This morning I posted about how much I liked the idea of the new CRF300 Rally. Well I just put a deposit on one. I called up the closest Honda dealer just to see if they’d be getting any in March they said they’re getting 4 but 3 of them are called for. The one they had left was a Rally which is the one I want. So I put down 500 to get my name on it. It’ll arrive sometime this March. I am fully stoked. 
So my son is 12 going on 13, he learned to ride a dirt bike this spring. And he likes cars like me, well maybe not in the obsessive way i was at his age.
Any way tonight we were driving home from hanging out with family, and I decided to see if I could get him into the driver's seat of the e90.
I took him over to the high school parking lot, a big empty area. And told him I wanted to give him a driving lesson. I spent about 15 minutes going back and forth along the lot showing how get the car going with out using the gas. Just letting the clutch out slowly, feeling it engage, and slipping the clutch until you have enough momentum to let it out all the way. I kept to dome light on, and put my phone down in the footwell with the flashlight on so he could watch my feet.
Then I told him about the first time I drove a car, how I was TERRIFIED, just like he was. but my brother took me to a parking lot, put me in the driver's seat and let me drive. and it was awesome.
He was clearly scared, and told me he didn't want to do it. But he is a very scared kid, he will shut down and tighten up physically when he's scared. It's taken me a while, but I've learned how to help ease him out of that. Eventually he did switch seats. We got the seat position set up for him, he's 5'4" now geeze. I let him know I'd take control if he got scared, that I had the shifter, so I could take it out of gear, I have the parking brake so I can stop it, and I can steer for him If I need to.
That did help him relax a lot. Then I had him put his hands on the wheel, and look forward. he put his foot on the clutch, and I put it in 1st for him.
then he stalled. And I smiled. I'm my mind I was like "HE DID IT" just the fact that he could get over that fear wall and try was HUGE progress.
I told him that he was doing great, stalling was just part of learning.
So he started the car, and tried again. this time he got it going for a few feet, and stalled. Again I told him "you're doing great!" then he started the car again, and gave it another try. this time he got going and went the last 150 feet or so just idling in 1st.
Coming to the end of the parking lot I think he got tunnel vision on a post that was dead ahead of us. so I pulled it out of 1st and pulled the parking brake so we stopped.
We talked a bit about what he learned, and I asked him if he wanted me to turn the car about so he could give it another go. he said not today and I didn't push it.
Anyway I'm once again a proud Dad. Also passing on the art of rowing one's own gears!
So yesterday I had police officer stop by to check up in a compliant that my neighbor made.
My neighbor claimed that I hade welded on a home made hitch onto my car, and that my “little” car shouldn’t be towing a boat. They also claimed they saw me welding on my car, and that the hitch had broken several times….
The cop took one look at my car, and brushed it off. I told him it was a bolt on Curt brand hitch and I had it professionally installed at a local place. I also told him my car is rated to tow 1700lbs, and that hitch is rated for 2,500 much more that the 1400lbs my boat, and trailer weights.
The thing that really gets me is that an e90 3 series is not a little car. It’s a 3800lb, 15ft long, AWD sedan, with a 3.0l inline 6. Any car that size should be able to safely tow a 14ft boat. But lots people think you need a pickup to tow anything.
As for me “welding” on my car I did have it hooked up to a battery charger the other day. I was fixing the lights on my trailer, and had the car’s lights on without it running for a bit too long. Maybe that thought it was a welder? The thing is, even if I had DIY welded some square tubing to my car and built my own hitch, that isn’t illegal! At least not in Wisconsin.
Friday an appraiser came out an looked at my car, and assessed the damages at just under $5,200 still pretty crazy but low enough for the car to not be totaled. I just went to the body shop and it’s scheduled to go in next Monday.
In the mean time I have a brake job to do. Literally a few hours before the accident I ordered a rear brakes service kit, parking brake shoes, and oil change kit from FCP Euro.
@carsoffortlangley Yeah how do you go yeah I just spent $40,000 I don’t know what I spent it on
About a week ago posted about a vintage runabout boat I was thinking about buying. Today I bought it. Here she is.
It turned out I didn't need to go t the cities to get the boat, he owner had it at his cabin in Two Harbors, he was a very nice guy, very friendly, and it seems, honest.
I made to 5 hour round trip, and then came home picked up my son and we took it for a spin. it runs great!
The little Starcraft I bought last year is listed for sale hopefully I get a few hundred for it. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3162365507326058/
Oh i nearly had a bad day. I got about a mile from the seller house when I looked in my mirror and realized the boat wasn't strapped down to the trailer at all. the wench was the only thing holding it on, and it had about 6 inches of slack. They had only used it to move the boat out of the water since they had a ramp right there at their cabin. I'm so glad I'm so glad I noticed it. It was a good reminder to be careful and check your mirrors when your towing stuff.
Look at this Jungle Green, Manual SS. You can't tell me this is awesome. 
Rare car, in a rare unique color, with a manual transmission. what more could you want.
link text
According to GM Authority its not just A rare color, its the single rarest color. 
that Regal Peacock is pretty stunning too. 
I've had a soft spot for these sine I drove one about 8 years ago. Altho that one was doomed to the scrap yard. Even with a seemingly terrifying amount of rust, it still felt like a solid little truck, that could take you anywhere. I loved rear barn doors, and there is a ton of cargo space back there behind the rear seat.
Anyway i want this. 
This one sadly doesn't have the off road gauges that show you your descent, or pitch angels. Which I just learned is called an inclinometer. The one I drove had one, but I'm not sure if it was factory or aftermarket. Those three in the middle are oil, coolant temp, and battery voltage. 
This one is listed on Marketplace for 3,800 bucks and honestly if I had the money to spend I'd bring it home. It's got so much charm, I just want to take it on back road adventures, and camp in it. Even in spray painted flat black its still kinda cute. 
This popped up on Facebook today. I’m in love, full swoon.
Needs a retro rally livery. This would do. 
Or this Pikes Peak livery. 
I went and picked up this SSR110 today. It’s a project, but the boy is very excited.
So far it needs.
A new throttle and cable
New brake lever/master cylinder
An air filter
A fuel petcock, fuel line and filter
A chain (I checked the sprockets they looks good lol)
Tires, I’m going to wait on those as their about 40 bucks a pop.
I think that’s it.
But I did get it running, idling, and moving on its own power just with some gas in a funnel. We tore it down today, I’ll be getting plastics Jonah has decided to go with Yamaha yellow so it’ll match my XT200.
I ended up getting it for 200 buck. Just placed a 90 dollar order for parts. Looks like everything will be here by next weekend. We should have it’ll all done by April.
@kiltedpadre oooh I didn’t expect it to be stretched THAT WAY. This is a thicc booty 
@hammerheadfistpunch hot damn that looks good. And it does open up the interior a lot to not have a roll cage. That barn door is much more practical too.
@whoistheleader that’s the silliest part. They also sold the matrix in Japan as the Corolla Matrix. Idk maybe Pontiac just doesn’t exist in Japan.
@shop-teacher would this be a Northstar engine?
@shop-teacher I found one for sale. Not in that nice green tho. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1705740349625486/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A6980aaf5-ec34-4153-ab2a-2f5138f26654
@kitt222 Heres an odd one for ya. In Japan the Vibe was sold as the Toyota Voltz. But since they couldn't fit a Toyota badge on the front, and a lot of JDM Toyotas have model specific badges, they just came up with a V shaped badge to put where the Pontiac arrow head goes.(
but on the back they made a different version of the trim above the license plate so it coul have a Toyota badge. 
