Green Laker

Musical Interlude

2012-01-25T18:15:00.000-08:00

Too much car/Miata talk as of late. Check out this new Wilco video instead of me blabbering on about a twenty one year-old roadster.

Decision Time

2012-01-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

Not wanting to hold on to two Miatas of the samevintage, one was going to have to go.

(pic taken after I had already swapped the wheels, see below)

The trouble was, having limited discretionaryfunds, I couldn’t afford to get the silver car registered and road-worthy inorder to properly evaluate it against the known entity of the red car. Plus, anoverly-aggressive underhood cleaning by yours truly kicked the crap out of the silvercar’s ignitor/coil module. One of the spark plug “outlets” ended up cracked andcharred - possibly from moisture entering.

I don’t really know if I actually caused all of the damage or just exacerbated what may have already had one foot in the grave. But I do know that after theengine was considerably cleaner, it ran considerably worse and would not revover about 1,500 RPM without the number three cylinder misfiring. At least thatpart is one of the known weak spots of this marque, with an average lifespan of60-80k miles. With nearly 102k on the clock, the part was likely on its last legsanyway. The silver car felt good during the brief test drive and pre-cleaning,short drive around Carlsbad, but not enough seat time was spent to have realconfidence that it was going to be a reliable car.

So, which car would be sold? Do a quick flip of thesilver car or the slightly more-involved and risky selling of the red car?

First the evaluation.

Body

One of the reasons the silver car wasaggressively priced was due to the minimal damage to the rear quarter panel.The paint wasn’t quite as shiny as that on the red car, but it came back tolife after a clay bar treatment, a couple of polishings and two coats of wax. However, the paint was missing completely on the tops of the rear view mirror surrounds:

Afew deep door dings sullied the body in a few places, the worst of which was onthe hood. As previously mentioned, thetop is in excellent condition and has an upgraded glass rear window. The caralso sports the world’s ugliest aftermarket replacement antenna in place of theOEM power antenna.

Lots of spider webs and egg sacs were stuck to the undercarriage.

Interior

Aside from it smelling somewhat of bad carwashfragrance and having a thick coat of Armor All adding too much sheen to theabundant plastic and vinyl surfaces, not much was needed here. The frontspeakers were shredded paper OEM units and the most of the light bulbs in theradio were burned out. The owner’s manual, passenger-side floor mat and lighterwere all absent.

Drivetrain

Since the car had been parked for more than ayear before my acquisition, an oil change was high on the list of tasks –whether or not I decided to keep this car. The oil itself still looked good andlight, but the filter was dated FEB 09. And I do know from this door jamb decal that the oil was changed once about twenty or so years ago.

and the shop even over-inflated the tires by 9 PSI.

The almost two year-old oil would haveto go. The ignitor/coil, referenced above, would also have to be replaced,along with the spark plug wires. Running the old license plate through the CA smog test history website showed that the car has consistently passed the inspection. Therewas an oil leak coming from the crank sensor location which dripped oil on theback side of the engine and on to the transmission. No big deal, a cheap andeasy fix. It’s been too cool out to check the function of the A/C, but even ifit was in need of a recharge and leak fix, the cost to repair is minimal. Thered car didn’t even have A/C anyway.

Suspension, Brakes and Tires

The shocks on the red car were about 90% gonewith very little damping left, but the original shocks on the silver car feltabout 75% gone. Not great, but not in as much of an urgent need of replacement.Plus there are no virtually-impossible-to-chase-down squeaks on the silver car.The brake pads still had a generous amount of life left in them, and the rotorswere thick and straight. The BF Goodrich tires on the OEM “Daisy” seven spoke wheelswere down to the wear bars and showed significant cracking.

So, on the surface a lot of stuff checked outwell for keeping the silver car and selling the red one. The higher-level ofoptional equipment, such as the A/C...

...cruise control...

...power windows...

...and leather-wrapped steering wheel...

...along with the fresh soft top and preferred silver color outweighed therelatively small list of things to attend to. Plus, keeping the silver onewould give me more, much-needed Saturday afternoon wrench-turning projects.

The decision was made – the red car had togo. Some time was spent moving many ofthe mods I had made on the red car over to the silver one. Wheels...

...headlightsand headlight surrounds and radio head units were swapped:

The aftermarket sillplates...

...owner’s manual, passenger-side floor mat and lighter were all swipedfrom the red car, as was the battery disconnect.

A little clean up of the red car and some new pix and descriptionwere posted to Craigslist.

More to come...

Miata Mania - The Sickness Spreads

2012-01-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

To paraphrase Lay's potato chips and their "betcha can't eat just one" tagline, it seems that my Miata addiction is not unlike an addiction to junk food - I can't *have* just one. Like a potato chip, Miatas are cheap, plentiful and far-too-easy to buy. Especially when one is grossly-underpriced.

I've been hitting Craigslist for the past few months, looking for odds-and-ends to pick up for my car. Things like wheels, trim bits, hard tops and complete, wrecked cars have piqued my interest and been chased down from time-to-time. Searching both the auto parts classifieds and the cars for sale by owner (with a max price of $2k) have netted some interesting finds. Including this silver '91:

I wasn't at all in the market for another complete and straight Miata, but the listing was too appealing - and the ad had only been posted about an hour prior to me seeing it. Thankfully the car was close to work, so I borrowed the shop truck and drove over to take a look. What I saw I liked; for the most part at least.

This woman approached me during my test drive and asked if I was selling it -

turns out she owns a yellow Miata.

Yes it's another '91, but the car has far more options than the elemental and pure red base model car I already had. Factory-equipped with air conditioning and anti-lock brakes. Plus, as a "B" package, this car also featured power steering, power windows, cruise control, alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, factory headrest speakers and a power antenna (no longer present on this car). Every option except the desirable limited-slip rear differential. None of these options matter much to me. Living in coastal northern San Diego County, I have little use for these comfort and convenience options and prefer the feedback provided by the manual steering in the red car. But all are good to have for future resale, should the time come.

Not only was this a relatively-loaded specimen, but it was also a clean, low-mileage (102k) car that was being sold by the original enthusiast owner. She loved the car, but got spooked after getting grazed by a lifted pickup truck on a local freeway exit ramp in late 2010.

After the incident, she drove home and parked the garage. That would be the last time she drove the car. She now drives a boring Nissan Murano. Not realizing the true market value, she priced the car closer to the blue-book value and hoped for the best.

A brief test drive made my decision to purchase easy. It had fewer squeaks than the red car, a less-faded interior and the top was newer and had been replaced with a unit with a glass rear window. A tonneau cover was also included - all major plusses. However, the tires were cracked and worn down to the wear bears. And the paint, while in a preferred and less-flashy silver, wasn't as nice as on the red car. The oil filter was dated Feb '09, but the oil still looked okay. No matter, it was a major deal at her asking price. So that's what I offered.

I had sold a mountain bike the previous weekend, so I had most of the cash on-hand. A trip to the bank the next morning secured the balance.

Since the registration had expired, and since the seller had a few extra, unused tows from her annual AAA membership, she offered to have the car flat-bedded the five miles to my house, free of charge.

It was home 24 hours after first laying eyes on it. Then I started making plans.

To be continued...

SAAB Story

2012-01-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the massively-cliched headline, but it's all I got.

Sadly the collection of the SAAB museum is headed for auction. I've long been a fan of these quirky Swede machines and have owned three examples so far. Anyone care to loan me several hinkar* of krona to keep the museum going? If so, email me.

*Swedish for buckets (according to Google Translate anyway)

Mexico Day Trip

2012-01-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

Some pix from a quick trip to Tecate, Baja California to wrench on some bikes at the Rancho Nazaret Hogar de Niños oprhanage.

border crossing at Tecate

cemetery

the boy's bikes, ready for some repairs and tuning

with a gadget

I've never seen a tire so evenly and thoroughly worn out

rollin'

ready to rip down a hill

Electra bikes last

Cat

diesel injectors

mangy mutts

mariposa

discarded desks

coop

Jose, future mechanic

lumber store dog

street taco stand

70 min border wait

ads painted on the border fence

tamale wagon

street vendor tries his best to peddle religious tchotchkes (we bought churros instead)

border Maria

Down On The Street

2012-01-08T19:48:00.000-08:00

Or, more fittingly, down on the parking lot of a soon-to-be-demolished onetime Carlsbad resort, being scraped away for a Lowes.

I've been pedaling past the former Olympic Resort in Carlsbad for a few years now. About a year ago my "cardar" spotted an interesting shaped vehicle under cover along the south side of the doomed building. It turns out, that parked amongst the construction vehicles and trailers was a shooting brake of genuine English provenance.

In this case, it's a 1976 Jensen GT. And if the Wikipedia entry is to be believed, this is certainly the rarest car I've spotted in the wild, with only 509 having been built during the car's brief eight month production run.

I've always loved the shooting brake body style. Then again, I am a sucker for wagons and hatchbacks. Notchbacks are such a waste, give me the long-roof version of any car where it's available.

And vintage tires had such cool tread patterns and minimal graphics on tall sidewalls. Too bad these old Pirellis are no longer road-worthy

Check out the registration on these blue plates - this car has been off the road for at least 27 years:

At least it looks complete and pretty straight and complete. Maybe some masochist will take on a restoration of it and its 2 liter Lotus engine.

One more look at that roofline:

Somebody make it run and lash a surfboard to the roof.

