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Sorry for the late notice but trying to get everyone accounted for and "registered". as of right now there are 12 USA7s members registered. It appears everyone is staying at the Wynfrey and has registered for LOG. There is one person who did not include this info in their email so I am unsure. The majority is showing up on Thursday and more than half are registered for the Peter Egan dinner, sponsored by Caterham Cars (no doing on our part). USA7s was not slated to start until Friday so if you had not registered for this Q&A with Peter it could be interesting. The Official USA7s stuff will start at 1:30 at the Barber Museum. I am planning on giving you behind the scenes tour, a track tour, and possibly a track track lap (in a van sorry). This is the only time this is happening over the weekend, the basement floor is open for LOG on Saturday during lunch, but not the back areas. So please gather in the lobby of the museum by 1:30 on Friday. Friday evening if you are not attending the LOG welcome dinner, there is an informal car show at the host hotel for the Sportscars in the Park event. Just a parking lot shoot the shat pizza and BYoB thing. Some of the LOG special guest might drop by, might not. After this I plan on shooting over to the Wynfrey for the LOG Bar Scene. Saturday is the day of shows and racing at Barber's. It appears most everyone is registered with LOG so all the Sevens will be displayed in that group. There of course is the Sportscars in the Park just up the hill from the LOG concours, and the SE Region Mercedes Club is having a meet in the park also. Lunch will be in the museum, if you registered for a LOG lunch. If not a "roach coach" will be up the hill for the lunch needs. I plan on doing the USA7s board meeting in the Atrium of the museum Saturday around 3. Saturday night is open events again more than half have registered for the LOG dinner that night, but I think we are going to get Al to take the other half out together, somewhere. Sunday some will be autoXing and those who wanted the drive are in luck, we will be doing a drive from the hotel to 29 Dreams for breakfast, decent roads most of the way and after breakfast we will continue on Copperhead Road which has been compared to the Dragon, you make the call. So yeah one drive, one show, a big track day, an autoX, a few good meals with buds hope it works as a nice casual relaxing weekend for all. Remember much of this was designed to keep costs low to the group and the indivdual, but allow whoever comes to have a great time. And if we want more excitment let me know via email, or say something Friday I try and keep everything fluid. email with questions/comments nodrivinggloves@gmail.com

I will sending out an email to everyone who has "registered" via email today with a loose events schedule. I will also post here so that those who I miss on the email have a chance. It looks like less than 20 of us this time so we are keeping things loose.

The weekend of May 29-31 the Birmingham British Motoring Club is holding thier annual car show. Yes this is the same weekend as LOG but the BBMC has thier own host hotel and activities planned. For the entry fee of $25 ($30 day of) they have planned a informal show on May 29 at their host hotel with possible special guests no promises however. On Saturday the car show is also at Barber Motorsports Park, but in a different show field than LOG and Mercedes. Your $25 gets you into the park, you can walk around any of the shows, the race paddock is open, a NASA race weekend is a backdrop to this (entry includes 2 Saturday and Sunday tickets to the NASA event). On Sunday the BBMC has planned a Breakfast and a country drive. Come on out any sports car is invited from MGs to Lamborginis to Miatas. Check http://www.sportscarsinthepark.org for registration and futher info.

As Al and I have talked about this. I am stepping back from Club President. I had many personal distractions the last couple of years and did not do the job I should have. I let you down. Al has always been looked on as the leader of the club and the role suits him so he has my vote also. I am tossing my hat in for club secretary. I think this role will better suit me and allow me to get to know club members a little better. As part of my new role (if elected) I want to attempt the newsletter again and work on expanding our sponsor base, hopefully allowing more member benefits in the future.

Hey there is a rumor floating around that LOG is looking to fill another 10 or spots on thier track day (at Barber Motorsports Park). They are not requiring membership in Lotus Ltd. or entering LOG to enter. So if anyone was coming this way or has June 1 free and wants to track let me know and I will confirm this rumor.

Well I have nine that have confirmed by email so with me that's ten. Everyone seems to be doing the weekend with LOG also, so are there any others (let me know nodrivinggloves@gmail.com) To those coming I will send an email but I am hoping for everyone to come to the museum at 1:30 (+ or -) for the tour see everyone who is here and make any weekend plans that will be needed. I really can't believe we don't have more racers coming, one the reasons we moved the event was for the track day.

Sorry I only made it by the tent for a few minutes, another busy weekend for me. I tried coming back just as the rain ended but eveyone was gone. Great to see the number of cars we had this year again. Since I am keeping my car I will win the book next year...

I am at 0. Hope to have the motor put together by the time you guys get here for the event.

Let's see 3 Birkins, 2(maybe 3 Stalkers, not including mine which never got finished)), 5 Caterhams (including mine), an S1, 2 S2, 1 S4, 1 Superformance, 1 CMC, 2 Locosts (one as far back as 2000), probally a few I forgot. So lets go with 18 or so. -See I forgot I drove Al's old car once also,

If you at LOG (hotel) there will be one of these hanging around.

