<VV> Ultra

[N. Joseph Potts]

I relate to the Ultra philosophy although, now that I can afford
alternatives, I don't (fully) elect to live by it. Ultra is a way of life
one becomes familiar with involuntarily, through poverty (or even simple
miserliness). A while back, many people owned and relied upon (old) Corvairs
for exactly such reasons. A few still may.
     I think of Ultra as, among other, conservational (of money and
materials, at a minimum). In this sense, I see it (and the maintenance and
use of old cars and other equipment generally) as PRO-environment. Operating
the vehicles MAY pollute somewhat more per unit distance, but avoiding the
pollution and resource depletion created by the manufacture of new cars and
parts is a MAJOR effect that most tend to underestimate. To the extent that
it inspires cooperation with others (primarily pitching in on laborious
tasks), I see it as pro-society, too.
     Since doing anything with less money and materials is always
more-difficult, I also see it as a sport, entertaining not only for those
participating in it, but also for those observing it (receiving reports).
For me, it is nostalgic, recalling a time that I would not in all respects
really want to relive. I'll say the same of my very un-ultra Corvair itself.
     Long live ultra . . . AND that motorhome, too!

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org]On Behalf Of Wayne Graefen
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 12:24 PM
To: virtualvairs@corvair.org
Subject: <VV> Ultra


And here, as a newbie, I thought you guys were talking about
UltraVans which were the Corvair powered motorhomes.  Now that I
know that you are talking about restoring Corvairs as ultimately
cheaply as possible about like Nash and Hudson guys keep their trash
cars going, with all the disgusting public feedback that gets, I'm
not very impressed.

But I guess an Ultra Corvair is kind of like a "rat rod", huh?
Anti-society, anti-cultural, anti-restoration, anti-corporate
America, anti-environmental, etc.

I don't relate.

Wayne