rcollum

Here's some of what was at Katie's today... --Bob Collum

A misty Sunday morning, so my expectations were low for turnout. As it happens, there was good attendance, anyway. A couple of really nice, older British cars were there. --Bob Collum

It rained through the night last night, but stopped 20 minutes before I left home to go to Katie's. As a result, Cars & Coffee got a late start, and was limited to not much more than a full front lot. Still, there were some nice cars there! --Bob Collum

I have to wonder what made someone do this to their car. The wing... look at the angle on it! Note that the exhaust has been re-routed to the rear valence, flanking the license plate. Finally, the 'speedster-style' windshield appears to have been done by using a Sawzall on the pillars, and the (I think) plexiglass windshield. With the windshield frame no longer providing any support, I have to think this 'Ultimate Driving Machine' has the chassis rigidity of a grilled cheese sandwich! Kudos! --Bob Collum

A pretty good day for Lotus at Katie's. In addition to my (freshly detailed) Elise, there was also an Exige with carbon doors, which I had never seen, as well as an Evora. Steve M. returned with his amazing Lotus Omega! (No Sevens today!) --Bob Collum

Chuck S. and his Westfield joined my Caterham. I had never seen a Vanderhall three-wheeler. --Bob Collum

My friend Pete brought his beautifully restored Sprite. --Bob Collum

Sorry - my laptop gave up the ghost in late March, and I'm just catching up in mid-April! My friend Pete brought out his well-turned-out Sprite... --Bob Collum

Glorious! Two weekend days without rain! It was cold... 29F when I got there at the 8:00AM start time. Still, the pent-up demand by regulars brought out a lot of vehicles. Bob Scates brought his Esprit out, so there were two Lotus in attendance. --Bob Collum

Amazing! We had a cool, clear Saturday, and the biggest Katie's by far this year! A few Lotus, and several Lotus people there today, the day before St. Patrick's Day! The cars filled up the lot, and went all the way around the square. Lots of variety, too! --Bob Collum

This morning, I took my Elise to Katie's for the first time this year. We had snow last night, but the streets were dry when I left home, and the temperature as above freezing - 34F, in fact. This is what passes for good weather here, lately. It seems like, when it's cold & wet & snowy, almost all the cars that show up to Katie's are German. --Bob Collum

At this time of year, this might be more properly termed a 'Coffee with Some Cars'. I don't mind the cold - it's early March, so that is to be expected in the Northern Virginia area. However, we are fed up with rain, snow and ice... and the tons and tons of salt put down to prevent occasional ice patches. Had it not been for the excessive salt on the roads, I would have driven my Seven today. So, a large number of interesting cars typically doesn't happen at this time of year. Still, it's an opportunity to catch up with fellow car people, and talk about the cars we wish we could have driven. --Bob Collum

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised by the 8 in person. It looks far better than the magazine pictures, and my pictures, show. --Bob Collum

It's March, and I say it's time for better weather. It seems like we've had rain practically every weekend since the middle of last summer. Who do we contact to fix this? Cold and misty today, but (as often on bad-weather Saturdays), German cars came out in numbers. Lots of BMWs, including a new BMW 8 Series. --Bob Collum

Thanks! I've never taken a 5-week vacation before! Yes, that was a new NSX. You're right, it's not very recognizable. On the Lotus forums, people went crazy, because it looks quite a lot like the proposed new Esprit developed during the evil Bahar's tenure. --Bob Collum

I've been on vacation for the last 5 weeks. I had a great time, but it's good to be back... --Bob Collum

While on vacation, throughout Australia & New Zealand, I kept an eye open for interesting cars. I never saw any Lotus, but saw several Ferraris, Porsches, Maseratis, and even a Viper. Then, while my wife & I were walking after lunch in Rotorua, NZ, I came across this car, Fraser 7, made in Auckland, NZ:

Mike: It's a project vehicle from Virginia Tech - they trailered it. I didn't have a chance to talk to them about the details, but heard it used a 42 hp Yamaha motorcycle engine. --Bob Collum

It was cold this morning - 27 degrees. No wind, but snow is coming this afternoon. Why didn't I drive the Seven this morning? Because it was 27 degrees. Why didn't I drive the Elise? The Elise, which has been on its CTEK charger all along, would not start this morning. Grrr…. So, I drove my wife's Smart ForTwo. Not impressed with the performance? Well, it's a rear-engined, 2-seater, 1650 lb. car. Still not convinced? OK, it fits in our two-car garage, with the Elise and the Seven! --Bob Collum

A nice day for the first Cameron's Cars & Coffee of 2019: clear skies and mild, for January. It was high 30's, with no wind. We had a pretty decent turnout, including two Lotus - my Elise, and Bob Scates' Esprit. Happy new year! --Bob Collum

For reference purposes, here is a link to the 2018 Sunday C & C thread: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?11839-2018-Northern-VA-Sunday-C-amp-C-Thread

Here is a link to the continuing 2019 Katie's thread: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?12205-2019-Katie-s-Cars-amp-Coffee-Thread-Great-Falls-VA

I hope 2019 is not an extension of 2018, weather-wise. The first Katie's of 2019 was hampered by rain, but the loyal core group still showed up. On a positive note, it wasn't too cold, and it was not actively raining. The gray Porsche was one of four factory racers - very rare! --Bob Collum

For reference, here is a link to the 2018 Katie's Cars & Coffee thread: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?11840-2018-Katie-s-Cars-amp-Coffee-Thread-Great-Falls-VA

It is nice - it's a new ZR-1, with all the factory performance options. Over 780hp, and he chose the option to go to the factory and assemble the engine himself. --Bob Collum