Only in a 7

[DB6]

Today was good.

 

The sun was out (Oregon remember), my 7 looked as ready and frisky as a Labrador puppy ready to go for a run, and after 2 weeks fixing previous owners faults I was ready too.

Just drop off some packages at the Post Office then drive, just for the drive,even the ripping off of the exhaust heat shield clamps on the post office entrance ramp,then burning my ankle stepping out of the car, then my hand trying to wedge the damned thing in place to limp to the Nappa store to buy new clamps would not dull my day;

(even dealing with the chumps at Nappa who kept telling me I needed to go to a "Hot Rod Shop" was ok, I found some oversize clamps, begged some tools and a piece of cardboard to lay on and after 17 hours (nah 30 mins really but my back is shot) got it all back up and running.

 

While I was finishing off 2 guys in their 20's on Ducattis pulled in to talk (not buy parts) just chat about the 7, ..

 

"Hi you need any help, we were at the stop light and saw you under the car, is all ok, is this a Lotus 7"?

 

"Well, its a Caterham, 26 years old , but yeah , it.s a 7,"... we spent 30 mins chatting, talking about travel and roads, and the love of fast machines, we swapped contact info, then drove off with the promise to meet at the local micro brew pub next week .

 

I drove 270 miles that day going nowhere,... of all the "fun/silly /toy " cars I have owned in my life, (

a lot) not one has made me smile like this( I include 63 FHC E Type, 63 Corvette, Triumph Dolomite Sprint( The WRX of the 70,s),,and not one ever has garnered so much public attention, that can get old sometimes I must admit.: "err yeah it a kit car with a VW bug engine,) when I meet the car experts,lol, then they leave., puts out about 40 hp on a good day, but its great for parades and kids".

 

BUT not one car has made me feel so good, even with all the BS that goes with it; that few ppl would put up with if you try and explain any kind of logic to the car.

 

No... more than that, just about really feeling good, on a drive of the car; even the sight of the brown paper bag I had just bought from Ace Hardware and sat on the passenger seat going flying out the car as I hit 70 and disapearing into the woods made me smile, ah f##k it David, who cares.

 

It's a car that cuts thru the rich/pompous typical mid life crisis or spoilt kid feelings some have about performance cars, from age 17 to 80 ppl still just cannot but be attracted to it like a log fire on a cold night..This car really does cut thru all the BS, and even ppl that don't really know what the hell it is can see it for what it is.

 

On the way home I had to stop at the Black and Decker outlet in Seaside OR to pick up some saw blades, on returning to the car, a guy is looking into the car, we chat, he was born in the same town in County Mayo in Ireland as my mother, he is down from Vancouver BC for 2 weeks, we meet for lunch on Friday,he is a Lotus Exige owner,only in a 7.

Only in a 7,only in a Seven.

 

So to any one out there ....thinking/ looking/ or saying some day, one day,,, maybe , BUY ONE NOW.

 

[slngsht]

 

So to any one out there ....thinking/ looking/ or saying some day, one day,,, maybe , BUY ONE NOW.

 

Completely agree... waited 20 years to get mine. not sure why

[11Budlite]

Well put David!! :thumbs: After driving much more mundane sports cars over the years, I can't imagine being without my Seven. To me, the entertainment value of just $20 of gas can't be beat!! :7fume:

 

Bruce

[pksurveyor]

Owning a 7 is like a disease. Once you have it, you can not walk away from it. If you are deeply infected, you will want to have more than one 7.

[11Budlite]

"If you are deeply infected, you will want to have more than one 7." - I agree with that completely. For some strange reason I keep scanning the ads for an original Lotus 7...

 

Bruce :7drive:

[scannon]

"If you are deeply infected, you will want to have more than one 7." - I agree with that completely. For some strange reason I keep scanning the ads for an original Lotus 7...

 

Bruce :7drive:

:iagree: It's like a disease you don't want to take the cure for. Every time another Se7en pops up in the ads, I have to restrain myself. Some of the better deals are really hard to resist.

 

I keep thinking that winter is not too far away and I need a new project in the shop to keep me occupied during those long cold months.

 

Skip

[Al N.]

DB-

 

Great post...you've been a great addition to the forum/club. Maybe we use your post for the next newsletter? Or even have a regular column "Only in a Se7en"? As you can see by the comments here, you are not alone in your sentiments/irrational affection for these simple little cars.

 

-Al

[DB6]

Al and all,

 

It is an a addiction but a good one.

I had to chuckle when they say "one is not enough" like the Lotus Pringle.

Here I am 4 weeks after buying one still looking on ebay, Craigs, etc to see what else is there.

I should have built a five car garage with a bed in it,lol.

The person I bought mine from missed his old one so much he bought another 3 weeks later (and no there was nothing wrong with the one he sold me by the way he just needed the money , then got more cash from another source too,lol).

I am still learning so much about the car and actually get a kick out of fixing things and doing little mods on it, the odd thing is that if any other car was to leave me stranded I would be so pissed off, but this car gets away with a lot of bad (or quirky behaviour/ wierd things done to it in its past life) because...." when she is good she is very very good even tho when she is bad she is horrid"

[MoPho]

 

It is an a addiction but a good one.

 

 

-I've had my car two and a half months and I have already put 2500 miles on it and that is only using the car for fun drives on weekends.

-I recently started organizing mid week Lotus club dinner/drives because I couldn't make it to the weekends to drive the car.

-My wife doesn't need to remind me to take out the trash anymore, because now I have an excuse to go see the car in the garage.

-I refrain from going out for other activities and started riding my bike to run errands so to not cut into my Seven gas money allowance.

-I have long gone over said allowance. :banghead:

-The "support group" doesn't help, because we just end up going for a drive anyway

-I keep the steering wheel under my pillow at night

 

-I blame Al :toetap:

 

 

 

 

[11Budlite]

"-I keep the steering wheel under my pillow at night" - OMG we're a sick bunch!!

 

Bruce :7drive:

[MoPho]

"-I keep the steering wheel under my pillow at night" - OMG we're a sick bunch!!

 

Bruce :7drive:

 

 

You do that too?

[11Budlite]

"You do that too? " - Not yet, but if I get that QR hub for Christmas I will. :yesnod:

 

Bruce :7drive:

[scannon]

During the long winter months while I was building the Se7en, I would often take a glass of Agavero (tequila liquer) out to the shop late at night, sit in the car sipping the Agavero, shifting the gears, steering the wheels and making zoom zoom sounds.

 

It definately helped keep my interest and enthusiasm up and made working on it the next time that much easier.

 

Skip

ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM:7head: