TOP FUEL DRAGSTER STATS
One dragster's 500-inch Hemi makes more horsepower then the first 8 rows at Daytona.
Under full throttle, a dragster engine consumes 1 1/2 gallons of nitro per second, (that's about 10 gallons per run!), the same rate of fuel consumption as a fully loaded 747, but with 4 times the energy volume.
The supercharger takes more power to drive then a stock hemi makes.
Even with nearly 3000 CFM of air being rammed in by the supercharger on overdrive, the fuel mixture is compressed into nearly-solid form before ignition.
Cylinders run on the verge of hydraulic lock.
Dual magnetos apply 44 amps to each spark plug.
This is the output of an arc welder in each cylinder.
At stoichiometric (exact) 1.7:1 air/fuel mixture (for nitro), the flame front of nitro methane measures 7050 degrees F.
Nitro methane burns yellow. The spectacular white flame seen above the stacks at night is raw burning hydrogen, dissociated from atmospheric water vapor by the searing exhaust gases.
Spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during a pass.
After 1/2 way, the engine is dieseling from compression plus the glow of exhaust valves at1400 degrees F. The engine can only be shut down by cutting off it's fuel flow.
If spark momentarily fails early in the run, unburned nitro builds up in those cylinders and then explodes with a force that can blow cylinder heads off the block in pieces or blow the block in half.
Dragsters twist the crank (torsionally) so far (20 degrees in the big end of the track) that sometimes cam lobes are ground offset from front to rear to re-phase the valve timing somewhere closer to synchronization with the pistons.
To exceed 300mph in 4.5 seconds dragsters must accelerate at an average of over 4G's. But in reaching 200 mph well before 1/2 track, launch acceleration is closer to 8G's.
If all the equipment is paid off, the crew worked for free, and for once NOTHING BLOWS UP, each run costs $1000.00 per second.
Dragsters reach over 300 miles per hour before you have read this sentence.
Top Fuel Engines ONLY turn 540 revolutions from start light to finish line.
The redline is actually quite high at 9500 rpm.
To give you an idea of this acceleration, the current TF dragster elapsed time record is 4.441 seconds for the quarter mile. This means that you could be coming across the starting line in your average Lingenfelter powered "twin-turbo" Corvette at 200 mph (on a FLYING START) and the dragster would BEAT you to the finish line FROM A DEAD STOP in a quarter mile distance!
PERFORMANCE EXAMPLES
0 to 100 MPH in .8 seconds (the first 60 feet of the run)
0-200 MPH in 2.2 seconds (the first 350 feet of the run)
6 g-forces at the starting line (nothing accelerates faster on land)
6 negative g-forces upon deployment of twin ‘chutes at 300 MPH
An NHRA Top Fuel Dragster accelerates quicker than any other land vehicle on earth . . . quicker than a jet fighter plane . . . quicker than the space shuttle.
http://www.pafoa.org/forum/lounge-108/720-acceleration.html
Showing posts with label informative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label informative. Show all posts
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Interesting thoughts on automobiles
Like the carriage industry, however, the bicycle industry contributed people, components, capital, and ideas to automotive transportation. In addition, the bicycle created demand for the automobile.
All-in-all as much as two-thirds of the total automotive production in the late 1920's was displacing horse and rail transportation.
1895 was a historical year, the reason why we did not build road vehicles before was because the bicycle had not yet come in numbers and had not directed men's minds to the possibilities of independent long-distance travel over the ordinary highway.
We thought the railroad was good enough.
The bicycle created a new demand which was beyond the ability of the railroad to supply. Then it came about that the bicycle could not satisfy the demand which it had created.
A mechanically propelled vehicle was wanted instead of a foot-propelled one, and we know now that the automobile was the answer.
Auto sales were blazing while the car replaced the horse, bicycle, and train transportation; then became stagnant when the replacement was complete. Stagnation occurred at the point of one car per family. After WW2 auto sales re-established by an increased need for personal transportation, and the interstate system brought about as a great depression public works program to decrease unemployment while improving the infrastructure.
Another spike in car sales occurred when in 1973 the baby boomer generation reached car buying age.
By 1925, the average auto accumulated over 25,000 miles before it headed to the junk yard, by 1930 about 40,000.
Common rules of the road and associated symbols like the octagonal stop sign were also developed during the first growth phase.
The roads themselves were paved.
Installment financing became popular even though most banks opposed it at the time.
Independent auto dealers became the main distribution channel and service stations began popping up.
