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Surely some of us know some experienced motorcycle folk who could help us out, see what they think.

So a couple days back we had a proper drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just a couple of miles from our garage, and part of the reason this car is in that garage. All sorts of folks out enjoying the weather and the experience. Numerous motorcycles, some bicycles, and folks stretching the legs of their cars. But rarely over 50 mph. Just right as we are still in break in. Here’s my question. If enthusiastic motorcycle folk give us the two fingers down, what is our appropriate response? Two fingers down too? Four down? Wave? Peace sign? Other?

Brilliant! Reminds me of when I considered mounting a hammer near the starter on my Rover SD1 with a cord to swing it from driver’s seat.

Well it’s done. I just felt around and discovered that the front left nut and washer can be accessed from inside. Rigged up a short 1/2” socket that would hold the nut while I poked around unsighted. I just restored a bicycle originally custom built for me in 1979. Used a piece of old cable. The crimp on looks bad but unless you are reading this you’ll never know.

This section of the Blue Ridge Parkway just recently reopened, a year since Helene delivered a lot of energy to our landscape. Could not resist going out on a weekday.

Even a model of our cars comes with an extra bill

Thanks CBuff. I’ll give it another whirl.

“We don’t have time for rational solutions” George Carlin

Very well written speedwagon. A lot of us here identify.

It’s even better than that. Sure we got less expensive stuff, but we have other important gains by exporting production. We did not bear the pollution inherent in industry. The mountains and lakes of toxic wastes are not here. But the most important thing is this. The great achievment of my parents generation was educating their children so they did not have to do mill work. There is hope, of sorts. By reducing education and instilling more poverty, we can control inflation and have a supply of hungry people to do these sort of jobs. Great again.

Well we’ve got our interpretations and opinions out. I see this site’s role in this is just to clearly document real life experiences as Frankie has. Facts not opinions.

Tariffs were never about money anyway. It’s about him wanting to have the illusion of power. Wanting the whole world to know he can flip a Tariff on you in a wink for any reason.

I brought this reality of Trumpthink up with a dinner partner last evening. And he responded “Why can’t we make those here?” And, “People with cars like that can afford whatever they cost”. And, “Americans should not have cars like that”. (he drives a Bimmer) And ”The company that makes it should pay the tariff” That was all I could take. I operated a small company fourty years and there is not that sort of profit. Geeezzz a lot of the time you’re just hoping to pay employees So it turns out we are the bad guys. Shame on us. Going to be quite interesting to see if these folks keep the same tune when Reality settles to their home and wallet.

OK it’s done! Decided to place it further forward than original idea. Less evident and the cable will lay near the wheel, not as much out in the way. We place a tiny anti rotation notch. I put it at a 45 degree angle rather than vertical, just the natural angle of my hand. Glad to speak with anyone who wants to do this. I got a special drill bit, sure took my time. Getting my somewhat small right hand down in there to tighten things up from above was just barely possible.

Yes with a springy “wavy washer” on top of carpet, and another between the floor and backing plate. To my understanding, the ASM (I’ve had it in the Lotus Elise) has one belt with a one time breakaway so your body can rotate and not break your neck so badly. That’s neat and all but I’m not buying it, without a sub belt the cam is going into your abdomen when your shoulders go forward. Ouch.

Need to point out the main advantage of this set up over the stock Caterham setup. Adjustability. I’m certain I never figured out how to abjust the OEM set up with the belts off of the car in my hands. Adjusting anything while in the seat is a Houdini level achievement. These Schroth are a breeze to adjust while you’re in the car. Anyone with basic mechanical sense can master it in seconds. Especially important for our brave passengers. I know all sorts of brands including SCHROTH market a “street safe” 4 point and I guess that’s what most folks use. I’ve seen and been in enough nice offs at track and I’d have to study a while to remember how many times I’ve been in a good collision. Seen tires fly up in air, all that. Point is I just can’t feel right without the sub belts. And in this system they are a cinch to adjust. I’m also aware that without a helmet and HANS and arm restraints we’re still not in a proper “system”. But best we can do for street driving.

So if all this were to stick and be the lay of the land going forward, does this make our cars more valuable or less? Does it matter to the folks looking to buy these cars if parts and accessories become prohibitive, even more of a challenge?

How, where did you place the magnet on your cars?

Well I studied on it and studied on it and am planning to mount on the side of the car low, yes preparing (drilling) the appropriate opening in the fabulous aluminium car. Asked myself if it would look too odd and then walked around the car and saw the awesome exhaust boldly presenting to the world. Turns out it’s a bit of a challenge to make something stand out as even more odd on these cars.

From a place where I spent a lot of time, learned a lot. https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/ctek-compatible-magnetic-charger.481860/

Here’s my dilema. Simplest thing would be to have a mount on outside of car down low below the external battery kill, forward of the pedal box. Yes requiring preparing a hole in the precious new aluminium 😱 I have the tools and skill and courage to make the opening but not something to just go do without serious examination of benefit/risk. But after all there is already an electrical kill switch on the outside, why not an electricity in? https://www.ebay.com/itm/196081510755?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=196081510755&targetid=2315428264940&device=t&mktype=pla&googleloc=9010329&poi=&campaignid=21394550841&mkgroupid=173029507588&rlsatarget=pla-2315428264940&abcId=9448521&merchantid=6296724&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21394550841&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh8ev-C5XF-id_pFwuDcXFaMo&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8p7GBhCjARIsAEhghZ20_-AVnKAybsNa4PLk--kBDWo-bPPs8tOBOSvm1byQ6A4TgFqchJoaAgN2EALw_wcB

I dug around and found the CTEK we used on the Bentley some time ago. It has the round magnetic attachment, I’ll be looking to find the other side of it. It was a part of the Bentley oem. Plugged it up to the 7 per alligator clips, seems to be running its cycle. The Elise with Odyssey 680 has been on a Battery Tender for years. I sure appreciate folks chiming in with their solutions. I’m looking for the level of convenience and thrills I had with the Bentley. Cables on floor right up to car, and if you have places to be there’s no requirement to unhook it. Or if you just plain forget 😨

Maybe you’re right, no one knows. But that explanation seems nebulous. Not a lot of companies can give up 5% of their profit and still make payroll. 10%? What companies that supply our hobby can do that? Educate me.

Or if anyone will. Thing is we don’t know how long it will take for Trump’s schemes to be passed over. If Congress or Nature don’t stop all this, the party might be over for some of our hobbies. And the businesses that support them. Might be that the cars and parts we have now are all we’re going to get for a while.