Wish I had been there this weekend. Love the XK150S and the "Hammer" Benz. Educate me about the Lotus.

 

The Lotus Elan was one of the very earliest production cars with 'pop-up' headlights, allowing for a clean front-end. The mechanism for the moving headlights was a vacuum system. The early versions of the Elan used the vacuum to raise the headlights. This was OK, until you were driving thru the mountains, in the snow, uphill, when the engine was taxed enough to... run out of vacuum. The lights (just one, or both, and still turned on) would slowly disappear behind the front bumper - not fun, and potentally dangerous. The engineers at Lotus recognized this as a problem.


Later versions of the Elan (like Jeff's, in my pictures) used the vacuum system to keep the lights closed. At some point during every late Elan's life, the system will develop a leak, and the lights (pretty reliably in tandem, thanks to the improved system) creep their way back open. Not as attractive, but not dangerous.


One other Elan-related fact. It was the car that Mazda based its Miata upon. The basic shape is the same, though a Miata is very much larger.


--Bob Collum

 

Here's some of what you missed if you didn't go to Katie's today...


An Aston Martin V12 Zagato, 1 of 150 made, worldwide.


A Moal Zephyr, a custom-made car with a 50's-era Indycar front suspension, and a Buick nailhead engine.


We did have a few Jaguars, too.


--Bob Collum

 

Last Saturday it rained, so I (and most others) did not show up to Katie's. With clear skies and warmer temperatures, this week promised to be a big one, and it didn't disappoint. A good showing of Jaguars, and many other interesting vehicles.


--Bob Collum

 

One of our regulars brought out a car you probably haven't seen - a Moal Aerosport. This car, custom-built on a '36 Ford chassis, has a 312c.i. Y-block V8 from a '57 Thunderbird, with twin Novi superchargers. The body is custom-built, with incredible attention to every detail. (Google Steve Moal to see some examples.) The owner opened a hatch in the trunk to show us the inboard Buick drum brakes, quick-change center section, and DeDion suspension. Inspired by WWII airplanes, this is a beautiful machine!


--Bob Collum

 

Looks fantastic, closest I have seen to steam punk car ...

 

Bob, I will try to make it out this Saturday, should be there between 7 and 7:30, rain forbidding of course. Hope to see you there.

 

I'll be there! What will you be driving? I should have my '07 XK Coupe, Emerald Fire (green).


--Bob Collum

 

It will be just me so the XKR-S, see you then Bob,


Dominic

 

Schwabe:


...Paint touch-up on one of the Jag's outside mirrors is taking more time than I thought. I'll be in my Red Lotus Elise Saturday, not the XK Coupe. (Not the worst problem in the world...)


--Bob Collum

 

I just saw, thru a friend on Facebook, that a Philly-area restoration shop - Ragtops & Roadsters - is bringing a 'recreation' of a lightweight E-type to Katie's on 04/12/14. Here's a picture - Jag people should come out to see it!


--Bob Collum

 

Now that lightweight should be a hit. Wish I lived a tad closer. I'd have to rent a motel room tonight to be close and find parking.
Should be a beautiful morning. Guess, I'll go to Burtonsville, Sunday morning.

 

Ken, I live on the Eastern Shore, it is an hour and fifteen minutes for me to go. I go maybe 3-4 times a year just to mix it.


Bob, looking forward to see you, your Lotus and the light weight E type .... especially after seeing the Posies E type in Hunt Valley last weekend ...

 

Judging by the weather today -- SPRING IS HERE! Weather and events brought out LOTS of Jaguars.


The lightweight E-Type was down from Philadelphia. A group of local E-Type owners also gathered this morning. I believe I saw Schwabe drive by, but never met him at the event today.


--Bob Collum

 

Of course, there were cars there besides Jaguars...


The local McLaren dealer brought out a brand-new 650S.


--Bob Collum

 

Saw your Lotus Bob. But man was it crowded. I arrived at about 7:15 and had to circle twice to find a spot.

 

Sorry I missed that gig. My old girl would look a little tawdry, me thinks.....

 

Tawdry? No way... there's always plenty of cars, in all sorts of conditions. This crowd appreciates patina as well as anybody. Note the Lancia below, from 4/12/14.


I hope you can make it out to our Jaguar event, being held Sunday, May 4th at Fair Lakes, VA -


https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/m...2014-a-115031/


--Bob Collum

 

Thanks Bob...is East Market a store in the Fair Lakes shopping center? I'm not familiar with the area....

 

There are, I think, three separate shopping areas in the Fair Lakes area. East Market (the one we use) is the one with Kohl's and Dick's Sporting Goods. It's two blocks from the big Fair Lakes, with Target, Walmart, and BJ's. That larger shopping center also has Applebee's and Olive Garden.
=======
East Market at Fair Lakes, VA is about a 5 minute drive from the intersection of 66 & 50 in Fairfax, VA. We hold the Cars & Coffee events in front of the Starbucks in the East Market at Fair Lakes shopping center - there's also a Kohl's and a Dick's Sporting Goods in the complex. You can use your Nav system or MapQuest this parking lot, using the address for Kohl's -

12551 Fair Lakes Circle
Fairfax, VA 22033



Here's the link to the thread I started on the event we are holding on Sunday, May 4th -


https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/m...2014-a-115031/




...Sure hope you can make it!


Thanks,


Bob Collum