2021: What are you doing today

[phat46]

I went to the local Shootout race yesterday. We have been in Severe drought for the last few weeks, so of course it rained. We stuck out a three hour delay and saw some great racing. I was amazed that there are so many fast local cars. The track was kind of sketchy as far as traction goes, especially after the rain. One guy brought out his brand new Pro Mod and got into the wall on its first pass made in anger. They taped it back together and he went all the way to the finals, but the car launched really bad and he lost. I got a great spot to set up my EZ Up canopy, about ten feet from the burnout box, I was sure glad we had it during the rain, we had ten people under it at one point! 😄 It was a good day I was there about 11 hours in all. Everyone involved is ready to do another one!

[chimp koose]

Had the roadster chassis inspected today . Last cert ran out in 2009 . Needed a re-cert for crash repair anyhow . I have to put in a few extra bars due to rule changes that should keep me busy over the summer holidays . Only have 3 years into this quick flip so far   No wonder my T is still not done . :oops:

[WZ JUNK]

Latest project in the shop.  A Speedway Motors steel 32 manufactured in South Africa. This one is 16 years old and has never been licensed.

[58 Yeoman]

In the early 90's after I painted my '58, I was installing the original windshiled, and it cracked. At the time, there was a business selling new w/s's a little SW of Chicago. I went up there and asked if they had any for my car. He asked if I wanted clear or tinted. What?!  I took a clear; it was made in South Africa and fit very well.

[kb426]

I spent the last 3 days in Pueblo. I'll post some pics later. It rained on us several times but was a good weekend. 2037 cars. Not the record but close.

[kb426]

There were a few cars from the Rocky Mountain Drag week that were at Pueblo. The Buick ran 8.30 at 164 at Great Bend. I believe it's 1800' elevation. The 67 Galaxie I had not read about or seen before. I don't know the story but it was impressive and expensive.

[WZ JUNK]

I watched the Buick run on YouTube during the event.  It was impressive.  The Jeep from Rocky Mountain Race Week is equally impressive.

[idrivejunk]

See any good F-trucks, Bill?

I replaced both A/C port valves on my GT today, for another attempt at evac and recharge. That kind of excites me but the engine temp on that car isn't as stable as it should be so even if I have no other A/C issues thats just the tip of the iceberg.

Even for NW AR, this has been an alarmingly vicious traffic week. Yesterday, someone with the timing to connect ran a cross street stop sign going about the speed limit. Outgunned them with brake stab. Today, same thing different spot but without connection timing. That one was closer to double the limit. Then right after, saw another pickup with trailer pull out across r i g h t in front of the vehicle in front of me. Then another sailed over RR tracks and ran the stop sign close to double the limit but I was a ways off.

Then, not 200 yards out of the shop and within 30 seconds of starting the blown Pontiac, some Mustang going triple the limit is downshifting and revving like a madman three feet off my back bumper. I nail it and shut down for the stop sign then full blast again so there can be distance between us please. No dice. In a 30, 70 wasn't enough to shake it. 90 did, then I took the first side road and turned around. Then here I am on you now, jagoff. Why won't you go 90 anymore, huh? Huh? *. I stabbed brakes and continue peacefully, shaking like a leaf. Then across town the second car in front of me just plowed into the next car when the light turned green. Then a Jeep with annoying DRLs bird dogged my back bumper most of the way home. Yesterday was 35 mph in a 45 zone dump trucks all the way. Joggers in the bike lane with elbow two feet from 50MPH traffic with a sidewalk right there. Cottontops who won't pass bicyclists, bicyclists who refuse to pull off and pause for a dozen cars or stop at a loaded intersection. Etc.

Whew. Good time to keep Grape hid. Interstate is out of the question in any of my junks, I'll get killed. If theres any doubt about the blood lust of local drivers, listen to this: At a gas station I'd sometimes used on lunches past, police spotted a vehicle connected to some property crime and were talking to the pink haired driver chick of 22 years of age and thuggy male passenger of 18. She then ran over an officer, killing him. Sunday. He is survived by only his parents and had been serving for a few years. RIP.

