powderbrake

One of the side benefits of having your children learn how to work on cars is that when you need new plugs or an oil change, you can assign them the job, while you sit back with a beer. :cheers:

Oh to have so much money, you can indulge your every car whim. Did you see the Ariel Atom sitting next to tthe Rocket?

Al: I know how you feel. It is great fun and a real learning experince to build a car with your kid. Back in 1980, my son asked me if he could have a dune buggy. We made a deal, I would match him $ for $, and would help him build it. There were two restrictions. He could not work on it until his homework was done, and I would never work on it alone. We got a Chenoweth frame, bought a 1972 Beetle for donor parts, and we were in the build. I was really stoked.... I wanted to be building all the time, but I had to wait for him to finish his homework, or to come home from playing ball with his buddies etc. , but we did it on his schedule. When it was done he drove it to high school for two years, in all weather. He was tougher than me for sure. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/85102806_dunebuggy.jpg When you daughter gets older, I bet you will have fun building with her. I have a good friend who resoterd a 1964 Camaro with his daughter. She got mechanically inclined, eventually got an engineering degree, then a law degree and became a patent lawyer. Perhaps the build had something to do with that

Very interesting, a vehicle which uses the driver's feet as a front bumper. :nonod: Be sure to wear your heaviest boots, or don't hit anything :cry:

They look like 17" wheels which is standard on Ultralites. see brian's web page, and click on Gallery, pictures, or on Models, XR7 ultralite website

My wife bought me a ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday a few years ago, and it was great fun. ( No she didn't try to shoot it down) What was interesting was how quiet it was when the burners were not on. Floating along at a 100 -200 feet over peoples homes, you could hear people talking in their yards, and you could talk to them. It really surprised tham when you said hello, and thay had not heard the balloon. Landing is simply a controlled crash. The higher the wind speed the less controlled the landing.

I generally keep a bottle of water between the seats, but I was thinking of adding a cupholder for a 64 oz Big Gulp

" My Name is Dave and I drive a Seven" It sounds like an AA meeting. I guess we are addicted to the sevens, so..... I suppose I have to come clean as well My name is Jerry , and I drive a seven. This could become the official greeting of USA7s members.

loren; I can't make it to South Bend because of a family committment, but can offer support if needed, I will pm you the data. Maybe I can make it to one of the other events. Jerry

I added my vote

Well, since my Ultralite never breaks or needs any maintenance, I have to have other things to work on. I have a 98 vette, to which I added a Blackwing intake, and did a bypass on a set of B&B Touring mufflers. I also recently replaced the leather on the seats, as the top is always down and the original leather on the 98's was junk. Here's a pic at my old house. You can see the muffler bypass at link to baypass http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/40357719_DCP00396.JPG I also used to build RC model airplanes , but haven't had the time, since I moved to a new home, and got the Ultralite. Here is a ducted fan model of an A4 Skyhawk which I did in Blue Angels colors. Sorry to say it only lasted two flights, but if you fly em, you crash em. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1257510856_skyhawk (Medium).jpg I have recently acquired some woodworking tools and have started to build furniture. I just completed my first of 6 planned pieces which will fill a 9 X 16 foot wall with an entertainment center. The first piece is the TV stand. It is all cherry and cherry plywood. This piece is 68" long, 18"high and deep, with two large drawers. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1311630233_DSC_3866 (Medium).JPG In my spare time, I am generally reloading ammo. I shoot weekly with a club at a local police department, an occasional IDPA pistol match, and I am currently preparing for a prairie dog trip to South Dakota in May. Here's a pic from last year when I got into the Varmint Hunter's 500 yard club by nailing one at 588 yards. I was shooting from the trucks in the top of the picture. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1190375103_588_yard_dog_eddens.jpg

John: I am in St.Louis, and have assembled my own WCM Ultralite kit. I would be happy to share what experience I have with you. email me geddens at charter.net

I made the transition OK, everything looks good

Sounds great. Do you have to change the injectors, or will they handle the extra horsepower? With the aftermarket computer , are you going to change the rpm when the VTEC kicks in, or leave it alone?

HOOO BOY !!!! You can never have too much horsepower!!! It looks like a good fit. There is lots of room in front of the engine, did you have to fabricate special brackets, and did you have to move any original frame rails or fittings?

Paul: It really looks great. I look forward to seeing it in person. I remember the grin on your face when you rode in Buzz's Ultralite at the Southwest Sevens Festival. I can only imagine the grin is MUCH larger, now that you have built your own.

Al, you are welcome to share the space inside the trailer with my car. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif

