80 plus today had the speedster out all day
Nolan, we want to buy a vacation home in Florida somewhere and I was thinking about Islamorada- Florida Keys...what do you think about this place?? ~Esther
Fantastic place to live, close to paradise. Quick drive to Miami and Ft Lauderdale as well as south to the other Keys. Be ready to set your attitudes to their lowest points because life in the Keys is so laid back. Just relax and enjoy life. My wife and I are trying to win a house on Key Largo, a contest, I doubt if we could win but if you don't try you can't win. Things are little more expensive because of transportation costs, but life in Keys doesn't demand much. Sunning, swimming,fishing, sailing and parties pretty much sums it all up. Please forgive me about my previous post, being able to speak Spanish in the Miami area would be a super plus, it's just that deep in Miami English is actually a foreign language. Billboards are in Spanish and many stores and restaurants do not have English speaking employees, making us feel like strangers in our own country. There is a saying around here which is: If you get lost in Miami, ask a brother for directions. Funny I think like this since my mother's side of the family is Hispanic, My grandmother was the last one that could speak Spanish. I'm sure I would feel different if I could understand spoken Spanish but es no posible! You'll love it there!
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Nolan,
Dont let my last name fool you, I am 50% Spanish. But you are 100% right about the local attitude in Miami. Many of the Spanish speaking employees were down right rude if you tried to talk to them.
I live in Chicago which is also a melting pot of Nationality and Culture. We also have a heavy Hispanic population. The differance here is that the people here are proud to be Chicagoans/Americans and at the same time do not forget their culture. Maybe things will turn for the better down there.
Marty G.
Dont let my last name fool you, I am 50% Spanish. But you are 100% right about the local attitude in Miami. Many of the Spanish speaking employees were down right rude if you tried to talk to them.
I live in Chicago which is also a melting pot of Nationality and Culture. We also have a heavy Hispanic population. The differance here is that the people here are proud to be Chicagoans/Americans and at the same time do not forget their culture. Maybe things will turn for the better down there.
Marty G.
Nolan and Marty,
I guess since I'm Cuban I'll be fitting right in, but I do know what you mean, I would never have married a Cuban...Oh hell NO!!!! We love the Caribbean so this would be a place that we can go and just relax, not to live all year round, I have someone looking for us there as we speak, Iam finding that homes and land there are very pricey, 1100 sq.ft. home $700 and up....and some of them we would have to fix all up!!! Calif prices.....~Esther
I guess since I'm Cuban I'll be fitting right in, but I do know what you mean, I would never have married a Cuban...Oh hell NO!!!! We love the Caribbean so this would be a place that we can go and just relax, not to live all year round, I have someone looking for us there as we speak, Iam finding that homes and land there are very pricey, 1100 sq.ft. home $700 and up....and some of them we would have to fix all up!!! Calif prices.....~Esther
Right about the prices Esther, but with the housing market down there should be some good deals to be had. UP here in Ft Lauderdale we are seeing a heavy influx of South Americans, big difference is they speak English or go to night school. In little Havana (district in Miami on a street called Calle Ocho) English isn't spoken, never has and probably never will. Marty, I can believe you, Cuban family names are not necessarily Hispanic sounding, something about the Russian influence during the late 50s to the mid 60s. I knew a Yuri Lopez that rafted over.
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Took advantage of the 80 degree weather this past weekend and went on a desert excursion. Very therapeutic to be sitting by a campfire under a clear desert night and pondering the billions of stars overhead!
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There is allot more concrete in my Rover picture! The upside... I did not have to wash it afterwards.
Hey Jim, Ponder this!
p
Hey Jim, Ponder this!
p
Hey Jim,
You should send that pic over to Ford. Maybe they can use it in their next Range Rover commercial. They can call it "Now and Then"
Marty G.
You should send that pic over to Ford. Maybe they can use it in their next Range Rover commercial. They can call it "Now and Then"
Marty G.
There stands "Bwana Jim", taking a short break from his arduous journey across the Afghan frontier, pausing at the "Khyber Pass" to hop out of his 72-degree, climate controlled cabin to take in the 107-degree countryside.
He looks about, noting that "There's a hell of a lot of ROCKS around here..." and rightly assessing that "the Afghans can have it!"
After steeping himself in the cultural heritage of the area, he says To Hell with this!, gets back in his Range Rover and heads off to the nearest "Sonic" for an order of Chili-Fries......
He looks about, noting that "There's a hell of a lot of ROCKS around here..." and rightly assessing that "the Afghans can have it!"
