----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 3:22 PM
Subject: RE: [L23Registry] Australian
Lotus 23 # 23 S 23
Gary, and all other Lotus 23 owners:-
?
Perhaps I missed some things, but I thought we had a fairly active
discussion of many topics specifically related to the Lotus 23.? I
recall, for example some discussion of the suspension recently.?
?
I suppose too that part of the reason for minimal email is that almost
everyone knows where to get parts to restore or repair a Lotus 23.? It is
not as it was in the early '80s when I began to restore mine.? Don
Schaefer, various others and I made parts, contracted with suppliers to make
parts, and parts were readily available to restore a Lotus 23. And,
lamentably,?one can?create one from scratch.? Chassis,?
body, engine, windscreen, suspension, brakes -- you name it and it is
available.?
?
Furthermore, in those early '80s most owners did their own restoration
work. Now, I do believe, most Lotus 23s are maintained professionally.?
That is in keeping with the change in vintage racing from a 'run what you
brung and lets have fun with old cars' game to 'bring a museum piece and we'll
see it it is good enough for us' game. Then too, the engines are now almost a
one race per rebuild thing.? And at $25,000 a copy, too.
?
And Gary, the discussion of that Lotus 23, the one in Australia has been
going on for at least a decade.?See the file of newsletters beginning
with number 22.?Lotus 23S23 was delivered in the early '60s to Al Pease,
who drove it with some success until he crashed it.? The car was then
rebuilt, sold and wound up in Canada where it fissioned into two cars.?
Then Al began to restore some rescued parts he had, buying whatever he needed
to complement the dash plaque and chassis parts he had saved.? This was
debated in the newsletters with the final result that Richard Fewster reported
that a Lotus 23 with that number had been in Australia since new.? That
car turns out to have the ID 23/23.? Go figure.
?
And I find it interesting that no one (few?) seems to have a plain Lotus
23.? All seem to be Lotus 23Bs.? Yet the factory made many Lotus
23s.. Plain 23s.? And of course, they made kits available for updating
the chassis.?
?
I'll close this by saying that I set up the Group on Yahoo to give all
owners a place to exchange views.? So do it.
?
Bill Steagall
Registrar/Moderator
Gary Horstkorta
wrote:
Bill:
I've
been a 23 owner/racer for the past five years and a member of this
discussion group since its inception. Compared to a couple of other car
related discussion groups I'm part of, the L23Registry is a pretty quiet
bunch. Maybe once or twice every month, a message will appear then its
quiet again for weeks before another message appears. I for one would
like
to see more email activity.
The Triumph discussion group I
participate in is small, about 125 members
worldwide and there are
always five to a dozen messages covering various
topics, EVERY DAY.
There is the usual technical Q & A, parts swapping,
vintage race
reviews, recommendations for parts suppliers, post televised
F1-IRL-INDY
Car-SCCA race reviews and just general car talk. Its a lot of
fun, can
be very informative and a great source for technical tips from
folks who
have been dealing with Triumphs for years.
I'd like to see the L23
Registry do something similar. To start, perhaps
participants would be
willing to submit a picture(s) of their car; provide a
summary of the
car's history; chat about their racing adventures etc. to get
the ball
rolliing and once we realize there actually is a community of
owners
online, the group can become more active. Any one else feel the
same?
Gary
Northern California
1964 23B
