Hey guys, as most of you know our next meeting is coming up this wednesday the 29th. This will be a very special meeting though as we will be having some guest speakers. Dr. Mark Howell, who is a published automotive writer and has also been seen on television programs discussing Monster Trucks will be coming to speak to us. Himself, Dr. Borg, Dr. Thomas and another Gentleman from William and Mary who is doing his graduate school paper on NASCAR will be participating in a panel discussion with our members, as well as some people from our Hist of the Auto class. We will hold a somewhat abbreviated meeting after the question/answer session is over.

So everyone come out on Wednesday for this special event and come with some motorsports related questions so we can probe the minds of men who have devoted most of their lives to the pursuit of automotive knowledge!


Also, with this happening so close to the car show, we will be holding another meeting the week of the car show to make sure everything is hunkey dorie.

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And video here:

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RIP

You wont ever find me in an open wheeled car.

Quote:Originally Posted by espn.com
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Driver Paul Dana died after a two-car crash Sunday during the warmup for the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Recent motorsports deaths
IndyCar: Paul Dana, Homestead, Fla., 2006
NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt, Daytona, Fla., 2001
Champ Car: Greg Moore, Fontana, Calif., 1999
Formula One: Ayrton Senna, Imola, Italy, 1994

The other driver, Ed Carpenter, was awake and alert at a Miami hospital, IRL officials said.

The race will start as scheduled, officials announced. However, Rahal Letterman Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal announced that drivers Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice, teammates of Dana, will not race. (even though Danica qualified third says Wes)

"Obviously, this is a very black day for us," Rahal said. "This is a great tragedy."

Dana is the first IRL driver killed since Tony Renna died in a crash during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October 2003, and the third to die in the 10-year history of the series. Scott Brayton perished in a practice crash at Indianapolis in May 1996.

The last NASCAR driver killed was Dale Earnhardt in February 2001, and the last driver to die in Formula One was Ayrton Senna in May 1994.

It is the third racing death at the Homestead track -- John Nemechek was killed in a NASCAR truck race in February 1997 and Jeff Clinton died in a Grand Am sports car event at the track in March 2002.

Dana, 30, a former motorsports journalist with a degree from Northwestern, competed in three IRL races for Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing last year with a best finish of 10th in the race at Homestead.

Carpenter, the stepson of Indy Racing League founder Tony George, spun his Vision Racing car exiting Turn 2 of the 1.5- mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval and hugged the outside wall before slowly creeping back onto the racing surface. It was nearly stopped when it was hit in the left-rear corner at nearly full speed by Dana's car.

Rahal said that there were no radio communication problems with Dana's car and that he was informed by his spotter of the accident ahead. Dana cannoned into Carpenter's crippled race car approximately six seconds after yellow lights were displayed around the track warning of Carpenter's spin.

Dana's car nearly split in half. The chassis flew about 6 feet off the ground and pieces were strewn down the track. It nearly turned over, but landed on its wheels before sliding to a halt.

It took track safety workers about 15 minutes to get both drivers out of their cars. The practice session did not resume.

Dana and Carpenter both were airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. IRL officials said Dana died shortly before noon.

In 2005 for Hemelgarn Racing, he broke his back in a practice crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Vision Racing team manager Larry Curry was more optimistic about Carpenter's condition. "I've been told he is awake and alert and is going to be fine," Curry said. "They want to check him out at the hospital, but he should be fine."

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?..._ID=731653

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...5876573666

Basically, this girl died in real life, so these peole were having an in-game funeral for her. These clowns from this alliance guild - 21 of them, show up and kill 50+ horde that were waiting in line to pay their respects or wahtever. They had posted on the WoW forums to please respect them and whatnot, and these assholes show up and kill the lot of them, lol. The music is the best part of the video

Hey, I was searching on the Rx-7 club, and a bunch of car guys meet every friday night at a Starbucks in Inssbrook. I am guessing it's about an 1.5 hr drive for us. They meet at 7:30 and just grab coffee and hang out till whenever. It's has been going on for years now, with pretty big turnouts.
Here are some pics of a recent/past meets:
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and
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and
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So what do you guys think? I thought I would just throw this out here, it might be fun to make a trip out to Richmond one Friday night.

Ryan

Recently Ive been putting some time and a little money into my '90 miata since the 240 is now sold, and Id really like to have something smaller and more nimble to drive around than the Titan. (and convertibles rock in the summer)
One of my biggest gripes with the car (other than the icky smell that I took care of...mostly) was the yellowed and murky rear plastic window. Not too surprising really, considering the car is 16 years old and the plastic rear windows barely last 5 years.
I noticed some stuff called PlastX from Meguiars in the parts store, but I thought it was just some junk that wouldnt really work. It claimed to clean and clarify any kind of clear plastic including convertible windows and headlights, etc. The other day I decided to pick it up and give it a shot. I didnt expect much....but wow did it make a difference. A couple of applications of the stuff and a little elbow grease rubbing it in made 100% difference in the clarity of the rear window. Its MUCH more clear (although still not as clear as glass), more flexible, and has a smooth shiny appearance. I really wish I took before and after pics, it was pretty dramatic. The top does have have a spot the size of a fist that is all cracked and splintered, but after taking off the duct tape that was there and re-taping with clear packing tape that looks a ton better too.
Unfortunately in the process of removing the gunk from the duct tape on the window I made the mistake of using a scotch brite pad which really marred the window in the spots I used it (what was i thinking). This task was too much for the PlastX though, it got out the smaller scratches but not the deeper stuff. Oh well, its only a few spots. Maybe ill try sanding it with some super fine grit auto finish sandpaper and re-doing the PlastX.


Highly recommended for cleaning up any kind of clear plastic. Im sure this stuff will work very well on those gross yellowed headlights too and pretty much any kind of clear plastic

Anyone who wants to use it is free to come over to my place and use mine. The bottle is pretty big and Im sure Ill never use it all.

OMFG LOL!!!!

How in the FUCK??! Awesome! hahaha

I don't know if you can view this w/o an account, but it's an *almost* running 2002 for $300. Engine mount broke and fan hit the radiator. It just so happens I have a radiator and engine mounts if anyone wants a cool beater! The car really doesn't look bad:

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21633

YES SIR!
At Edinburg Motors (Jeep/used) near my home there is a 97 M3 on the used lot.

Miles- 90,225
Color- Black
Interior- Dove Gray
Trans- 5-speed
NOTES-
Front lip spoiler and fogs, OEM bling wheels, No rear spoiler.

Ze "low bottom line price" -$12,995

Someone buy it... as much as I hate to give them business it is a sweet and VERY clean auto. I will try to get some pics tomorrow.

I'm seriously sick of Winamp. Ever since I updated to the latest version, it bugs out so hard on my computer. What are you guys using to listen to mp3s, watch Top Gear videos / pr0n, etc.?

And please don't recommend ITunes to me, I hate everything Apple including that program.