There were lots of firsts at that race last night. Unfortunately, this one happend on the opposite side of the track from where B'Gal and I were sitting, so we couldn't see what was going on directly (we were about 50 yards down from the pit road exit). There was a big screen in front of us, but they never did show the part where the driver of the track drying truck escaped.

We rolled home about 2:45 this morning and collapsed into bed. I woke up this morning and called my boss to tell her that I needed a day to recover, partially from the race but mostly from wheeling B'Gal around the track in a wheelchair. Did you know that there are some wicked hills underneath the grandstands?

Next Fox Sports innovation: Cameras on the track drying trucks, several of them, like they have inside the cars.

If they'd had one inside that TDT last night, they would have captured the driver crapping his pants.

Must see TV.

Heh...we were just talking about this in my office. Daytona sure was Dooomed this year. Ya see? This is what happens when you let wimmins on ships and race cars. This is the curse of Danika P.

**

**Runs and hides**

"I think even I could avoid hitting a Duelie bright yellow pick up truck towing a jet engine on a track that is 100 feet wide."

That Wasn't JPM's fault. The pit crew had his car up on jack stands and were looking at something in the suspension for a while under that caution, he went out on the track, something broke on his car (there were sparks from underneath right before his car made that turn into the truck).

You should've heard the gasps from the crowd watching it on the big screen. It could've been a lot worse than it was. JPM was in the infield care center with the truck driver and when he came out and said the driver was OK, everybody let out a sigh of relief.

AllenG, ethanol is less efficient than gasoline, which is why vehicles that use it see a decrease in fuel mileage. It's also damaging to fuel system components that aren't designed for it (o-rings, gaskets, seals and such).

That is pure politics on NASCAR's part. I really would have expected better from the boys (and girls), but since the sport got its start from hauling alcohol, I can understand it to a certain extent.

Tradition and all that.

Posted by: Rosie O'Donnell at February 28, 2012 10:17 AM (AQD6a) *****

There was NO DEBRIS collected from the site, it was all pulverized beyond recognition!!@!

Toby, Matt Kenseth won his second 500 victory.

That was one hell of a race. Did I tell y'all that we won tickets from American Majority Racing? (they're a conservative GOTV organization, click my nic, there's a link on the front page) They sponsored the number 81 car driven by Jason Bowles in the Nationwide Race on Saturday. They had an online contest giving away a pair of tickets every day. I entered and won, and when they sent the tickets, there were an extra pair.

When I emailed them my address, I happened to mention that Sunday was B'Gal's birthday. They said they had a spare pair of tickets and figured we'd enjoy them the most.

They gave us a weekend of NASCAR racing to remember. I'm tired, sore and greatly in need of a Guinness (right after I finish this cup of coffee), but the two of us are most grateful to them.

"Very cool, BBoy. Nothing like live, is there?"

No there isn't. We got to go to the Nationwide race on Saturday, and last night we were sitting about 25 feet from the track.

I actually was forced to use my earplugs. The sound when the pack went by in front of us is now officially the Loudest Fucking Thing I've Ever Heard In My Life. Hmm, let's see, 600 plate-restricted horsepower (it's normally around 800 hp) times 43 cars equals WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 28, 2012 10:26 AM (d0Tfm)"

That is sweet.  What a crazy long event.  Plenty of time to hit the beer stand.

Heh. reminds me of this: "crawling from the wreckage"

http://tinyurl.com/6pz3mow

Where is teh Doom?

PS: That TJ Lane kid was seriously f***ed up:

http://bit.ly/xa4x9Q

The school should thank its lucky stars if only one student dies.

PPS: Just like at Columbine and at VaTech, TJ Lane was very well known to "the system" and broadcasted his intentions beforehand.

But, as usual, "the system" wasn't listening [and/or couldn't be bothered].

"The nice seats are the ones up high enough that you can see the other side of the oval."

Which is where we were Saturday. Right across from Pit Road and still close enough to hear the impact wrenches. Only a tiny section of the track we couldn't see. Also, up higher, you can hear how the sound bounces around and off the buildings.

That should be on every Moron's bucket list even if you're just a part-time gearhead.

