Sunday, March 24, 2013
What 24 Hours of LeMons racers drive IRL
Once again, the street cars are almost as interesting as the race cars.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
2013 Sears Point LeMons race starting grid
Sorry for the crappy video quality from my iPhone 3. Will post photos tomorrow. I also have photos already posted on Twitter and Instagram.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Saabaru 9-2X Linear test drive
If the Viggen is all about the engine, the 9-2X is all about the handling.
I am still looking for a replacement car. I first stopped by a reputable local garage specializing in Lexuses. The two guys I spoke with, both with decades of experience, had never seen, let alone worked on, an SC300 with a manual transmission. The search continues.
This Subaru Impreza-based 9-2X Linear caught my attention online. It's a 2005 model and only has 30,000 miles. It was owned by an elderly man and is being sold by his son.
The exterior was in pretty good shape. I suspect this was parked outside, as there was a minor dent in the front bumper and the front tow hook cover(?) was missing. On the back end, the Saab badge was completely faded and the rear wiper blade was dangling from the metal arm.
The interior looked good. There was no wear and tear. The air bag light, however, was on. Also, the vent swivel was hard to adjust. I guess there's no pleasing a former Phaeton owner.
The 2.5 liter NA engine has 165 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque. I wish it had more. The turbo 2.0 in the Aero package has 227 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5 liter engine's sound was a bit cacophonous. At the low end, it sounded like "D29", the old Dodge Ram Charger I once drove at the police department. At the high end, it sounded like a Cessna single prop.
Again, I drove through the hills of Berkeley (Centennial, Grizzly Peak, Fish Ranch). The shifter was agricultural. But it handled corners like a champ and definitely put a smile on my face as I tossed it around like a rag doll.
On the way up the hill, I was held back by a slow-moving Subaru Tribeca. On the way down, I was nearly clipped by a souped up (I assume) Volvo 240 DL wagon doing its best Initial D impersonation. The driver handled his longroof like a pro and I gave him a thumb's up. On the surface street, I stopped at a light behind another 9-2X. The driver saw me in his rear view mirror and smiled. I waved back like a little giddy schoolgirl.
I am still looking for a replacement car. I first stopped by a reputable local garage specializing in Lexuses. The two guys I spoke with, both with decades of experience, had never seen, let alone worked on, an SC300 with a manual transmission. The search continues.
This Subaru Impreza-based 9-2X Linear caught my attention online. It's a 2005 model and only has 30,000 miles. It was owned by an elderly man and is being sold by his son.
The exterior was in pretty good shape. I suspect this was parked outside, as there was a minor dent in the front bumper and the front tow hook cover(?) was missing. On the back end, the Saab badge was completely faded and the rear wiper blade was dangling from the metal arm.
The interior looked good. There was no wear and tear. The air bag light, however, was on. Also, the vent swivel was hard to adjust. I guess there's no pleasing a former Phaeton owner.
The 2.5 liter NA engine has 165 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque. I wish it had more. The turbo 2.0 in the Aero package has 227 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5 liter engine's sound was a bit cacophonous. At the low end, it sounded like "D29", the old Dodge Ram Charger I once drove at the police department. At the high end, it sounded like a Cessna single prop.
Again, I drove through the hills of Berkeley (Centennial, Grizzly Peak, Fish Ranch). The shifter was agricultural. But it handled corners like a champ and definitely put a smile on my face as I tossed it around like a rag doll.
On the way up the hill, I was held back by a slow-moving Subaru Tribeca. On the way down, I was nearly clipped by a souped up (I assume) Volvo 240 DL wagon doing its best Initial D impersonation. The driver handled his longroof like a pro and I gave him a thumb's up. On the surface street, I stopped at a light behind another 9-2X. The driver saw me in his rear view mirror and smiled. I waved back like a little giddy schoolgirl.
I'm going to my first 24 Hours of Lemons race tomorrow!
Can't wait.
Plus, I just scored a ticket to tomorrow night's Cal-Syracuse game. Go Bears!
Porsche 959 v. 997 Turbo S
Good news! I get to drive a supercar and I get a drifting ride-along. One of the possible cars I'll get to drive is the 997 Turbo S.
This is a great Dutch video. Click on "cc" for English subtitles.
This is a great Dutch video. Click on "cc" for English subtitles.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Today, I visited the Port Chicago Memorial. I will do a more in-depth post on Crasstalk. In the meantime, here are the photos I took. Because the memorial is on a navy and an army base, we were not allowed to take a lot of photos.
The Cliffs Notes version of the memorial goes like this-- Hundreds of African-American seamen were loading munitions during World War II when everything blew up. The explosion was so big, atomic scientists actually came up from New Mexico to inspect the scene because it was comparable to a small atomic explosion.
The men were on the pier, loading explosives onto a 440-foot Liberty ship and an adjacent 440-foot Victory ship.
One ship was completely vaporized. The other ship was torn apart and thrown over 500 yards away. Here is a piece of the second ship.
We were a group of 11. Many were WWII veterans. One old-timer told me he used to work with these. I asked what their range was. He said 27 miles!
The train loading system was complex and awesome, but we were not allowed to take any photos, other than from this location at this angle. Artificial hills were built on either side of the tracks to minimize damage in case of an explosion/accident or an aerial attack.
Those copper rods are to minimize static electricity.
The Cliffs Notes version of the memorial goes like this-- Hundreds of African-American seamen were loading munitions during World War II when everything blew up. The explosion was so big, atomic scientists actually came up from New Mexico to inspect the scene because it was comparable to a small atomic explosion.
The men were on the pier, loading explosives onto a 440-foot Liberty ship and an adjacent 440-foot Victory ship.
One ship was completely vaporized. The other ship was torn apart and thrown over 500 yards away. Here is a piece of the second ship.
We were a group of 11. Many were WWII veterans. One old-timer told me he used to work with these. I asked what their range was. He said 27 miles!
The train loading system was complex and awesome, but we were not allowed to take any photos, other than from this location at this angle. Artificial hills were built on either side of the tracks to minimize damage in case of an explosion/accident or an aerial attack.
Those copper rods are to minimize static electricity.
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