I guess it is my turn. I have truly enjoyed the others.
Name: Bill Miller
Age: 34
Married 10 years, with one son (7) and three daughters (5,2,9 months) and
therefore very little time to work on my projects.
Home: Anderson, Indiana, USA
Went to Purdue University for a million years (actually 6) working full time
and earning a degree in computer science. Used to own my own company,
specializing in CADD, but since the IRS decided they wanted a too big of the
piece of pie, I now am a general manager of an industrial sheet metal shop
called Air Equipment and Engineering. We engineer, design, manufacture, and
install dust collectors, paper trim systems, and collection systems. Air
Equipment & Engineering, Inc. specializes in pneumatic conveying and
separating systems and perform both system and equipment design for a
variety of industries and industrial suppliers. It is the typical,
stressful, managerial position, but I can use all the metal working
equipment, so I can make the parts I need for my projects!
I acquired my love for LBC's honestly. I remember Dad always having a
spitfire or midget around. I can remember at least two spitfires, a MG
Midget, an Austin Healy 3000, a box sprite, and Austin America for sure.
I'm sure we had others.
My first car that was truly mine was a 1969 yellow triumph spitfire. I got
this car as a Christmas present in 1979. Dad bought this from a Judge in
Carmel, Indiana that raced SCCA. Therefore, it was modified and tuned, had
a camber compensator, and ran like greased light'ning. That is the car I
learned "auto mechanics" on. I remember driving it for a week or two, then
spending a weekend working on it with Dad. By the time I was 17 I had
rebuilt a transmission, an overdrive, and a 1296. Boy, I was hard on that
car, driving it like a racecar all the time.
Speaking of racing, I raced quarter midgets for several, several years.
Held several track records, won several championships, and one grand
national heat in 1976. But I had the two best mechanics in the QMA; my Dad
and Uncle. It was a lot of work, but a total blast. One sprint race with a
buddy's car, and a couple SCCA events. It's pretty neat to see the people I
raced with back then names show up on ESPN in the IRL Indy, NASCAR, USAC,
etc.
My current LBC collection consists of a 78 Triumph Spitfire 1500 that I am
going to make a little "hot" and a 61 Austin Healey Sprite. I'm keeping my
eyes open for a later sixties spitfire and a TR4 going cheap with a decent
frame and body! I'm not sure if it was an early "mid-life" crisis or what,
but last fall, I decide I HAD to get another spitfire. I hadn't had
anything "fun" since 1983, my last spit. I watched the trader for a few
weeks and found one close (the 78). It had been stored since the mid 80's,
no idea whether it would run or not, body not *that* bad, so I went home,
got the trailer, and brought it home. I'm really not to sure how pleased my
wife was. Hindsight says that I should have passed this one. Part of the
frame was rotted, but I am slowly getting it to shape. Mechanically, it is
now sound! It sounds great. I need to finish the frame and body and drive
it! My goal was to have it completely done by VTR this year, but with four
kids, I wasn't even close. By next summer for sure! When I am done with
her, she's going to be yellow with an offset black stripe. I can't wait. I
stumbled on the AH Sprite by accident. I really had a desire to drive a
LBC. Liked the "Austin Healey" name, and said, what the heck! Picked it up
took it home. Luckily, my wife really loves this "cute" (her words) little
car. And I drive it every weekend it doesn't rain. I really need to redo
the brake hydraulics, but it will most likely be a winter project.
Long term goals consist of getting my son interested in LBC's and turning
wrenches. He's a great helper now, but I long for the day when I can say,
"Hey Wes, go balance the carbs for me!" I would also like to build a big
garage and own one of each to the types of Spitfires. I would also like to
start racing again. But right now I want to concentrate on being a good
father and husband. I'll have more time to play later. But I still want
that cheap roundtail and TR4 now!
These autox.team.net lists (and members) are great. I truly think that the
amount of information and availability of parts are better today than they
were when triumph/BL was around!
Bill
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