Doc1647545523

Original post has important updated info and parking information.

sure, but it's not all the dramatic. Blue Limestone in particular looks like any other small town park. Austin is interesting, and with some good editing might make a decent 5 minute short.

Many thanks to Mark of Dent Mender http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/member.php?u=7205 He came to the shop and did a great job on the cars. He found dents that I'd not even noticed when I detailed the cars. Very reasonable price, too. I would recommend him without hesitation.

I'm at home right now, call me if you want to come up. I'll give you the tour. It's not like it puts me out or anything. 740-405-5565

I guess "playing what we want" was too good to go on forever: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/10/24/biz-brfs-1024-g5vju04l-1.html I loved the station in their early days, but continued to listen even as the advertising increased. RIP Jack

Keep in mind, Scott, that it's not a pleasant daily commute from where you live now to Delaware. I realize that working in a good environment is pretty important, but factor-in that drive twice a day.

PM me specific contact info and I can make some useful suggestions.

It appears that my secret identity is about to be compromised :fuuuu: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/FatMan.jpg

Just bring a hooker and have her pretend she's interested. Problem solved.

Not a problem. No firm commitment, but there'll be a hot cider saved for you, should you decide you can come. Of course she's welcome. Including Blue Limestone Park, I'd say about a mile. Cut out the Park section of the evening, and there would be a 50 yard walk up a gentle hill, then sitting in the lobby, then fifteen-thirty minutes of strolling through the building. We can use the elevators if stairs are hard for her. I don't recommend the Blue Limestone Park section for children under ten. We need to cross a creek or else go through some moderate brush. Either way, not a place for a small child at dusk. It would be great if you would lead that part of the tour, Christian. Do you cross the creek right at the bridge, using the stones from the rubble, or do you follow the north edge of the creek back from Elizabeth Street? I'm trying to figure the way least likely to get people wet/muddy. If the creek's high that day, the regular tour may need to end at the bridge. The plan is this, little buddy. We're kidnapping you and staking you down back by the Wiccan altar and then will come back Sunday morning to see how the evening went for you. Wagner's agreed to do the photography for the event. It'll be fun! :no:

I'll help lead a group of CR friends through Blue Limestone Park in Delaware before dusk on Saturday, November 3rd, then will conduct a tour of Austin Manor, which is adjacent to the Park. This won't be a haunted house or anything of the like. I'm pretty skeptical of the "paranormal," but I will relate two true stories that some people find quite mysterious, even spine-chilling. This event will be later in the day of Late Fall Trackday at Dragway 42 (which shuts down at 2:00 p.m.), here's the schedule: 5:30 p.m. meet at the entrance of Blue Limestone Park in Delaware, Ohio 6:30-6:45 p.m. walk to Austin Manor for mulled cider, restroom break, brief talk by Doc about history of Austin Manor, conducted tour 8:30 p.m late supper (as my guests) at Hamburger Inn in Delaware (less than one mile away) for any survivors (of my talk) UPDATE & PARKING DIRECTIONS Considering the response, I'd suggest parking along the street, near the corner of Elizabeth Street and Winter Street. It shouldn't be hard to spot our group, which will form on the sidewalk in front of Sanborn Hall on Elizabeth Street across from the Delaware Arts Castle at 5:30. We'll be just a few steps away from the entrance to Blue Limestone Park. The Blue Limestone part of the evening will have two options: Option #1 is a conducted tour of the front of the park, accompanied by me, on pavement and grass, ending at the edge of the Graffiti Bridge. Option #2 is self-guided (I'll give you good directions) along a wooded path with low overhangs, muddy and wet trails, leading under the Graffiti Bridge, across a creek, and back into the "hidden quarry." At dusk (around 6:30), we'll meet up at the cars and go as a group up the hill to Austin Manor. If you arrive late to the event or if you want to skip the park portion, please meet at the corner of Elizabeth & Winter Streets at 6:30 p.m. Do not attempt to enter Austin Manor on your own. Doing so will cause us all problems! The basement of Austin Manor is quite dusty and dirty. I suggest jeans, old shirt or sweatshirt, and shoes or boots you don't mind getting dirty. I'd bring a flashlight. Beware broken glass and sharp metal edges. Cameras and video equipment are okay, but please don't photograph building residents. More info from the previous thread Blue Limestone Park generates all sorts of interest. Read more about it here: http://www.forgottenoh.com/Limestone/bluelimestone.html http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/21268427.jpg There is a place back behind the quarries the locals call Graffiti Bridge which takes the Delaware Run under the railroad bed. The local cops are always running Wiccans out of there who use the place for rituals, apparently. There are pentagrams here and there. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/bl-tunnel1.jpg I enjoy strolling through the park for an evening cigar. There is a plank deck which juts out into the water of the first quarry. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/BLP4.jpg The quarry is always murky and seethes with organic smells. Peaceful. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/face_2.jpg For the last 24 years I've lived at Austin Manor, on Ohio Wesleyan's campus. There have been many unexplained things connected with this building. On May 4, 1937 there was a disappearance (believed death) of a coed (Ruth Baumgardner) from this building. It made national news at the time and remains unsolved. My great niece lives in Ruth's old room. A tunnel in the basement of where I live has been implicated in the disappearance, but was sealed off twenty years ago by a friend of mine (I helped move the cinder blocks and watched him do the work). Here's a pic of the wall he erected: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/DSC0143320Large-1.jpg The Central Ohio Paranormal Society has an online report on this place: http://www.centralohioparanormal.net/austinmanor.htm "COPS recently investigated the basement of Austin Manor, on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University. Reports of apparitions, feelings of being watched, and strange noises have come from students, staff members, and tenants for quite a few years. The basement of this building is very large, and has alot of long hallways, dark corridors, defunct dorm rooms, and an old run down, non-working kitchen area. After about four hours of investigating, with remote video and audio gear, we did manage to capture one EVP in the run down kitchen area. As far as it being haunted, we can't really say. Alot of the reports are probably due to being in such an old, historic building. It does have a certain odd feeling to it though." Just having this in your basement would be enough to keep some people on edge. It says "Lose hope, all ye that enter here" and was written by a student in the early 1970's. In person, it has a sorta Blair Witch Project feel to it: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/normal_DSC01468_Large.jpg John Ciochetty, an old friend of mine, wrote a book about hauntings in this area The Ghosts of Stuyvesant Hall and Beyond, and Austin Hall gets a section devoted to it. CR members who visit me usually comment on the staircase that appears to go nowhere: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/normal_DSC01447_Large.jpg I live in the old Dean's quarters. While replacing flooring I discovered a trap door to the basement. There are some very strange features in this building: tunnels, strange passageways, staircases that go straight into the ceiling, sealed rooms, and the like. Although my own suite is not going to be open to tour, you can peek in, if you want. Please post to the thread if you plan to attend so that I can better manage logistics.

