I'm so disorganized I have lost my folder of all the shameless Blipshift IP theft shirts. If I find it I'll write. My impression was that they're good people but the business model is basically using car designs without permission and keeping the license fee as profit.
I can certainly appreciate that perspective. I figured it was a case where they changed just enough that it was ok from a legal standpoint for their artists to draw their stuff without trademarked/copyrighted logos/names on them.
Nothing so blatant like the overseas places that copy my friend's artwork down to the last pixel and then sell the knockoffs on social media pages. I also have some shirts that I pick up at our off road races in Baja that obviously don't follow any copyright/trademark rules either.
Jun 29, 2023·edited Jun 29, 2023Liked by Jack Baruth
I recently wanted to make desk-sized flags with automotive logos, because I couldn't find any. But then I thought of the difficulty of negotiating IP rights.
I realize that I live in a world where many people are not bothered by such considerations.
Long ago, I made a line drawing of a 450SL with a "New Deal Used Cars" sign in the background after a discussion on RG. Submitted it to Blipshift and they rejected it because that was "too obscure" of a movie reference..
I sent them a Nissan President (like 1989ish square body) drawing in single color with a #NotMyPresident and they claimed "too obscure a reference" back in 2016ish era.
I’ve been saying that on here for a long time (I’m just never this early commenting). Silentsod usually beats me to it. Always room for more in the MotoGP tent. Have you been to a race? I’ve been going every year since Indy was added in ‘08. Switched to COTA when Indy was dropped. It’s so much better live. Paddock passes are a must!
Loudspeaker advice wanted. I get a plosive sound through my bookshelf and tower speakers on certain tracks. What should be a kick drum sounds like someone tapping the mic. 1. What causes it? 2. What should I look for to avoid it when shopping for a replacement?
The alternative is that the woofer is bottoming out. Remove the grill and move the speakers by hand. If they are both the same, and they feel well damped, you should at least borrow another amp and see what happens.
I picked up one of those Lepai amps to use as a headphone amp for my Stax electret headphones and it was DOA.
Have you checked out Schiit Audio? If you just have a couple of line level sources, their SYS, passive switcher / volume control is just $49 (made in USA too), and you can pick up a 120W class D power amp module (runs on a laptop power supply) on Amazon for about $10. You won't have any tone controls, but who needs tone controls? This is audio gear, not a guitar amp.
If you're concerned about Chinesium level quality control from some random Amazon vendor, the modules from ICE and Dayton Audio are a step up in quality. ICE modules are widely used in the pro audio industry.
When I upgraded my main stereo to a 200W Adcom 555 power amp from the 60W 535, I put together a small system for one of my work rooms with the 535, some small Dayton Audio bookshelf speakers that Steve Gutenberg recommended, a cheap Sony Blu-Ray/DVD/CD player, and the Schitt SYS (and a 35" flat screen). One channel on the SYS is the disc player, the other is a Bluetooth adapter so I can use my phone as a source.
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by Jack Baruth
I basically have an oversized 2.1 desktop system. The only source is the onboard audio on the PC. Haven't looked into Schiit, glad to hear it's made in USA, will check it out. Thanks for the tip.
Emotiva is another great option for really high quality amps at reasonable prices. Some of their stuff is made in the USA. Their basx A2M is what I use for my office setup and it’s great with bookshelf size speakers. The A2 is better for tower speakers. They have others if you need more channels and higher end product lines if you have more budget.
I once emailed Nelson Pass a question about the Adcom, as he is credited with the design and he said that he couldn't help since he just drew the original schematic, not the production version. Interestingly, it doesn't have clipping indicators like the amp I replaced, a 535L, which can be the basis of a minimalist system as the L model has front mounted level pots so you don't really need some kind of preamp if you're just using one source like a CD player.
My stereo doesn't sound as good as the Focal/McIntosh setup Alex Roy had in his audio salon in Manhattan, but then those Focal speakers cost more than my Honda. Coincidentally, my main stereo rig uses some homebuilt speakers that use a Focal equal pressure design (like Linn Isobariks), with Focal woofers, a Morel dome tweeter, and a very cool Dynaudio 75mm dome midrange that now costs about three times what I paid for it. I had Madisound make me a crossover that crosses to the midrange fairly low, so the mids are handled by just the one driver. Do they sound as good as Martin Logans? No, but I'm happy with them.
Random trivia: Nelson Pass designed the first-generation Soundstream D-series car audio amplifiers. True dual mono design, IIRC. I think he designed the first Nakamichi car stereo amps as well.
I love the idea of DIY speakers but lack the skills and the patience to actually pursue such a project. I commend you. As to them sounding as good as Martin Logans, what's important is that you enjoy the sound you get from them. And a suggestion: If you haven't already done so, check out Get Better Sound by Jim Smith. It is loaded with helpful inexpensive, and often free, tips for optimizing your set up and room.
I've got a nice system with no complaints, but, as in all things, there's always a desire for more. And so I dream of one day running a Pass Labs Int-25 integrated amplifier with a pair of DeVore Audio 0/96 or Pure Audio Project Duet 15 speakers. Alas, my wife, seeing the size of the speakers and the space they require, has told me, "If you want a larger soundstage, first you must buy a larger house..."