Down On The Street

2012-01-04T04:30:00.000-08:00

This fantastic, plastic specimen was found at a Carlsbad detail shop's lot late last week.

I don't know much about Corvettes, but I do like the "C2" Sting Ray body style from the 60s. Especially in coupe form. Still, I wouldn't kick this convertible example out of the garage.

Especially since this one is equipped with a four-speed manual transmission.

Still sporting the original black plates, this car has always been registered in the Golden State.

Too bad ~~most~~ all modern cars have computer-generated badging. Somewhere in the deepest recesses of GM there has to be a hand drawing of this Corvette script.

The tacky gingerbread like this cosmetic fender vent indicates that this car is a '63. By '64, they were gone, as was the iconic split rear window on the coupe.

Kiwi Song Of The Day

2012-01-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

The Slide by Tall Dwarfs, from the Dogma EP (1987)

(official video here - I couldn't get the embed code from this video to work with Blogger)

Tall Dwarfs were Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate. Known for their lo-fi and four-track recordings, they laid the groundwork for much of New Zealand's Flying Nun Records and the bands that recorded for the storied label.

2011 Ride Stats

2012-01-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

WARNING! - excessive gloating ahead, proceed with great caution.

A lot of time was spent pushing the pedals in 2011. 425 hours, 21 minutes and 57 seconds - if I believe the stats from my aging Garmin GPS.

During that time, 17.7 days or 10.62 typical work weeks, 7,715 miles passed beneath the tires of a few different bikes in the fleet (mostly my Moots Vamoots CR road bike). That's like riding from Carlsbad to San Diego then to Halifax, Nova Scotia, back to San Diego and returning to Carlsbad...

...with 185 miles left over. So up to Los Angeles and back as a parade lap.

And over those miles I had an elevation gain of 512,807'. 97.12 miles - or 17.66 Everests. But at least I had the benefit of plenty of oxygen and a near-perfect climate for my climbing.

458,775 calories were burned while on the bike, or converted to a standard that most Americans could relate to - 851 Big Macs®.

Virtually all of the miles were accumulated during my daily commutes to and from work, generally 18.5 miles to work and 12 from work, along with long Saturday and Sunday morning rides. Thanks to my friends Graham and Derek for joining me on many road and mountain bike rides this year.

I'm tired. And hungry. I wonder why...

Favorite Records of 2011

2011-12-31T17:25:00.000-08:00

Overall I have to say that 2011 was a far better-than-average year for music releases. At least for the bands that I am drawn to.

Following up their splendid 2008 debut Fleet Foxes, the band grew both musically and lyrically. A bit deeper and more introspective, but retaining their signature folk rock sound that blends some of the best vocal harmonies last heard emanating from 1960s AM radios with warm, acoustic-based instrumentation. Their sophomore release, Helplessness Blues goes down as my favorite record of 2011.

Standout track: Grown Ocean, the album's closer:

And now the rest, in alphabetical order. As in years past, I am not limiting my choices to an arbitrary number (top 10, top 20, etc.), but rather the records that I enjoyed best and see myself returning to in the future. YouTube links are included for songs that particularly stood out.

Atlas Sound - Parallax

The side project of Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, whose Halcyon Digest was my favorite record of 2010.

Standout track: Te Amo

The Black Keys - El Camino

The supremely-talented Danger Mouse returns to provide the punch to the garagey guitar-and-drums duo.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Justin Vernon follows up his stunning recorded-in-a-cabin debut (my 2008 favorite) with a more fleshed-out (and somewhat overproduced) record.

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

I shouldn't rehash the tired "this is the best R.E.M. record of 2011" quote, but it's true - musically at least. However, Colin Meloy's intricate and über-literate lyrics are generally far better than anything that Michael Stipe came up with.

Standout track: Down By The Water

Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots

Another solid release to add to their southern rock canon. And with triple the songwriters of most bands. All good.

Standout track: Cartoon Gold
(here's an acoustic version - I'm a sucker for the Mike Cooley songs)

The Feelies - Here Before

Amazing that a band could get back together after a twenty year hiatus and put out a record that's as good as their best work (which was first recorded over thirty years ago)

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

One of the best-recorded rock records of recent memory.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Here We Rest

While I still prefer his debut, this one has grown on me after repeated listens (just as the debut did).

Low - C'Mon

Perennial favorites Low can seemingly do no wrong in my book. Another strong slab of brooding Midwestern indie rock.

Standout tracks:
Witches (in-studio at KEXP)

Nightingale (in-studio at KEXP)

J Mascis - Several Shades of Why

The Dinosaur Jr. front man turns down the amps and delivers a warm, inviting and mostly-acoustic set.

Cass McCombs - Wit's End

Quiet and introspective indie singer/songwriter.

Radiohead - The King Of Limbs

Supremely intricate and sometimes delicate headphone music from the band that can do no wrong.

tUnE-yArDs - W H O K I L L

Essentially a lo-fi one-woman band who layers interesting instruments and textures atop African-inspired rhythms.

Standout track (one of many): Bizness

Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

Yet another lo-fi indie singer/songwriter - this stunner feels of dreamy late nights.

The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient

Pitchfork summed it up best: "...it's as if the Spiritualized and Springsteen albums filed alphabetically next to one another in your record collection had melted together on a hot August afternoon." Slave Ambient is also supreme driving music.

Wilco - The Whole Love

Finally, their first solid release since 2004's A Ghost Is Born. And I was thisclose to giving up on the band, which at one time was one of my favorites. If you only listen to two of the tracks from this record, make sure it's the lead-off The Art Of Almost and the closer One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

A superb and exuberant debut from indie rock royalty.

William Elliot Whitmore - Field Songs

Rustic and rough-hewn bleak Americana country folk.

Yuck - Yuck

Picking up the torch from some of the supreme-90s indie bands (Dinosaur Jr, Superchunk, shoegazers).

Best Return - the unexpected single of Common Burn b/w Lay Myself Down from Mazzy Star

(yet another crummy fan-made video that accompanies a great song):

Looking forward to a full album in the near future.

Favorite Reissues:

The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall & Tomorrow The Green Grass

Ride - Nowhere

R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant

Sebadoh - Bakesale

Disappointing Records with some outstanding tracks:

My Morning Jacket - "Circuital" from Circuital

Ryan Adams - "Ashes & Fire" from Ashes & Fire

Especially this acoustic version:

And finally, a couple of late additions. Either late-in-the-year releases or those that were just purchased and that I haven't had much of a chance to fully absorb yet.

The Bats - Free All The Monsters

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

Guided By Voices - Lets Go Eat The Factory

Cass McCombs - Humor Risk

The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy

Whew - now go *buy* music!

Bike Lane Juju - Found Photos

2011-12-29T21:27:00.000-08:00

Daily rides on the roads of Carlsbad and Northern San Diego County have presented me with many different and sometimes odd things in the bike lanes. Shoes, hats and work gloves are most commonly found, but it's the unique things that'll make me come to a screeching halt and whip out my iPhone to snap pix.

Back in September I noticed a couple of photos on southbound Coast Highway, adjacent to the Carlsbad State Beach Campground. Looking up I noticed that there were dozens more spread out along about 100 yards of bike lane and in the dirt.

Of course I had to collect them all, so I unclipped from my pedals and hobbled around in the dirt and placed them safely in my backpack.

A "found" ad was placed on Craigslist with a few photos of the photos, but no one responded. The photos then made their way to work, I unearthed the stash earlier this week when I was doing a little cubicle cleanup. Here are some of my favorites.

It's a pile of somebody's memories, casually disposed of or lost on the roads of Carlsbad. I'd love to return them to the owner if they could be found. Until then, the pile will likely sit on the lower shelf of the computer desk until I tire of them and send them on their way.

Smug Parking Only

2011-12-27T18:30:00.000-08:00

The local Whole ~~Paycheck~~ Foods has a section marked as "Fuel Efficient Vehicles Only". I am under the impression that they are referring to hybrids, diesels and electric cars. Of course the painted markings don't keep my ≈26MPG Miata out.

After all, it's far-more green to properly maintain and keep a twenty year-old car running than it is to consume the materials needed to build a new car. Plus, relative to the van, the Miata goes 60% farther on each gallon of fuel.

Buried Space Rocket

2011-12-25T06:37:00.000-08:00

Interesting urban exploration video:

Space Miami - Aerojet-Dade Rocket Site Documentary from Coffee and Celluloid on Vimeo.

(via the In The Garage blog)

Celeste At Cardiff

2011-12-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

A few quick pix taken of the grrrl during a quick stop at Cardiff State Beach during an exceptionally-low tide.

leggy blonde

long tail

shaped sand

lobster tail

Down On The Street

2011-12-18T16:39:00.000-08:00

As seen on El Camino Real, another vintage 911.

And not any 911, the ducktail engine lid indicates a 2.7 Carrera RS.

But, as posted earlier with the last 911 RS spotted in Carlsbad, it's likely a clone. Fine by me - especially in 1970s brown.

Cycling, Explained

2011-12-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

Are you a fucking nut job?

No, I am a cyclist.

Down On The Street

2011-12-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

Spotted in my neighborhood last weekend while returning from a ride was this clean early Ford Bronco.

Early Broncos have always appealed to me. And I like most of the details on this one, period correct fog lights up front...

