Southern Belle

[Petrus]

it is civilised loud again and what a difference in weight at the back 

Sleeping on the street so although a real PITA the only way to have her ´ready´ to go is

[Ardent]

With cover on, I see bat mobile.

[Petrus]

Was frozen/frosted white again.
Breakfast walking distance up the road.
Cover now just wet, so off the cover and off we went.
Stopped in the sun to get some cash from the wall and with the rag warmed up folded it down.

Sunglasses up, southwards down to Colmenar to drive the subida a Colmenar on the A-7000.
I pottered over the main street to have no traffic on the exit.

First few corners slid about considerably and when the tyres had warmed up a bit came up behind two cars. Something small red hatch and an AMG V8 something loádly announcing special tune and powah with smoking rubbers while overtaking the red hatch.
YESSSS!!!!! 
I hooked up behind.
He literally smoked me out of every corner, kicking up dust/leaves/muck cutting the inside. He visibly had his hands full with the weight to stop/turn and especially keep the line on exits.
I did need to flog Bell but not to the limits to keep up.
Some bits let him take some distance to then ráce up to just about under the bumper on the next twisty sequence.
Charming asked me to not scare him like that; ´le hace nevioso al pobre!´
So I kept three/four cars distance, but he´d had aenough and indicated for me to pass.
I first thought he had stopped for coffee or what but arriving and waiting to enter the parking at the Málaga car enthusiast meet he stopped behind us.

That enthusiasts car meet is just thát.Once a month with good weather some two hundred or so older modified/tuned cars and hundred ditto motorbikes turn up. Also a few hundred spectators.
Good fun and .... nóóó police ánywhere.

While enjoying breakfast the wife of the seller of a Scirocco called. Car still/again for sale. Appologies and she was prepared to come up to come up tho the village so we could see it.
We were going to Málaga so best we passed at theirs but that is another story line.

On the way back up from Málaga took the highway as the secondaries fill up with cyclists, motorbikers and sightseeers by then. With hardly any traffic that stretch of highway is very nice driving too, just higher speeds.
Parking space in fron of the door; top up; cover over; done and     

[Petrus]

Long time no update but then téchnically I am content/done with the car.
She is ready for fun in fron of the door under a cover collecting the dust and bird droppings.
The routine now is fold the cover so I can start the engine.
Then while it warms up a bit, roll the cover up and put it indoors.
Next religiously clean the windscreen as I am ocd about that.
And then it is off----

Last time we came back was te last kms with a bit of rain so the hood pulled: Só satisfactory that; stop, pull it up with one arm, lock and continue.
With the hood needing to dry anyway, charming suggested leaving the cover off for a few days so the villagers could enjoy. Because of the rear wing, it is a weird shape under the cover and half the village wonders about it.

This upcoming weekend am co-organising a classic vehicle thing and in dubio about whether to go on the ´Blue´ Vespa or with Belle. I think I will let it depend on how the organisation of the ride pans out. He have permission and there shoúld be police escort but if the group is very large we will need a second ´lead´ car and if so the cabrio is pérfect: A ´yellow vest´ can stand upright waving a flag.

[Petrus]

       the supports of the SBW have ´melted´. Apparently putting the dark cover under the blazing souther sun over a still warm engine room was too much for the 3D printed stuff.

[Ardent]

Can a different filament be used?

[Petrus]

Can a different filament be used?

Yes but for the moment going back to aluminium.

[Petrus]

How it looks 

[Ardent]

 

[Petrus]

And the original aluminium back

[Petrus]

whát adiiference btw between post #1050 and #1057     
Below 0 frozen and above 65 molten   

[Petrus]

Simply L¡lúrrrvly drive today.
For those a bit familiar with southern Andalucía; traversed the Montes de Málaga, the Axarquia end Zafarraya region twíce. Down and up alternative routes, just about all single lane mountain roads. On the way back up past Comares direction Venta Galwey. Most in 2nd and 3rd.
Whát drive, whát a joy!
Don´t know how to call the weather. Was ´sunny´ but murky. Not overcast but no clear blue sky.
All top down, just up when parked at the beach and I mean át the beach as in 30 meters form the water line.