The primary objective of most affiliated innovations was to make the automobile easier to own and operate. As vehicles were produced which had the capabilities, and the low price, required to replace other means of transportation, people began to buy them for everyday use.
The sales of refrigerators rose sharply from 1925 to 1935, from practically none to 2 million, allowing groceries to be bought in bulk that would stay fresh longer, requiring a means of transportation for the loads of groceries... at a time when buying in bulk quantities became cheaper than an equal number of single unit sales. Buying groceries in large quantities spawned the supermarket, which killed the corner store, necessitating a vehicle to travel farther to get to the supermarket.
Increasing numbers of suburbs after the civil war were made possible by cable cars, via electricity... suburbs outstripped the availability of public transportation... which increased the demand for a car as a necessity and ended the concept of the car as a luxury.
http://www.klhess.com/car_essy.html
All-in-all as much as two-thirds of the total automotive production in the late 1920's was displacing horse and rail transportation.
1895 was a historical year, the reason why we did not build road vehicles before was because the bicycle had not yet come in numbers and had not directed men's minds to the possibilities of independent long-distance travel over the ordinary highway.
We thought the railroad was good enough.
The bicycle created a new demand which was beyond the ability of the railroad to supply. Then it came about that the bicycle could not satisfy the demand which it had created.
A mechanically propelled vehicle was wanted instead of a foot-propelled one, and we know now that the automobile was the answer.
Auto sales were blazing while the car replaced the horse, bicycle, and train transportation; then became stagnant when the replacement was complete. Stagnation occurred at the point of one car per family. After WW2 auto sales re-established by an increased need for personal transportation, and the interstate system brought about as a great depression public works program to decrease unemployment while improving the infrastructure.
Another spike in car sales occurred when in 1973 the baby boomer generation reached car buying age.
By 1925, the average auto accumulated over 25,000 miles before it headed to the junk yard, by 1930 about 40,000.
Common rules of the road and associated symbols like the octagonal stop sign were also developed during the first growth phase.
The roads themselves were paved.
Installment financing became popular even though most banks opposed it at the time.
Independent auto dealers became the main distribution channel and service stations began popping up.
The primary objective of most affiliated innovations was to make the automobile easier to own and operate. As vehicles were produced which had the capabilities, and the low price, required to replace other means of transportation, people began to buy them for everyday use.
The sales of refrigerators rose sharply from 1925 to 1935, from practically none to 2 million, allowing groceries to be bought in bulk that would stay fresh longer, requiring a means of transportation for the loads of groceries... at a time when buying in bulk quantities became cheaper than an equal number of single unit sales. Buying groceries in large quantities spawned the supermarket, which killed the corner store, necessitating a vehicle to travel farther to get to the supermarket.
Increasing numbers of suburbs after the civil war were made possible by cable cars, via electricity... suburbs outstripped the availability of public transportation... which increased the demand for a car as a necessity and ended the concept of the car as a luxury.
http://www.klhess.com/car_essy.html
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Car stuff that disappeared, or phrases that we never hear anymore
Fender skirts
curb feelers
steering knobs
Continental kits
emergency brakes
foot feedrunning board
dimmer switch
choke
column shift
push button
Brake shoes
Automat
vent window
pour spout
hubcaps
rumble seats
Ammoco White
rear seat speaker
inner tube
http://www.aztexcorp.com/expressionengine/index.php?/weblog/comments/401/
curb feelers
steering knobs
Continental kits
emergency brakes
foot feedrunning board
dimmer switch
choke
column shift
push button
Brake shoes
Automat
vent window
pour spout
hubcaps
rumble seats
Ammoco White
rear seat speaker
inner tube
http://www.aztexcorp.com/expressionengine/index.php?/weblog/comments/401/
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
How the autombile was patented, and royalties were collected from anyone who made them
Inspired by the mammoth internal combustion engine invented by George Brayton displayed at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, George Selden began working on a smaller lighter version, succeeding by 1878, some eight years before the public introduction of the Benz Patent Motorwagen in Europe.
He filed for a patent on May 8, 1879. His application included not only the engine but its use in a 4 wheeled car. He then filed a series of amendments to his application which stretched out the legal process resulting in a delay of 16 years before the patent US patent 549160 was granted on November 5, 1895.
Shortly thereafter the fledgling American auto industry began its first efforts and George Selden, despite never having gone into production with a working model of an automobile, had a credible claim to have patented an automobile in 1895.
In 1899 he sold his patent rights to William C. Whitney, Whitney and Selden then worked together to collect royalties from other budding automobile manufacturers. He was initially successful, negotiating a 0.75% royalty on all cars sold by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers, the ALAM. He began his own car company in Rochester under the name, Selden Motor Vehicle Company.
