Doc1647545523

"Cleveland 'till I die" t-shirts, eh? I would imagine that those would be best in either black, as shown, or dark red. Just sayin'

Congratulations, Mark. Best wishes in your new venture.

I agree with you, Greg, even the cheap car part. I'd +rep you, but of course, that feature's disabled. "If you're not happy here and now, you never will be." -Taisen Deshimaru

I've got a bunch of boxes of all sizes at the Hangout that you can have for free. I think I also have a number of laundry baskets that you can borrow.

You found the right place, Jason. The scene slows down a lot here in the cold weather, but the bench racing and build threads more than make up for it. Welcome.

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1860272&postcount=1183

For a car guy, I would think the Lane Motor Museum should be on your list. It's not a large museum but has some very unusual vehicles. I liked Centennial Park a lot. Panduh already gave you the low-down on entertainment and bar scene. It's a little more Bohemian than most people expect for Nashville. Dining at Prime 108 in the Union Station Hotel is an experience you won't soon forget because of the awesome architecture. The food ain't bad, either.

The whole crew at Wheel Medic are great. They go above and beyond any other shop I've encountered. I wouldn't trust my wheels to anyone else.

Thanks, Ryan. I thought about posting the Part II video, then thought it might confuse people about which rally was which. But I appreciate you posting .... I'm frankly surprised anyone else had much interest.

On Day 2 we searched Michigan and Ohio for lunar landing modules, moon rocks, and the elusive Dover Mail Truck made by the Hudson Motor Car Company in 1929. Brian's stang was back to 100%, and the Bentley and Audi continued to run fine. We rolled into Kil-Kare for a few hours of track rental. Our weather had been perfect the whole time and it was 78 degrees at the track, with excellent track prep. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/12_zps2vaaeasl.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/102_4511_zpsjw3xyivv.jpg On my run against the Z06, I think I surprised Chris with a .4 second reaction time and a fast 60', but my 3 ton luxo-barge couldn't run its best time in that temp and I ended up looking at the ugly tail end of that vette by the end of the track. The group had a great time, and there was no waiting to run. I believe this little fellow even gave it a try: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/18_zpsix6io1qx.jpg In the end, we raised over $30,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation, with this year's total raised by Rally North America over $154,000. The next rally will be The Big Sky Rally, July 10-15, from Billings, Montana to Portland Oregon. I hope we can get some of our CR veteran teams back together to make a good showing for that. Carpe viam! http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/02_zpssoeydo8t.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/102_4479_zps70rncrmg.jpg

Stopping at another checkpoint along the Lake, Brian informed us that he had been driving for some miles in limp mode, with a MAF signal problem. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/03_zpsdg6ygnju.jpg After some field diagnostics, he decided to head to the day's finish in Muskegon and he arranged for parts to be driven from Ohio. He can tell the rest of the story. Some lighthouse, somewhere, I can't keep them all straight: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/15_zpsvgbfgkev.jpg Our start for Day 2 was in Muskegon, Michigan. We stayed in a downtown hotel the night before and used the city center as our starting line: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/08_zpsyibmivw4.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/17_zpsacwmyjev.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/11_zps155hnfdr.jpg The Bentley proudly wore the JET AUTO GROUP decal, as CR sponsor Jordan (2highpsi) again gave generously to sponsor Team Bentley, as did CR sponsor Wheel Medic http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/01_zpsqdl03ama.jpg

We were then sent off to look for a lighthouse and learned that many of Michigan's lighthouses were nearly-identical; trying to match the photos we were given proved difficult for some teams. I think this one was at Charlevoix: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/14_zpsshf5qz68.jpg We were routed along the "Tunnel of Trees" on M119. I don't have my own photos, but this gives you an idea: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/5760ca5bcf256e6f6b34847c0c454fff_zpsmogrixhl.jpg It is mostly dense tree canopy along Lake Michigan, with the occasional but breathtaking break in the trees: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/13_zpst9i5ugfu.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/05_zps2eu2pxpu.jpg We stopped our little caravan to enjoy the views. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/10_zps5moxmcny.jpg We picked up a team or two along the way to help with navigation. Meeting new folks is one of the perks of rallies like this one. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/102_4462_zpseengs406.jpg

Last weekend, October 9-11, three teams from Columbus Racing competed in the Ohio Valley Rally, which took place from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, along Michigan's western lakeshore, and finished at Kil-Kare Raceway. Many of you have read my previous threads on the Rally North America events and over 30 CR members have participated in the rallies since the 2010 Route 66 Rally. In fact, Scott Spielman (Spieldawg on CR) is the co-founder of Rally North America. Their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RallyNorthAmerica I had long-time friend (I was formerly his housefather ) Charlie Copp, a retired Marine Colonel as my co-pilot for Team Bentley. The other Teams were Mike (Aesthetic Influx on CR) driving his 2010 Audi A5 with his Dad as co-pilot, and Brian (Coaster on CR) in his 2015 Mustang GT. The rally is a timed event, done scavenger hunt style, designed to put you on a route over the best roads of the area, seeing interesting sites off the beaten path. We didn't have podium finishes this time, but Brian won an award -- I'll let him explain that. My photography skills are substandard, and I hope that Brian and Mike will add their photos and their commentary to this thread. Day 1, lining up against my arch rival Chris Harper in his 2015 Corvette Z06 in Mackinaw City at the starting line at the shore of Lake Huron: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/day%20one%20line%20up%20center%20column_zpshitibwyz.jpg It's really quite a nice car, and although I got a big jump on him off the line at Kil-Kare at the end of the rally, I ended up getting spanked, as he ran a mid-11 to the Bentley's 13.7. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/bent%20amp%20corvette%20day%201_zpsvijwm26a.jpg About 50 teams competed, and staging is done according to how much money you raised for the charity, which in the Ohio Valley Rally is always the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/06_zpswdkh0gqn.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/07_zpssvlhxmal.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/19_zpsaxuof06w.jpg Our first checkpoint required us to cross the Mackinac Bridge and find Castle Rock, a 200 foot limestone sea stack which was formed as the surrounding land eroded into post-glacial Lake Algonquin, which was higher than Lake Huron. The Rock might have been used as a lookout by Native Americans in the area. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/2015%20OVR/16_zpstyqrsrps.jpg