But start with the beginning. I keep the plastic windshield meticulously clean with soft sponge and chamois. Next mirrors and headlight covers. Off to the gas station for 98 juice.
On to the pass and down to the coast.

Lóve the SMT, the direct steering, the nimble everything, the ease of maintaining/controlling minor sliding either or both ends. Mán this car is FUN 
Charming passenger is smiling unphased. ´With you it is nothing scary.´

Was rather warm so not many pedestrians about yet we receive MANY thumbs up. From the youths ofcourse! but also from the other end of the age scale. A group of the latter held us up for a pedestrian crossing as they stopped mid way to
express their appreciation with enthusiasm.
In Vélez we visited a Vespa enthusiast to have a look at his Vespa sidecar combo and he was literally clapping with enthusiasm when he saw Belle. Parked behind his wife´s daily: It had a Hello Kitty decal....

The ride is simply all I want from this little nimble sprite.

[Ardent]

As brief as my experience was, I get it.

Belle is a bit special.

The older I get the more understanding and appreciation of what was on offer with the smt.

Given the tech was/is similar to that on offer by the likes of Ferrari of that period,  much overlooked and much underrated.

If ever I was in a position of owning another 2, I would look for an smt. Worth it for the downshifts alone.

[fawtytoo]

Given the tech was/is similar to that on offer by the likes of Ferrari of that period,  much overlooked and much underrated.

Jeremy Clarkson noted on a 2004 episode of Top Gear that the Aston Martin (don't remember which number) gear changes was awful compared to a Ferrari. And I thought to myself how much better the MR2 performed in that area to the Aston too.

[Petrus]

I even prefer th SMT over my Sciroccos DSG as much as I like that. In itself the DSG box if perfect but in auto it does not always have the same idea as I. In manual the stick is not nice so it is the steering wheel and thát is not as cool as the Pokeball in Belle.
And yes the downshift is an ace up the sleeve.

The DSG being seamless quick is not much of a selling point when driving mountain roads. You are not rácing but enjoying the ride. I do not mind a slight lift of the loud pedal to aid smoothness but going ínto a corner the effing fast and übercool downshift does add control.
Pointless comparation btw as the MR2 is literally fitting on these single lane roads whereas the not at all that large Scirocco is less so. On the same route the MR2 is a spirited drive, the Scirocco a better tourer.

[fawtytoo]

the effing fast and übercool downshift

Have you ever managed to work out what the revs have to be to guarantee the fast shift? I don't remember seeing anything in the manual.

[Petrus]

Have you ever managed to work out what the revs have to be to guarantee the fast shift? I don't remember seeing anything in the manual.

It depends on at what revs the lower gear is engaged which is about 3K.

[Petrus]

Anóther classic vehicles event 

In Jarzamin; outskirts of east Málaga. Weird, almost post apocalyptic hood but the auto-organizing appearent chaos is  :clap: 
The access and feria grounds are dirt so fitted the home made tonneau on the MR2 Spyder.

Charming company was again 8-)
Needs no offers; is simply always game.
Great route driving down, incorporating the A-7000 over which last week the Rally Subida a Colmenar (Montes de Málaga) was held. I drift my little RWD mid engined cabrio up there with gusto and she is all smiles.

At lunch we were talking, joking; you know routine stuff; cars, dresses, sex, vespas and she among other crackers observed ´You go buy another Vespa, I´ll buy another dress...´

Below some photos.
The Terrot is a model FGT made from 1926-29. Thís one already has a clutch but still a belt. It makes you realise how advanced the Nimbus was.
Here a gem of a quote from a véry good and knowledgable write up:
Consequently, the rest of the vintage/antique motorcycling community doesn't regard the model C as a "real" vintage bike, as ownership of one seems to lack the crucial element of masochism so dear to many old bike enthusiasts.  :rofl:

On the way back had a scary moment. Was nailing a particular nice long uphill bend and WHÁCK, clatter, cluck, dingdingding and something bouncing behind the car on then off the road into the depth at the side. Car behaved as if nothing had happened.Stopped first opportunity. Had lost the front number plate. Phew....