Ask Stef Anything, Even Stuff That's Not About Puffalumps

"Stef Schrader" (stefschrader) 07/08/2015 at 10:00 • Filed to: AMA, Puffalumps, balls of steel

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I hear asking people random questions on the Internet is a thing now. Go on. Ask me anything.

Facts about Stef!

I write some stuff for a place sometimes.

I live in Austin and/or on a track couch down by the river.

I collect Fisher-Price Puffalumps and 944 spares.

I once beat Hardibro in a rental car deathmatch.

I wish I could get away with wearing that helmet everywhere because it’s so much more awesome to look at than my face.

The Lancer RULES!

My LeMons 944 is more awesome than I am.

I asked Dusty if I could do this yesterday, but then I didn’t because I got busy he keeps calling my Rally Chicken a duck.

I need a 911.

“Beavis and Butt-Head” is my favorite TV show of all time. (TV? TP!)

...

Poop.

Ask stuff.

Photo credit: Thomas Endesfelder

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

(Alternately, suggest stuff I need to do or that you’d like to see. Or make fart jokes. Whatever.)

EL_ULY > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:02

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Are you going to the Mexico GP? If so, me and my wife will volunteer as your official tour guides :]

Either way, we gotta get a rad OPPOlopnik meet going for Lone Star LeMans with everyone attending!

Scary__goongala! > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:03

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Pancakes or waffles?

duurtlang > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:03

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What is your favorite FWD Toyota that’s available new? And why?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:03

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Paddle Shifters

Hand on drive selector

Hot Takes Salesman > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:03

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Why did you start collecting puffalumps anyway?

*huehuehue I'm starting it with puffalumps*

Hermann > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:04

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Hi Steph. Thank you for doing this /r/IAMA.

Why isn’t the Lancer a manual?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:04

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How well does the Lancer do sick jumps? Would a Mirage do sicker jumps?

Cherry_man1 > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:07

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How easy/hard was it to get press passes to races and such?

Also if you live in Austin have you ever run across the people from RoosterTeeth, the people who made redvsblue?

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:08

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Carrera 2.7, 3.0, Carrera SC, 3.2, 964, 993, 996, 997?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:08

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Is there an article about the Hardibro death match?

What's your favorite movie?

My citroen won't start > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:09

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If a tree falls down in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, what is your favorite type of soup?

MonkeePuzzle > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:19

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is this fruit leather sticking out of your helmet? was it to keep you sustained during an endurance race?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:20

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If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
#ObligBabaWawa

Agrajag > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:20

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If you had to replace the Lancer today what would you get as a replacement daily?

BKosher84 > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:24

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How many Puffalumps can fit in your LeMons 944?

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:25

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How much money have you spent on racing the Porschelump?

Skamanda > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:27

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Is replacing the clutch on a 944 as bad as I’ve heard?

Stef Schrader > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/08/2015 at 10:33

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I still have a squiggly PRNDL+/- knob to put it in go-forward mode.

TBH, unless you’re only speeding up, I think the paddles are there more for decoration than anything. Awesome for speeding up! Will not downshift through fake “gears” quickly at all.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:35

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CVT, does it suck?

Leon711 > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:35

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Have you considered a car with real fake gears? Like a GTI with DSG? Mine goes down the real fake gears with immediacy.

Stef Schrader > Hermann 07/08/2015 at 10:36

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My parents bought it. They didn’t want to get a manual.

But hey, free car! Still works!

Stef Schrader > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 07/08/2015 at 10:37

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I’m really partial to the 964, but the 911SCs are just a tad cheaper at the moment. Who am I kidding? I need both.

DrJohannVegas > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:37

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Ms. Schrader, the Industrial Revolution changed the face of the modern novel forever. Discuss, citing specific examples.

Stef Schrader > BKosher84 07/08/2015 at 10:38

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I have around 72, IIRC, and at least that many fits.

If I had to guess, somewhere around 400 Puffalumps. 500 if you squish and pile.

Stef Schrader > Scary__goongala! 07/08/2015 at 10:38

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Waffles!

Stef Schrader > Skamanda 07/08/2015 at 10:39

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I don’t know. I still have yet to find out.

BJ > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:39

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What was your most embarrassing moment at the track? (On the track, in the pits, or even in the stands.)

