craig71188

I'm still on the fence - I have no problem with a casino (or two or three) in Ohio, if Ohioans want to gamble, let them do it in state and keep the money here. I have not been thrilled with any of the past few issues as each one seems to be written to take care of one specific individual's casino plans. I would think the state congress should put together an amendment (if that is what is truely needed to get past constitutional requirements) - and then offer 1-3 casino licenses to the highest bidder. Legislation would address taxes distribution/collection and so forth. No that I have too much faith in politicians to do this well - but the current system of ballot issues is a real clusterfuck!

I too will have to vote against 75 - front page of the Dispatch Sunday eluded to the fact the schools don't really know where the money from the last levy went. Declining enrollment, failure to close more schools - they need to get their house in order before they get any more money. Also, continuing to increase teachers salaries based on years of service and not performance - sorry no support here. I am sorry for the kids, but their parents ought to be raising hell with the administrators - not raising my taxes. By the way, on a side note (but related), when I purchased my house I asked the Franklin County Auditor's office what happened if I purchased it for less than the county's appraised value. THey informed me i could petition the county for a reduction in the valuation and hence pay less property tax. However, if I purchased my house for more than the approased value, Columbus Public Schools would immediatly submit a request to have the property value raised to the new purchase price. Maybe if they laid off that person they would hae some additional money for students.

Don't have an opinion on brand - everyone likes what they like. I would suggest you try here: http://www.mackmattressoutlet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=41 I've purchased the last three mattresses I've needed for the house there. They buy the mismatched, scuffs (my last set of box springs had what looked like a forklift tire rub on one side - it was a king slpit set - I just turned it to the inside), "last years" colors and so on. All their stuff is new, and they only have what they have at the moment, but I've been able to get something I liked each time. Cheap stuff all the way up to top of the line pillow top sets. Last go round was a Simmons king set $399-mattress and box springs.

OK, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae contributions: Chris Dodd #1 Barack Obama #2 (in only three years) Franklin Raines - $90M in six years as head of FM/FM - now Barack's financial adviser The bottom line is that FM/FM have been a democratic playground for years. There was a consistant push to get them to loan money to people who could show no financial means to pay for their houses. Their only hope of equity was that the home would increase in value. Now house values fall, they have no stake in the house, so they walk away - or under this bill, get the house reapraised for less and a new lower rate!!! Are republicans at fault as well - HELL YES! They can throw the whole lot of them out D&R and start over for all I care. Call me a tool - watch the unedited version - like I said, they're all at fault, but follow the money and the Dems look a lot worse.

Of course there is the opinion of the democrats on Freddie/Fannie just a few years ago.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

Just got this through work - if you've gotten tires from Discount Tire - you may want to have them check / replace with a better brand. [/url]NHTSA to Intensify Investigation of Chinese-Made Tire Valves National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigators announced on Sept. 29 their intention to upgrade a probe of Chinese-made Dill TR400 series tire valves that can crack and leak air causing tire damage and potential crashes. The investigation was opened in May to monitor the premature failure of Dill Air Control Products snap-in tire valves because they were cracking. Dill said the valves were made by Topseal, a subsidiary of Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corp. In addition, Dill was served with a suit alleging air leaked from a cracked valve installed in September 2006 to the right rear wheel of a 1998 Ford Explorer that caused a fatal crash in November 2007. The suit claimed that the rollover resulted from the sudden failure of the tire valve, which was caused by air leakage. The valve was installed by a Discount Tire store, who is a co-defendant with Dill. Topseal claimed the cracking problem was linked to a change in suppliers of a chemical that provides protection against cracking. Through the investigation, 23,000 cracked Dill valves were discovered by Discount Tire, and half of them were leaking air. In May, Dill requested all of its North American customers return unused valve inventories from the 2006 production lot and recommended inspection procedures to detect and replace affected valves. NHTSA determined that Dill valves installed from August 2006 through July 2007, a time where Topseal lots were made with the new protection chemical, were more likely to be cracked than non-Dill valves and Dill valves installed before and since that day. Discount Tire told NHTSA it began sending letters to owners in July about the cracking valves and the potential safety risks and offered free replacements of the tire valves. Approximately 23.5 million TR400 series tire valves are under scrutiny. For more information on the Discount Tire Customer Advisory, visit [url=http://www.mmsend2.com/ls.cfm?r=42056018&sid=4957157&m=579699&u=AutoAfterM&s=http://dtcares.com]http://dtcares.com. For more information on Dill's advisory, visit http://dillaircontrols.com.

Go the vintage way - drill the head and safety wire it.

Chris Dodd #1 on the list for dollars in political contributions from Freddie Mac/Fannie May (over 20 years +/-) Barry Oboma #2 (in only three years) Franklin Raines - Barry's finance adviser (made $90M in 6 years heading up Freddi Mac) The democrats saw no problems and wanted no regulation because this was their playground. Clinton urged these agancies to loosen up lending practices. Total dollars involved far exceed ENRON - but will any Democrats get the "perp walk" (handcuffed and hauled out before the press)? Rumor is an FBI investigation is being done on some of the past/present leaders of these agencies. It certainly won't be a congressional investigation! Just a few observations.

When we had a "real" state fair - that was the best day to go - motorcycle flat track racing at the old grandstand/track. One major reason there's no real reason to go anymore.

Paul Newman passed away Friday. A great racing enthusiast and actor. R.I.P. http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/27/paul.newman.dead/index.html?section=cnn_latest

I always liked Zaleski - south loop gets a lot of day hikers, north loop is a little less travelled. Combined they make a 26(?) mile loop. Some interesting history along the way (in the trail guide).

