Croc

Roll call of Sevens: Karl Steve S1 Roman Ron (Redgoose) Bill T (of course the event is being held at his place!) Me Open questions: - Jon (in the Meotter?) - Jack (if he finishes replacing yet another clutch...?) - Al in his SB 1341? (Hmmm....after LOG 30 does SB stand for "Snotty Bastard"?):jester: - Does Bruce make it back from Bonaire? - Does Tom make the tow up from Philly? - Does a chicken have lips? :jester:

Good point! You have better chance of being there than your car does!

Ron is aiming to be at the Nov 14 Frenchtown LEO event with Bill Thomas Roadsters so you will probably get a chance to see it again.

Thanks for the video. I now know I missed a great day. The layout looked well suited to the Sevens. Only one thing confused me - Kitcat was double up with passenger at one point then the video shows him through the carousel/banked turn single up....did he throw the passenger out at some point?

From memory there are 4-5 guys here with it. Common GM engine used in UK, Europe and Australia. From reading Blatchat it is fairly reliable and can get large horsepower with some work. Ron's car (the one for sale you are referring to) was nicely quick and reliable - he never had any engine troubles. Parts are by internet/mail order from the UK.

+1 here.....both for the garage and the new lift!

Having let my post evolve for a few days it has been interesting to see the themes and ideas different site members have. Selectively quoting and responding to those: Chris – As I said on the LOG 30 pictures thread, and when I thanked you in person at LOG 30, I believe you, your wife Siobhan and the rest of your LOG 30 team put an incredible amount of effort in to make sure LOG 30 was a success. And it was. Your clarification of the concours layout makes perfect sense now although I did not understand it when at LOG. My core issue was with the personal attitudes of a small group of attendees which as I noted in my original post and as you rightly point out in yours is beyond the control of the LOG organizers. I can only say again thank you and congratulations on pulling off a successful LOG. Dean – I could not have expressed it better, we want to avoid Balkanization. Unfortunately not all Seveners share this worthy goal, although I believe the USA7s group is united on this point from reading this posting thread. This post was intended to take the temperature on whether this was just an isolated incident or something more serious. The quality of posts in response just shows that it was just isolated and should not be viewed wider – something I am personally thankful for. Continuing on the Mustang Ranch theme mentioned elsewhere, I have been around life long enough to know that you always find a couple of bad “twunts” in any whorehouse. Like the skunk in the nosecone of my Seven, it was my usual luck that I happened to score those twunts. Thanks to the positive messages on this post I have taken my medicine and I will be back on top in no time….and avoiding those individuals in the future. I think you are right that it is probably time to have a national USA7s event of some sort. It is difficult for us having a fairly esoteric club that is geographically spread across the US and Canada to make a big meet work. Given the last event was in 2007 maybe we set ourselves the promise of having one formal big event every 5 years (e.g. 7/7/07 or LOG-like) – next is 2012 – and then we use events like Gert’s annual road trip as a more informal circuit breaker for those who want something more regularly. I like the club's mission being marque inclusive. That was one of the things that attracted me to USA7s. Anything we do as an event should have the club's mission at its core. Of course we will invite Lotus Seveners, even the twunts that I had the misfortune to meet, as long as they buy into the club's aims. I think we have a successful USA7s regional cluster meet effort – you can see the regular postings on the region/areas of USA7s website across the US and Canada. The regional meets are important as they offer a more frequent mechanism for us to connect as a club. Al’s comments in this thread that a National meet is a huge effort is so true. However, as a club we need something like this that keeps us knitted together at the center across US and Canada otherwise it eventually all falls apart into the “Balkans” situation so eloquently described by Dean. Our forum does achieve this to a high degree, allowing us to interact remotely. However it does not substitute for the periodic regional or national meet where you can strengthen the clubs’ bonds through personal interaction and a Sevens blat (and a few drinks afterwards!). Having seen Gert’s proposed itinerary I have to admit I am very tempted. I cannot get that much time away from work to drive out there and back but does anyone want to share a USA7s truck from the east coast to ship their car? In between writing this post I just sent an email to my secretary asking her to find quotes to rent an entire car carrier there and back to NJ….LOL Beautifully stated! It does not get much better than that.