After steeping himself in the cultural heritage of the area, he says To Hell with this!, gets back in his Range Rover and heads off to the nearest "Sonic" for an order of Chili-Fries......
Paul - that 'ponder' come-back CRACKED ME UP! Its amazing how Vince's influence has such a pervasive, dark side to it - I LIKE IT!
Marty - My beater RR classic is a girlie-man car compared to the rigs on the worldwide Expedition site I'm involved with!
Gordy - mmmmmmm, chili-fries. "Simba Ongowa to the nearest Sonic..."
Marty - My beater RR classic is a girlie-man car compared to the rigs on the worldwide Expedition site I'm involved with!
Gordy - mmmmmmm, chili-fries. "Simba Ongowa to the nearest Sonic..."
"dark" "pervasive" influence... Why does Vince always come to mind when those terms are used? By the way El Guapo - nice pic! We're talking with a group of buddies about going out with the Jeeps this weekend. See who can break something and who can get stuck.
Maybe we can use Steve's brand spanking new "snatch strap"...
angeal
Maybe we can use Steve's brand spanking new "snatch strap"...
angeal
I'm having new seatbelts put in the ghia, for the trip to Morro Bay..
Hey Jim.....Buckle this.....
Hey Jim.....Buckle this.....
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...STRAP ME IN!!!
OUCH! 14 feet!
It's 77 at my house on the east coast. Just got in from a nice blast in the country. Life is good - until July.
It's 77 at my house on the east coast. Just got in from a nice blast in the country. Life is good - until July.
Global warming (if it exists) starts in SOCAL
Mike, I hope you have strong roof rafters!
Mike -
YIKES! Josee must be arm-weary from shoveling all that snow!! Hope you two are able to stay warm till spring comes around!!
YIKES! Josee must be arm-weary from shoveling all that snow!! Hope you two are able to stay warm till spring comes around!!
Well, troops... took advantage of the terrific, 70+F weather here in the South to help another local "Speedstah Guy" (Peter) swap engines in his '52 Ford, F100 pickup. Had help from a couple of other car club guys (and one more who mostly got in the way, slowed us down with endless pontificating and drank beer).
We had the old one out (a tired Cheby 350) and the new one in (New crate Cheby 305) in one day, then took the second day to move/add all the peripherals and had it running by 3:30pm. Still a few minor adjustments and things to make pretty (and he should boat-anchor his old quadrajet and put a new Holley or Edlebrock 600 - 650 on there) but it runs, doesn't make any funny noises and doesn't leak.
The club has an engine test stand, and one of the accessories is a set of adapters to let you attach garden hoses to the water inlet and outlet, then simply run hose water through the engine. Shoot 65 lbs of water pressure in there and find all your leaks BEFORE you button everything on - absolutely terrific (we found someone put one of the water pump gaskets on upside down and it leaked).
Anyway, a "by" day today until the long-awaited rain stops, then scoot over and get the radiator installed and we're about done.
Not bad for a weekend.....
We had the old one out (a tired Cheby 350) and the new one in (New crate Cheby 305) in one day, then took the second day to move/add all the peripherals and had it running by 3:30pm. Still a few minor adjustments and things to make pretty (and he should boat-anchor his old quadrajet and put a new Holley or Edlebrock 600 - 650 on there) but it runs, doesn't make any funny noises and doesn't leak.
The club has an engine test stand, and one of the accessories is a set of adapters to let you attach garden hoses to the water inlet and outlet, then simply run hose water through the engine. Shoot 65 lbs of water pressure in there and find all your leaks BEFORE you button everything on - absolutely terrific (we found someone put one of the water pump gaskets on upside down and it leaked).
Anyway, a "by" day today until the long-awaited rain stops, then scoot over and get the radiator installed and we're about done.
Not bad for a weekend.....
A group of SoCal SOCers got together for a breakfast meet last Saturday Feb 16, 2008. Great day for top-down cruising!
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Great picture Jim.
Thanks, Marty! Its always fun getting together with a bunch of my knucklehead SOC friends!!
Hope you get some warmer weather soon so you can thaw out!
Hope you get some warmer weather soon so you can thaw out!
After 5.5 long and cold months we finally got a hint of Spring. Temps going up into the mid 40's. I know it does not sound like much to some, but for us cold weather folks it's a huge relief. Pretty much all of the snow has melted. I went out to the garage to see what the speedy was up to & I just could not resist. I pulled the cover off.
