slomove

Yes, got that one, too (because it is free ) The amazing thing is it really works very well. I did not use it to download songs but had it listen to songs that I ripped from my old vinyls to identify the title and artist. It even knows some very esoteric songs, only gave up on a few scratchy banjo/bluegrass tunes that originated from very old shellac 78 rpm records. Other funky or useful free apps that I found: several voice recorders, a restaurant suggestor slot machine (GPS based), 160,000 cooking recipes, live weather radar display, and of course Google Earth. That one uses the accelerometer to adjust the viewing angle, i.e. when horizontal you look down, when lifted up you look at the horizon. All in all, I have not had that much fun with a gadget for a long time. Actually I am not not an Apple-type as well. Gert

I finally took the plunge and got an iPhone after I lost my old phone. I was a bit hesitant first because it is a somewhat larger than the usual cellphones but after playing with the available apps I am really excited what is all out there for little or no money. What I found for racers: Clinometer e.g. for camber measurement (using the accelerometer, can be set to 0.1 degree resolution): http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/1101118857_Clinometer.jpg Decibel Meter (that one is $0.99 but there are a bunch more out there, some better and more expensive): http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/581334055_DecibelMeter.jpg And, finally "Track Day" with various functions, e.g.: Drag strip mode (using the built in accelerometer) http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/913172441_Dragstrip.jpg Cornering G http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/138747727_Cornering.jpg Acceleration G (Braking G works the same way) http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/421128494_AccelG.jpg Automatic lap timer (using the built-in GPS to trigger the lap start) http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/296705235_Laptimer.jpg I have no idea yet, how accurate the timing functions are but will try out at the next track day. Oh, and with all the gadgets you get a decent phone with Internet access and other nifty functions Obviously the online service comes at a cost of $30 month.....oh well. :toetap: Anyway, I must stop playing with that in the office. Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Apple or ATT, just wanted to share my toy experience. Gert

Sissies.....get a sturdy sump guard. No problem with speed bumps or rocks, just slide over or crunch them This is mine after 3 years of careless use.... http://www.usa7s.net/ASPNETFORUM/upload/1211780321_SumpGuard3Years.jpg

I got a ticket in Palo Alto, CA (while parking) for not having the front plate. They left me with the choice of paying $70 fine and be done with it or a $10 administrative fee and a trip to the highway patrol with the plate mounted. Now what does that tell me about making revenue vs. enforcing the law..... Anyway, I strapped the front plate to the grille with cable ties and paid my visit to the CHP. Unfortunately the plastic cable ties don't hold up very long to the California sun. Gert P.S.: I heard some cities are now trying to "motivate" drivers to mount the front plates (some 50% of cars in CA don't have them, although required) because they need the plates on the photograph for the red light runner cameras.

That looks nice....maybe something for Al?

Yes, amazing, but that perception filter must be a cultural thing....but at least we appear to be a rather civilized bunch. Some decent argumentation (I may not agree with everything) and no name calling. Now, can we please slag one of the Se7ens brands to get the juices flowing? Gert

Oh well, I find it only moderately funny. The guy may have some flaws and is surely not telling the truth about being able to deliver on a lot of promises. But, being an honest loser doesn't get you anywhere nowadays. In the current line-up he appears to me to be the least sleazy and the most intelligent guy. I despise the whole pied piper argumentation about reducing taxes from both camps. Talking about "tax relief" no matter 95% or 100% of population when we are 11 trillion in the hole is a joke. That is like switching to a part time job when you are up to your ears in credit card debt. How the fuck are we going to pay this off? Obviously we can keep piling it up until all the collateral is gone. As for spreading the wealth (he did not say spreading your money)....over the last decades the wealth has been un-spreading or piling up tremendously on the very tip of the economy pyramid (did somebody say greedy?). Reversing this trend and that way "spreading the wealth" does not sound like a totally bad idea to me. Without a solid middle class this country is going to lose. Now I 've done it.....let's rather talk about cars. I will feel better when that whole election madness is over. Gert

Well, but sometimes you just cannot help seeing the trees either...... http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/550402540_RockyAspen.jpg This was at the USA2005 tour end of September in the Rocky Mountains. Oh yes, there was a curvy road, too (bottom/middle of picture, double-click for detail) Gert

I am with Slngsht. I also would not use a Se7en as daily driver transport for a child (actually I would not use it as daily commute vehicle myself). But I don't see really an issue with taking out a child of almost any age in an appropriate seat and with eye and ear protection in a Seven, given a proper driving style and reasonable roads. Going out on major metropolitan freeways or other dense traffic would not count as reasonable. Otherwise I think a child may be safer in a very carefully driven Seven than in an aggressively driven Miata. I understand that restraint may be at times difficult in a Seven but you sure would not jeopardize a child pulling some stunts. Go for it....but make sure first that a Seven is the car you want (test drives etc.). Gert

What is wrong with that? Electric power comes from the wall outlet, gas from the neighborhood pump and the grace of God from your local church. Obviously then the money comes from a printing press. You don't need to know about the details behind it, just trust the specialists who run that business. :willy: It is just so sad that even if one or the other candidate would have the capability to understand the required harsh consequences (maybe they do...) they would rightfully not dare touch it because that would kill any campaign. Iguess we will have to live with hollow promises until after the election. But I am with you the day of reckoning is probably unavoidable.

Quite lucky.... On the NorCal2008 tour the participating brand new S2K lost car control but not due to the steering arm but a failed rod end of the front suspension (IIRC). I believe it was also a fatigue failure. Several Birkins of 2000/2001 vintage had weak lower front suspension ball joints and bad failures. I know of one Caterham where the front lower A-arm bushing split up with complete suspension failure and serious damage. For some reasons that appears to happen usually at low speed and with no serious consequences. I think I will go out now and have a look at my car..... Gert

Who might be behind that one?

