background : Jim Lockwood has built a "lightweight" as it is termed. It is a specialized reproduction of a Corvette Grand Sport, commonly refered to as a "Snake Eater" because of it's ability to compete and dominate the old Shelby Cobra's. These vehicles, in order to accomplish this goal, were stripped of most amenities we like in street drivable machines. Most people realize that specialized racing cars didn't have these things, but every once in a while, you find someone who doesn't take the time to think...


A neighbor of ours has a 17 year old boy who has recently discovered drag racing. He pumps all his spare change into an older Z car (280Z, 300ZX, I don't know....) to make it go real fast in the quarter mile. He's a bright boy, but he's definitely still on the steep part of the learning curve, and he also is definitely a product of this day and time.

Last evening he came over to borrow a tool. He'd never seen the Lightweight, so of course I had to give him the tour of the vehicle. (The Lightweight, as many know, is purpose built for road racing and as such it doesn't have a whole lot on it that is superfluous and it's mostly built with "old school" hardware (points type distributor, bias ply tires, etc..).)

He looked in, he looked around, and then, after we raised the hood, he carefully studied the engine compartment.

After a few moments, he looked up and with a very surprised look on his face, said to no one in particular, "It doesn't have an air conditioner......."