the Datsun baby, so kids could learn safe driving, and have a hell of a good time at the amusement park

Nissan made a 100 of them, they were for an amusement park in Yokohama that was open from 1965 to 1973. Not riding a rail, kids could drive up to 18mph anywhere on the track.

Amazingly, these two-seater runabouts had a four-wheel independent suspension with front double wishbones! Power came from a 200cc motor, but keep in mind that plenty of actual cars on the road at the time had engines only slightly larger at 360cc. Transmissions were automatic, supplied by Okamura Corporation, the firm that built Japan’s first torque converter, and the steering wheel had a spring-actuated self-turning feature.

Nissan donated 100 Datsun Babys to the park in order to teach children about traffic safety, so they could be safer as future drivers and as pedestrians.

Found on http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2015/04/02/1965-datsun-baby/#more-38868

Bangshift was tipped off to a 350 powered Bombardier B12 snow machine in Norway

http://bangshift.com/bangshiftxl/this-classic-bombardier-snowmobile-sounds-awesome-with-an-open-piped-chevy-350-providing-the-motorvation/

advertising illustration for BSA

Found on https://www.facebook.com/anibal134

John just told me about an original owner 427 Cobra (CSX3349) , 5585 miles (in this 2009 video), a lot of drag racing at York US30

Photo by Joe Grippa, at York US 30 dragstrip

photo by Bill Whitley https://www.flickr.com/photos/poppybill/sets/72157638347962583/



Eight-minute promo from the full-length video available through Jim Amos' Bee On Video. This video documentary tells the story of how The Penn Brothers bought a brand new 1967 427 Shelby Cobra and turned it into a drag race vehicle. The car stopped racing in 1976 and it has been sitting in a garage ever since.

Thanks to John!

A similar 1966 427 Shelby Cobra just sold for $990,000 http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1071774

rim polishing, the fast way

Top Gear pull the guys off the website, replace him with Stig

Yesterday was day one of not having a contract with Clarkson, May, and Hammond... so, poof. They are persona non grata on the Top Gear website http://www.topgear.com/uk/

Learned about this from http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/2/8333763/top-gear-website-removes-clarkson-hammond-may

Meanwhile over hear on BBC America

They are still on. I wonder if that is a marketing thing because it's BBC America, and not BBC2

nice paint idea on this type 2 splitty

Found on https://www.facebook.com/VWBusJunkies

Someone even tried Ackerman spring wheels on an Indian motorbike

Found on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Choke-And-Kick-It-Classic-Motorcycles/687120754729155?fref=nf

I'm not going to swear I know what this busted piece is, but I suspect it once was a main crankshaft pulley for the serpentine... now it's a paperweight

Found on https://www.facebook.com/mechanicnation

The Durand-Lesley Propeller Collection

Fifty of the propellers are currently on permanent display in the Terman Engineering Library in the Huang Engineering Center. Others were sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C

The hand carved Durand-Lesley propellers in the Stanford Engineering Terman Library at the Huang Engineering Center are the surviving artifacts of a famous experiment in early aviation history which defined a process method in engineering research still in use today.

The work created a comprehensive methodology that was widely used by engineers but little studied by historians, until Walter G. Vincenti wrote about it as a case study in his book, “What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History” (1993).

The studies at Stanford systematically altered parameters that defined the shape of propeller blades, and two others - the speed of the airstream and the speed of propeller rotation, to determine the best performance of various propeller shapes.

The history of aeronautics at Stanford began long before the actual founding of the Aeronautics Department and is almost as old as the university itself. It all started with the appointment of William F. Durand in 1904 to the chairmanship of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, only a year after the first flight of Wilbur and Orville Wright.

A pioneer in the fields of aeronautics, naval propulsion, and engineering research methods, William Durand remains one of the most revered names at Stanford more than a century after he joined the faculty in 1904. A picket-fence display of his hand-carved wooden propeller designs, each a unique specimen, graces the wall of the Terman Library at the Huang Engineering Center.

While at Cornell University, Durand's research concerned boat design. He published the classic text Resistance and Propulsion of Ships in 1898. When he came to Stanford he began to study the then-nascent field of aviation. Working with Professor E.P. Lesley, Durand built one of the first wind tunnels and embarked on a rigorous study of propeller design that provided airplane makers with the means to choose the best propeller for their airframe designs. The study was notable for its results, and for bringing a more scientific approach to engineering research.

