[DeTomaso] Report from France--day 2-3

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

Hi guys,

The wireless was down yesterday, so no report until now.   We're having a 
great time, although it hasn't been without mechanical misadventure.

Kristian Poulsen's beautiful Euro pushbutton #1267 has just emerged from a 
ground-up restoration and he's working the bugs out of it.   The home-made 
bracket to secure the throttle cable to the front of the engine gave up, 
because the mounting bolt was too short and stripped the threads in the aluminum 
heads, so he was dead in the water.   He limped it to the hotel and did a 
little clever work in the parking lot, with assistance from Roland Jackel, 
and got it going again.

Roland Bohner's monster twin-turbo Cleveland-powered Mangusta is 
ridiculously low, because he's running the stock shocks, but instead of the stock 
28-inch tall rear tires, he has 24-inch tires.   As a result, his oil pan hits 
the ground all the time.   Yesterday I was following him on a secondary road 
when I saw oil streaming from the engine, and pulled alongside to warn him.  
 He wound up having to have the car towed to a garage in Angers, but since 
it's Sunday, it's a federal crime for anybody to do any work, so he wasn't 
able to get it fixed.   This morning I drove him back there, and they let him 
put the car up in the air, pull the pan and weld it up, so he's back on the 
road again.

Roland Jackel's delightful Longchamp GTS left him stranded when the float 
of his Edelbrock carb sprung a leak, and sank, resulting in fuel pouring out 
the top of the engine.   He pulled it apart, and we found a small lawnmower 
repair shop where the owner carefully drilled a hole, Roland drained the 
fuel from the float, then he soldered up both the old and new holes--fixed 
better than new!

In the meantime, we've been enjoying scenic drives along the river and 
along peaceful country lanes, tours of spectacular chateaus, lingering lunches 
in sidewalk cafes, and dinners that stretch well into the evening.   Great 
fun being had by all!

We've just arrived at tonight's hotel, and after a quick washup, we're 
going to wine tasting, followed by yet another spectacular meal. :>)

Life does not suck at the moment! :>)

Mike