BBS actually made 3 lug wheels for these cars when they were raced in SCCA - yes, just write a big enough check and you can have your own spec pro series in SCCA! A friend of mine bought an old "Renault Cup" Le Car - complete with 2-3 sets of 3 lug BBS's with it. Wierd-o-rama!!! Imagine 20-30 Le Cars all charging (OK slowly gatthering speed) coming to the green flad at M-O - hysterical!

Wells Cargo "Tote Wagon" (TW series) enclosed trailer. Single 4' swing out rear door. Torsion axle (vs. cheaper spring axle), newer tires & white spoke wheels, includes spare. Has provision for 120v plug in on side w/single GFCI outlet in trailer. Very good condition except for some slight hail damage (dimpling) on front of trailer. Used to haul karts for many years - great for hauling/storing bikes as well - $1800 See photos here: http://columbus.craigslist.org/for/825602666.html

Well shit - I'm out, an unexpected passing of one of our customers, and some folks on vacation leaves me with a few "must do" tasks for work on Friday. I always used to go in the "back way" off I-76, but we came home via I-80 from the 24 hrs - seemed faster that way. Still about 2 to 2 1/2 hours travel time.

Maybe, but it sure wasn't a fair trade, he and Crossle were my personal pit bitches - we busted their endurance racing cherry's!!! I think they totalled about 3 hours sleep from 6:00 am Saturday till 6 pm Sunday!

I can live with that - just don't watch the car in front of you too much - I noticed you almost followed the Mustang off - and you were too far off the apex's - just like the Mustang!!! Now, can YOU live with me bitchin at ya?!?!? I'm trying to work my schedule to sneak up for the day, probably won't know for sure till Wednesday.

Give me an idea of time of departure to head up / head home. I may be able to break away - nothing to drive, but can do some driver coaching if anyone is interested. I've driven a few laps up there!

I had a chance to walk the track prior to the 24 hour race last weekend - WOW - even the pavement that was "new" several years ago has multiple patches, most right on the racing line. I can definitely see why they are ready to tear it up and repave. Turn one-two-three has several patches on the racing line. Turn 5 (Oak Tree) looked rough all the way through. We didn't walk all the way to the carousel. The "kink" through turn 13 looked about the same as it had been. That said, we did break a stub axle on the 240Z, a failure we have not had before, but we do not think it was specifically track related. Drivers were still able to turn times comparable to last year. On a "street" suspension, you should not have any real problems - if you've never driven here before it will just seem "normal" to you. If you've driven at Mid Ohio, this will seem like a goat path in comparison. We didn't hear any more specifics about plans over the weekend. Go play while you can! It is still a great drivers course where you will carry a fairly high average speed. Our fastest times were in the low 1:18 range at over 92 mph average speed - a great weekend!!!

I'll let you all know first hand on its condition in a couple of weeks - and it will be worse then than it is now. We're headed up to crew at the 24 hour race the 23rd-25th of this month. The track has had several areas patched, partially paved and ground down over the years - but never a total remake that I can recall in 25+ years I've been going. Word is, if sold, it will get plowed up down to the base and all ned pavement put down - just won't be the same!

Lock it up - car has left for New York state - SOLD!

Damn - was just going to post this up! New sticky tires for the kart are due in Tuesday - a little tune up on the carb for a little wider power band - Andy will be away - if I can just get Tim to slow up...

Use less brake??? (yes, I am a smartass) Brake ducts are your friends. There are many sources for duct tubing, even ducts (the air scoops) themselves. A few hours routing and tying them up under the front end and you will be in business. I haven't looked closely at the front of a Subi - put in your pic, I see two small black areas under your fog lights that look like good duct openings (potentially). And finally - anti sieze copound on all brake fasteners! Steel Bolt + Cast Bracket + Big Heat = siezed parts!!!

+1 for seasoning rotors (and bedding in new pads-even "street" pads). Also, PLEASE don't buy the cheap chinese rotors for track use - there is no consistancy in their quality (also be sure you know where the drilling/slotting people get theres if you feel you have to have these "features"). I have recently used a couple sets of the Raybestos "premium" rotors and they have held up very well. You really don't need the drilling or slotting. We have raced on unslotted/undrilled rotors forever with no problems. Run a duct to the inside center of the rotor for some fresh air (vented rotor) or for solid rotors, be sure you duct both sides more or less equally.

Got to keep the kids safe - but you will find Nelson is pretty easy on brakes (especially compared to Road America-or Mid Ohio). There's really only two places you use the brakes hard, turn 5 (Oak Tree) and turn 12. You might need a tap into turn 1 and again a tap at the carousel. Of course this is in "enduro" mode - in sprint mode you'll probably be touching the brakes a little at turn 4 and 13 as well, but still not real hard or for a long time. There's also a nice seperation between the two hard useage areas to allow stuff to cool. At the 24 hr race there we ran Repco Metal Masters (long before all the new Hawk/EBC/etc were available) and could go about 14 hours on the fronts on a 240Z and/or the 300ZX - and the 300ZX would go the entire 24 hours on the rears with no problem.

Just a note to all you "fun day" hopefulls. I am headed up to the 24 hour race August 22-24. Rumors are floating that sometime in September the track may cancel all remaining events and close for the year to begin the repaving / reworking of the facility. Supposedly the track will be torn up and taken clear down to the base fill and all new pavement will be put down. Of course this is all still rumor - but you may wan to work in any fun day plans as early as possible, usually there's a grain of truth somewhere in these rumors...