In the early 1930s, Durand edited the six-volume series, Aerodynamic Theory, a major reference in the field. Durand also shared his scholarship through public service, both as chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics - a precursor of NASA - and during World War II, as a leader of a program to advance the development of jet engines.

His first professional assignment upon graduation from Annapolis was as engineering officer on the U.S.S. Tennessee, a full-rigged wooden ship with auxiliary steam power.

http://lib.stanford.edu/lotf/readings?page=0%2C450  and http://engineering.stanford.edu/2010-stanford-engineering-heroes

For an idea of how propeller blades were made to match each other, from wood, see:
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-prop-duplicator-machine.html

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/19026964/the-durand-lesley-propeller-collection-libstanfordedu-include

cool signage

the Goodyear sign particularly.

Found on https://www.facebook.com/groups/353785941367129/?fref=nf

out of the norm Pontiac

Found on https://www.facebook.com/HCCCmagazine

the Brodie take off and landing system for Navy LST ships during WW2

Skip to the 7 minute mark for the take off, and hang around for about a minute for the landing by skyhook arresting wire

These L 4 and L 5 planes were artillery spotter planes

Haulin Ass II

P 47 nose art

The red paint reminds me of "warpaint" in old western movies, which would be apropos. 

1914 American Underslung from the Nethercutt collection

Rod Riguez

made by Junichi Shimodaira, who also built  the Galaxian http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-finally-stumbled-on-name-of-that.html

New photos because this impressive hot rod deserves better photos than the ones I took 4 years ago

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/05/rodriguez-example-of-japanese-hot.html

Update on the NYPD asshole

CNN) — A New York police detective assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force with top-secret security clearance has been placed on modified assignment, and faces suspension, reassignment or loss of his clearance after an incident with an Uber driver Monday that was captured on video, officials said.

 Police Commissioner William Bratton on Wednesday said the detective was placed on modified assignment pending an investigation. Bratton, who called the officer’s behavior “unacceptable and discourteous,” said the detective was on duty at the time.

“There’s just no place for any public servant to use discriminatory or negative language,” he said. “Obviously, our police play a particularly sensitive role and need to show respect for all people.”

The findings will be presented to the board, which will make an official determination on whether misconduct was committed, Sachs said. The board will either refer the decision to the NYPD with a disciplinary recommendation, or decide to bring up the officer with administrative charges, with the decision presented to the police commissioner. CNN’s Carolyn Sung contributed to this report.

http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/04/01/video-shows-nypd-officer-berating-uber-driver/

Nope. I don't need to drive anywhere bad enough to try this makeshift bridge thing

Click on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Careful with your volume, some guy yells at the other idiots 

Update on bicycles stolen from Naval Station San Diego Medical Center

These aren't ordinary bikes, some are made specific to the needs of vets with amputated arms or legs.
the adaptive bikes are much more than just recreational. They’re therapeutic for many veterans struggling with injuries.

Sandi Lehmkuhler of the Warrior Foundation/Freedom Station says, the theft was heartbreaking. “I don't know how to express this without being really cruel, this is like stealing one of our guy's wheelchairs or their crutches."

“We saw the story on the news and of course it made us angry and sad, and the story ended,” says Joe Getty "...we care about our vets in this country so Americans immediately chipped in and bought them new bikes. And they hardly missed a ride. So that's what we tried to do. I guess the audience felt the same way because we raised the money to replace the bikes (and more) in less than an hour. I'm proud of the KFMB and Armstrong and Getty audience. They did a really good thing today.”

