26th-Z

Hell Yes I'll take a ride in the club race car! I hear that there is going to be a drawing for rides with Steve Millen for all the people signed up for the track tour. The camera is all tuned up and ready to go! Mid 60's at night and mid '80s during the day, Vicky. Sound frisky to you? I'm a little concerned. I think I'm going to have to wear clothes! Better warn the others... Five guys from Florida that I know of now. I'll have a full report in about a week.

I bought a 1959 Triumph TR3 when I was sixteen. It didn't have any brakes and I paid $50 for it. Sold it for $50 with working brakes about six months later and bought a 1965 VW bug which I had until my senior year in high school. My parents never knew about the Triumph. My mother wouldn't allow me to have a sports car. "No kid of mine is going to wrap himself around a tree in a sports car" was my mother's favorite line. By the time I was eighteen, I had an MG midget which I took to SCCA driver's school.

Zach, I am unclear if your car is an American import or not, but if it is HLS30, the original engine number is stamped on the VIN plate mounted to the right-hand shock tower in the engine bay. Directly adjacent to the VIN plate, a flat spot on the top of the engine block has the engine number stamped into it. Give a look and report back.

Great conrtibution Enrique. Thanks

Victor, From everything I understand about customer service these days, its; "if you have a complaint, please step aside as there are five people behind you willing to pay $50 more than you". You have been to MSA, I'm sure. I have a sneaking suspicion that MSA hired blondes to kind of spruce up the place and answer phones. You probably got put on hold while they were cleaning the white-out off their screens from the previous order. Sorry to hear about your difficulties but what the hell were you doing on hold for twenty minutes? Your fault, dude. Clearly, your fault. If you ever do get back to MSA, be sure to tell those blondes to enjoy the ride.

I know exactly what you meant, Enrique. I was joking about the cig lighter. How many "projects" have I seen over the years turn into a parts gig? Believe it or not, there is a guy in the shop bay right next to mine with a 240Z he was building into a drag car ten years ago. I'm drooling over a 1963 Lotus Elite in boxes up in St. Petersburg. Same story. Thanks for the compliment! JPD, I am conducting a full restoration of a seriously worn out and rusted early car that is sentimental to me. I plan to drive the car for shows and club events. I'm really lucky to have this facility so close. I had to dip the car as she was rusting from the inside out from the salt humidity in Sarasota. My experience with all this takes me back to my SCCA days, with several cars under my belt. I have a vague idea of what I'm doing, however Enrique's scenario is real and fear of that outcome is one of my primary motivations. Chris

You tell 'em, Enrique! The cigarette lighter broke and two years later, look where I'm at!

Z ya there, Ed! I'm so damned excited I can't stand it! We arrive early Monday evening and hope to make the Texas Chili party. Missed it last year. I'm going to do the track tour instead of my wild scheme to "borrow" a demo 350Z from the dealer for a "test drive". I suppose we'll fill up the rental car with the "Florida Gurus Without Cars" and hoot around shouting obscenities.