...and, if the badge on the leading edge of the quarter panel is to believed, a V8 under the hood. If it was mine, I'd swap out the wide alloys for some skinny steel wheels.

Looks like it's owned by a visiting "Zonie"

Update: One week later and it's on a trailer:

Dinosaur Jr at The Belly Up Tavern, Again

2011-12-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

Dinosaur Jr returned to the Belly Up to tour behind their terrific 1988 album Bug. The last time they played the venue, they were supporting the then-new Beyond album (one of my favorites from 2009).

Punk legend/super fan Henry Rollins interviews the band prior to the performance:

Being a quiet band of introverts who prefer to make loud sounds with their instruments, Henry did the majority of the talking.

Onto the music. After a couple of warmup tracks, they ripped into Freak Scene:

Midway through the set and Budge:

And finishing off with their classic cover of Just Like Heaven by The Cure:

This time I wisely brought my earplugs along. So nice to feel the music without feeling pain in my ears from the sheer volume of the three guys pounding out the music onstage.

Wintersongs, Special Bonus Track

2011-12-13T04:45:00.000-08:00

One more for the series...

Hailing from the Saint Paul, Minnesota it's quite natural for a band to have a winter-themed song. With long, dark and bitterly-cold winters, the Twin Cities, as well as other cities that have cold or miserable-weather have long been fertile ground for bands. What else are you going to do? Sacked in and bored, you sequester yourself to the basement and pick up some instruments and bang out music. Or drink. Or, in the case of Hüsker Dü, do both, and do both well.

From Flip Your Wig, the Hüsker's fourth studio album, as well as their second stellar release of 1985, is Flexible Flyer.

Down on my Flexible Flyer
To the bottom how fast I would go
Just waiting for me under the tree
And out in the snow

A cowboy, a nurse or a fireman
There's so many things that you can be
You can set bigger goals, but set your soul
Yeah, set your soul free

Times, places and situations
Lead to an early grave
When we get there we see
Just what did we save?

If your heart is a flame burning brightly
You'll have light and you'll never be cold
And soon you will know that you just grow
You're not growing old

If the wheels of your wagon are rusty
You can paint them until they are new
You can roll down a hill, but if you can't
Then I pity you

(and the video - which sadly has nothing at all to do with sleds or winter):

Growing up in the Midwest I always had a Flexible Flyer as part of my winter arsenal of sledding devices. Sure, aluminum saucers were fun and erratic (you'd often end up facing the wrong way, speeding backwards and out of control down the hill), while molded plastic sleds always had interesting novelty gadgets like (shudder) brakes. But once the snow became packed down enough, generally after a couple of good snowfalls, coupled with a freeze/thaw cycle or two, Flexible Flyers were my go-to sleds.

I'd fastidiously file the rust off the runners and then apply whatever wax I could find, generally rubbing an old candle along the now-smooth rails. Yes, as a 10 year-old, I lived in a Swix-free home.

With our neighborhood adjacent to a local country club, there were plenty of moderately-steep and long hills to descend. But the best sledding tracks were always made on the steep, curving and shaded closed-for-the-season boat launch at a nearby lake. My friends and I spent hours in the snow packing and shaping the most-perfect track this side of Lillehammer. Wipeouts were inevitable, as was losing a glove or moon boot when one launched off-track and into the dormant brush. And while we would always end up cold and nearly-frostbitten, we'd return the next day (or evening if school was in session), repair the track and attack it again.

Nowdays this is the only Flexible Flyer I still own, a small ornament that was made by one-time employer Pacific Cycle when they owned the brand:

Down On The Street

2011-12-12T04:45:00.000-08:00

Spotted at the annual Campagnolo Toy Ride (and not hard to miss - especially for a car dork like myself) was this 1960 International Harvester Metro.

Owned by Velo Hangar in Solana Beach, it was purchased in Denver and trucked out to the San Diego area where it received the sweet retro-inspired paint before being put into service.

I imagine urban areas had swarms of these vans on the streets in the years prior to my birth. Now they're a rare sight.

Drive with the slider open while perched in the belt-less driver's seat. Just don't take right turns too quickly.

I have the sudden urge to eat a Creamsicle®

I imagine these chunky rear snow tires don't ride all-that well. But they sure look cool (sans-excessive gloss)

Taiwan: Random Taichung & Taipei Photos

2011-12-10T16:09:00.001-08:00

A handful of shots taken in during a quick trip over to the emerald island of Formosa a couple of weeks ago.

Morning on Min-Chuan East Road, Taipei

Taipei sidewalk, outside of a school

fancy coffee maker

Siping Sunshine Shopping District, Taipei, prior to it opening for the day

Angry Birds cake at a bakery

looking east from my Taipei hotel's roof

odd art at a fish store

Taiwan Presidential Office Building, Taipei

guards stand watch outside the back of the Presidential Office Building

Taiwan Armed Forces HQ

funky water tower, horrible architecture, ROC Armed Forces

safety flagger awaits deployment

He's Lovin' It®

bad bikes

shitty shirts

birds...

...pups...

...and under-scooter street cat.

on the menu at a Japanese restaurant, Taipei

sake watcher

Russian ice cream

Shitbox microvan on a Taichung street

surprisingly-blue skies above Taichung

random intersection, a 20 minute walk from my Taichung hotel

Taichung taxi driver w/cut-down wheel in his Toyota Wish cab

snake catcher, SRAM factory

unnecessarily-curvy bike path, outside Taichung

view from Taiwan High Speed Rail, Miaoli County

the sun rises somewhere over the Pacific

Cover Me

2011-12-08T17:58:00.001-08:00

The late, great Elliott Smith's delicate cover of John Lennon's Jealous Guy on the 31st anniversary of his death.

(another crappy fan-made video that is tied to a great song)

R.I.P. both Elliott and John. Two incredible talents who both left this world far too early.

Wintersongs, Pt. V

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

Reflective, intimate andsomewhat plaintive, Robyn Hitchcock’s WinterLove comes from his primarily-acoustic1984 release I Often Dream ofTrains. Showcasing a quieter side of the eccentric songwriter, the tracktitle alone should be a good tipoff that it’s a fine winter song.

Robyn Hitchcock – Winter Love

It's the darkest timeof year
Crystal branches everywhere
As the colours drain away
You alone are far away
Leaves of frost upon the trees
Lovers falling on their knees
Curtains parting in the night
Let me in your sweet delight
Where the garden used to be

Now a different world I see
For one second all I know
Everything is made of snow
First from white and then to blue
Pink to purple lost to view
It's the darkest time of year
Winter love is almost here

Wintersongs, Pt. IV

2011-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

This song’s simple acoustic guitarstrumming introduction is enough to make the hair on the back of my neck standon end. And once the lovely Ms. Case’s siren-like vocals kick in I’m lost inthe song. It’s clearly one of the standout tracks from her breakthrough 2002record Blacklisted that saw her move beyond the simple alt-country stylings ofher earlier efforts and into a darker, deeper, haunted, JudyGarland-as-channeled-by-David-Lynch type of vibe. (Did I use enoughdescriptions there?) Well-suited to late night winter drives when abundant snowflurries whip past the windshield on lonely two-lane country roads, her velvet voiceand the rich production and arrangement keeping my soul warm.

(horrible fan-made video since she never made one for the song):

Neko Case – Stinging Velvet

Rain falls, I fix my eyes
Let go of the focus and I blur out all the lines
Just to remember, remember

Crying 'cause it's not my fault
Water through my lashes look just like Christmas lights
And I still remember, remember

Cold and shivering
Cold and shivering
Cold and shivering warm

Sing please, rock me to sleep
Quiet as a canyon up under heaven's eaves
I surrender, surrender

Downstairs the furnace swells
Safe from all the horrors in your stinging velvet arms
And I surrender, surrender

Cold and shivering
Cold and shivering

Wintersongs, Pt. III

2011-11-30T02:50:00.000-08:00

Hailing from the gateway to Wisconsin’s North Woods, JustinVernon made his mark with the seminal Bon Iver release For Emma, Forever Ago.Recorded in solitude in a remote hunting cabin and released to great acclaim in2007, Vernon followed the release with the gorgeous Blood Bank EP in 2009.Leading off the EP is the eponymous track.

With a photo of asnow-drifted car on the EP’s cover and the song leading off with a wind-blownhowl, it’s difficult not to think of winter when the first few notes of BloodBank hit like a stiff, icy wind. The fourth verse (Then the snow startedfalling…) depicting getting a car stuck in a snow drift undoubtedly reminds meof driving in the snow and some of the contents carried in the the winteremergency kit in my first car’s spare tire well in case of such emergencies (anold Marine Corps-issued survival blanket, flashlight, German Army surplusfolding shovel and a coffee can with a candle, matches and some Power Bars.

(fan-made video, driving I-94 from from MN border to Madison)

Bon Iver – Blood Bank

Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags

You said, see look that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how the resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers

And I said I know it well
That secret that you know but don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor and it teases your head
But you know that it's good girl
'Cause its running you with red

Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both of my hands
Chewing on a candy bar

You said, ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this?
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss

And I said I know it well
That secret that we know that we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor, I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs, babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?

