Today was a good day because _________

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

All I've ever driven at ER in Vegas is Porsche, even when they used to actually have access to the inside track on the speedway there. The first time, instructor asks "OK, who's selected the Porsche for today?" A few of us raise our hands. "OK, I know who the real drivers are, good choice"

Another similar company came to the local little airport, but it was only a squashed oval, MAYBE 500' There I just went all-out straight in Ferrari.

Yeah, you gotta go with the Porsches and Ferraris if you want the best times. The McLarens they have perform pretty well too. I was with a large group of folks and many people drove some Lambos and the Audi R8. The ones who did the Lambo or R8, who also had a chance to drive a Porsche or Ferrari, complained about how bad the Lambos and R8 handled around the track.

ER is now located south of the strip at SpeedVegas and I will say the new track was much more fun than the old one north of the strip.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

ER is now located south of the strip at SpeedVegas and I will say the new track was much more fun than the old one north of the strip.

The last time I went to ER, I simply could not see the track. I spent at least 30 minutes in the waiting room, watching the track video, thought I had it all figured out.
Got out on the track, and simply couldn't see it. I had my head up the whole time, but the instructor kept having to grab the wheel.

Now, I did a BMW M-thingy at the local fairgrounds ($free.99) They set up about 300 yards 2 straight chutes. Pull up to the line, guy waves a flag. STOMP on the gas all the way to the next marked spot (about 200 yards) then STOMP on the brakes. They wanted to show us how well the ABS worked. The first time I kinda freaked, since all the windows rolled up

Guy said they replace the tires about every other Saturday . . .

[M_Six]

Had an electrician come out and install some outside gangboxes today. For the first time since we moved here 20+ year ago, we're going to have Christmas lights. Nothing major. Just some light nets on a bush and something on the small cherry tree out front.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Had an electrician come out and install some outside gangboxes today. For the first time since we moved here 20+ year ago, we're going to have Christmas lights. Nothing major. Just some light nets on a bush and something on the small cherry tree out front.

Pretty soon, you'll be competing with Griswald

[M-technik-3]

Got another raise.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Got another raise.

Share the wealth.

[vreihen16]

...because I went to DMV and actually completed my transaction without a hassle and on the first try! The Mighty Dodge's former custom plates have been liberated from the DMV's license plate jail, and will be attached to something even more mighty this weekend when I go to pick it up.....

[JMcLellan]

Because this gas station is about 15 minutes from my house. Took me almost 2 years after buying my car to realize it was there. This is perfect for me when running an ethanol blend; don't have to bounce between 2 gas stations anymore with a gas can.

[vreihen16]

...because the empty spot in our driveway where the Mighty Dodge used to be parked is now occupied again. After a week-long wait to go pick it up, the even more Mighty Freightliner is finally in our driveway today.....

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

...because the empty spot in our driveway where the Mighty Dodge used to be parked is now occupied again. After a week-long wait to go pick it up, the even more Mighty Freightliner is finally in our driveway today.....

Pics?

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Pics?

When it's finished. It isn't quite mighty enough yet.....

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

When it's finished. It isn't quite mighty enough yet.....

I guess we have to wait until it's this mighty.

[george_d]

my g82 is 4 days away from delivery!

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Had an electrician come out and install some outside gangboxes today. For the first time since we moved here 20+ year ago, we're going to have Christmas lights. Nothing major. Just some light nets on a bush and something on the small cherry tree out front.

Like this?

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Like this?

Nah. Simple stuff. Wifey doesn't even want anything that blinks. Just solid color lights on a net for the Japanese Maple and the crab cherry trees out front.

[Esteban]

Today is...

[Lady Jane]

Got my bike back from the dealer. Normally I do my own basic maintenance like plugs, valves, fluids and coding but this time I had to send it in for a BMW re-call for the fuel pump. So, I asked them to perform the full spa deal.

Toral $1196.35. ($697.95 for labor, $290.36 for parts, $52 for mysterious shop supplies and taxes)

$28.75 for a spark plug + Tax X 4 ...!

It is what it is.

PS: I should add that the re-call was a free $1500 job. Parts and labor.

[UncleWede]

When I got to the gas station, I could only fit 15.876 gallons into my 16 gallon tank

I put a new thick steering wheel cover on. Blocks gas gauge and warning light from normal viewing angle

[Lady Jane]

Started my Fall cleaning since it was a crappy day by cleaning all my interior windows. I needed a friend to come over to hold the ladder for the top ones.

[dradernh]

Per weather.gov as I left our home to go for outdoor exercise at 3 PM this afternoon:

62°F / 17°C
Humidity 28%
Wind Speed W 6 mph
Barometer 30.03 in (1016.6 mb)
Dewpoint 28°F (-2°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi

I spent most of my life in San Francisco, and that list of data is what perfect looked like and still does. However, I'm not sure we ever saw humidity of 28% in the City!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Got my bike back from the dealer. Normally I do my own basic maintenance like plugs, valves, fluids and coding but this time I had to send it in for a BMW re-call for the fuel pump. So, I asked them to perform the full spa deal.

Toral $1196.35. ($697.95 for labor, $290.36 for parts, $52 for mysterious shop supplies and taxes)

$28.75 for a spark plug + Tax X 4 ...!

It is what it is.

PS: I should add that the re-call was a free $1500 job. Parts and labor.

You've reminded me of a time in San Francisco (~1975 to ~1995) when parts and labor tended generally to be equal charges on shop invoices. As a person oriented towards numbers and data, both personally and professionally, that balance always stood out to me.

During those years, I used the very capable shop of a high school friend, so I can't speak to the breakdown of dealers' invoices during those two decades in the City.

My friend the shop owner was always quite forthcoming in sharing why charges were what they were, whether for parts or for labor. He was the person who introduced me to book-rate charges for labor. That was startling to me at the time, and it still is when you consider customers' costs for supposedly labor-intensive work like brake jobs and other jobs like those where the labor charge may have absolutely nothing to do with the number of hours it took to do the work.

As an example: at a Toyota dealership, I once had my Tundra returned to me after an hour-and-a-half while I was charged for four hours labor. Knowing about book rate labor, I put it to the person checking me out: "How can I be paying for four hours of labor when I've only been here for an hour-and-a-half?" I'd like to say that I got an intelligible answer. Instead, what I heard was the sounds of someone who had never been asked that question before. After listening to a bunch of nonsense, I simply asked: "You're charging book rate labor, right?" At that, the person collecting the money brightened right up, and said "Yes!"

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by dradernh

You've reminded me of a time in San Francisco (~1975 to ~1995) when parts and labor tended generally to be equal charges on shop invoices.

The shop rate on my invoice was $120/Hr. for 5.4 hours.