=04RK00G0000003&po=3&c= Now if I can just track down the Dorseys (the blue Elise)...as I think he was standing at the Overlook with a video camera...

I love that shot of Karen S. smoking... Tony V. took some great pix and posted them over on his site: http://www.lotusowners.com/2007Meetings/Sevens%20at%20the%20Tail%20of%20the%20Dragon/Set1/index.htm

It's been bothering me since Saturday night, so I just mapquested the "farthest driven" and "farthest towed" finalists again and am relieved that we awarded the prizes correctly. Though it was very close for both categories. Towed/Traveled: 1065 miles Paul Perry from NH 1035 Brent Schwartz from MN Driven in a Se7en: 844 Ken Granieri from Selden NY 805 Jon Cohen from New Hyde Park NY (in one shot, with a journalist aboard!!!)

Jonny's write up is Se7en-tastic. Be sure to check it out. That shot of the cars at the overlook is AMAZING and Jonny took the one shot of me that I've seen over the weekend where I'm not sweating profusely and looking more overweight than I am.

I gave Jonny L. a ride on that one early AM drive...and that's about it. Of course, I didn't get to drive that much.

Laura and I are going to try and put together a mac book of shots from the event. And will make the template available to folks to print on their own. Jonny L. has some amazing ones, IMHO and I especially like the "at speed" shot Laura shot on the big group drive. And I'm sure there are many more. So...please send me your photos on CDs when you can. Email or PM for my mailing address. -Al