Sunday, August 16, 2026

the 911 Turbo turns 50, fine, that's cool and etc... but, what I realized, is I haven't heard why Porsche 911s seem to have very good looking plaid upholstery. German car, Scottish cloth design - so that had me looking into that...


https://www.porsche.com/stories/innovation/porsche-911-turbo-50-years/

How the historic tartan pattern made its way into the latest Porsche anniversary collections? What does a fabric with deep Scottish roots have to do with Porsche?


Research reverals that the McLaughlin tartan was a design highlight of the 911 Turbo # 1, because  the chief designer at Porsche at the time, was going for a fashion look and wore a pair of tartan trousers to work...  Inspired by his bold style choice, the design team decided to explore how this classic pattern could add a unique flair to the interiors of their cars.



At the 1973 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Porsche unveiled the 911 RSR Turbo concept car, which featured an upholstery fabric inspired by the Black Watch tartan in a blue, green and black pattern. 

Two more patterns were soon added to the collection: the McLaughlin (also known as MacLachlan) tartan in a bold red and blue, and the Mackenzie tartan in shades of beige, red, blue, white and olive green. 

 The tartan interiors quickly became a distinctive feature of the Porsche high performance models

wow... what's cool and has wheels? A chair (if the research is correct, then it's from the USS Gilligan that was hit by kazmakazi in 1945)



the Army and Air Force were still furnishing ships with wood chairs-on casters-and they were called captain’s chairs.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/157104191579343/permalink/2132535924036150

looks like that might have been a car wash in a previous iterations, why have walls on BOTH sides of the car?


https://apnews.com/article/drivethru-dining-car-culture-america-250-da66714c7282d307d5240f91c31b9e56

the M2 F1 in 1963 proof of concept that the wingless lifting-body aircraft was viable as a emergency life shuttle from large aircraft (the big Navy dirigibles, big bombers, and possibly from spacecraft if they added heatshields)


https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/on-this-day-in-space-aug-16-1963-wingless-m2-f1-completes-1st-glide-flight

Since I recall posting this before, I went to look in the archives... and I find that this is the ONE (tail numbers) in the 2013 post about NASA using a Pontiac Catalina

The LMS Princess Coronation Class 6229 “Duchess of Hamilton”, what a BEAUTY! (Thank you George!)


The FIA is in the process of digitizing for public viewing more than two million documents and pictures from its boxes of archive stored in Valleiry (thank you Paul!)

Its collection relating to the land speed record is one of the first projects to be undertaken and will be made public shortly.

Alongside the documents and pictures are hand-written notes, letters and official records, annotated by those witnessing or taking part in the record attempts, a distinct, human element reaching back through the years.




https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/13/at-any-moment-i-might-fade-out-archives-reveal-fearless-era-of-land-speed-record-breakers

A 69 Dodge with a 6 pack hood! In the wild! Thank you John!

 


before and after a bad landing... The only airworthy example of an original de Havilland DH.88 Comet




https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1vpay05/crash_at_shuttleworth_flying_proms

BMW reported a 51% “recycling rate” from dead cars thanks to new sorting and smelting techniques applied to the brand’s own cars (thank you George!)

51% of BMW materials are of high enough quality to go right back into production with no discernible difference in quality from newly manufactured ones. 

For reference, the current industry figure is just 6% from testing materials from 433 dead cars across 60 different models. 

To achieve the massive increase in recyclability, BMW engineers pushed beyond the industry’s current shredding and bulk material recovery processes. 

Engineers also followed output streams to see which of its recycled materials could begin life anew as BMW parts rather than heading downstream to lower-quality parts or other industries.

https://www.mensjournal.com/auto/bmw-says-it-can-turn-dead-cars-back-into-new-bmw-parts

Indian Railways has installed 12,240 miles of safety fencing along railway tracks across the country to facilitate safer train operations (thank you George!)


