Wow, thanks for that great little nugget of history, Mica!
I still vividly remember this time when I was a kid, still years away from being old enough for a license (so we must be talking at least 35 years now). I was walking out of a parking garage somewhere in Chicago with my family, and they had parked someone's Lotus in a prime spot right at the entrance. My guess is it might have been an Esprit rather than a Europa, but I'm not really up on the models or when they were introduced (it was definitely a mid-engine, if that helps).
Anyway, my eyes turned to saucers, and apparently the parking attendant noticed this. So he says something like, hey, I think this would look good on you, want to give it a try?
Here I am, this somewhat shy little kid about 13, and I'm politely protesting, but he eventually convinces me (right :-) to get into the driver's seat and see how it fits.
It fit just fine (I was tall for my age), and I will never forget it. It was orange.
Nowadays, even if I had that much truly disposable income, I would not be able to justify spending it on an automobile. But still, I'm almost tempted to organize a fund drive to buy Ron a Tesla, in the spirit of Old and New Dreams (slipping in a Charlie Haden reference for your dad's sake).
Yet another insight into the spirit and passion that goes into these instruments and related gear. Thanks.
-Bob
(sorry for going off topic, couldn't resist - congratulations on your Europa, Per Elias)
(Message edited by bob on December 13, 2006)
