8. Spare Pares Boxes Weigh More Than the Car. - OK, I'm a saver too, and had to buy an extra storage unit for parts that will never again see the light of day.  This included stock piling all rusty, bend and useless parts, just in case.  If I ran investments like I do old parts inventories, I'd be holding lots of empty gold mines.  By the way, I have a great lead on a deep hole in Mexico….

9. Tyre Usage. - From a soul who is used to 25,000 miles from a set of tyres on a six cylinder Ford Sedan, it's difficult to think in terms of how many 'weekends' will an exorbitantly expensive set of tyres last on the cyclecar.  And what's with the chunks of rubber I find in the suspension after each event?  Vintage racers must be very wealthy, no-one has ever asked for any of the bits back.

10.   Vintage Racing Is Way Too Much Fun To Be Legal. - I keep looking around for the other shoe to drop.  The smiles, laughter and camaraderie are beyond my wildest imagination.  Life at the track is good…

One man who always ensured he had the best fun was a record breaking motor cyclist in 1948,  racing in the US on the HRD Vincent Black Lightening prototype.  This was John Edgar, whose biography I hope to see one day in Classic and Sports Car.  What a character!  But more to the point, later, as the owner of several Ferrari's, Maserati's and Porches in his racing equip, he had the good sense to use a Messerschmitt "Kabinroller" as pit transport, complete with leather covered flask stowed in the door pocket!  When queried about his 3 wheeler he would say

" These have been driven by some very famous German racing drivers, like Klink, Klank and Klunk!"

In Australia, as I suppose they were in the UK, we called them Messashits!

I must draw your attention to the picture on page 105 (bottom) of Classic and Sports Car, Jan 02, because it is so totally evocative of the ambiance achieved in amateur hill climbing.  This shot was taken in 1947 at Prescott.  Is this not what Hopperist's are achieving today?  Yes!  Who said air cooled front engined specials were something new.

"Le plus les choses changent, le plus elles restent les memes"

It is my belief that the Hopper is the modern replacement for the ubiquitous  Austin 7 Special of yore.  Firstly, because A7 parts are now far too expensive and donor cars no longer available and even if they were are now to valuable to be used as such anyway.  Secondly, because the Hopper offers modern levels of road holding, breaking, performance and economy plus ease of construction and operation, with reliability, it is absolutely light years ahead of any A7.  Always remember, an amateur built the Ark and professionals built the Titanic!

Look closely again at the photo.  How many different makes of car/cycle/cyclecar parts are visible in this wonderful picture?  The correct answer will be decided by my dog Magnum, an old German Shepherd, who absolutely loves chasing anything with wheels.  He will stand in the centre  of the loungeroom, and toss all your entries high into the air.  The one that lands on the highest piece of furniture wins!  Just like my ancient history teacher used to mark our exams!  Just in case there are two winners, the tie breaker will be decided by the most correct translation of the previous French phrase.  Well why not?  The 2CV is after all French is it not?  Write you answer to  David Goodsir, 18913 Sorenson Road, Yelm.  WA.  98597.  USA, or email goodies@247goldfinger.com.

The prize will be………watch the next newsletter.



        David Goodsir

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