Safety fencing is being provided to facilitate the safe movement of cattle, pedestrians and smaller vehicles across railway alignments.

https://swarajyamag.com/infrastructure/indian-railways-installs-safety-fencing-along-19700-km-of-tracks-nationwide-to-prevent-trespassing-and-ensure-safe-train-operations

https://ddindia.co.in/2026/08/indian-railways-provides-safety-fencing-along-19700-km-of-tracks-to-prevent-trespassing/

neither of these sources mention it, specifically, but I'm getting the idea the fencing is to keep people and livestock from walking onto the railways out of the farms and fields. I've seen a lot of India train videos where cattle is wandering loose on the tracks, causing the trains to slow and be delayed

Saturday, August 15, 2026

I love a parachute photo


interesting lettering


https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122164969316640485&set=pcb.122164969352640485

I dig it, 57 Vette with Poncho power, then Chev 427


how do you get 720 HP from a 327 in 1965? Twin turbos from Garrett, and dyno time with Isky! new to me history of drag racing! B Gas supercharged at Winternats of 65, with a 10.35 @135


Skip to 1:33 for this story, previous to that is the Olds Jetfire Turbo history

Jimmie Johnson makes history as the first motorsports competitor to ever receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Class of 2027) in the sports entertainment category.


Friday, August 14, 2026

39 Million at public auction. Biggest number I've heard of that's been official, and public. Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach auction.

 




https://www.facebook.com/whatsmycarworth/posts/pfbid0sCADteUKfs9MsdbTLJjcKvYJkjyfUYGis3Xx6QekjCSm2BuNT2Qmaipwr11dyAL6l

Richard Bay's little Porsche powered 1958 Fiat 600 winning the I/Gas class at the 1970 NHRA Winternationals


Rich took this Fiat from a street driven racer in 1965 to the full out race car weighing 1200 lbs

 Power came from a 1966 Porsche 1790 cc 912 engine with a Norris cam shaft and a Weber481 DA carb. 

Rich won class at the '70 Winters going 12.52 at 107.57 mph. 

In June of 1970, Rich set the NHRA I/Gas national speed record at 111.52 at Fremont California.

I've never seen this one before



George Wilson's little Messerschmitt Altered, the most unique Canadian race car from the golden area of drag racing.


a factory two percent Mopar stayed in the competition after the NHRA tried to prevent A/FX Mopars from winning ALL the races with a wheelbase-alteration limit of 2 %

 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122171772926640485&set=pcb.122171772962640485

https://musclecars.howstuffworks.com/classic-muscle-cars/1965-dodge-factory-altered-wheelbase.htm

The "World's Fastest 327 Camaro" was running in the 10.80's at the 1969 NHRA Winternationals. 2nd runner up to Landy's Charger


Joe worked as a tool and die maker for Edelbrock Equipment Company. 
He lost to Bob Riffle and his Rod Shop Anglia in the C/G class final at Pomona that year. 
Riffle then went on all the way to runner-up in Street Eliminator, losing to the factory backed Dodge Charger of Dick Landy.

at the 1968 NHRA Nationals at Indy.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122173046108640485&set=a.122101740776640485

A 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle stolen in 1993 in San Mateo County has finally been returned to its original owner, after a recent vehicle identification number inspection by officers with CHP's Auburn office discovered the car's situation




Rep. Tim Burchett (Tennessee-R) has introduced the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act (H.R. 9800) to stop federal funding for any surveillance system that tracks people / automated license plate readers and other mass surveillance tools.

 https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/07/25/we-gotta-ban-these-dadgum-things-rep-burchett-introduces-bill-ban-federal-funding-flock-cameras/

UC San Diego researchers who discovered a vulnerability in the KARR and SWDS security system that can be remotely accessed to unlock millions of cars

a UC San Diego professor oversaw the research which had groundwork laid down in 2018 for the research, which resulted in discovering a security flaw almost two years ago.

after notifying the KARR company, the security team and implementation team came to UCSD campus for a demo of the vulnerability

a security update is available, for owners who will upload an app and fix the problem themselves

KARR said the issue is not limited to KARR security systems because other companies use the same anti-theft device technology across the country. KARR also provides online instructions and tutorials for installing the update.

Why don't more cool old trucks have a Bendix Aviation inertia starter? Sure saves on battery juice

 

thank you Gary for the compliment of the day!

