[Spits] And I thought I was sweating on oil prices!!!

[Donald H Locker]

That's a serious Owie!  Good thing it's not a daily driver.

Always good to hear from you, John.
Donald.

John Macartney wrote:
> Hi, Guys
> 
> The only Triumph connection I can bring to this thread is that on Sunday I found myself re-fuelling 
> the Triumph Trans-America UK Spitfire UK Raffle prize at a freeway gas station here in the UK. Even 
> topping off the tank made my eyes smart a bit (remembering UK fuel prices are usually 
> stratospheric) - but I had a surprise. Just as I was snapping the filler cap closed on the Spitfire, 
> alongside me comes a beautiful 1926 4.5 litre Bentley. The same type that raced so successfully at 
> Le Mans all those years ago. Driver was a most engaging individual, very friendly and responded with 
> humour to my comment that it would cost him the UK defence budget to re-fill. With aplomb and a 
> cheery smile, he loosened the Bentley's fuel cap to reveal a hole about 6 inches in diameter and a 
> *fairly* empty (I'd guess just under half full) but massive slab tank. In went the nozzle and while 
> he kept the fuel flowing, we had a pleasant chat. First time I've seen a Bentley refilled from empty 
> and it didn't happen in a few moments! :)
> Eventually, the tank was full and I looked at the pump meter.
> GBP 143.00 (equal to about US$286.00) and I commented that I hoped it would get him home.
> "I hope so too. London's about 130 miles? With a bit of luck and if I keep the revs below 2000, we 
> ought to do it."
> How much did he take on board? My calculator tells me about 25.8 imperial gallons and there were 
> probably about another 20 gallons still in it. So, say 50 gallons at GBPUS$554 for the full tank and 
> 130 miles to eat it all up, it would have cost him somewhere in the region of  US$4.26 PER MILE! 
> Jeez, at that consumption, I guess you could work out the cost per firing impulse. Anyone care to do 
> it? I'm too tired.....
> 
> Jonmac