However, Henry Ford, owner of the Ford Motor Company, founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1903, and four other car makers resolved to contest the patent infringement suit filed by Selden. The legal fight lasted eight years, generating a case record of 14,000 pages.
The case was heavily publicized in the newspapers of the day, and ended in a victory for Selden. In his decision, the judge wrote that the patent covered any automobile propelled by an engine powered by gasoline vapor. Posting a bond of $350,000, Ford appealed, and on January 10, 1911 won his case based on an argument that the engine used in automobiles was not based on George Brayton's engine, the Brayton engine which Selden had improved, but on the Otto engine.
This stunning defeat, with only 1 year left to run on the patent, destroyed Selden's income stream. He focused production of his car company on trucks, renaming his company the Selden Truck Sales Corporation. It survived in that form until 1930 when it was purchased by the Bethlehem Truck Company. Selden suffered a stroke in late 1921 and died at 75 on January 17, 1922. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester. It is estimated he received several hundred thousand dollars in royalties.
He filed for a patent on May 8, 1879. His application included not only the engine but its use in a 4 wheeled car. He then filed a series of amendments to his application which stretched out the legal process resulting in a delay of 16 years before the patent US patent 549160 was granted on November 5, 1895.
Shortly thereafter the fledgling American auto industry began its first efforts and George Selden, despite never having gone into production with a working model of an automobile, had a credible claim to have patented an automobile in 1895.
In 1899 he sold his patent rights to William C. Whitney, Whitney and Selden then worked together to collect royalties from other budding automobile manufacturers. He was initially successful, negotiating a 0.75% royalty on all cars sold by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers, the ALAM. He began his own car company in Rochester under the name, Selden Motor Vehicle Company.
However, Henry Ford, owner of the Ford Motor Company, founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1903, and four other car makers resolved to contest the patent infringement suit filed by Selden. The legal fight lasted eight years, generating a case record of 14,000 pages.
The case was heavily publicized in the newspapers of the day, and ended in a victory for Selden. In his decision, the judge wrote that the patent covered any automobile propelled by an engine powered by gasoline vapor. Posting a bond of $350,000, Ford appealed, and on January 10, 1911 won his case based on an argument that the engine used in automobiles was not based on George Brayton's engine, the Brayton engine which Selden had improved, but on the Otto engine.
This stunning defeat, with only 1 year left to run on the patent, destroyed Selden's income stream. He focused production of his car company on trucks, renaming his company the Selden Truck Sales Corporation. It survived in that form until 1930 when it was purchased by the Bethlehem Truck Company. Selden suffered a stroke in late 1921 and died at 75 on January 17, 1922. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester. It is estimated he received several hundred thousand dollars in royalties.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Primedia has a new owner, they are the company behind almost all car magazines you've heard of
Hot Rod, Car Craft, Motor Trend, Automobile, and about 67 others for 1.2 Billion$. They also purchased a lot of the asociated stuff, like 90 websites for those magazines.
http://jalopnik.com/cars/sold%21/primedia-sells-enthusiast-side-of-self-for-12-billion-260545.php
http://jalopnik.com/cars/sold%21/primedia-sells-enthusiast-side-of-self-for-12-billion-260545.php
Just how many special edition Mustangs are there?
And why?
I'm including everything I know of that comes after the word Mustang. Or before. Or instead of, but means that it's a special Mustang
GT
GT500
Cobra
Bullit
R
Parnelli Jones
Rousch
Blackjack
Saleen
Steeda
SDS (San Diego Special)
Foose Stallion
GT350
GT CS (California Special)
Street Scene
Susan G Kolmen pink stripe package
Cannonball World
and if I spent a couple of minutes on the web, I'm sure I could double this list.
I'm including everything I know of that comes after the word Mustang. Or before. Or instead of, but means that it's a special Mustang
GT
GT500
Cobra
Bullit
R
Parnelli Jones
Rousch
Blackjack
Saleen
Steeda
SDS (San Diego Special)
Foose Stallion
GT350
GT CS (California Special)
Street Scene
Susan G Kolmen pink stripe package
Cannonball World
and if I spent a couple of minutes on the web, I'm sure I could double this list.
Mr Gasket.... wow, huge corporation
They own, Hays Clutches, Hurst Shifters, Accel Ignition, Erson Cams, Jacobs Electronic Ignition, Mallory Ignition, and Lakewood Safety and Suspension
http://www.mrgasket.com/race_proven_brands.html
http://www.mrgasket.com/race_proven_brands.html
A bit of tool talk
First and quite important, lets get the "Made in China" out of the way.
