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And jmonroe I know.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Today I attended, for the first time, a BMW Driving Event, sponsored by the local dealer. It was a two hour session, split equally between a "long course" and a "short course".
The facility is actually owned by the county, and is primarily used by law enforcement for high speed training and car control.
The "long course" is about a mile in length, and simulates a standard 2 lane road with a double yellow line. A few low speed corners and a decently long straight stretch, interrupted by a slalom with 6-7 gates. Decent elevation changes, too (the video I linked to earlier is the facility). This is in no way a race track - there are no run off areas.
The "short course" is set up for autocross; lots of low speed corners and one short straight stretch.
The local SCCA was out to monitor and time the autocross portion.
We split into two groups, and I went onto the long course first. We had a pace car - 2001 Z3M, driven by one of the SCCA hot shoes. First lap was orientation, 2nd and 3rd laps were at speed. Due to some scheduling delays, our group was only able to do 3 sets of laps. Fortunately, I was able to drive one of them - in an X3 M40i.
Way more fun than I expected - I was able to break 80 MPH on the straight stretch, before the slalom. I was complimented by one of my passengers that I was using an appropriate racing line (there were no professional drivers accompanying us). Unfortunately, the doofus who had the M4 three cars in front of me didn't seem to understand the concept of what the right pedal was for, so I wasn't able to really exercise the car.
I rode shotgun in both the X3 as well as in an X5 50i. The X5, my friends, is a seriously fast SUV. Except the driver nailed one of the slalom cones on the last lap. And, the M550i in front of us was going way faster.
On to the short course. There were 4 vehicles available - the M4 (after the first laps on the long course, the event organizers swapped it and another car out for two others), a 440i 6-speed, an X2 and a 650i GC. I drove the X2 twice, and the 440i and 650i GC once each.
I saw two times for my laps - 46.1 in the X2 and 45.9 in the 650. I kept the 440i in 2nd gear the whole lap, but didn't see a time.
I was pretty impressed with the X2; I pushed it to the limit the second time around and was able to induce a short 4-wheel drift on one of the tighter turns. Startled me into lifting off the throttle for a moment.
The 650 was surprisingly agile, as well, for something so big.
I have a new found appreciation for the "Ultimate Driving Machine" tag line, and I also learned that I'm a lousy passenger when cars are being driven in anger.
Wish I had the opportunity to do another half dozen laps, in the same car. I was starting to learn the course and figure there was time to shave.
All in all, a pretty fun day, even though a bunch of "bros" tried jumping the queue for extra seat time in the M4 and 440i.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I'm still likely in the market for a sedan as my next DD, however.
A lot of the younger folks in attendance were more interested in drifting the cars than doing a fast time on the short course. Which was interesting, since I think everything but the M4 was xDrive. Could still see the RWD bias, however.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I'm guessing you skipped it, then?
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
And jmonroe I know.
As I said, the tire place was a mad house with a ton of attitude. They kept him waiting for hours and wouldn't tell him when they could actually mount the tire back on the car. So he finally gave up and when the tire was on the wheel he took it home to do it himself. That's when he discovered what the AAA guy had pulled.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Those posts I skip depending on the poster!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
https://bangordailynews.com/2018/07/29/news/police-beat/man-on-maine-turnpike-used-cell-phone-as-scooter-headlight/
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2025 Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid, 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.4 Hemi, 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT
I waited 2 weeks for results. My doctor got the results last Friday - “unable to complete test for Hep C”! My doctor called the lab only to find out they mishandled the blood or lost the specimen!
Anger and ire cannot adequately describe my outrage. This test was critical in determining if the virus had been eliminated or if it was active. Now, I have to go to the lab again this Thursday to have them stick me another 4-5 times until they find a vein (I am a hard “stick). Then I have to wait another 10-14 days to get results.
LabCorp accepted responsibility but what good is that going to do me? They said there would be no charge for the retest. Well thank you LabCorp! Awful!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
A couple weeks ago, on the way back from vacation I saw an airstream with Vermont plates ahead of me.
I was thinking 'No, it couldn't be', and it wasn't. The trailer was older and being towed by a Ram pickup with a graphic about custom quilts on it.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
If the first AAA service tech did indeed overtighten the lug nuts to that extreme, then I would want to have the brake rotor checked, make sure it didn't get warped.
So now we have to worry that his brakes are screwed up too? Yikes! As it is I've concluded with the size of the slash, the damage had to have been done while the car was parked at my house. That means someone may have come in at night to deliberately cause damage. I of course am now wondering if it was one of the characters who entered my house last week seeking revenge for calling the police. I really hope it's just my paranoia acting up.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Not to upset anyone, but would that driving day have been as much fun if you were road testing, say, new Buicks?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
FWIW, and once again it is very coincidental since we are on this subject, I read in the Click and clack article this morning in the Sunday paper about a 1972 VW Van that had over torqued lugs nuts. When the owner "heard a loud clunking on the front passenger side", she pulled over. When the hub cap was removed she saw "one lonely lug nut in place the rest had sheared off". If anyone thinks over torqued lug nuts is a very rare occurrence, I feel sorry for them.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2018/08/be-thankful-the-u-s-market-nissan-kicks-has-standard-stability-control/
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I think we all know all those other reasons are a mere statistical blip on what is usually going on out there.
You may have eyeballs but can you read minds? Unless you can read the officers mind you have no way of knowing why someone got pulled over.
It's called experience. I have this thing called experience. And according to you all my experience getting pulled over is due to speeding.
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.
It'll only took one cop telling me "tell it to the judge!" to hold all roadside arguments for the judge. I haven't argued a case roadside ever since, and that was in my teen years!
I remain as respectful and professional as possible, with the utmost integrity. Since my very first experience in Court as a teen showed me that the Courts lacked integrity, I've been going back over and over waiting for the day they might show some. The County Seat in San Diego has shown me some integrity in the past. They have granted my rightful and legal motions, the same exact motions that other courts have wrongfully denied, and more!
As I've said, maximum speed ticket violations are difficult to argue, and the CHP almost always shows up. I've never had a very strong argument for any of those violations. Basic speed law is different, and as I've pointed out, many of my biggest grievances come from "off the wall" vehicle code violations pulled out of an Officer's rear-end.
I know that over-tightening can definitely cause problems for the bolts. I remember watching someone trying to torque the head bolts on an old 6 cylinder Mustang (roughly a 1966 or 1967). This would have been back around 1978 or 79. He applied anti-seize compound to the threads before installing and then tried to torque with a torque wrench. I told him the torque specs were for "dry" conditions, but he didn't listen. You can probably guess the results.
I'm thinking that test driver should start wearing a helmet.
In addition to adding stability control to the other models, they will probably add some less grippy tires.
Sometimes this place is like visiting the loonie bin. Double entendre unintentional, but it works.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
Yesterday, I washed my Fusion including dressing the tires, which I don't usually do any more.
It looks so clean, I don't want to drive it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
how's this?
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/07/31/man-tried-using-cell-phone-as-scooter-headlight-maine-police-say.html
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Eyes lie all the time.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Even I knew that.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl