Thanks Larry, I can't even try to explain the feeling i had when i was
sitting at that starting line for the first time. Adrenaline is all i can
come up with, cause it was as high as it's ever been with me. It was the
most fun i've had since i've been involved with these LBC's. Like everyone
else, Sprite Spree 03 to me was the best time i've had yet. And to those
listers who could not make Sprite Spree 03, you MUST make it a point to be
there for the 50th anniversary of the Sprite in 2008. I know I'm not gonna
miss it. I'd like to say that Rick and Cindy, and Rick's boys and Frank
Clarici and all the others that had a part of putting Sprite Spree 03 on,
deserve one helluva commendation. It was truly an experience i will
remember for a long time. Like Chuck Christ stated, we saw lots of Bugeyes
and Sprites, and some others too, we saw people come from across the globe
from Australia to England to Hawaii to be with all of us who love these
little cars. I know now what makes us the way we are when it comes to these
little cars, it's simply just being with people who all have a common bond
and simply, just people who wanna have some fun. A heartfelt thanks from me
to all who put that 4 days of fun on.
Mike Weeks
60 Bugeye "Bloodshot"
72 MGB "Jooce"
----- Original Message -----
From "Larry B. Macy, Ph.D." <macy at bbl.med.upenn.edu>
To: "Spridgets" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 2:19 PM
Subject: Sprite Spree '03 (just a weeeee bit long)
> Well, I guess this may be the initial report from the scene of the
> crime.
>
> Due to work factors I missed the first 2 days, but it sounded like a
> good time was had by all.
>
> The Rally apparently went off with out a hitch, well except for the
> rain. But that was Tuesday, I got there early Wed AM.
>
> Was a pleasant top down cruise of about 2 hours from home. I arrived
> about 8:15ish, just as they were heading out for the Autocross. I
> hitched up with not-so-big chuck right off the bat and over to the
> course area we went. While all the cars were getting teched the AutoX
> dude (first name Del, could be Dale) laid out an interesting course.
> Then we had the meeting and took a walk-through on the course. Out of
> the blocks was into a left and then a slalom. then a chicane into
> another left and into a circle. Then out of the circle, hang a left
> (which ended up being the toughest corner on the course) and back
> around the course. Out of the 2nd time through the circle, a sharp
> right hander (only right on the course) and back through the timer.
> Fastest time as 1:05 and change. Next was about 1:11 or 12. That red
> Bugeye was quick. I captured first in my class (1500 Midget) at about
> 1:16 and change. Mike Weeks grabbed a 3rd or 4th in class (modified) in
> his first AutoX. 2 Off Courses, then a very quick run!! Congrats Mike.
> Not sure about the other results. My time put me about 5th or 6th
> overall, but nobody was scoring that ;-) Hey I thought I did good,
> running against all those littler. lighter cars!!
>
> Now the high spot(s) of the AutoX was twofold. Frank, driving like he
> stole it, ran down a pylon early in the first lap, then proceeded to
> finish the course, with the pylon stuck under the car. Unusual noise
> those things make as they are being ground up under a modified bugeye
> ;-)
> Then Mike Gigante drove PIECES (Frank's hybrid bugeye nose, square body
> back, RHD) around the course. Now Mike is not a slender person, (shall
> we leave it at that??) and he is driving a RHD car on a course that all
> the turns are lefts. Starting to get the picture?? That was a the most
> impressive demonstration of driving on two wheels I have ever seen. And
> the Australian pulled it off with the biggest sh^t eating grin I have
> seen in some time. You can no longer read the logo on the Goodyears on
> that side of the car, but it was a hoot to watch.
>
> After the AutoX we went back to the Inn where a few teams participated
> in the Drag Race. Yep, Drag a Midget, with the brakes tightened up,
> uphill, through a slalom!! We grouped up in teams of 5, grabbed a hold
> of a harness and ran up the hill, with one member in the drivers seat
> for steering and safety.
> My team, The Cool Dudes (Mike Weeks, Biff Jones, David Leib, And
> someone whom is gonn kick my ass, because I am drawing a complete blank
> on his name, and myself). Took the first run. 19 seconds. We thought
> that was pretty damn good, until the next team pulled a 15 and the
> following one an 11. I mean the girls got a 15 sec run in fur cryin'
> out loud. So we took another run at a heart attack. managed to tie that
> 11, but the winners?? Frank grabbed Rick Moses's 2 kids (about 20, tall
> and athletic) and pulled out a 9 with Mike Gigante in the car!! I tried
> to get them to handicap us by age, but it was a no go!! (Let's see
> Frank was scoring, Frank was on the leading team, coincidence??? I
> think not)
>
> Later we drove a string of about 40 Spridgets down to dinner. Pretty
> damn impressive, seeing that many Spridgets in a line on the road. At
> dinner the days awards were given out and mucho food consumed (hey it
> was a buffet).
