Ten Fifty-nine

[LongRanger]

. . . Looked for ya but, there were so many people around . . . I see you found Patrick! . . .

Hey, Michael . . .

Yeah, missed a lotta people. You, Bryce, Russ.

But not Brian . . . not Patrick.


I took Wednesday and Thursday off, to try to get well enough to drive up Saturday. Hot weather, spicy food, Airborne, large quantities of sleep seem to’ve helped. Half-day @work Friday (‘still weak ---- cough, cough’), then off to Irvine Station to take the AMTRAK out to Van Nuys, caught a lift from John --- tracks pass right behind his shop! ---- talked projects/people/life/etc. Marco and Tony were gone to RRIV, left 1059 there --- looked marvelous, even her tires!

Left, topped-off, then took off --- car feels a lot nicer, now, better-settled below 3500, same big/silly punch above --- got to Simi ‘round 6:30. Small-talk, dinner --- walked the dog? --- kids had company, burned their popcorn, some dishes, then? . . .

Bed by 9.

Sleep after 10. (I peeked.)

12:30 . . . beep-beep-beep-beep-beep . . . .

Dawn of the dead. Really. They just don’t make showers hot enough . . . shampoo, wash, dry, comb, dress --- ‘these feel like mine’ --- rumble/stumble downstairs.

Check text messages. ‘Brian --- 8:00? --- Hyatt Monterey’. Pull up Mapquest --- Hyatt/etc --- jot down address, cross streets, phone#, sketch a map, then copy Russ’ and Jerry’s numbers --- Embassy, Del Rey/etc --- grab the lunch/goodies that my So-Much-More-than-a-Girlfriend had packed, then . . .

. . . garage.

Door trigger --- still love that pop --- get in.

Pivot, swing my feet over the door seal, still new/soft/almost sticky --- don’ wanna pull it out being in a hurry.

Keys waiting.

Feet in ---- brake + clutch --- gloves, shift to neutral, shake.

Key the pump. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

One-thousand-ONE. Lights --- 1st click, needles shiver . . .

One-thousand-TWO. Extinguisher, listen, smell . . .

One-thousand-THREE. Goodies, phone, camera, miscellaneous cockpit crap . . .

One-thousand-FOUR. Extinguisher, listen, smell . . . fuel gurgle, up, behind . . .

One-thousand-FIVE ---- Start.

Ruhr-ruhr-ruhr-woomp! ---- quick push of the throttle . . . not enough/missed it. Key off/on --- don’ wanna flood it. Again. Few more turns, soft rumble . . . engine slowly woofs+catches, hand-throttle, ~1500, select, let off the brakes --- 1st hand then foot, lick the clutch, ease her back.

1:30

Trying to fog up as I left. Good/bad. Good = no cops. Bad = could be tule fog out in The San Joaquin Valley. 'D be like driving through meringue. Gulp. Well --- nothing I can do about it now. Giddy-up.

118 to The Five North, fog puffs, road’s dry, light traffic.

Five clear. From Six-Flags to the Grapevine, fast sailing. Saw a Longhood, too. Silver Targa?, no rocker deco --- driver’s head-light out. Coming down into the SJ Valley, looked like road’d been prepped for some re-surfacing, super-rough. Car rumbled/squirmed so much that I got off at the bottom to double-check my tires . . . nothing. And no fog.

Back on. Rolling along, thought about my intended route --- 152 West --- realized that would get me to The 101 at Gilroy . . . . 50 miles North of where I needed to be. Mid-course correction. Hwy 198?, through Coalinga, would put me on at King City. Better.

One little sign, barely marked.

Never been on the 198. First part was smooth, straight, small towns, some lights, limit 35 MPH. Out past Coalinga? Elevations --- up to 17% (!) --- turns, funky cambers, no run-offs, then, after a while . . . fresh asphalt --- inky, no lines, no dots, no marker posts, no shoulder, nothing . . . . then a truck turns up. Cab lights. With a trailer. Hauling a$$. Now, me, too.

Tanked once, just after I checked my tires. Enough gas at King City --- still 1/2 tank! --- to make it to Monterey, so . . .

Hit Salinas about 6. From the Wow-Wow-Wow coming up through the tunnel, I figured something cable-driven was about to let go --- turned-out to be the speedo, but that gauge light was already gone --- didn’t miss it. (But the odo ---) Coming up Monterey Road, got pretty foggy. Hit the wipers a coupla times, cruised into town.

6:30.

Since I was early (really) I decided to make sure I knew where to find Brian at. Seen a map, had an address . . . but that part of Monterey is a little quirky to navigate. Took a few laps, but I found the Hyatt, did a circuit of the lot --- big place --- didn’t see Patrick, texted --- ‘I’m here’ --- then . . . headed on down to the Embassy Hotel, over on Del Rey.

Tickets? Didn’t have any. A few days earlier, Jerry Haussler had very generously offered/provided a Vendor Pass, left at Embassy ‘Will Call,’ hence. Meanwhile, Brian had pinged me Wednesday that he had both Admission and Corral passes available --- ‘Uh ---- YEAH!!’ --- so, one way or t’other . . . I was good. Extra souvenirs, maybe.

So, in-and-out at Embassy, tanked-up at Seaside, thinking photo-ops, then Brian texted back --- ‘Hyatt . . . ~8.’

Got there, watched some cars rolling out, and Brian strolls up (never seen/met) . . . . talked, then met, Scott H., Dave C., and another Guy. And a Real German Guy. (Got his card some place . . . ) Trooped over to Laguna Seca --- back way --- parked up on the South East lot. See everything from there . . . lots o’ cars.

R

1) Irvine Station

2) Back from service/baby-sitting @John's . . . beauty parlor (?)

3) Prepped. Even joined AAA . . .

4) Electric 'S'

5) Patrick, 1st-thing . . . w/7Rs



And PS . . .

Michael! Dude! Butt-shots o' My Girl? . . . That is just wrong. (Especially when yours are better than mine!)

[beh911]

1059 may start getting jealous here, Rick. All this affection for Patrick on 1059's thread.

Green with envy, maybe

[teenchy]

Love this pic, the lighting along the rear quarter and roof is almost surreal...

[70SATMan]

And PS . . .

Michael! Dude! Butt-shots o' My Girl? . . . That is just wrong. (Especially when yours are better than mine!)

Well, I'm afraid that's the only full shot I have. See, as I was taking said photos and there were three other guys discussing your car... Wrong paint, wrong VIN on the A pillar, etc... Must have been 993 guys, heh heh. I happily pointed out the error of their ways by explaining many of the sublime details. Once I mentioned "Euro Delivery" they were immediately enamored. OHHHH! Druck!..... Orange stripes!.......

They left with better understanding.....

[Mr9146]

Well, I'm afraid that's the only full shot I have. See, as I was taking said photos and there were three other guys discussing your car... Wrong paint, wrong VIN on the A pillar, etc... Must have been 993 guys, heh heh. I happily pointed out the error of their ways by explaining many of the sublime details. Once I mentioned "Euro Delivery" they were immediately enamored. OHHHH! Druck!..... Orange stripes!.......

They left with better understanding.....

Sadly, people are very quick to point out what's "wrong" with a car; rarely do they point out what's "right."

It was good to see you, Rick.
I still can't believe you went home the same day ... I did that round trip once when I was 18, and I'll never do it again.

[fryardds]

Hey Rick,

Thanks so much for making the long trip up to RR. I am honored you would make the effort on my behalf. Fun to meet you and see 1059 in the flesh. Very nice ride indeed. I have nice shot of the cars at Laguna in the fog with two other Midwesterns in the background. Oh, here it is.




Michael,

Great to see you again. Sure wish we could have shared a nice glass of Vino together in town after the track. Next time for sure.

[LongRanger]

Hey, Brian . . .

Thank you for the passes, your company, and for bringing Patrick.

I had a great time . . .

Rick

[70SATMan]

Michael,

Great to see you again. Sure wish we could have shared a nice glass of Vino together in town after the track. Next time for sure.

For sure! You know, by 3:30, I was beat. Thought I'd get an early start out of there. Been working harder at home on vacation that I do at the office, heh heh. My wife has me on a tight work schedule on a few things around the house before heading out for a month or so...

Next time..

[LongRanger]

9:00

Patrick was the Big Draw for me, going to the show. Great to see such a wonderful/special car out+about, and hearing about Brian's trip.

Funny but I never bugged him to let me poke around/inside/underneath his car --- completely ‘scaped my mind! (Ugh!) I mean, when will I ever see that car again? Stupid. Rennsport does that. Get all caught up in Every Thing --- forget to do The One Thing. (Like . . . . the whole reason I went. Dohp!)

Anyway, once we all got there, talked a bit, took some photos, then walked down to the infield, found Jerry, thanked him . . . . then hung out for a coupla hours, met Gordon (Ozzie) and The Geologist Guy (‘nother Ozzie). Busy, busy little stand down there --- badges+posters+misc car swag. Enjoyable visit, breakfast ---$4 Pepsi. (Burp)

Then . . . did the car parks. South side --- Corrals, R Gruppe, the ‘Circle o’ cars’/Ring Thing, took pictures (lots --- but my camera --- hhhhhhhh), gradually working my way back to where we parked.

Foggy, then overcast, the whole time . . . almost cold.

1:00

Snack at the car . . . apple, water. (I was good. Then again --- with $4 Pepsi? . . . I'll manage.) Sun coming out.

Then, dove back in, this time did the West side --- 356/914/Cayenne/balloon ride (really). Very different vibe. Not many cars.

Then . . . . deep breath . . . . into the garage areas/race cars. Crowds milling, engines firing, fumes swirling, occasional loud/shiny cars starting/darting/farting, loudspeakers loud-speaking --- Circus Maxo-atomicus. Finished-off my camera/battery, made some calls (Russ) . . . . but so not the best time/place for it. (Ahhh . . . he was a little busy . . . on The Track!) Ran into Marco Gerace --- 1059 ran great, My Friend . . . thank you so much for all your wonderful work. (Couldn’t/wouldn’t be here without you . . . .)

3:00?

Wandered/staggered back to the car. Finished-off my provisions. Found Tony Gerace, who offered me a chair . . . . then we sat, talked, watched, listened, visited.

Tried a few more phone calls ---- real tough to connect/hear (anything) at the track . . . got a hold of Russ (just to apologize --- time to go, Buddy), then . . . . dusted myself off, piled into the car, headed on out. This time, The Front Way.

Musta taken 15 minutes to get to the Road outta town. Once I was on the down-hill, I just killed the motor (save some gas, plugs . . . composure), coasted/braked on down, restarted at the verge, then . . . . Carl’s Junior in Salinas. Super Star/no cheese, small drink --- maybe 1200 calories-worth of three of the principle food groups (sugar, grease, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol).

5:30?

One-Oh-One South, all the way --- please.

Sun was behind me, going down. Felt pretty good --- the sugar/caffeine was really kicking. And I knew that wouldn’t last so . . . . take me home, Little One.

Don’t remember much o’ the trip back . . . just light traffic, zero cops. Do remember catching-up with an Orange Longhood just South of the rest stop, ~Camp Roberts. Musta gassed-up somewhere, took the 154 past Lake Cachuma, then back down to the coast, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, finally . . . Simi Valley.

Well . . . more like eventually. Missed my off, double-backed, etc. Seriously bushed.

1059 ran great. Still need to round up a couple of my gas receipts, calculate/confirm, but fuel economy seemed to have improved quite a bit, going by the gauges, anyway. Definitely ran smoother.

Three casualties. Pass-side H1 was loose when I left --- the trim ring is not getting a good bite on the tab in the bucket, so . . . three strips of scotch-tape for the duration. Small rubber fillet/gasket on the Driver-side ¼ window was a-flappin,’ so --- popped that off before I lost it. And the speedo --- cable growled and growled, then ---- pft!

Altogether, I’m guessing around 600 miles.

‘At’ll work.

R

[LongRanger]

Heard from Gerrit at NML-Depot . . .

Hello Rick,

Here are a couple of pictures of the seat in various stages. I have found a few days ago a "saddle headrest" a typical accessory of the 60/70s which has a similar fabric and perforated black vinyl, the foam inside has collapsed and should be replaced but that could be a solution to not modifying the seat and still having a headrest. Cost would be 60 eur as is, 25 eur for replacing the foam if desired.

Aside from this, the seat is ready and the sliders as well. The seat restoration costs 320 eur, the modifying of the sliders 25 eur . . .

I placed a sticker on the leading edge of the seat under the cushion with the requested annotations. It can be removed later from the side if desired.

Best regards . . .



I've never seen/read/heard of this 'saddle.'

About $560 --- not including shipping, still need bracket.

Rick