rcollum

Here are a couple of engine compartment, and an interior shot. This thing is PRISTINE! --Bob Collum

What a great morning in Great Falls, VA! It was cool and overcast, but we had a good amount of new-to-us cars, including some great Lotus... Only one Seven there today (mine). That's a Lincoln Zephyr-based hot rod, running a flat-12 with three carbs. This car was just finished. There is a pic of the mechanic, crawling into the trunk, to hydraulically drop the car. The switches inside the cabin were not yet working. They had a separate button to retract the rear license plate first, so the plate didn't get crumpled when the car dropped. --Bob Collum

My experience in Northern Virginia was as follows- Before I purchased my Caterham, I visited the largest DMV in the area. They described a procedure that involved going to the one VA State Trooper barracks in our area set up for physical inspection of cars. The paperwork the DMV office gave me described a pretty thorough going-over, and left me wondering if the officer was going to find fault with no bumpers, no backup lights, etc., etc. Luckily, I listened to a friend who used to work at a DMV. Their advice was, as long as you have a legal title, take it to a local DMV, as small a facility as possible, and register the car. The huge DMV had plenty of people with 'second opinions' on everything. The one I ended up going to had two clerks, and the only question I was asked was 'would you like an Antique plate?'

Jay: My car came with a Michigan title, listed as a '1965 Caterham', but had no mention of replica, rebuild or reconstruction. I had no problems, but I can imagine that Virginia would put you through the wringer with mention of any of those. Where in Virginia are you located? --Bob Collum

My wife, Debbie, was unamused by the broken passenger-side wind deflector on our Seven. Here she is, effecting repairs with packing tape supplied by the restaurant before driving home. Mind you, I sat in the passenger seat while she drove the Seven here two weeks ago, and aside from minor frostbite and the occasional sinus-clearing wind gust up my outboard nostril (Note to self: DO NOT try to look out around the windscreen!) - it was not a big deal for me... Mark Franke advised me that I am, at best, second place in car repairs in my two-person household! (Keep in mind, Mark... that's still a 'podium' finish, bud!) --Bob Collum [Photo courtesy of Brenda Franke, whose hands were obviously NOT frozen from the ride out!]

Now, THAT is some SCENERY! Thanks! --Bob Collum

We had great weather for our drive to lunch at the Blackthorne Inn. It was a great turnout: 18 people, and 10 cars. Not just a lot of fun cars - a great variety, with 4 Elises, but also an Elan, a Europa, an S1 Esprit, an S1 Elise, a Caterham 7, as well as Dermot's Miata. When we arrived, there was already a Morgan in the parking lot. --Bob Collum

Our local Lotus car club had a 'drive to lunch' event on Sunday, 11/8/15. When we got to Blackthorne Inn, there was a Morgan parked there. It was a slightly cool, very clear day - perfect for a blat! Oh, my wife was annoyed by the broken passenger-side windblock, so she jerry-rigged it with packing tape for the drive home. Yes, she's an engineer! --Bob Collum ~

As of right now, I have 19 people (and 9 Lotus, including my Caterham) going to our lunch at Blackthorne Inn. There's still time to join us - just let me know! Thanks, Bob Collum

This Sunday is looking like a great day for a drive out west - come join us! Enjoy the drive, the lunch, the cameraderie... (Don't let me be the only guy in a Seven!) --Bob Collum

Looks like the SV that Sevens & Elans has had for sale... Congrats! --Bob Collum

Ummm... 5:30AM... I typically don't stay beyond 8:30AM. Sorry I missed you! --Bob

The NoVA Lotus car club is holding a drive out to the Blackthorne Inn, just west of Upperville, VA on Sunday, 11/8/15. We will meet at the new Dunkin Donuts at 12701 Shoppes Lane, in Fairfax, VA. We will leave at 11:00AM, and we have space reserved in Blackthorne's Pub Room. If you'd like to come along, please RSVP, so we know how much space to reserve. Here are a few pictures from our drive to Blackthorne, last November - --Bob Collum

Michael D and I had our Sevens at Katie's again this morning. I never did catch up with Michael, though! A big showing of various antique cars today, as well! --Bob Collum

One of our favorite restaurants out in Virginia, Blackthorne Inn, had a fire early this year, and has been closed for renovations ever since. I was pleased to learn last week that they had reopened for business. It gave my wife and I a reason to go for a blat out west to Upperville for lunch on Saturday. While there, we made a couple of new friends - Eric and Donna arrived on their BMW 1200 with sidecar. They have spent considerable time camping with this setup, and it was interesting to see the many mods they have made. Eric commented that their cycle/sidecar combo was wider than our Seven. They had some good suggestions for cold-weather travel in the open. We will definitely plan a lunch out here for our local Lotus club soon! --Bob Collum [ATTACH=CONFIG]9755[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9756[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9757[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9754[/ATTACH]

An update - the class winners in our 'Lotus' class were - 1st place - Greg Foster, Lotus Elan 2nd place - Jim Gordon, Lotus 7 3rd place - Bob Collum, Caterham 7 --Bob Collum

A picture of the car that I really like, taken over two months ago... --Bob Collum

I'll try to post when I know of upcoming British car shows in the VA-MD-DC area. To that end... The first big Brit car show in 2016 should be Britain on the Green, at Dunston Hall, VA. Held by the Capital Triumph Register. It will be on Sunday, April 24th, 2016. I try to get to this one, and Hunt Country Classic, every year. I have not been going to Lillipons. It seems not as well run, and it's in the middle of hot weather, with no shade. --Bob Collum

The MG Car Club, Washington DC Centre holds a show every Columbus Day weekend, at a really nice venue in Middleburg, VA. We had 5 Lotus entered, (including my Caterham, and Jim Gordon's Lotus 7) and a couple of Elises there in support. A beautiful day in the country, with great driving roads, there & back! NoVA Lotus car club was well represented; Greg Foster arrived first in his Elan, I drove my Seven, Bob Scates had his Esprit, and the Neels brought out their Essex. [ATTACH=CONFIG]9704[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9705[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9703[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9706[/ATTACH] Other vehicles of interest: A brushed-steel Triumph 'Special'. Kermit the Frog-eye. Jensen Interceptor III Coupe. --Bob Collum

Kevin: As soon as I got my '06 Caterham 7 Roadsport (DeDion), I took it to the State Police scales out 50. Mine is 1320lbs, with a full fuel tank. I'm anxious to see what some Caterham Superlights weigh! --Bob Collum

We tied our record by having 3 Sevens at our 10th Get Your Lotus Out event on Sunday. Many thanks to Michael D. and Norm B. They joined me in my Seven, by being the first three vehicles to show up at the Katie's parking lot for the event. It was a FANTASTIC weather day! We had a special visit by LotusMan1951 in his Fisher Fury, as well. In addition to the Sevens, we had two Elans (one a FHC), several Esprits, a Europa TC, and many Elises, Exiges, and Evoras - 22 cars in all. I hope everybody had a good time - I know I did. We will do this again in the spring. --Bob Collum

Cool fall weather makes for a very nice morning drive, and a lot of like-minded people showed up today! --Bob Collum

Make sure you let us know ASAP if you can come to GYLO on Sunday, 09/20/15, from 9:00AM - 11:00AM at Katie's in Great Falls. Also, please RSVP for the picnic to follow at the Glahns' house in Burke, VA. Burgers and hot dogs, as well as water and soft drinks will be provided; just bring a side dish or dessert! We will have a popular vote for 'favorite Lotus', and we will have a drawing for prizes for everyone who drives a Lotus car. Sunday weather forecast is "partly sunny and pleasant, high temp of 78F". Is that Seven weather, or what? Don't miss it! --Bob Collum [ATTACH=CONFIG]9634[/ATTACH]

Yeah - how am I NOT feeling getting hit with that stuff, but it ends up under me??? --Bob Collum

We have had as many as 3 Sevens at this event at a time, over the years. I'm hoping that (1) my car makes it and (2) we have some more Sevens in attendance! Since this is "my" event, we will be welcoming all sorts of Sevens. In addition to this 'Get Your Lotus Out' event, running from 9:00AM to 11:00AM in Great Falls, VA, participants are also invited to a picnic at the Glahns' house in Burke, VA, starting at Noon. Burgers and hot dogs will be provided. We ask anyone who comes to bring a dessert or side dish. Please RSVP to me, robert(underscore)collum(at)hotmail(dot)com. I hope to see you there! --Bob Collum