Trackdaze opened registration for the first half of their schedule. I signed up to do their Summit Point Shenandoah Circuit event on May 16-17. Shenandoah totally kicks ass, anyone else interested in going?

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So I know I've probably bugged a lot of you about what car to buy and which is the best. And I've probably also said I was going to buy like 13 different cars. Well, I'm going tomorrow to put a deposit down on a 95 Civic dx. YAY BEATER. It's got 170k miles on it, none of which were hard miles. It has no vtec, no power anything except for steering. It just had a tune up, and everything feels great. The interior is in fantastic condition for the age. I can't wait to bring it home next week. I have to gather the rest of the money, register it, insure it, and then it's all MINE!! I'll post up pics next week.

I'm looking to buy a better zoom lens for my Canon 1000D.

Suggestions?

Horror Stories?

The U.S. Senate voted today to make loan interest and sales taxes on vehicle purchases deductible from federal income taxes.
The proposal, championed by the National Automobile Dealers Association, was added to an economic stimulus bill under debate in the Senate. The vote was 71-26.
The provision was not in a House-passed version of the more than $800 billion package of spending increases and tax cuts.
A conference committee will decide whether the provision stays in. The bill is a top priority of President Barack Obama.
If the measure passes, taxes on auto loans will be deductible for the first time since 1986.
The provision on deductibility of loan interest is the first significant measure aimed at getting consumers back into showrooms and buying vehicles to get action from Congress. NADA says the measure will save consumers about $1,500 on a $25,000 vehicle.

I wonder if it will only be on GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles....

I was walking down the stairs in the Warsaw Parking Deck this morning and I saw this crazy guy in a black miata with the top down!

Major hardcore points for you Jake! I felt like a wuss leaving the hardtop on mine.

Coworker is selling his hooptie.

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Pics give it a reddish tint, but it's very much silver. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him... really good guy.

Some pics added. I seem to be missing a bunch of the interior.

2000 Silverado Extended Cab (3rd door), Short Bed
200K Miles

Good:
5.3L V8 (LS truck series)
Z71 Suspension
4WD
Tow Package (includes Tow/Haul trans selection )
Leather Seats
Power Windows / Mirrors / Seats
Spray-in Bedliner
Soft Tonneau Cover
Trailer Brake & Harness
New Tires
New Radiator / Thermostat

Not Good:
Fuel Gauge is wacky, have replacement sending unit.
Brakes needed soon (I'll probably do before sale)

To Be Expected:
Paint is in good shape except along top bed rails where the old bed liner left scuff marks.
Body has a few issues but nothing that really stands out.

Obviously, this truck has been absolutely reliable for the previous owner and me. I have a DD Integra for my commute and I don't see myself doing enough track events to justify keeping a truck and trailer. The house renovations are done, time is short, and money goes to college and private school these days.

Trailer:
16ft Bri-Mar Dove Tail
Full Deck
Fold Down Fenders (both sides)
Electric Brake
4 yrs Old
In overall great condition

I have towed the Vette with this combination many times and it does well. For comparison, the vette is easily 3400lbs so you import guys would be towing probably 800-1000 less pounds especially if it's a track car.

Trade-in on the truck is $4100, private party is $6200 I would be looking for a fair offer closer to $6200 than $4100.

The trailer was over $2000 new. If you decide to upgrade the truck after a few years, the trailer will handle pretty much anything for a long long time. The fold-down fenders and dove tail are great for low cars.

I'm not sure how to really value the trailer but I think a good starting point might be in the $1500 range.

Send PM or email at steve.cannata434 at gmail. If interested in the package, I'm definitely more flexible.

I bought a Hidden Hitch for the Element. The Element frame is "pre-drilled" for a four bolt hitch setup. Unfortunately, it looks like they don't drill the holes but instead they punch them (I'd imagine it's much quicker on the assembly line).

Anyway, it looks like when the holes got punched, two of them didn't have anything on the backside to hold the steel in place, so the steel pushed out instead of leaving a flat surface. This is causing clearance issues for my hitch. I assume the solution here is to grind down the frame because it ain't likely I'm hammering that back into place.

My concern is proximity to the fuel tank but I'm hoping that: the sparks are going to go either towards the front bumper or the rear just because of how this would be grinded, I won't be doing this enough that the sparks (traveling on an indirect path) would have potential to heat a tank to a dangerous level on the off chance they make contact, but even if they did I could mitigate it with an insulating material temporarily taped into place.

Any thoughts?

Anyone in NOVA have a grinder I could use to do this?

Specs:

Pentium M 1.6 GHz
17" WXGA+ display (1440x900)
1.25 GB RAM
60 GB hard drive
128MB ATI Mobility Radeon X300
24x CD-RW/DVD-ROM
802.11 A/B/G
Windows XP Home, SP2 (wiped and reset)

This was Jess' laptop for the last 4 years, and it served her well. Everything works fine, with the exception of the battery. It is nearing the end of it's useful life, and can only power the laptop for 45 minutes to an hour before needing to be recharged. There are some minor cosmetic flaws that can be seen in the photos. The laptop will be shipped in the original Dell packaging.

I'll do $285 shipped to a paid MM member. That price is firm. Any questions, PM me or send an email to <!-- e --><a href="mailto:john.chapin@gmail.com">john.chapin@gmail.com</a><!-- e -->.

These pictures link to hi-res photos:

So I'm a Steelers fan, so obviously I have them as the favorites. My guess:

Steelers: 17
Cardinals: 7

Defensive Player of the Game: Troy Polamalu

Offensive Player of the Game: Larry Fitzgerald