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Re: Palo Alto (long)

To: "Larry Miller" <millerls@ado13.com>, "Spridgets" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Palo Alto (long)
From: Gerard Chateauvieux <pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999 19:03:52 -0700
In-reply-to: <002501befdff$aff9e3f0$4b9ee3cd@fnmoc>
Reply-to: Gerard Chateauvieux <pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com>
Sender: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
I agree Larry!

In my opinion, it was the best showing I've seen since 1992. I've never
seen such an awesome collection of Sprites (especially Bugeyes) and just
about every one of them were gems. It was the first time I've seen Larry's
car (he's modest about how nice it is), I heard many people compliment
Bryan's interior, and though I'd seen David Riker's Midget before, it
looked even better than last time I saw it a couple years ago.
Unfortunately, I didn't see Dave Vrba. It was the first time (HOORAY) that
ALL the Healeys were parked TOGETHER. In the past they were usually parked
at opposite ends of the field, so this was really great! There was only one
lone Midget who chose to park with the MG's instead. It did have Maryland
plates on it, so maybe he was with his club group. I ran into a lot of
other bay area folks I know too, so it was difficult to talk to everyone
enough in the time we were there. I took some photos of members cars (that
I knew of) and will post them on my web site as soon as the film is
developed and scanned. Didn't see any of the "Route 49" gang though.

Had my first breakdown incedent in the Sprite returning home on Sunday.
About a third of the way home, the car began to sputter like it was running
out of gas and then promptly died. 'Huh, I know I've got plenty of gas!?!'
The fuel cell doesn't have a sending unit/guage, so I always keep the tank
pretty full. I pull over to the shoulder and continue to coast downhill
until I see a call box... just in case. Open the bonnet... sure enough, the
fuel filter is empty, and the fuel pressure guage is reading zero, but the
pump isn't clicking when I turn the key on. This isn't an SU fuel pump, but
a race quality unit. Hmmm, check the fuse for the pump, it's OK, duck my
head under the rear fender... sure enough there's the fuel pump wire
dangling like a cork-screwed pig's tail. Turns out the wire had broken off
from the lug on the terminal. Probably got tugged in the grass at the show.
My car is so slammed to the ground, it has to be rolled onto a couple of
two-by-sixes just to get a floor jack under the diff. Strip the wire, screw
it back on, and I'm back on the road. What a relief! I kept having visions
of someone veering off the freeway, as I lay there connecting that wire.

I also went on the drive Saturday and caravaned with the last group, led by
Gary Anderson. He led in his Healey blue over white 3000, followed by a
very sharp black MGA, a beatiful Alfa Romeo spyder, two red 3000's, a '61
Morgan, myself in my Bugeye, followed by Dave Nock and his '62 green over
white 3000 and a white Miata. The winding roads through the coast hills and
redwoods were spectacular and the air temperature was in the cool 70's...
just a perfect sunny day after a very damp and foggy morning. The drive
conludes with lunch at Cameron's, an English pub in Half Moon Bay.The
parking lot is a car show in itself. This was the first time my 9 year old
son was immersed in an all weekend British car event, and he had the most
terrific time both days. He loves being with the guys.

It was a great weekend.

Gerard

At 8:50 AM -0700 9/13/99, Larry Miller wrote:
>There was a very good turnout for the British show yesterday at Palo Alto.
>There were more Bugeye's than any other Spridgets. It was nice to put faces
>with names. I met and spoke with Gerard Chateauvieux, Dave Vrba, and Bryan
>Vandiver. There was so much going on that I did not get to talk with any of
>them as much as I would have liked.
>
>The Bugeye ran great most of the time. Managed 70-75 MPH most of the way
>home but I still have the intermittent constant speed missfire. I have to
>clear it by letting off the gas, pressing the clutch and letting the RPM's
>drop below 1000. This is the main reason I will not be driving it on the 49
>tour next weekend. Tailgaters hate it when you abruptly slow down every few
>miles.
>
>Larry Miller
>http://www.ado13.com
>You can't be a real country unless you have
>a beer and an airline - it helps if you have
>some kind of a football team, or some
>nuclear weapons, but at the very least you
>need a beer.-Frank Zappa


G G              Gerard Chateauvieux
 E A
  R R        pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com
   A A
    R G          Pixelsmith  on  Duty
     D E
      S      http://www.gerardsgarage.com





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