For Kitcat there are some excellent photos of you at the autocross by a photographer who had a much better camera than my dinky little pocket job. Towards the end of this page: http://www.britishspeed.com/forum/showthread.php?3691-LOG-30-Photo-s-from-a-different-perspective

My first LOG was an interesting experience. I met friends from the USA7s and Lotus Enthusiasts Organization (LEO) of NY/NJ and made new friends from other chapters of the Lotus Limited family. Unfortunately the experience was not all positive. There was an overt tone of hostility being shown to the “modern” Sevens group by the “classic” Sevens owners. I tried to talk with three owners of “classic” sevens – after all I used to own and race a 1965 Series 2. I was either rudely ignored, had them walk away from me without talking or told to my face that “only Lotus’s should be here.” They ended my attempt to be friendly. The single exception to this rudeness I found was a lovely couple from Boston who demonstrated at the banquet dinner that you can have friendly people owning older model Sevens who respect “modern” Sevens owners. I had a great time with them and they represented the positive and inclusive attitude and respectful conduct I expected a Lotus gathering to display and that all the leaders of Lotus Limited set an example for. The negative “classic” Seven’s attitude also seemed to correlate with 2 cars having a Simple Sevens sticker on the back. Very disappointing. I don’t think I was the only USA7’s person who found this negative attitude from the classic “Sevens” group. This negativity towards “modern” Sevens was NOT shown by other LOG30 people who owned Exige, Elise, Esprit, Elan, etc. Nor was it shown by my local Lotus Group - LEO. On the contrary I found those owners friendly, welcoming and happy to chat. The contrast in conduct and manners was massive. I accept that the “classic” Sevens group have a different philosophy to us USA7s members – that is their personal view and I respect that and enjoy their outlook towards their cars. However, their philosophy should not be polluted by poor manners and disrespect towards those not sharing their philosophy on cars. Pretending to be a cynic for a moment, were the “modern” (or USA7s for want of a better term) Sevens there just to make up the numbers and help make some money? Banished to Siberia on the concours lot and subject to petty rudeness by one class of Lotus owners, I could stretch to that conclusion. So what about a National USA7s Meet in 2011 instead of LOG 31 in Las Vegas in October? We would probably make the classic Seven owners group very happy. Over to all of you to persuade me that I am wrong...

Here is Dean G pedaling very fast – nice tidy performance. Impressive time given the car’s age: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00381_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00382_edited-1.jpg Not sure who this, but it was in immaculate condition and had a Simple Sevens badge on the back: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00377_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00375_edited-1.jpg The LOG 30 organizers clearly put in a huge effort and deserve to be congratulated and praised for this very successfully organized event. I also want to thank the “modern” Seven community for being so friendly and welcoming the whole weekend. It was a great bunch of people and I had a great time with a lot of laughter.

For horseshit and giggles, someone thought of sending a horse and buggy around the course. Despite the traction advantages those women represented, alas they were slower than a Lotus or a Seven or a Meotter: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00372_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00373_edited-1.jpg] Michael D came up to demonstrate what 10 inch slicks can do with gravel. Scott also borrowed the car for his runs around the course: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00379_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00380_edited-1.jpg Yes he ate a cone.

Jon had the Meotter out in its first taste of autocross. Very nice looking performance – the car with its more supple suspension seemed to handle the lot much better. At least it looked smooth and tidy. Anyway, off to the hairdressers…. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00365_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00369_edited-1.jpg There was this Esprit metal bodied autocross car. The body just behind the front wheel arches would literally scrape on parts of the course. This car was piloted by a one armed guy and was damn fast. I would like to see him go on a smoother larger lot: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00368_edited-1.jpg

Saturday night was the formal banquet. Most Sevener’s scrub up well. Then there is Jon in his formal t-shirt: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00361_edited-1.jpg By the way, the red face was not because of drink….he just failed to learn my lesson from the previous day and joined me in the southerner red neck club. Sunday Morning was autocross. Two groups with 4 laps each. The lot was small, a little bumpy and still had a little (lot of?) gravel. It was a double figure 8 type of layout which was effective given the small space the organizers had to work with. Sorry for pic quality here – I only had my pocket cam Here is Kitcat in one or more of his runs: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00362_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00363_edited-1.jpg On the third run he grabbed Jon as ballast. This was a good move. The car was fast, settled, tidy and looked good. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00366_edited-1.jpg

In the afternoon we got Mike (Kitcat), Tom (yellows), Jon (Boxologist) and myself touring the Gettysburg battlefield. The National Parks service deserves a medal for the sensitive way they manage the site and allow access for us to learn. We walked Pickett’s charge to better understand what the soldiers went through to get a tiny glimmer of how awful it must have been. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00358_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00357_edited-1.jpg This was taken at the Virginia memorial. Note the British racing green door between the Sevens? We almost managed to block the view of Jon’s “Meotter” http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00360_edited-1.jpg We also had the good fortune to get a talk at Little Round Top by a civil war buff who was able to give us context from that view point on how the battle evolved and the battle lines developed.

The red and ali car at the end of the row was Dave’s, the sole Birkin representative at LOG 30 – I think we persuaded him to join USA7s: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00298_edited-1.jpg Seven humor came out in Norm’s car. Under the SCCA old rules, Norm had stripped out his car to make it as light as possible. Then the SCCA changed the rules…oops. He had to add weight. To release his frustrations he added some comments to his rear wings: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00292.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00293.jpg The prize for most exotic number plate goes to this Hawaii one: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00356_edited-1.jpg His name was Paul Sears (I think?) and he had everyone asking the entire weekend if he did a James Bond and drove the car underwater from Hawaii. The humor amongst the USA7s crowd was brutally funny, the jokes and humor were just flowing and this was before drinks! As a group we had a great time. For example: - Tom, Box and john (tom’s cousin) set up a lady to come up to me and say “wow…what a cool car…is it a Morgan?” My face must have looked a picture because the guys burst out laughing. - From across the parking lot I could see in the distance what looked like a very attractive blonde sitting behind the wheel of my car. Intrigued I set off on the long walk to Siberia to check out what good fortune or misfortune I had obtained this time. Well I get back over there to find the blonde lady now behind the wheel of Tom’s yellow superlight. First thing I notice is that she is the one I noticed the night before at the Friday night reception when she had jeans painted on to legs that went up to the armpits. Second I notice she is married…bummer. So she hops out of Tom’s car and says a comment to the effect that she likes my car more because of its leg room but she likes Tom’s better for the way he (sorry his car) hugs her hips! It turns out Tom wanted to show her the difference between a superlight and a fast bastard (sorry SV). Unfortunately her clothing choice and sitting in Sevens did lead to an….um…errr…..camel toe problem. Leaving concours I later discovered that I alarmed Tom greatly. Rather than navigate the crowded concours lot site from Siberia to the exit, I just launched across the grass and found another delivery road that led out. John (Tom’s cousin) who was my passenger was ever so slightly freaked out thinking that he would die as he could not see what I knew lay over the grassy rise…another road! He thought I would plunge into a pond. I later discovered at the hotel that he had not belted himself in…oops 1! Mike (Kitcat) followed thinking that I would not endanger my car….however I have a skid plate and he does not…oops 2! Tom was left alarmed trying to work out where we disappeared to, then discovering to his shock and confusion that Mike and I were way off in the distance heading for the exit at a rapid rate. We were so quick to leave that we left Jon behind – he caught up on the battlefield at Seminary Ridge about an hour later. A lot of laughs came out of this little adventure.

Much to our amusement, Tom (yellowss) had some parking issues….oh….he has not seen a cone that he can’t run over: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00294_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00295_edited-1.jpg Even more amusing – notice how his front tires are on backwards! Don’t worry he gets me back later. The brand new Seven built by Tony V for one of his Loony members who is very sick: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00296_edited-1.jpg A line up of Sevens: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00297_edited-1.jpg

By now you are probably asking where are the “modern” or USA7s Sevens are? So let’s trek up to the arctic top right corner of the lot where we could be suitably ignored. We got 12 present although Taber decided to go missing from concours. There was also the PA green Seven who came to the July NJ Seven run but whose name I have forgotten. A yellow SV next to Tony Vaccaro’s bank vaulted caged green and yellow Seven: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00288_edited-1.jpg Scott’s orange superlight next to Tom’s (yellowss) superlight: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00289_edited-1.jpg Mike’s (Kitcat) Crossflow seven: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00290_edited-1.jpg

Now for Elites, I loved this beautifully restored Elite, ex Monte Carlo rally car: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00323_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00322_edited-1.jpg Some gratuitous auto porn: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00321_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00317_edited-1.jpg

Now this looks like a 23B to most observers. However, look closer, see how the rear body flares out over the wheels, then look at the dash…hmmmm….what is it? http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00318_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00320_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00324_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00326_edited-1.jpg To let you into the secret (as I was), it is based on a Europa chassis. Could not work out what engine is being used but likely the same the Europa came with. Was put together 10 years or so ago. Very nicely done.

A very nice gold (or is it red?) leaf Europa http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00316_edited-1.jpg Now this is a sight you do not see a lot of – nice large diffuser with a tow hitch sticking out of it! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00314_edited-1.jpg

This was my first chance to see an Evora in the flesh. As everyone says they look better in person. Some colors also work better than others – silver was the best, followed by the red burgundy metallic and long last the black. Actually the black just did not work for me – the styling lost its effect. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00300_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00301_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00315_edited-1.jpg Far up in the top parking lot were 5 Ferraris relegated to also-ran today: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00313_edited-1.jpg

A very nice Elan and its interior…yum! http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00281_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00282_edited-1.jpg The Esprit ranks were well represented: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00287_edited-1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00352_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00353_edited-1.jpg It would not be a Lotus gathering without Lucas Prince of Darkness making a cameo appearance – generating plenty of laughs: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00278_edited-1.jpg A beautifully presented interior of an Elan Plus 2: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00280_edited-1.jpg

A very nicely presented Series 4 Seven – the best I have ever seen in person. http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00286_edited-1.jpg The racers had prime position in the center of the group photo – deservedly so: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00271_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00272_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00273_edited-1.jpg

Now for the original Sevens: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00270_edited-1.jpg I definitely had the hots for this white Seven. I like how the headlight is body color painted: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00274_edited-1.jpg http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00276_edited-1.jpg I think this is Dean G’s Series 1 Seven? http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/LOG%2030/DSC00284_edited-1.jpg