redkow97

anyone who doesn't like "God" on their money; I'll happily take it off your hands. personally, i don't give a shit what my money says... BUT, I have to believe that there are millions of American Christians who would be outraged if our money said "in Allah we trust." I'm not sure how those people can so passionately argue that "in God we trust" is 'fair.' I vote that all currency feature a festivus pole.

our forecast says 3-5" today, and 6-10" tomorrow. I'm going home early, and working form home tomorrow, but that has nothing to do with the snow :-p

where does it sit on their performance chart? it used to be Pilot Power, Pilot Power 2CT, Power Race. Then the Power One replaced the Power Race. Is this replacing the 2CT?

the danger involved in dirt riding is something I'm not thrilled about. Out of all the trackday guys I've met, or talk to online, the only one who has died riding was on a dirtbike... I'll still consider one, but I might be pickier than most about where I'll ride.

i received replies from the office of 3 senators. All generic, but not so generic that I didn't feel like SOMEONE read my reply. An aide or secretary, probably, but enough to restore some faith in the system.

roadracingworld action fund, red-flag fund, or airfence fund. maybe not as noble as saving animals, etc., but it helps people who enjoy the same things we do.

I prefer to say "anarchy doesn't wait for approval." sad as this story is, I think it's a desperation move on the part of the drug lords. Seems rather reactionary, emotional, and not very tactful. If they think this will scare away the drug war, I think they're sadly mistaken.

I've worked for the corporate offices of a franchiser since 2005. You have a PM.

the only one i kind of liked was the Honda concept. What's the fascination with hub-less wheels? I admit I don't know the mechanics behind them, but it would seem that you're replacing 2 bearings with... well, a lot more than 2. the loss in un-sprung weight from removing the hub's center is a good thing, but the braking system, and all those 'radial' bearings have to add quite a bit back, no?

I agree that slow isn't always the solution, and 5mph is a bit of an extreme example, but by my house, there's a "<--->" sign at the bottom of a hill. The speed limit is 20 there (park and school near by), and that sign gets taken out no less than 3 times every winter. There are tire marks on the tree-lawn several times a week from people who narrowly avoid the sign. I crest the hill at 10mph max, so I'm sure I can stop in time. And this isn't a steep grade.

any chance we can apply this retroactively? :-D

I'm glad I wasn't in town for the first snow of the year. It seems like even people who are used to snow forget how to drive in it for the first few snow-falls. I liked the radio guy who reminded people with 4wd, "that doesn't help you STOP any faster." Every time they interview someone who hit "black ice," I want to yell at the TV. "your car wants to go straight." If you're not turning the wheel, smashing the gas, or locking the brakes for some retarded reason, your car simply goes straight. how about leaving more room to stop and maybe slowing down 5mph? <eyeroll> One of my coworkers called in sick today "because her car is rear wheel drive." My first thought: "bitch, I drive a 2wd ford ranger with the bigger V6... Your BMW 530 has traction control, and more weight over the rear wheels." My second thought: "you know, there was a time (quite a LONG time) that front-wheel drive didn't exist. People still got to and from places in the winter.

Different/new tracks are a valid argument for choosing your own riding group. I think it's most applicable to "A" riders, but learning a track in "I" would be a nice option if you're new to the layout. It's nice that STT has that option. I wish NESBA would let people bump themselves down, even if just for a few sessions, to get their braking markers and turn-in points down. you said "couches" a lot - did you mean "coaches," or were you referring to people who are riding slowly through the turns? the situation you reference was being run wide. that can surely happen. But you'd be just as pissed off if someone had made an inside pass, low-sided, and taken you out that way. The difference is you CHOSE to make the pass, and assumed that risk. If someone is passing you on the inside, then THEY are the one choosing to put YOU at risk. That just doesn't sit well with me (at a trackday, in the "I" group anyway). If I'm going to pass someone on the outside, you better believe i'm going to follow them for a lap or two and see where they're leaving room, and I'd still try to get them on the brakes, or coming out of a turn if I could... Outside passes are a last resort, IMHO. Again, passing rules don't make either org better or worse - it's personal preference and how much you trust your fellow riders. I usually spend the morning sessions just feeling out who I don't have to worry about, and who I need to watch out for (with any org). I don't recall anyone ever making an inside pass in me in STT's "I" group. Monte always says, "'I' guys, passing on the straights, or leave a 6' buffer in the turns. inside is ok, outside is even better." I agree.

i've never had any of my vehicles on a dyno - how many pulls would I need to mess with my power commander and tune a little rather than just getting a baseline readout? the PO of my track bike claims it is mapped for 87 octane, but seeing as it's a track bike, and there's a full titanium exhaust on it, i think tuning for premium is in order.

does the nitrous clause apply to simply HAVING it installed? it's worded poorly. I read "no person who purchases nitrous oxide at retail in this state shall use nitrous oxide in a motor vehicle that the person operates on a public road, street or highway." does simply having a nitrous kit installed qualify as "use?" I could see trying to ban actually spraying on the street, but prove i did or didn't. I can be HOLDING a gun and not USE it. Now by that logic, I can hold a gun and never fire it, but be convicted of armed robbery as well...

more sample text, if anyone cares to use it. (be sure not to send it to senators now that the bill has passed the senate...) Dear _____, I am contacting you regarding House Bill 191, more commonly known as "The Monica Durban Law." I am a responsible motorist, and staunchly against irresponsible operation of high-performance vehicles; however, I believe the proposed law expands the definition of "street racing" to a point that it is excessively broad and ambiguous. Currently, the law defines street racing as a competition of speed between 2 or more vehicles (generally operated side-by-side), or a timed competition where a single vehicle is attempting to get to a pre-determined destination. section 4511.251(a,b) The proposed addition of section C, "any exhibition of speed or acceleration that is inconsistent with normal operation of a vehicle on a public road, street or highway," is far too ambiguous. This provision, combined with the proposed addition of 4511.251(G)(1) would make it excessively easy for law enforcement officers to impound vehicles that they feel are 'accelerating in a manner inconsistent with normal operation.' Such subjectivity of the law is dangerous, and unnecessary. While I am in full support of harsher penalties for street racing, including the impounding of vehicles as described in section G, subsection 1, expansion of the definition of street racing to include section C would be irresponsible. Until 4511.251© of the bill is removed, I urge you to vote against its passage.

i havne't ridden Grattan, but the layout looks awesome. Gingerman is also cheap and fun. the MI tracks are the primary reason i AM looking to ride with STT this year.

ok - then i'm open to any length barrel, as long as cutting it down to 18.5 inches won't make the barrel longer than the magazine tube

this was prior to the 'divorce' with Mid Ohio, but Monte sums it up here: http://www.sttforum.com/sttforum/viewtopic.php?t=4604 cliff notes: poor attendance. the new website looks good though.

I'll apologize directly for the asshat comment. That was a poor generalization that I shouldn't have made. I'll rephrase and say that it's not un-common to find riders in STT's "I" group who would still be in NESBA's "B" group. That does not make them asshats, or bad people, or bad riders - it's just a generalized comparison that i feel has been accurate in my experience. YMMV.

i never said you did... quite the opposite: STT is a business. I can appreciate that. filling the "A" group is better business than leaving 10 spots empty because getting into "A" group is difficult. NESBA isn't a business. They absolutely take a financial hit on days where "A" group is half-full. But the fact that they only have to break-even means that they can be picky about who is really at "A" pace, and "I" pace. That helps prevent people from ever registering into a spot where they're grossly under pace, and prevents the awkward/angry encounters you describe. If you consider that "bashing" STT, then I'm sorry, but I don't see it as anything more than a factual difference. The problem isn't with STT or NESBA as much as it's with people's fragile egos.

While I agree that "I" group has the broadest range of skill with STT, I would contend that NESBA's policy creates an environment where their "B" group to has a greater range than "I" and "A." In the vast majority of cases, nearly everyone in NESBA's "I" and "A" groups have been 'approved' by no less than 2 control riders. It is possible to register directly into "I" group, but I don't believe it's common. To register directly into Advanced, you must have an expert race license, or be bumped from Intermediate. I apologize for using the term "asshats." That is by no means my feeling toward the majority of STT Intermediate riders, but a few bad apples can spoil the bunch. My first trackday was with NESBA, and I did a full weekend with STT two weeks later. Even so, being that NESBA was my first TD experience, that has become my basis for comparison. in the 3 or 4 "I" days I've done with STT, there have definitely been riders in "I" group who would be mid-pack "B" riders with NESBA. That doesn't make them bad people, or asshats, but it's not what I was used to for an "intermediate" pace. I spent an entire season (roughly 12 trackdays total) earning my way into NESBA's "I" group. that first weekend with STT (my 3rd and 4th trackday ever), STT coaches were telling me to register in "I" for the following day. Having learned that lesson, I've adjusted and I know to register in Advanced if i'm riding with STT at a track where I know my way around pretty well. aside from being a little peeved about wasting $35 on the Bluegrass debacle, I have absolutely nothing against STT, but I do think some of their policies could be improved. The fact that I disagree doesn't make me right and STT wrong, but there are certainly valid points to be made on both sides of most debates. I would absolutely ride with STT again, but I think the differences between orgs are quite real, and worth knowing for those who haven't done a trackday before. I'm not telling anyone "don't ride with STT." quite the contrary for first-timers. It's definitely a less frenetic learning environment.

I've got the wife's "permission" to buy a shotgun, pending hitting the range with a friend of mine. She's not wild about me spending another $250 on a gun when our credit card bill is still inflated from christmas, but these things happen. I may start a separate "WTB" thread, but if anyone reading this has something for sale, I'll consider any 12 gauge with a 18.5" barrel. Mossberg 500, Remington 870 and replicas of either are preferable, but given that this is going to be almost exclusively a home-defense weapon, I'm not overly concerned with brand.

That's the primary reason I ride with NESBA more often than not. when I'm in their "I" group, I know I can trust the other riders. Plus it was a real accomplishment to be bumped up from "B" group. If I know the track, I ride "A" with STT because there are so many asshats in their "I" group who are off line and unpredictable. I doubt STT, Mid-Ohio, or any other org who lets you choose your group cares about offending anyone, but they don't want to lose money on having an empty "A" group. In a perfect world, I suppose you'd just let the first 120 people register, and then do your best to determine who the fastest 40 and slowest 40 were; then call the fast guys "A" group, the slow guys "B" group, and everyone else is left in "I." there would still be the possibility for people to be 'over their head' in "I" or "A," but it seems like the best compromise to safe riding and not losing money on a half-empty "A" group, the way NESBA often does...