"Plenty of time to hit the beer stand."

Since I had to drive both the car and B'Gal around last nite, I failed to meet my designated alcohol input requirement (plus, they don't sell Guinness there, lots of Bud, tho'). Actually, everybody was very well behaved last night, even on I-4 during the drive back home.

"Another Student died this AM"

F***ing IDIOTS!!!

Lane wasn't even supposed to have been at that school - he was supposed to have been at the school for the hardcore nutjobs.

And read the nihilistic insanity that he was posting on the internet!!!

He was telegraphing to anyone who would listen.

Where in Hades were the responsible adults?!?

"NASCAR is sooo much louder than Indy Cars. And slower too."

A few years ago, they took the restrictor plate off a NASCAR and turned it loose on one of the superspeedways (I can't remember which one, Talladega or Daytona).

It reached a speed of 225 mph, pretty close to an Indy car. I'd really like to see Mike Helton and crew run just one race that way, with bigger tires and the accompanying additional safety measures naturally, and show the world just what those big hulking beasts can do when they aren't being slowed down on purpose.

this reminds me, I'm out of JetDry.  I need to pick some up at the store.

 ...show the world just what those big hulking beasts can do when they aren't being slowed down to make GM competetive on purpose.

Romney on conservatives: "ItÂ’s very easy to excite the base with incendiary comments."

This is how he acts when he wants to pander to us. Can you imagine what he would say when he wants to pander to moderates?

And don't try to act like this is some sort of brilliant move. Can you imagine any Democrat in 2008 saying "it's very easy to excite the (liberal) base with incendiary comments".

That kind of feels like a metaphor for my life at the moment.  /emowhining

I must say, I do like sporting events that include an earth shattering kaboom.

NCref @81-

You are correct about the drinking management part; I can remember when I was a kid in Webelos, our pack leader took us to a race in Darlington. He had an RV, so we were in the infield. One of the guys in the RV next to us was drinking heavily, and passed out on top of his RV. He suffered 3rd degree burns all over his chest and stomach from the heat of the sun reflecting off of the RV. 

Oh, BTW, we did see that UAW plane banner before the race that blasted Romney about his statement to "let GM go bankrupt." If it'd been a bit lower, I'd have given it the one-fingered salute.

Romney was exactly right. What he should've said was that there is already a legal remedy in place for struggling businesses and that is through the bankruptcy laws.

That would have allowed GM and Chrysler to renegotiate their labor contracts with the unions and saved us taxpayers a metric ton of money, but the SCOAMF couldn't let that happen.

Heaven forfend that he not protect his corrupt union asshole buddies. It's the Chicago Way!

That should be on every Moron's bucket list evenif you're justa part-timegearhead.

we have a trip to Pocono or Dover on the list, and I hope earplugs will be enough to protect from the noise. (The noise at the dirt track races is bad enough for my delicate auditory apparatus.)

Posted by: Zakn at February 28, 2012 10:58 AM (zyaZ1)

If it can be screwed up, John Paul Montoya's your man.

"I have to wonder if the jet wash from the dryer didn't lift the front end of Montoya's car - causing him to lose control at the higher speed he was traveling."

Nope. He started to swerve well before he came into contact with the jet dryer. Something broke in his suspension.  He had been in the pits on jack stands for an extended length of time while the crew was checking something under his car. He goes out on to the track, trying to catch the pack before the green flag, a shower of sparks, a swerve, then the impact with the dryer.

Those guys drive past them at speed all the time. From watching the oil dry get blown when the dryer goes by, most of the air is directed in a narrow area and only about a foot high off the track surface. Not enough force to upset a car, which is pretty aerodynamic, and not long enough either.

How long did he lay out in the sun?

If he's like me, ten minutes will do it. 

Getting ready to go vote in the primary.  Only Newt hasnÂ’t pissed me off with the incessant robocalls.

Posted by: Jean at February 28, 2012 10:43 AM (WkuV6)

The scientists are thinking of principles -- the engineers are thinking of problems. Scientists will wave away problems to discover principles but engineers must solve problems even if the principles are unclear. Thus, for real-world applications, always trust the engineers.

