| Movers and Shakers (literally) | May. 17th, 2009 @ 10:23 pm |
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Made it back from LA. We left at 9:15 a.m. and got to my door at 1:45 in the afternoon. It would have been sooner if it wasn't for the backup on 405 South just past the 101. Why can't anyone accelerate uphill?
A friend of mine invited me to UCLA this afternoon to hear a lecture given by Andersen Cooper in memory of Daniel Pearl, the journalist who was killed in the Middle East a few years ago. We attended a VIP reception before the talk, where I met various rabbis and others involved in both the political world and the Jewish community.
When Andersen rolled in, he was immediately swamped by fans. Everyone was clamoring for a word and/or a photo. It was pretty silly considering most A-list celebrities don't get hassled that much when they're out and about (case in point: Patrick Dempsey at the racetrack).
The Coop was very friendly and gracious to all. Can't say the same for the slimeball mayor of LA, whose handlers carelessly pushed through the crowd (all nicely dressed VIPs at a private reception) and practically knocked people over so "Villain Grosso" could get a photo op. Oy.
The talk was pretty good. Andersen talked mostly about his career and the changing role of journalism. Then he took questions from the audience. Glad I went, but I was also glad to get home.
Oh, and then we had an earthquake. Only a 5.0, but still enough to make me jump out of my seat. Here in Santa Monica it felt like a quick, hard initial thump followed by a few seconds of mild shaking. Nothing fell. I've got my emergency supplies ready to go just in case. |
| Bad Luck at the Races, But Rock Band Rules! | May. 16th, 2009 @ 11:55 pm |
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It wasn't the best day for some of the guys at the track. My friend Beau Borders crashed the #128 BMW e46 he was driving in the KONI Challenge. Beau had a good start and gained four positions. But near the end of his stint, he went four wheels off on Turn 4. He thought he had it under control until he hit a rut that send his car skipping past the tire wall and into the concrete barrier. Both the front and back got pretty jacked up. Fortunately, Beau was okay, although I bet he's gonna be pretty sore for a while. Rod says his friend Lance went off in the same spot a couple of years back. Such a bummer.
Then the #96 Turner car, which was driven by Matt Bell (whose dad Dave helped me install my Bilstein suspension a couple of years ago) and Boris Said, had a problem and DNFed. Matt is an amazing driver and had earned his third pole this season. He had a great first stint, but the car lost power shortly after Boris took the wheel. The Turner team fared well overall, though, as their #95 car won the race.
Afterward we hit a reception for Dempsey Racing, where Patrick Dempsey drank some tequila and schmoozed with his sponsors. Fortunately there wasn't any paparazzi or screaming women chasing him around.
Then it was on to a little motel in Monterey, where Alex Roy was hosting a Rock Band/race watching party. I ate some popcorn, watched some of Alex's in-car video and sang Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" while Alex played guitar. It was the first time I'd played Rock Band 2 (I'm used to the original). We both scored in the 90s. Woo hoo.
Then it was on to Cannery Row, where we joined our gracious hosts at Mazda for dinner. I had "scalone," which was chopped abalone and scallops mixed together and formed into a patty. It was good, but kinda weird.
I know a couple of people who are glad this day is over. |
| Verizon Festival of Speed Weekend | May. 15th, 2009 @ 11:22 pm |
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Today I arrived on the Monterey Peninsula for the Verizon Festival of Speed. We left LA at 2 p.m. in hopes we'd make it to the track by 6. I drove up with Aaron Robinson, who has an Audi R8 press car. I'm not a fan of the R tronic, so I was glad to see we had a manual. However, I soon discovered the clackety-clack sound of the shifter gates aren't as charming when you’re not driving. In fact, it's downright annoying.
We took the 5 to Lerdo Highway, to 33, then 46. I tried not to watch as Aaron crossed the yellow line to pass cars on that narrow road at speeds I shouldn't publish. Let's just say I can understand why it's the James Dean Death Highway.
We made it to the track about 6:15, just in time for a charity bicycle ride. One of the bike companies had some loaner equipment on hand so I could join in. I was super excited. I consider myself relatively knowledgeable about bikes -- I ride my men's Mongoose hybrid around the beach all the time (hah). But man, those hardcore cyclists can be intimidating with their fancy clippy shoes and matching outfits. Who else could get away with wearing so much Spandex in public?
It took a little time to get the bike just right. One of the reps from the bike company kept insisting the seat was the right height, even though I couldn’t reach the ground when I was sitting on it and had to practically fall over to get off. I'm convinced he wanted to make me feel stupid. And it worked. I skipped the special shoes and opted for regular pedals in case something went horribly wrong.
