Random Thoughts Thread

[A Horse With No Name]

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

1968 Eldorado being assembled...

Lastly...

[A Horse With No Name]

For Dfelt...

This sign is accurate...

Not everyone can afford a car payment...

[A Horse With No Name]

[A Horse With No Name]

40 foot titanic model used in the 1958 movie A Night to Remember. 

 

[Robert Hall]

Enjoying my vacation this week.  Drive down from Ohio to Myrtle Beach was fine, the CT6 really shines as a road trip car…soaks up the miles.  Been getting close to 30 mpg at 70-75 on freeways (occasionally 85-90 passing).   Been relaxing and spending a lot of time on the beach.  Headed to the Outer Banks in NC on Friday. 

[A Horse With No Name]

16 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Enjoying my vacation this week.  Drive down from Ohio to Myrtle Beach was fine, the CT6 really shines as a road trip car…soaks up the miles.  Been getting close to 30 mpg at 70-75 on freeways (occasionally 85-90 passing).   Been relaxing and spending a lot of time on the beach.  Headed to the Outer Banks in NC on Friday. 

Neat trip, love that car as a long distance cruiser!

[daves87rs]

On 9/10/2024 at 1:03 PM, A Horse With No Name said:

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

Chevrolet production re starting after WW 2

1968 Eldorado being assembled...

Lastly...

Loving these!

[Drew Dowdell]

On 9/3/2024 at 11:59 AM, ccap41 said:

What'd the EV6 driver say about his charging adventures?

As for the humming sound of the hybrid Honda, I believe they do that for safety reasons, that way it isn't creeping along at parking lot speeds literally silent. I think a few or most hybrids do this and I thought I read that it was so people can hear them at low speeds, where there's zero tire noise. I thought EVs were supposed to be doing this, as well, but I haven't noticed if they are or aren't. @Drew Dowdell could yo confirm this or tell me I'm wrong, hahaha? 

Yes, all of the hybrids and EVs have some sort of jetsons sound that plays when at low speed in EV mode. I see its purpose, but at the same time, now I can hear my neighbor back out of their driveway when I couldn't when they had a basic ICE crossover. 

[A Horse With No Name]

Todays video, cool CSX locomotive rebuild shops...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycal-aKgtVs

[G. David Felt]

Some very INTERESTING news for ya all:

https://media.subaru.com/pressrelease/2165/117/subaru-announces-legacy-production-end-2025#:~:text=Production will end spring 2025,for the legendary Subaru Outback

https://pressroom.cadillac.com/gmbx/us/en/cadillac/pressroom/news.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2024/sep/0912-escaladeiq.html

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/gm-to-white-collar-workers-get-with-the-ev-program-or-you-re-out/ar-AA1qkOzy?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=b2fe627e132e4bc6fd65ca1797013a7c&ei=16

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lucid-ceo-new-midsize-cars-ev-tech-make-lucid-a-long-term-play-like-tesla-and-amazon-164104412.html

Cool Tech on 1 pedal driving

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/other/how-the-kia-ev3-reimagines-one-pedal-driving/ar-AA1qozR4?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=bcebf3729c414e03870ae37c7e3281b9&ei=22

1200 plus HP Corvette testing, the return of a ZR2??????
Chevrolet Corvette Zora Spied Testing, Could Have 1200-Plus HP (caranddriver.com)

Hyundai / GM teaming up for collaboration on Auto's, Supply Chain and Clean Energy Technologies.

Hyundai and GM Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Explore Collaboration on Vehicles, Supply Chain and Clean-Energy Technologies

Digging these EV Go / GM charging stations they are opening

EVgo and GM Take Charging to the Next Level with New Flagship Destinations Set to Optimize the Charging Experience

Driving a Tesla, Kia will give you a big discount to change over to a Kia EV. 

https://insideevs.com/news/733183/kia-ev6-ev9-price-cut-from-tesla/

Excited for this to come to the updated EV9, 600 Miles of range, Perfect!!!
https://www.fastcompany.com/91177650/ev-600-miles-range-samsung-solid-state-battery

Mercedes is moving to Solid State Batteries
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/mercedes-solid-sta

Kia EV3 is going to be a smash hit for them and people I suspect will love it.

2025 Kia EV3 First Drive: An Affordable Electric Breakthrough (insideevs.com)

[G. David Felt]

Hello Everyone,

You have probably NOTICED that I have not been posting much and especially this summer have not been posting any auto news. That will change as I move into the fall and get back to my hobby of my passion for the auto industry.

What have I been doing you might be wondering. I had a major yard project that consumed every day all my spare time. I installed a 33,000 lb commercial grade retaining wall and a new heavy duty 6ft fence on my back yard.

Last winter storms took down my fence that was part of the house when I bought it in 1999.

The yard was also on an angle from 5ft height to the east to ground level on the west. 

Since my wife and I have decided to eventually in 20 plus years retire here, I decided to level the yard, install a retaining wall and replace the fence. We love to garden so 1/3rd of the yard is at the higher level and the rest is ground level with the base of the house.

After my company Trade Show, I came home on Friday May 24th 2024 and took delivery of 33,000 lbs of retaining wall stones, toppers and corner stones.

As one can see, I did make a mistake in that I had them left double stacked and as such had to lift all the stones multiple times to get them down and stagged in the back yard. Each stone weights 90lbs, corner stones are 110lbs and the toppers are 45lbs.

I also had 6 tree stumps to remove as these trees which where my neighbors had grown across the property line and would if left, over time rot and cause the wall to possibly shift and sink.

I also ran into this huge green granite boulder which was buried again once I had removed the tree stumps.

Here is a picture of the west side corner looking back, the excavation I did for prepping for 5/8th crushed rock bed and installation of the wall.

With the crushed rock bed in place and packed down, I could also install the draining line and start to install the stones.

From filling in the stones with crushed rock to building the corner, things progressed nicely I felt. To keep dirt from clogging the drain field behind the wall, I used commercial grade fabric that lets the water flow but holds the dirt back.

Toppers are glued on after I cut them to give me a presentable corner. The green sticks you see is where I will have the galvanized fence post base installed into the wall with cement.

Here is the section with the tree stumps removed and the wall built, dirt packed and all secure.

Now comes the coring part to create the holes that will allow me to install the fence post bases. The toppers where the post go is not glued on yet. To do this, it takes a strong 18V drill, 5" core bit, water and strength.

I used OZ-Posts bases which are great. Here is the upper section with them cemented in.

The best thing about these is that in my lifetime I will never have to worry about having to replace them. If a tree falls and damages a section of the fence, easy to unscrew the posts and replace the section. Best part is I never have to worry about rotting as you install them up 1 inch to allow all water to run off the post and onto the topper and go away.

With the bases installed and cured, I was able to install all the fence posts and start building.

View from the neighbor's side of the finished wall/fence

Finished view from my deck.

I still have an interior wall to finish that will support the raised area where our garden will be and build an easy walk ramp up from the lower section.

So, this is why you have not seen much posting from me or heard much from me over the last 5 months or so. Still have much to do, but at least the biggest part of getting the yard secured with a new wall / fence is done. I will be working on the rest of it over the fall/winter/spring.

If ya have any questions hit me up, always happy to share my experience with ya. Yes, I lost 35lbs doing this project, nothing like a ton of manual labor to get into shape. 😂

[A Horse With No Name]

That is impressive work on the Yard, Dave...

Great in car vintage Camer stuff from Goodwood...

 

[Robert Hall]

Back home from my vacation.  9 days, 7 states, 2300 miles.  The CT6 performed flawlessly and proved to be a great road trip car.  Got a lot of rest and relaxation, a lot of beach time.  Enjoyed Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC, loved the Outer Banks of NC.   First pic is in Rodanthe in the Outer Banks after driving through torrential rain (AWD and traction control helped a lot), second pic is this morning in Maryland.  Saw a lot of interesting places, lots of good food. 

[A Horse With No Name]

18 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Back home from my vacation.  9 days, 7 states, 2300 miles.  The CT6 performed flawlessly and proved to be a great road trip car.  Got a lot of rest and relaxation, a lot of beach time.  Enjoyed Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC, loved the Outer Banks of NC.   First pic is in Rodanthe in the Outer Banks after driving through torrential rain (AWD and traction control helped a lot), second pic is this morning in Maryland.  Saw a lot of interesting places, lots of good food. 

That is a gorgeous car and a wonderful trip, Highly jealous of both. 

This is incredible, and real!

 

[G. David Felt]

Very interesting read
World Investing Almost 2× More Into Clean Energy As Fossil Fuels Now! - CleanTechnica

 

[Robert Hall]

Went to go out and grab something from the Italian grocery down the street for lunch, and my Jeep wouldn’t start.  Hadn’t started it in 2 weeks.  Later got out my jump pack, and battery on it was swollen and sticking out of the case.  Not good.  It was 3 yrs old.  Called AAA, they jumped it and the battery was discharged.   Got the battery replaced, the old one said Manufactured for. Chrysler, Sept 2013.  11 year old battery!  Still had the original battery, longest I’ve had one last. 

[trinacriabob]

On 9/9/2024 at 1:14 PM, A Horse With No Name said:

Local place I like to eat at, I have posted about it before. 

https://sharinghorizons.com/carls-townhouse-a-chillicothe-landmark/

Look, it was posted by a certain "Karen."

Edited yesterday at 12:56 AM by trinacriabob

[trinacriabob]

I was going to mention that casinos are a real turn-off.  They border on depressing.  If a person has a basic statistics course under their belt, they wouldn't go into one. 

You don't really even need a course.  I heard a story of a kid - about 10 - riding in a car with his parents down the Las Vegas Strip.  He commented that if these casinos were paying out jackpots left and right, they couldn't continue to exist.

Usually, I periodically stop in at casinos if they have a buffet.  All of the buffets at the Stateline on South Lake Tahoe appear to be gone.   It started with Covid and it's been used as a reason to not bring them back.

Most, not all, of the casino buffets in Reno area also gone.  "The Row" - Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, and Eldorado - have done away with buffets.  The Eldorado had Italian night on Wednesdays that was the one buffet I'd plan the visit around, with pasta, chicken, beef, and polenta dishes that were really something!  The Peppermill, Rail City, the Nugget, and the Bonanza at the top end of town no longer have buffets.   Harrah's Reno closed its doors.

The only 2 big ones that remain are Grand Sierra Resort (formerly the MGM Reno) and it is prohibitively expensive, and the Atlantis, which is more affordable.  I used to go into the GSR for their breakfast buffet in the 2000s ... affordable and filling, and most of the food choices were very good.

I found a third one with a good price point at the Sands and went in to eat.  You get what you pay for.  It was hit and miss.  A long drive afterwards is difficult.

The bottom line is that my stomach doesn't stretch well to accommodate buffets anymore.  I'm now going about once every 3 months.  I'm not missing them.  They're going the way of the dinosaur ... like I.C.E. cars.

[A Horse With No Name]

13 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

I was going to mention that casinos are a real turn-off.  They border on depressing.  If a person has a basic statistics course under their belt, they wouldn't go into one. 

You don't really even need a course.  I heard a story of a kid - about 10 - riding in a car with his parents down the Las Vegas Strip.  He commented that if these casinos were paying out jackpots left and right, they couldn't continue to exist.

Usually, I periodically stop in at casinos if they have a buffet.  All of the buffets at the Stateline on South Lake Tahoe appear to be gone.   It started with Covid and it's been used as a reason to not bring them back.

Most, not all, of the casino buffets in Reno area also gone.  "The Row" - Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, and Eldorado - have done away with buffets.  The Eldorado had Italian night on Wednesdays that was the one buffet I'd plan the visit around, with pasta, chicken, beef, and polenta dishes that were really something!  The Peppermill, Rail City, the Nugget, and the Bonanza at the top end of town no longer have buffets.   Harrah's Reno closed its doors.

