4/27/09

Wow. Remember how Shichi used to be a docile, almost daily-driver friendly car? Now, not so much. Turns out, the “Nissan Race Cam #2” really is a full blown race cam. 0.487” lift and, wait for it, 300° duration is not a street cam by any stretch. The thing will not idle below 1,500 rpm, and even that is difficult to achieve. Also, while it has adequate torque to leave the line with authority, anything under 3,500 rpm in any gear but first is a total waste of time. That means that fifth gear is useless under eighty miles per hour. I haven’t pushed it past 6,500 rpm yet, but it pulls strong all the way to that figure. Shichi is now an angry, africanized honey-bee of a car. There will be no more cruising with it; it is strictly a hooning car. All it wants to do is go out and be flogged. I'm sure I'll get used to it. Now, having said all of that, it isn't the toggle-switch I was expecting from John’s initial test drive assessment. It is still somewhat drivable, albeit in a much more spirited manner. Again, I'm sure I'll get used to it. Here’s what we did Saturday. John picked me up around 0930 h and we rolled to the shop. We “tuned” the carburetors to the best of our ability and finished reassembling the car. John followed me to Chili’s where we had lunch then I went to the credit onion to get some cash. The ATM was out of order so I headed to the Kreblechistani tire store that does all my state inspections with just $14.10 in my pocket. I pulled in and asked if they were inspecting and how much it cost. They were and it was $14.50. D’oh! I said I had $14.00 and was told “Ok.” He checked the lights and horn and stuff then had me pull around the lot to show him that the brakes worked. I did and he stuck on a new sticker. I pulled out and went for a hoon. It was on the hoon that I discovered most of the weaknesses listed above. She is damned fast though. I'm sure I'll get used to it. I parked in the garage and went in for a shower. Mom went to the opera leaving me to fend for myself, dinner wise. I ordered a pizza and ate most of it. Just as I was settling in for the evening, Amy called to tell me I was joining her, Edie, and Michelle at Spencer’s Corner. I shrugged, changed clothes, and headed out. I sat and watched, alternately, Edie and Michelle playing pool and out tasty little waitress. Mmm, she was yummy. Before long, Michelle wanted to go upstairs where the band was playing so she could dance. I settled up my downstairs tab and we headed up. We were joined by another pair of Amys (Amies?). We all hung out for a bit and then it was decided that we’d move the “party” to Sarah’s Place. That’s another bar by the way, not some chick’s apartment or house or anything. On the way out to our cars, I noticed that one of the new Amys (Amies? spell checker doesn’t like either one) was really cute. I didn’t want to say anything to the original Amy about it because she’d think it was just the “Boob Tube” dress attracting me, but it wasn’t. She was really cute. We wound up hanging out at Sarah’s Place, listening to really bad Karaoke, for a while. I tried to not stare too much at the new Amy, but want having too much luck. Eventually the original Amy and I left and I took her home to her husband. Sunday, I was supposed to meet Roger for sushi. John was there when I got the call so I invited him to come along. I picked them up at their respective homes and we rolled to Not-Texas for bait. It was quite good. I overate, as usual. Actually, what made me the most miserable were the five or six glasses of iced green tea. I got over it. I was useless the rest of the day though. Well, that’s about all I have for today. Remind me tomorrow and I'll tell y'all the story of the broken garage door spring.