If weather holds out I'll be down at the autocross course.
Does GRM have a booth there this year?
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May 16, 2009 2:53 p.m. CivicSiRacer Reader
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May 16, 2009 4:52 p.m. mel_horn HalfDork
I was there today. More later.
Yes. Tim Suddard and Rennie from Red Line were there when I stopped by.
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May 17, 2009 1:34 a.m. Apexcarver UltraDork
I was there today as well (wont be up tomorrow)
Quite the fun time, I managed to talk my way into a test fit into a rather nice Europa (with a REALLY nice owner), I have had an interest in these for awhile now and it was always up in the air if i could fit in one (I'm skinny, but I am 6'2")
I fit in it, but its tighter then I imagined. at the very least a removable steering wheel would be a REQUIREMENT
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May 17, 2009 9:03 a.m. ChristianL New Reader
I was going to head up there, but it's rainy and windy. Yep, typical weather for the import show at Carlisle. The Brit cars keep bringing the weather of the homeland...
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May 17, 2009 9:10 a.m. ddavidv UltraDork
I found I couldn't drive a Europa because of the pedals more than due to my height.
Import Carlisle is dead. The attendance this year was abysmal, aside from the Saab/Volvo contingent which apparently has nothing else all year. Flea market is a vast wasteland. I live 40 minutes away and probably won't go next year. $30 to park on the show field is just insane. I parked on the street outside and only paid $8 to get in and barely feel I got my money's worth. Didn't spend a single dollar once inside.
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May 19, 2009 4:12 a.m. chknhwk Reader
For the Ford event in two weeks, no.
But I'll be there Friday and Saturday.
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May 19, 2009 5:28 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork
ddavidv wrote:
I found I couldn't drive a Europa because of the pedals more than due to my height.
Import Carlisle is dead. The attendance this year was abysmal, aside from the Saab/Volvo contingent which apparently has nothing else all year. Flea market is a vast wasteland. I live 40 minutes away and probably won't go next year. $30 to park on the show field is just insane. I parked on the street outside and only paid $8 to get in and barely feel I got my money's worth. Didn't spend a single dollar once inside.
Sadly, this year in particular, I found myself in agreement with you. I went, but I'm not quite sure why, and I didn't bother with Sunday.
Sure, there were a few interesting cars (that Atom knockoff was fascinating, especially since he's never seen an Atom), some deals to be had, etc. But all in all, it was the skeletal remains of a once great show.
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May 19, 2009 8:26 a.m. jimbob_racing HalfDork
Sorry to hear that the show is going down hill. I used to go out every year with a wad of cash and the intention of buying as many Datsun parts as I could. The last few years the pickings were so slim that I came home with almost all my money in my pocket.
Has the internet completely killed off the traditional swap meet?
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May 19, 2009 8:52 a.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork
jimbob_racing wrote: Has the internet completely killed off the traditional swap meet?
In my experience... Not completely.
If you're looking for parts for old American cars, swap meets can still be full of gold. When my dad and I were searching for parts for the now-departed '49 Ford, we found a lot of smaller parts at the swap meet at the Frog Follies and other similar shows.\
I miss that car.
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May 19, 2009 2:40 p.m. Ian F HalfDork
Well, I was there from Thursday through Sunday and had a good time. Yes, the vendor are has descreased over past years... but there were still some deals to be had... and I think the weather scared away a number of folks - although it turned out to be better than expected...
I think the internet has killed off the swap meet for the import show... I still ended up spending more money than I had planned to... that said, I don't really go for the swap meet... never have... I go to look at the cars and to hang out with people I don't see too often.
I'll be there next year.
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May 20, 2009 5:58 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork
jimbob_racing wrote:
Has the internet completely killed off the traditional swap meet?
No. There was a time that it appeared that might be the case. And it certainly has had an impact on the traditional swap meets. But it has not killed them by any means. In fact it seems to me the pendulum is swinging the other way now.
E-bay itself has a lot to do with this. As they raised their rates and made it much more difficult unpleasant and expensive to sell, people started pulling out and returning to traditional swap meets. Two years ago if you searched e-bay for "crosley", you might have gotten 2,000 hits. Today, you probably won't get 200.
This year at carlisle was actually an example of this. There were more little folks selling stuff than there have been in past years. Fewer of the big guys, by far. But more of the folks like you and me with a bunch of treasures from the shed.
