Modern Garage in Far East

[abstamaria]

Funny photo, Mike. I wonder sometimes how they sell those cars here. The excise tax, import duties, and VAT double the price. Yet, I am told they do sell.

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay and hope your business trip was fruitful.

Best regards,

Andy

 

[euro745i]

Can you tell where you were (town)in upstate ny years ago, just curious.

 

[abstamaria]

I was in Ithaca, Euro745i. A lovely town, cold in winter but set in an incredibly beautiful landscape.

You're in NY, NY, I see. I love that place.

Andy

 

[Kirtap]

Just heard reports on the radio about the massive amount of rain in Manila. They said that more than 50 people have died and around 300000 have been forced to evacuate their homes.

I hope everything is alright with you, Andy!

 

[abstamaria]

Thank you, Kirtap. We had some leaks in the house and at one point the water level in the driveway began to rise, but we are ok. I have been traveling and was fortunate in having flown back earlier than expected. I appreciate your asking.

Unfortunately, so many have not been so lucky. There is flooding on a very large scale, as the rains have been unusually strong and prolonged. So many are homeless, but the relief efforts well organized.

My best,

Andy

 

[sberry]

Andy, it surprises me that you haven't mounted that pump on one of the MaxJax columns ... or a wall and buried the hoses under the floor. Those hoses and power cord on that pristine floor almost look out of place.

Just my $0.02 worth. Cheers, Bill

Could be piped overhead too. I agree that if a hoist is in the right place it is not in the way.

 

[abstamaria]

Pond

A typhoon near Korea sucked in the Southwest monsoon and brought very heavy, continuous rains over the last two days. Much flooding and misery across Luzon, the big island that Manila is on.

Luckily, personally we were spared.

At the back of the garage is a small pond, which serves as the catch basin for the runoff from the hill. The pond itself empties into the main drains. Pond level was quite high yesterday. Here are some photos I took during a break in the rains.

I was worried about our fellow-GJ-member Derek, visiting the Philippines for the first time for a disaster relief conference, but just heard from him and he is fine.

Andy

 

[Hottrod]

Am glad you are okay Andres.

Wow, the water IS pretty high there: living in a similar climate to you I know how quickly the drains can be overwhelmed - a big issue here is the Government ensuring that these drains are kept clear, do you have the same issues?

 

[Camaro Mike]

Good to know you're staying dry. From the news reports it looks pretty bad in some areas.

 

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, Hottrod, Mike. I appreciate it.

Yes, the storm drains were overwhelmed in this and the other major flood three years ago. They are partly clogged and then the volume of water has been extraordinary. The earlier flood dumped a month's rain in six hours. This time it was a greater volume over two days.

That's the design spill point you see in the pond. It was already emptying into the drain channel just outside the glass windows. The channel is covered by the black grating running the length of the windows.

I live in a private community, so maintenance is by the homeowners association. I may have to improve the drains on the street myself. I will look into that.

Many thanks again, and my best,

Andy

 

[ChrisOne]

Hello Andy,

this is my first post on GJ, and all I can say is "wow"

You are a lucky man (Even if I know that there must be some hard work behind this)

Wonderfull country, wonderfull house, wonderfull cars, wonderfull garage,...

BR

Chris

 

[abstamaria]

Thank you, Chris, and welcome to GJ. I am glad you liked the garage and the little of the country I've described here.

The clouds parted a bit last Wednesday, so our resident turtle Lilo went up on the grating to get some sun.

We adopted her some years ago when she got too big for her previous home's pond. She comes up to be handfed sometimes.

My best,

Andy

 

[The J]

Hi Andres,
I haven't posted here but remember reading your thread quite often. Always appreciated your photos, documentation, and great attitude contributing to this forum. I heard about the typhoons in the news a few days ago and my first thought went to your well being.

I've finally had a chance to check in to this thread and I'm relieved to hear you're okay. Flooding is scary and devastating. Thanks for posting updates; seeing your reptile friend catching some sun in the midst of flooding made me smile.

Take care

 

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, The J. Thank you for your concern for us here. We had a major flood three years ago, a one-in-one-hundred-years flood they said. This one spared some areas deluged before, but was more extensive and probably wrought more damage, and it wasn't even a typhoon, just strong monsoons.

The good thing is that the country is bouncing back and united in the relief effort. I just got back, and all seems well in my general area. One person who works with us had his house flooded, so we are helping him rebuild.

Best regards,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

Fuinally, the Lotus on the lift.

Some long-delayed work today on my Lotus Elan, which has been since 1977. That's 35 years.

The Elan is a problematic car to lift, because it has a backbone frame. It is easy enough to use lift the front end and then use jack stands, because it has a crossmember just before the engine. Lifting the rear is a problem, because there isn’t any logical jack point.

When I installed the MaxJax, I wrote off the option of lifting the Elan on it. I didn’t want to lift the car by its sills, because there is no frame there (and the car is fiberglass). The chassis is attached to the underneath of the body by so many bolts screwed into bobbins in the fiberglass floor.

