Never an excuse to possibly damage another man's car. VERY bad taste, no different than keying a nice car just because you're pissed that the owner may be richer than you. You don't like somebody, get out of your truck, pull them out of their car by their collar, and slap 'em around for awhile. But NEVER touch the machinery. (Of course this law is overruled in the event someone gives you a door ding in a parking lot. Then it's open season to kick in every panel on their car).

 

Tundra-I was working downtown the day of the riots. Really made me "proud" to be from here, if you know what I mean. Btt, I was a choker setter in Mud Bay near Sitka for one crazy summer. I love Alaska, good for you!

Alpha-I completely understand about your wife's opinion. I think we all look in the mirror sometimes and say "What the f$%k? It's just a truck." And then we climb in and it's all clear once more.
I haven't seen the silver L you mentioned. I'll look for it and drop a note to get the guy on this board. There's another L in my neihborhood who manages the local bank. I'll see if I can recruit him as well. This board has been a lifesaver. Let me know when you'll be back in the area.

 

Silver, read my post again. I didn't say that all benz/beemer pilots were rich aholes. But, you have to admit that SOME of them are, and those are the ones I enjoy humbling. I know quite a bit about the very rich. I lived amongst them as a kid, and humility is not a commonly possessed attribute. But then there are a lot of benz/beemer drivers who are not rich, and do not fall into this category.

George, I assume you are referring to the south side of the 101 at Victoria. I'm not sure what a tilt up building is, but the only buildings in that area are the Salzer's Video and record stores, so I assume they are the ones. I guess from Walnut Creek you would probably be taking the 5. Too bad, if you were going the 101 I'd say stop and do lunch or something. Are you bringing the dogs? Maybe I could arrange to drive over to Castaic and meet you there for lunch.

rallyone, I know you are referring to the '92 riots. I had moved to Ventura by then, so all I saw was the TV coverage. My job entailed interviewing prisoners at the various jails, but when I went to PHR it was locked down and ringed by National Guardsmen with machine guns. You guys are probably too young to remember the '65 riots, but I had more personal involvement in them. I lived in Palms, and remember driving to the top of Baldwin Hills and watching South L.A. erupt in flames below me. I had to help quell a mini riot at the juvenile detention camp where I worked and then drive a busload of belligerant, handcuffed kids back to SFVJH. My brother picked up some OT guarding arrestees at the old Lincoln Heights jail, which was reopened for the festivities. It was an interesting time.

Tundra, where is Versaille? Next time I visit my brother I'll have to check it out.

 

'Doggy:

Chill, chief. I was just goofing and trying to entertain.

The typical Benzo "driver" doesn't know doodley-squat (Vonnegut reference) about "things mechanical", and is indeed more often than not a wealthy parasite on this otherwise wonderful blue marble that we inhabit. Too bad, too, because Benzinos are mechanical jewels, packed with purposeful hardware, and are by-and-large NOT slow. I love that damn Hun-Mobile, even though I've only driven it a couple times (wife has sole dominion over that machine). You just have to dig into one to see how much engineering those boys in Stuttgart (or in this case, Tuscaloosa) pack into one of their cars.

So mechanically inept is the typical Benz owner that there is really nothing serviceable under the hood these days - all shrouded and sealed. The only thing they show you under the hood at delivery is to where to top up the wiper fluid.

Take for example the oil. No drain plug, no real oil pan (and little opportunity for leaks below the crank). Oil filter on top of the engine right next to the filler cap. There is a dipstick, but it's really an afterthought, as the crankcase has an electronic oil level sensor in it with notification on the dash for low or high fill level. For an oil change (every 10,000 miles, even the first one) the synthetic oil gets sucked out of the crankcase with a vacuum. Ideal if your typical owner sees a big bowl of mechanical fettucini whwre others see an engine, drivetrain, etc.

I suffered through a conversation Monday with my (young female) dentist where she described some recent adventures with her new S430 (V8 ultra-luxury sedan). These included having no clue about the climate control or navigation systems, filling the wiper reservoir with tap water (during a deep freeze), and "engaging the 4-wheel drive" during an ice storm, which, upon further investigation by myself, actually amounted to DISengaging the traction/spin control on the long, heavy, 268 HP, rear-wheel-drive $80,000 sedan. And so it goes.

