rcollum

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

Thanks, Paul. We're thinking it's the fuel pump, which I believe is inside the gas tank. --Bob Collum (I love Europas; has a '72 Twincam for 21 years...)

This morning at Katie's was an interesting mix of good and not-so-good experiences... We had a good turnout early, but intermittent rain started around 7:30AM, which chased quite a few away. I did not have the top on my 7, so I got in to take it home, but it would not start. Many, many Katie's regulars spent a fair amount of time helping diagnose the problem. It seems like it may be a fuel pump problem, but I was able to get a flatbed tow from still another Katie's regular. During all this, a gentleman came by, and introduced himself... It was our own Mazda Ebrahimi! He added his expertise to the diagnostic process, and helped narrow down the possible issue and fix. Thanks! Here are the few pictures I had time to take this morning. I am thankful that I was among so many friends when I had such a car problem! --Bob Collum P.S.: A reminder - ALL Sevens are welcome to come to our Get Your Lotus Out event, next Sunday, 9/20/15, from 9:00AM - 11:00AM, at Katie's lower lot. We are following this event up with our Lotus picnic, which starts at Noon in Burke, VA. RSVP to me if you'd like to attend either! Here are the details: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?10692-GYLO-10-Get-Your-Lotus-Out-Sunday-9-20-15-(All-types-of-Sevens-welcome!) [ATTACH=CONFIG]9622[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9621[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9623[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9624[/ATTACH]

Thanks, Michael!

Welcome to the area, Dave. If you like, send me an email - Robert(underscore)collum(at)Hotmail(dot)com and I will add you to my email list, so you are aware of Lotus events in the area. --Bob Collum

Sure thing, Michael - here are a few more from Saturday. Sorry, the ones I tried to take on Georgetown Pike didn't work. Is the alignment on your front tires OK? --Bob Collum [ATTACH=CONFIG]9604[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9605[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9603[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9606[/ATTACH]

Not from Katie's, but at the Sunday cars & coffee event at Dulles Landing, on 09/06/15. I figured folks here would appreciate a high-dollar custom like this Moal Aerosport. Built by Steve Moal, based on a 1936 Ford, it has a supercharged Thunderbird engine. --Bob Collum [ATTACH=CONFIG]9602[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9601[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9600[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9599[/ATTACH]

For the first time in a while, we had two Sevens at Katie's Cars & Coffee. This event, which runs every Saturday morning, always has interesting vehicles. Please note that we will hold an event for Lotus (including all Seven variants) here at Katie's on Sunday, September 20th. (We are holding the Lotus event on a Sunday to avoid the crowds of Katie's on Saturdays.) - http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?10692-GYLO-10-Get-Your-Lotus-Out-Sunday-9-20-15-(All-types-of-Sevens-welcome!) Michael D came out with his Caterham, and I brought mine. I include several pictures of other interesting vehicles from the morning. --Bob Collum

Thanks, everyone! I contacted one of the US Distributors for Newton Equipment, and he was nice enough to suggest that he could sell me a brand-new lock module with two keys. Slomove, I hadn't considered the possibility of not locking the cap. That's also an option. Going for a drive with a friend tomorrow - looking forward to it! --Bob Collum

Sorry, not a very technical question, but I bought my '06 Caterham 3 weeks ago, and it had one set of keys. I found the ignition key blank, thanks to a post on this site. Now, I need to find out what the keycode is for the locking gas cap from Caterham. My local locksmith could not suss out where the key came from. Any help would be appreciated. A picture of the cap and the key, below. A side question - is there a way to reach someone at Caterham USA for parts orders? Thanks! Bob Collum

Our 10th-ever Get Your Lotus Out event is approaching. As of this writing, we are less than 3 weeks away - time to start RSVPs. We have moved venues - we will hold this GYLO at Katie's Coffee (760 Walker Rd in Great Falls, VA), on the lower parking lot. This is on a Sunday, so we should not have to worry about crowding. The event will run from 9:00AM - 11:00AM. Please RSVP if you will be coming. As we have done at GYLOs past, we will have a popular vote for 'favorite Lotus', and will have a drawing for door prizes. After GYLO, we have a bonus - Jenn and Tim Glahn will have a picnic at their house in Burke. We will caravan down there after the GYLO. The picnic will start around Noon. If you'd like to go, great - please let me know how many people you will have in your party. The Glahns will provide burgers and hot dogs, and water and soft drinks. We ask attendees to bring a side dish or dessert. If you have not been to a GYLO before, you're in for a treat - lots of interesting cars and car people, and a party atmosphere. This will be our first-ever NoVA Lotus picnic, so come be part of it! (For those in doubt, this is a social event; if your Lotus is laid up or just not available, come on out anyway - we will have separate parking for non-Lotus, and a liberal policy of what is a 'Lotus'.) Thanks, NoVA Lotus Here are some pictures of people having fun at previous Get Your Lotus Out events: [ATTACH=CONFIG]9586[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9585[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9584[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9583[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]9582[/ATTACH]