slomove

Hey I want to visit your country, too. Can we just swap homes for 2 weeks?

I like these side-screens a lot myself. They make all the difference for relaxed long distance touring, cutting maybe 80-90% of the violent wind buffeting (actually it rather moves the turbulent zone back behind the head). I can even talk with the passenger at speed although that means yelling with the ear plugs. Unfortunately, after some 6 years of use the screens are pretty much beaten up, scratched and cracked. I guess I will have to replace them sometimes because they look a bit ratty.

No, that is still from last August. I dust the car or wipe some dirt off occasionally. Actually, the polish usually looks better on a photograph in the sun than in reality close-up. But overall I still don't feel the urge to take a rag and buff it up. Maybe for the Monterey Races again (if I feel like it) That said, the rate of dulling is apparently dependent on the aluminum alloy. No idea what Birkin uses but it does hold a polish quite a long time.

We did a nice weekend trip to the California Poppy Reserve and further on to the Southern Sierra. Wildflowers are out in full force and most everything nice and green (well, for California, that is): http://lh3.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/S8KJ1lPqijI/AAAAAAAABgc/ukq4st0vGAM/s720/P1010821.JPG http://lh4.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/S8KJvfB0hDI/AAAAAAAABgU/lzP3bqgHGOU/s720/P1010819.JPG http://lh6.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/S8KJomup3ZI/AAAAAAAABgQ/gPzqlicfvWQ/s720/P1010814.JPG Not all roads are Seven-suitable yet. Maybe I should better bring chains. http://lh6.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/S8KJ8DjL65I/AAAAAAAABgg/0QOEOSx4nUI/s720/P1010825.JPG

I am planning to be there. Unfortunately I will return from Europe only the Monday before but I should be able to take a day off Friday to drive up to Monterey, be at the races Saturday and return Sunday (like I did last year).

I don't want to question the wisdom of Caterham using Monel rivets on an aluminum skin but this is inherently problematic. The electrochemical corrosion potential between Monel and aluminum is 800-900 mV (meaning the materials make for a nice battery) and this can lead to serious corrosion in wet environment, especially if salts including road grime are involved. I read of people who need to use the Monel rivets for their better strength with aluminum and stainless components (aircraft or achitectural) but they typically set the rivets "wet" with appropriate sealant to preclude moisture intrusion or at least cover with zinc chromate primer. On a Seven I am not sure if the rivets are really stressed that much, considering the thin aluminum skin they are holding. Maybe regular aluminum rivets would be just fine and eliminate or reduce the corrosion problem?

Interesting. Please make sure to post a link here somewhere when you have more info.

I take the motorcycle to work a lot recently and sometimes the bicycle. But then, I have only 12 miles round trip commute and SoCal weather. But the gas price should not be a surprise. If you look at the trend, we are actually still low (ouch). I guess that is one of the few positives of the recession when demand crashed. Once that is over we will probably be back on the old track. http://66.70.86.64/ChartServer/ch.gaschart?Country=Canada&Crude=f&Period=72&Areas=USA%20Average,,&Unit=US%20$/G

Yes, but that is the point. I find Busa's comment already offensive to the degree of right wing bullshit. It may be his opinion but as it is there are different ones. If we can boil it down to civilized (if disagreeing) debate we should continue. If it gets to aggressive argumentation or hate rhetoric we should stop.

http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1938 http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2593

That is what you get for tailgating.

I have stayed in Gilroy a few times, IIRC at the Best Western. Decent hotels there being a major overnight stop for the Hwy101. If traveling with a "normal" car I would probably go there or to the Best Western in Hollister. With the Seven I prefer the old style Motels where I can park the car right in front of the room door. It just leaves me with a better feeling than parking the car far away in a dimly lit corner of the big box freeway hotel lot. Since I take a bunch of loose junk out of the car overnight it is more convenient, too. Finally, it causes fewer strange looks, standing outside with a beer bottle in hand and chatting about the cars ;-) Gert

Reminds me of finally doing that living trust. But recently I bought a motorcycle and ride it on L.A. freeways, in comparison I guess the Seven is pretty safe

Yes, it was not exactly adding lightness, but I got unbolted after a year. Kind of painful, too and it left me with a permanently damaged ankle. But it happened on a business trip and the worker's comp payments financed the purchase of the Seven

Yeah, right..... (trying to run on black ice in 2001)

I think it can be done with a Geo Metro if you give the rope a few feet slack. Otherwise it may be difficult with any vehicle. There was chatter that the ad video is actually fake.

translated it means "Ligurian border ridge road". I would believe Ligurian, ridge and border but not really sure about the "road" part. Although, in a way it appears well maintained....for hikers.

No no no no, just some heartfelt thoughts of encouragement.

.....for you guys back east. Preview of the driving season. Beautiful day this morning after heavy rain yesterday and the local LA Se7ens took to the mountains. Starting at a fresh 40s when we left it warmed up to 70-something.

And I thought you had made a wing for Franken7... But that one is looking good, so who needs a CNC machine?

Well, http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/chat/attachment.php?attachmentid=434&d=1213062216 http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/chat/attachment.php?attachmentid=436&d=1213062216 The Caterham version may help but is obviously not perfect. The driver was lucky that the shaft escaped on the passenger side. However, this is a 260 hp Cosworth engine with sequential transmission and very sticky tires, probably driven without clutch under race conditions. I ended up weding a more substantial cage to my Birkin: http://lh6.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/S4NHjiwciMI/AAAAAAAABWc/W93fs9idXFw/PropshaftPrison.jpg Gert

Sounds like a plan.

I believe the Team Birkinsport guys had a huge 30+ gallon fuel cell on the right hand side for the NASA California endurance races in 2004. They could run the 3-hour race without tank stop. I suppose that was accepted by the NASA folks but obviously they had serious fire suppression systems. http://www.teambirkinsport.com/gallery/album14/DCP_3528?full=1

Looks like a fabulous trip. I am getting envious. Last Summer we did a lot of that route the other way round from SLC and ended up at Skip's place. But we went through Flaming Gorge and Dinosaur before going south to Rangely and Meeker. If you can (and there is no snow) try to drive Emigration Canyon down into SLC. Beautiful and worth a detour. I had considered County Road 8 as you have it on your route from Yampa to Meeker but found some ominous hints the road may be in real bad shape with long dirt stretches. I don't mind doing that for a few miles but not that long. So I would get advice from some locals before driving there. Good luck and have fun!! Gert

Oh no....all my own thoughts. But you got to know we are all on a mission from god. http://lh4.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/S39WrmGehkI/AAAAAAAABVk/H6diM81Co1s/Mission.jpg