Your boy, BJR > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:40

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Next time you're in NJ, hit me up. I'll beat you around a track in a FWD Cadillac then buy you Tenth Ave Burrito (aka the best of all burritos)

Wurrwulf > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:40

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Is that one of those stylized rings that spell out your initials? My grandmother gave one to my mom a long time ago, and it went from knuckle to knuckle like yours.

Hermann > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:41

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Oh! I thought you had bought this car. Awesome gift! I like this color on the Lancer. Right on my Colorblindness, so it looks brown in the shadow and red in the sun.

Are you considering a replacement?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:47

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Why do you rock so hard?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > EL_ULY 07/08/2015 at 10:48

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I’m really hoping to be down there for Lone Star LeMans!

uofime-2 > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:48

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Favorite racetrack?

dream LeMons car?

EL_ULY > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/08/2015 at 10:50

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heck yeah duude!

citizennick > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 10:59

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the only awesome part about my old Lancer was the HD to store all my music. Other than that, worst car I ever owned.

When you get rid of it, what sort of music might the next owner find on said HD?

BrtStlnd > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 11:10

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What did you do before you started sharing your puffalumps with Jalopnik?

Skamanda > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 11:23

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Well, go do that and let me know! There are some super cherry 944s up by me that I drool over every time I troll Craigslist looking for racears!

Stef Schrader > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/08/2015 at 12:05

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Nope! Way more predictable than a regular automatic.

Stef Schrader > Hermann 07/08/2015 at 12:05

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Car still works, so nope.

Stef Schrader > Leon711 07/08/2015 at 12:09

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I believe those are just called “gears.” ;o)

I’ve considered getting a manual beater, but the Lancer ain’t broke yet.

Never really wanted a DSG. They’re okay to play with, but meh. Meh. Not a transmission I’m going to seek out. Seems pricey to maintain, too, which is one of the things I hate about the CVT.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 12:11

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But does it feel like the clutch is slipping?

Stef Schrader > EL_ULY 07/08/2015 at 12:12

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Ooh! I don’t know, although considering that the USGP is so close, probably not.

I’ll see if we want to do something for Lone Star Le Mans. That’s a good idea.

Stef Schrader > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2015 at 12:13

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Something with HUGE NUTS.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 12:14

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I am left gravely disappointed that Barbara Walters didn’t get that response.

Stef Schrader > Cherry_man1 07/08/2015 at 12:16

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Pretty easy if you have a letter of assignment from an editor somewhere. I’ve never tried or been approved for F1, though, so I’ve heard it’s much worse there. Sometimes there’s extra requirements (photo meetings, extra forms), but it’s not hard as long as you’re from a fairly recognizable site. (Read: don’t start a blog the night before. They often ask for traffic stats and past coverage.)

Haven’t met the RoosterTeeth folks. Womp womp.

Stef Schrader > My citroen won't start 07/08/2015 at 12:19

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Seafood bisque, probably. Or chili, the magical spicy foodstuff that *never* contains beans. I might give the nod to seafood bisque for being less common, though. I miss good seafood, dang it.

RallyWrench > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 12:20

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WEC Austin. Puff. Lamborghini. That is all.

Stef Schrader > Skamanda 07/08/2015 at 12:21

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I’ve heard the worst of it is shop costs if you tell someone else to do it, TBH. It’s time and labor intensive, and knowing Porsche, there’s probably a special tool somewhere. Timing and balance belts scare me more because the engine can grenade if those snap. The clutch doesn’t scare me—I just need time and the right tools.

EL_ULY > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 12:21

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cool frijoles :]

finn's arm > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 12:22

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Favorite donut or breakfast place before morning vroom vrooms?

Have you considered giving the 944 a shark fin and teeth for shark week?

Stef Schrader > Hot Takes Salesman 07/08/2015 at 12:22

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I got my first Puffalump for my first Easter. She’s like Fluffy, but with a different lace collar: Coco Bunny. I <3 Coco Bunny and started to accumulate friends for Coco, haha.

Stef Schrader > citizennick 07/08/2015 at 12:24

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I don’t have the HD option. If I did, I’d probably wipe it just to be sure, or I’d buy a new one and use the old HD for target practice.

NO BUYER IS WORTHY OF THESE GWAR COVERS.

