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Spring is in the air

When I drove the 8 down to New Orleans for their show a couple years ago, we got 25 mpg on the highway. All interstate driving, between 65 and 75 mph.

Sounds like Paul's not quite achieving that, though. :wink:
 
I get about 19 on average with around town driving. On the "Interstate" (speed limits of 75mph) I can get about 25. On backroads and "non-Interstate" highways where the speeds are 65 or below I can average closer to 29. Thats in a FHC with Strombergs and 172,000 miles. My last day trip that returned 29mpg was last year with 165,000 miles and the original carbs (they have had a few gasket kits thrown at them but never fully rebuilt). That trip also included some severe elevation changes (three mountain passes, one over 12,000 feet, the other two over 10,000 feet)and an average speed around 62mph over 300 some miles. The autochokes began sticking horribly this past winter and now with Paltechs help I now have some shiny rebuilt carbs with corrctly functioning auto chokes. The mileage is only showing a slight improvement so far though.
 
Mickey Richaud said:
When I drove the 8 down to New Orleans for their show a couple years ago,

Funny you should mention that. I have been interested in possibly making a wooden steering wheel for my Spitfire and have been following a posting on the Spitfire & GT6 Magazine site. Trust me there is a connection between these two. In that post someone made reference to an issue of the magazine that had just such an article. I went ahead and ordered issue 26 and it arrived yesterday. Here's the connection, on page 37 is The New Oreans British Car Day. There is a nice picture of the 2nd place winner in the TR7/8 class. None other than Mickey Richaud. The year was 2007.
 
That was the first time I brought it down. Did a drive up the River Rd. with a number of other folks that trip.

N-2.jpg


The one I checked mileage on was with Tony and Jerri Barnhill in '09. They drove their XJ6 down with us. Our last trip together...
 
I am very happy to report that those types of pictures will be taken by me in Mass, CT and RI this year. Maybe even VT......
 
Brosky said:
I am very happy to report that those types of pictures will be taken by me in Mass, CT and RI this year. Maybe even VT......

Plenty of room at "Chez Richaud" here in Clarksville, if you make it this far.
 
If Mickey thinks that I'm dumb enough to fall for that line and let him get his hands back on it again, I'd deserve to lose it.
 
Hey! That's Don's doing!

The offer stands - would love to hook up with you and yours, so if you find yourself down this way, TR8 or not, the beer's cold.
 
Mickey, there is nothing that I'd love to do that visit you after a long drive in the TR8. Far, far away from business and the cares of the world.

And yes, we all know that Don is an instigator....big time.....
 
We'll make it one of these days.
 
Brosky said:
David, don't ever get behind the wheel of one, unless you are prepared to get addicted. These are a TR6 on steroids and will make you a real believer, not that you need much help with believing in the marque as it stands now.......

I agree 100% with Paul, I have been driving a TR6 for 34 years and my current one is very fast and performs well, BUT the TR8 has changed my outlook on British sports cars. It is fast and very comfortable, and the sound of that V8 is addictive!

Paul, Don, Mickey,
I am enjoying reading your 'conversation'.
 
Welcome to the party, Henri.

And pay no heed to Don. We don't. :devilgrin:
 
All this talk about TR8s! Back in 1994, I bought a non running Persian Aqua 8 from somewhere in Texas and had a friend tow it home to Northern Michigan. It hadn't run in 5 years. I spent 3 or 4 hours sorting out a fuel delivery problem, hooked up some jumper cables and lit it up. No unusual noises, no smoke. I shut it down and started to disassemble for a complete restoration. Halfway through that winter, I struck a deal with my 16 year old son. If he would help me finish, we would take a trip out west (Oregon) to visit his older brothers. Because my vacation time was set, we managed to finish with just enough time to put 300 local miles on this car that by now hadn't really been run for almost 7 years. We left on a Friday night and proceeded to drive 44 hours non stop, trading positions every tank full, about every four hours, until we pulled into Eugene. We averaged 22 mpg at about 80+ MPH for most of the trip. On the way home, we went north through Montana. No speed limits in Montana at the time and we cruised at 100 with an occasional burst to 115. It was GLORIOUS! The TR8, as you current owners know, really doesn't care or for that manner feel any different at 70, 80, 90, or 100. A truly remarkable car. I sold it in 98 because I needed the money (again)
 
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