Am I Faster Than A Jalopnik Journalist? I Will Not Find Out!

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 01/11/2018 at 14:30 • Filed to: karting, Jalopnik

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Update: I never got a return call and I now have confirmation that the slots are all filled. Eh, not sure I wanna do 6 hours through crap weather just to chill. So unless any specific Oppos want to meet me I’ll probably just hang out in Milwaukee tomorrow.

I’m all locked in for Saturday’s event! Looks like it’ll be just under a 6 hour drive. I’ll be leaving early Saturday morning (maybe 6) so I can catch in some of the sights of Detroit.

Amusingly, my round trip fuel will be something like $60. :)

(Note: No, that’s not the city I live in.)

Outside of K-Roll, are there any Detroit or Michigan area Oppos who would like to meet up?

Wacko > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 14:37

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so you will be using your smart for the race?

Mercedes Streeter > Wacko 01/11/2018 at 14:37

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I wish! I’d disable traction control and drift that thing!

jimz > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 14:38

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I’ve got something going Saturday evening, but that’s about it.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 14:40

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Faster than a speeding... smart? Silver bullet? I dunno. Help me here.

facw > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 14:41

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Which machine will you be taking?

Sovande > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 14:48

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Journalist! Ha!

Liam Farrell > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 14:50

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I swear they had a small car on the track the last time.

Wacko > Sovande 01/11/2018 at 14:52

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my reaction too

SmugAardvark > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:03

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Good luck!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:15

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aight thats it... im digging up my pompoms and flying to detroit.. gotta cheer on miss merc

(keep your eyes on the track i’m counting on 200some lbs of bearded me dancing around in a short skirt to distract everyone else.... its a double edged sword if you look)

(well its what i wanna do.... being in europe sucks sometimes for the jalop stuff)

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:22

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yeah which car will you be taking? please say the first gen grey market one

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:23

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I might make it out just to hang at kart to kart. I’m atrociously slow on pavement so no racing. Hopefully I can get the truck fire up from it’s deep freeze for the occasion.

Mercedes Streeter > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/11/2018 at 15:27

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I mean, if someone is requesting the gray market, I can fish it out of the garage. ;) I was just going to take the daily driver.

Mercedes Streeter > facw 01/11/2018 at 15:28

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I was thinking the daily driver, but it looks like the gray market has been requested! :)

Mercedes Streeter > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky 01/11/2018 at 15:29

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My 450's battery is probably very dead. I hope I can wake it up too! OH! It’s like 50 degrees, today’s my best chance to recharge the battery!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:29

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i feel like a special trip needs a special car lol. that said i cant request anything as i wont be there lol

Mercedes Streeter > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 01/11/2018 at 15:29

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Darting gumdrop?

Mercedes Streeter > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/11/2018 at 15:33

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I mean of the three, the 450 is the only one that has snow tyres (they came mounted on the car), though the battery is probably flat and the electrical system is sort of a mess. I currently can’t charge my phone or fully close the windows. Thankfully the depleted (leaky?) AC shouldn’t be an issue. lol

Wagonlife740 > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:33

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I make this exact drive, but only from Madison to Saginaw about 8 times a year. You will not see anything cool from Gary to Detroit. Unless you have time to stop at Kalamazoo for lunch. Ann Arbor is cool too, but neither of the two cities are anything cool on the interstate.

jimz > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:37

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just remembered- I received a free guest pass to the Henry Ford museum when I renewed my membership.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:42

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just watch out for downed power lines on 80/94 haha

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:45

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If it was closer and I had time I would love to join, but alas... :(

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 15:47

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I wish I could tag along, but I’m busy Saturday.

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 18:01

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If they do it again in the spring or summer I may give it a shot. Having to be on call to drive a plow puts the brakes on winter trips.

Urambo Tauro > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 18:40

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6 hours! That’s some dedication. Hats off to you.

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 19:15

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https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-022-0165-DL-WH-12-Volt-Management/dp/B000NCOKV0/ref=sr_1_8?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1515716057&sr=1-8&keywords=battery+tender

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > Sovande 01/11/2018 at 19:16

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Bloggers

Sovande > Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped 01/11/2018 at 19:22

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I would consider one of the staff there to be a Journalist with a capital J and that’s Andrew Collins. His stuff is always well written and engaging.

jimz > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky 01/11/2018 at 19:50

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part of the reason I’m not bothering to go to that is because when I went a couple of years ago (like you, just to hang about) when the Jalopnik guys showed up, they stood in a tight circle talking to each other for 20 minutes and ignoring everyone else. I bailed after that.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Mercedes Streeter 01/11/2018 at 21:02

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I’m a maybe, but it’s my day off & payday is Friday. For me it be a 4.5-5 hour drive.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > jimz 01/12/2018 at 08:45

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Sounds like the parties at my engineer-centric college. Were they also complaining about the lack of girls at the event while simultaneously ignoring the few that were there?

Mercedes Streeter > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/12/2018 at 10:40

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!!! I will?! lol

I tried starting Chelsea last night. Her starter died a slow death because of a flat battery. The electrics of smart 450s are weird. You can’t tell the battery is dead unless you try starting the car. My 451 will at least show weaknesses in the electrical system.

Mercedes Streeter > Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped 01/12/2018 at 10:41

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I’m going to be getting one of those soon. I’d rather not have to enter my car through the boot!

Mercedes Streeter > jimz 01/12/2018 at 10:42

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Lame, I hope they aren’t like that this time. At least I’ll get to meet other readers and explore Detroit!

For Sweden > Mercedes Streeter 01/12/2018 at 15:22

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Ban Jalopnik

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Mercedes Streeter 01/12/2018 at 15:28

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*trunk

Mercedes Streeter > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 01/12/2018 at 15:29

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*Boot. :p

XJDano > Mercedes Streeter 01/12/2018 at 20:46

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Isn’t the lake froze over? Can’t you just drive across?