I cant help noticing that Johan is conspicuous by his absence.Havent heard anything from him for a while. Is he still here?

Hi Greg

Johan's been on a month long holiday ; no work, no computer, no e-mails and no forum. Pure heaven. It is now 08H20, I'm back at work and there are 137 unanswered e-mails all asking the same question : "Are you still alive? Well, I'm at work - close enough.

Any news?

Kind Regards
Johan Buchner

Welcome back Johan!

Not too much news in Bugatti land. Got some nice things which I will publish later. Feel free to drop me an Email.

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hurray, salt and pepper is back. Johan, spice it up, it is too long too dull.

horseshoe

I agree with the previous speakers.

This forum has been quite dull lately.

However, I disagree with Herman; a lot continues to happen in the Bugatti world. Especially one member has been posting interesting items on the post - war Bugattis.

And, for the librarian (as in the movie?) you are: still more books are published and/or announced.

But of course, we're patient. You'll have to read all your e-mails first, and then write the next articles for magazines like Bugantics or Pur Sang, after that: the Forum!

"My name is Johan Buchner, not only am I a Bugantics contributor and a porn-deleter on Bugattibuilder.com, but Norbert Steinhauser personally signed my copy of his book ; my public needs my encyclopaedic knowledge on this sacred marque, I cannot and will not stay in this bloody hospital until Saturday", I said to my doctor. "I love Bugattis", explained my teenage health professional (okay he's not a teenager, but still way too young to be a doctor I believe), "the Veyron is awesome! And yes, you will stay in this hospital bed until I know exactly why you have been puking for two days." I nearly wept.

At least the little bastard had the decency to be really handsome. Three days in hospital for an upset tummy - kids of today hey? Anyway, so now I am back where I belong, in front of my keyboard, cigarette in one hand, a cuppa tea in the other and catching up on the discussions on this here Forum. (Note to Mr. Barton : Your collection rocks Dude!) I actually forgot how much fun reading can be, and it is less work than writing.

But no, the real reason for this post (apart from reassuring all you dear people that I am now recovered, God and my medical aid willing.) is the Villa d'Este Concours : True, some nice cars were featured, especially the white 410 Berlinetta, but celebrating Bugatti's centenary by exhibiting 4 Veyrons? I remain underwhelmed, and I hear from both Martijn and Jeroen that attending this year's Molsheim Festival might be a little pricey. Pebble Beach might spring a surprise or two, and I have no idea how the B.O.C. and the Trust plan to celebrate the centenary, but seeing that this Forum has taken the lead in making Bugatti history accessible to everyone, regardless of where on this planet they might live, why not create an internet-specific mechanism to record and celebrate the early years of Bugatti? I am not exactly sure how it should be done, but the T10 was finished June/July 1909, the dye-works at Molsheim was first inspected in September(?) '09 and the company was formalised 01/01/1910. The date of completion of the first 3 T13s alone could make for some interesting debate, and as for 2009 being selected instead of 2010? Go on admit it, you want to have your say on that one don't you?

So, let us have your suggestions on the exact format, debate them, make a decision and then we sit back and let Herman do all the work. Perfect.

Kind Regards
Johan Buchner

PS. Jeroen I'll take the Boddy book on Black Bess, thanks. Payment end May okay with you?

Glad to see you back, Johan. Being in hospital is not that great.

About your idea: Great idea.

I already have been thinking about a new format to record Bugatti related data, so I will propose it here:

How about a timeline, with as much exact data as possible. sort of "CSI" of the Bugatti era. This could easily be done on the Bugattibuilder.com WIKI (which, in the next week or so will be publicly viewable again, like in the past)

I will make a start or basic framework today, and other people can jump in and fill the dates.

How about that?

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See the first entry:

http://www.bugattibuilder.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bugatti_1939

And the entry page: (after the year the most gripping event of that year)

http://www.bugattibuilder.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bugatti_timeline

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Herman this will work and it will work well. Perhaps even expand the time-line into a 1909 calender? Many mysteries remain though - for instance, the first T13 was quite different from the T10 yet even after the introduction of the T13 developmentment of the T10 continued, Norbert Steinhauser points out that the T10 today is a much changed version of the car that was unveiled in 1909.

Something else I feel can do with some detailed analyses is the beginning of Bugatti - I am sure Ettore dreamed of having his own factory pretty early in his life, but I get the impression that the actual spur for setting up shop at Molsheim had as much to do with Ettore having run out of options as his personal ambitions.

Today is the 10th of May 2009 - what was the exact state of play on the 10th of May 1909? I have a feeling we are about to have a very interesting time on this Forum. Damn it's good to be back!

Regards
Johan.

I do not recall giving you permission to get ill ! Have you found a way to get over for the celebrations yet? I missed you because nobody else has replied to my T251 posts so I have stopped sharing!

Hi Lazarus!

I humbly apologise for falling ill - now you can start sharing again. Getting over there is not going to happen this year, but I am beginning to toy with the idea of coming over early(ish) next year so that I can attend the Retromobile show. From what I can gather I might enjoy this Paris event even more than the Molsheim Festival. Long time still before a decision has to be made though.

I can't wait for your T73 and T251 to see some track action - who knows, it might inspire the Schlumpf to properly restore one of theirs. It will be interesting - they have the remaining cars, you have everything else, including knowledge and insight.

One last thing, please contact Lord March. A Bugatti mixing it with D50s and 250Fs at the Goodwood Revival will push all my happy buttons.

Cheers
Johan

PS. A very famous Dutch T43 is now in the possesion of a fellow contributor, but we have heard nothing further. Will the owner kindly take a Wrench to the Bug, please.

This Type 43 would have been ready for the Dutch Rally, but it had a mechanical mishap.

Probably a small bug in the wrench.

It seems that our fellow contributor will be absent from the forum for a bit more time....

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And, of course the centenary should have been celebrated in 2010, Bugatti and Friederich went to see the old dye-works in Hardt-Muehle Christmas 1909. Friederich stayed to clean-up and paint the walls, Ettore went back to his family. The first equipment was delivered only i n 1910, the contract was also signed in 1910.

But well, the new millenium was also celebrated a year only, so at that time 5 billion people were fooled!

And, we can have an all-new celebration in 2010!

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Well better a year too early, then nothing at all.

I once was member of a club that forgot to celebrate its 25th anniversary...

About the timeline:

Of course everything has to be split into seperate dates. I added only one: 11th of August 1939.

The timeline can begin as early as the birth of Carlo, an should never end.

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