We started at turn 5 up that loonnng, steep hill. The first five minutes were easy. Then I thought my heart was going to explode. A few months back, a friend and former BMWCCA track day instructor dropped dead of a heart attack on a treadmill. I thought I was going to meet the same fate. A few excruciating minutes later, I got off the bike and walked. Sure, I looked like a wimp. I didn't care. I wanted to live.
When I reached the top (with a heart rate somewhere close to 200), I stopped to look around. I was standing on the pavement at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. How cool was that? I hopped back on my bike and got ready for the payoff – the corkscrew. As I descended, the wind rushed against my face and chest. My eyes began to water and my nose began to run. The rest was easy. I finished the lap, and that was enough. And somehow I still had fun, even through the tears, heart palpitations and snot. |
| » BMW e46 Shifter Project |
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The driver of the Mercedes C-Class and I pulled up to the metering light at the same time. There were two lanes, and only one light. I knew my quick shifting could take that pathetic automatic transmission. The light turned green. I beat my German rival off the line. But then I went to shift. No resistance from the shifter. Had my gearbox blown? I looked down at the floundering stick and cursed. Mr. Mercedes passed, the light of his ridiculous Bluetooth headset flashing through his overly-tinted windows. That was it. I'd had enough.
And nah, it hadn't blown. BMW shifters are just notorious for getting sloppy after a while. Various parts and bushings wear out, gradually causing the shift mechanism to become limp as a cold pomme frite. The parts themselves aren't that expensive and aren't that difficult to change, but getting to them is a big job. I knew I couldn't do that kind of work by myself.
Funny enough, not too long after my freeway FAIL, I mentioned the shifter issue to a neighbor. His friend Tom, who was there at the time, just happened to have done the same job on his e36. He knew exactly which parts I needed and even offered his tools and his help. How could I say no?
Here's what I ordered per Tom's suggestion.
From Understeer.com:
- e46 Short Shift Kit (which is supposedly just the stock shifter from the e46 M3; shortens throw by about 30 percent over stock 325 shifter). Included circlips, shift lever bearing and plastic washers.
- Delrin carrier bushings
Total with shipping: $120
From BimmerSpecialists:
- Shifting arm bearing #25111222015
- Gearshift rod joint #25111222688
- Rubber bearing #25111434194 (this is like a rubber sponge, but it's incorrectly called a "plastic washer" on RealOEM.com.
- KACO selector rod seal #23121282394
- Guibo nuts #07129900047
- Exhaust manifold gaskets #18107502346
- Lock nuts for exhaust flange #18301737774
Total with shipping: $86.17. It would have cost much less, but I ordered them in two different shipments. Much of that cost was shipping. Still, much cheaper than any dealer or local shop.
On the day we did the project, Aaron Robinson from Car and Driver came over to lend a hand. Admittedly, Tom did most of the work, but Aaron and I tried to help where we could. Once we got the car up (we had to use a combination of ramps with wood and jack stands), we had to remove the exhaust and disconnect the driveshaft to access the gearshift rod joint. When we removed the rod joint, the rubber sponge inside had deteriorated completely. There was nothing left!
Tom also noticed that my guibo had some cracks, which is another typical wear item on the e46. It wasn't too bad, but I figured I'd try to track down a new one as long as we had it off. Fortunately, I found a local repair shop in Santa Monica that was willing to get one for me at at cost -- only $48.71 with tax. The BMW dealership wanted more than $100. Forget that. I should have also ordered a new center support bearing, but that will have to wait for another time.
All in all, the project took us about five hours, including setting everything up, putting the car up, futzing around with all the tools and parts, and some down time while the guys waited for me to come back with the guibo. The biggest job was removing the bearing bolt, or "bitch clip," which probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone who's worked on a BMW. More photos are on my Facebook profile.
Now it works like a charm. The shifts are amazingly crisp, and the throw is the perfect distance -- not too short, not too long. My right arm is going to get a good workout. I'll have to up the weight when I do bicep curls on my left arm. Would hate to be uneven.
Mister Mercedes, come and get me.
Mar. 25th, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
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| » 2009 Porsche PCM: Does Performance or Luxury Rule? |
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When Porsche unveiled a refresh of its Boxster roadster and Cayman coupe at the Los Angeles Auto Show this past week, there was one addition (along with some minor exterior changes, engine updates and the new PDK transmission) that the Porsche folks were keen on showing off: A new touchscreen interface with various techno-features including optional iPod and USB connectivity.