Sorry so gritty but its real, and this is what I associate with the use of vehicles. It seems quite different from what the car show-ers experience and given my experiences of the last decade, I just worry that I'll bite it. I've driven like 150K miles in that time and environment... just to go to work.

Fumbling for a positive note to end on, a New Jersey web buddy from the GP forum ran an 11.7 @ 118 with his cammed newish Camaro on first try with 2nd stage of nitrous over last weekend. Too rich for my blood but man, thats something!

[idrivejunk]

Then today, nothing. Traffic was like 5 AM on a Sunday. Took the GT to the shop and nothing. I saw a low side hose connected to it when I went to lower the hood because it was raining. End of day, hood shut and no report and no A/C. So just nothing, no help and no explanation. Did today even happen? :?:  Oh well. Carry on.

[idrivejunk]

OK, alright I can simmer down now and quit Bogarting the forum but I must correct my previous "friend's Camaro ran 11.7@118" statement. I mentioned spray but its just huffed and when he said "2step" he meant launch control. So yeah, blower cam tune headers 2 step on DRs. Asked if satisfied with performance, meth and gears were in the reply. Reckon he got number fever. Can't go WOT until 3rd and that defies my logic for the street.

Today the weather is gorgeous. Very rare car washing opportunity with clouds and clear days ahead. I am going to wash up a Pontiac or maybe two as therapy. The Loud One has green stuff growing under the headlights on the north side, black spots on parts that face the sky, and months of outdoor storage funk buildup in the cavernous engine bay. The public comment numbers have slumped for her but she is at the point of gluing bondo chunks back on when a new one comes loose.

Hope all you fellow Americans find some automotive holiday weekend fun to have.

[idrivejunk]

Thread slayer strikes again. Speak up if somewhere up there ^^^ I've elbowed anyone. I wanted to wish everybody a firecracker good track, show, or whatever weekend since tomorrow is Independence Day here in the United States and I am thrilled about the work break. Caught myself and backspaced the word everyone and in haste said my fellow Americans. Not because I don't wish the others well too, just those folks don't have that holiday.

Today I found that the last local place I knew stocking Pontiac oil filters stopped. The toasted side of me says thats a good cue to rip out guts and hop on the downhill sled at sanity mountain by exiting V8 body on frame luxury for life. The frosted side of me says there may be an extra filter adapter here that could be reworked to accept a suitable and stocked this century part number. Seems like whipping a dead horse without a machine shop at my disposal, for a start. I'll go another round of trying to find a commute vehicle I'm willing to unwillingly entertain thoughts of, but I know better. It would have to be a build. I'd have to own a shop. Theres no more interesting engines and transmissions than there are car models and just ain't interested in driving by wire. Or bluetooth or whatever.

So much for being brief so as not to dam up the ebb / flow. Scrubbed mold and mildew off the 69 yesterday. It was too soon after the sanding workout but I wanted to, bad. Stuck a couple pix on blog of it. Anything worthy of today thread mention can just go unmentioned until somebody else comes along. Hoping for no obits or arrest reports.

[58 Yeoman]

What is the number on the oil filter that you need?

[idrivejunk]

Delco PF24. Theres a slightly longer version, maybe the #61 but won't work with headers. Just me being silly again. It is 2021 after all. When I get hungry enough I'll hunt up something.

[idrivejunk]

Butler uses Wix 51258 and those look to be stocked. Crossing over the number must have been more than the counterperson could handle yesterday. Hopefully it will fit and clear.

Stand down the alarmist alert. :oops:

[idrivejunk]

Wheres my dumbfounded dipstick sign? Changed oil and filter yesterday, went fine. The new mystery is why do I have to pay double for an oil filter. Already paying double plus for pourables because of break in lube.

Link below is pic of filters. Dadburn their hides.