And I know it well, I know it well
And I know it well, I know it
And I know it, I know it
And I know it, I know it

Wintersongs, Pt. II

2011-11-29T04:15:00.000-08:00

If there is one band thatwill forever be tied to living in North County San Diego, it’s Fleet Foxes.Even though they're from Seattle, their debut album Fleet Foxes wasreleased in 2008, the year of our relocation. With warm and wistful BeachBoys-like harmonies, White Winter Hymnal is a remarkably beautiful and short, succinct song thatsounds like little else that was in heavy rotation on the airwaves during thattime.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

I was following the pack all swallowed in their coats
With scarves of red tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads
From falling in the snow
And I turned 'round and there you go
And Michael, you would fall
And turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime

Wintersongs, Pt. I

2011-11-28T00:51:00.001-08:00

Being an über musicdork/snob can have it’s down sides. For one, there is always a song playing inmy head. Always. Mostly good, sometimes annoying, and in rare cases, downrightwretched. I also find myself to be a “completest” as well, having to own everypiece of recorded music by a given musical artist. But there are good things aswell, and I love how different songs and albums play such an important part tomy life over different eras of my own life.

With the changing of theseasons, my musical tastes shift. For instance, I can think of no spring sincethe late-80s that the eternally vernal Skylarking by XTC wasn’t played at leasta dozen times. The soundtracks to summer have been incredibly varied, and somany fine pieces of music emanated from different car tape decks, CD playersand iPods during road trips while exploring America – usually with a bicycle orboat or two strapped to the car’s roof racks. Autumn often sees warm Americanain heavy rotation – R.E.M., The Decemberists, Uncle Tupelo, etc. Which leadsinto winter.

Winter generally meansChristmas music to most. And growing up I loved it and always looked forward todigging out the LPs and playing them on my parent’s bulky console stereo. Butfor the past ten years or so, not so much. It’s even more difficult to even getinto winter at all living in a place like San Diego County. However, I stilltry to remember what season it is. And there are a more than a few songs thatare winter-appropriate without being tied in the least to the holidays that Igreatly enjoy. Allow me to bore you with the list that I’m pecking out in agerm tube 34,000 feet above the icy north Pacific ocean.

Wintersongs, Part I

Galaxie 500’s signaturedistant, dreamy and ethereal sound reminds me of walking on fresh, crunchy snowon a crisp, bitterly-cold and cloudless night. Their astonishing cover of YokoOno’s Listen, The Snow Is Falling isthe highlight from their excellent 1990 swan song This Is Our Music. Startingwith Dean Wareham’s gentle, echoed guitar strumming and building to a full bandarrangement, with bassist Naomi Yang handling vocal duties, it’s nearly eightminutes of sonic bliss.

Galaxie 500 – Listen, The Snow Is Falling

Listen, the snow is falling o’er town,
Listen the snow is falling ev’rywhere.
Between empire state building
And between Trafalgar Square.
Listen, the snow is falling o’er town.

Listen, the snow is falling o’er town,
Listen the snow is falling ev’rywhere.
Between your bed and mine,
Between your head and my mind.
Listen, the snow is falling o’er town.

Between Tokyo and Paris,
Between London and Dallas,
Between your love and mine.
Listen, the snow is falling ev’rywhere.

Snowing, snowfall, snowfall,
Listen, listen,
Listen, baby,
Listen.

Down On The Street

2011-11-24T18:08:00.001-08:00

Pedaling through Del Mar on Thanksgiving morning, my CarDar® spotted a BMW E28 5-series that caused me to make a u-turn and take a second look.

To most, it's nothing more than a dirty 1980s yuppie-era BMW sedan. But to car dorks like me, the mesh wheels, subtle spoiler and faded badge...

...make all the difference. Yep, it's an M5, product of the Motorsport division of the Bayerische Motoren Worke AG.

Making this car special is primarily the 3.5l straight 6, with an output of 256 HP in US guise. Down on power by 26 HP as compared to it's European-spec brethren and saddled with unsightly "diving board" bumpers...

...it's still a worthy and rare machine. Only 2,191 were built during it's four year model run.

Hope you like black as it's the only color the model was available in.

And while it has a place in the 1980s wing of my fantasy garage (alongside icons such as the Porsche 959, '89 Porsche 911, Audi ur-quattro, Mercedes-Benz R107 SL and more), it's not my favorite M5. I'd rather have a far-more common E39 M5:

A quick search on AutoTrader shows that prices on these Bavarian Beasts are coming down to the mid-$20s now. Too bad the care and feeding is a bit out of my budget.

The Shrine/An Argument

2011-11-21T06:00:00.001-08:00

Trippy animated video for a track from one of my favorite records of the year:

Miata Mods - Project List

2011-11-21T04:30:00.000-08:00

Having owned the Miata for a couple of months now, I've spent enough time evaluating the car and planning what I want to do to it long-term.

Overall I'm very happy with the car - both how it looks and how it runs. I'd feel confident driving it cross-country tomorrow, even if an NA Miata wouldn't the best vehicle to tackle long stretches of Interstate with. However, there are still a few areas that I feel that the car can be improved upon. The theme is quite simple: nothing incongruous, everything reversible. Keep the spirit of a simple, fun, lightweight, low-cost roadster intact.

A few projects have already been tackled:

Cleaning, polishing and waxing - most happened within 24 hours of bringing the car home. Wheel wells and various suspension parts were cleaned up a few months later when I had the wheels off to bolt on the new set.

Audio - backdating to an OEM cassette deck with modern iPod input and adding a storage cubby to the center console; replacement headrest speaker install. (here)

Headlamp upgrade - E-code headlamps and Hella bulbs. (here)

And now the to-be-done list. This is the plan as it currently sits in my little brain, subject to change without notice and on a whim.

Chassis
Shocks, springs, bumpstops and NB Miata "top hats" to refresh the tired, twenty year-old suspenders that are currently on the car.

Bracing - significantly tighten up the chassis with frame rails...

...and a rear subframe brace:

Exterior
OEM front air dam for enhanced high-speed stability and to help finish off the appearance of the front end.

Hard Dog sport roll bar for safety as well as a bit more chassis bracing.

Raked shorty antenna - get rid of that ugly 3' steel whip that currently blemishes the right rear quarter panel.

Top - a glass-window soft top would be a nice upgrade on down the line, but not needed right away.

Interior
Component speakers, as more high-range is needed to help cut through the top-down wind noise.

Nardi steering wheel and shift knob, to provide better feel than the all-plastic, base-model wheel and knob that the car currently has.

Maintenance, etc.
When the odometer turns over at 100k miles, resetting the maintenance schedule. Engine, transmission and differential oil and coolant.

And once the current parts are worn out, upgrading the tires...

...and brakes/rotors and adding stainless steel lines and high-performance brake fluid.

Yep, that's a few weekend's worth of projects worth of work. Now to scrounge up the money to pay for it.

Down On The Street

2011-11-20T19:35:00.001-08:00

Upon exiting a Carlsbad restaurant today I discovered this tiny treat of a Triumph parked alongside my van.

Why it's a 1958 Triumph TR10 Estate.

Very cool vintage single fog light affixed to the front bumper...

...and the hood is adorned by an equally-appealing badge.

But even cooler are the globe badges found on the hubcaps...

(ignore the reflection of the dork)

...and 100% aftermarket steering wheel:

Some may notice the subtle Ford V8 badging on the rear rear hatch, along with the hood pins on the first two images. Hmm, aside from the wide rear wheels, there's not much evidence of an enhanced powerplant.

Patina - it's got it in spades. With the cross bars, I'm certain that it's spent a fair number of days at the local beaches. It'd be a crime to repaint it.

Spending a little time with the Googles tonight I found that San Diego über car nerd (and of course I say that in a good way) Jesse from the Just A Car Guy blog shot the car three and a half years ago. Better yet, the Ford V8 badges are legit, as the owner's web page states that it's powered by a Ford 302 V8.

Sunday Best

2011-11-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

Lately my garb of choice for my long Sunday rides has been my Moots Riders Club jersey. And the rear center pocket may just be the reason why:

The open road is my sanctuary, my saddle the pew. The Clif Shot gels and electrolyte drink mix my host and sacrament. The music pouring from my ear buds is far better than any church choir. And no praying to invisible sky god.

One That Got Away

2011-11-14T19:00:00.001-08:00

Perusing Craigslist for Miata parts last week, I came across this listing:

Okay, so someone had totaled their Miata. What did I see here that I liked? Hardtop + limited-slip rear differential. These parts generally sell for $750 and $600 respectively. I'd like to have both for my own car, but neither were high on the priority list, but if I could get both for a song and have a complete car to pull and sell parts from, why not? I'd also pull the A/C bits for possible future install on my car and the brakes and power steering rack for my friend Keith's project three-wheeled car. Other goodies included Bilstein shocks (at least three were good) and a few small trim bits that I could swap out with my car's parts.

I had negotiated the price down to $1300, on the condition that the seller accept $1100 cash at pickup and the remaining $200 once he received the salvage title from his insurance company. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my garage), someone else snatched it up the day after I saw it, paying full price. Oh well.

That's A First

2011-11-13T18:16:00.001-08:00

Never before have I worn down the teeth on a bike cassette.

Discovered today when the fresh chain was skipping furiously when using my most commonly-used cogs (15, 17, 19 tooth). Some of the teeth on those cogs have been ground to a fine point. I guess I should have replaced that chain sooner as the cassette is quite the pricey piece. And it was only 18 months old.

Happy Veterans Day Dad

2011-11-11T04:30:00.000-08:00

Some scanned slides from his tour in Vietnam.