We'd seen the updated system, dubbed "Porsche Communication Management" (PCM) earlier this year on the 2009 Porsche 911. It can include the types of features you'd come to expect from Mercedes or BMW such as navigation, XM radio with real-time traffic and Bluetooth. An optional audio interface adds glovebox-mounted iPod, USB and auxiliary ports - the first time these connectors have been available on any Porsche. A large touchscreen in the center stack is lined with a series of relatively intuitive buttons - a refreshing departure from the single, annoying knob favored by some German manufacturers.
To some, the introduction of these gadgets seems like a natural progression. To others, it's more evidence that the day of the pure sports car is over.
In the past, Porsche - by its own admission - developed its electronics only as a means to improve their cars' performance. I hear the words of the German engineer in my head: "Ven ve vant music, ve listen to ze engine."
But the symphony of a flat-6 isn't enough for most people anymore. Porsche got to work on the new PCM and iPod adapter after focus groups told them they just couldn't live without their MP3 players in their cars. That comes as no surprise to some of us who live in Los Angeles, where the typical Porsche customer is less like Joerg Bergmeister from the Flying Lizards and more like Adam Davies from Entourage. But it is a point of contention for certain enthusiasts to see Porsche's no-nonsense, race-bred reputation become increasingly concealed beneath bundles of wires and buttery-soft leather.
Yet there are some ways in which Porsche retains an obstinately purist view about its cars. For example, the 911 can come equipped with Sport and Sport Plus buttons which change suspension settings and throttle mapping, but Porsche's steering remains purely mechanical (unlike the adaptive steering favored by many performance luxury brands today). And the people at Porsche say it's going to stay that way.
It's doubtful the addition of a little iPod plug will create the sort of outcry from die-hard enthusiasts as when Porsche switched from air-cooled engines to water-cooled engines in 1998 (and don't broach that topic at a Porsche club track day unless you've packed your Xanax). In fact, many will welcome it -- even Lotus offers a 32-pin connector in its bare-bones Elise. But for others, it's another small reminder that people no longer want racecars. They want luxury cars. Or, rather, they want both, and that's a difficult balance to strike.
Still, although the 2009 Porsche 911, Boxster and Cayman can be fitted with a world-class sound system, "ze engines" won't be ignored. The 911, in particular, pits the throbbing speakers in the cockpit against the roar from behind the passenger compartment, a battle which could yield driver and passenger sore ears - and for the sing-alongers, a very sore throat.
We realize not many people are rushing out to buy a high-performance coupe or convertible these days. But if you could, what would be your soundtrack? Hi-fi? Or a high exhaust note?
Originally posted at Edmunds.com
Nov. 26th, 2008 @ 10:17 am
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| » 2008 Kia Sportage: Not Bad, For a Rental Car |
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Recently I was assigned to attend a press event in Utah. Fall was in full swing and I hadn't spent much time in that part of the country, so I decided to come in a couple of days early, rent a car and drive around.
It was pouring rain when I arrived in Salt Lake. I had reserved a compact car, but I was planning to drive through some canyons at higher elevations and I heard it might snow. So I asked to upgrade to a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. My choices were a 2008 Toyota Rav4 and a 2008 Kia Sportage. I was pretty familiar with the Toyota, but I hadn't driven the Kia much, so I opted for that.
The model I got was an LX V6 4WD. And although Kia offers an extensive options list, my rental was pretty bare bones. The car had power locks and windows, but it didn't have keyless entry, which slowed me down quite a bit when trying to get in and out of the rain. Consequently, I ended up a lot wetter than I might have been if I could have just hit a button instead of fumbling with the key.
The Sportage's handling through winding mountain passes was decent for a compact SUV. But even with the V6, the motor had a hard time producing enough power and torque to make it up the steep grades -- although switching over to the manual shift option helped. I didn't encounter snow, but there was plenty of rain, and traction was good in the wet thanks to the Sportage's 4WD system.
My overall take is that the Kia Sportage is fine around town. It offers a comfortable and attractive interior, a good amount of cargo space and relatively sporty handling for its class. But the powertrain is pretty wimpy. So if you tackle tough terrain on a regular basis, the Sportage isn't the right choice. Also, fuel economy is only average for its class; EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2008 Kia Sportage LX V6 4WD are 17 mpg city, 21 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. The V6 4WD Rav4, by comparison, gets 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined.
Originally posted at Edmunds.com
Oct. 15th, 2008 @ 11:12 am
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