mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 9/12/04 at 10:44 PM |
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Someone who has seen the light.
Read the last statement mmm
http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/seven/
Quote
I'd like to make a statement.
For some of us, a Seven is more a spirit, an attitude, rather than a historical relic with certificates of authenticity. It's the Prisoner
refusing the bureaucracy. It's us refusing the "sanitized plastic cocoons" that clog our roads nowadays. It's what brings us
the sympathy of hard-core bikers who share the enjoyment of being exposed to the elements, to the noise and to the gravel, in exchange of top level
acceleration and handling.
A Seven, it's that bit of rebellion against the obsession of comfort and security that chokes individuals and corners them in some sad
resignation before the apparently ineluctable and boring order of things. Resistance isn't futile: the sight of a Seven will bring a spark of
life in the eye of the most extinct commuter sitting in his comfy chair, drinking some fade bottled capuccino from the local coffee chain, listing to
insipid radio advertisements and surrounded by thousands of other motionless vehicles.
The Seven is what brings cheers from kids of all ages and vituperation from others, waving their cane as a threat to life that is passing by before
their very eyes.
It smells gasoline and tire dust, it's noisy and it's fast. It is NOT a symbol of wealth and shouldn't ever be so. That's why
people come to us with happy faces whereas they ignore Ferraris and Porsches.
The "Chapman concept", according to which you drive to the track, set the day's lap record and drive back home with the same
vehicle, can't
be reduced to some depressing authorship or branding equity issue. If you read the book of Ron Champion, and particularily his introduction,
you'll realize that Chapman was just one amongst the dozen of boys who
came up with more or less the same superb idea of lightweight, strikingly simple car with extremely modest budget. He was simply a notch more advanced
with that concept, and with luck helping he got the recognition we know. I bet that if he was still around, he wouldn't reply to
"copies" of the Seven with judicial attacks. He would make a better car instead.
I don't give a damn wether my Seven comes from Caterham, Fraser, Birkin or even myself (following the book of Ron Champion). Anyway
"Caterham" doesn't sound anything like "Lotus", whatever their legal claims are, and afterall that's the
combination of ultimate performance on track and on the road that interests me.
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splitrivet
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| posted on 10/12/04 at 12:25 AM |
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Very well put Mango and I'll have a pint of whatever you've had.
Cheers,
Bob
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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Alan B
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| posted on 10/12/04 at 12:53 PM |
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Excellent....
Well put....
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 10/12/04 at 12:58 PM |
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I'd seen that site before - it's pretty good, especially the bit you've quoted above.
Another comment amazes me, though...
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"The Seven is great fun for about fifteen minutes." Then it gets tiring, noisy, and uncomfortable.
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I don't think he's quite captured the spirit of the car, do you?
David
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wilkingj
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 posted on 10/12/04 at 02:09 PM |
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Well Said all of you...
Its a simmilar reason to why I drve a 20 year old Land Rover..
"its old and Slow, but Goes in the snow"
It doesnt need a computer and a (expensive) Main Dealer to maintain or fix it, just me, with my 4lb club hammer and an old bread knife can, can fix
most things.
I dont want to be a member of the Plastic throwaway society. I dont care if it goes faster or is newer than mine. They are only one or two cars in
front at the next set of traffic lights. I dont worry about that.
I dont believe in Keeping up with the Jones (no offence to anyone names Jones on the forum!).
I am what and who I am.... I like it that way, if you dont like that, then I dont mind either... This is MY Life.... I live it the way I want to.
Sorry... rambling on a bit here..
As I said, Well said, and I believe in all that, and have done for years. I just dont know why I didnt build a Kit Car years ago..
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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