Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/04/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have to say that I drove a VW with their SMG (or whatever they call it) gearbox and it's pretty wonderful. The benefits of manual and automatic in one box - with no slushbox! Adam On Sat, Apr 12, 2008 at 8:36 PM, <rclark01@comcast.net> wrote: > Charlie: > > I don't know much about a Caterham Seven so I think I'll google it later > tonight. You're right about the six speed gearbox. I had a devil of a > time finding what I was looking for in the car. There are hardly any > manual gearboxes available in the USA for BMW...and for any care at all. > I've driven Hondas, VW's Toyotas...all manual gearboxes over the years. I > learned how to drive on a 1976 Toyota Corolla w/5 speed gearbox and since > then have always loved the shifting as a major part of driving. In > searching for the BMW, there are tons of 3 series cars with the steptronic > that has a semi-manual mode but for me, I wanted the direct mechanical > linkage without any viscous coupling, bands, and any of the initial > slippage of an automatic. Having direct control over that car in all > kinds of conditions really gives you the all around thrill of > driving...even though we don't have the twisty small roads that much of > the UK and Europe has. > > Now if I can just keep my eyes off of the 335i 300hp turbo six speed and > the 420 hp six speed M3....... > > Robert > > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: Charlie Chan <topoxforddoc@btinternet.com> > > > Robert, > > > > I grew up in Canterbury in the UK. This is only about 60 miles from > > Brands Hatch and so I went a lot in the 70s and 80s to Brands at the > > time when I suppose Frank was working with Williams. I certainly > > remember watching Alan Jones in his world championship year. I didn't > > really get on with Silverstone - a bit too flat - just an old > > developed aerodrome. Brands was something special, bit like Spa - not > > as fast, but undulating and very demanding. > > > > I like your choice of car - most un-american with the 6 speed box - > > but very nice. My particular penchant is Lotii. My toy is a Caterham > > Seven - my third to date. > > > > Best wishes, > > > > Charlie > > > > On 12 Apr 2008, at 18:53, Robert Clark wrote: > > > > > I think you are right, Charlie. There are many of us that do have a > > > passion > > > for the speed of motorsport and would like to experience it first > > > hand more. > > > I have been to two F1 races (Indianapolis & Montreal) and they were > > > the > > > greatest experience being there in person to see the speed of the > > > cars and > > > the sound of the engines. > > > > > > On a personal note, I just recently realized a long time dream of > > > getting a > > > BMW 3-series sport sedan w/ a 3.0 L 260hp inline 6 (2006 330i) and > > > six-speed > > > manual gear box. I cannot keep the grin off of my face when I'm > > > driving > > > it..... > > > > > > > Robert W. Clark > > > National Curriculum Director > > > CASE Project - Animal Science > > > National Council for Agricultural Education > > > Office - 717-459-3185 > > > Cell - 717-648-2744 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: lug-bounces+rclark01=comcast.net@leica-users.org > > > [mailto:lug-bounces+rclark01=comcast.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of > > > charlie chan > > > Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 12:41 PM > > > To: Leica Users Group > > > > Subject: Re: [Leica] Congratulations to... > > > > > > Frank, > > > > > > Great article. It must be hard though, tight margins making such a > > > big difference. But hey, that must be the challenge too! > > > > > > I wonder how many of us are closet (or maybe overt) petrolheads. I > > > for one am. It's just a shame that for many of us, getting close is > > > difficult. But that's the attraction of other events like Goodwood or > > > Prescott. > > > > > > Keep up the good work and don't forget the camera! > > > > > > Best wishes, > > > > > > Charlie Chan > > > Cheltenham > > > > > > On 12 Apr 2008, at 17:28, Frank Dernie wrote: > > > > > >> thanks very much. > > >> Now I am blushing... > > >> Frank > > >> > > >> On 12 Apr, 2008, at 15:12, Robert Clark wrote: > > >> > > > >>> Frank for making a great impact at Toyota! Maybe he'll put them > > >>> on the > > >>> podium this year!!!! > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66545 > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> Great to see when one of our own does good! Even without a camera > > >>> in his > > >>> hand.. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> Robert W. Clark > > >>> > > >>> National Curriculum Director > > >>> > > >>> CASE Project - Animal Science > > >>> > > >>> National Council for Agricultural Education > > >>> > > >>> Office - 717-459-3185 > > >>> > > >>> Cell - 717-648-2744 > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > >>> Leica Users Group. > > >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >> > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > > >> Leica Users Group. > > >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Leica Users Group. > > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Leica Users Group. > > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >