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Detroit, 5:11 AM
Sun Nov 22
11 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/21/09
When I had a V45 Sabre, it'd occur to me, typically shortly after a horribly missed shift, how the rear cylinders were pointed directly at my groin.
If they let go, at least death would be swift.
On the upside for the Angry Hamsters, at least the carbs are easy to access, and good thinking keeping the clutch housing exposed to ease wrenching.
While shifting sequential gearboxes clutchless is natural, though I didn't do it until late in my two-wheeled life (duh), 1400+ lbs., with driver/fuel, is gonna be tough on the plates.
Oh, and backing up is problematic. Though, speaking as someone who hasn't had a functional reverse gear for almost 12 months, you plan for this without being conscious of it. Said planning can be upset by race participants/conditions, however.
11/21/09
11/21/09
Ever since the Metro Gnome won--if I recall right, they did win once--I look at those little Metros with new respect. One's been in our parking deck on and off for a year and the outside looks worse than this one--and though it is small and ugly and apparently barely rolling under its own power, and even then, kind of sideways, I know that it could be transformed into a freakish monster and kick some ass.
11/21/09
Why?,... asks one.
WHY!?!?!?!!, asks another....
The other asks quite sagely, "Why not?" The tri-chotomy is perfect, and while I question their reasoning and berate their method, I honor their vision, and wish them the best.
Go Angry Hamsters! (You better win,.. or....)
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/21/09
That said, I'm all for waiving budgetary restrictions so long as the end result is still within the spirit of LeMons and sufficiently insane.
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/21/09
1. Any car that costs that little is a beater.
2. It is modified far less than most of the machinery at a LeMons race.
3. An S600 coupe, no track machine, on track racing Das Scheiß-E30s and motorcycle engined microcars is pretty much my definition of silly fun.
4. The real race is the Index of Effluency, and the real awards are the Dangerous Banned Technology or made-up-on-the-spot types.
11/02/09
at least they did in my dad's 70 600 Z coupe. #honda600
11/02/09
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11/02/09
11/01/09
11/02/09
11/01/09
I'd kill to have the engineering and equipment available to this team. While their car meets the rules of the series, I'm not sure it meets the spirit. #honda600
11/01/09
11/02/09
I also complained about the Metro-Gnome considering it had been advertised for sale on Jalopnik previously for over $2K, and that fell on deaf ears due to the cool factor of the car too. Then they went and won the race!
But I don't want to come off as a bitter whiner. I'll eat my hat if we ever win, so I'm not all that concerned about the competition as long as I have fun :) #honda600
11/01/09
11/01/09
11/01/09
With a post-'75 car, you can drop a newer engine into the car and get a Bureau Of Automotive Repair referee to certify it. At that point, the car will be tested to meet the emissions standards of the year of engine manufacture. #fordcortina
11/01/09
11/01/09
I've gotta laugh thinking about sitting next to that screaming V-Twin-but the weight distribution should be phenomenal. #honda600
11/01/09
11/01/09