[urq] ... and I tought I was the coolest guy in town...

[Louis-Alain Richard]

Running a limited production, 22 years old German sportscar during winter in
Montreal is cool, right? 

Lots of thumbs up and smiles, many nice comments from motorists.etc.

More, my newfound confidence was fueled by the last lapping day at
www.mecaglisse.com <http://www.mecaglisse.com/> .

I was one of the fastest car there, I did manage to keep the shinny side up
(40 laps, 100km total, at least 240 scandinavian flicks), I towed 6 cars out
of the snow banks (even a new Carrera 4 twice!), and the rally guys had
plenty of kind words about my car AND about my driving style ! 

 

I was definitely the coolest guy in town. 

 

Then how do one reacts when he sees an early 70's Citroen DS, parked in the
snow, on the side of a street, in mid-january, at 12 bellow zero?

 

That is a 35 years old, highly sophisticated French luxury car, folks!, from
a period when reliability was not a selling argument. There is a central
hydraulic system on this car that powers the steering, the brakes and the
suspension with no less than 4 bombs (called spheres by the Citroen
engineers) and kilometers of tubing. The engine is from the 30's Traction
Avant, (the lowly dark car that all the baddies drive in the French cop
movies). The gearbox is in front of the engine. The manual shifter sprouts
out of the dashboard. There is no side or rear defrost, and not much heater
at all. 

That is an heroic achievement in my book!

 

>From now on, my (automotive) goal in life will be to better this guy, must I
find myself driving a Russian ZIL limousine or a Lancia Stratos !

 

No boring cars!

 

Louis-Alain