A "hooch":

Medevac, picking up soldiers that were injured after their truck hit a land mine:

Piloting a trusty Sikorsky H-34:

Hooch maid, washing clothes with Tide detergent:

Aboard the USS Okinawa

Okinawa helm:

Grillin':

Nearby Quonset hut, after being shelled.

Mom and Dad, Pensacola, FL

His squadron, HMM-362, Ugly Angels

Thanks for your service Dad.

Down On The Street

2011-11-06T11:20:00.000-08:00

Yawn, another weekend ride, another semi-interesting air-cooled VW spotted on the streets of North County.

I'm really trying to filter my "car-dar" a bit and tune out the myriad of Beetles and Busses (especially the bay window variants), but there seem to be plenty of somewhat unique ones still on out and on the prowl. Like this straight single cab splitty:
Someone get a VW badge on that nose, STAT.
And not chrome, it should be painted the same primer red as the lower half of the body. This was spotted at Fletcher Cove Beach park. I'm sure the owner was lugging a longboard in the bed.
Nice pipe bumper too.
If it was mine, I'd have a mildly-built 1776 dual port/dual carb engine in back and some safari windows along with the aforementioned VW badge up front. But it's still cool as-is. Just keep changing the oil and adjusting the valves and it should be good-to-go for another 45+ years on the road.

New York City

2011-11-06T05:30:00.000-08:00

I spent a few days in New York City for work a few weeks ago. Some random pix...

View from the 12th floor TriBeCa apartment I stayed in on the Hudson (aka "The Big Skanky"):
concrete jungle:
back of Woolworth building:
Zuccotti Park/Occupy Wall Street:

OWS communal kitchen area:
Freedom Tower rises:
Water taxis, thru binoculars:
Empire State Building:
Donkey Party:
Old water towers:
The employees never came to wash my hands:
Van-tag-stic:

Miata Mods - Headlamps

2011-11-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

US Department of Transportation-spec lighting leaves a lot to be desired. The beam pattern that the DOT dictates gives a blobby, non-uniform light pattern. The Euros, in typical fashion, do it right. Euro lighting has nice, crisp cutoffs with their beam patterns. Since the "NA" series Miata uses common 7" round bulbs, it was an easy and surprisingly affordable upgrade to European "H4" headlamps.

Updating the lights has been on my to-do list, but a bit down. Suspension work is definitely needed next. However, over on the VW Vortex Vans and Transporters Parts classifieds page was an ad for a set of new-old-stock Bosch H4 E-code (European spec) at a price that I couldn't pass up. Funds were sent to Quebec via PayPal and I received these Swedish-made Bosch lamps in about a week.
Also included was a set of new bulbs, but with an 80W low and 100W high elements, I was afraid of damaging the car's stock wiring harness. Maybe someday I'll get around to wiring the lights directly to the trunk-mounted batter and using a relay. Not yet. For now I'll be using a pair of Hella H4 Xenon Premium +50% bulbs that I picked up from Susquehanna MotorSports.
Anyway, the H4s definitely have a different appearance, with a much flatter lens:

H4 on left, DOT-spec on right

The pattern molded into the lens is also different:
Install was super-easy, requiring only a Phillips screwdriver and about fifteen minutes of time.
Remove the plastic shroud, then loosen the three screws on the retaining ring and twist a few degrees counter-clockwise to remove:
Pull out the old lamp and disconnect the three-wire connector:
Then, in typical Haynes Manual fashion, installation is opposite of removal. Looks good so far:
The next step will be aiming them within factory spec. I didn't notice the old lights being poorly aimed, but have a feeling that the E-code lamps will be a bit less-tolerant of being aimed out-of-spec.
I just need to find a good wall.

Enderman Invades

2011-10-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

As spotted on our lawn, carrying a block of earth. For more information on these dangerous creatures, click here. UPDATE - her pic is now up on Endgadget, an image in the gallery, part of their Geekeist Halloween Costumes post.

Down On The Street

2011-10-31T04:30:00.000-07:00

Running over to one of Celeste's friend's houses the other day, I noticed this scarlet vintage Beetle street parked a couple of houses down.

Looking very similar to the red '64 I had back in Boulder over a decade ago...

painted in a shameful '94 Mustang orangish-red, with a big scoop of orange peel texture

...was this '65.
Lightly altered through the years with fresh paint, white fender piping, add-on whitewall trim (partially obscuring a massive sidewall blister on the front tire at about 3 o'clock), solid black window trim and a mild drop...
...along with some tacky Pep Boys-grade decklid badges spelling out "VW 65" and a set of mos-aligned mufflers. I imagine the car has a powerplant larger than the original 1200cc unit pushing it along with nap-inducing runs to 60MPH.
The repro black door panels and seat covers provide some contrast to the bordello-red dash, but are a bit too funerary for my tastes. My '64 had two-tone light grey and cream white vinyl. But hey, if that's what the owner prefers, more power to him/her. My Beetle saw the 1980s aftermarket tape deck get chucked into the dumpster to make room for an original 6v Becker (I think) AM radio. Hmm, going backwards to a stock head unit in a cheap red toy car, I'm sensing a pattern here. Living in Boulder the best radio station was on AM anyway - CU's Radio 1190.

Still nice to see yet another air-cooled VW plying the streets.

Miata Mods - Top Zipper Stops

2011-10-30T06:03:00.001-07:00

One of the weaker aspects of my Miata is the top, which I believe to be original. It's weathered twenty years of SoCal sun (when not placed in its proper, stowed position for motoring the mostly-sunny streets of North County).

The rear plastic window has been replaced at least once, and unfortunately, with a zipper that isn't all that great. An eight inch section at the top on the driver's side won't engage all the way - not a *huge deal* as there is a top flap that still offers weather protection - and I generally have the top down anyway.

But the biggest issue is, or, rather, was, that there wasn't a stop at the end of the of the zipper's run. So the first time I went to zip up the window (after frustratingly fumbling through the section that didn't fully engage), the zipper pull went off the track and ended up in my hands.

So, grabbing a needle and an antique roll of Coats & Clark's Extra Strong Button & Carpet thread from the sewing kit...

note the price - only 15¢

...and used my rudimentary sewing skills to add a stop.
Yeah, far too much text for something so stupidly simple.

Down On The Street

2011-10-23T19:38:00.001-07:00

A couple of interesting air-cooled vintage VWs, spotted during today's North County ride. First up, this Splitty that was visiting the same repair shop that the Renault R8S (posted below - or here) was visiting last week.
From the looks of it, this Bus panel van may have just awakened from a long, ocean-side slumber.
That's not rust, it's patina. Right?
No, it's rust. And rotten rubber gaskets and delaminating windshields.
But just look at that face.
And what ratty interior isn't improved by at least 65% with the addition of old pocket t-shirts and zarapes covering peeling German vinyl?
Detail on the non-stock engine compartment cover. Too bad it's not sporting a nice set of vintage California black plates. I wish I was smart enough to be able to make out the original selling dealership's location.
This clean baja Bug/dune buggy was parked about fifteen miles north of the Bus.
No surface rust to be found here. Then again, it has a fiberglass body.
Nice, non-obnoxious powerplant.
The steering wheel's too modern for my tastes, but I like the Beetle speedo.

And here's a tip for budding car photographers/cyclists. This is the kind of poor composition that results after spending about 75 miles in the saddle. And when you're too lazy to unplug the headphones from the iPhone and get your ass off the bike to properly compose a shot.
Blech, I suck. But at least the car has a proper set of black plates.

Miata Mods - Details

2011-10-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

A few small upgrades/fixes/mods made to the Miata over the past few weeks. Reattached the washer pump plug that was inexplicably disconnected.
Hood prop retaining clip, before:
After:
New OEM key:
Bought from the dealer and cut from the VIN. Yep, twenty years on and the car is still in Mazda's computer. Which is good as the original key had a rip in it from metal fatigue and a ham-fisted user (me).

Ash tray to coin tray conversion. The removal of four screws and the cigarette extinguishing screen/holder allows for easier access of coins. Before:
After:
And yes, the screen and screws were put away in a box with the car's other original parts.

LACMA Photos

2011-10-19T20:32:00.001-07:00

A few photos taken outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art a few weeks ago.

Down On The Street

2011-10-16T11:38:00.001-07:00

Another one to put in the "I think this is the first of it's breed I've seen in person" file.
Another Gallic sedan, this time a Renault 8S, resplendent in French Blue. As a sucker for most forms of auxiliary lighting, I love the factory-installed inboard high beams that the "S" model received:
Venting on the decklid helps prove that it's powered by an air cooled, rear-mounted engine:
And if the Wikipedia entry is correct, the air-cooled lump has a displacement of 1108ccs and squeezes out 59HP. That's a better specific output than VWs of the era.
3-lug/13" wheels, yes please. The wood-rimmed wheel and nylon door pulls are also keepers.
Overall it's a much more-sporting than the last Renault I featured.

