Put the Miata back away :(

"Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)" (bman76-4) 04/01/2020 at 22:32 • Filed to: None

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I’d gotten my Miata out of the garage a couple weeks ago to start prepping it for the upcoming autocross/track day season. Not long after I had to make the call to cancel the first of what I’m sure will be many events for our SCCA Region (I’m the Solo Chair).

Since I’m hardly leaving my apartment now (my firm transitioned to working from home 2 weeks ago) I really have no reason to have it out in the elements. So, on went the hardtop, and back to the garage it goes. Hopefully we’ll get to have our first event sometime in June, but we’re probably gonna lose roughly half our SCCA season overall.

Anyway, I’m the meantime I also moved to a new bigger apartment (in the same building) and so my girlfriend could move in. We’re still getting things setup, but it’s exciting times around here.

Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.

someassemblyrequired > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/01/2020 at 22:40

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I wonder if people in general will rediscover the sports car after all this is over.  Going somewhere cool for fun, seeing a new place and getting together with friends is always better with a weekend car.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/01/2020 at 22:42

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It’s okay, I’ll get in my miata driving for you here in Socal. I’m still commuting to work so it’s getting driven almost every day. Especially since it hasn’t rained and it’s not even cool enough to need the heat in the morning anymore.

I still think that track days and autocross could easily be accomplished with social distancing. Getting to the track would be the hard part since it's certainly nonessential travel. But I can just not get out of my car and then it's easy to not contact others. 

PyramidHat > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/01/2020 at 22:44

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I see you have Cheez It’s laid in.   Bases are covered.  

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/01/2020 at 22:47

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The real issue is that so many of our region’s members are older and at the highest risk. We’d either have no attendance, or worse, they’d all still show up. Either way it’s easier and safer to just cancel and wait it out. There are more important things in life than this hobby.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > someassemblyrequired 04/01/2020 at 22:50

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I know us Wichita Oppos are all more than ready to do car things together as soon as this is over. 

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/01/2020 at 23:07

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Sadly, I got the word the other day that my complete vintage rally series for the year is blown— all pre-emptively canceled under the assumption this goes on for months.

I’d hasten to add that there are MUCH MUCH bigger problems-- with many so sick, many threatened, and whole industries being wiped out.   But those rallies, and all my buddies, with be sorely missed this year.

speedy964 > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/01/2020 at 23:30

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The parking garage looks old, any idea when it was built .

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/02/2020 at 00:01

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And bike things

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/02/2020 at 00:27

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The authorities here have clamped down hard on all sport - even hunting, which is as socially distanced as it gets. Their reas oning is that pretty much all forms of sport have a degree of risk attached even if small, and they don’t want anything avoidable di stracting or potentially infecting fi rst re sp onders and other essential personnel ri ght now . M ore importantly, they’re pointing out that now is a *really* good time not to wind up in a hospital bed beca u se you tore an achilles tendon or had some other sort of everyday sports injury.

It’s an argument that’s applicable to anything involving going maximum-attack in cars, I reckon ( and personally, if I had a motorbike I’d be staying the hell off it for the next few months).

DipodomysDeserti > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/02/2020 at 02:54

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Based on the photos of what fellow Opponauts feel is a safe distance for a highly contagious virus that is spread through asymptomatic people, I’d suggest you all just stay at home.

The protection guidelines being given to you are the most low level possible meant to make sure people can get food and keep utilities running.  Many people are still going to get sick going out and buying groceries with the six foot rule in effect. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/02/2020 at 04:10

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that green is wonderful.

Congrats on the new apartment

3point8isgreat > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/02/2020 at 08:49

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Ooohh so it was YOU that canceled the event the day after I got my tires.

I kid, I completely expected it to be canceled, and agree with the reasoning. There are often times when autoX is prone to forming groups of people and not just all spread out.  I just got my tires last second on the small off-chance that first event still happened.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > 3point8isgreat 04/02/2020 at 09:58

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Luckily, I hadn’t actually purchased tires yet when we decided to cancel. I’m gonna wait at this point, since we’re likely not running until June or July.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > speedy964 04/02/2020 at 10:00

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Probably sometime between 1925-1945. The ramp to the second floor is comically steep, so I have to drive on/off at an angle to avoid scraping.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/02/2020 at 14:55

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Definitely agree that its safest this way and thats why it makes sense to just hold off on anything involving a gathering, regardless of precautions taken. Its just too risky for something that is done purely for fun to begin with. There are plenty of at home hobbies to keep us all occupied right now. And im sure plenty of deferred maintenance to be completed now. If only I had access to my other Miata and it wasnt locked in a closed area due to the quarantine. Id much rather be working on that now instead of going out at all.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 04/02/2020 at 14:57

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I am usually already extremely risk adverse. So now with this going on, my exact #1 concern is not ending up in a hospital for something else. Tying up those resources for anything non-essential is the greatest crime one could commit right now. Which is why I definitely am keeping my hikes mild and not biking at high rates of speed and not going canyon carving nonstop. Its essential to just take it easy and to have an even lower level of acceptable risk.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > DipodomysDeserti 04/02/2020 at 14:59

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Agreed. I am not going to simply stay home, but im definitely keeping myself to my local area and hiking around unpopulated areas. Its sad to not be able to go on adventures to other places but its not worth the risk. Stopping for gas in other places, potentially spreading a disease if I had it with no symptoms. I need to care even more about spreading than just protecting myself. Im not in the risk categories but it is my duty to not spread it to those that are.

DipodomysDeserti > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/02/2020 at 19:05

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I’m thankful to live on a street that borders a mountain preserve with no public parking.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > DipodomysDeserti 04/03/2020 at 00:15

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Same here! 

DipodomysDeserti > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/03/2020 at 01:07

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Neighbors put up makeshift “no parking” signs.