Comments on: International Pi Day

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:18:56 +0000

Yeah, Eucalypts were the main reason for the bad firestorm Feb last year. They explode, especially when dry. And when you have several thousand in an area in the middle of a very hot firestorm and high winds… All bet’s are off. Would have been like having hundreds of lbs of C4 going up. Many chopper and fire bomber pilots said there were several hotspots they couldn’t even get close to. I thought at the time it’s definitely one of those situation where the military should have been put in charge. Civilian authorities were seriously caught with their pants down and out-matched. It really was like someone dropped a bunch of daisy cutters over thousands of acres. And the military know how to deal with that kind of firestorm… They could have used APC’s designed for that and transport choppers (they have winches to get people out fast in high danger areas) to get people out. We trained for that, we were trained to get to a spot and hover above tree level, I’d repel out fast, grab someone on the ground, hook them up and put a face mask on with oxygen feed, and get winched up fast. All over and gone in 30 sec. Actually, our Navy train to do that all the time, and have rescued many a stricken vessel occupants that way. The Army & Navy Rescue/Evac Choppers are designed to take a lot more grief than the civi equivalents, and the pilots and crew are better trained too.

I would have seriously fired whatever moron was put in charge that day. Maybe literally.

Actually, that Bathurst news heading is wrong. The tree didn’t *shorten the race*, it started at 6:30 AM and finished at 6:30 PM, on schedule. What they did was adjust the drivers totals (since they are only allowed to race for a set time, and several teams would have been fined for being over the limit). Nice of the organizers, ehh? ‘) 😆

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:35:39 +0000

In reply to Kryten42. Eucalyptus trees do that all the time in Southern California, just fall over for no obvious reason, but that isn't supposed to happen in Australian. The SoCal trees were imported from Oz to be grown for use as railway roadbed ties, but they get brittle and twisted in the US soils and environment, unlike in their native soil. People like them for the odor and shade. but they are a dangerous tree to have around in fire weather. That looks like I-65 North during the evacuation for Hurricane Opal.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:30:50 +0000

Speaking of Bathurst and racing... I was watching the 12-hour endurance race on Sat, and saw something I've never seen at Buthurst before! I've seen a roo jump across the track, and that happens occasionaly, I've seen boulder come down the mountain onto the track (that was fun!) But never a tree right on the bend of Conrod Straight (the long straight where the car's go flat out usually) blocking the full width of the track. Luckily, the cars were all slowed behind a safety car as the weather had turned bad and visibility was a problem. Otherwise, it could have been very nasty. Fallen tree shortens Bathurst race Amazingly, it fell at the worst possible point of the track. Anyone flying up conrod wouldn't have been able to stop in time on the wet track by the time they saw the tree on the bend. Very lucky. Nobody knows yet why the tree fell in the first place. Time will tell I guess. It took the SES about an hour with heavy equipment to get rid of it and clean the track. They did a shot of the Pit crews watching the monitors in bewilderment, and I saw Eric Bana watching and the crew were all laughing and shaking their heads (his team were racing), since it's a long-distance (1,250+ KM) endurance race, they have 2 or 3 drivers who work in shifts. Poor Eric can't win a trick the past year! His team were in 5th place (in his class, there are 10 classes racing from a few cars in a class to a dozen,) this year until his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 got creamed by Dean Herridge's Subaru Impreza (he's a Rally driver usually, so... *shrug*) :)

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:46:23 +0000

BTW, I was the proud owner of a Texas Instruments SR-52 calculator and used that initially to help with the various designs. 🙂 In ’78, I discovered the new Ti-59 and PC100C printer, and I *HAD* to have one! I’d built a microcomputer published in an Aus Electronics mag in the 70’s called the EDUC-8 Microcomputer (pronounced ‘educate’, and I swear to G*d, I still remember the op-codes!) 😀 But it was useless for this kind of math at the time! Both the SR-52 and TI-59’s were programmable and had a mag card reader, the 59 could write to a blank card also. 🙂 My parents and Grandparents got together and got me a 59 and printer for Xmas that year, and it was truly amazing! There were several program modules available for about $50 each. I got a few, then clubs were springing up all over, and people started writing their own code and sharing it around. 🙂 Stupid TI got greedy and tried to stop it, which only drove it *underground* and it grew and grew, cutting TI out of the loop. TI actually sent out a mailer to all owners warning them not to use ‘illegal programs’ (or illegal instructions, as some people had discovered hidden codes on both the 52 and 59, such as for hexadecimal math). Almost nobody understood what TI was on about or why they were trying to keep codes secret. But all the letter did was make a LOT more people who hadn’t a clue before, sudden;y very curious! 😆 Idiots. Just like The Dweeb moron with his stupid *open letters to the shareware community* idiocy.