Don't buy any, ever. Junk that will fail when you need it most... like when you use it.
What CHINA stands for... Can't Handle INdustrial Applications
I just started working with hand tools at work (vs the electronics job I just left) and when discussing tools, Dave told me that bit of wisdom... truer words never spoken.
Tool Boxes:
Light use are good for a home owners general rare use
Mechanic are decent metal, and have slide drawers
Trax are decent metal, and have roller bearings
Magnum are the best
Made in China
for the past 10 years Vise Grip and Cresent
for the past 6 months Craftsman
Made in Taiwan Gearwrench, who is made for K-D tools, who is owned by Danaher
http://www.danaher.com/business/ the Danaher company also owns Allen (allen wrenches), Armstrong, Fluke (multimeters), Jacobs Vehicle Systems (Jake Brake), Matco, and about 50 others I've never heard of, or don't believe are part of the auto industry
For the highest quality wrenches and sockets at the right price (Snap -On considered overpriced compared to the competitions quality)
best: SK / Proto / Wright
next best: K-D / Eastco / Craftsman
Now if it comes to buying at a swapmeet, or garage sale, and the tools you find are some other brands remember, for the best quality, buy AMERICAN, then made in Taiwan, and never Made In China
Always go to the experts for expert advice. You'll never spend as much time as they have learning all they have gained from experience. Ask Craig at Pat's Tools in El Cajon.
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/05/when-you-need-tool-expert-with-huge.html#links
Don't buy any, ever. Junk that will fail when you need it most... like when you use it.
What CHINA stands for... Can't Handle INdustrial Applications
I just started working with hand tools at work (vs the electronics job I just left) and when discussing tools, Dave told me that bit of wisdom... truer words never spoken.
Tool Boxes:
Light use are good for a home owners general rare use
Mechanic are decent metal, and have slide drawers
Trax are decent metal, and have roller bearings
Magnum are the best
Made in China
for the past 10 years Vise Grip and Cresent
for the past 6 months Craftsman
Made in Taiwan Gearwrench, who is made for K-D tools, who is owned by Danaher
http://www.danaher.com/business/ the Danaher company also owns Allen (allen wrenches), Armstrong, Fluke (multimeters), Jacobs Vehicle Systems (Jake Brake), Matco, and about 50 others I've never heard of, or don't believe are part of the auto industry
For the highest quality wrenches and sockets at the right price (Snap -On considered overpriced compared to the competitions quality)
best: SK / Proto / Wright
next best: K-D / Eastco / Craftsman
Now if it comes to buying at a swapmeet, or garage sale, and the tools you find are some other brands remember, for the best quality, buy AMERICAN, then made in Taiwan, and never Made In China
Always go to the experts for expert advice. You'll never spend as much time as they have learning all they have gained from experience. Ask Craig at Pat's Tools in El Cajon.
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/05/when-you-need-tool-expert-with-huge.html#links
Friday, May 4, 2007
San Diego, birthplace of the 350Z
Nissan Design America
Nissan Design America, (NDA) is a world-renowned design studio located in San Diego Calif., and is home to 60 of the fewer than 500 automotive designers in all of North America. In close coordination with engineers at the Nissan Technology Center North America (NTCNA) located in Farmington Hills, Mich., designers at NDA create vehicles specifically for the North America market. Nissan designers are responsible for the creation of the Altima, Maxima, Xterra and Frontier, as well as the new Z car.
NDA has been recognized as one of the worlds foremost creative design facilities and has won several prestigious awards from around the globe. To keep their design skill sharp, NDA staff members often work on non-automotive products, which have ranged from a 150-foot yacht to preschool furniture to golf clubs.
Nissan Design America9800 Campus Point DriveSan Diego, CA 92121Phone: 858/457-4400Fax: 858/450-3332
Nissan Design America, (NDA) is a world-renowned design studio located in San Diego Calif., and is home to 60 of the fewer than 500 automotive designers in all of North America. In close coordination with engineers at the Nissan Technology Center North America (NTCNA) located in Farmington Hills, Mich., designers at NDA create vehicles specifically for the North America market. Nissan designers are responsible for the creation of the Altima, Maxima, Xterra and Frontier, as well as the new Z car.
NDA has been recognized as one of the worlds foremost creative design facilities and has won several prestigious awards from around the globe. To keep their design skill sharp, NDA staff members often work on non-automotive products, which have ranged from a 150-foot yacht to preschool furniture to golf clubs.
