I'm very close to picking up my Vintage Motorcars Speedster from Greg and I'm sure he will instruct me before I drive off. Over the years I've owned many VWs and Porsches so this format is not new to me. I was wondering if there are things the SOC can advise on, things to buy, things to watch for, tweeks, best vendors. I await your sage advice. Cheers.
Richard
Meissen Blue 1958 Speedster Replica
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Sage is often paired with other herbs such as thyme, marjoram, and rosemary and harmonizes well with garlic, onion, oregano, parsley, and bay leaf.
You forgot that it's also used to ward off evil spirits and is best used as a pairing with poultry.
best in country sausage,,yum
Sorry, bad choice of words, I will request a delete. A sage is a wise person who imparts knowlege, obviously from the replys a bad choice.
Oh @R Thorpe, thread drift is what we do best. Rest assured that someone will provide you with the information that you need - eventually.
Those replies are funny!
A lot of information, must haves, recommendations, and advice can be gained from using the search feature on this site. A lot of us have been on here 15 years or more, so there is plenty out there.
Yikes, after seeing the screen names I thought I might have posted on the wrong board. I thought I heard banjos and saw pickups. I saw Deliverance.
My replies are funny and I have extensivly searched this and other sites, I was just trying to be sociable and promote discussion.
Rich, a while back, some of our members were having difficulties with their newly delivered cars from one or two (or maybe three) so-called "builders". No, VS wasn't nor has ever been one of them and most of those questionable shops/people have closed or sold but we still needed to give newbies some guidance, at the very least to insure that their new cars were safe to drive.
So I sat down and wrote a new car delivery checklist for people to use either by themselves or through a trusted mechanic. It is pretty extensive and covers everything I could think of at the time, with input from a few folks on here. You may think it goes overboard, but if something you think is trivial and you don't at least check it and it bites you, well, it's not so trivial, is it?
And, as Danny says, there is probably more on here via the search function.
Here's the list:
It is a bit of a vague request/question but one of the things you must do before every drive is let the engine/oil warm up before you go roaring off like a race car driver. Don't use the windshield from to assist you, or anyone else, when getting in to the car. Older, less fit, or just clumsy people may try to balance or aid themselves whilst lowering themselves in to the car. Don't let them.
Speaking of getting in the car. It's easiest if you open the door, sit down in the seat (perpendicular to the car), then swing your legs in. Exit in reverse order. Another method is to put the right leg in first all the way to the tunnel, slide down in to the seat, then get your left leg in.
Start building strength in your forearms. If not your arms will get tired from waving to everyone who honks at you and/or gives you a thumbs up.
Warn your wife or significant other, if you have one, that you're about to become a rock star and you will garner the attention of hotties everywhere you go. Just tell her, "It's not me, it's the car.".
Oil changes and valve adjustments once a year or every 3K miles. Use fuel additives like Startron or Stabil at every fill up. I also use SeaFoam in the fuel to keep everything nice and clean. I don't use Stabil because I drive year round but I use SeaFoam at every fill up.
Gordon,
Thank you just what I was looking for.
Glad to be of help!
Robert's post is sage advice, too. These cars generate a TON of interest - People waving at you on every ride, people asking what it is, especially at gas stations, I've even been stopped by traffic cops who just want to now what it is.
The windshield thing: The Speedster windshield is the Achilles Heel of this car. When assembled properly it is still prone to cracks from torsional stress and/or point stress. There are literally four little screws holding the upper frame in place and one big bolt at each corner. The center strut rod should only be tightened finger tight and then one more turn NO MORE. Any more causes torsional stress at the center that can trigger a crack from road bumps. Never use a metal tool anywhere near the glass, either.
On the one hand, I have put some serious stress on the windshield glass and was surprised that nothing happened to it. OTOH, I've seen them installed "correctly" (not by me, but by others who were careful) only to come out the next day to find one or more cracks in the glass. 
I'm still spry - I can get into the car right leg first but getting out is an interesting roll of the body to the left, hand on the sill and just sorta roll out there. It ain't pretty.
All good stuff, any necessary purchases for my new baby. Fire supression has been mentioned. Scary pictures painted about getting melted fiberglass engine lids off to use fire extunguisher?
This looks interesting and the price is right.
@Jethro posted:Sage is often paired with other herbs such as thyme, marjoram, and rosemary and harmonizes well with garlic, onion, oregano, parsley, and bay leaf.
It's really good on roast chicken and turkey, and maybe a little bit on a country ham 
Oh yeah- and what Robert and Gordon said about warming it up before driving off like a madman (and blowing the oil filter seal or canister, if the car has 1) and not using the windshield for climbing in and out, I suppose...
Interesting extinguisher, Rich, although that's the first of that type I have seen so have zero data on it.
Some of us a passive BlazeCut suppressor system, somewhere from one meter long to about 2 meters and circle the engine bay with it.
http://blazecut.com/small-enclosures/description/
Others use a bottle-type with extinguisher nozzles pointed at the carbs and engine. Danny P has a bottle type on his Spyder similar to this:
http://blazecut.com/local-application/description/
I think Summit Racing and Speedway Motors sells complete systems, too.
Gordon,
I believe all these devices have the same supression chemicals. What I like about this product is the price and the fact it could be attached to our engine lids (I believe it has an adhesive back) what I don't like is the 170C activation temp it feels a little high to me, having said all that it could save some costly damage for under 40 bucks.
@Gordon Nichols posted:The windshield thing: The Speedster windshield is the Achilles Heel of this car. When assembled properly it is still prone to cracks from torsional stress and/or point stress. There are literally four little screws holding the upper frame in place and one big bolt at each corner. The center strut rod should only be tightened finger tight and then one more turn NO MORE. Any more causes torsional stress at the center that can trigger a crack from road bumps. Never use a metal tool anywhere near the glass, either.
On the one hand, I have put some serious stress on the windshield glass and was surprised that nothing happened to it. OTOH, I've seen them installed "correctly" (not by me, but by others who were careful) only to come out the next day to find one or more cracks in the glass.
I've broken two on my Spyder. The one that came with the car, Carey said they'd had issues with after it broke when they installed it. He replaced it for free, being the great builder he is, and I cracked that last summer.
100% my fault. I hadn't used it as a grab handle, but yeah, just to steady myself on egress. And like you say, it happened in the dark. I drove it, put it away, and the next time I got it out for a drive it had cracked.
Just sorry I didn't re-mount the lexan screen before I busticated it.
