A British Gearhead's View

by Alvan Judson

For this issue of the Gearhead Gazette Alvan takes us to Hollywood. He created a movie of his electric Spitfire starring June Judson! Take a look at this film by clicking here . You will need a media player to view it. (Web Mechanic)

Life with a British Car

3 dollar fix? (cont.)

by Steve Miller

What could go wrong? What could go wrong! Only a zillion things. You know that guy in every club that has what you need when you break down? The guy who packs a bag or a box with every thing from Duck tape to extra hose, from vise grips to channel locks and even wire strippers. You know that guy? I`ve never been him. I`m thinking I fly up, into Newark (where I was born by the way) on a Thursday night. Get a hotel near the airport and take mass transit into the City. Then I meet up with the seller, sign on the dotted line, give him $10,000, hop in the car and fight NYC traffic. Back into NJ and by mid-day Friday be somewhere in Virginia. Half way home. What could go wrong?

Let’s take a look at this one step at a time. My able bodied assistant and mate for life (even when I scheme something like this) Toni takes me to the airport (Charlotte) and bids me good luck on my latest adventure. Zip right thru security and onto the plane and off to Newark without a hitch. What could go wrong? An uneventful flight lands me on familiar soil by 7pm or so and I’m off and into a taxi for the short ride to the motel recommended by Hotels.com.

The Bates motel was also recommended by Hotels.com. It was the sort of place where half of the rooms were for, shall we say, guests that never leave. The rest were people like me duped by the Internet and needing a place close to the airport on short notice. Once Alan Bates gave me the key and pointed towards my room I made haste and locked myself inside. Hungry though, but, not wanting to explore my new neighborhood, I resorted to the yellow pages and ordered a pizza delivery from, I kid you not, Sopranos Pizza.

This is going to be good. It’s named after a TV show. What could go wrong? Thirty minutes later Ahmed Soprano showed up with my pie. Twelve dollars lighter, but, in good spirits, I brave the parking lot to get to the soda machine. Two more dollars lighter I plop down on the bed to feast on real NYC (via Newark) pizza. There were things on that pizza, that to this day, I still have no idea if they were from the pork family, the beef family or the latest family beef.

Morning can`t arrive fast enough. The Bates Motel has a shuttle to the train station and in no time as my beloved Newark shrinks into the background I am Manhattan bound. My destination is near where the Twin Towers once stood and a law office in lower Manhattan. The seller is an attorney! Known for their honesty right? What could go wrong? Next Month.

Sprite minus a smiley face.

Read more about the Bugeye Sprite

by Tom Boscarino

Minutes from April 1994, page 1 and page 2.