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I survived my first HPDE track weekend with the Audi Club up at Thunderhill Raceway. What a cool track. Way out away from the Bay Area but lots of interesting elevation changes. Coming over the hills on some of the blind corners requires guts when you can't see what is ahead of you. My goodness, that was fun. I was so glad to have explored my limits and my car doing autocross before getting out there on the big track with other drivers. Knowing what my tires and brakes can and cannot do helped a lot. Audi Club was really accommodating to us first timers. Only the most advanced drivers and the instructors are allowed to go out solo. Every one else has an instructor riding along in the right seat. I really enjoyed the coaching and we were able to pick up pace each session out there. Unlike autocross, you get a ton of seat time doing HPDE. There were 4 26-minute sessions each day split between the morning and afternoon. 26 minutes goes by in a blink when you are locked in and focused. Driving on a race track at pace... oh my god is it fast. I was very nervous to start and only started to relax after a few sessions. Driving in traffic on track was also new to me. The speeds you can get up to out there are no joke. I hit 130 on the front straight before I started to be a bit more judicious and easy on my brakes by coasting a bit once I hit triple digits. I used to wonder how people memorize all the corners, but after two days on track and a bunch of study time I could recite them from memory with my eyes closed. Lots of fun... also very expensive. I bought a full track day policy just in case, and my tires and brake pads are pretty well used up and will need to be replaced this week. They call them consumables for a reason, but the butchers bill from my mechanic shop is not going to be pretty. Can't wait to get back out there in the fall!

Finished putting the new grill together I owned two original Weber kettles previously and loved how they performed as grills. But the original had two major problems. First, the ash collection was simply awful it was exposed and removing the ash tray was an ordeal. No longer … Both the original premium and the Master-touch have the new and improved ah collection. The second problem was adding charcoal during the cook as you had to lift up the main cooking grill. That is no longer a problem on the Master-touch with side panel hinged grates It also has the gourmet BBq system that allows you to remove the center section and replace it with another option such as the griddle a wok, pizza stone or sear grate it also has a removable heating grate So all-in-all it is a pretty nice upgrade from the last Weber kettle I used.

I picked up this tin can a few months ago to learn how to turn....LOL. It's a '91 (aka NA model). Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. It's going to be about 100 degrees when I track it this week. I need to get a Cool Shirt system installed or my butt may turn into a puddle in the mean spirited race seat... HS

Another new classical album on Qobuz

Wow, that's only an hour away, I wonder if they're hiring...I could probably contribute some records from my parents' collection that I inherited. EDIT: OHMIGOSH, they are.

So I'm on 128kbps internet for the next 10 or so days. It's like a certain 1994 FSOL album up in this piece. With that said, here's a paradoxical sounding Quick Slow:

Milo and I reorganized my van. It's tough to see from the pictures, but we built a box under the existing shelf/table I built over 4 years ago. It's divided into 2 large cubicles on the bottom, and a shallow open shelf above those. It holds a lot of tool bags! And we made it just deep enough that there's room for my Makpac boxes on the other side. Then in the back, we built a shelf between my metal shelves. It sets over the metal shelves with angle iron on each side, so it can be removed if necessary. Lot's of tool storage under and on that shelf. And now I can just slide my chopsaw stand and saw horses on that shelf, instead of having to strap them in upright. So much easier. Especially putting tools away at the end of a long day.

I know you're joking, but I get the glove His contribution to Italian, hence EU politics has been as toxic and damaging as Trump's to USA's. And don't forget that this fella preceded Trump for a couple of decades. He demonstrated to other democratic countries that being a rich jerk making politics to get richer and more powerful is feasible and acceptable to the population, as early as 1994. I wonder if we'll get to know how much he contributed to Putin and vice versa. He's one of the main accountables of the come back of fascism in developed democracies. And all that leaving aside his connections to the Italian Mafia. What a POS.

Talented Cellist playing a nice selection of Rachmaninoff.

This could go here, or on a drinks thread. This is a picture of the ultimate in home entertainment in the 50's. On the right there is a radio, and above it a record player, and the white speaker grill below. Mono of course. On the left, there is a cocktail cabinet with record storage below. Nothing like getting quietly hammered while listening to music. It is not mine BTW.

I have had the pleasure of going around our track in a Cayman GT4 (a friend's) and it was nothing short of amazing...so balanced and forgiving. It makes one a better driver...better than they are anyhoo. I absolutely love the idea of an older Cayman for the track. Like you, I fear it would not be inexpensive but boy would it be a hoot. I got to visit with an older gent tracking a newish Gentian Blue Cayman S....damn that car was sexxxxxxy. HS

YouTube is the one website I encourage to track my every move on it, because it occasionally spits out some suggestions even I had no idea I'd like: I was only ever peripherally aware of Fanny. I had a hippie aunt who liked them when they were contemporary. This cover is interesting. Captain Obvious here, the original is better. I love that it's considered one of the "lesser" Beatles songs. Like most of their works, it has its own Wiki page. Fascinating read.

