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.

Divorce sucks. hug you're spouse if you have one, and thank them for they're patience.
also this.

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!

I just learned about this landmark. At what was formerly the Studebaker testing grounds there’s trees that spell out the name Studebaker. Pretty neat.
Here it is on Google Maps.
And an arial shot from back in the day.

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.

Just a friendly reminder that Bikini Pearl is a great color. Brightens up what is another grey winter day.

Just found this on Marketplace. it’s listed for 2200 bucks. Finally an affordable small pickup!
Sees the owner has a good sense of humor
Here’s the ad if you’re interested.

@PowderHound

@StreetsofPerth there is this version as well. I think it looks a lot better. Definitely more sporty. https://www.ebay.com/itm/154892194532

@StreetsofPerth it’d be great if someone applied the mechanism to a more typical military/field styled Watch. Brushed stainless, black dial with while numbers. The dressier style of the watch doesn’t work well with the nature of the mechanism.

@phenotyp I was thinking Corrado.
@WBizarre great minds think alike.

I just stumbled upon this really cool watches it’s called a Gruen Air Flight.

It’s a 24 hour dial watch with a unique complication. At 1 o’clock it will switch between a 1-12 hour dial, or a 13-24 hour dial. Here’s a video of it in action

I’d love to have one, but the cheapest one I can find is 800 bucks! And it’s pretty banged up.

@GibbsEmphasis so no more buck teeth?

@Nauraushaun I think the my e just accepted that’s what the cars are call. Lots of enthusiasts just call them all Z cars. Then specify with the chassis code.

Plus they couldn’t stick to the old fashioned engine displacement based nomenclature. Or else they’ve have to go back to 300z. Calling it a 400Z because it makes 400hp almost worked, but I just never liked the ring of it.

@Mazda616 I’ve thought about it but never taken the leap. The only thrive I’ve watched for more than a few days was a bunch of bicycles. Like a BMX, MTB, Road bike, and an old Schwinn stacked vertically on my right calf.

@EssExTee
the only reasonable response is, "for you, my friend 200."

@SamV8 Dodge Journey had them too.