Kit Car Builder Magazine

The Feb '05 issue out now is chock full of speedsters including Carey Hines blue Beck, Thunder Ranch newest build, a JPS write up , another beck feature and a Spyder write up and .............ready for this ?

A Speedster Buyers Guide!

I would say the Knotts and Carlisle shows turn outs were a positive step forward for speedsters!

He did a pretty nice job on the breakdowns.....I would like to scan those in for the "what are the differences between" questions we get about once a month.

Remember, you don't want the 356 replica market to become too hot. The more you see the less special they become. I know that when I drive around in my Miata no one gives it a second look (except for well dressed guys with nice haircuts.
Ron

I would rather see less speedsters! Right on Ron O!

Hi Ron:
There is a very active Miata following around here and half of them wear skirts and the general consensus is that if you want to be taken seriously your Miata it has to be tricked. But they are an insecure lot. SInce I was a paid up member I took my SC on a couple of runs with them, but there was much grumbling and I am now persona non grata and that is fine. What is the fun of a car of a car that when yoiu turn the key it springs to life, can't be readily modified, is too quiet stock and never breaks down. That does little to harken us back to days of yore!!

Alan,

Just received my copy of KCB. Realized the photos of Carey Hines' (Special Edition) and Glen Nobles' (JPS Motorsports) Speedsters were taken at the Carlsle 1/4-mile autocross track. A photo of Jerome Smith's widebody was in the Buyer's Guide and good coverage of Thunder Ranch's tube chassis Speedster. Nice work by Jim Youngs.

I wrote Jim a gripe email last year (before Knotts and Carlise) saying he was getting too Cobra-oriented and needed more Speedsters in his magazine. I included a count of Cobra articles, photos and advertisements compared to Speedsters. It drove me crazy to receive a replica magazine and not see a single Speedster! Basically his comeback was that Cobras have the largest audience, number of manufacturers, paying advertisers, cars on the road (they had just had a Cobra meet where 300 Cobra replicas showed up), etc. I can't blame him but it appears his magazine as well Kit Car have started showing more Speedsters since the big meets started. I believe there were more Speedsters than Cobras at Knotts and Carlisle so maybe they're getting the message. If you're glad to see this happening in the magazines, don't forget to send the editors an email and thank them....or start seeing all Cobras again.

Jim has mentioned in conversation that, the speedster is his favorite replica!

The Speedster on the cover of that magazine is mine and it is for sale. Go to GOOGLE and type in my name DAVID BALSER and there is an article from the November issue of KIT CAR magazine with all the details. If interested contact me at 760 436 6139. Thanks, David

Correction. In my last post I said my car was on the cover of the February issue. It was on the August 2004 issue of the Buyers Guide. Sorry.

That is one of the nicest engines I've seen. Two questions; what are the two canisters against the firewall? and Who built it?

XP_Greg

Greg,
The two cannisters against the wall are breathers for the valve covers. I decided to put them there because they looked great and I thought they would get cleaner air. They are connected by stainless hose. The car was designed by me and built by Thunder Ranch in California. Since that photo the engine has been changed to a 2275 cc. If you have any other questions about the car or know someone interested in buying it please contact me at 760 436 6139.
Thanks,
David Balser