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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Cars & Coffee

European Auto Garage, a recently established race/performance shop in Knoxville hosted a "Cars & Coffee" gathering last Saturday.  It was basically an excuse to park a bunch of hot cars around and shoot the bull with fellow enthusiasts as well as get a look at EAG's facility.  I dropped by for a couple of hours and caught up with a few local folks who I don't really get to talk to enough. 

The turn out was large enough to be entertaining.  There were several things there that you really don't see that often.  I took a few pictures, which can be seen HERE

Apparently, EAG would like to make this type of thing a regular occurence, so check back.  I will post dates & times when I know them.  It would be worth a look if you are in the area.

10:02 pm est

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Stupid Oil Leaks
I know where it is, I just dont' know what it is.  I went ahead and replaced the spool valve gaskets, and the oil pan gasket.  These steps lessened the problem, but I haven't eliminated it yet.  Oh well, one thing at a time.
12:19 am est


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Nashville Super Speedway: End of an Era....for now.
 
I've only driven NSS on one other occasion....one other not-very-successful occasion.  So I feel it's only fitting that the track that highlighted the extent of the problems with one of my cars also serve, in possibly one of it's last-hosted events to fully vet the renewed fitness of my other car.  4 full sessions and a bit for fun, nearly 70 laps, and a 300mile round trip to and from....with no issues what-so-ever (knock on wood out of habit).  
 

Friday Nights in the Old City: The Knoxville "UTDM" meet.
 
 You may recall my last article describing the great atmosphere, massive turn-outs, and unfortunate dispersal of this meet in it's original manifestation and wonder why it's cropped back up as a headline on the site.  Well, it seems reports of the event's demise may have been somewhat premature.  A few enterprising folks took the initiative, moved the location to a public parking area under a bridge, next to some railroad tracks, in the old city....and even went so far as calling ahead to KPD.  As a result, UTDM rides again!  In honor of this momentous occasion (and as an excuse to play with my video editor, and take more pictures of the NSX) I've compiled the requisite cheesy video:
 


Pocono 2011.  Setting a new record for late updates on 3-Zero.net:
 
So, amidst my own vehicular trial & error, we arrive at the time for our annual pilgrimage up north.  My plan was laudable:  Take my lap-top, run the usual mini-blog on Sports Car Frenzy and TennSpeed, then dutifully update this site shortly after returning.  Well, 2/3 isn't bad I suppose.  Much to the chagrin of my hypothetical/imaginary readers here, I became thoroughly distracted with shaking-down my recently resurrected NSX and consequently failed brutally at web-mastering.
 
Ok.  Enough with The excuses.  The forum links above will take you to a general account of the proceedings, and the pretty pictures below link to many more, nearly-equally-pretty pictures. 
 

Car Show Pictures
I need a towel.......

Track Pictures

Driving an irregular oval - Nashville Superspeedway:
 
My inability, thus far, to crack the mystery surrounding the MR2's cooling system has festered into a point of acute personal shame.  History provides a veritable cornucopia of solutions for such indignity: wearing a scarlet letter, becoming a hermit, Seppuku, etc...  However, since I'm really not handy with a sewing kit, the housing market is crap, and I really can't be bothered to die right now, I figured I might have better luck just fixing the problem.  However, I first must find that which requires fixing, and the only way to find said "that" involves looking for the problem in the only environment where it occurs:  the racetrack. 
 
Enter a conveniently timed event at Nashville Superspeedway, hosted by the Music City Mustang Club.  The 1.8 mile "road course" configuration provided a test bed for the cooling system.  I trailered the MR2 to the event, splashed for a garage bay, and brought the proverbial bag of tricks with me.  After 3.1 sessions of driving, and several hours roasting myself over the hot engine bay, the problems persist, but I eliminated numerous variables.  Naturally, it's nothing simple or easy.  With that said, I did manage a little fun on the track, some of which I have shared below:
 
Video:
 



NOPI

Video(s) of the Month
An art film devoted mostly to a car.  If you like this Format67 has done a few others that are nearly as good.  Check them out (no affiliation).