Greedy morons never learn, until it’s too late. Me, I just laugh at them all! 😆

Rightho! Bye… again… again! 😆

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:11:50 +0000

Well, if you live in Aus you can add a few more to the exceptions list, such as white tail & funnel web. I like the big Huntsman’s… I’ve had a couple *adopt* me over the years! 😆 It’s true… They are very territorial, and great hunters (hence the name I guess). You will generally only find one in a house, and they keep the insect population, including other spiders, way down. I lived in a house many years ago, and one day I was working in my office, and I suddenly looked up and saw this big huntsman sitting on the edge of the ceiling & joist corner, and I *SWEAR* he was looking at me! I have no idea how I 8knew* it was there, but I did. Made me a bit nervous I can tell you. I was wondering if he was wondering if I was good to eat! 😆 But, he just sat there. Eventually he moved off and I guess went hunting, but he came back. After that, whenever I sat at my desk to work, he would eventually take up his post and sit with me. I got to saying ‘Hi’ to him and saying stuff like “I hope your hunting goes well” etc. 😆 And then one day… He didn’t show up. I guess he died, made me feel kinda sad actually! Silly I guess… but not to me. 🙂 I have no idea how long they live or how old he was when he started visiting, but he was definitely a full adult. I can’t even really say how long it was that he was around. Seemed quite awhile. I’ve always liked living creatures (not just animal’s) of all types (with some exceptions that in my view are only here to be food to other creatures and annoy hell out of Humans! Like Mozzies, flies, fleas etc.) Anyway, I had another Huntsman *adopt* me several years later in another place. 🙂 I used to often wonder why. *shrug* 🙂 Some things *just are!* 😉

My description hardly does the *paint job* my m8 did any kind of justice at all. He was a true artist, and meticulous. I’ll try to find the album I have, it has some of his other mural work that he did on other car’s, if not our beast. 🙂

Oh… I designed the dash & instruments myself. 🙂 All digital (LED displays). Pretty unusual for the day. Had an LED bar graph for the tacho (adapted from an audio power meter from the recording studio I worked at as an apprentice engineer/session drummer), 3-digit speedo, fuel, oil pressure and temp, water temp, fuel pressure, and various other indicators for warning sensors. Most of the bits were commandeered from or through the studio (with permission of course). The senior Engineer was a pretty cool dude and he helped me design it all. I was spending an absolute packet on books! Tech manuals etc. There was a specialist store in the city called “the Technical Book Store” (It’s still there I believe), and I practically lived there! they all knew me by name and I knew them. 😆 They would get me books from the USA and UK that they didn’t normally carry, like the book for the engineering of Crower cam’s. They were a really good store. The usual conversation would be something like:
Me: I need a book about *whatever* (and any special requirements)
Them: OK. We’ll see what we can find and get back to you:
Me: OK, thanks.
within a few days I’d get a call from the store:
Them: Hi , we found a book that seems to fit what you wanted. *some info and description*
Me: That sounds great! Order it please.
Them: already ordered by courier. Should be here in a few days.
Me. Wow, thanks! You guys are too good! 😀
Them: No problem at all. Anything you need, just call.
Me: Always! Thanks again, bye.

The manager found out one day that I would buy a book they ordered special even if it wasn’t really what I wanted. And told me not to do it and to return the books I didn’t need for a refund or credit. He said they would always find someone who wanted it. 🙂 I just kinda thought that since they got it special for me, I had to buy it. Seemed the right thing to do to me. 🙂 That was really good of them I thought, and cash was getting a bit tight! 🙂

Customer service, for real! What a novel concept these days, huh? *sigh*

Good thing I was good at math I can tell you! 🙂 We bought a blank billet (un-machined cam shaft) from Crower USA (through Ford) and had a little specialty machine shop that someone at Ford put us onto (that worked on racing/drag car’s) to machine it up for us. They did it for nothing if I would let them use my design that they found interesting. Sadly, I knew nothing about ‘Intellectual Property Rights’ back then! Still… Not like I ever used that knowledge ever again. 😆 So, I guess it wasn’t a bad deal. Would have cost us about $400 otherwise. 🙂

