Well here we are at the beginning of another season.  Some of you on the West coast may have been up and running for months now.  We poor Easterners (east of the Rockies!) however have to bear the vagaries of spring and late season snow and cold.  I'm sure many of you are busy attending to all manner of issues in order to get your Avanti on the road this year.  I have had a very interesting, though not surprising experience this year.  The 15 minute job that ends up taking 8 weeks. 

 It all started at the Maple Leaf Tour last October.  The drive down was later than planned and so in the dark with headlights, panel lights, heater/ defroster, wipers and a loose/wet fan belt the battery which was 7 yrs. old anyway, died.  No hint or warning, just a major coronary.  Well so what, no big deal, got a boost; thanks again Vern; and got home.  So next spring, buy a new battery, a fifteen minute switch.       

Well, first thing is to remove the old battery...sheesh, what a mess under there, and I guess now is the time to make a new tie down rod which has been missing since I bought the car back in ‘05.  Look for some threaded rod...I know I have some somewhere, hours, days later the rod is complete, but now that I'm into it, maybe I should have the alternator and regulator checked just in case.  Remove those, sheesh, what a mess under there, and I guess these cables are pretty ripe.  I'll have to pick some up next time in Town...weeks.  Of course while removing the regulator, I dropped one of the contact screws and it "didn't" hit the floor.  The floor would have been easy.  Took a day or two to find it.  Well, all the electricals checked out, which around here means driving 60 km to the guy's shop and arranging for a time when he can check them while you wait/help.  Maybe next week sometime...As I'm standing there, triumphant as the alternator comes out, I realize that now I have a clear shot at replacing the cracked manifold that I have been patching with asbestos rope and spring clamps for two years now.  So off comes the shroud and manifold/exhaust flange, slowly but with deliberation..."go ahead, break if you want to you %#!*^ piece of... iron".  Sometimes, I find the right words make a difference.  So, 6 weeks later, I'm all ready to put it all back together which will probably take another two weeks until I finally fire it up. 

 You say how can that take eight weeks?  Well, unfortunately, my Avanti is not my sole pursuit/obligation.  Which is why I enjoy working on my car so much.  When I'm working on the Avanti I'm oblivious to my surroundings despite their constraints (see photos)  I'm having a hoot working on my car and avoiding all the other obligations commitments and responsibilities while I'm at it.  You have to be focused doing this kind of thing, and take your time by turning a fifteen minute job into eight weeks of enjoyment!       

Make sure to take note of the various events scheduled for this year, and try to attend as many as possible.  It's great getting together.  Of especial importance is the Made in Canada Celebration in Belleville this June/July, celebrating 50 years of SDC Ontario Chapter.  Hope we see our friends from the Ottawa area and Quebec if they can make it.  Looks like a fun weekend.  Also remember to send us your stories and pictures of local events etc.  We are always delighted to see pictures of you and your Avanti. 

 Steve Wohleber