>
> On Thursday, we started out the day driving another long string down to
> breakfast. Then after breakfast we had a little swap meet and I took
> the time to check out why my drivers side headlamp didn't have a low
> beam.
>
> Well that was pretty easy, broken wire in the wheel well. But what I
> saw while I was looking for the problem shook me to my soul. (well not
> really, but it was pretty bad). The passenger side A-arm was broken at
> the fulcrum pin. Not cracked, broken. The front bushing was not
> attached to the A-arm in any way, except by the fulcrum pin!!! The back
> side was OK (well if you can call anything OK in that spot OK at that
> point). After some internal head debate (I was thinking about driving
> home CAREFULLY) I opted to ask chuck for some advise. I was really
> hoping he would say we can weld it and I can get home to fix it later
> (like later when I could afford a new A-Arm). But then my common sense
> walked up and slapped me down off that silly platform. Fortunately Alan
> Fisher was there and had a new one in his trailer. So after Brian Seavy
> and I drove Franks Speedwell Bonnet Bugeye in the funkhana, it was down
> to business.
>
> Grab chuck's floor jack and start unbolting. Anyone that has ever done
> this job knows where I am gonna hit a major snag, trying to do this in
> a hurry (didn't want to miss the picture), in a parking lot, 100 miles
> from home, with mostly just the tools in my tool bag (there were LOT'S
> of tools around though). That's right folks, that fulcrum ain't never
> ever gonna come outta there. Especially when the darn thing is broke
> right at that spot. Well the only thing I have to say to that is BE
> SURE YOU GREASE YOUR SUSPENSION ON A REGULAR BASIS (like me ;-). That
> pin screwed outta there jus' like it was supposed to, when they
> designed it at the factory lo those many moons ago. Major big sigh of
> relief. BTW I saw another posting on how to get those springs out, just
> like Frankie says. Drop the king pin and kick the A-arm. easy as pie. I
> also have poly bushings so I didn't have to worry about the bushings
> coming out screwed up. With the help of quite a few folks around I had
> the new A-arm in the car and driving in nuttin' flat. Cleaned up and
> off to the photo shoot.
>
> Doug Chadwick (I think) has that old 1930's model panoramic camera and
> was doing this in front of the Penn National horse track. We boogied
> over and took some time to line up. So now we got a nice big photo of
> something like 25 Bugeyes (including a real full closed body Speedwell,
> just lie the one John Sprinzel used to drive, could even be the same
> one), 13 or 14 later Sprites, 2 Midgets and an A-40. Back to the hotel
> for the car show. All the cars were entered ;-) I even found out how to
> tell the difference between a Mark II, III, and IV Sprite!! Don't
> recall all the winners, but the A-40 won the "Other" class ;-) Then a
> very informative tech session by Peter Caldwell, World Wide Auto Parts.
> Our premier supplier of quality rebuilt lever shocks, on, of all
> things, lever shocks, How they work, how they break, and how they
> fix'em. Then the Banquet ended up the festivities. After all had eaten
> the Aussies and Sprinzel passed out balloons and we had an indoor
> balloon fight. That was followed by awards speechifying and a break.
> After dinner entertainment was a Chinese Auction and a real auction. I
> had to boogie as I have to work today (sitting at my desk typing this
> AND getting paid ;-).
>
> Was on the road in a drizzle and missed the darn eclipse last night.
>
> Personally, I had a blast. I hope the rest did, and I am looking
> forward to 2008. That will be the Sprite's 50th.
>
> Larry
>
>
>
> --
>
> Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
> macy@bbl.med.upenn.edu
> System Administrator/Manager
> Neuropsychiatry Section
> Department of Psychiatry
> University of Pennsylvania
> 3400 Spruce St. - 1015 Gates
> Philadelphia, PA 19104
>
> The bottom line: Sure, there's pain in adopting the Mac. But if I accept
> that, I get to use a computer that works, and that pretty much does
> what I
> expect and want a computer to do.
> Stewart Alsop
> FORTUNE.com
> Monday, June 25, 2001
>
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