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May 20, 2009 6:27 a.m. jmthunderbirdturbo New Reader
im going to the ford show with an 11 second 88 ford thunderbird turbo coupe...unfortunately, it isn't mine...
-J0N
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May 20, 2009 6:50 a.m. Ian F HalfDork
foxtrapper wrote: E-bay itself has a lot to do with this. As they raised their rates and made it much more difficult unpleasant and expensive to sell, people started pulling out and returning to traditional swap meets. Two years ago if you searched e-bay for "crosley", you might have gotten 2,000 hits. Today, you probably won't get 200.
This year at carlisle was actually an example of this. There were more little folks selling stuff than there have been in past years. Fewer of the big guys, by far. But more of the folks like you and me with a bunch of treasures from the shed.
I would agree. I noticed this just yesterday when I clicked on my saved search for old Volvos. Not a single 1800 is currently listed and maybe a half-dozen cars older than 1990. Wow.
It really makes me wonder what Ebay is thinking... I find it hard to believe they weren't making money hand-over-fist before the rate hikes... good 'ole greed...
Personally, I've avoided selling Ebay less because of the costs and more because of annoying buyers... a few bad sales to morons have soured my opinion.
With any luck, you're right and next year the swap meet at the show will improve. Honestly, I didn't see more little guys than last year... actually fewer, IMO... and most of the ones I did see I recognized from previous years.
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May 20, 2009 9:14 p.m. ddavidv UltraDork
Irony: that here we are complaining about Ebay getting too expensive but helping to kill off Carlisle and yet Carlisle is too expensive making it so I'd rather stay home and surf Ebay.
I'm just sayin...
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May 20, 2009 9:17 p.m. jmthunderbirdturbo New Reader
remember, though. the guy at the swap meet went home on monday and put everything he had left on E-bay...
-J0N
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May 21, 2009 2:03 a.m. chknhwk Reader
Nice! I'll be looking for you.
You can be the second GRMer I've met. I'll probably be in my X-Type as my SHO isn't done yet.
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May 22, 2009 11:18 a.m. CivicSiRacer Reader
I saw the cool car GRM had out infront of their booth on Sunday. What was that thing? You guys drove past me going up and down the hill sometime around 9am.
I definitely think the weather killed it for the show this year. Was deadly/eerie quiet on Sunday. I did get a chance to walk around and see some nice examples of cars. Still had fun on the autocross course with my sloppy suspension and measly brakes.
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May 22, 2009 11:27 a.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director
So where are these older cars/parts being sold? I'm finding nothing but crap on Craigslist.
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May 22, 2009 5:08 p.m. BoneYard_Racing New Reader
CivicSiRacer wrote:
I saw the cool car GRM had out infront of their booth on Sunday. What was that thing? You guys drove past me going up and down the hill sometime around 9am.
I definitely think the weather killed it for the show this year. Was deadly/eerie quiet on Sunday. I did get a chance to walk around and see some nice examples of cars. Still had fun on the autocross course with my sloppy suspension and measly brakes.
And you belonged to which car? For everybody that ran the auto-x can we get your opinion on it so perhaps we can makes some changes for next year
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May 22, 2009 6:25 p.m. JonW None
CivicSiRacer wrote:
I saw the cool car GRM had out infront of their booth on Sunday. What was that thing? You guys drove past me going up and down the hill sometime around 9am.
If you mean this car,
it's a counterfeit Atom. You will need to help me sort this thing out at the AX's this summer.
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May 23, 2009 11:09 a.m. CivicSiRacer Reader
BoneYard_Racing wrote: And you belonged to which car? For everybody that ran the auto-x can we get your opinion on it so perhaps we can makes some changes for next year
I'm Mike Louie :)
Every year for the past 7 years I've been running some sort of Civic Si :) 2002-2004 had a 00 Civic Si in blue. 2005-2006 had a 91 Civic Si in teal, 2007-present a 93 Civic Si in black.
Been the Autocross Chief from 2004-2008 for Susquehanna region, and Chief Novice Instructor from 2002-2008.
The one recommendation I would make is to extend that lot if you can. You could probably make huge lot where we usually have paddock/pit area. Since the whole section is fenced off anyway, I would move the tent to the other side of the fence, extend the course as far as you can (I know that is going to cost $$$), but that course is really unsafe after about 5 laps. Brakes start fading, tires start to overheat. Even the SCCA Pro Racing Touring Car guys (PD CUnningham, Wil Turner) had brake fade on that course. The course is not long enough to allow adequate cooling of the brakes or tires.