Although the car was primarily designed to be a *show car*, it was very functional too. A lot of structural/chassis work was done to strengthen and lighten the car. We designed it so that two people could convert it into a full-on race car within a couple days. Including a bolt on supercharger (Weiand 6/71 blower with Scott injector hat) and twin 4-v Carter TQ’s (Thermo Quad) 850cfm carbies with racing injectors and needles replacing the L-Jetronic system on a HM low profile manifold (designed so the blower doesn’t sit too high). Most of the interior could be removed and a secure bolt on roll cage installed (mount points already existed and a cage was built that could be quickly assembled using titanium bolts because of the sheer forces if rolled at high speed). Actually, the rear seats could be removed and the area used as luggage space since most of the boot (trunk to you) was full of fuel tank and spare wheels (one front, one rear), fire extinguisher (and a smaller one in the front cab for quick access), tool kit and spares. We even put in hidden (covered, removable) mount points on the floor, B-pillar and ceiling to put up a strong taught web net behind the front seats so that breaking at high speed wouldn’t cause loose luggage to knock your head through the windscreen (even though the luggage could be secured with a web net also). 😆 Great if one or two people wanted to go on a long road trip. 🙂 Actually, a lot of the ideas came from my friends parents and Ford engineers etc. 🙂 It was actually during this time that I first heard the term *Risk assessment and analysis* and got very interested in the concept (and bought a book on the subject of course, which I still have). Risk Assessment was fairly new in the 70’s and there weren’t many books on the subject, most were industry specific.

And speaking of books… maybe I *should* write one! 😉 If I thought anyone would read it. And I had any time! 😆 😉 Unfortunately, I can’t write about all the *really* interesting stuff for another 5 or 6 years yet, If I live that long… watch out for it. It’ll be all over the news, so you won’t miss it. 😈 😉

Well… back to work! No rest for the insane or the wicked I’m told! 😀

PS. Sorry for all the glaring grammatical errors in the above (and probably this) post! I’m typing fast and don’t have time to check grammar. The spell checker only highlights spelling errors. I should preview and review I guess… but I can’t be bothered! 😉

Ciao, again! 😆

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:34:09 +0000

:lol: a knitting spider! i think spiders are cute actually, with the exception of black widows, brown recluses, and the like, and i loved charlotte's web. i would definitely have admired that paint job! .-= last blog ..Run, ntodd, run! =-.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:59:12 +0000

Oh! Almost forgot…

You are dead right BT! Those damned door latches were a PITA! We got rid of those when we redid the interior, even had electric windows (since we had to get them specially done with the tinting/laminating anyway). 🙂

Ciao! 😀

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:48:25 +0000

It was really amazing what you could do with a VW! I used to see so many variations at shows and on the road! There are hundreds of conversion kits, aftermarket mod’s etc… When I lived in Sydney, I became friends with a guy who repaired or rebuilt VW’s, he mostly did mod’s on beetles to put Porsche engines and running gear in. I remember his pride and joy was a Porsche stations wagon that was actually designed and the body was built by VW, and the mechanical’s were Porsche ( I *think* it was called a 924 Estate, not certain about that.) I’ve never seen a Porsche wagon (Estate) before or since! Apparently, not many were made. I found some pic’s that look familiar… it was a while ago. 🙂 Of course, Porsche had a long history of working with VW/Audi, and several models were a usually successful joint effort in some way.

eBay Find Of The Day: Porsche Wagon

They call it a 944, it’s not. And it was built by a ‘coachbuilder’, if you call VW in the 80’s a coachbuilder! LOL Apparently, the new Porsche Ceyanne wagon is a big load of garbage at an insane price. Typical.

The later S4 variant was IMHO the best of the 928 series. It had a 5ltr V8 rather than the original 4.7ltr, even though the Aus version had a basically de-tuned engine because of lower octane fuel requirements (we had high octane fuel, but it was expensive). When I got my S4, I had it blueprinted and restored to full spec. We clocked it (on a raceway/test track) at 0-100KM/h (0-60Mph) in 5.6 sec, and a top speed of about 176 MPH, with the engine generating about 320hp. The S4 also had a much lower Cd (drag) than the earlier models of about 0.33 (compared to 0.39 which was embarrassing for a Porsche!) The later model I owned, had a trip computer and a diagnostic/warning system added, an electric sunroof, much more efficient AirCon, alarm/anti-theft system, anti-lock breaking and a 40% locking diff (and people think anti-lock breaking is new!), much better sound system with power amp’d surround speakers (very important for long road trips), and better passenger seat (lumbar support and adjustments added). 🙂 The 928 was really quite an evolutionary car, there were actually more than a dozen variants produced over the years. It was truly the last of the GT’s (Grand Touring). Oh! I almost forgot… It had heated seats too! Great in Winter. 😀