Nissan Design America9800 Campus Point DriveSan Diego, CA 92121Phone: 858/457-4400Fax: 858/450-3332
Worlds biggest piston engine
Were you looking for the world's largest car engine? http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/10/if-you-have-wondered-what-largest.html
http://knuttz.net/hosted_pages/Most-Powerfull-Engine-20070401
The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine is the most powerful and most efficient prime-mover in the world today.
http://knuttz.net/hosted_pages/Most-Powerfull-Engine-20070401
The Aioi Works of Japan's Diesel United, Ltd built the first engines and is where some of these pictures were taken.It is available in 6 through 14 cylinder versions, all are inline engines.
These engines were designed primarily for very large container ships. Ship owners like a single engine/single propeller design and the new generation of larger container ships needed a bigger engine to propel them.
The cylinder bore is just under 38" and the stroke is just over 98". Each cylinder displaces 111,143 cubic inches (1820 liters) and produces 7780 horsepower. Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches (25,480 liters) for the fourteen cylinder version.
Some facts on the 14 cylinder version:
Total engine weight: 2300 tons (The crankshaft alone weighs 300 tons.)
Length:89 feetHeight:44 feet
Maximum power:108,920 hp at 102 rpm
Maximum torque:5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm
Fuel consumption at maximum power is 0.278 lbs per hp per hour (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption).
Fuel consumption at maximum economy is 0.260 lbs/hp/hour.
At maximum economy the engine exceeds 50% thermal efficiency. That is, more than 50% of the energy in the fuel in converted to motion.
For comparison, most automotive and small aircraft engines have BSFC figures in the 0.40-0.60 lbs/hp/hr range and 25-30% thermal efficiency range.Even at its most efficient power setting, the big 14 consumes 1,660 gallons of heavy fuel oil per hour.
Want to see just how big the crank must be? http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/huge-crankshaft.html
Stats on teen driving
Road Ready Teens Teen Driving Fact Sheet
Auburn Hills, Mich., May 3, 2007 -
Teen Driving Statistics
Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens.
More than 450,000 teen passengers and drivers were injured and more than 5,500 died as a result of vehicle crashes in 2005.
One third of all 16-year-old licensed drivers were involved in a motor vehicle crash in 2005.
Teen drivers, ages 16 and 17, driving with even one teen passenger are 50 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than when driving alone. With two teen passengers in the vehicle, the risk more than doubles. With three or more teen passengers, it’s nearly four times more likely that teens will be involved in a crash than if they were driving alone.
Fifty percent of fatalities that occur with a teen at the wheel happen after dark, even though most teen driving occurs during daylight hours. More than 75 percent of those nighttime crashes by 16- and 17-year-old drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight.
http://cgmedia.daimlerchrysler.com/newsrelease.do?id=6870
Auburn Hills, Mich., May 3, 2007 -
Teen Driving Statistics
Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens.
More than 450,000 teen passengers and drivers were injured and more than 5,500 died as a result of vehicle crashes in 2005.
One third of all 16-year-old licensed drivers were involved in a motor vehicle crash in 2005.
Teen drivers, ages 16 and 17, driving with even one teen passenger are 50 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than when driving alone. With two teen passengers in the vehicle, the risk more than doubles. With three or more teen passengers, it’s nearly four times more likely that teens will be involved in a crash than if they were driving alone.
Fifty percent of fatalities that occur with a teen at the wheel happen after dark, even though most teen driving occurs during daylight hours. More than 75 percent of those nighttime crashes by 16- and 17-year-old drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight.
http://cgmedia.daimlerchrysler.com/newsrelease.do?id=6870
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
20 ways most people waste money on cars
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveonaCar/20waysYouWasteMoneyOnYourCar.aspx
Number one, Premium gas instead of regular
number two, 3,000-mile oil changes
The full write up after the link
Number one, Premium gas instead of regular
number two, 3,000-mile oil changes
The full write up after the link
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
How much for a pair of tires? Here's what I found, and where
I asked for price quotes from these places, and the brand name varies from place to place. . . but when you are buying tires don't you want to go with the least expensive? I do. No way I'm able to afford BFG's or Goodyears all the way around my daily driver and my musclecar.
