An Interesting - if Scary - Proposition

The Eastern Shore Cruisers organize a "Second Saturday" cruise-in the Eastern Shore Center in Spanish Fort and it is just a hop away from my house. Being that close and with me interested in nearly anything automotive, I usually attend. This weekend's event was rather well attended with about 70-80 cars on display along with a lot of folks walking through the roped off area. I met up with Richard Cunningham who drove his Jaguar XJS and Michael King who brought his MG Midget. Since my MGB is ailing a bit, I brought the Mini.

Our corner of the lot was dominated mostly by imports with a large contingent of Porsches in attendance. A couple of 944s and an aircooled 911 shared our space. Later in the evening another 911 drove in but this one had a distinct rumble and a rat rod look. I didn't think too much about it and spent my time conversing with Michael and Richard and checking out a Jaguar V-12 powered T-Bucket rat rod that was running straight pipes. Yowser.

Later, a friendly gentleman engaged me in a deep conversation about the Mini. He asked all sorts of questions - the usual run of the mill type - and then asked if I would be interested in swapping it for a Porsche 911. He pointed to the rumbly black one and said it had an engine swap. A Ford 351 V8 swap. Although I had no intention of a trade I had to go check it out. Sure enough, one of Windsor, Ontario's cast iron V8s was hanging off the rear end of the 911

It didn't take too much imagination to see me hurtling into the roadside greenery stern first. I could almost hear Obi Wan Kenobi whispering in my ear, "The oversteer is strong with this one."

Needless to say, I drove the Mini home.