<VV> Virtual Vairs and the Corvair People

[Jim Houston]

I got my first Corvair about 15 months ago.  This was my first 
experience, not counting driving my Dad's '63 Monza to my Senior Prom (a 
long time ago in a galaxy far, far away)..  Prior to that, I was into 
Minis -- the older "Classic" minis, not the new ones.  I raced them in 
England in the early '70s, restored a '64 Cooper 'S' from '74 to '84 and 
then was out of the hobby until 2000 when I bought another mini.  I sold 
it and bought a Corvair...  why??  Simply put - the attitude of the Mini 
community today.  In spite of my extensive experience with minis, I was 
talked down to as if I was a complete idiot.  I was repeatedly told by 
owners of "New" Minis (BMW) that my Classic Mini was inferior to the new 
ones.  There were no offers to assist with necessary maintenance or 
modificatons (sometimes an extra hand helps) and unlike my previous 
experiences, nobody even OFFERED a part for free or trade -- always had 
a price (high, I might add) attached to it.  I lamented to Bill Elliott 
(who has a Mini) that the hobby was no fun anymore, and he suggested 
that I try the Corvair community.  I did some research, sold the Mini, 
bought a Corvair and lo and behold !!  He was right.  The Corvair people 
are friendly, generous and fun to be around.  No one has ever made me 
feel that I shouldn't ask a question (I bought ALL the books I could 
afford)..  In general, I am quite happy with the move.

PLEASE!!  PLEASE!!  DON'T CHANGE!!  All of the discussions this week 
have sounded like the BMW Mini crowd --  yada yada yada!!  Stay the way 
you guys have been..  as I gain experience with Corvairs, I hope to be 
able to help owners that are even newer than I am.

Jim Houston
Brandon, FL
'65 Monza
'66 Monza (Group Red)