Hi all -- I'm still typing blind, as I am refraining from re-subscribing
until my next trip to Cincinnati is finished, maybe by the end of this
month. However, I thought it worthwhile to post a report on our mini-SOL
(or perhaps "Mini/SOL") get-together at Jim Fuerstenberg's place last night.
Despite classically-British bad weather of pouring rain, I successfully
located his house about a mile north of mine in Arlington Heights, northwest
of Chicago, where he and his friend Jim were busily constructing tarp
weights for this coming race weekend from PVC pipe filled with concrete. We
were joined a short time later by Pat Vilbrandt, looking a bit damp but
otherwise none-the-worse for wear, considering his drive up from the city
was interrupted by some world-class roadwork tangles put up by the Chicago
chapter of the Anti-Destination League.
We had a nice tour of Jim's garage, featuring his red Mini #42, the number
apparently reflecting the amount of additional engines and gearboxes stored
around the place in various stages of assembly -- how Jim manages to keep
his workplace so neatly organized is beyond me.
We then proceeded up to the house, a magnificent 91-year-old structure with
your typical high ceilings, nice hardwood floors and tasteful furnishings,
the sort of place where I would try to only carry transmissions into the
kitchen via the back door. I made a mental note to obtain a similar house
before asking my wife if I could race Minis.
We reviewed some terrific race shots of Jim taken by Gordon Jolley, plus
some unfortunate Mini-related prangs experienced by others, including one
poor chap whose race experience over the past few years apparently involves
building a Mini, promptly bending it in its first race, rebuilding it,
bending it again, build, bend, lather, rinse, repeat...
We then adjourned to a fine local Mexican restaurant, La Something-or-other,
where yours truly inadvertently ordered a meal with some assembly required.
This covered the cramped table with approximately five scorching hot dishes
and clouds of steam fogging everyone's glasses, but despite this we enjoyed
a fine meal, accompanied by what appeared to be some Mexican brand of stout
with a taste that I'd describe as Guinness Lite.
The evening proved highly educational for me, as I've grown up used to
basic British cars which provide thoughtful, dignified increases in speed,
not the "acceleration" associated with American cars. And yet here was Pat,
Jim and the other Jim engaged in deep, highly-technical race conversation
involving _Minis_, if you can imagine, with me on hand to frown thoughtfully
from time to time and contribute useful remarks (e.g. "Really!") at proper
intervals.
I'm trying to finish my current roll of film soon, as I've got some photos
of us around Jim's Mini, plus some nice shots of Mike Passaretti's TR4A at
the car show last week. If anyone out there would be able to scan a couple
of shots and upload them to SOL archives somewhere, let me know!
Cheers,
Andy
Andrew C. Green
Datalogics, Inc. Internet: acg@hermes.dlogics.com
441 W. Huron UUCP: ..!uunet!dlogics!acg
Chicago, IL 60610 FAX: (312) 266-4473
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