Year: 2019

Slow Miata to Texas Day 10

NIGHTIME FALLS ON HISTORIC HOT SPRINGS
The sun sets as another day is slowly fading away in historic downtown Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. The last breath of sun shines on the old Army/Navy Hospital (1933) in the upper left as the lampposts light up the historic district waiting on nightfall. Some of these historic buildings date back as far as 1912 (Buckstaff Bathhouse.)
Bill,
Day 10 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. McAlester, OK to Hot Springs, AR. 198 miles via the Talimena Scenic Byway. This was one of the first highways designated as scenic by the U.S. Forrest Service. Maybe we will get to see it next time. We were either high enough to be in the clouds or low enough to be getting poured on by those clouds. Hot Springs is an interesting place, we’ll come back when it isn’t raining.
Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC		 Bill Kirby
The Augusta Chronicle
P.O. Box 1928
Augusta, GA 30903

Track, Daily, Crush

On the last Everyday Driver podcast I listened to, one of the social media questions was “Track, Daily, Crush: a UPS truck, a FedEx truck or a DHL truck?”

Now I’ve heard of F#@k, Marry, Kill. It typically is 3 actors or actresses, but can be applied to most anyone. From the three guys or gals in your high school Biology class to the three Baristas at your local Starbucks.

But I’ve never heard Track, Daily, Crush before. Its the same principle, just applied to cars, so given a list of 3 different vehicles, which one would would take racing, which one would you use for everyday and which one would you sentence to the scrap heap. If I was to apply it to say, the first 3 generations of Miatas, it would be NA for the track, NB for daily (naturally) and crush the NC.

The three items idea works, but I think given a larger list of similar items might be fun too. How about this idea for Track, Daily, Crush. Go to the car auction web site Bring a Trailer on a certain day at a certain time and out of the couple hundred cars listed pick which one you’d track, which one you’d daily and which on you’d crush.

Okay, here you go, at Thursday, May, 23 2019 at 9:30 PM eastern time:

Track Daily Crush
1957 Porsche 356A 2003 BMW M5 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport
No mistaking this look for a street car. Back when M5’s still had the sleeper vibe. No sleeper look, just pedestrian looking.

Slow Miata to Texas Day 9

INDIAN TERRITORY – OKLAHOMA
In 1834, 70,000 Native Americans in over twenty tribes were forced to leave their land and relocate into Indian Territory, reserved by the U.S. government. Located west of the Mississippi River, much of Indian Territory is in today’s Oklahoma. By 1907, the remaining Indian Territory became part of Oklahoma.
Bill,
Day 9 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 4 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Didn’t win the new car last night, but I did win a door prize of leather seat covers. And at brunch this morning I won a $10 gift certificate, so I can’t really complain. Spent a couple of hours at the speedway this morning as we tried to line up 400 cars for a photo on the finish line. Dallas, TX to McAlester, OK. 175 miles. The wind really does come sweeping down….
Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC		 Bill Kirby
The Augusta Chronicle
P.O. Box 1928
Augusta, GA 30903

Slow Miata to Texas Day 8

DALAS, TEXAS
Highlights of this exciting, cosmopolitan city: twinkle-lighted skyline; multi-level Galleria; Dallas Cowboys Statium; Southfork Ranch Gate and Reunion Tower with its geodesic dome.
Bill,
Day 8 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 3 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Skipped the track this A.M. and went to Six Flags Over Texas. Rode the Texas Giant, the #1 rated roller coaster in the country, and one ride is worth the admission price to the park. For metal mayhem, Mr. Freeze is the ticket. That must be what a jet pilot with the Blue Angels feels like.
Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC		 Bill Kirby
The Augusta Chronicle
P.O. Box 1928
Augusta, GA 30903

Garage Door Mods

About a year ago we upgraded from a rickety wood garage door that had a row of windows to nice insulated metal one without windows. Every time I pull into the driveway I marvel at how plain it looks. That row of windows on the old one broke up the large expanse of white. Also as a little bit of spice, a few years prior, I had mounted one of those fake carriage door kits that every new home in every new sub-division in America has.

The only reason I bought that door kit was because it was in the bargain bin a Lowes for like eight bucks. How could I resist? I’d grown to like it, so I saved it off the old garage door thinking I’d put it back on the new, but never have. Maybe it is time. Kind of hate to drill holes in the metal door though…

Another option would be to paint some fake windows on the door where the old ones were. That would be a nice change. I would use Plasti Dip so it would be removable. Or maybe I could do the top “windows” and put a little arch on them. Or maybe a combination of windows and hardware.

Slow Miata to Texas Day 7

TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
America’s second largest sports and entertainment facility, hosts more than 1 million people each year for exciting NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Bush Grand National Series and Craftsman Truck Series racing. Also included are Indy Racing League fans and Automobile Racing Club of America fans who come watch their favorite racing stars. Texas Motor Speedway also hosts a number of concerts and auto shows.
Bill,
Day 7 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 2 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Today’s and tomorrow’s activities are based at the track: hot laps, autocrossing, vendors and lunches. The NASCAR boys would get a chuckle about these little cars circling their track. But even with cone chicanes on the straights to keep the speed down, over 110 MPH is possible on the banked turns. Oh yeah, all those seats, EMPTY!
Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC		 Bill Kirby
The Augusta Chronicle
P.O. Box 1928
Augusta, GA 30903

Slow Miata to Texas Day 6

DALLAS, TEXAS
Welcome to downtown Dallas — the most beautiful city in America.
Bill,
Day 6 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 1 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Our car and 449 other Miatas and their contents gathering for the 10th anniversary of the birth of the car that revived small convertible sports cars in America. One of the participants here is going to win a special 10th Anniversary Edition Miata.
Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC		 Bill Kirby
The Augusta Chronicle
P.O. Box 1928
Augusta, GA 30903