Howdy from Washington State

[Sparkie]

Hello guys,

What a very nice forum - well done Basil!

I am sparkie (electricity is my friend) and I have had a soft spot in my head for British cars all my life. Currently I have several that are in various stages of repair and modification. I also have one of the first cars manufactured in Ireland; anyone know what that is? Hint: the year is 1985 and it is not a DeLorean.

Well, I am looking forward to sharing and learning from you. Hope I don't talk your leg off - a problem my kids frequently point out when they make the mistake of asking me how something works...

By the way, the avatar is Teddy, our Welsh Corgi. He says hi too.

later,

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Welcome, Sparkie - you've found the place!

As for your car, my guess would be...

A Paddy Wagon? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

 

[Sparkie]

Thanks Mickey..

Nope, not a Paddy Wagon, though there's likely the need in Ireland with all that great Guinness flowing.

I have an '80 TR8 as well. Great cars, aren't they?

 

[AweMan]

A warm welcome to you Sparkie! As for the car, A VW? or maby a Clan Clover or MCcoy?

 

[aeronca65t]

Welcome!

The only Irish car I can think of from '85 would be a Crosslé or a Clan.

 

[Sparkie]

Thank you again for the welcome guys.

Nope, nope and no - on the first car manufactured in Ireland. Sorry.

The car was designed by Frank Costin (brother of Mark Costin - the Cos in Cosworth). The company was purchased by Danny Panoz, or should I say by his rich daddy Don.

 

[Bugeye58]

Welcome to the looney bin, Sparkie.
Nice looking TMC.

Jeff

 

[terriphill]

By the way, the avatar is Teddy, our Welsh Corgi. He says hi too.

Welcome!
Growing up, my mom introduced the Welsh Corgi to Central Arkansas. We actually bred them and I showed them in several local competitions. They were adorable dogs, but we couldn't keep them in the yard...they roamed everywhere.

Look forward to talking with you and I have no clue what type of car you own!

Terri

 

[Sparkie]

Well done Jeff!!!! It looks like you are having difficulties keeping the shiney side up. Bummer.

Yes, a Thompson Motor Corporation Costin 100. Mark Costin lured his brother from DeHavalin over to the dark side of Colin Chapman/Lotus. He designed the Lotus 8,9 and 11 as well as the Lister Jag, a Vanwall and co-founded Marcos. One of his last designs was for the Thompson brothers in Ireland.

A total of 26 were built and I know of 4 in the states. One is in an unopened crate in the Panoz warehouse. This was the predecessor of the Panoz roadster - unfortunately the ugly duckling (the name of another one of Frank Costin's cars). I could go on and on, but am reminded of my kids issues with my ramblings....

Nice Sprite Aeronca65t! Looks like you drive it like you stole it! I respect that. I like the way you are leaning into that Mazda on your site - no fear for sure.

Terriphill; we sure love that Corgi - maybe they're related. Much more mello than the Jack Russell terrorist.. But that's another story.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Thanks Mickey..

Nope, not a Paddy Wagon, though there's likely the need in Ireland with all that great Guinness flowing.

I have an '80 TR8 as well. Great cars, aren't they?

Yep, Guinness is probably a root cause!

And yep, TR8's are wonderful. Finally getting mine sorted out. That aluminum V8 is WAAAAY too much fun!

 

[2cords]

Hi Mickey, love your tag lines? --This is the place etc. I have stolen it for the "old guys afternoon coffee" where we often provide solutions for non existant problems.
Hal Klassen 1985 Jag V12 VdP

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Thanks, Hal - Guess we're all guilty of the "If it ain't broke, fix it" syndrome!

 

[AngliaGT]

You aren't in Mount Vernon,are you?

- Doug

 

[Sparkie]

Hello Doug,

No, our home is in LaCenter - by Vancouver; 15 minutes from Portland. I commute several days a week up to Olympia for work (120 miles one way). Argggg. So you could say I come from western Washington, all inclusive.

I believe I have been in your beautiful city for a Sunbeam Tiger event about 11 years ago. We took over the entire town and filled it with the sounds of american V8's. Grrrrr. Left a bit of rubber behind as I remember...

Unfortunately we no longer have the Tiger. Sigh...

 

[Steve]

Welcome from me as well. I have bigger dogs than the corgi, (labs) but I am very fond of them. The corgi has a "big dog" attitude, very mellow and friendly.

Nice cars, I am tempted by the TR8 myself.

 

[Sparkie]

Thanks for the welcome, Steve.

Go for it! You will love the TR8. The torque of that little V8 really makes driving a blast. Even my TVR with a V6 is nothing like the 8. I guess I'd be singing a different tune if I swapped the 2.8L for a 4.0.... But that's another project.

 

[DART]

Adding my welcome Scotty, and I'm on your page when it comes to the pure joy of having a V8 powered british classic. Bought my first one in '61 & been hooked since.

 

[AngliaGT]

Scotty,

I was at the Tiger convention as a spectator.
I believe it was Norm,the organiser,told us -
- "I don't like this" & "I don't like that",but when
they did an article in the local newspaper he was
quoted as saying that "This is the best event we've -
- ever had".
Let me know if you're ever down this way again.

- Doug

 

[Sparkie]

Doug,

That's great that you didn't mind us taking over your town. What a great setting!

Yes, that was Norm. He's a great guy. You have to love his humor. He wrote a Tiger book, with the Tiger registry, and named it "The Book of Norman". Hopefully that hasn't offended anyone..

Bill Carroll, who worked for Carroll Shelby when they made the first (almost first) Tiger, was also there with that white #1 Tiger.

Also there was the real first Tiger on a trailer, looking pretty ugly. I saw what may have been it sell in the Monterey Auctions a couple of nights ago on TV - at least they said it was the first Tiger prototype. It was very red - far from the green metalic we saw in Eureka. Sold for around $40K..I think I remember it being built by Ken Miles??? My Tiger history is getting a bit fuzzy.