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Re: First drive!

Great post David - sounds like you have had a lovely day!

Re: First drive!

On cars such as the Seven, where need to use every rev but do not wish to overdo things, It is useful to decide an acceptable sustained top speed, and from the gear ratios determine the equivalent in the gears. In their heyday in the hands of most mature owners, few Sevens would exceed or even regularly attain 45 mph. The 3 speed cars are higher geared than later, so 50 mph equivalent is still quite conservative; 28 and 16 mph.

Diminished hearing can be helpful; on long trips my car was good for an extra 500rpm with earplugs. But it is important not to apply more advance than necessary.

Location: Auckland, NZ

Re: First drive!

An exciting moment

Location: Centre of the Universe

Re: First drive!

David, my RM is a little younger than your RK, but mechanically I think it's identical. I assume from your description that you have ball-change gear-lever; yes, it's a bit sloppy, but you soon get used to putting it in the right place!

Like you, I find 40-45mph is a comfortable maximum running speed, although if you hang on 50mph should be attainable on the level without too strong a tail wind! Under normal circumstances I will change up at around 15mph and 30mph, but on an incline I am prepared to rev it up to 35mph to get enough speed to engage top at 30mph. (My speedo is so inaccurate that I use a gps speedo, so these are pretty accurate speeds I'm quoting).