About Tinkerah

Tinkerah

I'm married to a young English professor and consider myself a practicing grammarian so I have the authority to concur. A+!

Tinkerah

With such prominent front wheels and the rear so concealed it has a very science-fiction-y look. Most motorcycle riders will confirm that windscreen is probably more effective than it looks. Nose height is good enough, the operator can see above it but aerodynamics direct the wind quite a ways higher. "Roll bars" not even as tall as the driver's head? Lose them for an even sleeker look.

Tinkerah

At that price point I don't know that it was a consideration but the electronic ones are probably cheaper than mechanical versions. With all the other silliness they should be an option.

Tinkerah

Which is how much of this started anyway. "We used what we had" is a perfectly acceptable reason.

Tinkerah

Um, if only. Open wheel cars in the rain are a non-starter. Just going through a puddle at any reasonable speed in my fenderless T is completely blinding.

Tinkerah

As has been mentioned, small Chevys have always been compact, versatile, reliable and CHEAP. Plus, every car looks better with its hood closed, just say "It's an SBC" and everybody knows what it looks like without having to see it.

Tinkerah

I haven't been a Foose fan but he's won me back with that one.

Tinkerah

Awesome because radials can't help it even though they overheat without a prop.

Tinkerah

Radials in ANYTHING are awe inspiring if only for the sound!

Tinkerah

Thanks Sajeev! I have no illusions about the awkwardness of towing a 220 Volt extension cord but it's got me looking forward to winter.

Tinkerah

So timely! Also not a car, but you didn't specify it had to be and this probably qualifies as weird. I just did this today: https://youtu.be/jEzVKknSfgY

Tinkerah

If you've got a failed original DJ, It's very likely repairable with some patience. After resurrecting countless starter solenoids because they're expensive (to me) I've taken to fixing switches of all types just because I can. Carefully remove the rivets, separate the housing in a confined area to contain any springs, clean the muck off the contacts, burnish them with an eraser and reassemble with appropriate hardware. Voila! Think kindly of me while enjoying fully functioning switch!

Tinkerah

It would, but the beauty of affordable software and 3D printing makes them feasible for DIY enthusiasts to produce one-offs at home.

Tinkerah

They're here. For a commuter who charges at home the wait time is zero.

Tinkerah

Not to worry, no one buys trucks for the economy. These things will sell like hot cakes (my metaphors aren't that old dagnammit) for the bragging rights.

Tinkerah

Rarity does not automatically bestow worth. And they have the chutzpah to mention 1000 hours goes into each one making their shop rate...unacceptable.

Tinkerah

I was once invited to a young customer's home to check out his sim racing rig which was very impressive. He was an accomplished enduro sim league racer in a very high-tech car I could barely pronounce. He asked what I liked to drive and I said "oh, any overpowered rear-wheel drive American muscle". He loaded up a 1970 big block 4-speed Chevelle and strapped me in - what a blast. I probably wouldn't've been competitive but made it around the course for a few laps with one crash. Then he got in to show me how it was done and never, not once, made it past the second turn. Chalk one up for the old man beating the kid on his own tech!

Tinkerah

Digital plates? Awesome!...For everyone else. How durable will they be? Get the guy who cut you off pulled over by throwing a rock at his. How secure will they be? Get a teenager to hook you up with a choice of numbers to select from your phone - while conveniently not watching where you're going!

Tinkerah

Don't forget per-mile tolling.

Tinkerah

Like the F&F franchise, these spectacles are made for the entertainment of the masses who know nothing of real world air combat, and the bunches (like me) who are aware of some realities, but not really for the very select few who live that life. As I said aloud to my agreeing wife "They should be maneuvering for advantage instead of wisecracking over the radio."

Tinkerah

What?? I can only "Like" a comment once?? C'mon!!

Tinkerah

Carried it over to superchargers as well: 6-71, 8-71 etc.

Tinkerah

UK 01438 893007. I still love the easy ones!

Tinkerah

All true - but the bottom line is spectacle is easier to sell. Even I admit I can glaze over at in-car views (when crashes aren't happening) but can't look away from crash footage.

Tinkerah

Ok, but that seems like a dangerous mindset. This isn't Amazon after all.

Tinkerah

No matter how many times we are taught the Scientifically Proven Factoid ("stuff expands to fit the space") we all somehow think we'll beat it. I bought my house specifically for its detached 25X25 and was stunned at how quickly it became unmanageable. Interesting to know that even on Jack's very enviable scale, it still happens.

Tinkerah

Not really surprised. They're always shown on commercials carving up traffic but buyers choose them for the safety so they're usually the slowest things on the road.