IMHO, you can't go wrong with Schitt. Depending upon your budget, Benchmark Media Systems is another highly recommended brand that provides an absurd value.
I bought the Adcom 555 used about four years ago (after using the 535 for decades) and drove to Louisville from Detroit to pick it up. Probably cost me less in gasoline than shipping the amp, which is a tank, would have been. The seller was a Russian emigre living in the Jewish community's apartment building for seniors. In a weird coincidence, at the time I was saying *Kaddish every day for my mother, and when I checked an online guide to see about orthodox synagogues in Lousiville, it turned out there were daily services in the same building.
*Kaddish (literally sanctification) is a prayer, with multiple versions, that is used to mark the ends of various parts of the traditional Jewish prayer service when performed with a quorum of at least 10 Jewish males age 13 and up. It's about glorifying and sanctifying the name of God and His supremacy. The version called the Mourner's Kaddish (actually, in Hebrew it's the Orphan's Kaddish) typically ends the entire service (there are three daily prayer services), and while the cantor leads the other kaddish recitations, people who have lost an immediate family member within the past year stand and lead that prayer, which has some call and response. While it's called the Mourner's Kaddish, it makes no mention of death, though Isuppose that it's an implicit acknowledgement of God's judgment. When one hears of a death, the traditional response is Baruch Dayan Emmet, blessed is the true Judge.
Taking advantage of the open thread invitation to share my excitement here. Yesterday my 2015 ZX-14R 30th Anniversary (004/300) was finally picked up from the seller in Charlotte, NC for the long trek to Grants Pass, OR. It's been a slow process working with a private seller and coordinating shipping, but the final stretch is here!
I HAVE TO THINK there was some way we could have coordinated our shipping here! Gonna need to feature the Anniversary bike here on the site. What a lovely, fully equipped ZX14.
Narrator: There was ample pro-racing - it was just on two wheels.
MotoGP saw Brad Binder and KTM's heroic efforts to podium DENIED in the sprint and the race by edging just off track limits in the final lap. The same mistake twice must have Brad feeling low. Still, it confirms that KTM is a serious player in the field where many are struggling to compete against Ducati.
Dominant Duc continues with Bagnaia taking first in each race and looking impeccable when he's on form. It was good to see Espargo charge on the damaged Aprilia, even if the podium was due to Binder's error. Jorge Martin continues to impress during the races with excellent performances coming from further back in the field - if he can sharpen up his qualifying he looks to be on the podium with regularity.
Good to see Yamaha not all the way in the back of the field, and another disastrous weekend for Honda.
In MotoAmerica the Superbike class is providing phenomenal competition! Everyone should be watching the battles up front between Beaubier, Gagne, and Herrin. It's exciting to see such back and forth and even some of the guys further back in the field are showing up on race day and giving a good run.
Alonso would be proud of your hand gestures after getting shanked in that corner! Do you have to have arm restraints in case of roll over? Always enjoy watching your line. Never been to Mid-Ohio, but feel I wouldn't be too lost after watching you.
Would love to drive one of the old style ford open wheel racers, I don’t even know if they are still a thing, but they always looked cool for some reason.
There's a couple here in Michigan who wheel out a pair of '60s era Lotus open wheelers at the local track every once in a while. Those things gleam and at least one gets around OK. Driving an open wheel car is a treat, did it a few times.
I kind of want to go race and kind of don't. I think I need a team though. And a car, trailer and tow vehicle.
Nice to hear your comments about a SpeedTour event. They'll be at Portland in later July I'm going to drive down and catch that event. First vintage racing I've attended since Monterey Historics back in 2016.
Karting is going well! Now 4 races into my first season. My pace is down to 1.5-2.5 seconds off the leaders, which is enough for me to compete with the rear of the midfield.
Instead of turning laps at the back of the pack, I actually got to do some side-by-side racing and make some passes. Taking the green flag in a pack of bumper-to-bumper karts is the most thrilling thing I’ve ever done.
Jack, if you’re ever at a race in New England I would be happy to help crew for you!
Motocross fanboy here. This weekend is the 50th anniversary of Redbud. Will be there from Thursday night until Sunday. Can’t wait to get sunburned and drink cheap beer with couple hundred thousand of my best friends. One of the few times a year I revert back to being 19 instead of 57. Tickets, parking and pit passes are inexpensive compared to most other motorsports. If you go, park in the west lot and get a hotel room up to the north instead of the South Bend area. Not too many sports do you get to walk around the pits and fist bump your favorite riders.
I was within a stones throw of the track when the notification for this article came through. Hopped off exit 176 to head into Ashland for lunch before our final destination at Meyer Hatchery in Polk. The girlfriend insists on making the 4 hour drive from Lexington, KY whenever we need chickens. They're a great place if you ever decide to take plunge into raising chickens and up your rural life game.
Any reason you don't cover MotoGP on these pages? Seems like that would be right up your alley being the motorcycle enthusiast that you are.
We just go with pullets(they're about two months from laying age) as opposed from raising from chicks mostly because we're lazy. If you can set up a good feeding and watering system it's mostly set it and forget it aside from gathering the eggs every day. I fill the food and water about once a month.
I saw Bark's post yesterday. It's a beautiful car. I've been keeping my eye out for some of these but haven't spotted one yet. Had a couple Bark spottings when he had the Focus RS. Looking forward to seeing that color in person.
