I have always had a fascination for powered vehicles, from my first off-road motorcycle when I was six to the LTW. My interest in the last ten years veered towards limited production sports cars, and five years ago I faced the arduous task of deciding what car I really wanted. The long list was pared down to a few cars, and a LTW became the top choice. From this decision, the next hurdle would be finding one.

Turning to the Internet, I searched for everything I could find about the cars, as well as LTWs offered for sale. During the search, I found someone working on a registry of the LTWs, and in exchange for helping to track the cars down, he sent me a copy of his registry. Daily I searched many on-line classified ads resources, slowly filling in the registry, discerning what would be a good price to pay, and keeping tabs on many of the cars. Being used to finding cars for sale in such close-to-home places as Texas, I just about fell over when I saw the ad for Miki's LTW when it appeared in the Seattle Times. I immediately called Park Place and made arrangements to test drive the car. Arriving at the lot, I was thrilled! It was the first LTW I had seen in person, and I was very eager to take it home. The limited test drive reinforced the decision that I wanted a LTW, and I wanted it bad!

Unfortunately, my wife and I were building a house at that time, and the LTW fund had been poured into the house fund. I would have to wait two more years for my LTW. After the house was done, the search resumed, but cars were always on the East Coast or too expensive. An original owner had been trying to sell his LTW in Los Angeles, but had been asking a high price. A few months later I feverishly opened the latest Roundel. There was his car with a very appealing price and the ad didn't state the car was a LTW. I knew I had the jump on most anyone looking for a LTW, so I wasted no time calling and arranging to fly down and look at the car.

The next few weeks were difficult, as I waited to view my prize. Once in LA, the owner picked me up at the airport and took me to his home. In the alley behind his house was the LTW. I tried to remain unemotional in the hopes of improving by bargaining position, but it was not easy. Opening the car, it still smelled new, and I knew I would be driving home. Over the next few hours, we test drove the car, haggled a little on the price, took care of the paperwork, found all the GT parts in his basement, and carefully packed them in the car for the trip home.

About this time, I realized I was heading north out of LA at about 4 PM. Sitting in traffic for the next two hours was not what I had in mind when I started searching for a LTW, but it gave me time to call my wife and give her the "good" news. She was not happy. There were (are) at least 1000 things she would rather spend the money on than a LTW, but for some reason, she didn't make me sleep on the couch when I got home. Once I cleared traffic, I pulled in to my driveway 18 hours later.

The two most notable events with the car have been the first driving school at SIR and a road trip so see a friend in Montana. During the first driver's school, I asked Miki to ride with me and make recommendations. Things were going fine, she had pointed out a wider line going into 5A that was working really well. Then I went in to turn 8, and gave it way too much gas while trying to hold too tight a line. Very quickly, I was looking at turn 7, then 8, and Miki suggested I put both feet in. We came to a stop off the track, pointing at the paddock, three-quarters of the way towards the grandstands from the turn 8 apex. I was very relieved to realize I had only injured my pride.

A friend from High School had moved around the country, working at different companies, and recently ended up in Montana. Wide open roads seemed a perfect place to take the LTW, so two other friends and I decided a Road Trip was in order. The plan was to drive out Thursday, and head back Sunday. Leaving early Thursday morning, we were pleasantly surprised to find good weather and very few slowdowns.

Once into Issaquah on 90, the road opened up, and to our surprise, we came upon two Black NSXs, plodding along in the slow lane at 60. This seemed like a good place to kick off the trip, so we passed them doing about 100. Realizing we were still in prime ticket territory, the velocity was dialed down a notch or two until we were well clear of civilization. From there, road and traffic conditions were the only constraints, and I-90 on a Thursday morning is a great place to make time. Six hours after leaving Northgate, we were in Missoula. Montana Highway 200 is a very enjoyable two lane, with plenty of corners and elevation change, but it runs through considerable rural and wildlife areas, so it is best to not get too excited. I-15 going south from Great Falls runs along a river, and is also great fun. Thankfully, the trip was free from debates with law enforcement.