Newsletter 04 - August 1998

Dear Dave,
8th June 1998
The day out at Stoneleigh was very enjoyable with lots to see. 1 was pleased to
meet you, Dave, together with David Rutherford and the other Register members.
(Yes Dave, that was my younger son John who incidentally did all the paintwork
on my car.)
When we set out from Watford with the hood down the signs were not good as it
was already spitting with rain. With misty rain sweeping across the Vale of
Aylesbury memories of the soaking we received on the way to, and at Goodwood
last year became very vivid. Fortunately by the time we reached Buckingham the
rain had stopped and the weather improved from then on. The initial rain did
however remind me of one of the advantages of the Minari - with the hood down
one doesn't get really wet - provided one keeps moving! Inspired by the show we
had a fairly rapid journey home, this time along the A5 which is a pretty good
road apart from the bottleneck at Dunstable.
Number 3 Newsletter was a bumper issue with plenty to read. I was particularly
interested in the references to windscreen breakage's. I would (and perhaps other
members would as well) like to know in more detail how these breakage's
occurred - not to gloat but to be able to learn lessons for avoidance in the future.
Perhaps we might have a section on Do's and Don'ts to avoid minor disasters. My
car suffered a shattered side window resulting from, I believe, an over exuberant
slamming of a door by a friend. (Ugh!) Minari Engineering thought that the
breakage might have been caused by a manufacturing fault in the glass and they
kindly sent me a replacement piece. Anyway, whatever the primary cause it
seems a good idea to remind unwary passengers not to grip the top of the glass
when closing the doors.
The suggestion of fitting a Subaru boxer engine into a Minari filled me with mild
horror. No doubt the Subaru engine is a very worthy unit but when I think of
Minari I instinctively think of Alfa as well. Although the Minari body is very
attractive it was the use of Alfa components which really sold me the kit. If
Marlin had specified a kit with say Alfa 75 engine and running gear then I might
have gone for this instead. The idea of an Alfa V6 Minari does sound very
exciting. Also, how about a Minari with the Alfa transverse in line 4 Twin Spark?
Alfa engineered this unit into the 145 which originally incorporated the boxer
engine so anything is possible. 1 look forward to reading a letter from somebody
whose doing it.
Best Wishes,
Michael Waterman
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