Still my biggest problem with the 7, the attention and its acceptance. I been invited to join brit car clubs, sportscar clubs, antique car clubs, now even the local exotic car club wants me in. They all feel the car fits, plus they think I am a nice guy. I keep wanting to sell the car and move on to something else, but what else can give me so much attention, pleasure for this kind of money (heck i am having trouble with findind a replacement for any kind of money). As far as sitting in the car, happens here at the museum all the time with our cars and bikes. Even this weekend at a club meeting and while we were eating guy walks up a friend of mine's Lambo, opens the door looks in and takes pictures then shuts it. All without asking. Like I say I hate stupid people.

Okay it has been two short quick years and the time is on us again for a USA7s national meet. It is hard to believe it was just over 4 years ago a few of us gathered for a drive in the Virginia country side and the idea for USA7s was created. (Unfortunately I had to cut the day short and did not do the whole drive but a few came back with the idea and made this all happen.) USA7s has grown to just shy of 1000 list members and over 120 premiere members. It has taken some doing but we are finally getting some discount offers in place, our second national meet is less than a month away, and USA7s.org has become the premier site in North America for all things related to our LSiS cars. As the club bylaws state we will hold our officer elections every two years in conjunction with the national meet. So it is time to elect our officers for the next two years. We will have a vote during the national meet in Birmingham, but we have also made the decision to have online voting available to paying members. You will be able to vote once per paid user name. Online voting will be open from 12:01 PM May 28, 2009 until 12:00 noon May 30, 2009. If you wish to put your hat in for any of the officer positions please post your desire here and for what position. You may also want to do your quick campaign speech in that post also. USA7s operates with three officers a President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Thank you, John Viviani President USA7s.org

Yes I saw the article yesterday and it was well written (for Kit Car Builder) and had a nice plug for our group. Let us know if you need any help this fall.

You can use either discount code, for LOG or the alternative hotel from the local British Club. This is provided rooms are still available. LOG is the Wynfrey at $130 a night, covered guarded parking Sportscars in the Park is the Quality Inn $76.00 a night

Okay here is today's update and hopefully the final update. We have been working to see what we can get lined up for the weekend and here is how it officially looks. To do any LOG related activities their drives, Talladega, AutoX, track time, dinners and their concour you MUST register for LOG and be a Lotus Ltd member. Is sort of expensive but really compared to Branson if you are a track guy the time and gas savings, plus the quality of the track should be worth it. See http://www.log29.com for details. If you are not registering for LOG I highly recommend you register your car for the other car show taking place at Barber Motorsports Park that weekend. Sportscars in the Park http://www.sportscarsinthepark.org for details. If you register for this show it will give you admission to Barber's on Saturday you will be able to display your 7 in that show, be able to go to the LOG concours, and watch any of the NASA racing on track. I am putting final arrangements together to have our business meeting Saturday afternoon somewhere in the museum (probably during lunch). We may also have a guest speaker but that is still to finalized. This event is put on mainly by the Birmingham British Motoring Club and has a decent turnout every year. You will be able to attend the Friday dinner (no cost) and there will be a breakfast after a nice mountain drive Sunday morning if not going to the autoX all morning. You will be able to do breakfast (cost involved) and go watch the autoX after if interested. There may be an event Saturday night but again plans still be ironed out. If you are staying Sunday night and have registered for this show and not LOG the Mercedes-Benz club has invited us to the Sunday dinner to see Burt Levy speak. (this dinner is a Lotus Ltd. Mercedes Club combination event. Cost is $35 per person. If you have registered for LOG this is the same Sunday night dinner.) For USA7s events we are going to play by ear. We are expecting 30-40 or our members. Our first official club event will be a museum tour Friday afternoon (time to be announced think 1-2ish). You will receive a free weekend pass to Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum with your entry to our event. As this tour goes on I hoping we can see how everyone is registered and times work out. Again we will have our business meeting Saturday afternoon probally at the museum. This meeting will include a State of the Club address, Treasurer report, and election of new officers (details to come later today). Finally I need everyone coming to send me an email to nodrivinggloves@gmail.com. This email must include you arrival date, hotel, if you are doing LOG, Sportscars in the Park, or just general. It also needs to let me know (esp. if registered for LOG) what nights and days USA7s needs to keep you entertained. I need this info to plan dinners/lunches if needed and to make all arrangements for museum passes etc. Again email info to nodrivinggloves@gmail.com or if you want call me 205-470-0191. Remember USA7s is not charging anything to attend this event as a major portion of my thing behind it was to save cash this and and allow 2011 (in either Branson or the Black Hills, or ???? to be that much better) Any questions call 205-470-0191 Thank you for the time and see you in Birmingham, John Viviani President USA7.org