For 2 tires, 215 60/15 total cost out the door is
PepBoys Cooper Definity 75K mileage warranty ---------------------------$187
Wal Mart DP GT-4 (whatever that is) 40K mileage -----------------------$170 plus tax
Costco Michellin 80k mileage -------------------------------------------------$264
Tire Depot --------------------------------------------------------------------------$166
I like these guys - I always go to them first, for both of my cars- but they haven't won me over like Discount has
EXP tires Cooper SCE 50K -----------------------------------------------------$214
to get your business EXP will match the competition's price. Not good enough for me.
Discount Tires Koumo 50K ----------------------------------------------------$177
And if the price, road hazard warranty fee, and all the goodies that Discount will do for you weren't enough, find the same tire advertised cheaper elsewhere, and they'll beat it.... not like the high price at EXP from step one, Discount has the 2nd lowest price for a pair of tires, and then there's the extra service. I like these guys. That's why I keep going back to Discount tires.
All our TirePrices Include:
FREE Valve Stems
FREE Prorated Road Hazard
FREE Lifetime Rotations
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresByVehicleAndSize.do?mk=PONTIAC&rc=CASINT&yr=2000&sw=false&cs=215&rcc=San%2520Diego&vid=004643&rd=15&ar=60
For 2 tires, 215 60/15 total cost out the door is
PepBoys Cooper Definity 75K mileage warranty ---------------------------$187
Wal Mart DP GT-4 (whatever that is) 40K mileage -----------------------$170 plus tax
Costco Michellin 80k mileage -------------------------------------------------$264
Tire Depot --------------------------------------------------------------------------$166
I like these guys - I always go to them first, for both of my cars- but they haven't won me over like Discount has
EXP tires Cooper SCE 50K -----------------------------------------------------$214
to get your business EXP will match the competition's price. Not good enough for me.
Discount Tires Koumo 50K ----------------------------------------------------$177
And if the price, road hazard warranty fee, and all the goodies that Discount will do for you weren't enough, find the same tire advertised cheaper elsewhere, and they'll beat it.... not like the high price at EXP from step one, Discount has the 2nd lowest price for a pair of tires, and then there's the extra service. I like these guys. That's why I keep going back to Discount tires.
All our TirePrices Include:
FREE Valve Stems
FREE Prorated Road Hazard
FREE Lifetime Rotations
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresByVehicleAndSize.do?mk=PONTIAC&rc=CASINT&yr=2000&sw=false&cs=215&rcc=San%2520Diego&vid=004643&rd=15&ar=60
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
If you are around Fletcher Parkway (El Cajon) on the 2nd or 3rd Thursday of the month
Beef & Bun, 6pm until 9 or 10
South side of Fletcher Parkway,
South side of Fletcher Parkway,
Just west of the top of the long hill it's on.
If you are driving East bound on Fletcher, it's just 2 blocks past a long right hand curve.
If you are driving West bound on Fletcher, you better be in the left lane, and ready to turn as soon as you make it through the intersection at Garfield, 'cause after this left turn lane you see here in the picture, it's a long, long way before you can make a u turn.
2477 Fletcher Pkwy. A block West of Garfield.
(619) 465-0767
http://www.carsnet.com/events.html
"Beef N Bun is this little place in El Cajon on Fletcher Parkway that has the best shakes ever. The chocolate-banana being particularly tasty. Every December they have eggnog shakes"
http://makeme.typepad.com/make_me/2007/01/wolves_and_shee.html
any questions give Matt a call at 619-517-2522
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
I'm at a loss for words...
I'm the #10 favorite blog for http://www.techandtonic.com/ that says it all.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
A little bit about Aston Martins
Named for a famous (at the time) hill climb race (think Pike's Peak) the Aston Hill Climb.
Keep in mind that this was around 1913. Vehicles were still so fundamental and unproven that sales were largely due to winning endurance races, races set up by the rich, for other rich people to participate in and have fun with, and the cars were just a tool to gain bragging rights among the elite circles.. .. in America it was Vanderbilts and so on... as only the fabulously wealthy could afford such toys.
So named partly for the hill climbing race, and partly for one of the two founding fathers Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had partnered up to sell and service cars by Singer, GMK, and Calthorpe. Their first Aston Martin was made in 1915, but never got into production due to WW1. Incidentally stopping the car making before it got off the ground, and ironically, then all the manufacturing machinery was sold to Sopwith Aviation Company (who are well known for Snoopy's famous Sopwith Camel), and a fine airplane it was.
After the close of WW1, the company went back in business, setting speed and endurance records, but with very limited production, and rich enough buyers in post WW1 England, it went bankrupt in 1924, and 1925.
Bamford left in 1920, Martin in 1926.