He is thrilled. Said that compared to his Genesis G70 3.3T Design Edition:
* it's faster in the real world (apparently he isn't bothered by break-in rules)
* The stereo is noticeably better
So far he's universally positive.
As for mine -- my dealer hasn't even been provided with a build date. I can take it or leave it, frankly; the use case for a 485hp sedan in a life where I'm out of town one week a month for work, spend the rest of my days at home, and rarely travel anywhere but the local restaurants or the airport... well it's not all that compelling, and I *do* get a lot of use out of the GMC Canyon which the Chrysler is scheduled to replace.
Recommend the pullet path also, unless you want the “awe”s from chicks. Less death too. Also get you a couple box traps and a .22 and some amazon Chinese game cameras, so whenever the inevitable predation occurs, you know what you’re looking for. Trap/shoot/bury in the vegetable garden. Oh and you do this for fun, not because it’s cheaper that buying eggs.
We'll never eat enough eggs the rest of our lives to pay for what we have in our chicken coop, food and supplies. The eggs do taste better and they're fun to watch pecking around the yard. I don't have to worry about predators too much. I open up the door to the completely enclosed run in the morning and they wander back in in the evening and into the coop with an automatic door after which I shut the door to the run. We live in town so the predator situation isn't as high as out in the country.
Yeah we have an automatic door too and it’s the ish. 10/10. I’m also in the suburbs, but I’ve lost a bunch. Like 5-10 over 3 years. Couple to hawks, few to coons and 1-2 to that poopy-butt illness. Never have got a coon but the reduction in possums and skunks is nice. Dog gets sprayed less.
RE the 300C, I know of a store with one unallocated in stock right now. It’s white. Not advertised with an ADM, but a man can figure there is one.
Certainly a car where I stared at and did a lot of mental math to try to make it work, but it’s never gonna be anything BUT way out of my price range. Unbelievably cool though.
As suggested on instagram, would like to hear your long form perspective on Singer and RWB. Have to admit some of Singer’s stuff looks rather good to me.
Been looking at ways to get into some Motorsport within the very tight post kid (and economic crisis) budget. Karting seems to be the best choice for now as events are slowly starting up again after a lapse of 3 years. Turned a few practice laps at the local track (only 2 in the country still) and wasn’t completely rubbish. Still a long way to go to be any level of competitive though.
There is no comparison. I have friends who own(ed) both cars, so I’ve spent a little time in the passenger seat of both.
The RWB is an old car with an extravagant body kit.
The Singer is akin to a tastefully, thoroughly remodeled older home. It’s still small, the ergonomics are poor, there’s lots of road noise, etc. But everything you see and touch is beautiful, and you know that someone spent a lot of time thinking about all the little pieces of the car - “everything is important,” as Rob Dickinson says.
My buddy with a Singer sold his a few years ago when someone offered him an offensive (well over $1MM) amount of money for it; he paid less than half of the eventual sale price and put a good number of miles on it over several years.
Surprised you mentioned road noise. I though Rob and his pals would have all but eliminated that. The non-DLS cars are nice though. DLS looks a bit too far on the mod side of restomod.
We were driving on a road I know fairly well in Malibu. There is a level of road (perhaps better to say rear tire) noise that is typical of all high performance 911s I’ve ever sat in.
They build the best possible (within the realm of something that could has commercial promise, i.e., something for which there is sufficient demand to provide them with a modest profit - and indeed it is modest) air cooled 911 without beginning with a clean sheet of paper regarding the chassis.
Singer ownership probably breaks into two groups:
People who have everything (every hypercar, every significant Porsche, etc.) for whom the expense is more or less trivial
People who have a more (comparatively) modest number of cars (let’s say less than 10) who would rather have the “ultimate,” greatest hits 911, particularly in terms of how it drives (since everything is new, updated, optimized) than a collection of significant air-cooled 911s (you could own a number of them for the $1MM+ price tag) OR a few supercars OR a hypercar.
My friend who owned one was the latter category.
He is now retired, but he was David MacNeil’s very first hire at WeatherTech (David literally hired him after they got drunk at Siebken’s in Elkhart Lake) many years ago. He did well for himself, but he is not a billionaire like the floor mat impresario who owns the company outright. I asked him why he didn’t buy a Carrera GT or an F40 or whatever instead in 2015-2016 when he ordered the car, and he told me that those cars just weren’t “him.” He grew up working class near Road America.
In a roundabout way, I met one of my best friends through the now-retired WeatherTech President.
If you weren't completely rubbish after 500 laps in a real kart you should go home and cry because you're a mega-talent who missed his chance. It's a lot like golf. You get better a little bit every round except for the rounds where you get worse.
Fuck Singer, fuck RWB. Imagine using another man's name in your company, giving the most contemptible excuse possible (I WAS A SINGER!!!! IN CATHERINE'S WEB!!!!) and then trading on that image for a full decade. And fuck RWB for damaging rare cars for no particular reason.
I have nothing but love for any shop that takes a brand-new car, or (as is the case with some of these RUF things) fabricates a shell to which replacement parts are attached. Go forth and prosper.
The companies that find salvageable or drivable old cars and "re-imagine" them? Get in the woodchipper.