Your posts continue to delight and encourage me to be more curious and understand history/life/people better. 

 Gary in Detroit

the 1953 Cadillac Elegante concept car is coming to auction (thank you Doug!)





there ought to be a good reality tv show about smuggling, and customs inspections / border patrol - and how the look for and find the stuff that's smuggled

 I haven't heard of one... which doesn't mean much... I used to watch a show that took place in a big airport, and the amazing amount of stuff they had to deal with.... I expect that a show about a border checkpoint, a port of entry, trucking inspection station, or river or border lake (between Canada and Michigan, Washington, Maine etc) (Mexico and Texas) 

Harry Miller Indy Roadster



this is the American spirit in action, a peaceful protest about govt overreach. So of course the cops showed up and threatened to arrest him... in Green Bay for Pete's sake. He should have had a 2nd sign that said (Bad Cops! No Donuts!) when they showed up to harrass him




Fyi, the fastest way to cut aluminum pipe, lets say for on the job situations, is not a grinder and cutting wheel. it loads up with aluminum, and takes about a minute. It's not a Sawzall, that loads up with aluminum and also takes a minute. 

Nope. Use a Skill Saw, and in less that 12 seconds, you've cut that pipe through. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1044711568254159

thank you Turdherder! For lettting me know about the Gulf No-Nox advertising campaign "It gives you an extra kick" and the Gulf gas station attendant gave customers a little pair of orange plastic horse shoes



Thursday, August 13, 2026

This i respect.... cops vs driver, one on one.... In an effort to catch more drivers illegally using their phones, police in Dunellen New Jersey dressed up in a hunter ghillie camo suit and stood next to an extra-leafy tree, looking for drivers who were holding their phones in violation of a statewide ban.


the results? 74 citations for distracted driving in six hours.

Cost to build a Goodyear tire in the USA... about 87.00. Cost for the Chinese competitor? 12 dollars.

 and that would possibly be a reason Goodyear has lost 2 billion dollars in the last 5 business quarter years

https://www.thedrive.com/news/goodyear-cant-make-a-tire-for-12-like-china-heres-its-plan

Chinese knock offs from FullGood Motors, a company in Beijing



the YouTube channel Project Farm did a comparison test of car batteries


In the overall scoring, O’Reilly batteries took the top two spots, and all O’Reilly lead-acid batteries outperformed their less-expensive Walmart equivalents.

you've heard about all the cities looking to cash in on Flock surveillance cameras with tickets on registration and speeding... but anyone ever heard of a city FINDING an UNAUTHORIZED Flock Camera? Millcreek Utah discovered one that they did NOT pay for, and don't get the data from

A Flock automated license plate reader was recently discovered on Millcreek city property. City leaders say they did not authorize its installation and do not know who did.

The camera has since been removed, but its discovery raises broader questions about how it got there and whether unauthorized cameras have been installed elsewhere.

What are the implications? ANYONE can put up a Flock Camera LOOKALIKE and data gather until it's discovered. 

Yup, if Iran wants to snoop on Washington DC? Get some Flock Cameras installed.

If the Bin Ladens want too keep an eye on One World Trade Center in time for the 9-11 anniversary? Install some Flock Cameras. 

That right there is an example of how the govt won't have a damn clue who put up how many or where, or for what reason, because the govt isn't keeping an eye on what cameras are installed, they are only keeping an eye on the people they can fine and ticket. 

So, how long until TMZ and other paparazzi install cameras that look like Flock, and track Hollywood celebs? How long until China installs Flock Cameras to track who and what comes and goes off military bases, air fields, and ports? 

Just sayin, Big Brother ain't the only one who wants cameras watching us, and Flock doesn't care who pays with a credit card. They'll get a subcontractor out there installing them.

I think it would be a hoot to have hundreds or thousands installed, get an AI bot to monitor and edit a highlights reel of all the illegal things that any police department does.

The Danube's water levels have been falling, revealing finds from as far back as the Ice Age. Near the Serbian port of Prahovo, the remains of dozens of German battleships sunken during World War II, and the foundations of a bridge commissioned by Roman emperor Constantine I in 328 CE, near Gigen, Bulgaria