My name is Andrew, some of you may know me from the LocostUSA forum. In march of this year, I hit the ground running on a Locost build. I was an avid reader of Kurt's Kimini blog, and ended up purchasing a lot of the books on his recommended reading page (Carrol smith books, Locost bible, etc). About the time I was half way through most of the books, I was donated a 1984 Celica GT-S (3rd gen, rear wheel drive, 22RE 2.4 I4). I really couldn't find a good reason not to build a 7. I now have a frame, and am probably about 40% into the build. 4 months into my build, while back at home, a friend of mine had previously stalked a 7-owner to his house. We took a drive by, and I ended up getting a ride in it. I want to drive one (especially mine) quite badly now.
A little about me. I am 20 years old (supposedly there are some other youngins around here...), and a 3rd year ME at Georgia Tech. Gatech is fun, but I just had a lab last week in which we got to dissect an electric toothbrush to learn how it works. Maybe I can get extra credit if I explain suspension dynamics or intake runner length... I am natively from a town out side of New Haven, Connecticut, but I enjoy the weather down here more. I competed in US First Robotics in high school, and am getting into Gatech's Wreck racing club (for GRM Challenge).
Some of my previous experiences in no special order- I've restored a Benelli Moped to running condition, rode it around for a summer, then later killed (accidentally) it by dropping a washer into the cylinder and trying to start it. I've build a pulse-jet engine (reed-valve). I've built a pulse-jet (lockwood-hiller) powered gocart. My only track experience is on little talladega gran prix in Alabama, in my classic Saab 900.
I really like the 7 community. Vette guys may be sensical about sports cars but seem to be narrow minded. Classic Saab people tend to have no clue about the cars they are driving. VW guys (from my experience) don't quite get it (I need a 1.8T Jetta with 350 hp and no lsd, I need 3k in new shocks but I've never been on a track). Ferrari guys (Im guessing) have too much money and probably wouldn't talk to me anyways. Import guys...well Colin Chapman would probably cry if he saw some of their body kits. The current crop of muscle car owners (baby boomers) just pay people to work on their cars. Lambo owners are crazy, just crazy. Lotus 7 owners know how to do things- lightweight, low cost, and fun to drive. I think I will fit in here. I look forward to getting to know some of you guys (and ladies).