In 1947 David Brown bought the company, and there-after the models were named DB this and DB that. Yeah, I didn't know that either. Huh. Trivia, cool stuff. In 1972 it was again in financial woes, and sold of to financiers who intended to profit... yeah, right.
It was sold time and again, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1983, 1984, and in 1987 a coincidental meeting between a financier owner and a friend of his at Ford England, brought up the brilliant idea of Ford buying 75% of the eternally struggling company, and so it passed to Ford's majority ownership , which became total when the last 25% was acquired from Victor Gauntlett, the chairman at the 1987 to 1993 era.
Now at 100% ownership, Ford ramped up investment, manufacturing, and production. Keep in mind that Ford owned Jaguar as well, and the experience of all the techs, engineers, and management came into fruition to make both Aston Martin and Jaguar and Ford do very well in the competitive world of high tech, high speed, high value, high profitability luxury cars.
Ford found that losing all the automobile business to rivals GM and Toyota was putting it in the red, and sold a majority share of Aston Martin in March 2007, to a financial consortium of 2 Kuwaiti investment companies and a Aston Martin collector, and the chairman of Prodrive... a racing orientated company that in heavily involved in the World Rally Championship, other rally races, and touring car races.
So why all my sudden interest? A very awesome new magazine called Octane had a marvelous feature on Aston Martins. http://www.octane-magazine.com/features.php
Other info from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin
Answer to the previous posting "What is it?" 1972 Aston Martin DBS
Keep in mind that this was around 1913. Vehicles were still so fundamental and unproven that sales were largely due to winning endurance races, races set up by the rich, for other rich people to participate in and have fun with, and the cars were just a tool to gain bragging rights among the elite circles.. .. in America it was Vanderbilts and so on... as only the fabulously wealthy could afford such toys.
So named partly for the hill climbing race, and partly for one of the two founding fathers Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had partnered up to sell and service cars by Singer, GMK, and Calthorpe. Their first Aston Martin was made in 1915, but never got into production due to WW1. Incidentally stopping the car making before it got off the ground, and ironically, then all the manufacturing machinery was sold to Sopwith Aviation Company (who are well known for Snoopy's famous Sopwith Camel), and a fine airplane it was.
After the close of WW1, the company went back in business, setting speed and endurance records, but with very limited production, and rich enough buyers in post WW1 England, it went bankrupt in 1924, and 1925.
Bamford left in 1920, Martin in 1926.
In 1947 David Brown bought the company, and there-after the models were named DB this and DB that. Yeah, I didn't know that either. Huh. Trivia, cool stuff. In 1972 it was again in financial woes, and sold of to financiers who intended to profit... yeah, right.
It was sold time and again, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1983, 1984, and in 1987 a coincidental meeting between a financier owner and a friend of his at Ford England, brought up the brilliant idea of Ford buying 75% of the eternally struggling company, and so it passed to Ford's majority ownership , which became total when the last 25% was acquired from Victor Gauntlett, the chairman at the 1987 to 1993 era.
Now at 100% ownership, Ford ramped up investment, manufacturing, and production. Keep in mind that Ford owned Jaguar as well, and the experience of all the techs, engineers, and management came into fruition to make both Aston Martin and Jaguar and Ford do very well in the competitive world of high tech, high speed, high value, high profitability luxury cars.
Ford found that losing all the automobile business to rivals GM and Toyota was putting it in the red, and sold a majority share of Aston Martin in March 2007, to a financial consortium of 2 Kuwaiti investment companies and a Aston Martin collector, and the chairman of Prodrive... a racing orientated company that in heavily involved in the World Rally Championship, other rally races, and touring car races.
So why all my sudden interest? A very awesome new magazine called Octane had a marvelous feature on Aston Martins. http://www.octane-magazine.com/features.php
Other info from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin
Answer to the previous posting "What is it?" 1972 Aston Martin DBS
Volvo trivia... huh!
1971 Volvo P1800 ES
In an interesting historical note, this car competes in British car events - the reason being that though Volvo is a Swedish company, these cars were built in Scotland.
In an interesting historical note, this car competes in British car events - the reason being that though Volvo is a Swedish company, these cars were built in Scotland.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
International Automotive Media Awards winners for 2006
http://www.aztexcorp.com/expressionengine/index.php?/weblog/comments/424/
16th International Automotive Media Competition announces 2006 International Automotive Media Awards (IAMAs)
Jim Dunne and Jean Jennings take top honors
Veteran auto writer/spy photographer Jim Dunne is the 2006 recipient of the International Automotive Media Award for Lifetime Achievement. ( Brock Yates, Car and Driver, won in 2002 )
Dunne has been Detroit Editor of Popular Mechanics for the past 21 years. His career began with a column for national magazines in the mid-1960s, which continues today.