Tinkerah

That's exactly how I see it. I'm sure it's intense for the drivers, exciting for the crews and nerve wracking for the sponsors but it's difficult to bring much of that experience through a television screen. A breathless announcer shouting "Here's where he might make the move!! He's thinking about making that move!! Here he...he.....nope, he's waiting for a better opportunity...." can't possibly convey a driver's sphincter reaction. Give me the Chili Bowl. Or a local figure 8 race.

Tinkerah

As someone who has spent a lifetime driving in snow and delighted in figure 8 racing I know I'd be hooked for life if ever given the chance. Ego claims "I'd be great at that!" while finances say "in your dreams".

Tinkerah

Though I admit knowing nothing about Monteverdi beyond what's in this article I'm perplexed by how badly it must have been treated in such a short time. After a restoration in 2003 and owned by Jay Leno from '06 to '08 (who only improves the condition of any vehicle he owns), it spiraled into immobility within four years. And what of "recommissioning"? A title issue?

Tinkerah

Not as long as they can still get it cheaper from elsewhere. These days, the mere promise of cheaper from elsewhere is enough, delays be damned.

Tinkerah

That'll do sir, that'll do.

Tinkerah

Ooh good point DUB6 - So...of course my flippant comments are intended as comedy. Yeah, that's it. As unfunny as they may be they are meant as COMEDY, not a driving habit. (Whew, close one....)

Tinkerah

Idling at a stop light counts as "pulled over" right? 😁

Tinkerah

A skilled, as well as eloquent analyst!

Tinkerah

You know advertisers are salivating to find ways to sneak ads onto those screens.

Tinkerah

This is worlds away from my backyard exploits, so I'm gonna chime in anyway....Unless there's some legal reason that I can't imagine for not disclosing your evidence, it smacks of buyer's remorse or fishing for a quick payoff. Fica Frio surely had their chance to verify authenticity, and perhaps is surprised that Jerry didn't cave. If it turns out the car is legitimate all the lawyer's fees should be paid by Fica.

Tinkerah

Like I always say: "Get me good source files, I'll do anything you want with them"!

Tinkerah

Is this kind of what you had in mind Numberscruncher? Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Tinkerah

As is the trend, it's tech for tech's sake. We Hagerty (<-- interesting I'm getting a misspelling signal under "Hagerty") members probably aren't a large enough pool of target buyers to change the course. It can be impressive but the vulnerabilities are racking up. Never mind the hacking potential, every new doo-dad is just another effortless node on the CAN bus but if anything goes wrong with that cable (Corroded connector? Reckless stowage of something in the trunk?) you have a multi-ton computer that will not boot.

Tinkerah

I'm curious as to the percentage of the run this represents. 50 or so units (so far) among hundreds of thousands doesn't strike me as a big problem for Ford. But if more start happening it will become more alarming. Owning one after the warranty expires would be a huge gamble.

Tinkerah

Mean - but hilarious.

Tinkerah · ‎04-06-2022

Isn't every seat belt tongue with a square hole an effective bottle opener? It's worth trying just for the increased irony.

Tinkerah · ‎03-06-2022

And I don't want millennials figuring out how to display Tik Tok on it so they can drive "hands free". Apologies to millennials reading this who'd never do such a thing but the stereotype persists.

Tinkerah · ‎02-06-2022

So the 14 inch touchscreen is track-pad free..doesn't that mean it's a 14 inch wide track pad? Couple that with the inevitable cloud connection and look forward to the fun you'll have relearning how to operate your accessories every update when the software department rearranges your controls because "we heard you". No thank you to all of it.

Tinkerah · ‎02-06-2022

I've begun labeling my hoard for my own sanity more than whomever gets saddled with it when I'm gone. It's a recent discipline for me that takes deliberate determination.

Tinkerah · ‎01-06-2022

"Back in the Day" (my tagline) I had collected all my favorite arcade games but none of them were designed or built to last more than a few years. There's a devoted following but the talent that's capable of repairing them, and they all end up failing, has been steadily disappearing.

Tinkerah · ‎31-05-2022

I owned the Spy Hunter arcade game for a long time. Great fun spraying enemies with machine gun fire and laying oil slicks for pursuers, all while the Peter Gunn theme played in stereo.

Tinkerah · ‎29-05-2022

It's a decent size two-car garage and it's extraordinarily congested. All my machines are fully tooled and powered up but there's no room left for any bench work. You might be impressed with how much equipment you can cram into a space if you don't insist on a path through it all.

Tinkerah · ‎27-05-2022

Oh I can answer that question JGeske . She bought it for the image, end of discussion. Everyone has 4X4 around here (except us out-of-touch outliers) but you only need it to get through your driveway, the plows are spraying sparks before the first flake falls.