Chat thread

[EuropaTC]

The trouble with snow is that it looks really pretty in pictures, but loses it's attraction the minute it starts to clutter up where I'd like to drive !   A great house but sadly too big for us, I'd get lost in it. Good if you have relations or friends that travel a long way to meet up though, perhaps that's their idea ?

Moving slightly off topic but still on "chatting" I see Mike Abbas in the UK has got a Banks Europa up for sale. No price that I could see, but lots of great pictures. He often advertises in Classic & Sportscars and I've just got the latest issue so if there's a price in that I'll add to the post.  You need to scroll down the page and he has a link to lots more pictures from underneath the advert.

Brian

http://www.mikeabbasclassiccars.co.uk/carsforsale.htm 

[blasterdad]

 

Absolutely beautiful, would HAVE to get rid of the square headlights though....

[BDA]

The headlights aren't my favorite part, and I'd want stainless steel braided plumbing but I'd suffer that gladly to have a Banks car!

[EuropaTC]

I agree, just why someone decided a square headlight would work in a rounded bodywork section had me scratching my head.  Clearly it's a nod to the original 62 and I suspect that came out in the period when rectangular headlights were coming into fashion in the UK.

Having said that the rectangles don't work, a pure round one isn't so good either.

http://www.lotusespritturbo.com/Lotus_62_Replica.jpg

I guess the real answer is to stay with the rectangles but cover them with perspex covers to fade them into the profile like one of the originals ?

http://www.mikehaywardcollection.com/product/3503/miles-and-muir-lotus-europa-62.htm#.VNZIciyZQdU

[blasterdad]

@Brian, I think you're right about the covers, would look even better if they were tinted dark so you couldn't see them at all...

[blasterdad]

How to bypass airport security in London...
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31711446

[BDA]

I feel bad for the woodpecker!

[blasterdad]

I feel bad for the woodpecker!

He got away. 

[BDA]

A Happy Ending! 

[blasterdad]

This will be in the toy collection when we are empty nesters, problem is... getting swmbo to ride in it with me. 
She has clearly stated that she won't. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E73yfmqaQk

[BDA]

It can't be because she's claustrophobic! There's no roof! I'll bet she doesn't appreciate the melodic sound of the engine (that's six inches behind her head), or the gentle "whoosh" of the air going into the blower (and trying to suck her head in with it), but then, maybe it's that she doesn't appreciate the ride on the water (as it pounds your kidneys into hamburger). Some things are just an acquired taste. Then again, maybe if you took her out in one of those alcohol guzzling rocket boats, she'd learn to really appreciate your Lotus!

[blasterdad]

As you say, it's an acquired taste, but if it's not chocolate she wants no part of it. 
Our current jet boat tops out around 55mph, which usually results in the "stink eye" around 50.
I'm pretty sure 120mph would get lawyers involved. 
It will be, without a doubt, "dad's" boat. 

[BDA]

You need to start leaving chocolate bars in the passenger seat of the Lotus now so she'll keep looking there. When the car's finished, close the door behind her and take her for a ride! Just make sure you have more chocolate bars for the trip!

I don't know much about alcohol burning engines but a guy told me his alcohol burning race boat used a huge hose for the injectors. IIRC he said he used -8 AN (1/2" DIA nominal) for EACH cylinder! It was a long time ago and my memory could be off so maybe it was -6 AN (3/8" DIA nominal) but I don't think so... His alcohol bill had to be huge! Something to think about...

[blasterdad]

Yes an engine running on alcohol requires a lot more than gasoline...
http://www.hardtail.com/techtips/alcohol.html 

[BDA]

Alcohol has about half the energy gasoline has but to give a little perspective, all four of the cylinders of my little four banger are fed by a single -6 line! The guy said it said the fuel lines poured alcohol like a garden hose. I was very impressed!

So one of those will be your toy when Lake Michigan thaws?! They are a different world from cars!