I played blackjack there today for about four hours. Most of the advance intel is correct. Penetration is easily over 80% and no one appears to care about backcounting. Mid-shoe entry is allowed. The eye in the sky is definitely watching closely. My dealer mis-paid a push as a win for $50, and at the end of the shoe, a pit boss stepped up to the table and told the customer to give the money back. He did, with no argument. I have no way to know if they watch the play as closely as they watch the payouts, so who knows if they evaluate the play of the high rollers. At one point, 3 suits (all male) snuggled-up close to me, within a foot, while I was playing on the back door spot. I told them that if they wanted to stand any closer to me, I'd have to have them meet my family. They laughed, stepped back, and were very friendly for the rest of their shift and pretty much left me alone. One, a thin, 40ish asian man named Bobby, continued to walk right into my space from time to time and pretended that he was doing my betting for me. I think he was just trying to be funny, but it was sorta strange to see in a brand new casino. I've played regularly in Vegas casinos on vacation and gotten to know pit bosses that well, but only after playing a few days. A few supervisors and dealers are experienced and on loan from other locations, such as Hollywood Toledo. The local cashiers, security, hosts, dealers, cage staff -- all of them -- are very inexperienced and appear inadequately trained. I'd also say that they were all pretty friendly and laid-back, considering the pressure they're under. I had around 10 different dealers, and only one was competent and fast. Some couldn't keep count of the card totals and needed the players to help. Payouts on barberpole side bets were painfully slow. Fortunately, the floor supervisors could count chips in a glance. When I colored up, the dealer tried to give me $500 too much. The shift manager, John, and his assitant, Rick, came by twice to ask me how I was doing. When cashing-in chips at the cage, a cashier counted the money correctly but the supervisor "corrected" her and tried to overpay me. The players were equally unprepared. I saw only two players the whole time who played basic strategy. Guys stood on stiff hands against dealer upcards of 7, 8, 9, 10 ! One guy doubled-down on a 7. I think I need to start having gaming seminars. Less than half of the blackjack tables were open and there were plenty of spots at each of those. All tables were $25 minimum except for one $50 on the main floor. The high roller area had a $100 minimum table. A pit boss said he expects to see the table minimums drop to $15 on the off hours as soon as November. I wouldn't try to play with front money on deposit at the cage -- their IT is messed up and they can't print checks at the tables. Just play with cash. I hope this is helpful to you blackjack fans.

I went by myself to this event today but had a great time anyway. Because the day started out rainy, there were very few spectators or participants besides the Greene County first responders, but they made me feel welcome. They gave me some great tactical kit for coming over, and my registration ticket won me a $100 gas card. The food was good and there were some good deals with the auctions for donated goods. Based on the sampling I saw, my sterotypes were mostly re-inforced. Firemen like big trucks (black or red) http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/DSCN0779.jpg City police like old customs and 70's muscle cars http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/DSCN0781.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/DSCN0780.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/Chevyenginebay.jpg Police captains like old school luxury http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/1975Eldo.jpg And the deputies had to have LSx's or LT1's to be happy, and they love doing burnouts http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/DSCN0778.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/Dscn0776.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Xenia%20FOP%20car%20show/Dscn0777.jpg Next year they plan to have it earlier in the fall, and they said that they would love to have more Columbus Racing people join them. I'll keep you posted.

I hope it gives you years of enjoyment and is a purchase you'll never regret. But frankly, I'm surprised it got you home without a major system failure.

Although it says it is for "internet vendors" and car part info, it gets used for reviewing local businesses, too: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=33

Since it's still looking like a decent chance for rain Saturday morning (but clearning in the afternoon), I phoned the organizer of the event to ask if it's going on, rain or shine. Definitely, yes, I was told. I'll leave at 9:30 from Lennox Cars & Coffee. You're welcome to join me. I'm bringing drying towels and some cleaning supplies to spiff up the car at the show if the weather breaks.

Cliffs: Esprit=totally undependable, even new, after owning one you might decide to give up on cars entirely. Thin line between love and hate, so they say. If the Elise didn't handle better than your EVO, then I would say there was something terribly wrong with the Elise. It needs correct tires and a sport suspension. Also, although adding a turbo is a great idea to perk up the performance, just the factory chip and exhaust changed the car's character entirely and lowered the point of crossover for the valve timing. New, the upgrade was $3500, but it was money well spent and I'm sure many of the used ones will already have this "upgrade" which should have come standard.

Now the weatherman's flipping the forecast to rain on Saturday. I guess I'll just have to see what it looks like Saturday morning and go with that. It'd be great if you can head out with us, Kevin. I expect this will be a somewhat small but friendly gathering (since it's their first car show), but the cops and deputies are promising a fun family time. My plan is to take the Bentley. If the weather's sketchy Saturday when I go to Cars & Coffee, then I'll call the organizers while we're still at Cup o' Joe to confirm that they're going ahead with the show before we drive to Xenia.

Welcome to Columbus Racing. To get "repped-in" here you'll need to add some info to your intro thread and will almost certainly have to post pics and descriptions of your vehicles beyond "a stockish 4banger and a lightly modded bike." Directions here will help: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61288 If you're not familiar with how to host photos to put on the forum, read this as well: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1743 :nopics: I hope you can tell us a little more so that you can graduate from this Oven ..... it can get a bit hot in here if you don't. I'd like to see you make it to some of our meets and track days. Good luck! :thumbup:

Hump day bump. The forecast for Saturday is for dry weather with highs in the mid-50's. Anyone else planning on showing a car?

Great video, Brian. You thinking of turning pro? Again, awesome performance by Mark and his team. They do CR proud. :thumbup:

Clay used to stay in Naples, IIRC. I'd PM him to see what he would recommend.

Brandon owns Capital Towing and is a sponsor here. I doubt that anyone here would know more about the business. His has won national recognition and he has many satisfied customers here. Other members who might know a bit and be willing to help you would be Kevin Clifford of Clifford Automotive and Josh (flattire).

During Street Life Tour some Greene County deputies approached me about having my car in their first car/truck/bike show to benefit the Greene County F.O.P. I told them I would. I invite any interested CR folks to come along. Registration: 10:00 a.m. to noon Prizes awarded at 4:00 p.m. Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio (1166 Dayton-Xenia Road) Prizes in Best Overall, Best Paint, Best Engine Bay, and many more They will be selling food, there's a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, silent and live auctions If you want to convoy down with me, your registration is already paid. I plan to leave Cars & Coffee at Lennox Cup o' Joe around 9:30 a.m. for those who want to go together. If you arrive on your own, it's $10 to register. Spectators free. Post or PM general questions to me. Show-specific questions can go to Deputy Shawn Prall, 937-414-3759 sprall16@yahoo.com FOP Lodge #37 Benevolent Fund website: http://www.gcfop37benevolentfund.org/

Here's a proposal: We meet Saturday, October 27th at 9 p.m. in Delaware, I bring you into Austin Manor for a building tour, afterwards those who wish to tour Blue Limestone Park may do so, survivors join the rest of us for a late dinner at the Hamburger Inn. Let me know in this thread if this works or if another day would be better for you.