Cherry_man1 > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 12:33

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Ah I see, I wonder if there is any KC based thing I could join and take photos o.o

Also RTX is coming up

Stef Schrader > duurtlang 07/08/2015 at 12:37

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Someone rallied a Yaris with “MYARSE” on the plates. That. That is the coolest Toyota ever.

Final answer: rally Yaris.

Stef Schrader > Your boy, BJR 07/08/2015 at 12:37

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I really need some FWD Caddy lap footage, dude.

Stef Schrader > DrJohannVegas 07/08/2015 at 12:38

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Narf.

Source: narf.

Stef Schrader > MonkeePuzzle 07/08/2015 at 12:38

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It’s actually the strap that holds the helmet on! It’s probably coated in sweat by now, so I don’t recommend eating it.

Stef Schrader > Agrajag 07/08/2015 at 12:39

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Used Cayenne, maybe? I need a tow vehicle and depreciation is my friend.

Stef Schrader > BrtStlnd 07/08/2015 at 12:40

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Tech company marketing, and then I briefly worked in a race gear shop.

Stef Schrader > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/08/2015 at 13:25

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Meh. I had this before I had a manual, so not really. It feels like it’s doing what it needs to do.

Stef Schrader > Cherry_man1 07/08/2015 at 13:29

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Haha, I’m so out of the loop on Rooster Teeth/video games in general that it’s not even funny. As in, I’m brought out for comic relief on driving sims because I’m so bad. I sort of wish we had a car game sub-blog to cover all the iRacing tournaments/new games/GT Academy/genuinely awesome overlaps between game tech and cars stuff better, but ah. Not my call, sadly.

Skamanda > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 13:29

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I suppose mostly I’m concerned about the clutch because I do look at them as potential LeMons cars - and 8 hours doing the clutch is a LOT of laps...

Stef Schrader > BJ 07/08/2015 at 13:36

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Oh, man. That’s a hard one. I was sort of embarrassed about flinging the track owner’s Audi wagon off-track in an ill-fated “will this drift in the wet?” session at the time, but it’s just funny now. It’s not like he kept it as a concours car—that thing was used to tow out stuck racecars, for Pete’s sake—but we did keep finding mud on the ceiling. It got properly gross. Oops.

Stef Schrader > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 07/08/2015 at 13:40

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I dunno. He had a Dart? and Ihad the Lulzcer (deemed low-powered enough to play with the rentals). It was around the time of the first USGP at COTA.

We both got beaten by a super cheaty Buick with way more than 2.4L of four-banger engine! I’m still crying foul on that. That was a premium rental! Ours were clearly Compact.

MonkeePuzzle > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 13:48

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you should replace it with fruit leather

#ToHellWithSafety

Stef Schrader > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/08/2015 at 13:49

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My Lancer has #^*#<% 18” wheels, so Iwouldn’t know. They’d crack. Indeed rally wheels.

There’s a Mirage R5. I need that.

Stock vs. stock, though—I think a Lancer ES is the best bet for air time. Smaller 2.0L engine, but 16” alloys. Won’t crack as bad.

Stef Schrader > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 07/08/2015 at 13:54

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Good heavens, man, are you trying to kill me?!

Honestly, I haven’t kept track. Probably some amount of thousands, but not too much.

Stef Schrader > RallyWrench 07/08/2015 at 13:55

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Puff is good with this.

Stef Schrader > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/08/2015 at 13:56

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Blame Fluffy.

Stef Schrader > Wurrwulf 07/08/2015 at 13:58

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It’s actually a spoon! I bought it off of a bus of hippies who were selling random silver things somewhere between Snoqualmie and Redmond.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 13:59

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I’m hoping I’m mostly done spending money on mine. Just need to actually get the motor and transmission in the car.

Do you own the car and make all drivers pay for their seats, or do you share costs?

Stef Schrader > finn's arm 07/08/2015 at 14:04

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Here: Dos Gatos in San Marcos. Kolaches are my favorite.

As for tacos, El Tacorrido gets extra points for dropping espresso shots into horchata and being a drive-thru.

Tim Hortons if I’m up north, though. They have mastered the bite-size donut hole.

Stef Schrader > uofime-2 07/08/2015 at 14:10

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I’m gonna be a homer, but Harris Hill is the couch down by the river, and probably my pick. There are bigger, better courses out there with more amenities, but I can’t find better people. If I just want to hoon something, H2R is just there, man.