Jim’s reputation nowadays is equally based on being one of the pioneers in so-called spy photography. As photographer or writer, he travels extensively.
In addition to all the above--auto writing, photography and travel, together with an active sports life--Jim Dunne is a safety device inventor/patent holder, and fit in a stint as technical writer for Redstone Missile.
A native Detroiter, Dunne is a graduate of the University of Detroit and a U.S. Army veteran. He has seven grown children, and lives now in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
Some things that stood out in a couple catagories
A-6, History: General
“Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle,” by Thom Taylor, Gold to Publications International, Ltd.
“Muscle Car,” publishing by KP Books, Gold to John Gunnell
“Muscle: America’s Legendary Performance Cars,” published by MBI, Gold to Randy Leffingwell and Darwin Holmstrom
A-7, History: Single Marque or Manufacturer
“Cobra: The First Forty Years,” published by MBI, Gold to Trevor Legate
A-18, Collector Vehicles
“The Cobra in the Barn,” published by MBI, Bronze to Tom Cotter
E-5, History: Motorsport
“When Giants Raced, parts 1-3,” Bronze to Hal Crocker/Vintage Motorsport Inc.
F-40, Design: Total Publication
Motor Trend Classic, March/April 2006, Gold to Motor Trend Classic (which was killed by Motor Trend) (bastards)
M-28, Intro of New Models
“Design Perspectives—Bring Back the Challenger,” on Motor Trend Radio, Gold to Bob Long
16th International Automotive Media Competition announces 2006 International Automotive Media Awards (IAMAs)
Jim Dunne and Jean Jennings take top honors
Veteran auto writer/spy photographer Jim Dunne is the 2006 recipient of the International Automotive Media Award for Lifetime Achievement. ( Brock Yates, Car and Driver, won in 2002 )
Dunne has been Detroit Editor of Popular Mechanics for the past 21 years. His career began with a column for national magazines in the mid-1960s, which continues today.
Jim’s reputation nowadays is equally based on being one of the pioneers in so-called spy photography. As photographer or writer, he travels extensively.
In addition to all the above--auto writing, photography and travel, together with an active sports life--Jim Dunne is a safety device inventor/patent holder, and fit in a stint as technical writer for Redstone Missile.
A native Detroiter, Dunne is a graduate of the University of Detroit and a U.S. Army veteran. He has seven grown children, and lives now in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
Some things that stood out in a couple catagories
A-6, History: General
“Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle,” by Thom Taylor, Gold to Publications International, Ltd.
“Muscle Car,” publishing by KP Books, Gold to John Gunnell
“Muscle: America’s Legendary Performance Cars,” published by MBI, Gold to Randy Leffingwell and Darwin Holmstrom
A-7, History: Single Marque or Manufacturer
“Cobra: The First Forty Years,” published by MBI, Gold to Trevor Legate
A-18, Collector Vehicles
“The Cobra in the Barn,” published by MBI, Bronze to Tom Cotter
E-5, History: Motorsport
“When Giants Raced, parts 1-3,” Bronze to Hal Crocker/Vintage Motorsport Inc.
F-40, Design: Total Publication
Motor Trend Classic, March/April 2006, Gold to Motor Trend Classic (which was killed by Motor Trend) (bastards)
M-28, Intro of New Models
“Design Perspectives—Bring Back the Challenger,” on Motor Trend Radio, Gold to Bob Long
Monday, April 16, 2007
1977 factory stock Dodge Aspen was faster than the Corvette, the Trans Am, the Camaro
The Aspen/Volare twins were light enough that with certain engines, they were rather potent--tests from car magazines of the day revealed that the 1977 360-engined Aspen, with a two barrel carb, was about on a par from zero to sixty miles per hour as the 1977 Camaro Z28 and Corvette L82, both with four barrel 350s.
All three of these cars were faster than the 1977 Trans Am 400-4.
The Aspen was a bit slower by the clock but faster through the traps in the quarter mile than all of the other three from GM.
The 318 offered more sedate, everyday performance. It was obviously less powerful, but it performed about the same as its competing models with similar-sized engines of the day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Aspen
All three of these cars were faster than the 1977 Trans Am 400-4.
The Aspen was a bit slower by the clock but faster through the traps in the quarter mile than all of the other three from GM.
The 318 offered more sedate, everyday performance. It was obviously less powerful, but it performed about the same as its competing models with similar-sized engines of the day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Aspen
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