On saturday I went over to my favorite Machinist's shop and ran ino an old friend who also was born in South Bend and whos father and grandfather also worked at the Studebaker factory (like mine). He has never moved on from Studies though, and only likes them.

He has a 63 Avanti which he is restoring. It is champaign metallic and has a tangerine interior! He said it was originally delivered to Puerto Rico (the land of color!). He has converted the engine to R-2 specs (supercharged). The engine looks really tough with the large chrome plated supercharger. The avanti is such an iconic design and especially with the round headlights.

At the autocross on Sunday there were at least three cobra replicas. the sweetest was a superperformance which featured fully independant suspension and looked very authentic. It also sported a 427 ci small block and hoosier tires. Most of the cobra replicas don't do all that well because they are often fairly crude in their specification with live rear axles and what appears to be truck front ends, but this one had a driver who actually had some experience.

His first run was about 2 seconds faster than my fastest run and on exit of one of the corners it lifted the inside front wheel like a sprint car!

Woo hoo!

Good weekend!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.