Cherry_man1 > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 15:08

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Maybe someone can make one like we did with animelopnik. Cause that would be the Best for our Forza Racing Series we have here on OPPO.

NoRotorNoLove > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 15:30

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Have you ever been to Canada? We don’t live in igloos anymore.

Leon711 > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 15:51

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It’s understandable, I didn’t seek the DSG. It was a lack of decent manual GTI’s locally. I had the box serviced recently for £192 which is slightly cheaper than a clutch swap on a manual and it needs doing every 40k miles.

Your boy, BJR > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 15:56

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Bruh my N* will beat any 911 racecar you being, dudette

Stef Schrader > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 07/08/2015 at 16:31

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I own the ‘lump and folks pay me to drive it.

Stef Schrader > Skamanda 07/08/2015 at 16:32

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I tell everyone to be gentle on it for that reason!

Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:32

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My legs don’t fit comfortably under 924 steering wheel. What should I do?

StingrayJake > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:34

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Will Baylor ever win a national championship in a men’s sport?

I’m going to go ahead and say no.

Stef Schrader > NoRotorNoLove 07/08/2015 at 16:36

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Yes! Canada is way too much fun. It was before the U.S. required a passport, though, so I should go back.

Justin Hughes > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:37

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So why are you so obsessed with Puffalumps? There has to be a good story there.

Also, Beavis & Butt-head rules!

For Sweden > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:39

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Will you #GoCommando at Milwaukee IndyFest?

Patrick Frawley > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:47

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Are you ever going to get a rear window so Paaaaarsh don’t have so much draaaaag?

Suggestion: http://www.lindseyracing.com/LR/Parts/944LE…

Also somehow still feel like I owe you Timbits at some point.

Dusty Ventures > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:51

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Y u no go to New England Forest Rally?

BrtStlnd > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:55

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What have you done to prepare for Mitsubishi’s inevitable bankruptcy?

really? REALLY? > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 16:59

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Would you rather:

A. Walk to school

or

B. Carry your lunch

mikey_herzog > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 17:11

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Favorite puffalump and favorite tudor championship driver?

dapper_otter > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 17:54

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You know what’s delicious in chili? Beans. Lots of beans.

Wurrwulf > Stef Schrader 07/08/2015 at 18:04

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That’s awesome! I’ve seen fork and spoon jewelry at local art festivals around here. Is it comfortable?

Stef Schrader > dapper_otter 07/08/2015 at 18:19

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Who’s wrong? You’re wrong.

Beans are vile, farty filler that have no place taking up the space where more meat should go.

Stef Schrader > Wurrwulf 07/08/2015 at 18:19

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Pretty much.

Stef Schrader > Patrick Frawley 07/08/2015 at 18:20

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Meh, it’s slow regardless. The airflow through the cabin without the hatch there is nice and keeps the drivers cool. Drivers who are cool don’t get derp and crash.

Stef Schrader > For Sweden 07/08/2015 at 18:21

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Sadly, I’m not going to Milwaukee. Womp womp.

Stef Schrader > Justin Hughes 07/08/2015 at 18:21

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I got one for my first Easter and it’s Coco is the best ever.

Stef Schrader > StingrayJake 07/08/2015 at 18:24

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Bruh, we already have .

As to why we haven’t had a better shot at it elsewhere, I blame Bob Bowlsby and whoever from TCU snuggles with him at night.

Stef Schrader > BrtStlnd 07/08/2015 at 18:26

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Mitsu did it for me by building the same Lancer for so long. I’ve got junkyard availability for yeeeeeeears.

Stef Schrader > Dusty Ventures 07/08/2015 at 18:27

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I should’ve planned that months (plural) in advance. :o( Or moved up northeast for the summer, and flee as soon as I hear they might salt the roads.

Also, Dad’s having surgery next week, so even a last-minute trip up there seems unlikely. Boo. I’d love to find some kind of weird odd job at a rally to take up for a weekend, or perhaps stow away on someone’s crew for ESPR.

Stef Schrader > Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles 07/08/2015 at 18:29

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Get a smaller wheel! A 924 doesn’t exactly have a ton of gizmos and gadgets, so replacing the big stock wheel with a racing wheel is pretty simple, and looks good. Get a good one, though—cheap eBay “racing wheels” tend to bend. I have a flat-bottom Momo in my 944 and kind of love it. Smaller diameters = more room.