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
The fifth time was different. Pumped gas, turn over & bat, bat, bat, bat:)
This was my first winter; therefore, I did not know what to expect being a Newbie with an air- cooled car. The streets are filthy so I just let it run for 15-20 minutes. I moved it a foot in order to change the tire position. I am going on spring break with the family so I probably will not post any real seat time to mid April. I am just glad it was so simple to get it running. I did use the Stabil as recommended by many on this site.
Marty G.
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
-Pumped gas, turn over, & nothing
The fifth time was different. Pumped gas, turn over & bat, bat, bat, bat:)
This was my first winter; therefore, I did not know what to expect being a Newbie with an air- cooled car. The streets are filthy so I just let it run for 15-20 minutes. I moved it a foot in order to change the tire position. I am going on spring break with the family so I probably will not post any real seat time to mid April. I am just glad it was so simple to get it running. I did use the Stabil as recommended by many on this site.
Marty G.
Marty!
Bring the family on down to Beaufort!!
Had to move Pearl to get another Speedie into the garage to do a windshield swap. Figured, 'What the heck, I'm out here, so I might as well go to the opposite, diagonal side of town for a cup of tea with the Marines at the Air Station, right??' You hear the damdest things over a cup of tea/coffee (not all big, strapping Marines drink coffee, BTW....)(ok, so MOST of 'em, do....but a BUNCH of 'em just returned from the Afgan suburbs)
Temps in the mid-60's when I left, and mid-to-upper-70's when I got back (2 hours later) when I ran the other car into the garage and out of the swarm of Sand Gnatts ("no-see-ums" to you) to work on it.
Finished that by noon-time, and mid-afternoon drove Pearl (the other car was sitting while the silicon caulk cured) over to another part of town (watch the funeral processon along the river in "Big Chill" - same neighborhood) to watch the NCAA college basketball games with a friend. Returned home after the NC game in upper 70's and stopped at "Carolina Wings" to pick up dinner.
Life is good in the 'Low Country'....Snow? What's that?
gn
Bring the family on down to Beaufort!!
Had to move Pearl to get another Speedie into the garage to do a windshield swap. Figured, 'What the heck, I'm out here, so I might as well go to the opposite, diagonal side of town for a cup of tea with the Marines at the Air Station, right??' You hear the damdest things over a cup of tea/coffee (not all big, strapping Marines drink coffee, BTW....)(ok, so MOST of 'em, do....but a BUNCH of 'em just returned from the Afgan suburbs)
Temps in the mid-60's when I left, and mid-to-upper-70's when I got back (2 hours later) when I ran the other car into the garage and out of the swarm of Sand Gnatts ("no-see-ums" to you) to work on it.
Finished that by noon-time, and mid-afternoon drove Pearl (the other car was sitting while the silicon caulk cured) over to another part of town (watch the funeral processon along the river in "Big Chill" - same neighborhood) to watch the NCAA college basketball games with a friend. Returned home after the NC game in upper 70's and stopped at "Carolina Wings" to pick up dinner.
Life is good in the 'Low Country'....Snow? What's that?
gn
Marty's comments reminded me of when I was attending school in Flint, Michigan. I had an early Corvair parked outside. This Corvair had all ready received two valve jobs on warrenty and was rapidly approaching a needed third. 20 below zero for over two weeks. I was walking to school. Finaly got cabin fever and pried open the frozen car doors. Turned the key and - Whoomf - it started right up. I guess, under the right conditions, there is something in favor of really bad compression?
Marty -
That's encouraging when your Speedy has been idle for some time and then fires up after a little coaxing. Soon you and your beautiful wife be cruising the boulevard throwing out some major cool vibes!
Just to add fuel to the fire, here's a couple of short clips from our Sunday drive...
Peace - Out!!
That's encouraging when your Speedy has been idle for some time and then fires up after a little coaxing. Soon you and your beautiful wife be cruising the boulevard throwing out some major cool vibes!
Just to add fuel to the fire, here's a couple of short clips from our Sunday drive...
Peace - Out!!
and more...
Nice videos, Jim!
Cory - On the flip side of Calif dreaming, I'm day-dreaming about Carlisle and hooking up with you,Teresa and the rest of the gang!! WoooooHoooooo!!
Jim,
Who holds the camera while you shifting?
Marty
Who holds the camera while you shifting?
Marty
I try not to shoot video if I anticipate traffic lights. On the first clip (Surf City) I slowed down trying to anticipate the light ahead of me turning green, I miss-timed my approach and was still in 4th gear when the light turned green, so I just feathered the clutch to build up momentum. You could hear my mighty 1835 chug for a moment.