The only 2 big ones that remain are Grand Sierra Resort (formerly the MGM Reno) and it is prohibitively expensive, and the Atlantis, which is more affordable.  I used to go into the GSR for their breakfast buffet in the 2000s ... affordable and filling, and most of the food choices were very good.

I found a third one with a good price point at the Sands and went in to eat.  You get what you pay for.  It was hit and miss.  A long drive afterwards is difficult.

The bottom line is that my stomach doesn't stretch well to accommodate buffets anymore.  I'm now going about once every 3 months.  I'm not missing them.  They're going the way of the dinosaur ... like I.C.E. cars.

Casino's are hugely depressing. 

Mentally and emotionally I am so done with so much of America and American culture. I want to get on an A350 (not a Boeing product...!) and leave...and never come back. Seriously. 

Slap the window shade down when the plane pulls off the runway, and never, ever look back. 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

On a more positive note...

 

[trinacriabob]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Casino's are hugely depressing. 

Mentally and emotionally I am so done with so much of America and American culture. I want to get on an A350 (not a Boeing product...!) and leave...and never come back. Seriously. 

Slap the window shade down when the plane pulls off the runway, and never, ever look back. 

 

Cathay Pacific aircraft are beauties ... nice understated livery.

On that A350, black raccoon paint around cockpit windows, only 14 wheels (total), and it rotated very quickly.

[A Horse With No Name]

Model Car show...

 

[A Horse With No Name]

Merc in Purple at about 9:40 is awesome...

 

[G. David Felt]

3 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Casino's are hugely depressing. 

Mentally and emotionally I am so done with so much of America and American culture. I want to get on an A350 (not a Boeing product...!) and leave...and never come back. Seriously. 

Slap the window shade down when the plane pulls off the runway, and never, ever look back. 

 

I am so in agreement that just getting away to the mountains is such mentally refreshing. Any where but in a city with political idiots pushing narrow minded agenda's. Lets get back to a more balanced give and take life with folks that realize the world is a wealth of options and those options is what makes life so fun, not a single narrow focus.

See ya on a trail in the Mountains my friend!!!

[A Horse With No Name]

3 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

I am so in agreement that just getting away to the mountains is such mentally refreshing. Any where but in a city with political idiots pushing narrow minded agenda's. Lets get back to a more balanced give and take life with folks that realize the world is a wealth of options and those options is what makes life so fun, not a single narrow focus.

See ya on a trail in the Mountains my friend!!!

Absolutely. 

Vintage pic, Curtis Turner with Dede Lund

Superbird

Vintage Dale Earndhart

[Robert Hall]

Not a fan of casinos either...never been a gambler, always found Las Vegas tacky and noisy, overcrowded.  About the only time I go to them is for concerts...the local casino (an MGM property) has a nice little concert venue inside, and I do go to shows there several times a year..

The older I get the less I like crowds and like the simple pleasures of experiences like sitting on a beach in the evening listening to the roar of the surf and watching darkness approach.

Edited 4 hours ago by Robert Hall

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

Not a fan of casinos either...never been a gambler, always found Las Vegas tacky and noisy, overcrowded.  About the only time I go to them is for concerts...the local casino (an MGM property) has a nice little concert venue inside, and I do go to shows there several times a year..

The older I get the less I like crowds and like the simple pleasures of experiences like sitting on a beach in the evening listening to the roar of the surf and watching darkness approach.

Emotionally I am so there with you. 

Sierra Hull, I love her music. 

 

 

[G. David Felt]

3 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Not a fan of casinos either...never been a gambler, always found Las Vegas tacky and noisy, overcrowded.  About the only time I go to them is for concerts...the local casino (an MGM property) has a nice little concert venue inside, and I do go to shows there several times a year..

The older I get the less I like crowds and like the simple pleasures of experiences like sitting on a beach in the evening listening to the roar of the surf and watching darkness approach.

Gambling is like flushing your cash down the toilet.

I only go to Vegas once a year for the tradeshow, otherwise, a place I can do without.

[G. David Felt]

Very cool