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Eight months of frustration has finally deliver everything promised, and I just had an amazing day. Before sunrise, I went to the garage and started my Birkin. Just yesterday, I thought I had finally solved the last remaining issue with cold starts. Even though the air temp was only 50 degrees, the engine started immediately, and settled in to a nice throaty idle. Satisfied that everything now seemed ready, I shut her down and went for some early morning exercise.
Just before lunch, I laced up my driving shoes and headed for the garage. Once again, to my relief, the Birkin started immediately--this time the temperature was a balmy 72 degrees. I am starting to have a good feeling about this. I started off, easing the clutch out and feeling the power of the new engine. There is now, roughly, twice as much power at the rear wheels than I had before the engine swap and upgrades; so, I didn't want to do anything stupid. I think I was only doing 60 by the time I reached the end of the driveway. Yeehaw, this car accelerates like a missile.
So, with a light right foot and a grin on my face, I set out for a short little shakedown blat. That was my intention, anyway. Really. As it turned out, the car ran so well, the weather was so perfect, and the road was so enticing, my 'short drive' lasted the rest of the afternoon. I decided that a quick run up to Mount Baldy would be a nice test of the tuning--both altitude and cold air. I'm glad I made that impromptu plan. There was nearly no-one on the road. Of course, by the time I got to the top of the hill, I was freezing in my t-shirt. So, I crossed my fingers and stopped the car to put on a fleece jacket. I needn't have been concerned, the car fired right up.
On the way up the mountain, I was amazed at the improved handling from the new wide-track front suspension. The difference was especially noticable in the switchbacks above Baldy Village. Previously, those turns were a bit nervewracking for me. Today, though, they were so much fun I went through several times--both up *and* down. :-)
On the way back down the hill, I decided to turn off onto the 20 mile slalom called Glendora Ridge Route. In the past, I've generally avoided that piece of pavement while on motorcycles because of the incredible density of very tight turns along a two-way road not wide enough for two cars to comfortably pass. Today, though, I was in heaven. My Birkin felt perfectly balanced and I just felt alive. I was enjoying the road, so rather than push the limits of my cheap old tires, I drove at a gentlemanly pace. A *brisk* gentlemanly pace, I'll admit, since I did pass two motorcycles who were doing their best to stay ahead of me. I was driving sedately enough, however, to notice that every beautiful, spandex clad, female bicyclist I passed was flashing me a huge smile of approval....
It simply does not get much better than today. Wonderful weather, a terrific road, a fantastic car. what more could I want? That's a rhetorical question, bythe way...I'm about to open a bottle of red wine to cap off my perfect day.
Just before lunch, I laced up my driving shoes and headed for the garage. Once again, to my relief, the Birkin started immediately--this time the temperature was a balmy 72 degrees. I am starting to have a good feeling about this. I started off, easing the clutch out and feeling the power of the new engine. There is now, roughly, twice as much power at the rear wheels than I had before the engine swap and upgrades; so, I didn't want to do anything stupid. I think I was only doing 60 by the time I reached the end of the driveway. Yeehaw, this car accelerates like a missile.
So, with a light right foot and a grin on my face, I set out for a short little shakedown blat. That was my intention, anyway. Really. As it turned out, the car ran so well, the weather was so perfect, and the road was so enticing, my 'short drive' lasted the rest of the afternoon. I decided that a quick run up to Mount Baldy would be a nice test of the tuning--both altitude and cold air. I'm glad I made that impromptu plan. There was nearly no-one on the road. Of course, by the time I got to the top of the hill, I was freezing in my t-shirt. So, I crossed my fingers and stopped the car to put on a fleece jacket. I needn't have been concerned, the car fired right up.
On the way up the mountain, I was amazed at the improved handling from the new wide-track front suspension. The difference was especially noticable in the switchbacks above Baldy Village. Previously, those turns were a bit nervewracking for me. Today, though, they were so much fun I went through several times--both up *and* down. :-)
On the way back down the hill, I decided to turn off onto the 20 mile slalom called Glendora Ridge Route. In the past, I've generally avoided that piece of pavement while on motorcycles because of the incredible density of very tight turns along a two-way road not wide enough for two cars to comfortably pass. Today, though, I was in heaven. My Birkin felt perfectly balanced and I just felt alive. I was enjoying the road, so rather than push the limits of my cheap old tires, I drove at a gentlemanly pace. A *brisk* gentlemanly pace, I'll admit, since I did pass two motorcycles who were doing their best to stay ahead of me. I was driving sedately enough, however, to notice that every beautiful, spandex clad, female bicyclist I passed was flashing me a huge smile of approval....
It simply does not get much better than today. Wonderful weather, a terrific road, a fantastic car. what more could I want? That's a rhetorical question, bythe way...I'm about to open a bottle of red wine to cap off my perfect day.
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