Mt Tam I am's Driving Journal

Mt Tam I am · 10-08-2013, 10:51 AM

I found out why the roads are so much less impacted. It is the government shut down. There are two National parks along the road I live. Instead of having the parking lot open or the two toll takers, they hired armed guards to keep Americans out, while laying off the regular two employees.

This is punishment for us all but I must confess I am ahead as the roads have a small fraction of the cars upon them.

blackcherry20 · 10-08-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

I found out why the roads are so much less impacted. It is the government shut down. There are two National parks along the road I live. Instead of having the parking lot open or the two toll takers, they hired armed guards to keep Americans out, while laying off the regular two employees. This is punishment for us all but I must confess I am ahead as the roads have a small fraction of the cars upon them.

ALl Speed Innovations 10.5.13.jpg
here my "front line" parking...I am about 5 cars down from the left.
I was supposed to park right next to the green lotus but they were unloading a truck when I got there so I took the next available space and the EVO ended up in my spot. it was OK though, I like the EVO driver! he's cool!
it was pretty funny too-the Z garnered very little attention- everybody loved the EVOs and subies and the Lotus :P

Mt Tam I am · 10-09-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

Attachment 77774
here my "front line" parking...I am about 5 cars down from the left.
I was supposed to park right next to the green lotus but they were unloading a truck when I got there so I took the next available space and the EVO ended up in my spot. it was OK though, I like the EVO driver! he's cool!
it was pretty funny too-the Z garnered very little attention- everybody loved the EVOs and subies and the Lotus :P

What kind of wierdos do they have out in Ohio. I am in California which I thought was the wierdo capital, but I'm not so sure anymore.

Mt Tam I am · 10-09-2013, 01:08 PM

I was driving home last night when a black Ford Focus ST (SVT team) screamed up behind me and the other Focus holding me up. I gave him the thumbs up to let him know I see him. we followed the slow car for awhile then it turned off leaving just the two of us.

I had already turned of VDC and could accelerate to the speed limit up hill sooner than he. I thought it cheap to do to a four cylinder so I slowed and waited at the top of the hill. This was the routine all the way home. I'd get ahead and then wait for him. This was all done at or under the 55 MPH limit.

In the end he was my neighbor that I'd seen with a hot Focus so we chatted outside my garage. I've actually known this guy since I was ten years old, only I did not realize it until a minute later when he envoked my name and talked about his mom. He had put on a lot of weight and turned gray.

The first words out of his mouth were "Does that thing have a six?" Amusingly he stated he had 300 HP and he figured I had 450 HP. Not quite.

All in a days drive.

blackcherry20 · 10-09-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

What kind of wierdos do they have out in Ohio. I am in California which I thought was the wierdo capital, but I'm not so sure anymore.

yeah-i'd have to say it was very odd how little attention the Z got. We left early-buncha young subie drivers w stickers all over their cars.
I wonder: do they think I'm crazy for auto crossing such a nice vehicle?! Or is it the combination of hot car middle aged female driver/owner? Felt excluded.

Mt Tam I am · 10-09-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

yeah-i'd have to say it was very odd how little attention the Z got. We left early-buncha young subie drivers w stickers all over their cars.
I wonder: do they think I'm crazy for auto crossing such a nice vehicle?! Or is it the combination of hot car middle aged female driver/owner? Felt excluded.

This last bit of the story only solidifies my original weirdo comment. I've found women in male dominated sports to be the opposite of excluded. Perhaps they felt threatened by a woman in a better car than their own.

You rock.

Mt Tam I am · 10-09-2013, 09:50 PM

I had a 911 997 set the pace home this afternoon. I stayed close to him without tailgating. Every once in awhile he'd look in the mirror at me. He'd cut turns a bit while I stayed in the lines. He was smooth and chose his apexes. I didn't always agree with his choice of line, it was very smooth and mostly devoid of brake use. When we got to the uphill straight out of a hairpin I stayed stuck like glue.

Although I would drive faster if I was alone, I'd give just about anything to drive home at this speed every time.

blackcherry20 · 10-10-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

This last bit of the story only solidifies my original weirdo comment. I've found women in male dominated sports to be the opposite of excluded. Perhaps they felt threatened by a woman in a better car than their own.

You rock.

Mt Tam I am · 10-23-2013, 09:33 AM

I drove to Thunderhill Raceway last Sunday passing multiple CHP victims. They were out in force so I was on cruise control the entire way. Some car ahead of me and I set our cruise to the same speed after 20 minutes I hadn't gained an inch on her. I started to always be on the inside of turns and would gain a few feet. After another 20 minutes I was along side her. I do get bored. Two hours and 15 minutes on three dots.

The standard drivers meeting ensued at 8AM at the track. Bad news for the club is that Laguna Seca is not giving dates to clubs like mine, over 90db days. That works for me as I tested 85db at Laguna but a $20,000 rental needs to be split with as many others as possible to lower the cost. Their will only be one Laguna event next year instead of three.

Last year it rained on and off. This year promised to be warm. As I had only driven the track once I asked for three mentors hoping at least two would show. No such luck. I was left off the list, sorry.

So I had not reviewed the track before arriving so I just make it up as I go along. It was coolest in the first session and heated up by 11:30. The power just was not as good. I failed to fill up after my first session and had fuel starvation with 3/4 tank or better. Just as I hit the main straight where I wound out 4th every time and got into fifth once, was a sputtering fuel starved coasting Z. My main rival, a green Lotus blew past me. RATS! This rivalry started at our first event where we both were newbies.

I apparently showed up with warped rotors and after a lap my steering wheel started to shake and by the end of the day it was scary. This is what ultimately lead to my decision not to drive the last race. I was cooked by the heat and this was now an endurance test, fun had departed, and I packed it in.

I broke my own cardinal rule: Stay hydrated and fueled with food. I tried like heck to eat breakfast and lunch and it was like poison. I had no appetite but forced what I could down. I ran out of steam and was a bit dehydrated. I felt sickly the next day and cured myself with Gatorade, clearly dehydrated.

Track videos (still loading all four):
Thunderhill 10/21/13 - YouTube

Fuel starvation strikes: http://youtu.be/qmpFwCdBgbU

10-08-2013, 10:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3845	I found out why the roads are so much less impacted. It is the government shut down. There are two National parks along the road I live. Instead of having the parking lot open or the two toll takers, they hired armed guards to keep Americans out, while laying off the regular two employees. This is punishment for us all but I must confess I am ahead as the roads have a small fraction of the cars upon them. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

10-09-2013, 01:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3845	I was driving home last night when a black Ford Focus ST (SVT team) screamed up behind me and the other Focus holding me up. I gave him the thumbs up to let him know I see him. we followed the slow car for awhile then it turned off leaving just the two of us. I had already turned of VDC and could accelerate to the speed limit up hill sooner than he. I thought it cheap to do to a four cylinder so I slowed and waited at the top of the hill. This was the routine all the way home. I'd get ahead and then wait for him. This was all done at or under the 55 MPH limit. In the end he was my neighbor that I'd seen with a hot Focus so we chatted outside my garage. I've actually known this guy since I was ten years old, only I did not realize it until a minute later when he envoked my name and talked about his mom. He had put on a lot of weight and turned gray. The first words out of his mouth were "Does that thing have a six?" Amusingly he stated he had 300 HP and he figured I had 450 HP. Not quite. All in a days drive. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

10-09-2013, 09:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3845	I had a 911 997 set the pace home this afternoon. I stayed close to him without tailgating. Every once in awhile he'd look in the mirror at me. He'd cut turns a bit while I stayed in the lines. He was smooth and chose his apexes. I didn't always agree with his choice of line, it was very smooth and mostly devoid of brake use. When we got to the uphill straight out of a hairpin I stayed stuck like glue. Although I would drive faster if I was alone, I'd give just about anything to drive home at this speed every time. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

10-23-2013, 09:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3845	Thunderhill I drove to Thunderhill Raceway last Sunday passing multiple CHP victims. They were out in force so I was on cruise control the entire way. Some car ahead of me and I set our cruise to the same speed after 20 minutes I hadn't gained an inch on her. I started to always be on the inside of turns and would gain a few feet. After another 20 minutes I was along side her. I do get bored. Two hours and 15 minutes on three dots. The standard drivers meeting ensued at 8AM at the track. Bad news for the club is that Laguna Seca is not giving dates to clubs like mine, over 90db days. That works for me as I tested 85db at Laguna but a $20,000 rental needs to be split with as many others as possible to lower the cost. Their will only be one Laguna event next year instead of three. Last year it rained on and off. This year promised to be warm. As I had only driven the track once I asked for three mentors hoping at least two would show. No such luck. I was left off the list, sorry. So I had not reviewed the track before arriving so I just make it up as I go along. It was coolest in the first session and heated up by 11:30. The power just was not as good. I failed to fill up after my first session and had fuel starvation with 3/4 tank or better. Just as I hit the main straight where I wound out 4th every time and got into fifth once, was a sputtering fuel starved coasting Z. My main rival, a green Lotus blew past me. RATS! This rivalry started at our first event where we both were newbies. I apparently showed up with warped rotors and after a lap my steering wheel started to shake and by the end of the day it was scary. This is what ultimately lead to my decision not to drive the last race. I was cooked by the heat and this was now an endurance test, fun had departed, and I packed it in. I broke my own cardinal rule: Stay hydrated and fueled with food. I tried like heck to eat breakfast and lunch and it was like poison. I had no appetite but forced what I could down. I ran out of steam and was a bit dehydrated. I felt sickly the next day and cured myself with Gatorade, clearly dehydrated. Track videos (still loading all four): Thunderhill 10/21/13 - YouTube Fuel starvation strikes: http://youtu.be/qmpFwCdBgbU __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber Last edited by Mt Tam I am; 10-23-2013 at 09:53 AM.

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