Saturday, February 11, 2017

the TT

Pangka Thailand

Tasik Madu on the island of Java


Tasik Madu was (and is) the flagship mill of the Yogya/Solo area, being built in grand style for the then Sunan (Sultan) of Solo. Steam survives in quantity here for yard work and the tourist operation but the field lines and the main line connection are long gone.

http://trainrover.blogspot.com/2010/08/thursday-5-august-madiun-to-solo-via.html
http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/sweetdreams/tasikmadu.htm

1920's logging trucks

steam tractor logging

Opus Ferrum by Tobbe Malm Metalart

A thorough look at the lowrider car inception from the point of view of San Diegans. The first 10 minutes has nothing to do with low riders, it's all local history, then 5 minutes of car club history, then it gets to low riders








Javier the X Man's Cruise for the Cause bone marrow donor car show coverage: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/X-mans%20Cruise%20For%20The%20Cause

and the Low Rider Car Club Council: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/04/heading-over-to-low-roder-car-club.html

and the Low Rider exhibit at the San Diego Auto Museum http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2013/02/low-riders-are-current-exhibit-at-san.html

Why did they think this would work? That's way to top heavy to take a corner



It's obvious from just the top photo, isn't it? That this wasn't going to end well

http://www.blackdiamondnow.net/black-diamond-now/2012/12/the-hazards-of-driving-a-log-truck.html

Friday, February 10, 2017

well, this is a surprise, I've never seen a steam pumper crashed



in better days it was the above... front wheel drive is the Christie

nearly identical to the 1913 fire engine in the Nethercutt

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/1913-christie-front-drive-steam-pumper.html

this Christie front end is from my visit to the Hall of Flame Museum in Phoenix, the Front Drive Motor Company made everything that wasn't fighting a fire on this ladder truck. I look at it and am amazed that one company was making the power and steering section, and companies like Ahrens Fox were making the fire fighting part

http://www.blackdiamondnow.net/black-diamond-now/2013/01/black-diamond-fire-truck-in-the-ditch.html

at Bonneville on a motorbike

Flop Gear new season coming soon ( I haven't seen the last one) (But I watched all the Grand Tour!)

Ken Block, featured on the Go Pro 'Driven' video biography series




Andreu Lacondeguy on King Kong using a Go Pro on a Kharma Grip

John McGuiness, the legend

in the latest issue of the Hagerty magazine, they did a cover feature on the Corvair, startling photo of why Nader was scared of it... but they have conclusive data that it's actually safe.


On very authentic tires even, they tested it. Yeah, looks scary, but, lots of race cars go around corners on three wheels... https://www.facebook.com/HagertyClassicCars/photos/a.117703904926013.14865.114612551901815/1561753210521068/

the recommended tire pressure for a Corvair was 15 psi fronts, and 26 psi rear


Ralp Nader with that `60 Corvair at the Cobo Center, July 2016. Photo credit Pete Koehler

Even Sir Stirling Moss and Mario Andretti took the stand to defend the car:

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/10/10/page/210/article/i-love-my-corvair

the only quandry was, single? Or dual? carbs

the ford inline 4... carburetor. The Cross Boss


The Autolite inline 4 barrel carbs were developed as a way of dealing with the single 4 barrel rule imposed by the SCCA in Trans Am racing. The thought was since any 4 barrel carb was allowed, why not make a unit with the barrels all in a single row for better distribution?

 Inline carbs came in 2 versions. Part number DOZX 9510-A, aimed at Trans Am and NASCAR racing, used 1 11/16" throttle bores and was rated at 850 CFM. Part number DOZX 9510-B, aimed at drag and unlimited class racing, used 2 1/4" throttle bores and was rated at 1400 CFM.

Ford made just 1,000 Autolite In-Lines and 100 Cross Boss manifolds before production ended.

Of course, why they've faded from memory is the usual reason, more conventional Holley carbs worked better on the street and were easy to service. The Autolite inline 4 was much better over 5k rpm for racing.

"Cross Boss" is actually the name applied not to the carburetor, but the intake manifold it was designed with. This was a two-piece design with Ford part numbers D0ZX-9425-A and D0ZX-9C483-A.


when it gets to talking about rare musclecar carbs,  this one is always forgotten
http://www.highdefforum.com/1191295-post2095.html
http://www.mustangandfords.com/featured-vehicles/mufp-0609-1967-shelby-mustang-gt350/

lucky me, I photographed it before it was restored.... the 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa finally has a feature in Classic Driver.com


It was at the 2012 Graystone Mansion Concours in Beverly Hills (incredible car show!) and http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2012/05/1948-ferrari-166-spyder-corsa-body-work.html is my gallery of it. Python skin seats, beautiful body, cool gauges, and Scaglietti bodywork