Miata Mods - Wheels

2011-10-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

What a difference a month makes. Back when the Miata was acquired, I had planned on upgrading the 18.1lb, 14" x 5.5" stock steel wheels...
...with lighter (13.1 lbs), wider and larger 15" x 6" '99 Miata Sport Package five-spoke alloy wheels:
I found the five spokes locally and bought the set shortly after buying the car. After doing a bit more research on the fantastic miata.net forum, I had a change of heart about the 5-spokes. My plan all along was to hold on to the OEM steel wheels, either to put back on if/when I get bored of the car or to simply save as they're original to a very original car. However, the steelies are wrapped in 10 month old rubber - and the thought of having four nearly-new tires sitting, aging and drying out (not to mention taking up space) in the garage just didn't seem right. Secondly, I discovered the Enkei RPF1 wheel:
So the 15" 5-spokes were put up on Craigslist and sold with ease for my initial purchase price. To my eyes, RPF1s have a simple design with a nice lip and should also be easy to keep clean. The 14" tires would swap over from the steelies, saving me the hassle of storing tires as they slowly deteriorated. And, most importantly, the 14" x 7" size weigh in at all of 8.5 lbs each.
And here they are, finally installed on the car:
Not only do they look great and give the car a much more-sporting appearance, the ride and performance was transformational. Reducing unsprung and rotational weight by a whopping 38 lbs, the car feels more lively with additional steering feedback - especially since this car has a manual rack. The "butt dyno" confirms that it's a bit more sprightly when accelerating and braking as well. A set of McGard Spline Drive lug nuts hold the wheels on.

The stock steelies are now sitting, boxed, in the garage rafters. Next up: suspension freshening.

UPDATE: My friend Ron thinks I missed a great opportunity to run some truly classy wheels:
Spinners look great on everything, right?

Autumn Getaway pt 3: Glass Beach & Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

2011-10-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

One of the most interesting spots visited during this trip was Glass Beach just outside of Fort Bragg.
Like many ocean-side municipalities, the city of Fort Bragg routinely dumped their trash right into the ocean. However, unlike most areas, the local tides didn't take all of the trash out to sea. After decades of pounding surf, the tons of deposited glass have been mostly polished smooth, making the beach a truly unique spot.
Consisting mostly of clear, brown and green glass pieces, but with a smattering of cobalt, opaque white, ice blue as well as polished pottery shards.
The grrrls bought a reference guide to the different colors. Many of the opaque white glass was from milk jugs, while flat ice blue pieces may have been windows or glass from framed prints.
Mixed in were small, twisted metal pieces and wire - mostly aluminum. I did manage to find part of a Trico windshield wiper blade and a bullet casing.
Certain areas of the beach provided different-sized glass. This particular cove was virtually all glass with very few natural rocks or sand mixed in.
Two freezer storage bags worth of interesting glass was collected.
Celeste naturally found other things to entertain herself with. Like this piece of kelp...
...and small spring.
Also visited was the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse...
...which was recently restored to its 1909 condition.that's all

Sixth Grrrader

2011-10-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

Autumn Getaway pt 2: Soggy Camping & Skunk Train

2011-10-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Van Damme State Park. Out of season + crummy weather meant we had run of the place:
Far from ideal conditions.

Staying dry in the van:
Lots of rain = green everywhere:
Riding the Skunk Train from Fort Bragg to Northspur and back:

next up: Glass Beach...

Autumn Getaway pt 1: S.F., Santa Rosa & Hendy Woods

2011-10-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Since Celeste is being home-schooled this year, we took the opportunity of a relatively-free schedule and did a little autumn camping road trip. Some random pics...

The Five, just north of The Grapevine:
Early Splitty:
Roasting ghost Peeps® at Don and Stacy's:
California Academy of Sciences:
Bob Mould closing his set with Celebrated Summer at the (free) Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park:

Hendy Woods State Park camping cabin.
Useful and well worth the $15 premium as it was pouring rain when we arrived after sunset. Just like sleeping in a garden shed.

Redwoods line CA Hwy 128:
and through the windshield:
Santa Rosa and a mustached conductor Snoopy sculpture:
She's wearing the shirt I bought her six years ago at the Schulz gift shop in Santa Rosa. It finally fits.

Charles M. Schulz Museum:
I guess this is the men's room:
Banana slugs at the entrance to Russian Gulch State Park:
Photographing the slugs:
Fat tires indeed:
Rain on the van:
more to come...

Miata Mods - Audio

2011-10-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

As previously mentioned, my Miata was originally delivered to the Carlsbad dealer with exactly one option - a $65 pair of carpeted floormats. Being a stripped-down base model, the only audio available to the new owners was the sound of wind rushing by mixed with a raspy exhaust.

Nine days and $145 after delivery, a Sony removable cassette deck (with auto reverse!) was installed, along with two door and four headrest speakers. Here it is, in it's early-90s glory:
Look closely and you'll notice some mismatched plastic plates above it, filling the gaps from where the OEM unit would have been. Listening to it was literally painful - at least until it warmed up. When cold the deck would create a various fog-cutting shrieks of feedback whenever the volume knob was adjusted within the range you'd want it to be. Too quiet? No feedback. Too loud? No feedback. In the volume sweet spot? Horrible feedback. And since I didn't like how the deck's LEDs didn't match the lighting in the rest of the car, the easy decision to yank this out was made.

So what next? Originally the plan was to buy a modern CD deck with a detachable face and iPod connectivity for about $175. However, doing a little research I determined that this might not be the best option for the car and it's easily-slashed convertible top. And I've had about five nice car stereos stolen over the past twenty years.

Bouncing around on miata.net, I discovered Jeff Anderson, a Miata enthusiast/electrical engineer who breathes new life into OEM Miata head units. Not only that, but he adds auxiliary input connections to the decks so that one can play their iPods through the original radio without having to resort to a cassette adapter (and unsightly, extraneous cables). And I just happened to have an OEM head unit - it came included with the car in a box of miscellaneous parts.
Off to Florida it went for a little of Jeff's R&R, including:
Miata radio headrest service - $59
Bass control range increase - $11
Replacing all lamps w/ LED display - $50
Auxiliary audio input addition - $25
Repair AM/FM high band squeal - n/c
Extensive preventative maintenance - n/c

I also had him include an inexpensive set of replacement headrest speakers for $50. Including two-way shipping, I'm now in over what I would have paid for a modern deck. But this one is theft-proof (no one wants a twenty year-old tape deck at this point) and will be well-integrated into the car's interior.

First up - the headrest speakers.

Unzipping the headrest covers exposes the janky, blown-out OEM speakers:
They were so bad that I had to adjust the fader to 100% front speakers. Those were pulled and put in the box of Miata parts.

Here's a comparison of the new (top) and original (bottom). Each headrest has a left and right speaker.
Out came the utility knife for a little trimming:
Wired-up and wedged in place:
Repeat on the other side and I actually have usable rear speakers. Covers zipped up and you'd never know that speakers resided within.

On to the head unit. I pulled the Sony deck, only to discover a spaghetti of rainbow-colored wires:
And, most distressingly, no OEM wiring harness into which the OEM head unit would be plugged into. So off to eBay for a replacement.
Thankfully only $4.6, including shipping. A few days later and it arrives in the mail.

A Saturday afternoon was spent tidying up and decoding the wiring and installing the harness. The head unit is plugged in and works just fine. The auxiliary input cable is discreetly run below the center console and pops up inside the arm rest lockable cubby - the perfect place to stash an iPod. Now to procure the correctly-sized trim piece that fits below the deck.
A little more online research and I discover that a Mazda 323 cubby (part B092-55-235B, $19.14 from the dealer) is an almost-exact fit and much more useful than the blank plate that would have been used on a Miata had the radio been installed at the factory. Trouble is, there's only one of these cubbies in the country, in a Mazda warehouse in Pennsylvania. But a week later and it's in my hands. A little filing is done on the back to ovalize the mounting holes and the result is this:
Wallet and/or phone can reside here when the car is in use. I'm probably the only person who geeks out about installing a twenty year-old tape deck in his car. But it looks good, sounds decent (good enough for a noisy little convertible) and will hopefully never be stolen. It'll probably never see a cassette. And yes, I finally broke down and removed the unsightly airbag warning sticker from the console.

Down On The Street

2011-09-30T21:29:00.001-07:00

Pony cars, I can generally take 'em or leave 'em. But this sharp '67 Camaro RS that lives up the street from me is a pretty nice car.
Nice and simple lines, powered by a 327 cu in SBC.
Personally I could pass on the white stripes, but they fit the car and era.
This Camaro generally stays put in the owner's garage. I'm not sure what it was doing out in the street. Fine by me, as it was finally captured by the iPhone's camera.
At least the owner didn't succumb to the trend of putting large, chrome, dumb alloy wheels on it. These iconic Rally wheels look good on just about any vintage Chevy.

La Costa Morning

2011-09-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

Nothing more than a couple of pix snapped while riding the trails at Carlsbad's Rancho La Costa this morning.

into the white

wet web

Down On The Street

2011-09-27T04:59:00.000-07:00

As spotted in downtown Encinitas a few weeks back, a *real* Fiat Cinquecento.
Abarth-edition too!
These original Cinquecentos make the modern versions seem like Hummers in comparison.