I finally found a photo that looks pretty much like mine (there were so many varients!):
White Porsche 928 S4 1988

Ooh! I remember the owners manual stated in the front (I have to think about this, memory’s not that great these days!):

“Judging by the car you have chosen,
you are a motorist of a special breed,
and you are probably no novice
when it comes to automobiles.”

😆 I always knew I was special! 😉 😛 😆

*sigh* Anyway…

One of my friends in the early 80’s had an AMC AMX. He loved that thing! 🙂 And it wasn’t a bad car we thought at the time. 🙂 They were actually assembled here in Melb and were popular for a time. I remembered it had a bloody big engine for a little car (360CID from memory, with a 390 optional)!

I have a friend who just got her 3rd VW rabbit (the latest model of course). It’s changed a lot since her 1st boxy styled rabbit way back when in the late 70’s! She swears she’ll blow up VW if they stop making it! 😆 She’s one of the sweetest women you ever want to meet, but I believe her! Funny how people become attached to a certain car… 😉

At least we don’t have to worry about drugs running across borders to other countries, since we are the only country on out continent! 😆 (well, I mean by road of course, Sea/Air are a different story, as anyone who reads/hears Aus news over the years would know!) 🙂

Ahh well… I better get some work done!! I have so much to do, and no time! I shouldn’t be spending time doing this really, but I need a break, and this helps make me feel good, and I can gett better work done, so it works out. 🙂

Thanks for the memories my friends! You really have no idea how much I needed this trip down memory lane right now. 🙂 Things are not good here right now. Thanks for allowing me to ramble on guys. 🙂 It’s very much appreciated. 🙂

In one way, I feel kinda sad, even nostalgic. But also pretty good! At least I have good memories, and I can be pretty proud of the things I did. I made some good choices. 🙂 Can’t really do much better than that. 🙂

Bryan, I was once asked in one of those many Psych eval’s we do in MI if I had planned to get into MI (which could be viewed with suspicion of course) because of all the things I did in my early years which were very useful for the coveted and secretive Scout-Sniper unit (which I’d never even heard of until I was asked if I’d be interested). Everyone knew about the SAS, but the SS (which always made us either cringe or laugh, and we wondered what bright spark came up with that unit designation! Though, officially, it was a Regiment of 3RAR, like the SAS). Anyway… Much of my early life was really formed by my Grandfather who was a WWI and WWII vet. I wondered much later if he planned it… I have a suspicion that he did, and I always wondered why. It annoyed me that he passed away before I could ask. Motives… everyone has one! 🙂

Cheers! 😀

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:00:19 +0000

I tried three different blower arrangements on the Ghia, and none of them worked well enough to drive without mittens. Of course, I owned them in Nebraska and upstate New York, so below zero wasn’t unusual in the winter, A friend had the auxiliary gas heater in his Bug. I worked great, but used more gas than the engine.

The reason I owned so many VWs is the same reason you still own a Jeep – you could wrench the suckers. I had all of the specialty tools for VWs and several great manuals for them, so I knew how to buy a used one and get a great deal. I also had a supply of spare parts that were better than the originals and installed them immediately so I didn’t have to worry about them.

Those were the days when you could clean and gap distributor points with a book of paper matches.

These days you have to debug the software to keep the suckers in motion.

That was a serious paint job, Kryten. I’ve seen a few gold or silver flake jobs that rely on the clear coat spacing, but most people don’t have the patience to do it right. Lots of time between coats, even with an oven.

I was going to have the Rabbit’s interior re-done by a guy in Tijuana, but half the time the padding contained cocaine, and things got sticky at the border. Then if you got it in they slashed the upholstery to recover the possible drugs. Other than that, he did great, understated work.

By: Badtux

Badtux — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:03:14 +0000

LMAO at those finger-squishing “flush” flapper door handles. How did we ever think those things were a reasonable way to get your doors open? Of course, my Jeep has those AMC “paddle” door handles on it, which are even worse for chewing up your fingers, but then it’s using the door handles that AMC put on the original Jeep Wrangler when they started designing it in 1983 so I guess there’s history to be considered there :).