Jun 29, 2023·edited Jun 29, 2023Liked by Jack Baruth
I once worked for a publication that wanted to do a front-of-book piece about Singer - this when he was still getting started. The company was willing, but insisted on pre-publication review of all copy. We politely told them to go fuck themselves. I can't imagine we were the only one given that stipulation, and that has always made me suspect of every word anyone writes about the company.
I've said it here before, but it's relevant to this thread: One day in the not-to-distant future someone is going to make a fortune undoing all the damage those RWB nitwits have done to cars.
Well that's very Porsche of them -- the "buff books" usually give some form of prior review to Porsche, and comparison tests where the Porsche does not win have to be "discussed" with PR.
You mean you don't want to host some chainsmoking jap with a cutoff wheel in your house while he indifferently poprivets a $22,000 bodykit to your perfectly good (or hacked to death) 911?
It doesn’t count unless you get your flunky media friends to make a lame documentary about the process featuring your deadbeat son who now owns the car and keeps yammering about “driving passion” before helping hold the windshield banner in place at the end of the chop job..
Only 4 of the 6 forward gears work and the indicator is completely schizo, I need to fix it. Right now I'm selecting neutral by feel like on a 1950 Triumph
It's amazing what having rear brakes can do. Even having decent front brakes is good. When we took the rotors and pads off the front two weeks ago, one of the pads crumbled into dust.
I bought the current one (the '90) to replace my haggard '91. It popped up for a good price and I bought it because dealing with two cars is a problem for future me.
Now future me is having to deal with prepping the '91 for sale.
Last time I had two Miatas, I had a Jeep TJ to accompany them! Horrible vehicle. Desperately want another (even though it would take many thousands to make it into what I'd want to keep (and this describes several cars)).
Would love to find my way into a TA seat... I ran two seasons of NASA American Iron/Spec Iron, really close competition and a ton of fun. A TA race would be the pinnacle for an amateur racer like myself...
It's sanctioned by SCCA *PRO* which is a little different in terms of medical and prior experience -- but in the final analysis, the license application, as it does almost everywhere in the sport, looks a lot like a signed check.
Well, Actor Ryan Reynolds with others invested €200m into Alpine in F1. Giving them a 24% stake.
So, Alpine is worth a bit less than 900 million bucks. I can kind of see the teams getting butt hurt over a $200 million entry fee spread out to 10 teams. At the same time, they signed up for a $200 million entry fee for new teams.
GM has a market cap of $49.3 billion according to Alexa. I'm not a GM fan, but there's something wrong here.
Reynolds and company sold Mint Mobile to T-Mobil for $1.3 billion. Reynolds cut was $350 million. Also sold out his stake in a gin company for 60 million.
Not related to racing, but how about a piece on your thoughts about Blipshift? You mentioned some time ago that you didn't like them...I think..
I'm so disorganized I have lost my folder of all the shameless Blipshift IP theft shirts. If I find it I'll write. My impression was that they're good people but the business model is basically using car designs without permission and keeping the license fee as profit.
I can certainly appreciate that perspective. I figured it was a case where they changed just enough that it was ok from a legal standpoint for their artists to draw their stuff without trademarked/copyrighted logos/names on them.
Nothing so blatant like the overseas places that copy my friend's artwork down to the last pixel and then sell the knockoffs on social media pages. I also have some shirts that I pick up at our off road races in Baja that obviously don't follow any copyright/trademark rules either.
I recently wanted to make desk-sized flags with automotive logos, because I couldn't find any. But then I thought of the difficulty of negotiating IP rights.
I realize that I live in a world where many people are not bothered by such considerations.
"And people who are uglier than you and I /
They take what they need and just leave"
The Smiths, "A Rush and A Push."
Long ago, I made a line drawing of a 450SL with a "New Deal Used Cars" sign in the background after a discussion on RG. Submitted it to Blipshift and they rejected it because that was "too obscure" of a movie reference..
Well we could do it here...
Perhaps with another run of DTTS? Mine's getting a bit threadbare, though at least I haven't out-fatted it yet.
Yeah I think a slightly enhanced version of the shirt would be interesting!
Even though I have a brand new DTTS, I would also support another run!
I’ll dig up the file and shoot it over to you.
If you don't mind, send it to rokem@netzero.net and I"ll work up an embroidery design. Line drawings can work well as embroidery: https://rokemneedlearts.com/1SONNY.JPG
I’ll buy one
I need the image first, lol.
Shut up and take my money.
Too obscure? The Current Year internet never ceases to make me sad.
That price is TOO FUCKIN' HIGH!
Maroon car my ass
I sent them a Nissan President (like 1989ish square body) drawing in single color with a #NotMyPresident and they claimed "too obscure a reference" back in 2016ish era.
What they choose to make is all over the place.
MotoGP was damn compelling! Seriously, watch this series.
The Marc Marquez/ Honda drama is fascinating (and bruising for the riders). Something’s gotta give!
Pecco really seems to be hitting his stride, when he’s smiling, look out.
Whoa whoa, you can’t take up my mantle as the “watch MotoGP” guy here. What else do I have?!
I’ve been saying that on here for a long time (I’m just never this early commenting). Silentsod usually beats me to it. Always room for more in the MotoGP tent. Have you been to a race? I’ve been going every year since Indy was added in ‘08. Switched to COTA when Indy was dropped. It’s so much better live. Paddock passes are a must!