and those are the GOOD points? :gabe: I'm of the school of thought that vehicles should be regularly driven and never stored. I drive mine monthly at a minimum, every two weeks even better. It's a rare winter in Ohio that doesn't have dry roads at least once a month. I don't take a rare or a valuable car out in road salt, but reserve that duty to one vehicle which gets Michelin X-Ice tires for the winter months only. Then, I try to keep those winter tires off of dry pavement, and only use them on ice/snow. I drive >100 miles nearly every day and always have a vehicle which can get me to work even on the worst snow days, guaranteed. The last time I was snowed-in was in 1978. This strategy has helped me keep ten (mostly older) vehicles in service with minimal costs and failures.

If you can remain mindful on your journey, you eventually reach a point when you realize that there is more road behind you than ahead. The "end of the road," though still out of sight, becomes less abstract, you begin to feel the pain of it, and you start to anxiously scan the horizon for it. I've already passed the mile marker of that realization. Perhaps this is also true of enthusiast organizations. At the point a group becomes self-referential, it's already decoupled from its vibrancy. It can sometimes be put back on track, but like the cigar which burns out, you can re-light it but it will never really be same. Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold. At one extreme, you can try to be all things to all people, let everybody join, be the forum for any topic, anything goes. By some fluke you might even survive despite the multitude of competitors trying to do exactly the same thing. But your members will have forgotten what the letters CR ever stood for .... Cooking Recipes? Conservative Review? By diluting yourself, you've deluded yourself. Or, on the other hand, you can try to stay true to your roots, maintain your integrity, risk a dwindling membership. But stop denying it: The days are numbered for amateurs driving their high-powered cars on the street in a "spirited" way. Your children will prefer their entertainment pods which pilot themselves to their destinations. Your grandchildren will not learn to drive at all. And you're looking for new blood for this hobby? There'll be precious few quickenings for creatures of the night the likes of us. I've driven my own drive and want to stay true to my route. I'm thankful for the miles I've logged. For me, it's been the journey, not the destination. I have no other insight to offer and no advice on how to run CR. I'm grateful for the ways the members of CR have enriched my life.

I was at the airport when it landed. The whole place went on high alert, lots of confusion and rushing around. Rumor was that it was some sort of covert search and rescue operation. Security announcement said no photos, but I got one with my phone before being pushed away from the area. Not sure what it means, but figured CR would know ....... http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/9481417964_9d7b29180a_o_zpsxexln8ky.jpg

Not to worry. I've asked Cordell to find you and help solve your problem. It will all be over soon, trust me.

I know of a Buick you can borrow. It's just sitting at the Hangout with a battery charger on it.

The Summer rally filled with rally veterans 6 months in advance, and never opened to the public. I suspect that the July 2016 one will do the same. The Ohio Valley Rally (the "Fall rally") doesn't always fill with rally veterans, and it's the only way currently to make your way into the Summer rally. Registration for this year's Fall rally has closed. Your best bet is to keep your eye on the website or the Facebook page 6-8 months in advance to see what you need to do. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RallyNorthAmerica Website: https://www.rallynorthamerica.com/ If you need other info, feel free to ask me. If I can't answer your question, I'll send you on to someone who can.

Yep, Matt Farah ribbed me more than a bit in that podcast for taking the Slingshot to a Rally. But I had a blast with it, despite the rough weather. A good road, a good ride, and good friends are all ya need.

Here's part I of their rally video. I posted it here on it's own thread because I figure it'll get buried in my original rally thread.

Here's the first installment of The Smoking Tire's recap of the Rally:

I can't argue theory, but in practice the boxer twins were a mixed bag. I owned the R100/7 (airhead) which was okay on vibration, but the bike he's referencing was often criticized for it. BMW seemed to have issues with some of the oil-head boxers which replaced the airheads. The smoothest configuration in my experience was the 90 degree V-Four. I had it in two Hondas.

Good advice above. Trailer it. I got caught one October riding a bike back from New England when the weather changed. Light snow through the mountains in Pennsylvania made it very scary. Even with winter riding gear I got so cold I lined my coat with newspaper to try to stay warm, and my hands were so cold I had trouble operating the hand controls. I should never had tried to drive in those conditions, but I was young and foolish then. (As the song goes) I'm old and foolish now. But at least I know enough not to travel at that time of year through those mountains.

BrianZ06 also provides lawn services in that area. I'm sure he'll respond quickly to a pm on here.