San Diego listeners of the AM760 radio show donated 25 thousand dollars
http://www.sandiegojack.com/story/28698655/san-diegans-raise-25000-to-replace-stolen-bikes


Curt Schilling offered a reward to anyone that finds and returns the bikes “two tickets and two seats to ANY game in the country for whoever makes this happen… with travel paid.”
http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/04/01/curt-schilling-offers-reward-to-find-wounded-veterans-stolen-bicycles/

Bangshift just did an article on the greatest cheating methods in racing

Some that impressed me,

Wimpy springs that would put the car on the bumpstops for the race and change the cars rake affecting the air dams position relative to the air flow over the car

someone in the stangs with a garage door opener remote that activated a mobile weight in the car that would move from one side to the other to increase traction in the inside of the turns

Smashing the race vehicle into the wall to make it narrower

Filling in a radio with lead to get the car up to weight

filling the frame with Mercury and having a transfer system so the car was level weight during tech, but all left bias during the race

James wrote in with a very vague "How bout the ole’ “nitrous system in the hood” trick. Leave the entire system mounted to the inside of the hood and use the hood pins to supply power and ground. Or a certain big name NASCAR team using seven cylinders of an eight cylinder engine on the restrictor plate tracks. They’d use the “unused” cylinder as an airpump to supply air to the remaining seven cylinders."

Tim Richmond’s team using a helmet filled with lead to go through tech and “forgetting it” in the hauler just before a race when a crew member would run back to get a real, lighter one was pretty clever.

Mopar super stock teams in the sixties would weigh the car with water filled tires and change tires before and after the race.

One NHRA drag racer was caught red handed with a small bottle of Nitrous Oxide http://www.caranddriver.com/features/blowup-feature in 1997

http://bangshift.com/general-news/bangshift-question-of-the-day/question-of-the-day-whats-the-strangest-way-to-cheat-in-a-race-that-youve-ever-heard-of/#comment-115475

How many of the guys on top of this van knew they had seconds to prepare for the van to tip over

عندما يكون السائق بهذا الغباء تكون هذه هي النتيجه للاسف
Posted by ‎Ramallah City | مدينة رام الله‎ on Tuesday, February 24, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=763210277086748

Speed and big damn engines... the focus of the Hydroplane and Raceboats Museum

From the days of $300 Allison engines, river races, and buddies who could field a competitive enterprise for weekend fun without going broke

You can check out the post at http://www.ewillys.com/2015/04/01/hyrdroplane-and-raceboat-museum/#more-201484 or if you want to dive into more about the boats, see http://www.lesliefield.com/default_frame.htm and click on the upper left link twice to get to the individual boats.

Or watch the movie "Madison" which was really good and starred Jim Caviezel and Bruce Dern. Story of a Indiana town that owned a hydroplane, and once was a significant part of Hydroplane racing history. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206113/

1971 Challenger

there were only 250 with a 440 6 pack, no 440 4 barrels were installed in 1971 Challengers

Challenger Deputy was the base model, and came with engines from the 198 to the 383

 The low priced Challenger Deputy (Option Code A93) was a mid-year introduction (March 1970) and continued until the end of 1971 model production.

 This version of the Challenger was unique in several ways.
 The car was similar to the base Challenger hardtop with the following exceptions ;
 The rear quarter windows were fixed in place by leaving out the regulator and bolting the track.
The rear window winder was deleted and the hole plugged with a chrome button.
The standard engine was the 198 6 cyl. with the 225, 318 and 383 (2v and 4v) optional.
The seats were the cheaper standard Plymouth Barracuda seats in black or white only.
The steering wheel is coachman grain like the Barracuda.
Things like dual horns, cigar lighter and night/day rear mirror were optional.
There are only six Deputys known to have been built with the 383 4bbl engine.
Three with automatics and three with 4-speeds
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?PHPSESSID=2a80dff8f346cedac1f470c0fa864e74&topic=48961.15

funniest thing I saw all day. Talking smack is an art

Found on https://www.facebook.com/manlymayhem

the Flying Fish of WW1

Found on https://www.facebook.com/groups/yachtclubdesavionsdelaroute/?fref=nf

Marilyn, Jane, and Bridgette at Sebring

Coincidentally, I came across a color image of this car at the same time, minus Monroe

Notice that the people in the background haven't moved, nor has the guys arm in the foreground... so, I'm guessing Marilyn was photoshopped in. Her reflection is not on the Corvette
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/02/corvette-sr-2-sebring-1957.html  Maybe because the black and white was posted on April Fools day

All from http://www.sportscardigest.com/the-stars-come-out-at-sebring/

Betty Grable & Lucille Ball - 1930's

In 1962 Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu, which produced many successful and popular television series such as Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.

Photo from https://www.facebook.com/pages/Time-Travelers-come-travel-back-in-time/284477301577152?fref=nf