I haven’t, but I’d love to, other vacation spots come first though.
Understood. Trust me, you really have to do it! Austin is a fun city too! Great live music. Coopers BBQ is another must!
Loudspeaker advice wanted. I get a plosive sound through my bookshelf and tower speakers on certain tracks. What should be a kick drum sounds like someone tapping the mic. 1. What causes it? 2. What should I look for to avoid it when shopping for a replacement?
Could be the amp clipping. Has it always done it? What *is* your amp?
The amp is a Lepai LP-2020TI, less than 4 foot listening distance. I think it's always done it.
20w solid state amp... that will clip in a hurry.
The alternative is that the woofer is bottoming out. Remove the grill and move the speakers by hand. If they are both the same, and they feel well damped, you should at least borrow another amp and see what happens.
I picked up one of those Lepai amps to use as a headphone amp for my Stax electret headphones and it was DOA.
Have you checked out Schiit Audio? If you just have a couple of line level sources, their SYS, passive switcher / volume control is just $49 (made in USA too), and you can pick up a 120W class D power amp module (runs on a laptop power supply) on Amazon for about $10. You won't have any tone controls, but who needs tone controls? This is audio gear, not a guitar amp.
https://www.amazon.com/Comimark-TPA3116-Dual-Channel-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B086YT2L6Q
If you're concerned about Chinesium level quality control from some random Amazon vendor, the modules from ICE and Dayton Audio are a step up in quality. ICE modules are widely used in the pro audio industry.
https://www.parts-express.com/electronic-parts/audio-amplifier-boards-modules
When I upgraded my main stereo to a 200W Adcom 555 power amp from the 60W 535, I put together a small system for one of my work rooms with the 535, some small Dayton Audio bookshelf speakers that Steve Gutenberg recommended, a cheap Sony Blu-Ray/DVD/CD player, and the Schitt SYS (and a 35" flat screen). One channel on the SYS is the disc player, the other is a Bluetooth adapter so I can use my phone as a source.
I basically have an oversized 2.1 desktop system. The only source is the onboard audio on the PC. Haven't looked into Schiit, glad to hear it's made in USA, will check it out. Thanks for the tip.
Emotiva is another great option for really high quality amps at reasonable prices. Some of their stuff is made in the USA. Their basx A2M is what I use for my office setup and it’s great with bookshelf size speakers. The A2 is better for tower speakers. They have others if you need more channels and higher end product lines if you have more budget.
I had been using some very not made in the USA Fosi mini stuff for my desktop, kitchen and small workrooms. I'll have to check out Schiit.
seconding Schitt Audio. hard to think of higher quality gear for the price and it's made in USA.
also... Adcom 555. nice.
I once emailed Nelson Pass a question about the Adcom, as he is credited with the design and he said that he couldn't help since he just drew the original schematic, not the production version. Interestingly, it doesn't have clipping indicators like the amp I replaced, a 535L, which can be the basis of a minimalist system as the L model has front mounted level pots so you don't really need some kind of preamp if you're just using one source like a CD player.
My stereo doesn't sound as good as the Focal/McIntosh setup Alex Roy had in his audio salon in Manhattan, but then those Focal speakers cost more than my Honda. Coincidentally, my main stereo rig uses some homebuilt speakers that use a Focal equal pressure design (like Linn Isobariks), with Focal woofers, a Morel dome tweeter, and a very cool Dynaudio 75mm dome midrange that now costs about three times what I paid for it. I had Madisound make me a crossover that crosses to the midrange fairly low, so the mids are handled by just the one driver. Do they sound as good as Martin Logans? No, but I'm happy with them.
Random trivia: Nelson Pass designed the first-generation Soundstream D-series car audio amplifiers. True dual mono design, IIRC. I think he designed the first Nakamichi car stereo amps as well.
I love the idea of DIY speakers but lack the skills and the patience to actually pursue such a project. I commend you. As to them sounding as good as Martin Logans, what's important is that you enjoy the sound you get from them. And a suggestion: If you haven't already done so, check out Get Better Sound by Jim Smith. It is loaded with helpful inexpensive, and often free, tips for optimizing your set up and room.
I've got a nice system with no complaints, but, as in all things, there's always a desire for more. And so I dream of one day running a Pass Labs Int-25 integrated amplifier with a pair of DeVore Audio 0/96 or Pure Audio Project Duet 15 speakers. Alas, my wife, seeing the size of the speakers and the space they require, has told me, "If you want a larger soundstage, first you must buy a larger house..."
The Adcom is a touch more than I expect to spend. So far Schiit and Emotiva are more my speed.
IMHO, you can't go wrong with Schitt. Depending upon your budget, Benchmark Media Systems is another highly recommended brand that provides an absurd value.
I bought the Adcom 555 used about four years ago (after using the 535 for decades) and drove to Louisville from Detroit to pick it up. Probably cost me less in gasoline than shipping the amp, which is a tank, would have been. The seller was a Russian emigre living in the Jewish community's apartment building for seniors. In a weird coincidence, at the time I was saying *Kaddish every day for my mother, and when I checked an online guide to see about orthodox synagogues in Lousiville, it turned out there were daily services in the same building.
