Cars, Coffee and California...

[oldgrayleather]

Less talk, more photos!

Jeeez....



And actually I'm really glad you did nag. Actually looking at the picture I realized my "idea" to line up the sticker with the bottom part of the mounting plate looked ass and so still had time to move it before the glue had set in. Now flush with the end plate. For those that prefer the first approach? I'm not listening...

[Roadster7]

Looks great both ways!

[oldgrayleather]

Looks great both ways!

Some say it's too fat and wide. Some also say that about the wheels and tires.

[LagBlu]

Awesome wheel choice. Suits the car perfect. The sticker is spot on.

[speedypenguin]

Benny's Wats look FANTASTIC!

[Corifto]

I adore that sticker placement. And damn I want one of those wings.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[oldgrayleather]

Awesome wheel choice. Suits the car perfect. The sticker is spot on.

Vielen Dank!

Benny's Wats look FANTASTIC!

Cheers Brian! I know you're understandably a little partial and thanks to you, Jazz provided a ton of inspiration

I adore that sticker placement. And damn I want one of those wings.

Thank you my friend. Was great to see you at KINOD tonight even if there was a lotta chatter. . More than this time last year and we ate better too!

[oldgrayleather]

Obviously haven’t had the chance to enjoy KINOD’s camaraderie since shelter in place. It’s been great to connect on the Friday night Zoom calls but not the same. The 80 mile weekly pilgrimage and congregating around our cars is such an essential part so I decided I needed to try something different. Puppers was ecstatic since he joins me every Friday and we hadn’t been out for a good long drive in ages..


On the way to City of Industry, I realized I hadn’t been on a freeway for over six weeks. No reason, nowhere to go, right? The drive was incredible. Not the six lanes of open freeway but Benny felt completely different on the road. The combination of lighter wheels, fresh rubber, alignment, and roadforce balancing (first time the shop’s machine was working) meant we were more planted than ever. There was no 60mph shimmy, or 70 or at any speed at all! Oh happy days!

Night drives with the top down when the air is totally comfortable is divine. The wind blowing, open sky and basking in the warm glow of the gauges.


I got there in record time so decided I should pay tribute to the three core elements of KINOD’s namesake. Krispy Kreme.. In-N-Out… and Drive. The lineup for the KK drive through was preposterous so took a rain check.


The lineup at In-N-Out wasn’t much better but since I hadn’t had second supper yet I was prepared to wait.


On the way to the final stop I had to drop by MJ’s parking lot where we usually meet. Something about all the abnormal emptiness that is equal parts calming and unnerving.


There was just enough time for a blast down Colima road and back before showing up at Jon B and Garrett’s house for the 9:30 call. Jon’s old Datsun truck was parked in the garage with a couple huge pails stacked with a laptop on top dialed in to Zoom. We kept our six feet but it definitely felt more like a car meet especially with a covered FD on the drive, Jon’s newly running NA beside it, his NC and Garrett’s BRG on the road. I was so distracted I didn’t think to snap even a single pic.

Timezones, not geography, is the new limiting factor but that didn’t stop Corey in Florida, Pedro in Texas or Charlie in New Hapshire. Josh had rung in from New Zealand but it was already 4:30 pm on Saturday. Chris Knight also joined and Woolery, Sonny, Dustin, Ryoku Rob and a few others.

Same old laughter and incredibly broad range of topics that always makes KINOD a delight followed by the return drive home and a sense of Roadster Tribe contentment I needed.

[Greasemonkey2000]

If KINOD is on Zoom I could probably make it! Very cool. I sure miss having Chris on the forums! Please tell her she is sorely missed by many in the community! Y'all even got Rob to make a appearance, I'm impressed indeed!

[Corifto]

KINOD Zoom was definitely a good time, and I didn't have to travel across the country to attend! I just had to stay up late lol.

[oldgrayleather]

When I went in for paint I was torn between color matching the MS hardtop or leaving it the original black. I'd been enjoying the contrast and wouldn't have been able to un-do it so left it alone. That posed the next question of whether or not I should paint the windshield surround to match. Again undecided (didn't know if I'd run the Mariner OEM top) so decided blue was safe. I wasn't sure up until the day before paint but a friend convinced me I could wrap it in vinyl. Black vinyl was ordered and finally on Saturday night I stayed up late learning why specialists command the premiums they do for a quality wrap.

Not bad top down but missed the blue...


Better with the hardtop back on...



Unfortunately at this point it was academic because while I was getting the vinyl under the windshield trim I ripped a whole section. Atleast it gave me an idea of what it could look like.


Also today, UPS delivered another package that not all of you will appreciate. The replacement set of 60mm Watanabe center caps were shipped out the moment I let them know I had the wrong ones. To me, these are perfect. For those that prefer the wheels without? I promise to remove them when you're visiting SoCal so as not to offend...





Hope you and yours are still safe, sane and well.

[—Martin—]

If you are keeping a tally, here's one more vote for the caps. Love 'em.

[Ihatecars]

Caps look really good IMO, but be warned. They can fall out of the wheel. The problem seems to be localized to a single wheel that just doesn't like to keep hold of the center cap. That stubborn wheel spat a cap out while driving and now the caps lost somewhere on the streets of Houston. Met the same fate as my M2 mudflap extension. All of my favorite little parts seem to find their way off my car.

Just be careful and proudly rock the caps!

[HarryB]

Yeah, will second that. I had the passenger side front flying off last summer while driving back home (it was night time with no lights around). Might sound funny, but felt it falling off; I think it was a combination of feeling it through the steering wheel and hearing something. So I stopped, checked, saw it was missing, then walked 150m to retrieve it. Have been pondering around a positive retention mechanism since, involving drilling holes in one of the "legs" and add a pop rivet.

[MaRcOp01o]

Jeez Pete, Benny is looking way to cool! Was finally able to read 3 pages worth of updates.