Well, it's going to auction now with Artcurial, at Retromobile, and  https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/worlds-fastest-python-leather-seats-come-a-unique-ferrari is the story of it. According to the auction company Deputy Director Pierre Novikoff, it represents the genesis of the fabled Scuderia Ferrari

It's been restored though, and looks splendid. If you look at the way it was in my gallery, you'll see a race car with history. If you look at the gallery with ClassicDriver.com you'll see a restored car

For example:



did they somehow restore, or replace the gauges?

or look at the seats



Cleverly they slid the seat bottom further back to hide the torn area in back, notice the dimension the seat extends forward of the seat side is much less in the restored example at bottom

but the cockpit has a much better presentation in black than faded and exposed aluminum



looks like the brake handle was replaced. Zero personality, too machine like in it's perfection, unlike the original that looks like great old Italian metal workers made it quickly, and went racing that afternoon

Well, there you are, as raced, or restored. Where ClassicDriver states "What makes it so special is its originality and integrity — every change and modification, including those fabulous seats, has been preserved, rather than reverted back to its original form. "

I won't feed you that hogwash... I show you the before and after, and what changed.

Damn, that is some impressive lifting with an old steam powered tractor

Why do we enjoy listening to the car radio? Because it's in STEREO! And the inventor of stereo sound is finally getting recognized, and awarded with a grammy

A brilliant young guy, he was hired to Columbia Gramophone at age 25 to work in the research and development department. Soon after, WW2 kicked off, and he was killed while working on better radar. Because the cutting edge tech was so classified, his death was covered up... and he was never given the respect due to the person that changed, improved, and created the most pleasant way to listen to recorded music and movies

So, since 1935 we've had the pleasure of listening to radio, tv, and movies in stereo, and Alan Blumlein was the guy that is the creator. His grammy will be part of the Feb 12th ceremony.

He also pioneered the Marconi-EMI television system which was adopted by the BBC and was the basis for TV broadcasting until the switch to digital.

Simon Blumlein, his son, said of the Grammy: 'It is a great honour for my father and the Blumlein family. We're immensely proud. He's always been held in the highest esteem by recording engineers and so to now receive this from the wider music industry is simply wonderful.'

Universal boss Sir Lucian Grainge said: 'Alan Dower Blumlein and his prolific period of invention whilst at EMI, not only transformed audio and music recording technology, but also helped shape modern media communications for generations to come through his pioneering work in television.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4209900/A-Grammy-British-genius-changed-music-ever.html

Thanks Steve! 

1950 Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible


compliment of the day

"from one of my favorite car guy blogs" referring to a post a couple days ago

Dave, Texas Off Road Network

(Thanks Dave! Glad you're enjoying this stuff!) 

Sandstone Estates, in the country of South Africa, in the Free State province



The Sandstone Heritage Trust, which is based on a 170-year old working farm, is a private preservation initiative with a passion for doing things the old-fashioned way. The Trust preserves collections of traction engines, historic agricultural machinery, earth-moving equipment, and classic cars.

( trucks and buses to cars to earthmoving equipment, vintage trucks, Caterpillar scrapers, graders and bulldozers... plus an airplane and airfield )


1910 BSA railcar


 It also has the world’s largest collection of two-foot narrow-gauge locomotives. The Sandstone Estates’ steam trains make up a collection of locomotives that have been restored for the enjoyment of many steam lovers from all over the world. One of the aims of the restoration project is to establish South Africa as one of the world’s top steam train tourism destinations.

dig the round windows in the front of the cab


One of the highlights of the calendar for steam train fans is an annual 10-day steam festival hosted at Sandstone Estates in March, April or May.

Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free-State received the 2016 Business of the Year Gold Winner Award for Tourism

The farm was built up by the Wille family from the 1830s, who were originally German missionaries. Wilfred Mole bought the complex with his wife Linda in 1995 after making his money from becoming the owner of the Nokia franchise for South Africa. The farm has been 100% organic since 2005, producing wheat, soya beans, maize, and sunflowers, it is today held as part of a portfolio of international agri-businesses.

http://www.sandstone-estates.com/images/pdf/Introducing_Sandstone_Estates_Nov_2016.pdf
http://karoospace.co.za/living-the-steam-sandstone-estates/


http://www.pilotspost.co.za/arn0000744
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alfav8/sets/72157623818253755/

Terrific gallery on Flikr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alfav8/sets/72157623818253755/

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/travel/2016/09/16/Free-State-Reach-for-the-stars


http://trainrover.blogspot.com/2012/04/sandstone-steam-gala-wednesday-28-march.html

Steam locomotive graveyard, Queenstown South Africa

yard art

It's a bad idea to leave your car parked overnight in a public parking lot!