2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

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Jimmy
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

I suppose this means that my only hope is to disquise Gene, making Morgan think it's really me driving.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Steve Simmons »

MoPho wrote:I can always take out the old Lotus Elan instead, but then again, ask Steve what happens when you try and chase a Lotus down Latigo :P
I sure can't argue with that one. Then again, air in the R/F tire would help. More than 6 lbs anyway. :x

Moral of the story: Yes a $1.50 part can ruin your day.
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

MoPho wrote: Latigo is much too technical for really powerful cars to take advantage of their prowess, when I said the v8 won't help, I was considering the handling factor more than power. While the power might help a little going UP Latigo, I much prefer going down, so Jimmy, even if my car breaks I can still coast down (to the awaiting tow truck) faster than you :lol:
Oh, no, not DOWN Latigo! That would further limit my options.
While the V8 B has very good brakes, the horn doesn't work - which I'd need when the brakes stop functioning.
The Beater B has a functional horn, but the brakes are quite iffy.
Besides, I much rather go fast uphill, letting gravity be my safety net.

I could resort to cheating, I suppose. Perhaps a combination of using Tanny's approach to the double yellow lines and a carefully placed mixture of ATF and diesel fuel somewhere along the road.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Steve Simmons »

One more note on the power versus weight thing - stock MGB engines are actually quite heavy for what they are. An aluminum Rover V8 as used in the MGB GT V8 models, is actually around the same weight as the 4-banger in the non-V8 models! There are other things that add weight to the car on a V8 model, but the penalty isn't as great as one might think. A modern V6 is actually lighter than both, and improves the MGB's weight distribution.

My money would still be on MoPho of course. You just can't outrun that Caterham on a twisty road!
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

I looked it up the other day, and the 215 V8 is supposedly about 60 lbs. LIGHTER than the stock 4-banger, 340 vs. 400 lbs.
Minus the cast iron exhaust manifolds, the V8 would be lighter yet. Nearly enough to offset a big heavy roof.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by malcolmr18zoy »

Thanks for posting details of your cars MoPho. I applaud your choice of cars. You seem to have a great older drivers car, and a great modern drivers car. Caterham have made a very good job of bringing the Lotus seven theme bang up to date. Comfort, who wants comfort? May as well take the train, and stay away from the canyons. Also, it seems that you have the reputation for really being able to use your cars!
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by spitfire »

So before I head out today, here are my pictures from the event.

they are in their usual location on picasa. http://picasaweb.google.com/valthun
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Steve Simmons »

Thanks for the pics, Jeremy. I love the one of Linda and I driving towards the vineyards! I ran it through Photoshop and it came out really nice. :)

I may add a few of your pics to the gallery also, if you don't mind.
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

So, Tanny, I'm looking at Jeremy's pics and see a photo of your car...with the brake lights on, as usual.
Well, at least you were going downhill this time, but I'm starting to think that a picture of your GT with the brakelights OFF would be even more of a rarity than one of Malcolm's beater Jag with the hood closed.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by spitfire »

Steve go ahead and and them to the gallery, that is fine. I have pics from today too. Turns out there was an AMC show going on as well. We took some time and snapped pictures of a few cars taking permanent residence in the museum.
I cropped that picture to remove some electrical lines and a modern car.
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by tannyo »

Jimmy wrote:So, Tanny, I'm looking at Jeremy's pics and see a photo of your car...with the brake lights on, as usual.
Well, at least you were going downhill this time, but I'm starting to think that a picture of your GT with the brakelights OFF would be even more of a rarity than one of Malcolm's beater Jag with the hood closed.
Just slowing down so that you can keep up Jimmy.
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

tannyo wrote: Just slowing down so that you can keep up Jimmy.
Thanks, that's very thoughtful of you, Tanny. But you overlooked that the brakes on the Beater B aren't particularly good.
They must've taken a beating when I followed you UP Latigo.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by drtombellows »

I took some photo - nothing special, but they are available on line at

http://picasaweb.google.com/drtombellow ... directlink

Enjoy
Tom 8)
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

Nice pics, Tom.
Too bad you soiled several by having my car in there.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Steve Simmons »

I agree, nice photos despite Jimmy's car being in them. The poor thing doesn't even have a proper roof! I may go ahead and add a few to the gallery anyway...
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

"Proper roof"?!?
Since when was there such a thing as a proper roof??
On a garage, yes, there they do make perfect sense - or where else would you hook up your block and tackle to lift motors and such - but on a car?
Dunno about you guys...meaning you, Malcolm, Tanny etc.

