Reciprocity Failure Racing

11/04/2024

The vanagon needs a cat door

09/20/2024

Very nice chart at the end.
I've iced SU's at 70 degrees and our friend Wendy got to experience that in spearfish this past mini meet.
SU's are actually quite perfect ice incubators by design
:-p
The ADO16's has little heater bands around the dash pots and a heater embedded in the carb to manifold spacer. Yep. Somebody at BLMC figured it out in 1970, you betcha

In his well-written and detailed accounting of the accident to the NTSB, it’s clear the pilot was still completely stumped about what caused his engine issues. Carb ice simply doesn’t enter his mind as a possibility.

09/15/2024

Somebody needs to goad him into ranting about forcing kids to eat plant-based vegetables

08/31/2024

Ask the goog what's the jet engine test at McClellan today and you get sh*te for an answer.
Ask ChatGPT and you get that CFM is testing open fan engines and that if you live in the area "you might notice it"
Umm... HAH.
I kinda wish they'd waited 'til after 9am.

nib, the goog can't even find that CFM operates at McClellan...

Today at McClellan Air Park, advanced jet engine tests are being conducted as part of several ongoing aerospace research and development programs. One of the notable tests involves the CFM RISE program, which is exploring new engine technologies aimed at reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency. The program includes testing of an Open Fan engine architecture, which is designed to meet stringent environmental standards and can operate on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Additionally, GE Aerospace is testing next-generation components like high-pressure turbines as part of efforts to develop more efficient and durable jet engines ​(CFM Aero Engines,
Sacramento McClellan Airport).

If you're near the airfield, you might notice these tests as they involve significant engine noise and possibly some visual observations of the aircraft involved in the testing.

08/31/2024

Hmm - California Cooper CLub Flashmob fail
Aug 31, "Fast Fridays"...
Is...
Umm.
Saturday?
Yup.
Practice was fun to watch.
See you Friday - the 31st, part two

07/29/2024

Meh - yesterday was an up-down day.
Due to our friend's mini shop getting a 90-day quitrent notice I'm having to absorb the shop items and stock I had accumulated over the years doing side-work there. My garage is packed up to the point of bursting and the ShelterLogic fabric garage has past its lifespan over a year ago...
So we went to TuffShed (Sacramento office) to spend a bit.
Very helpful salesman Chuck, getting a 12x16 with enough bells and whistles to outlast five fabric shelters. Signed contract.
~ now need to rent some equipment to level its planned resting place. Sigh.
Off to said mini shop to finish the Spearfish Rescue of our friends' wheelchair trailer (car saga, they ended up renting one-way from Spearfish, we-all took on getting their failed mini and trailer home - had to disassemble the trailer)
Amazing street find: new shelving for the new shed! and the guy putting them out for free was happy to take $50 he wasn't expecting. Probably $00+ worth of shelving. Yay team!
Then the trailer assembly took about 4x the time it was projected to. Hot and sweaty. Probably only missing a few bolts. But it's done. Now only one more Spearfish Rescue to accomplish, and that's scheduled for at-home in December. Woof and phew.
And then swing and a miss. Whiff bigtime. The Vanagon Strikes Again. Or more accurately crap workmanship from Aftermarket Vendors. Popped yet another CV joint 1 mile from home. One. Mile. AAA to the rescue. Sigh. I had spent the morning "fixing" the design error in the also-crap aftermarket replacement parts of the fuel pump/filter system (new my-design seems to have worked, at least for the 50 mile test)
~ off to NAPA for "lifetime" CV/Axle - the ones I bought last time (and the time before) only had a one-year warranty. About twice the price, but as they seem to fail annually... yeah, that. FWIW there really isn't "OEM" anymore - the ones you get for 4x price could be the same ones you get from the LPS, just in a different box.
~At least I don't have a one-year-model Sprinter
Oh, and wait - "we" were going to use Vanagon for an overnight this eve for a remote job contract tomorrow.
- "We" being Amanda and I - so to finish the Long day, she got a work call and may have to work. We'd already booked a hotel (drive the car, not the campmobile) - and now, not so needed as I could have just woken up early and went straight to the job (It's in Monterey and she was supposed to have had the day off). We'll know more by noon - but solo and work = not as nice as companion for the trip and quality afternoon.
Meh. Up and Down.
Seems like "just another day"

Anyone want to come help level a 16x20 pad?

07/16/2024

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/clint-eastwood-s-rare-ride-a-mini-cooper-that-only-six-were-ever-made/ar-BB1q2xgT?ocid=socialshare&cvid=41a5fd3e24174b15a9805785f339bccd&ei=18

Clint Eastwood is known for his powerful roles and even more powerful cars. But before he was Dirty Harry, he had a surprisingly soft spot for a little British car: the Mini Cooper Station Wagon. Keep scrolling to see more details about this machine.

07/10/2024

Mini Meet East-meets-West gains a new car class

07/08/2024

Dunno, 0800 wake-up 2200 after a meal at Taco John's, pretty much the only game in town open this late.
Oh, yeah, we made it from wherever we were last night to Thermopolis today

06/09/2024

ICE hobbyists:
I have need to be cleaning out the I have no need project list: No pictures - but the rest of the list AFIK (might be already done, might have more-yet)

Seriously - make an offer... you never know?
On the stuff that *actually* has value - consider that I know it has value. - don't be a dick.

FZ600 with take-off for use in some sort of circle track car?
Not much known. No carbs, no exhaust.

Honda GX340, unless it's a GX240 or 270... Runs. last I recall needed a timesert/heilicoil on one of the two exhaust studs.

Myriad of chainsaws. Like vintage Montgomery Ward, small husky, etc.

Pile of weedwacker engines - I've run some of them... fuel tanks likely cracked or something-like, but they're not junk (and not complete weed-wackers, no heads)

Rotax 787RFI engine out of a crashed SeaDo (whichever one had the white and purple engine stuffs) - no pump. Tanks and all electrics and misc parts...

Not ICE... 72V Conversion motor and controller for direct-bolt-up to VW transaxle.

Also not ICE, but needs a new home:
Fuselage frame kayak - one stringer broken, has cross piece for either long-ass crew-shell oar practice or barge boards and sail. NO covering. I have a friend who does boat-wrap if you wanted to refinish/varnish the wood and do a shrink-wrap poly cover.
Multitude of orpan beach-type Catamarans. NONE lake-ready. Alpha 15', NACRA 5.2, SOL18 DART18 and some various parts. I won't let go of the Alpha 18, not yet...

06/09/2024

ICE hobbyists:
I have need to be cleaning out the I have no need project list:

Lifan 90cc? Might be the 110.
in any case it's a Honda 90-clone
Another school project... new valves, fuel pump and carb. and stuff.

Never ran more then pop-a-poppa for class demo.

$300