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  Jan. 26, 2009 9:24 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

  As most of you know, we regularly send out a Classic Motorsports email newsletter with info on what's coming up in the next issue, new stuff on the site, contests, tech tips and all sorts of other stuff.

  My question is, what would you all like to see in there? What would make it more useful and valuable to you?

  And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, sign up for the newsletter here: http://classicmotorsports.net/newsletter/

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  Jan. 26, 2009 10:59 a.m. rconlon Reader

  Have you considered a best photo of a reader car entry? Offer a new t-shirt or something if you use it in the issue. The ran when parked idea has been fun. Some more technical tips that are topic related like the recent alternator upgrade.

  Welding how, when and what kind. Stuck nuts and studs, what to do. Replacing or repairing a soft top.

  Cheers Ron

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  May 22, 2009 6:54 a.m. BrettM New Reader

  More Italian Car content please.
  Brett

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  Dec. 22, 2009 11:26 p.m. BrickSykes New Reader

  Boy, the readers are really tearing up this subject, aren't they (we)? Early winter apathy I'd guess. Or maybe its not apathy at all, maybe its because the articles aren't 'Hitting Home'' with the general readership. Well, you asked us to sound off so I'm going to, okay?

  I'm nearing seventy years old and, yes, I never thought I'd live to make a statement like that! Live and learn, I guess. I remember years ago when that couple from California was running 'Sports Cars Illustrated', or something like that. I was subscribed, of course, mainly because I was driving them then and had always loved English cars, my first sports car being a '53 XK120. Yes, she was very nearly 'ragged out' but still a very gutsy and rude true stallion. From the first time I sat in her until I waved bye-bye 5-6 years later I carried the smell of her cockpit wherever I went. Some might call it a musky, oily odor, but to me it bore the aroma of castor oil, moldy carpet and dying leather. There was nothing on Earth that smelled like that.

  As the years have gone by the trend in sports car ownership seems to have shifted from the wrench prone loonies of my class-set to a new fan-type. These guys are often very trendy, even bring their wives to events, and tows his cars to meets and shows with bright shiny trucks. Usually Our Man has flawless dentition, to boot! I ain't one of those, Boys, and I don't want to be. In spite of the DIY pieces in CM I feel the 'sport' is more defined as a coalition of commodity traders whose weekend conversation is centered on how much money one can expect to get for a desirable old rust bucket after a total restoration. I've never looked at sports cars that way, so I usually thumb through those pages even though the cars are usually 'quite lovely', as you guys would refer to them. No offense intended.

  None of my pals had the available money back then to think of doing the things you guys do. Never did I assemble all the proper tools just so in an 'open bay' in the shop; never did we order all the necessary after market parts from the many suppliers that cater to the trade today; never did we discuss the procedure with fellow enthusiasts on an internet forum. Not that all those steps would have been welcome to have, no, those 'steps' simply didn't exist!

  Such goes the sport in 2010, almost. I have not much more free money than I did back then, so I'm not on the hunt for any kind of 'attractive and prudent' investment. I presently drive a 1985 BMW 635CSi like the one Tims been mooning over the past several months (you know, the car in the Kumho ad in the back.) As things stand I'm forced to 'pace' myself in her revivification due to a back that just won't let me stoop over into the engine bay like the good old days, and neither will she allow me to snake my way under her skirts to change a fuel filter or bleed a slave cylinder. Or maybe that's the same lumbago that aging tire busters are afflicted with. And maybe thats the way I got that way.

  I didn't mean to ramble on this long, but you did kinda ask the general readership how we felt didn't you? Honestly? Thanks for asking!

  Thanks

  Barry Willis

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