Some direct comparison data attached (mostly dyno'ed the same day on the same equipment). I summary: a stock 2.0 liter Duratec on TBs and with aftermarket ECU is roughly comparable with a similarly equipped 2.0 Zetec with stage 2 cams (ZX1, ZX3 or SVT doesn't seem to matter). But it is a few pounds lighter and parts in the long run probably more accessible and cheaper. You may want to make your choice based on the ease of fit in the target car. The Cosworth Duratec and similarly tricked out engines are in another league but heavy on the wallet. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/394360751_EngineComparison.jpg

I agree with most of what is said here....but I think there is nobody out there with the leadership to convince the public and the government of the the need to save (or at least to not borrow). I suspect all the rescue attempts are futile and we just have to come to terms with a new economic reality that the party is over. That may come quickly and painfully or slowly and just as painful but I guess with every year of continued "American Way" we are just taking out more of the the family silver to the pawn shop. Well, when it is gone it is gone. On a lighter note: We might solve all the problems by selling Alaska back to Russia at a handsome profit (sorry Alaskossie). I think some kind of Lemon Law should apply here. I suppose we could pay off the national debt from the proceeds and maybe there would be even a dollar or two left for the coming Medicare and retirement funding crisis. We should probably not try to reverse the Louisiana Purchase because the French are not in much better shape. Gert

Nah, does not work....Jerry Kunzman (The NASA guy) tried to run for governor in CA (among a few dozen others) and was beaten by Schwarzenegger. As a USA7s officer the chances should be even smaller. But then, looking at the current line-up I guess everybody can become president. Education, experience, intelligence, subject matter knowledge (not even to mention age, color or gender) all don't matter anymore. Now that is democracy! I suppose some moderate ambition and proper party affiliation may still help. We should replace this expensive and outdated election process with a more modern "American Idol" style contest. This has anyway more viewers and something designed for horse-riding pioneers isn't fit for the Internet Age. You don't have Hollywood contacts, Mazda? Gert P.S.: in case nobody noticed...I am cynical at times.

I like to pull people's legs with our fabulous CA weather, especially when it is snow shoveling season everywhere else. But to be honest, it can be frickin' cold here...Last Thanksgiving trip with the local 7eners we drove off at decent temperatures here in Pasadena, just with a light sweat shirt. When we crossed over Los Padres NF on Cerro Noroestre Road the temperature dipped below 40 which was not that nice. Coming down into Taft, Rosie and I stormed the next Target store, first to thaw a little and then to buy some fleece windbreakers. On my Sunday morning runs into the Angeles NF area in Winter I pay special attention to the ice sheets in corners where water runs across the road. But, after all Winter is prime blatting season in SoCal. BTW, below is my home made roll-up half-top. Major benefit is I can close it while sitting inside in a few seconds. It is mainly used for hot weather but it makes also for a decent rain-top. Together with the wind deflectors I haven been driving for hours in heavy rain with only the elbows getting wet. http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/leftfront.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/rolling.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/rolledup.jpg Gert

Wow, that is impressive. Looking at the results...do I get that right? A 40-year old BMW 2002 beats new Evos and WRXes in overall time....? Wonder what they did to that car Gert

Honestly I don't know exactly....and I don't make it a dogma. If the red phase takes too long I will probably take it in neutral after a few seconds but then while I am thinking about other things or get impatient I may put it in gear again in the futile hope it should turn green anytime soon. So what.... But I almost never use the hand brake while driving. Why shouldn't I use the foot brake (or no brake on level ground)? Even on steep hills the engine spins up fast enough to get going smoothly without roll-back. Gert

Plastic valve cover means it is a ZX3 (Focus). If it has an exhaust cam VCT solenoid it is a ZX2 (Contour from 3/98). For the ZX1 (Contour/Mystique from 95 to 3/98 or Mondeo) you also must see if the regular serpentine belt configuration is used or a shortened triangular one with reversed water pump spin. The latter requires a special water pump version that you can only get from Europe. Maybe you can take a few close-up pictures of the engine from all sides and we all figure it out. Gert

Another sign-up here.....but I think I wrote about that somewhere before. Are there hotel recommendations close to the track? I would take off home from Hallet's. Gert

Call Gustafson starters http://gustafsonspecialty.com/ They have a gear reduction starter that fits the Zetec w/ Birkin bellhousing. I suppose it will fit a Crossflow, too? Usually they sell only through distribution and for a while they supplied this to MSI but don't do that anymore. For that reason they sold me one of the few they still had on the shelf direct. Forgot how much but quite cheap. After the change my hot start problems were gone immediately. Gert

They may be dirt bags alright....but by the standards of the average politician, they are actually not *that* bad. Power corrupts. Some folks take more, others less advantage and some overdo it and end up in jail. If you have a situation of full control like the GOP from 2000 to 2006 that really makes them believe they get away with everything and laugh about it. I think you better measure them by the standards of efficiency and how much they advance the well-being and long-term perspective of the people as long as they stay somewhat decent. Disillusioned, Gert

Good question, I would be interested in a good source....My extinguisher is probably 10 years old and while still showing "green" on the gage I think I should replace it sometimes. Also, the next Shelby Club track day requires a metal clamp and I have it strapped to the floor in front of the passenger seat with a tie-down belt only. Otherwise the position is very good. Does not bother under the passenger knees and can be reached from the driver position. Gert

gone

But mine is smooth and pleasant to touch and has nice brown streaks.... Not to forget, it saves about half an ounce over an aluminum knob http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/544159446_woodshiftknob.jpg