I'll never forget when a friend came back from visting San Francisco in the early Eighties, being all disappointed;
"They have ROOFS on their fire trucks up there. THICK ones".
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by drtombellows »

I don't know about all this roof stuff. :? As far as I am concerned, all car roofs belong in the garage - especially on great days like what we had on Labor Day.

Tom :lol:
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

Thank you, Tom.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by MoPho »

Roofs?!

Real men don't have doors either :P
http://www.morgansegal.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

So true, Morgan.

It dawned on me the other day why I have Super 7 envy, for example.
To me, beautiful vehicles didn't always start out being designed - they just happened.
That's why I like my Peterbilt 359: It's built by "neccessity". Need a place for a driver, so a cab is put on the frame rails.
Gotta cover the engine, so a really simple hood is installed. It needs fenders, which were bolted to the hood sides.
Bolt headlights to the fenders, and it's basically done. It didn't need front brakes, rear fenders or several other items to do the job.
Same thing with my Jeep (and as far as I'm concerned, they stopped making Jeeps in '54) - there was a chassis that needed only the most basic "cover". Fold-down, bolted on windshield, certainly no roof, and no doors.
Utter simplicity can be beautiful, indeed, I think.

Can't wait for the day when cars come with an idiot light that tells if the wipers are on - which were probably turned on be the car itself, automatically, in the first place.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: UH ,

Post by VWNate1 »

There's some good argument for front brakes on those rigs ~ not many left now , many went over the side when descending steep hils carrying logs or cement...

I'm rather partial to the 379 models my ownself , we have quite a few still in service with well over 300,000 miles on them .

So then , you only like flatfender jeeps ? . I always thought they were OK until the mid 1960's , had an M38A1 in New Hampshire when I was much younger .
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

Nate, my 359 does have front brakes, although they aren't required, and I added larger cans to make them more effective - that didn't go over too well at the local scale, though.
Mine has about 25,000 miles to go before the big 1 million-mile celebration. But at the rate I'm driving it these days, that might be 10 years from now.

An M38A1? Too bad, just one model too late. As New York's Museum of Modern Art put it back in the day, when comparing it to the MB and M38; "A typical case of styling - and ugly styling at that - ruining a good, clear example of machine art. It is the usual case of bloating used to make cars look bigger by adding unnecessary curves".

And that vehicle didn't even have a roof!
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by malcolmr18zoy »

Jimmy, I see that you include your Peterbilt among the vehicles that you consider to be beautiful. I also see that you make a comparison with the Caterham. I personally think that all vehicles are designed, and no, successful, vehicles ever just happen. The Caterham is designed as a performance road car with almost no compromise for comfort, therefore no roof or doors. The Peterbilt is designed as a successful heavy hauler that definitely needs to give it's driver the benefit of comfort, including a roof, in order to enable it's driver to endure the long distance haul. There's a lot of ground in between those two vehicles, but to follow your frequently stated principals, surely you would be hacking the roof from your Peterbilt. I, personally, think that a roof is a very necessary part of a car. I also think that designers, and stylists are necessary. Designers are essential, and stylists are desirable. Even Caterhams and Peterbilts are styled, yes, and very carefully.
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by Jimmy »

And here I thought that most vehicles had roofs mainly because they were essential for making the otherwise too flimsy vehicle somewhat stable.
Either way, there's nothing particularly comfortable about driving a Sixties design era Peterbilt. It's noisy as hell and not particularly softly sprung. Much like a sportscar in that sense. Perhaps with the main differences being in acceleration and cornering prowess. On the other hand, in the Pete I can get to endure the torture for upwards of 2,000 miles without having to stop for fuel, and many races are won by minimizing the pit stops.
I'm not sure if cutting the roof off of it would make that much difference in comfort (it might actually let some noise out) but while I haven't considered de-roofing that one, I would like to chop it 1.5 to 2 inches and get rid of that too-tall windshield look it shares with an MGB GT.
In baseball, running into someone is apparently a "collision".
But doing the same thing in a car somehow makes it an "accident".
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Re: 2009 Labor Day Run - Now with photos!

Post by malcolmr18zoy »

I don't think you could improve the look of your Peterbilt. The whole thing looks just perfect the way it is. I think that model of Peterbilt is the best looking heavy hauler on the road, bar none. I also think that the MGB GT is an extremely good looking car. I can't think of another GT version of a convertible that looks anywhere near as good as the MGB GT. As far as I'm concerned, it is the perfect MGB. There is a weight penalty, of course, but the weight is positioned to give the car better balance. Plus a roof is worth the weight penalty.
Malcolm
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