Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Not a Jensen Healey, but here's Barbara, my 1956 Austin Healey and me in 1959. A lot of fun but what a pain in the neck to fix... damn Strombergs and even more damned Whitworth threads! http://www.hemenway.com/AustinHealey.jpg Jim, "I haven't looked like that for such a long time." Hemenway Robert Clark wrote: > I used to drive my uncle's 1974 Jensen Healey...with the Lotus engine, a > Vauxhaul gearbox (I believe), along with two Stromberg carbs...like a > little rocket and I always loved it. Was my intro to what a sports car > was and I've never gotten over it! Being 17, driving that with the cute > girl down the road, and feeling the acceleration of the car was magical! > > Robert Clark > Lancaster, PA > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Dernie" > <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com> > To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> > Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 1:38 AM > Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT > > >> Try an Elise. >> Frank >> >> On 11 Jul, 2009, at 06:06, Adam Bridge wrote: >> >>> I had a Lotus S2 - two 2-barrel Webers. It was a RIP to drive but >>> needed >>> lots of TLC as cars of that era did. >>> I loved the close-ratio gearbox and how it would leap ahead with the >>> slightest urging. Stopped darn well too! >>> >>> Of course it would never pass today's crash tests but I'd love a modern >>> Lotus roadster to be a retake on the Elan. The top can leak, that's >>> okay! >>> >>> Adam >>> >>> On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 9:33 PM, Frank Dernie >>> <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com>wrote: >>> >>>> The Elan S4 was a favourite of mine. It had Stromberg carbs which >>>> gave more >>>> power and broader torque band than the more fashionable Webers, and >>>> better >>>> fuel consumption. It was surprisingly roomy for such a tiny light car. >>>> Frank >>>> >>>> >>>> On 11 Jul, 2009, at 00:42, Jerry Lehrer wrote: >>>> >>>> Dennis und Frank >>>>> >>>>> The original Europa mit Renault engine was a dog! But the original >>>>> Elite, if it had modern brakes would really be >>>>> a windy road car. The Elan S2 when de-bugged is a superb handling >>>>> car. >>>>> >>>>> Yes, I've used them all >>>>> >>>>> Jerry Lehrer >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Dennis wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Frank, >>>>>> >>>>>> I wondered your thoughts on Lotus' road cars. I had a Europa >>>>>> Special and >>>>>> it is a marvel. Very light, incredible suspension, and so >>>>>> responsive. I >>>>>> thought Colin Chapman brilliant and was stunned at his premature >>>>>> passing. >>>>>> >>>>>> I could never afford one of todays 'supercars' but if I could I >>>>>> would >>>>>> likely own a Lotus and use some of that "leftover" money for a >>>>>> worthy cause. >>>>>> >>>>>> I agree the Veyron is an ugly piece ;-) >>>>>> >>>>>> But, Lotus aside, what do you make of the Ariel Atom? >>>>>> >>>>>> Dennis >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Frank Dernie wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Pagani Zonda. >>>>>>> For "frequent" use Ferrari 599. >>>>>>> For daily use Porsche 911 turbo. >>>>>>> For pure driving Lotus anything. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> There are lots of cars about which have fancy styling and are "2 >>>>>>> seat >>>>>>> limos" with loads of kit, weight and electronic driving aids to >>>>>>> make them >>>>>>> easy to drive for less good drivers. >>>>>>> These are great pose-mobiles and practical for a rich person of >>>>>>> limited >>>>>>> talent to show-off in. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I may have left some out, I am neither wealthy enough nor >>>>>>> interested >>>>>>> enough to study in detail. Weight is the most important chassis >>>>>>> parameter >>>>>>> for performance. Road cars are to a great extent a fashion item >>>>>>> and image >>>>>>> statement. Published stuff tends to be acceleration and top >>>>>>> speed. It is >>>>>>> possible to get impressive figures for these without much chassis >>>>>>> sophistication at all. Since weight is currently not something >>>>>>> fashionable >>>>>>> to minimise "supercars" are now as heavy as trucks, hence no longer >>>>>>> supercars IMO. This Bugatti thing weighs the same as 2 Ford GT40s! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To put perspective on this, +10kg on a F1 car loses over 0.3 >>>>>>> secs per >>>>>>> lap. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Frank >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >