Accidental Seven meetings?

[slngsht]

How many times have you stumbled upon a seven owner - in person or through word of mouth? Like the guy who happened to show up at the Dragon with his S1 :crazy: - I never got a chance to say hello and chat with him, but can you imagine his point of view? Just driving along, and here comes a seven, then another, and another... I guess he wins the story contest hands down... the mother of all "guess how many sevens I saw on my blat today" stories.

 

Today I walked into the local speed shop to pickup a fitting for my gas tank. I'm on a first name basis with the owner (is this a bad sign?). Mike's eyes lit up when he saw me. He said he had a customer walk into his shop who was out of town and a seven owner. He passed along the info, and the owner and I have already exchanged emails.

 

A few months ago my neighbor, who is a physical therapist told me one of his patients is building a locost. I have not been able to contact him.

 

I got in touch with Jeff Duncan after one of the guys who worked for me said a fellow STi owner was ranting and raving about an unusual car at a local autox.

 

First time I saw Michael Dougherty was when he had pulled over the side of the highway on his way to an autox. I had just written a check for Frankn7, so I pulled over and said hello right there.

 

Share your stories.

[eVox]

My friend back in Orange, CT (hometown) tracked a seven down (as it was driving around the town) to the owners house. I was in town so we went to the guys house (kinda stalkerish I know...) and it was sitting in the driveway and the owners son was mowing the lawn....We talked a bit (as I had just started my locost) and I got my first ride in a seven. Still am not sure what type it was...but it was an english RHD import

[JohnCh]

A couple of weeks ago I drove the Westfield to the grocery store to pick up dinner (and some wine – have to keep your priorities in order). When I returned to the car 10 minutes later, I found a black and white photo on my driver’s seat that featured a young man behind the wheel of a seven. The car had external control arms on the rear which were reminiscent of the 7-1/2, but rather than one arm per side, there were two. On the back of the photo was written “Rod, 1965” along with a phone number. I called the number and much to my surprise, Rod answered the phone.

 

After a brief conversation I learned that the car was a clone he built to race in the 60’s and it featured an IRS setup borrowed from a then current Lotus formula car. Further, Hugh Haskell of Lotus fame had a hand in the design. Apparently Rod has seen me driving through town on a number of occasions and has been trying to meet me. These days he is a driving instructor and was with a student that day when I went flying by. They saw me turn into the parking lot and tried to catch up, but by then I was already in the store. For some reason he had the photo with him and dropped in on the seat as a very compelling calling card. We are still trying to find a time to meet in person so I can hear the whole story about his car…and return his photo. I love this hobby.

 

-John

[roll a 7]

This past weekend I went to Laguna Seca with a friend that owns two IMSA vintage racecars. The professional driver he had "convinced" to drive his March GTP car bought a Series II Lotus last month. While we were talking one of the SCRAMP officials came by and pulled out photos of the Series II Lotus racer he bought last fall. Voila: three 7 owners have found each other in the pits and are talking 7s. Everyone else just sorta moved away.....

[homebrew]

I was at Laguna on Saturday and checked out the vintage IMSA GTP's in the pits. How bizarre it would have been if I had wandered by and overheard your conversation. Then there would have been 4.

 

Jim :7drive:

[jbanker]

In May of 2003 I was driving my pickup on a 4 lane street and met a Birken in the opposite lane. It was the first Se7en that I had seen in the Indianapolis area in nearly 15 years. I was about 5 miles from my house.

 

Two months later John Viviani posted a message on the Stalker forum that there was going to be a Gathering of the Sevens on Saturday prior to the running of the 2003 USGP in Indy. I sent an email to the local contact for the event and it turned out to be the same Birken owner, Tony M., who lived about 2 miles from me. I had not seen his car again nor had he seen mine. After sending the email with my physical location in the Indy area, we got together a few days later.

 

I had Dennis Brunton and Justin Sims come to Indy for the Gathering and a day at the track for the F1 Event.

 

In the photo below is my Stalker before it was painted yellow, Dennis and Justin's red Stalker, an early Caterham owned by the host of the Gathering, Bret J., Tony M's Birken, Steve B's Locost, Cherik's Caterham and a car from Michigan (I think). The couple standing in the lower left hand corner of the photo is none other than our John and Erin Viviani.

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1408209413_SevenSevens.jpg

[xflow7]

I remember that night! The car on the end next to Cherik's is mine. That was a fun evening! Brent also had a lovely 11 tucked away in that garage.

