Re: NANFA-- RE: nanfa V1 #1658

Steffen Hellner (steffen_at_hellner.biz)
Mon, 26 May 2003 22:06:00 +0200

OK Bob, but it4s all about the same thing: enthusiasm!
Without it everything is in vain.

Your story is fine to think positiv about getting older. Not neccessarily
ending up on a putting green or in a chimsy club.

Steffen

--

> Von: "Bob Sinclair" <rjs_at_silcom.com> > Antworten an: nanfa_at_aquaria.net > Datum: Mon, 26 May 2003 09:41:20 -0700 > An: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net> > Betreff: NANFA-- RE: nanfa V1 #1658 > > RE: Cars and suchlike...one more time... :-) > > Steffen: > > I'll interline a few comments in response: > > Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 10:16:30 +0200 > From: Steffen Hellner <steffen_at_hellner.biz> > Subject: Re: NANFA-- RE: Cars in Europe (NOT fish stuff) > > Bob, > > interesting story. Good to know our judgment is shared by a man who knows > what a car is. > > For years ( I am 41 now) I was driving Renault 5 Alpine Turbo - the French > really know to build sportive little cars. After some Opels, and BMW I today > think that cars in present times lack any kind of character, individuality, > and fascination. Even an complete idiot can be fast in an actual Porsche, no > comparison to the "beasts" Carrera turbo of 1983 with "twisted iron" > suspension instead of a McPherson. > > * Correct you are. When I went shopping for my "retirement toy" in 1990, > I seriously considered a Porsche Turbo of the early '80s...one of those > "beasts" as you put it. I decided on the 328 GTS for two reasons. First, > I knew I would eventually get myself into real trouble with a 911 Turbo or > 930; and I also knew that if I bought a hot Porsche I STILL would have a > craving to make a Ferrari part of my life. :-) > > My dream of cars is a Renault Alpine 110. > > * Quite a few years earlier I tried hard to bring an Alpine into the U. S., > but > our damned elected civil servants in Washington DC have made it near > impossible...at least far more effort and far more expense than it would be > worth undertaking. Damn! I love tiny little cars as well...witness the Honda > CRX in our driveway. As an executive in the car business I played a little > game during the '80s, temporarily importing the following...allegedly for > "testing and evaluation". > Citroen 2CV Charleston (two of them) > Lancia Delta > Lancia Y10 > Autobianchi A112 > Autobianchi A112 Abarth > Wartburg (!) > > This little game got me into serious trouble with NHTSA (National Highway > Traffic Safety Administration) when the Editor of Automobile magazine wrote > a story about my importing little European cars in the September 1990 issue. > The bureaucrats in our government were not amused...to put it mildly! > > But I am 6 foot 4 and don't fit into it. Tested the Lotus Elise - that will > have to come asap (when economy improves). No ABS, no power steering, just a > chassis, an engine, 4 wheels and this woooow when pushing the pedal and > cornering like there's no tomorrow. > > * I'm right on 6 feet. The 328 GTS is a bit of a squeeze, but well worth > it. > Haven't > driven an Elise, but while still gainfully employed back in the '80s I visited > the > Lotus factory at Hethel, England, several times on business. Had a chance to > drive all their models on the test track...including the monster Lotus Carlton > (big Opel sedan, modified with 4WD and something like 600 hp). While still > employed, I once swapped cars for a week or so with the CEO of Lotus Cars > USA, giving him my Ferrari to play with in exchange for a Lotus Esprit Turbo. > Now THAT was fun. There were some rather unpublicized advantages to > working in the car biz. :-) > > On the bike side my last was a Yamaha R1. I unfortunately lost it on the > racetrack in Colmar. Guess how far one can fly when leaving the bike at 100 > mph? ;-) > > * I now rather well. I once parted company with my Harris Magnum (1100 cc > Kawasaki engine by Yoshimura) at something like 95-100 mph. It was, shall > I say, "an interesting experience." That was back in '87. I was 55 at the > time, > a bit elderly for hitting the asphalt hard. :-) > > Your Norton Commando is a great thing, enjoy it. Hope I will be able to do so > at 71! > > * I bought the Commando new, back in '75. I still love climbing on it from > time to > time. > > But, how are you doing in a Ferrari on an Interstate limited 75? First or > second > gear? > > * Be kind, now. :-) Yes, it's a bit frustrating to drive such a car > long > distances > at 75 or 80 mph, which I occasionally do. It's been coast to coast in the U. > S. > a > few times. Mainly, though, it gets exercised on twisty back roads, where the > car > really is in it's proper element. > > Let it roll! > > Steffen > > * And now, Steffen, I think we had better get back to fishes...before we > both risk > getting banned from the NANFA list! > > Bob > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.471 / Virus Database: 269 - Release Date: 4/10/2003 - > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes > / Association" > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association > / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to > / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. 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