How long is your con rod?

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Now for something completely different -

Roy and I took a trip today to experience some 1500+BHP engines.... of the steam variety. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] (hence the very long rods!)

We travelled on the Watercress Line between Alton and Ropley engine sheds, where we were treated to a personal guided tour of the sheds. Superb! - (thanks Dave.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img])

The day was a 'Wartime' special and everywhere we looked, there were people in period costume, Allied forces in uniform, very atmospheric (and just as Roy remembered it [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img])

[Ron Earp]

Paul, that is awesome! You fellows are so lucky to have so much within, say, 6 hours driving distance. And to think - I've actually spoken to Brit car nuts that have not gone to things like the Goodwood Revival etc - shame on them! If I had all the stuff you fellows did I've have no time for working on stuff, I'd be too busy looking!

Best Regards to both of you,
Ron

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Hi Ron
'The grass always seems greener on the other side' - lest you forget, you have:
Indianapolis - Laguna Seca - Watkins Glen + probably a thousand more I would'nt know about.

Drag Racing (I mean REAL Drag Racing - with more entries than we'd ever achieve over here)

Jet boats - (hydroplanes) - Outlaw racing - pylon racing (with true warbirds)

Monster trucks - Tracked Monster trucks - Bonneville Salt Flats...

Cheap fuel

Hell, if I lived over there I would'nt have time to work! - I'd be spending all my time spectating... or better still, having a go [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] (I wish!)

Anyway, see ya soon! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Ron Earp]

Well, yes, you are right. BUT - the distance!!!! We've got real drag racing every Thusday-Sun where I live - serious contenders for NHRA stuff only 45 minutes away, with honest 10.XX cars just driving around McDonalds in Rockingham on a weekend night - yep those are streetcars. No sh*&!

But, that other stuff, well, it is a long ways from me. Reno is 2000 miles away and in the same country, Salt flats about the same. Jet boats can be close at Oak Hollow, about 1 hour from me, (my grandfather used to build drag boat motors back in the day), but as you know the US is big.

Lots of tracks over here though and I am getting time on them when I can, in fact, hope to have a little time on yours here soon!!

Maybe one of these days we need to organize a "racer exchange trip" where we can each attend an event overseas with a group of GT40 nuts. The Watkins Glen thing would have been perfect this year so we might need to be on the lookout for such things in the future. I think it'd be a load of fun and we'd be putting the forum to good use, bringing people together.