Calavera Randomness

2011-09-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

Five shots taken while riding at the local trails this afternoon:

rotting roadster

fennel

foliage

bees
wall

And one showing the red dirt of Rancho La Costa, clinging to my Pivot mountain bike:

Down On The Street

2011-09-11T16:15:00.000-07:00

Riding through Rancho Santa Fe this morning, I came across this trailered treat:

Rancho Santa Fe has been a good area to find interesting cars. This one was parked right around the corner from where I spotted the Z8 a few weeks back.
It's a '63 or '64 Jaguar E-Type, an example of what is arguably the most beautiful production car ever made. I spoke with the new owner for a few minutes, he had driven out from Utah to pick up his new purchase. Freshly rescued from a San Diego estate, apparently it hit a guardrail at high speed and spun nearly a quarter century ago.
The impact was hard enough that the steering wheel had a sizable bend in it. Whether that was caused by hitting it with driver's chest or if he was straight-armed is unknown.
The late owner had intended on restoring it, but apparently he never had the time or funds to do so. Unfortunately he passed at 71 years of age, with the car still wearing the California blue plates that expired in September 1988. The new owner is sharing the bounty with a friend of his who is restoring an E-Type in Riverside. Whatever is left over may become a hot rod on down the line. At least this cat will give many precious bits to get another back on the road.
If it was mine - and if someone was covering the costs - I'd rebuild it into a Harold & Maude-style E-Type hearse.
Since this Jaguar will be donating it's silky straight six to the new owner's friend, a new powerplant is in order. And one might as well pop another straight six under the extended bonnet.

I'm thinking a Cummins 6.7l diesel from a 2009 Dodge Ram. 350 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque from an oil burner will give it some scoot and will properly piss off any Jaguar purist who isn't already mortified by the hearse coachwork.

Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart Germany

2011-09-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

Two years ago I was able to pay a visit to Stuttgart's Porsche Museum while en-route from Freidrichshafen to Hamburg. This year saw a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, also located in Stuttgart. I'm not going to go too much into detail, as all of the information is much-better presented at the museum's website (the link above).
Located in a stunning structure, compromised of a double helix, it well documents the history of the automobile - all the way from it's invention to present. Which is fitting, as Karl Benz is widely credited with inventing the automobile, the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen:
Boasting a top speed of 10 MPH from the 954cc, four-stroke, single-cylinder engine.

During the same time frame, Gottlieb Daimler's company was fitting their engine in alternate applications, including the world's first motorcycle, the 1885 Daimler Reitwagen:
And his very own motorized carriage, the Daimler Motorkutsche (1886):

And the 1888 Motorboot "Marie", built for Reich Chnacellor Otto von Bismarck:
Recognizing the potential of the internal combustion engine, soon it was being affixed to all sorts of machinery, such as the 1892 Daimler Motor-Feuerspritze, the first fire engine:

Original Mercedes-Benz-inspired artwork by Andy Warhol hangs on the walls:
A historic timeline makes for fascinating reading as you make your way down through the various exhibits, putting the cars that you are about to see in perspective with the times. Along the way small items such as original tooling to produce logo hub caps and badging is presented:

1909 Benz 20/35 PS Landaulet

a true "dually"

1904 Mercedes-Simplex Touring Limousine

1902 40HP Mercedes-Simplex

mid-1920s Mercedes-Fahrradwerke bicycle

1923 Mercedes 10/40 PS Sport-Zweisitzer (front)
(I failed to note the car behind)

1938 Mercedes-Benz 260D Pullman-Limousine, the world's first diesel-engined passenger car
w/a blistering 59 MPH top speed

1932 Mercedes-Benz Lo 2000 Diesel Pritschenwagen
M-B's first diesel truck

1936 Mercedes-Benz 500k Spezial-Roadster

500K interior

500k front

500k detail

Mercedes did an admirable job discussing their involvement in the second world war, but I didn't take any photos of their military engines. So, moving on to the 1950s and the second-most beautiful car ever made*, the 1955 300 SL "Gullwing" Coupe:

silver over red, my second-favorite M-B color combo

300 SL Roadster

I'll take mine in SLR guise...

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhault-Coupé"

...complete with my favorite vintage M-B interior, blue plaid:

groovy 1960 Mercedes-Benz LK338 Kipper (dump truck)

Interesting one-off test-wagon that gathered telemetry data via cables connected to the test car that it was following. Two engineers sat on wicker seats in the back and monitored the data:
Would look great on Coast Hwy with a couple of longboards strapped to the top.

Moving on to the race cars. Since I'm a sucker for both rally cars and the R107/C107 models, this 500 SLC Rallyewagen had to be captured:
The adjacent 300 SE Rallyewagen is pretty cool as well:
A row of impeccable Silver Arrows:

1955 Mercedes-Benz 2.5l Stromlinienrennwagen
1952 Mercedes-Benz Rennsportwagen 300 SL

1952 Mercedes-Benz 2.5l Rennwagen W196R
(bodywork suspended to show construction)

And my favorite vehicle in the collection, a reproduction of the "Blue Arrow" 1955 Mercedes-Benz Rennwagen-Schnelltransporter (high-speed racing car transporter):
The original was scrapped in 1967, this faithful reproduction was created by photographs and the first-hand recollections of those who worked on and around the original.

sorely in need of a vintage SL on the bed

amazing glasswork

Leaving the museum, one sees a few more gems:

1939 Mercedes-Benz Weltrekordwagen T80
designed by Ferdinand Porsche to achieve a speed of 600 km/h (373 MPH)
Mercedes-Benz C111

Overall it's very much recommended. An incredible museum with the high standards of quality that one would expect from an industry leader such as Mercedes-Benz. However, I found it lacking many historically important and well-designed and engineered models from the 1960s through present. No W123 or W124 sedans (was hoping to see one of my all-time favorites, a Porsche-engined 500E) no displays showing the evolution of the iconic S- or SL-class models. No Red Pig. Yeah, many of these are the "young classics", but they're still vitally important in the history of the storied brand.

Thanks again so very much to Alex and Pia for the fantastic hospitality and tour.

And one more C107 Rallyewagen, encased in glass in the parking garage:
*after the Jaguar E-Type coupe

Favorite Songs of All Time: Celebrated Summer by Hüsker Dü

2011-09-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

From New Day Rising (1985), comes this incredible song by the fabled Minneapolis trio Hüsker Dü:

Love and hate was in the air, like pollen from a flower
Somewhere in April time, they add another hour

I guess I'd better think up a way to spend my time
Just when I'm ready to sit inside, it's summer time
Should I go fishing or get a friend to hang around
It's back to summer, back to basics, hang around

Getting drunk out on the beach, or playing in a band
And getting out of school meant getting out of hand

Was this your celebrated summer? Was that your celebrated summer?

Then the sun disintegrates between a wall of clouds
I summer where I winter at, and no one is allowed there

Do you remember when the first snowfall fell
When summer barely had a snowball's chance in Hell

Down On The Street - Stuttgart Edition

2011-09-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

NSU Prinz TTS, as seen in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart (full M-B Museum post forthcoming).
There's not a spec of Mercedes-Benz DNA in this mighty mini, but it's quite cool anyway.
With a rear-mounted, air-cooled 4-cylinder powerplant (and VW ownership post-1968), it would be better-placed in front of the Audi Museum, two hours away in Ingolstadt.
It certainly would have been cool to have watched this thing zip down the straße.

Car Nerd Heaven - MeilenWerk, Stuttgart

2011-09-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Located in a series of re-purposed airplane hangers is Stuttgart's MeilenWerk.
A very cool space that includes facilities for classic and exotic car sellers, auto storage, exotic repair and the V8 Hotel.

Even the parking lot has many interesting vehicles:
Hanger, populated with a different sorts of flying machines:
New Morgans:Ferrari repair shop:
So much for German precision:
Parking facilities for those who can't/won't keep their cars at home.

Renault Alpine

Type 34 Karmann Ghia convertible

dream collection - Citroën DS convertible, BMW Z8, M-B SLS, M-B 190SL,
Aston Martin DB3, race-prepped M-B AMG SLR
for Steve
for Keith (and the farm)

Jaguar E-Type dash, looking upon a Fiat Dino

clean, low km R107 - 6 cyl + manual transmission. yes please...

DKW truck

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Riley
Riley rear

a diminutive Lotus Eleven, with the adjacent Fiat 500 towering over

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't fit inside this tight cockpit

And the car I'd most like to take home as a souvenir...
...this 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20/GT2500. Moretti hardtop:

fuel filler capsteering column drilled for lightness

it can be yours - only €128,000

A special thanks to Alex for showing me this place.

Stuttgart Photos

2011-09-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

Some random acts of photography, taken while exploring Stuttgart on a sunny and warm late summer afternoon...

view from Hotel Flora Möhringen
precisely-placed produce
muster kerzen Markthalle
wine festival
fliegende ratte
kaninchen
RS3 on Autobahndunkles hefeweizen

Down On The Street - Stuttgart Edition

2011-09-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since my dad brought home a 1985 Jetta that subsequently ran for 205k (mostly) trouble-free miles, VW's "A2"-series cars have been a favorite, with GTIs being at the top of the heap. This A2 GTI was sitting on the street outside my Stuttgart hotel this morning:
Not a fan of the shade-shifting purple/green paint...
but two (or three?)-piece BBS wheels always look good on these cars.

'Round back there's a G60 badge, indicating VW's supercharged engine that came in the Corrado and select Golf models. Did this car receive a new powerplant somewhere down the line?

how low can you go?

Miata Mania Pt. I - Evaluation

2011-09-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

Once the car was in my possession, I could start to inventory what it needs and the changes I’d want to make on down the line.

