Year: 2015

Mad for MG

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie6J77X0prE

I always wanted a new MG from like high school on. But I didn’t want the newer ones with the rubber bumpers. This was a moot point anyway because I couldn’t afford one. By the time I reached the stage in my life where I could get a small toy convertible, any MG I might want was over 30-years old. No way with my limited mechanical ability could I deal with what was an unreliable British car when new, that would now be doubly iffy. So I bought a brand new Japanese version of the car.

Now if I wanted, I could buy what I desired back in the day, a new reliable MG. This one has modern running gear tucked under that classic body. It is something called a MG Abingdon Edition from Frontline Developements in Oxfordshire, England. Oh, all I need is about $123,000.

Started up, went down, went up, back down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1507

The Martian

Ask anyone who has had a favorite book turned into a TV show or movie if it was as good as the book (don’t get me started on Jack Reacher) and if more than one of your first million friends says yes I’ll be shocked.

The best scifi book I’ve read since I was a wide-eyed 12 year old is being turned into a movie. So I clearly had low expectations, until now. Here is the trailer:

If you like hard science fiction and tales of survival garnished with humor, go read the book, its only six bucks for the Kindle – The Martian by Andy Weir, so now that you too can be impatiently waiting for November 25th.

Started up, went down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1503

Spy Novel

In a spy novel I had just read, the hero hid a letter in a particular statue in Washington, D.C. Since I was in that city at the time, on a whim I decided to see if the statue really contained the small niche the author had described. To my great surprise, it did — and a cellophane-wrapped letter was inside. After a moment’s hesitation, I pulled out the letter, opened it, and burst into laughter.

An unidentified reader had penned, “Good book, wasn’t it?”

Running A Red Light In Search Of The Perfect Look

North Carolina Capitol

After checking out of the hotel this morning we headed to downtown Raleigh to get a picture of the State Capitol Building. The GPS led us right to it so we slowly cruised around the block looking for the best angle. Then we cruised around the block a second time. Then we missed the turn we wanted to take to check out this one street where we could legally park to take a photo. So we made a larger diameter circle because of all the one way streets to get back to it. Once we found our way there it wasn’t that great of a picture of the building (see above), so we made one more slow loop.

Turns out there are a couple of streets that come in from the east and west, that although aren’t cross streets they have traffic signals. I rolled right through the one at New Bern Place at about 5 miles an hour on that last loop. We ended up at the end of Fayetteville Street parking illegally with the flashers on to get the picture we will submit (see below) and I’m expecting a photo citation in the mail for at least one of those infractions…

Started up, went down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1501

Motoring Challenge Points 2, Approx Miles Driven 300
Totals So Far: 57 points & 1985 miles

151,000 Cars On Moss Motor’s Front Lawn

[photonav url=’http://www.mr-miata.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Moss-Motors.jpg’]

Not exactly that many cars, but they had over 300 pre-registered and with the nice weather I bet they 30-40 more day of registrations. The Emperor passed the 151,000 mile mark on a perfect rural back road in southern Virginia.

Donna and I managed to stay about an hour and a half before growing bored looking at little sports cars and crashing the exit gate to go drive the one we came in. Like rolling stones, we gather very little Moss.

Started up, went down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1499

Motoring Challenge Points 12, Approx Miles Driven 295
Totals So Far: 55 points & 1685 miles

The Cops Took My Biscuits

Pedro's Truck Stop

We left Florence this morning and took a combination of back roads and I-95 to get to Midlothian, VA. This stop is for two reasons, Donna’s Cousin Susie & Family live here and it is 6 miles from the capitol building of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

One of the first things we did this morning was make a stop at South of the Border because one of the Motoring Challenge destinations this year is a Truck Stop and Pedro has one. While I’m sure any Pilot Travel Center, Love’s Travel Stop or Travel Center America would count, they said truck stop and by golly I was going to get one that said Truck Stop. The photo above is the out-take, the one below is the official submission.

Another reason to take US301 here is that you could get two state signs (1 point each) with ease. So we checked off NC & VA within 100 yards.

Today’s title comes courtesy of some high as a kite patron of a quick stop. We got off I-95 near Dunn, NC to make a pit stop and start on a back road, but couldn’t go much further than a 1/8 mile because a state trooper car had the road blocked. It was then we noticed the two police mobile command centers parked across the street with perhaps 2 dozen LEO vehicles parked there too. When we got to the counter with our drinks there was a dreadlocked individual in front of us trying to explain why he was so upset. After he loudly proclaimed he had to use the restroom, he exclaimed that he was upset because the cops took his biscuits. We asked the proprietor what was going on and it turns out that the house just past the stationary trooper’s car there was a big drug bust.

Started up, went down, went up, back down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1497

Motoring Challenge Points 3, Approx Miles Driven 310
Totals So Far: 43 points & 1390 miles

Too Much Blue?

I’m not sure I like the way the all this blue looks, so don’t get to comfortable. OK?

On Tuesday evening I changed the oil on the Miata and rotated the tires. I pulled the right front tire off first so I could get to the oil filter and drain plug. While the dark amber color fluid drained into a plastic pan, I pulled off the right rear and mounted the previous front tire in its place. I rolled each at least a full rotation looking for anything out of the ordinary. There was nothing sticking out of either one, but the inside corners of both of them were worn a bit more than the outside. It was getting close to tire shopping time.

When I pulled the right rear I realized it was time to shop now. The inside edge of this tire was almost square from uneven wear. No belt material was showing, but what should have been a smooth circumference was somewhat wavy.

Normally I would spend several hours checking reviews, reading the tires & wheels section of the Miata Forum and searching for deals before getting a new set of tires, but we were taking a weekend trip that started in 48 hours. I needed tires in a hurry and the few times I’ve had to do that it hasn’t always ended well.

I checked the website of the best independent tire dealer in town and they listed a couple of Ultra High Performance Summer tires in my size, including the Yokohama S.Drive which the Emperor already was riding on. It was about 3 minutes until closing time, but the fellow who answered said he could hook me up the next day with a set of the Yoko’s and an alignment.

I hated to do the alignment because there are a new set of shocks and springs in the garage awaiting installation in the next couple weeks and I will have to do another one after that stuff is put on. But it would be kind of stupid to buy new tires and then take a 850 trip with an improper alignment. I’d like to get closer to 25,000 miles on this set instead of just under 21,000 for the current tires.

Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1493

Motoring Challenge Points 0, Approx Miles Driven 140
Totals So Far: 40 points & 1080 miles