 

Ha ha!!! great story on your dentist silver...and thanks for all that info on Benz's...I never knew about any of that.


------------------
2000 Red Lightning
95 Saleen S-351 Convertible/Triple Black
97 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic

 

The tilt ups are the large concrete industrial buildings beyond those stores. The video store was being built when we were building the other ones.

I might head down the 101. Blazer and my wife are heading south in a huge custom motor home (with a turbo cat deisel) that Blazer's handler uses for dog shows. Also, I may go down a day early to get my chip modified at Swanson's. I haven't finalized that part yet.

Whatever the arrangements are, I let you know so we can hook up. If I caravan down with the Motor Home, you can meet Blazer too!


------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)




[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 12-21-2000).]

 

George,

You didn't buy yours from Walnut Creek Ford did you? I haven't seen yours around town much. I had a 99' Red lightning and now have a 00' Black, brand new. Both carry dealer plates. Leave a note if you see it. I park in the garage behind Broadway plaza in the loading zone all the time and at the Sbux on main across from Tomatina. I'd love to see your truck

rwooldridge@ventaso.com

Berto

------------------
99' Lightning
94' Lightning
96' Cobra Convert

 

Berto
Bought two trucks (third soon!) from WC Ford.
I park at the Starbucks, but only when no one is parked in the loading zone. My wife has seen your truck (red) and I think I saw the black one recently getting on 24. Two weeks ago, I parked behind a Black G1 Lightning, but the owner wasn't around.

Are you ever on Lafayette Circle Drive with the Red Lightning? It's been noticed a lot.

We walk our dogs every evening downtown starting at Union Bank, thru Broadway Plaza, up past Starbucks (stop there for coffee or the Nordstroms), up to the WC Creek Ford - look at all the trucks (I know the inventory better than the salesmen), across to the Buick/Chevy - look at all the cars their, back down on Locust. Join us sometime.

BTW, Parker Robb is asking $47,300 for a 2500HD, 4x4, SB with a Duramax Engine. It's been sitting there for 3 weeks. What a joke.


------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)

 

Oh, I guess you mean that industrial park across the rr tracks. That's where Magneson Products has their shop. I'm sure there must be a way we can hook up. Sounds like you are really serious about the dog show game. Is there a big show coming up in this area? I know you must have seen "Best in Show" then. My wife thought it was amusing, I laughed my a$$ off.

 

Blazer finished 4th in the country three years ago, when he was still an "adolecent." After one year of showing, I retired him, because we weren't that serious about it - it was something to do, he enjoyed it and won, which made it more fun. It's hard to believe, but he likes showing. If you saw him in the ring, you can tell. We mainly go to this show because it's a fun trip to sunny Palm Springs during our winter. Our families are in the area and we celebrate the holidays a second time, but with them.

It's kind of ironic that I ended up a Lightning owner - a sleeper like my RR, in more ways than one - although he's a spoiled couch pototo, he has incredible strength and agility.

The other Lighting owner irony is our other dog, Casper, aka "White Lightning" and "Hot as Ice." You wouldn't believe her speed - when she opens up, it's amazing.

I haven't yet seen "Best in Show," but hope to see it when it's broadcast on DirectTV.

------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)

 

Nobody here in the Walnut Creek area ever wants to race, but then again, I don't look for them. A guy who was admiring my L the other night told me "maybe you won't believe it, but most every guy in this area now knows what a Lightning is."

Tundra/ralleyone
I was in Echo Park on the day the riots started and later that evening in Pasadena (Old Town) to work out. BTW (tundra), we had family on San Vicente up the street from the beach.

Although I grew up in LA, I was glad to leave - there are too many people for me now. My family is still down there, but they're all spread out now - SLO, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Glendora, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Palm Desert and Oceanside (military based out of Coronado).

I'll be hitting most of those areas the week following New Years in my Lighting. Everyone wants an "E ticket" ride.

alphadoggy
If you've seen those tilt up buildiings on the west side of 101 at the Victoria offramp. I spent a summer as a form builder building one of those tilt ups - good pay for college, a work out and a dark tan as benefits. I slept at McGrath State Beach several nights a week and at in Goleta on the weekends. That's a beautiful area to live (Goleta and south to Conejo grade).

------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033
White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)




[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 12-21-2000).]