...Autocross goes

Here are a few views from the last autocross of the year.An autocross starts with walking. Here an experienced driver walks the novice's through the course. See the video at the end for a view at speed.
A little bit of everything usually shows up.

Two mild mannered econobox's. Maybe.

The Miata corner.

Old race cars can run for ever.

Some old race cars run forever very fast!

One of Paul's runs in real time.

FAVORITE AIR CRAFT

My favorite airplane is one that really goes..... There are a couple of reasons that I like this plane. 1. It is the fastest operational plane ever built.

2. It was one of the last planes designed using slide rules.

Since I was one of the last groups of engineering students to learn and use slide rules I feel a real attachment. The tire in the banner has so much aluminum in them to dissipate heat that the rubber even looks silver. Even inside this plane the temperature was extremely high.

What is it? The SR-71

Here is one at Wright-Paterson
Here is one at the Pima museum in Tucson AZ. This one also has one of the RC drones that they could launch into real tough places.

Another view of the one at Wright-Pat.

One on display at Eglin AFB in Florida.

This one is in Balboa Park San Diego CA.

Mobile AL is home to this one along with other planes at the USS Alabama museum.

The Boeing Museum in Seattle has a YA-12. A two place plane that the CIA used.

HMMM. Wonder what for?

SKY WATCH - LST

This is the only functional LST in the US. It is on display here in Evansville. During WWII Evansville was the largest "Corn Field" (not on a sea coast, inland) shipyard building LST'sHere a 20mm machine gun points at the sky.

40mm These are all operational. They even cranked it around to show how easy it worked.


Ships wheel. Old and worn. This LST was involved in the landings on Sicily, Italy and Normandy. It worked after the war into the 60's helping land supplies in Antarctica during the expeditions there. The US then gave it to the Greek Navy and was rescued from them a few years ago.

Engine room. They wouldn't let me go down there.

Tank deck.

They could put 20 tanks in here. The dark square at the end is the ramp door where you unloaded vehicles.

Bridge with the Greek emblem still in place.

65 year old radio. This may not work.

Soldier bunk area.

These were all along the port side between the tank deck and the hull.

For more Sky Watch Friday click on the link on my side bar.

LVT - Alligator

Here is a watery LVT-MKIV-AlligatorThis is another vehicle that Higgins developed during WWII. There is a bunch of military vehicle owners that come to the area near the LST here to play with their toys. With all of the LCVP's and LVT's in the area the military reenactors come here to do D-Day each year.

Here it is climbing out of the water. This allowed the 20 soldiers it held to land with dry feet.

For more Watery Wednesday posts click on the icon on my sidebar.

Thanks to Eyes, Mind, Heart for hosting WW

Ships That Go

Here are a few of the ships that I have been on or seen. Actually a few of these are boats.This is the LST here in Evansville. It is a fully operational ship and just got back from a tour up the Missouri River.
A Higgins boat on the LST. Mary asked what was the difference between a boat and a ship. A ship can carry a boat, but a boat can't carry a ship.

The USS Laffey at Charleston, SC. A hero of the Leyte Gulf Battle

Russian Sub. More on this later.

USS Drum at Mobile, AL.

USS Yorktown at Charleston.

Stern of the Yorktown.

USS New Jersey at Camden, NJ. This was my dad's ship during WWII. He was a member of the first crew. My brother and I took dad to see his ship in 2003 which was 60 years later.

Engine room, I always end up in engine rooms. If you visit this blog much you will get to see all kinds of engine rooms. I'm a mechanical engineer .........sorry.

Bow of the New Jersey from the bridge.

My Father in front of the big guns!

B-17

I recently visited my Brother in Ohio and he took me to the airport at Urbana where they are rebuilding a B17. This plane had been restored once and crashed and is being rebuilt again by a very dedicated crew of men spending a huge amount of their own time trying to save an important part of American history.

Here is the cockpit section of the fuselage.
The rear gunners section. Some new parts some old parts.

The rudder is ready for paint.


Rear fuselage section with gunners windows.

Part of an engine.

Inside rear fuselage section.

Wing spar. I was blown away by how the wing was constructed. There is a tubing skeleton inside with spars and then a very heavy corrugated aluminum under skin. A thin smooth aluminum skin then covers all of this.

Parts, parts and more parts. Engine cowling, machine guns and fake bombs.

Good engine in a display case.

The skin that was removed from the wing. Blow up the picture and you will see the names of three of the men that originally built the plane in the 40's. They signed their work. I took the picture upside down so the names would be right side up.

Cars That Went and Go

A brief history of the more interesting cars in my life.'58 Chevy convertible. Was so rusted up if you opened both doors at the same time they wouldn't close without you jacking up the center of the car. Burned a quart a week in its 348.

62 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Spyder. Unbelievable car unless you are in college trying to finish your degree. College or Alfa pick one only.72 Datsun 240Z. Bought it within two weeks of graduating. Drove it off of the show room floor, still have it after 36 years!





'76 Mike built. Z wasn't fast enough. Built my own Formula V. Won the '79 Central Division SCCA D-Mod championship in a driving rain. Not enough power to spin the tires.

Actually a kit car based on a Chevy Chevette. Just because I could!

'67 Lotus 41C Formula B car. Only car I have ever owned that the frame even leaked oil. Got to love the British! But a wonderful car! Colin knew how to build them.

March Cosworth 79A Formula Atlantic. I can't describe how fast and neat this car was.

Same car with the full body work on. Competing at the SCCA Solo II Nationals in Topeka KS.

Current daily driver Volkswagen GTI 1.8 Turbo. Easy to modify and make go really fast, old mans race car.