Looks amazing! Something like that makes a hell of a lot more sense to me after finally getting out on track. My dream track/autocross car would be a used Cayman, but the cost-to-run and amount of aftermarket parts available for the Miatas is hard to argue with. The Spec Miata racer guys are also crazy. I've watched them out on track and their passes are so aggressive! Maybe some day if I move somewhere where I can have a garage.

Cormac McCarthy is gone. https://www.cnn.com/style/article/cormac-mccarthy-author-death/index.html

#lenshood

My other Porsche is a Mazda...

Yes. Thinking the same thing. The other Macan at the track towed a Miata race car. He may be on to something.

That is awesome! You picked one of the country's best tracks based on what I've read. It looks as if you've gotten pretty serious about the track activities. If you get to the point where the consumables get to be too much you might consider an older Miata. So much cheaper to maintain....brakes, tires, axles, etc... Parts are abundant and relatively inexpensive. They don't give them away, but I figure it might pay for itself if you keep up with all this racing fun. HS

From warwick official website, I think their aperio has a high voltage bias (1800Vdc) driver, which is much higher than the 1350Vdc of their lower models. it means that the output voltage of the amplifier no longer needs to be as high as the traditional electrostatic system, therefore does not require too much power and heat dissipation. In addition, for the built-in amplifier of HE1, I guess it may be the cool-mosfet version with reduced gain of the hev70 vas since Sennheiser applied for a patent(DE4329991A1) similar to the design of the HE1 in 1993. I heard HE1 once at the exhibition, and I also think that the potentiometer should be set to the position of about 2-3 o’clock to get loud enough, indicating the input sensitivity voltage can be a bit high based on the two-stage amplifier's gain setting being too low...🤷‍♂️

Grrrrr... was going to tell you and everyone else who got a Specialized SL-equipped bike that there is a great deal (25% off) on accessories, including the range extender (which was REALLY hard to find previously), and 25% off of the Y-adapter (that I used today before I ride with @cetoole and Xavier) https://www.specialized.com/us/en/shop/equipment/gear/turbo-extras/c/turboaccessories Then I am reminded of @Voltron's snarkiness, and then I thought about my favorite Google search: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=breakfast+biscuits&find_loc=Bellevue%2C+WA Have a good ride! /me muahahahahahahahahahas

I made my chili pork & beans again -- turned out super delicious!

One of the Library's missions is to preserve audio-visual materials. Library employees who work at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC) in Culpeper, Virginia carry out that mission on a daily basis. One of the formats they work with is old 78 RPM records like this one. Standardization practices weren't what they are today in the early part of the 20th century, so each disc is an adventure. The grooves can be different sizes, and some discs have spindle holes that were punched off-center, meaning adjustments have to be made so it can play properly. This is a quick look at the process of digitizing the audio so that it can be preserved and made more accessible to Library patrons like you! It features Library audio preservation specialist Bryan Hoffa. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtNSRL9gi0f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== I tried to find a forum friendly version to share - but it is just a short watch..

24 Hours of Le Mans!

What a SOB, I hope there's a hell and he bakes in it.

Took the S.M.A.R.T. train from Larkspur to Santa Rosa For the Railroad Square Music Festival https://www.railroadsquaremusicfestival.com/ Where there was plenty to enjoy. And a variety of bands On multiple stages. We also enjoyed food and drink in other Santa Rosa locations. But now we are heading home on the last southbound train of the day. Overall, I'm impressed by the system, the ride quality and the quietness of the (Japanese) Rolling stock. The system has been several decades in the making, and I wish it well. The sad part is what we have lost, and are unlikely to see again, If you consider the electrified rail network that existed previously.

Really great to hear Steve. It was last weekend, but Filoli (“Fight. Love. Live.”) in another small town, Woodside, showed the Bay Area’s levels of acceptance at their Pride fest with their first winning CIS female drag queen doing storybook hour. #doublejump

Got another car control class on the books (with the BMW club, hopefully they accept my car 🙃) and I'm going to try my first road rally with the Porsche club. When I thought rally I thought of sliding cars around on dirt rally stages but this isn't like that at all. It is more like a scavenger hunt that you do from your car and that rewards precision, not speed. I like it! Trying to nail down a co-driver/co-navigator (@Grahame ?). I think maybe I'll do my first auto cross in April. This car hobby is quite the rabbit-hole of stuff to do. It is helpful that a large portion of hobbyist motorsport seems to be organized on a single website, https://www.motorsportreg.com, making it easy to find out a good amount of what is going on nearby.