 

I remember meeting you, Jack, but I guess I had forgotten that John V. was also there that evening. Thanks for posting that picture (was my desktop background for a couple of years); good memories.

 

Dave

[Al N.]

The professional driver he had "convinced" to drive his March GTP car bought a Series II Lotus last month. While we were talking one of the SCRAMP officials came by and pulled out photos of the Series II Lotus racer he bought last fall......

 

I'm telling you man, there's a Series II revolution coming!

 

(Box, once you reinforce the frame and axle, Superlight power to weight ratios are very very easily attainable...not that I've been researching this or anything... ) )

 

----

 

Great stories all. I don't really have anything that cool. I met most of you jokers through this forum and/or the Se7ens.net list. I do remember that photo from Brett J.'s get together, though...right around the time I started looking around for a car. And now I've met the majority of Se7eners in the pic without ever having stepped foot in Indianapolis.

 

One of my favorite things about Carlisle was just seeing "the old gang" again. A Seven would pull up, and I'd know "That's Jeff D." or "That's Dave W." or There's Paul B. and his dad" or "Oh, Michael D. brought Norm (can't mistake Norm's hat)?" And now I'll be able to do the same with Gary and Rob & Mary.

 

I did have one somewhat random Se7en story from Carlisle....there was a couple (man in wheelchair) looking around the USA7s area and I introduced myself — turns out they live about 10 minutes away from me and have an expat RHD Cat that many of my friends in our area have reported having seen around over the past year. I've never seen their car, but now I've met them — 2.5 hours from our home base.

[jbanker]

I remember that night! The car on the end next to Cherik's is mine. That was a fun evening! Brent also had a lovely 11 tucked away in that garage.

 

I remember meeting you, Jack, but I guess I had forgotten that John V. was also there that evening. Thanks for posting that picture (was my desktop background for a couple of years); good memories.

 

Dave

 

Dave,

Thanks for your response, I was hoping you would. I could not remember for sure where you lived. I know you drove in and arrived after dark.

The couple standing between your car and Cherik's (Rich and Lisa) live in Indy. Rich built a stunning black Caterham a couple of years after this gathering.

 

The all Se7ens Gathering continued for two more years at Brett's place and continued to bring in more and more Se7ens. Brett still has the Eleven and will be showing it at LOG 28 here in Indy in August. He purchased the Eleven while he was still in high school. He purchased the red Caterham brand new when he was 25 back in the early 80's.

 

In 2006 the Se7ens group joined in with the all Lotus group gathering hosted by Young K. with the same night before F1 format. The Club House for Indianapolis Lotus Lovers (CHILL) sprung from that of which I am a charter member.

 

Hopefully we can meet again soon...Maybe even at LOG 28 here in Indy!!!

 

Jack

[xflow7]

Hi Jack,

 

I missed Indy 2004, but I was at the gathering in 2005, which I think was actually the first year at Young's house. I remember because that was the gathering I was driving back to the hotel from when I had my deer encounter on I-69 (followed by Michelin fiasco the next day. Bad Memories!).

 

Anyway, I also hope to catch you again at some event or other. Indy's a bit trickier with my car now since I live in Binghamton, but you never know. I'd love to make it to LOG, but it's a busy summer, so not sure.

 

Dave

[jbanker]

Dave,

 

I remember the deer encounter. For some reason I thought you lived in Michigan or northern Ohio at the time. At any rate, it was pretty scary when I got the call from Phil W. (red Caterham) and said that you hit the deer.

Phil has since sold the Caterham to Walt H. who lives in the Carolinas.

I am not sure Rich and Lisa had theirs up and running in 2005. I think it was '06. You would remember it ....all black and very nice.

 

 

 

 

[xflow7]

You're correct about Michigan. I lived in Ohio when I built the car, then in Michigan (during the deer encounter), and now in Binghamton. :ack:

[roll a 7]

I vividly remember standing with the 7 owners and wondering if there was any other 7 owner(s) @ LS that day who were missing our informal meeting. I posted on the CCC site that I would be there and just did not think to post it here. Darn! Missed opportunity.

[sparecr]

Man Jack you bring back memories. I was building my Stalker at the time of that photo (now Walt L's in SC). It was a long time ago (2001) I was first at Brett's just dreaming about owning a 7 one day.

 

Without the USGP I am sure glad you guys are having LOG, I am not sure what I would do with a summer without you CHILL guys. See you in July.:cheers: