So due to time constraints and laziness(aka stupidity) I never got around to doing the timing belt on my Integra (GS) and it broke yesterday just as I tried to accelerate from a stop.

I would like to find a local place that I might be able to buy one off the shelf, a reman unit whatever. Any ideas?

And just out of curiousity...any chance I did NOT bend valves since it happened at basically idle?

I don't know how many of you knew about this already but I just saw it. I'm on the fence about it, I guess it's the same as the Cayenne S, kinda cool 555hp in a SUV must be intense. Thoughts?

I had a great trackday at VIR yesterday. HOWEVER, my friend's friend who was new to the sport and was taking the school did not. 3rd session out, he got punted by another school newbie and his '08 GSXR is potentially totaled, at the least a few thousand in damage and he gets to pay for repairs to the rental leathers too. Fortunately they were both ok.

It's certianly not a rare thing, Chad getting his mustang flipped by a competitor a few years ago comes to mind as another good close to home example (and a much more expensive one). It's probably happening at just about every race weekend, someone gets his machine damaged by a competitor.

As I was thinking about it on the way home.... ok, for race groups, fine, I get it. Too much going on, contact is all to common, I understand. But for school groups. I'm not so sure that in the situation when someone is clearly at fault, that they shouldn't have to face SOME of the monetary hardship. I mean, if they do something boneheaded or malicious, sure, they might get kicked out. But they also get to walk away from $50000 in damage to another person's car (just for example) and maybe some even more expensive injuries?

The few problems I came up with:
1) Most people's equipment when on track is not insured. So If I total a Ferrari with the nose of my E30, I'm not going to be ABLE to pay for it. And really, I didn't make the choice to bring a Ferrari out there, the other guy shares in the responsibility for that decision somewhat.

2) Since it's private property, not a roadway, and no crime has been committed, I'm not sure there'd ever be any legal obligation to pay for damages even if all the track officials and others on track were in agreement that so and so was at fault.

So even if the rule was changed to say, hey, you have to help the guy out SOME if you punt him, the offender could just refuse and at worst not run with that club again. Maybe the other guy could sue him... though I don't know how that sort of thing would go, and I certianly wouldn't want to go there.

Would it be unreasonable, for school groups, to have at least some required payment from the punter to the puntee? $500? $1000? Maybe more as a good faith sort of thing, but not too much to make it so the punter just bails? Enough though to be worth mentioning in the classroom so drivers can have a $$ value associated with driving unnecessarily close to others? Honestly I'm not saying it's a "good" idea.... just an idea. The current system just seems a little wrong for school groups where metal to metal should really be unacceptable. Maybe having SOME penalty would potentially reduce incidents while helping out those who were wronged just a little.

For anyone that's interested, we were thinking of going on a cruise at 4:30 this evening and possibly doing a grill out afterward. Anyone interested hit me (571-217-3776) or DJ up and let us know.

So far it's DJ, Phil and myself. Let us know what's up if you're interested.

Peace

Hey everyone,

Don't forget, karting is THIS Sunday, 4/19 at G-Force Karts in Richmond, VA.

Here is the current list of everyone going:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=171168#171168">http://mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=171168#171168</a><!-- m -->

From that list, we should have the following people leaving from H'burg:

1. Adam Flint
2. Jake Thiewes
3. Mike D'Amico
4. Adam Zisa
5. Cabell Spicer
6. Hyatt Harper
7. David Meyer

Here is the what/when for getting to G-Force Sunday Morning....

The plan is to meet in the Rockingham Lot, next to the Exxon on Port Republic, BY 8:45AM on Sunday morning, leaving BY 9:15pm. However, Peter and I (officers going) will be leaving from seperate locations and won't be coming from Harrisonburg. Cabell has volunteered to lead the group down, so make sure you are there by 8:45 and IF YOU HAVE A CAR, please bring it to the Rockingham lot with you if anyone needs rides; you can work it out amongst yourselves and we'll see you down there by 11:30!

Here is the address for G-Force:

G Force Karts
4245 Carolina Avenue, Building B
Richmond, VA 23222

See you there!

So looks like I might be spending Mon-Thurs in Atlanta this coming week for F&I school. I'll be in class from 8-4 but I've got each evening free. I know a few of you have lived there, what are some cool things to do and/or cool places to go around the city? I certaintly want to get up with scotty while I'm down there.

Friday, 2pm be there. Beer/Food/Oil.

I will be working on the POS DSM, Jake Thiewes will be working on his miata, and im sure Goodspeed will break some bolt this week on his car so we will be fixing that. Thayer will be working on the vette.

We will also be cleaning our cars and I have a buffer available for those who want to use it. And of course Ive got tons of tools, and thayer does too. If your coming bring some fluids if its convenient, I dont know how much beer...err oil we will have.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-13-columbine-myths_N.htm?se=yahoorefer">http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... yahoorefer</a><!-- m -->

o_O

Looking to borrow (or rent?) something small, like a Honda 2000i would be ideal.... Going to VIR and the patriot course "paddock" wont have power hookups.

Or if someone knows where I can rent one (preferrably near falls church) that'd be great too

Thanks :beer:

Just putting this out there... I've heard some good things about the Washington DC region of the Mercedes Benz club and how they do AutoX. Their first run of the season is April 26 and will be held at Millbrook High School in Winchester.

I emailed Joe, the club prez, and he said that non-club members are allowed to run twice before joining the MB club. You're not required to have a Benz (duh) and I will be going on the 26th, considering how close Winchester is.

Not sure yet on cost - I emailed Joe back but haven't received a reply. They don't do pre-registration, and he told me to show up around 8 AM to ensure I got a spot for the day, as that's when registration actually begins.

Any interest?