Oh yes. Car and Driver Lightnight Lap 2023. They even lapped the Kia Carnival camera van this year. Amazing what a difference in lap times the "R Compound" tires make! That Audi RS3 punching way above what I'd expect. The z06 vette a cold blooded killer, as expected. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387169/lightning-lap-2023/

I learned a ton and had a blast at my Driver's Academy class on Saturday. There were 24 students, about 16 of the 24 were teens and young-twenty-somethings and the other 8 of us were older drivers. For the 24 of us they had 6 cars and 6 instructors, so we were four to a car plus an instructor. The day was almost entirely cone drills and was all about car control. While car control is obviously important to the enthusiast, I really do think this is a class that anyone could benefit from. Knowing how to handle your vehicle in an emergency like a sudden lane change, slide, or emergency braking situation is something all drivers should know. Getting to learn these skills on a closed course in a safe environment rather than doing it for the first time out on the public roads under duress is tremendously valuable. I think auto insurance companies should offer discounts or subsidies towards paying for one of these types of classes. They really are that beneficial. As an experienced driver I found that while I intellectually know what a lot of car control theory is, there is a difference between knowing it and being able to execute it while under stress. There is also a "feel" component to things that a video game or simulator just can't replace. A lot of driving at the limit is being able to feel what the rear tires are doing through the seat. It was great to be able to ride along as a passenger while the other students were getting instruction. Not only could you soak in what the instructor was telling them, you could feel through the seat what the car was doing. The difference in feel between doing something the right way and the wrong way is really something you have to experience in person. Most of the drills were done in normal cars. Camry, Altima, Malibu, CLA250. Tires were shitty all seasons. All drills were done with traction and stability fully off. I think the idea behind this was you can find the limit at much lower speeds than you could in some of the race cars they had. It worked great. Driving a slow car fast is a heck of a lot of fun, as always. We cycled between three drills in a morning and an afternoon session. In the morning the drills were: Skidpad (my favorite!) - Go around until the car understeered, learned how to handle understeer. Then oversteer. Get a feel for how to catch it, what it is like to not catch it and spin. I was good about counter steering but I needed to learn to wait until the rear end hooked back up before correcting my steering input. ABS emergency brake + maneuver - Do a full ABS slow down and then maneuver to avoid hitting a "wall" of cones. I was familiar with doing ABS stops but adding the maneuver element to end was a new twist. Under full ABS all the available traction is going to braking so if you don't lift a little on the brake you are just going to understeer and plow in to the cone wall. Proper cornering - they had a hairpin turn set up with cones. Drill was to trail brake in, hit the apex, power out as you unwound the wheel. Hairpins are hard because everyone's natural tendency is to turn in early. The apex on a hairpin is well past the geometric center of the curve, so this drill was all about eye training and visualizing your line. It is amazing how much speed you can carry when you get the line right. Afternoon drills were: Introduction to autocross - They took the hairpin in the morning session and added a bunch more corners to make an autocross course. I loved this. Taking it slow at first and then building up speed on consecutive laps felt great. Emergency Lane Change - Speed towards a cone wall with a lane to the left and right of it. A second before you get to the wall the instructor shouts "left" or "right" and you have to make an emergency change to that lane, then slow the car. Scariest drill of the day, as you feel like you could roll the car. Doing this kind of emergency lane change at 45mph felt extremely FAST, but we built up to it. Driving a Manual Transmission Car - I basically have never driven stick before ever, but I know how things are supposed to work. We did this one in the Mustang race cars they had, which was fun. After stalling once I got a feel for how heavy a race clutch is. After that it was pretty simple. I don't think I need to go out and buy a car with a stick, but I get the appeal. On the whole, an awesome day. I feel like I learned a lot and it was the kind of learning that I only get by actually doing the thing. As I said before, I'd recommend this kind of Driving Academy or defensive driving class to anyone. It was pricey, but worth it. Instructors were great and we got plenty of seat time.

Former Olympic champion Tori Bowie https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/12/former-olympic-champion-tori-bowie-died-in-childbirth-according-to-autopsy

I have a couple of the Sonoma Model 1 sets so I've been looking into making an amp for them. They are pretty much worthless at this point so can be picked up cheap but yeah, single ended and the driver design is all kinds of stupid. The bias is 1350V and the amp runs on a single 450V rail so the bias is doing most of the work here. The bias is actually on the drive signal with the AC signal super imposed on it through a 2000V cap. Why did they do this? It was supposed to be cheap but sold for 5K$... yeah. They are also very non linear so the internal DSP is doing a lot of work. I did listen to the Bravura in NYC and what a fucking turd. The drivers are close to identical so all of the same issues as the older Sonoma. You can hear it's a tailored sound from the DSP as they try to fix the mess the drivers are making. None of this makes any sense...