Encouraged by advice given in the Lotus forum, I put the Elan on the two-post lift this morning. I planned to use 2”x2” wood beams below the sills and also lower the car to jack stands after lifting, but dispensed with those and simply lifted the Elan with the jack pads at the sill corners, as advised in the forum.

No apparent cracks and the chassis didn’t fall off. Great!

How easy it is now to lift and work on the car. I bled the clutch and adjusted the ride height to street trim, jobs so much easier on the two-poster.

Andy

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Glad to read that you´re ok Andy!

The Elan looks AWESOME!

Regards,

Anders

 

[ODIS]

Greetings Andy.

Watched the following documentary late last evening and immediately thought of you:

Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman

A very talented photographer that loved the Modernism Architectural Movement. I think he would have been very impressed with what you have designed and executed at your home.

Good to read you have been traveling, working on your collection of fine cars and that you and family are all well in-spite of the rains/floods in your area of the world.

All the best,

Ody.

 

[Hottrod]

How crazy, I also watched that on Netflix this week and though of Andy! Highly recommended show for anyone interested in modern architecture.

 

[abstamaria]

Thank you, Anders. The Elan has a very different philosphy from Ferrari!

I have to watch out for that film, Ody, Hottrod. It will probably never show here, so I hope it comes out on DVD. I Googled the film name and saw a trailer on YouTube. I remember his photo now of the house overlooking Los Angeles. Very inspiring. Many thanks, Ody, Hottrod.

I hope you are all doing well. My best,

Andy

 

[Fatandre]

This thread is so amazing. It gives me so many visions on what I would like to do with my own house. There is still time. Its amazing how cars can make friendships last.

 

[Camero68]

The cleanest garage I have ever seen! It is amazing ...

 

[abstamaria]

Thanks very much, Fatandre. I am glad the house has given you a few ideas. Good luck! You just have to persevere and not waver.

And thanks, too, Camero68. I cleaned up before I took the photo!

My best,

Andy

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Thank you, Anders. The Elan has a very different philosphy from Ferrari!


Andy

Products of different worlds indeed, but classic Lotus´is very awesome cars, and regarding the ones from Maranello, well let´s just say that I´m obsessed with those!

Regarding this thread and garage, I use to browse through the pics quite frequently and just enjoy IMO one of THE BEST garages/collections that I know about.

Anders

 

[abstamaria]

Thanks very much, Anders. Many of the garages and collections here are truly spectacular, and I spend a lot of time looking at them.

I do know of course that you're fond of the Maranello cars!

Best regards,

Andres

 

[abstamaria]

Drive in Dino

We had a break in the weather, so I took the Dino out early this morning for a brief run. The roads were dry, but it was still quite cool for Manila. The Dino sounded so good; it has a Tubi exhaust, a bit louder than the standard Ansa.

We have had a great deal of rains the last several weeks, and a low-pressure area again threatens. It's drizzling again as I write this, so it was good to have been able to drive the Dino.

After the drive, I thought I would let the Dino cool before closing the garage door. As I was walking to the house, I looked back and saw the rear of the Dino, sparkling in the morning sun. I just had to take a photo. There are some cars that are exquisitely beautiful, and I think the Dino is one of them.

Andres

 

[abstamaria]

Mt two companions

Just two photos, taken a few days ago, of my two garage dogs. That's Xena underneath a car; she'll be ten soon. That's two-year-old Sundance next to the jack. He's very affectionate, but quite a handful. Both just follow me wherever I go.

Andy

 

[rmantoo]

Your dogs are almost as endearing as your cars

 

[abstamaria]

Sundance

Yes, they're quite endearing. Sundance, now two years old, is at the stage where he needs to be within nudging distance always. He is quite curious and often gets in the way, trying to see what is so interesting underneath the car or in that wheel well ...

Here he is, taken the other day. That's me on bench, holding a magnifying glass to follow those fine lines, so close together, on the manual's wiring diagram. I didn't need that magnifying glass (or reading glasses) before!

Best,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

A place for a garage band

I thought it might interest some to see what became of the old workshop, photos of which I’ve shown some time ago.

The tool cabinets gave way to filing cabinets, acoustic panels, and vintage-style guitar amplifiers. Some friends my age, including my Japanese teammate OD, come over to try to play The Ventures and The Shadows, guitar bands that arose after rock-and-roll and then were swept away by the Beatles and rest of the British Invasion. If you were born three years too late, of if you blinked, you would have missed them. Still, we try, with guitars, echoes, and amps we couldn’t afford when we were 14, to capture that old sound, the nuances of which only we remember.

Those are white walls and only look blue because I took the photo at dusk. The roll-up door is still there, so in a pinch we can bring in a car or two.

My best,

Andy

 

[Dennis Cavallino]

Put a session or two on Youtube. Everybody likes a bunch of old blokes doing a jam session and maybe you'll score a hit like all those youngsters did the last couple of years.

 

[abstamaria]

Thanks for the confidence, Dennis, but the World is not ready!

We did put together a series of shows that focused on capturing the sound of the era from 1958 to 1963. We tried to cover the exact style and tone of the hits then, using the correct guitars, amps, and such. We had younger people on stage, dressed for the period, as old amateurs are so uninteresting! Someone in the audience took a video and an edited, short version is on YouTube. When I am brave enough, I may post the link.

The shows were to raise funds for session musicians (the men and women who play and sing on cruise ships, clubs, and so forth) for their medical care after retirement. They have no pensions, insurance, usually. The shows were quite a hit and very successful. But in general one has to be over 60 to relate to the songs!

Best,

Andy

 

[Bob Heine]

...But in general one has to be over 60 to relate to the songs!

Andy,

You're absolutely right. Celebrating my 50th 18th birthday next month. The local radio stations that claim to play "Oldies" often play music from the 80s and 90s. I recently bought a used iPod, connected it to the stereo in my wife's car and hid it in the glovebox. Now 1,200 songs from the 50's, 60's (and a few from the 70's) are set for random play whenever she takes the car out. I set it up to play the Platters' version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" first. That was the first song we danced to in 1960, two years before we married. I think it's the second time she's been happy with a new piece of technology (VCR was first).

 

[abstamaria]

Bob, that's a wonderful song, and I remember it well. I have it on my iPod, too!

Here is the video clip I mentioned, with snippets from a show at the local Hard Rock Cafe. The first instrumental pieces are by the British band The Shadows, which may not ring a bell with those across the pond, but many of the vocals were hits in the era. The songs are up to 1963 only.

That is an amateur group; Anna, who opens the show, is a doctor. But she is very talented.

My apologies to all for that video!

Best,

Andy

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Andy, seeing you bent over your workbench laboring with a 'old-world' magnifying glass to decipher that schematic prompted me to do some image searching for a suitable lamp to ease your task and, more importantly, look like it belongs with your garage/home decor. I found this item and thought it might just fit the bill on both counts. I may order a unit myself to assist these tired old eyes! lol Sorry, I could not capture just the image...

http://www.mightybright.com/Magnifiers/Floor-Light-and-Magnifier


By the by, do you happen to have a similar angle shot of the Dino for the 'Garages at Night' thread? You're not alone in the opinion that that pic exemplifies the epitome of the 'Automotive Art'. If I owned the Dino (Oh, to be so fortunate!), I would attempt a 'filled viewfinder shot' of the rear using a 'low angle, floor-wash accent flood' positioned just inside and adjacent to the door pillar on the right side of the car and perhaps some muted up-lights behind the glass panels. Some cars have an overall beautiful timeless design and of those, there are ones that even a portion of the coachwork deserves a 'portrait'; The Dino is one of those rare birds.

 

[abstamaria]

Now, that's a good idea, Omphaloskeptic. I never thought to look, and your post had me searching the web for what these magnifiers look like now. Your choice seems the best - and with LEDs, too. Many thanks!

That is a great photo idea. I will try that.

My best,

Andy

 

[Bob Heine]

My apologies to all for that video!

Andy,

No apologies needed. It's amateur video of a group of musicians doing something they obviously enjoy. I love it!

My wife and daughter learned to play the guitar (acoustic) in the 70's and at first would gladly play for anyone who asked. As their skills improved, so did their 'ears' and they would no longer play without first apologizing. You have gone far past the point of needing to apologize. I know you could do it professionally but that would entail more practice hours than you might be willing to sacrifice. It also changes from a passion to a job when you do that and might take the fun out of it.

 

[abstamaria]

Bob, thanks very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and hope you recognized some of the old tunes. I'm really more of a car guy than a guitarist, but it was an enjoyable diversion for me.

Please convey my regards to your wife. Congratulations to you both! This must be your 50th anniversary.

Best wishes,

Andy

 

[jimmie jam]

Wow Andy, that video was great! I'll be 60 in a few months and grew up with most of that music.....those were great times!!

J.J.

 

[abstamaria]

Jimmie. Thank you. I'm glad you recognized the songs. The name of the musical company is from a scene in a old French book, called "Remembrances of Things Past." In the scene, the hero bites into a madeleine cookie, which he hadn't had in a long while, and is instantly flooded with feelings long forgotten. The songs in the show, rendered according to the original style, were meant to have the same effect.

So sorry for the diversion, as the only connection is that the studio was once my workshop (and probably more productive then!).

Best regards,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

Non-original script

In the Ferrari and Dino 246 world, an evergreen topic of discussion is whether it is correct for a Dino to wear a Ferrari badge. The counterpart topic here at GJ might be "has this ultimate shop thing gone too far?"

Dinos never carried a Ferrari badge, and "Ferrari" only appears on the manufacturer's tag on the door. Whether a Dino is a "Ferrari" is an unresolved topic, with staunch proponents for either view. But some owners do install a prancing horse sometimes, which provides fodder for debate.

I was given a "Ferrari" badge one time and was tempted to attach it to the car, but dealt with that by installing it on my tool cabinet door instead. Not original either, but at least no one will write to complain. Or so I hope. It's the only adornment on my cabinets and seems to go.