Plus the configuration is getting kind of old and unsafe. Especially the section towards the back where large potholes are forming from the drifters. The fence and poles are very close to the course, personally I don't see them, but couple people have run into them since there is no run off room.
Personally I would love to see a whole flat lot that way each year we can run a different configuration more like an autocross instead of going round and round :)
So recap: 1. extend lot as far as you can and pave all. No grass island like we have now. 2. move tent to behind the fence area 3. keep the one opening like we have had for the past 2 years for cars to enter and exit 4. move paddock/pit to behind the fence 5. maybe add stadium seating behind the fence on the lower level (not on the hill of course cause it's impossible to see)
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May 23, 2009 11:12 a.m. CivicSiRacer Reader
JonW wrote: If you mean this car,
it's a counterfeit Atom. You will need to help me sort this thing out at the AX's this summer.
No problem. :) Looks like a hoot to drive. Not sure if you know Ken Taggart he had a BMod car, couple years ago he told us he was retiring the car so he let me and Markus drive it. WOW is all I could say when I got out on course at Hershey.
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May 23, 2009 1:17 p.m. JonW New Reader
I'm in week 8 of convincing PA DOT to license it. The brakes are not yet bedded and haven't generated significant lateral 'g' force to know how it handles. It should be 40/60 (F:R). It will be a slow DMOD, I just want to learn how to drive it.
I will soon buy another set of Team Dynamics wheels for a set of sticky tires.
See article: http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=136574
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May 30, 2009 6:55 p.m. Saablym
Hello, I don't think you understanding very much, at least about Saab cars and events! Just because Saabs have a better following than all of the other brands at Carlisle does not mean we don't do other events! Check out centralpennsaab.com and see why Saabs and their owners are some of the best car lovers out their! Don't feel bad about most of your buddies staying away from "OUR" show at Carlisle, call or email them and get them there next year! No and this is not our national convention! Saablym
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June 1, 2009 5:38 p.m. BoneYard_Racing New Reader
CivicSiRacer wrote:
BoneYard_Racing wrote: And you belonged to which car? For everybody that ran the auto-x can we get your opinion on it so perhaps we can makes some changes for next year
I'm Mike Louie :)
Every year for the past 7 years I've been running some sort of Civic Si :) 2002-2004 had a 00 Civic Si in blue. 2005-2006 had a 91 Civic Si in teal, 2007-present a 93 Civic Si in black.
Been the Autocross Chief from 2004-2008 for Susquehanna region, and Chief Novice Instructor from 2002-2008.
The one recommendation I would make is to extend that lot if you can. You could probably make huge lot where we usually have paddock/pit area. Since the whole section is fenced off anyway, I would move the tent to the other side of the fence, extend the course as far as you can (I know that is going to cost $$$), but that course is really unsafe after about 5 laps. Brakes start fading, tires start to overheat. Even the SCCA Pro Racing Touring Car guys (PD CUnningham, Wil Turner) had brake fade on that course. The course is not long enough to allow adequate cooling of the brakes or tires.
Plus the configuration is getting kind of old and unsafe. Especially the section towards the back where large potholes are forming from the drifters. The fence and poles are very close to the course, personally I don't see them, but couple people have run into them since there is no run off room.
Personally I would love to see a whole flat lot that way each year we can run a different configuration more like an autocross instead of going round and round :)
So recap: 1. extend lot as far as you can and pave all. No grass island like we have now. 2. move tent to behind the fence area 3. keep the one opening like we have had for the past 2 years for cars to enter and exit 4. move paddock/pit to behind the fence 5. maybe add stadium seating behind the fence on the lower level (not on the hill of course cause it's impossible to see)
Who?(kidding) How exactly did we not know each others screen names? For the record every car Ive ever driven has had mine plastered down the side of it(except the Tbird).
That area isnt in my opinion large enough to do a typical parking lot style auto-x or at least not one that we can have any fun with. Brake fade is a part of racing if I can drag the Tbird around with its mystery brake pads(they suck) and not manage to hit anything or go off once in the several laps I made anybody should be able to do the same. Ill agree with you on everything else. -Blair
