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Nial

@vintageracer.bsky.social

260 followers 70 following 1.3K posts

Retired college prof (Engineering) - Stuff I like: my family, MGs, Austin-Healeys, British sports cars, vintage racing, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, VSCCA, VRG - also 3D printers, CNC programming and progressive social values.

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 22h

Today's treadmill music for me.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

Fun stuff! I grew up in the New Jersey Pine Barrens and still like riding there a few times each year. My preferred bike for this is my Yamaha TW200 with about 14 horsepower. Weights about 275 lbs. It's street licensed too, so I ride it to the store all the time.
Great fun!
youtu.be/HyIXXI81ats

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

Good heavens! I thought this was all a joke.
But Google verified that a mashed potato sandwich is a *real* thing.

I'd suggest a maximum of one per lifetime.

Now, back to my oatmeal.... 😉

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

Yeah, this red Pinto has a T5 Mustang trans. Bulletproof.
I had an early 1600 Pinto street car with the 4 speed and later, a Cortina 1600 with the same trans. Was OK, but nothing great. I currently have a Lotus 7 replica with a 2.0L T9 5-speed. Better but still not great.
Best is the Miata trans

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

More from a previous Fall event at Summit Point

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

It looks like one. But it could also be an oil cooler line. It does look odd. I'll ask Jim about it when I see him.
We don't normally think of a 2.0L Pinto as a fast car, but this one is absolutely rip-roaring! It has bested many V8 cars in our races.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

My last wheel-to-wheel race in '25 is coming up in a few weeks @ Summit Point, West Virginia.
Here's some cars from this event on a previous year.
1- Ford Pinto
2- Elva Courier Coupe
3- Volvo PV 544
4- Lola T70

Ford Pinto vintage racing car

Elva Courier Coupe vintage racing car

Volvo PV 544 vintage racing car

Lola T70 vintage racing car

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 3d

Happy trails!

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 3d

I'd call her a maggot.....but won't. At least maggots are useful.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 3d

This car had a great, underdog win at Lemans in '91.
Still the only non-reciprocating engined car to win.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 3d

Our Britfest event tomorrow has been cancelled due to Nor-Easter weather prediction.
Sorry to see this cancelled but probably a good decision.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 3d

I'll take it! Do they accept PayPal?😉

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 4d

Excellent video!
I've owned three Renaults: a Dauphine, an R5 (racer) and an R9.
A good friend of mine owns a LeMans class-winning '64 Renault-Alpine.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 4d

Oh definitely Paul Newman. He finished fourth place driving a Corvette in a pro race at Watkins Glen when he was age 82.
And his "Newman's Own" foundation work is laudable.
I've stood next to him at a driver's meeting at Lime Rock and chatted with his wife. Both very nice, low-key people

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 5d

I was just retiring & wanted to replace my 17-year-old Miata. I'd saved about $30k. Enough for a new Miata. Then HR told me that they owed me $25k as a sick leave bonus. I found a dealer that would sell me a new 718 Cayman for $54,800. Perfect! It's faster than my friend's 3.2L 6 cylinder Cayman

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 5d

I bought a '17 Yamaha TW200 from a lady in Oct 2017. It was her 1st (& I assume last) motorcycle. Had just 150 miles on it. I changed oil a lot. To be fair, one of my best enduro riding pals was a gal.

My '00 NB is still my favorite car. Bought it as a left over with 16 miles on it for $19,000

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 5d

Cars I've purchased new:

1987 Renault Alliance (R9)
2000 Mazda Miata MX-5 (photo)
2004 Ford Freestar minivan
2010 Chevy Express cargo van (V6)
2018 GMC Savana wheelbase cargo van (V8)
2018 Porsche 718 Cayman PDK/2.0L

Plus a sh1tload of cheap, worn-out Brit sports cars.

Anyone else care to share?

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 6d

Next Sunday, I'll attend Britfest here in Morris County, New Jersey. We always have a good time.
Here's some shots of a previous Britfest.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 7d

On my side of the country, it's PSE&G.

This afternoon I sat for almost an hour for a PSE&G road closure....while the "workers" stood around not working. Traffic was jammed up over 5 miles for this non-working event.

Considering the mood I'm in, a fatwa sounds about right.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 7d

Folks...
1-Mika Hakkinen, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Jackie Stewart, Bernie Ecclestone, Lord March, Mario Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve and Emmerson Fitipaldi.
2-Bob Bondurant John Fitch Phil Hill, Dick Gulstrand
3-Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Graham Hill
4-Steve McQueen, Jaquline Bisset

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 7d

I saw this similar Abarth at our local Cars & Coffee here in New Jersey on Sunday.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 7d

Great photo! Later on, Gurney worked with Bell Helmets to develop the full-face Bell Star. I bought one in '71 (for motorcycling).
Sidenote: I'm always shocked to see the height of the "roll bars" in these old racing cars. This is especially obvious with a tall lad like Gurney.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 9d

Went to our local Cars & Coffee today. Took the Midget.
This was just a last-minute event...scheduled yesterday.
The 275 GTB/4 was to die for.
All my photos from today are here:
photos.app.goo.gl/eoRpv44fSTmh...

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 10d

I have both ('69 B and '70 Midget).
Overall I prefer the Midget.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 11d

I live near Rt. I-80 which is transcontinental. Speed limit is 65 mph but most ignore it. I stay off it but the other day I needed to use it. I was in my Cayman and had just merged into the fast lane. An SUV behind me is tailgating me.
That’s when I noticed that I was doing 103 mph.
Everyone was.