*Kaddish (literally sanctification) is a prayer, with multiple versions, that is used to mark the ends of various parts of the traditional Jewish prayer service when performed with a quorum of at least 10 Jewish males age 13 and up. It's about glorifying and sanctifying the name of God and His supremacy. The version called the Mourner's Kaddish (actually, in Hebrew it's the Orphan's Kaddish) typically ends the entire service (there are three daily prayer services), and while the cantor leads the other kaddish recitations, people who have lost an immediate family member within the past year stand and lead that prayer, which has some call and response. While it's called the Mourner's Kaddish, it makes no mention of death, though Isuppose that it's an implicit acknowledgement of God's judgment. When one hears of a death, the traditional response is Baruch Dayan Emmet, blessed is the true Judge.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/text-of-the-mourners-kaddish/
Taking advantage of the open thread invitation to share my excitement here. Yesterday my 2015 ZX-14R 30th Anniversary (004/300) was finally picked up from the seller in Charlotte, NC for the long trek to Grants Pass, OR. It's been a slow process working with a private seller and coordinating shipping, but the final stretch is here!
I HAVE TO THINK there was some way we could have coordinated our shipping here! Gonna need to feature the Anniversary bike here on the site. What a lovely, fully equipped ZX14.
Narrator: There was ample pro-racing - it was just on two wheels.
MotoGP saw Brad Binder and KTM's heroic efforts to podium DENIED in the sprint and the race by edging just off track limits in the final lap. The same mistake twice must have Brad feeling low. Still, it confirms that KTM is a serious player in the field where many are struggling to compete against Ducati.
Dominant Duc continues with Bagnaia taking first in each race and looking impeccable when he's on form. It was good to see Espargo charge on the damaged Aprilia, even if the podium was due to Binder's error. Jorge Martin continues to impress during the races with excellent performances coming from further back in the field - if he can sharpen up his qualifying he looks to be on the podium with regularity.
Good to see Yamaha not all the way in the back of the field, and another disastrous weekend for Honda.
In MotoAmerica the Superbike class is providing phenomenal competition! Everyone should be watching the battles up front between Beaubier, Gagne, and Herrin. It's exciting to see such back and forth and even some of the guys further back in the field are showing up on race day and giving a good run.
Alonso would be proud of your hand gestures after getting shanked in that corner! Do you have to have arm restraints in case of roll over? Always enjoy watching your line. Never been to Mid-Ohio, but feel I wouldn't be too lost after watching you.
My arm restraints were a little loose!
Would love to drive one of the old style ford open wheel racers, I don’t even know if they are still a thing, but they always looked cool for some reason.
They are out there for sure!
In Jacks race at Waterford Hills, there was a beautiful FF car done up like one of Dan Gurney's AAR Eagles.
There's a couple here in Michigan who wheel out a pair of '60s era Lotus open wheelers at the local track every once in a while. Those things gleam and at least one gets around OK. Driving an open wheel car is a treat, did it a few times.
I kind of want to go race and kind of don't. I think I need a team though. And a car, trailer and tow vehicle.
Nice to hear your comments about a SpeedTour event. They'll be at Portland in later July I'm going to drive down and catch that event. First vintage racing I've attended since Monterey Historics back in 2016.
It should be a lot of fun for a spectator. I might go next year just to watch.
Karting is going well! Now 4 races into my first season. My pace is down to 1.5-2.5 seconds off the leaders, which is enough for me to compete with the rear of the midfield.
Instead of turning laps at the back of the pack, I actually got to do some side-by-side racing and make some passes. Taking the green flag in a pack of bumper-to-bumper karts is the most thrilling thing I’ve ever done.
Jack, if you’re ever at a race in New England I would be happy to help crew for you!
Motocross fanboy here. This weekend is the 50th anniversary of Redbud. Will be there from Thursday night until Sunday. Can’t wait to get sunburned and drink cheap beer with couple hundred thousand of my best friends. One of the few times a year I revert back to being 19 instead of 57. Tickets, parking and pit passes are inexpensive compared to most other motorsports. If you go, park in the west lot and get a hotel room up to the north instead of the South Bend area. Not too many sports do you get to walk around the pits and fist bump your favorite riders.
REDBUUUUUUUD!
https://redbudmx.com/pro-national-mx/
I’m jealous. Been trying to get my friends to go for years. My girl would do it, but finding someone to watch her dog is a PITA.
6:00 pm friday evening.
all is well.
redbuuuuuuuuud!
I was within a stones throw of the track when the notification for this article came through. Hopped off exit 176 to head into Ashland for lunch before our final destination at Meyer Hatchery in Polk. The girlfriend insists on making the 4 hour drive from Lexington, KY whenever we need chickens. They're a great place if you ever decide to take plunge into raising chickens and up your rural life game.
Any reason you don't cover MotoGP on these pages? Seems like that would be right up your alley being the motorcycle enthusiast that you are.
We are trying to come up to speed on a good chicken plan as we speak!
Since I'm not a motorcycle racer myself I'm not that aware of MotoGP... its a little bit of self-preservation instinct on my part, too!
If you see a red 300C Final Edition around Lexington, Brother Bark took delivery yesterday.
We just go with pullets(they're about two months from laying age) as opposed from raising from chicks mostly because we're lazy. If you can set up a good feeding and watering system it's mostly set it and forget it aside from gathering the eggs every day. I fill the food and water about once a month.