I agree with blami, the enclosed trailer is a real advantage to getting there and back and staying dry. I also agree that dual wheels, electric brakes and a weight transfer hitch are important. You may need a larger SUV to pull a larger trailer. I have a Haulmark Kodiak 7 X 14 enclosed trailer with a ramp rear door. It has a side door (helps to tie down the car, and to reach stored items in front)and lots of room to haul tools and supplies. It cost me $4300,and I bought it new from the factory. Lots of these 7 x 14 "landscaper's" trailers with a drop down rear ramp are available on ebay. There is a ready market for it when you decide to sell it. Check the inside width.... on some trailers, the trailer wheels are partially into the cargo compartment. On mine, the trailer wheels are completely outside the cargo area, so I have the full width of the trailer inside. (72 1/2" which just fits my 68" wide car) Because the drop down ramp creates too steep an angle for the botttom of the car to clear the edge of the trailer, you will need to invest in a pair of "Rhino Ramps" at Wal Mart for about $30. These work perfectly, and there is no need to raise the front of the trailer to get the car on and off. I cut the "stops" off the top of the rhino ramps, and they fit under the rear ramp of the trailer, forming a ramp extension for the car wheels. The enclosed utility trailer is great for moving furniture and 4 x 8 sheets of plywood. In fact you will become the "guy with a trailer " to all your friends. Here's a couple pics. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_082624_DSC_0240_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_082754_DSC_0241_Small.JPG Here the rhino ramps tuck under the rear of the Ultralite http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_083520_DSC_0239_Small.JPG Here , backing it out, I do not yet have the rhino ramps, and I am using wood blocks to lift the ramp to lower the angle into the trailer. Also note the trailer is a lot taller than you need. I got one with an extra 6" of height, as it was the only one I could get on short notice, when I needed the trailer. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_084404_DSCF2594_Small.JPG

I registered in D mod, as #1, if we only have dot and slick classes, I will run in DOT, as I have street tires.

Steve: Gret looking car, and you can never go wrong wih ared interior. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/hurray.gifhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

Spotcheck: I measured the seat area. The passenger side measures 16 3/4 between the tunnel and side of the car, and the metal portion of the seat is 15 1/2 inside between the seat sides. There is about 1/4 inch of padding on the seat sides. The sides are rather high, and provide a lot of side support. The driver's side is 18 3/4 and 17 1/2 respectively. The engine and drive train are offset toward the passenger side to provide more room for the driver. As mentioned before they are 20 degree layback "drag" model seats from Ultrashield. I added about 1" of foam under the seat and on the back, with a little more for a lumbar support, and they are pretty comfortable. Here's some seat pics. here's some seat pics. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070313_101026_DSC_3538_Medium.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070313_101101_DSC_3537_Medium.JPG

The dam is in a strange neighborhood, the trees grow downwards

- You think the primary purpose of wings is to PREVENT flight. - You take your helmet along when you go to buy new eyeglasses or check out cars. - You feel compelled on a road trip to beat your previous best time. - You are happiest when your street car's tires are worn to racing depth and the wear bars are showing. - When something falls off of your car, you wonder how much weight you just saved. - When you hear 'overcooked it', instead of food you think 'off the track'. - You change engine oil every other week. - You sometimes hear little noises from your passengers when you get on the throttle right after turning in. - You thoroughly enjoy showing the tailgater behind how to drive around a highway off-ramp. - Your racing budget is one of the big three --mortgage, car payments/maintenance, dating. -Your email address refers to your race car rather than to you. - You walk proper lines through the grocery store. - You've been known to yell "It means 'check your mirrors' dammit!" at your television. - You've paid $4.00 a gallon for gas without complaining. - You buy new parts because you don't know where you put the spares. - You bought a race car before buying a house. - You bought a race car before buying furniture for the new house. - You're looking for a tow vehicle and still haven't bought furniture! - You find that you need a new house because you've outgrown your garage and the neighbors are threatening violence if you park one more vehicle on the street or in the front yard. - The requirements you give your real estate agent are (in order of importance): 1) 8 car climate controlled garage with an attached shop. 2) Outside parking for 6 cars, a motorhome, a crew cab dualie, a 28'enclosed trailer and a 34' 5th wheel. 3) 3 phase 220V outlets in the garage for your welder. 4) A grease pit. 5) Convenient to a hazardous waste disposal site. 6) Deaf neighbors. 7) Across the street from a paint and body shop. 8) Some sort of house with a working toilet and shower on the property somewhere -or- hookups for the motorhome. - You measure all family acquisitions in terms of the number of race tires that could have been purchased. - You know well that Orthodontic work is the equivalant of three sets of tires - You sit in your race car in a dark garage and make car noises and shift and practice your heel and toe, while waiting for your motor to get back from the machine shop. - You look at the purchase of tools as a long term investment. - Your wife says, "If you buy another set of tires, I'm getting a new mink." - Your garage holds more cars than your house has bedrooms. - You have enough spare parts to build another car. - More than one racer supply house recognizes your voice and greets you by name when you call. - You have car parts in your cubicle at work. - You think the last line of the Star Spangled Banner is: "Racers,start your engines!" - If you can't remember when you last worked on weekdays and rested on weekends. - You're registered for wedding gifts at Pegasus and Racer Wholesale. - Your Christmas list begins with another set of BFG R1s and Pauter rods and your 'significant other' knows what they are. - After your answer to "What did you do this weekend?" the next question is always: "And you do this for fun? Right?" - You have a separate drawer for 'garage clothes'. - Your reading material in your bathroom consists of auto parts and racing supply catalogs, several books written by famous drivers, every book Carroll Smith has ever written.... and 400 car magazines, none of which have centerfolds. - People know you by your class letter, car number, and car color. - People know you by your "off"s". "Oh, you are the one stuck in the mud at ButtonWillow last weekend!" - You talk to other cars on the road, calling them by the manufacturer's name. - Your first date involves asking her to crew for you.

As they say, " Every part that ever fell off of a British car was made by the finest British craftsmen"