Posted by: joncelli at February 28, 2012 11:22 AM (RD7QR)

Scientists explain what is.  Engineers make what never was before.

"Honestly, there's only so much they can or should do about stuff posted on facebook. At what point are you sure enough that the kid isn't just venting that you actually officially intervene?"

Read the nihilistic insanity that the little monster was posting all over the internet:

http://bit.ly/xa4x9Q

http://gaw.kr/AdBruf

The system knew about him, which means that he would have had at least one witch doctor assigned to him [if not a small army of shrinks, masters of social work, behavioral therapists, etc, etc, etc], and yet none of these wothless cretins [each being paid likely in excess of $75K per annum*] could be bothered to keep sufficiently close tabs on the ticking time bomb to realize that it was about to explode?!?

*Stolen from the taxpayers.

Scientists are keeping a close eye on a big asteroid that may pose an impact threat to Earth in a few decades.

The space rock, which is called 2011 AG5, is about 460 feet (140 meters) wide. It may come close enough to Earth in 2040 that some researchers are calling for a discussion about how to deflect it.

My guess is that one of the driveshafts for the rear wheels coming out of the differential broke, probably the right one. That's the only thing I can think of that would've caused it swerve to the right the way it did. JPM crammed on the brakes to avoid the impact (he was hauling ass to catch up with the field for the green flag), which would've been into the wall in Turn 3, except the dryer was in the way.

But given how little was left of JPM's car afterwards, they might have a hard time tracing the failure. He looked pretty dazed when he climbed out.

wothless = worthless

"Engineers make what never was before."

*Ahem* Engineers draw what never was before, it's the Machinist who actually cuts the metal (and corrects the engineer's mistakes).

I once worked at a shop where there was one guy up in the engineering department that didn't understand the difference between a two-place decimal on a drawing and a three-place decimal. He thought you would hold both dimensions to the same tolerance, which you don't. You specify two-place decimals for holes that really don't matter much when it comes to size, as long as the bolt head doesn't slide through it when it's not supposed to.

Posted by: HemHaw at February 28, 2012 11:09 AM (TySpk)

     I guess that one got yanked too, link is broken.

"Now, since he was in alternative school"

No, he was NOT in nutjob school - he was being warehoused in normal school until a slot could open up for him in nutjob school.

"What were they supposed to do? Imprison him?"

Two words: HELL. YES.

Have you ever spent any time around psychos?

Keeping them off the streets is one of the very few legitimate reasons there are for any government to even exist in the first place.

The moment he started posting that crazy sh*t back in Dec/Jan, his shrink should have moved in with a committal order.

Posted by: Zakn at February 28, 2012 10:58 AM (zyaZ1)

The kind whose car has broken a rear end and is at that point just along for the ride. From hell. On fire. Into the back of a jet dryer. Sideways.

Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at February 28, 2012 11:44 AM (7+pP9)

*

Yeah, I'm not buying the Obama is NOT a socialist, he is a double agent for a "worldwide mafia" of greedy capitalists story.

*

Got to give them credit though...they are very imaginative.

" I remain more and more convinced that we shouldn't have public schools at all."

THIS.

I should find the story I wrote in 11th grade where I blew up the football team with my saxophone.

I don't know whether to say "Freud would have a field-day" or "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

"But there are few fields of study that have retained the rigor that engineering in American schools have, so hopefully that's an anomaly."

Thankfully, it was. I've not since run across another engineer with that problem. BTW, the guy I described was one of the owner's sons. Go figure.

There is a reason to specify a three-place decimal for a through-hole, and that's when making flight hardware (which I've done, both for aircraft and spacecraft) when weight is a big consideration.

I play the trombone...the rusty trombone!

"I should find the story I wrote in 11th grade where I blew up the football team with my saxophone."

Your problem is that I have seen the pictures on your website, Heather.

Or, should I say, " http://imdb.to/VAIPs "?

@179-

The law in PA requires that the individual be a danger to themself or to others in order to be 302'd. The police have the ability to involuntarily commit an individual if there is enough to indicate that that person meets those standards. And so does a psychiatrist.