I saw Bark's post yesterday. It's a beautiful car. I've been keeping my eye out for some of these but haven't spotted one yet. Had a couple Bark spottings when he had the Focus RS. Looking forward to seeing that color in person.
Where is Bark posting? I didn’t get the memo!
Instagram, mostly. I'm not sure how much Tweeting he does.
Bout once a week give or take
For those of us not on social media, what are his initial impressions?
Any idea when you’re getting yours?
He is thrilled. Said that compared to his Genesis G70 3.3T Design Edition:
* it's faster in the real world (apparently he isn't bothered by break-in rules)
* The stereo is noticeably better
So far he's universally positive.
As for mine -- my dealer hasn't even been provided with a build date. I can take it or leave it, frankly; the use case for a 485hp sedan in a life where I'm out of town one week a month for work, spend the rest of my days at home, and rarely travel anywhere but the local restaurants or the airport... well it's not all that compelling, and I *do* get a lot of use out of the GMC Canyon which the Chrysler is scheduled to replace.
Recommend the pullet path also, unless you want the “awe”s from chicks. Less death too. Also get you a couple box traps and a .22 and some amazon Chinese game cameras, so whenever the inevitable predation occurs, you know what you’re looking for. Trap/shoot/bury in the vegetable garden. Oh and you do this for fun, not because it’s cheaper that buying eggs.
We'll never eat enough eggs the rest of our lives to pay for what we have in our chicken coop, food and supplies. The eggs do taste better and they're fun to watch pecking around the yard. I don't have to worry about predators too much. I open up the door to the completely enclosed run in the morning and they wander back in in the evening and into the coop with an automatic door after which I shut the door to the run. We live in town so the predator situation isn't as high as out in the country.
Yeah we have an automatic door too and it’s the ish. 10/10. I’m also in the suburbs, but I’ve lost a bunch. Like 5-10 over 3 years. Couple to hawks, few to coons and 1-2 to that poopy-butt illness. Never have got a coon but the reduction in possums and skunks is nice. Dog gets sprayed less.
RE the 300C, I know of a store with one unallocated in stock right now. It’s white. Not advertised with an ADM, but a man can figure there is one.
Certainly a car where I stared at and did a lot of mental math to try to make it work, but it’s never gonna be anything BUT way out of my price range. Unbelievably cool though.
My problem is that I could afford a v6 or a 5.7 but I don't have the strength of character to walk to the dealer and walk out with the slow one
As suggested on instagram, would like to hear your long form perspective on Singer and RWB. Have to admit some of Singer’s stuff looks rather good to me.
Been looking at ways to get into some Motorsport within the very tight post kid (and economic crisis) budget. Karting seems to be the best choice for now as events are slowly starting up again after a lapse of 3 years. Turned a few practice laps at the local track (only 2 in the country still) and wasn’t completely rubbish. Still a long way to go to be any level of competitive though.
He’s written about it on TTAC - negative on both
Say what you want about Singer, at least it looks like it was assembled by competent people with care.
RWB cars looks sloppy as hell by comparison. Sometimes even without comparison.
There is no comparison. I have friends who own(ed) both cars, so I’ve spent a little time in the passenger seat of both.
The RWB is an old car with an extravagant body kit.
The Singer is akin to a tastefully, thoroughly remodeled older home. It’s still small, the ergonomics are poor, there’s lots of road noise, etc. But everything you see and touch is beautiful, and you know that someone spent a lot of time thinking about all the little pieces of the car - “everything is important,” as Rob Dickinson says.
My buddy with a Singer sold his a few years ago when someone offered him an offensive (well over $1MM) amount of money for it; he paid less than half of the eventual sale price and put a good number of miles on it over several years.
Surprised you mentioned road noise. I though Rob and his pals would have all but eliminated that. The non-DLS cars are nice though. DLS looks a bit too far on the mod side of restomod.
We were driving on a road I know fairly well in Malibu. There is a level of road (perhaps better to say rear tire) noise that is typical of all high performance 911s I’ve ever sat in.
It’s a not a grand tourer by any means.
Seems like you are saying that Singer builds the best possible 911 given the limits of the platform, which is pretty high praise, no?
A few caveats:
They build the best possible (within the realm of something that could has commercial promise, i.e., something for which there is sufficient demand to provide them with a modest profit - and indeed it is modest) air cooled 911 without beginning with a clean sheet of paper regarding the chassis.
Singer ownership probably breaks into two groups:
People who have everything (every hypercar, every significant Porsche, etc.) for whom the expense is more or less trivial
People who have a more (comparatively) modest number of cars (let’s say less than 10) who would rather have the “ultimate,” greatest hits 911, particularly in terms of how it drives (since everything is new, updated, optimized) than a collection of significant air-cooled 911s (you could own a number of them for the $1MM+ price tag) OR a few supercars OR a hypercar.
My friend who owned one was the latter category.
He is now retired, but he was David MacNeil’s very first hire at WeatherTech (David literally hired him after they got drunk at Siebken’s in Elkhart Lake) many years ago. He did well for himself, but he is not a billionaire like the floor mat impresario who owns the company outright. I asked him why he didn’t buy a Carrera GT or an F40 or whatever instead in 2015-2016 when he ordered the car, and he told me that those cars just weren’t “him.” He grew up working class near Road America.