I have been sick latley and not getting things up. Give me a day or two and I will have a form for our people to fill out to let me know who is coming so proper arrangements can be made. But quickly Thursday Peter Egan Dinner Friday Dinner LOG also Local British Car Club welcome dinner (2 different dinners, 2 places, see below for details) would be nice if you were entered into the British show ($25) if you are not entering LOG, will get you into thier free (or minimal fee diiner) and the track (saturday) for LOG, the British Show and to watch the NASA racing, you will be able to diplay your car with the Brits, not LOG if going this route. http://www.sportscarsinthepark.org Saturday Main Dinner, speach by X180R drivers, Evora stuff Sunday BS Levy Dinner I will be registering for Thursday and Sunday not sure about Friday, probally not Saturday. I can arrange designated tables for USA7s if we want at the LOG dinners. It would be nice if you were entered into the British show ($25) if you are not entering LOG, will get you into thier free (or minimal fee diiner) and the track (saturday) for LOG, the British Show and to watch the NASA racing, you will be able to diplay your car with the Brits, not LOG if going this route. The British Club is also planning a Breakfast Sunday at the same place I am looking at having our business meeting. http://www.sportscarsinthepark.org If you have questions please give me a call 205-470-0191

Can you have the new owner get in touch with me? I will give me more of a reason to tow the my car up there (provided I ever get off my a** and fix the thing). I grew up in Peoria and just was up over the weekend visiting family. I was in downtown Peoria when I saw my first Caterham and we all know what happened from there.

Went out one day to drive an Elise. Wife wanted one, I wanted one. Found one at a price I was willing to pay. Drove the car and when I got out I made the statement to my wife that if I am spending this amount of money I am buying a Caterham. 2 weeks later I had my Caterham. My thinking (I had an Europa and an Elan M100 at the time) the M100 would do everything road/travel wise the the Elise would do and have more luggage space, easy in easy out not to mention being rarer. A Caterham would give me the other half of the puzzle. Performance and handling. The Elise is a nice car but does forget that one true Lotus element. Ride quality. Yes it is light and handles great but Chapman always made sure his cars did not beat you to death. I drive orginal Chapman designed Lotus cars everyday for my job now and they are restored to orginal and all of them (including my personal Caterham and Europa) have nice ride quality not Lexus smooth but not as hard as an Elise.

Okay I have finally went out to really look at the problem with my Caterham (1977 with Lotus Twin Cam). Well with cylinders 1&2 at 55psi and 3&4 at 25 I guess I should have looked sooner. Since I really am not in the mood to rebuild this twin cam. I may have a buyer for the twin cam and have been considering selling my car in order to buyer a newer Caterham with a Zetec, how crazy am I or is it even possible to swap a Zetec into a solid axle, short cockpit, narrow Caterham? Has anyone done it? I have never really paid much attention to Zetec info that is tossed around but maybe now I should have. Of course if anyone is interested I may take offers (low teens) on my car as it sits.

Don't know how much intrest there would be in Carlisle but I was wondering that with the kit nature if your car or if the company themselves would be there. Your Seven would be better to bring but if there is room on the trailer... I will be in NOVA sometime in the near future maybe I will contact yoou to drop by the shop. See you in PA.

Hey Bob you going to be in Carlisle this year? Are you going to have the Buge with you? I would like to see one of these things up close.

Come on guys- The Seven was actually designed after the Eleven. The Seven is an Eleven without the body work or the frame members to support the body work. Otherwise they are the same car - frame wise. Lotus models numbers go 1,2,3,4,6,Clairmont Special,8,9,10,11,12,14,7,15,16,17... (Mark used 1-10, Eleven and Seven stand alone, everything else is Type) I believe the story Colin design the 7 over dinner on a napkin, but it wasn't from scratch. I see the conversation going what if we removed this and that from the Eleven... Either way welcome Westfield owner. Looks like all the officers have voted and you are in. We have an orginal Westfeild 11 owner in our local Lotus group.

This packet is what you recieve when you become a dues paying member of USA7s.org. It includes your membership card, a decal, member promo cards, welcome letter. Being a dues paying member allows you to attend the national meets, some of the regional meets, and allows you to post to the certain areas of the site (will also include early release of the club newsletter (which is coming back)). YOur dues helps pay for the previously mentioned, insurance, and helps keep the website up and running.

I was asked off list and since I am the club president I think I should address for those that do not know. I do work at the Barber Museum so that gains us a few things. Discounted admission tickets, the private tour, the ability to push into some events. I am a member of Lotus Ltd. (I have owned numerous Lotus cars over the years, but down to the Caterham now). I am on the board for LOG29, which has allowed USA7s to have an excellent work relationship with LOG. I will be attending the day events that are on the USA7s schedule. Due to my job (and the fact I want to hear the speakers) I will be attending the evening LOG dinners. I hope you understand. On a side note even though it has been said for past LOGs Clive Chapman (Colin's son, owner of Classic Team Lotus) has given us the go ahead to say that Hazel Chapman will be at LOG29. She won't be speaking but will be in attendance. She rarely makes public appearances so if she makes it it will be an honor.

The club Pres, got his packet yesterday. Thanks for the efforts Al. We will get this figured out. John