First and foremost, the engine:
An eager, free-revving 1.6l engine with an iron block and 16 valve alloy head that becomes even more energetic as the revs climb to it’s 7,000 RPM redline. A raspy exhaust note from the original muffler helps give the (false) impression of speed. Overall the car feels like it has more than 116 HP and 100 lb-ft of torque. Then again, it only has to move 2100 lbs. It's pretty clean under the hood at the moment, but will get detailed by me on down the line.

Transmission:
The Miata’s gearbox and oh-so direct linkage should me a model for every row-your-own automotive transmission. Snick-snick-snick as it slips through the five forward speeds, in an even-more direct manner than the SRAM Red Double Tap shifters on my Moots. However, the gearbox is slightly notchy when cold. This should be easily remedied by replacing the trans oil with a few quarts of fresh synthetic lube.

Clutch:
Very progressive and easy-to-use. Like the transmission, it works better once it’s a little bit warmed up. There’s a slight shudder at the first two stop signs I pull away from in the morning. Easily remedied by slipping it slightly. No plans on making any changes at this time.

Brakes: A recent receipt for a set of high-performance Hawk HP brake pads was in the file folder that came with the car. They’re a little noisy at low-speeds, but that’s the nature of these pads. Pedal feel is good overall, but I may upgrade to stainless steel braided lines eventually.

Steering:
Everything is nice and tight. With a manual rack (3.3 turns lock-to-lock), it just feels elemental and analog. Parallel parking it the other day was interesting. But with the light body and 185-section tires, it wasn’t difficult. Power steering is just taken for granted at this point, the last car I had with a manual rack was a 1967 SAAB 95 that I sold almost ten years ago.

Exterior:
As mentioned in an earlier post, the car has been garaged in Carlsbad since new. There is not a spec of rust on it anywhere and there is no evidence of it ever having had any collision repair. And while the red paint was slightly oxidized, four hours or so of work with a clay bar, a buffer, polish and two waxes yielded a very respectable finish on most of the sheet metal. The painted plastic front bumper and the plastic rear license plate surround wear slightly varying shades of red, but nothing unexpected for original twenty year-old paint. A few light door dings are present as well. A professional polishing combined with paintless dent removal service would bring the car up to the next level.

The top is also in nice shape and the plastic rear window was replaced last year. Aside from a brief garage inspection, it’s been stowed since purchase.

Interior:
Overall very clean. Good carpets, decent (if faded) seats and rich, un-cracked plastic bits. You can see how much the seats have faded when flipping the headrest zipper flap back:
The driver's door panel has three screws holding it on that were not Mazda-installed:
I've found decent door panels for sale on Craigslist for all of $30, but they were up in the LA area. Replacement will likely happen when I replace the door speakers, which brings me to...

Audio:
As a music geek, I have to have a decent stereo in my car. Nothing obnoxious or bass-heavy. Just good enough for me to be able to hear it clearly without distortion. The driver-side door speaker puts out about half the volume as the passenger-side at the moment, not sure if it's an issue with the speakers, wiring or head unit. Either way, the door speakers will both be eventually replaced, as will the headrest speakers:
Base Miatas were not sold with headrest speakers (or even a stereo for that matter). The original owner had these cheapo paper Mazda OEM speakers installed when she had the Sony head unit installed (as seen in an image above). But twenty years have not been kind to these paper wonders. In fact, they sound so bad that I keep the fader switched to power only the front speakers. An OEM Miata head unit was included with the car. An electrical engineer/Miata enthusiast will be restoring and making a few modifications to my OEM head unit in November, at which point it will also have an auxiliary input for iPod use. He also offers superior and stock size headrest speakers for $50/set. Why not go with a modern aftermarket unit? I don't want it to get stolen. At this point there's no use or market value for a twenty year-old stock tape deck. The car can then have the desired functionality (aux input) and the original appearance of the Mazda head unit.

Suspension:
This is probably the first mechanical thing that I will attend to. After twenty years and nearly 100k miles of service, I feel that the original shocks are very well near the end of their useful life. While the ride is still acceptable and suffers no ill handling, I’m sure the cornering and ride will be further improved with some fresh dampeners at each corner. Research into different options has begun - Bilstein shocks/struts with stock springs, a Flyin’ Miata upgrade kit or ??.

Tires were replaced earlier this year and are 195/60/14, wrapped around the heavy base-model steel wheels.
I kind of like the basic look of the steelies, but a set of 15 x 6” Miata five spoke alloy wheels has already been procured locally.
Original OEM Mazda from the ’99 Miata with the Sport package, these weigh in at 13.1 pound each, 4.9 lbs or 28% less each than the steelies, reducing unsprung weight, improving performance, and, best of all, enhancing the appearance. Plus, I could see them in person prior to the purchase and didn't have to spend money on shipping.

The alloys will be finished with a 195/50/15 tires. I’m just waiting for the tires to go on sale or have another rebate offer. Thankfully I am not in a rush since the current tires have plenty of life left in them.

Next up: A preliminary plan and goals.

Car Hunting, Pt. 4 - The Details

2011-08-30T04:59:00.000-07:00

Spending a few evenings and weekend afternoons with the new toy, I found some interesting details. The car's original delivery date, written in permanent marker on the inside of the hood.
The inside of both the hood and trunk lid had wax residue. Yep, the original owner was even more OCD about car care than I am. Most of the wax is gone, the date is staying.

K&N air filter decal on the inside fender...
...the filter is present and clean.

An aftermarket, lighted rear-view mirror greatly enhances ease of use come nightfall.
Well-integrated with the rest of the "courtesy lights", switching on when the doors are opened.

A faded Miata Club Of America decal on the windshield:
Highlighted passages in the owner's manual:
The mystery box of bonus goodies:
What's inside?
OEM rear-view mirror and horn and e-brake boot (which was replaced with a leather aftermarket unit), OEM tape deck, front tie-down brackets and the unused front license plate holder. The radio will be refreshed, updated and re-installed on down the line.

Some of the sales and marketing materials that came with the car:
Car And Driver and Road & Track reprints, window sticker ($14,715 in 1991 + $1,800 "added dealer markup" - $26,100 in today's dollars), pre-delivery inspection checklist, etc.

And, after several hours of clay bar, polishing and waxing, I discovered underneath some lightly-oxidized paint was a more-than-respectable finish with some semblance of gloss:
End of Car Hunting posts. At least until I start the search for my next car...

Foggy Morning At Double Drumlin Farm

2011-08-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

We were very fortunate to be able to spend some time (although not nearly enough) with our friends the VonHubens during our Wisconsin trip.

A few morning shots from the prairie before the fog burned off.

prairie and the neighbor's horse
one of many native plant gardens

purple cone flowers (echinacea)

black-eyed susans

one of the hens
artistically-stacked firewood
the neighbor's horse - again
the house

Thanks VonHubens!

Green Lake 2011 - Poor Attempts At Dear Photograph

2011-08-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

After spending some time perusing dearphotograph.com a few months ago, I decided that the trip to Green Lake would be a great opportunity to try out the technique where one holds up a vintage photo in the same setting. Little did I realize how difficult it could be to get everything to line up properly. Oh well, even if the photos turned out terribly, it was still an interesting and challenging exercise. Here goes...

mom, winter '69-'70 (pregnant with me at the time)

grandpa & grandma, early 70s

cousins, mid-70s (Kimmy, me, Jeff, Dan)

me, with fish, late-70s

puppy Kasey, Taffy and Kimmy, 1985
brother Dan & Hot Wheels, 1985
Kasey, 1987

Car Hunting, Pt. 3

2011-08-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Note - sorry about the font type and size jumping around. I originally composed the copy in Word and then pasted it in. I've tried to edit it, but the changes aren't sticking - and I've spent enough time messing around with it at this point...

Okay, with some free time on a Sunday afternoon (and with Celeste out at a friend’s house), arrangements were made to check out the local Miata. The seller was located less than a mile away – a promising sign. All clean and tucked away in a sleepy Carlsbad neighborhood garage was a low-mileage base model ’91 Miata.

obviously *out* of the garage at this point

96,xxx miles, manual steering, no ABS, air conditioning or cruise control, crank windows and an aftermarket Sony removable cassette deck (remember those?). The paint and seats lightly faded, but mechanically everything seemed to be sound.

No oil or coolant leaks, fresh hoses, brakes and tires, a convertible top in good shape with a rear window that had been replaced a year prior.

And for the car geek in me, I was shown a thick envelope with original sales literature, the window sticker, manuals, receipts and the like.

The asking price was at the upper limit of my budget, but why not take it out for a spin. We hadn’t driven more than a quarter mile before Allison said “you’d be a fool not to buy this car”. I knew then-and-there that this car wouldn’t require much rationalizing or explaining on my part. Sold. We zipped around some of Carlsbad’s surface streets, briefly with the top up to help listen for any odd noises. Everything checked out – the suspension and steering was tight, the engine eager, transmission just about perfect and the brakes strong. Only a couple of minor creaks. Overall a very strong running and good-looking twenty year-old and affordable, fun car.

Being an airline mechanic, the owner truly seemed to care about his cars, had a neat garage and took pride in stating that he never let anyone else wrench on his rides. He had bought it from the original owner – a neighbor of his – last year, with the hopes that his daughters would drive it. However, they were not willing to learn how to drive a manual transmission, so he had to replace this car with one with an automatic.

Anyway, we came to a deal on the price with a promise on my end to return the next day with a cashier’s check. The ad was pulled from Craigslist by the time we returned home.

To be continued...