In a roundabout way, I met one of my best friends through the now-retired WeatherTech President.
If you weren't completely rubbish after 500 laps in a real kart you should go home and cry because you're a mega-talent who missed his chance. It's a lot like golf. You get better a little bit every round except for the rounds where you get worse.
Fuck Singer, fuck RWB. Imagine using another man's name in your company, giving the most contemptible excuse possible (I WAS A SINGER!!!! IN CATHERINE'S WEB!!!!) and then trading on that image for a full decade. And fuck RWB for damaging rare cars for no particular reason.
Ok, what about:
RUF
Tuthill
Guntherwerks (lol)
Workshop 5051
Etc.
There are SO many of these shops resto modding 911s.
I have nothing but love for any shop that takes a brand-new car, or (as is the case with some of these RUF things) fabricates a shell to which replacement parts are attached. Go forth and prosper.
The companies that find salvageable or drivable old cars and "re-imagine" them? Get in the woodchipper.
I once worked for a publication that wanted to do a front-of-book piece about Singer - this when he was still getting started. The company was willing, but insisted on pre-publication review of all copy. We politely told them to go fuck themselves. I can't imagine we were the only one given that stipulation, and that has always made me suspect of every word anyone writes about the company.
I've said it here before, but it's relevant to this thread: One day in the not-to-distant future someone is going to make a fortune undoing all the damage those RWB nitwits have done to cars.
Well that's very Porsche of them -- the "buff books" usually give some form of prior review to Porsche, and comparison tests where the Porsche does not win have to be "discussed" with PR.
So far, the experience seems to be in line with golf. It’s way more interesting though, so I think I’ll keep at it, perhaps enter an event or two.
You mean you don't want to host some chainsmoking jap with a cutoff wheel in your house while he indifferently poprivets a $22,000 bodykit to your perfectly good (or hacked to death) 911?
When you put it like that I actually like the idea a bit more.
It doesn’t count unless you get your flunky media friends to make a lame documentary about the process featuring your deadbeat son who now owns the car and keeps yammering about “driving passion” before helping hold the windshield banner in place at the end of the chop job..
Sounds awful, please don't post a link!
Really hope it's not donut or something
Wonder how much hed charge to do flares on my Boxster.
Too much, and it would cost more to have them redone properly by someone else (which my not be the first time anyone's done that).
The gear indicator (assuming my guess is correct) is broken...
Only 4 of the 6 forward gears work and the indicator is completely schizo, I need to fix it. Right now I'm selecting neutral by feel like on a 1950 Triumph
Yikes
Oh it's fine, next year I'll have a decent gearbox in it, I swear!
You do look more confident in the car from these onboards compared to the previous ones... looks like the tweaks and the fixes are working.
It's amazing what having rear brakes can do. Even having decent front brakes is good. When we took the rotors and pads off the front two weeks ago, one of the pads crumbled into dust.
I bought a red NA Miata!
Again.
I have two red NA Miatas.
what have i done
One to keep stock and one to mod?
I bought the current one (the '90) to replace my haggard '91. It popped up for a good price and I bought it because dealing with two cars is a problem for future me.
Now future me is having to deal with prepping the '91 for sale.
Batman had a closet full of the same outfit.
How stupid, to not have a third one already!
I'm thinking S2000 with a hardtop for a track car. What say you? My Cayman R is getting too valuable, and I'm too chicken to really push it.
Those things are only gonna keep going up, especially ones not having had the wheels beaten off them!
Last time I had two Miatas, I had a Jeep TJ to accompany them! Horrible vehicle. Desperately want another (even though it would take many thousands to make it into what I'd want to keep (and this describes several cars)).
anyway TIME FOR A BIKE maybe
It's _ALWAYS_ time to buy a Motocycle.........................................
-Nate
Wisest words I've ever heard.
Oh, shit ~ now my head won't fit inside my helmet =8-) .
-Nate
Would love to find my way into a TA seat... I ran two seasons of NASA American Iron/Spec Iron, really close competition and a ton of fun. A TA race would be the pinnacle for an amateur racer like myself...
I have no idea what it costs. Maybe 120k for the car?
I'm sure far beyond my means to do it myself...
Who sanctions TA? It's SVRA? Can you run TA on an SCCA license?
It's sanctioned by SCCA *PRO* which is a little different in terms of medical and prior experience -- but in the final analysis, the license application, as it does almost everywhere in the sport, looks a lot like a signed check.
A vacuum cleaner on the bank account! 😬
"Slowly at first, but then you go racing."
Well, Actor Ryan Reynolds with others invested €200m into Alpine in F1. Giving them a 24% stake.
So, Alpine is worth a bit less than 900 million bucks. I can kind of see the teams getting butt hurt over a $200 million entry fee spread out to 10 teams. At the same time, they signed up for a $200 million entry fee for new teams.
GM has a market cap of $49.3 billion according to Alexa. I'm not a GM fan, but there's something wrong here.
Reynolds and company sold Mint Mobile to T-Mobil for $1.3 billion. Reynolds cut was $350 million. Also sold out his stake in a gin company for 60 million.
Aviation Gin is good stuff.
He's a smart cookie.
I’m not normally a gin guy, but I agree!