The reason that it is so difficult to involuntarily commit is that there was a time when a person could have their family member locked up as a matter of convenience...not to mention there is no where to put a patient in dire need of treatment due to the state hospitals being closed down, one by one. I've even heard that Norristown is under consideration for closure which would be nothing short of a disaster for those afflicted and the community at large.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 28, 2012 11:41 AM (d0Tfm)

At my first "real engineering" job the company required that you spent at least six months as a VT welding inspector (or other production job) before you designed anything.  Even after that you worked with the senior people who had experience with the "real world" as kind of an apprentice before they trusted you to go it on your own.

Probably the exception rather than the rule, but it prevented the situations to which you allude.

And I take it you are familiar with MIL-TFD-41, right?

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 28, 2012 10:59 AM (d0Tfm)

Rusty Wallace was doing that test in the"new car" and Nascar wanted to see what it would do without the plate, so they got him to test it since he was around when the plates were put on. He said that 225 mph was done on the car and engine being set up for the normal plate speeds, and that with the engine tuners and aero guys tweaking things, he thought that if they came back at the next race there that they could be turning laps at 245-250 mph. Especually in the pack.

He's not a great president. He'll probably count as a bad president when we find out everything that's going on. He's done some good things (health care law) and a lot of bad things (letting torturers go, these espionage prosecutions, Guantanamo's continuing existence, and many other "national security" things that actually are just civil liberties violations).

The opposition is just so terrifying that I feel compelled to vote for Obama to prevent a Santorum or Romney presidency. At least I agree with some of Obama's positions, and I feel the police state he's bringing about is less-bad than the police/theocratic state the others would bring about.

Posted by: Emmanuel Goldstein at February 28, 2012 11:57 AM (Bjf6P)

**

Damn, that movie is 24years old...I was 18. This sucks.

**sigh** 

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012 at February 28, 2012 11:40 AM (8y9MW)

No argument. My point would be that Romney should be screaming about the perversion of law so the Dems could protect a  crony  special interest group, while harming the innocent.

"If your job is to design parts and create mechanical drawings, a competent engineer utilized geometric dimensioning and tolerancing to remove any doubt about manufacturing tolerances."

I should point out that this incident happened more that thirty years ago. ISO standards were just a gleam in a few people's eye and geometric tolerancing was just catching on in smaller shops. They were still drawing things on drafting boards by hand (which is how I learned it, did I mentioned I've designed laser systems too?) and weren't even using AutoCAD.

One of the first things I learned in Machine Shop class was that engineering students in Germany spent their freshman year on the shop floor, cutting metal (and the dumb ones, lopping off digits). I always thought that would be a good idea for us here. Fortunately, that rigor and effort towards accuracy has not been lost in this country. At least, not yet.

OK, sports fans, it's naptime for this little Moron. Last night is catching up with me. Have fun and try not to trash the place, 'k?

Oh good. A police state brought about by people's fears of losing indiscriminate fucking of strangers which DOESN'T EXIST AS A GOAL.

We don't live in interesting times, we live in stupid times. I guess the plan to dumb down the population worked.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at February 28, 2012 11:50 AM (ZKzrr)

Will you be retelling any band camp stories in your newsletter? If so I would like to subscribe.

"And I take it you are familiar with MIL-TFD-41, right?"

I'm sure I've made part to that spec, but I admit ignorance as to it's specifics, unless it refers to the mountain of paperwork required for traceability, which often exceeded the weight of the part itself.

I was fortunate to have had a series of great teachers when I was younger. "Real world" people who didn't screw around when it came to making things, because many times someone's life literally depended upon the work you did.

*Now* I'm outta here. Morpheus awaits.

Posted by: Nighthawk at February 28, 2012 11:26 AM (RSqz2)

What's that old joke?

Mechanical Engineers build weapons

Civil Engineers build targets

Posted by: zombie Newton Minow at February 28, 2012 12:10 PM (fIuC0)

Posted by: irongrampa at February 28, 2012 12:33 PM (SAMxH)

THIS is why the company I work for has been around for 40+ years. My boss refuses to be the last one to know about new products and advancments in our industry. I'm currently looking at 30 sales awards and achievement placcards hanging on the wall because we are the best at what we do.