Monday, November 9, 2020 -- Sand on the Bike Path...

It was very windy yesterday.

Today, much of the bike path along the beach had sand blown on it.

I rode through some sections of it but when I got to this small hill, the bike path was completely covered as far as I can see.

I turned around and rode through a parking lot that leads to the buildings at the top of the hill.

That's the entrance to the parking from the road above the beach (Dockweiler beach parking).

I took the car road along the top and back to Marina Del Rey.

Then took the bike path along Ballona Creek home...

After getting home, I left the bike, shoes & gloves out in the sun to dry.

The picture below is later when I was about the put everything away (the sun had nearly set...).

Can see the sand on the rear wheel....

Closeup of the sand...

Just cleaned the bike about a week ago.

Have to clean it again...

 

MGB Starter - came in the mail...

I ordered a replacement for the MGB from Northwest Import Parts.

I chose a new starter (not reman) with a planetary reduction gear to spin the electric motor and engine more efficiently.

The catalog called it "heavy duty."

What's interesting is that this starter has no labels or manufacturer's markings.  Pretty unusual.

 

December 1995 Issue -- Road & Track Magazine

About 25 years ago.

I didn't realize that WeatherTech has been advertising for so long.  They're bigger than ever...

Don't remember this concept car...

This concept version of the Honda S2000 looks pretty close to the production car.

I guess the Elise debuted in 1995...

I remember driving a eurospec version in/around 1997.

One of the best drives ever.

Still would like to have one...

It says the AMG E50 went to 60 MPH in 6.2 seconds.

I think a pretty run of the mill V6 Camry or Accord does the same now...

Four V12 cars...

Even in 1995, the Ferrari was super expensive ($226,000 as tested).

The other three are about 1/2 the price...

The 2020 Honda Civic Type R either matches or beats the numbers for 0-60 MPH (close), lateral acceleration (by a lot!) & braking distance (by a lot).

This looks like a good article.  Will read it...

Another interesting article that I'll read...

I guess (don't remember) ISPs were already going strong in 1995.

The ad touts "Now With World Wide Web Browser!"

I guess you got a floppy disk in the mail to load the AOL software?

I kinda had forgotten how clunky and difficult it was to set up the connection and get the ISP working properly.

I have a vague recollection of spending many hours working out bugs with the connection (DSL) and the LAN...

I'm glad those days are long gone.

 

The newer Gerstner Tool Chest -- part 3 - continuing the cleaning process of the inside

I'm guessing this tool chest was made in the 1990s...

There's a few stains on the LH side of the chest...

Stains on the RH side of the chest too...

Close up of some of the staining on the RH side of the chest...

Close up of some of the staining on the LH side of the chest...

Close up of some of the staining on the LH side of the chest...

This drawer (designed to fit the Machinist's handbook) is too tight.  I need to sand down the sides slightly so that it's not sticky...

The bottom of the drawers are steel...

The drawers have a check-ball mechanism to keep them from being pulled all the way out.

If you want to remove them, you have to use some extra force to get past the check ball.

It's a very smart design.

Close up of the check ball.

This screw acts as the stop that the check ball has to get past...

The drawer felt are dirty but not too bad (some are worse than others).

Started cleaning the inside of the front lid.

It's very dirty and stained...

The kitchen scrubber is needed for the stains...

The wood is cleaning up OK.  It will still have some evidence of the stains but it will be good enough when I'm done with it...

Cleaned the felt a little bit too.  The wood is coming along.  Still need some more cleaning...

Some of the stains are on top of the surface and can be scraped off with a blade...

Some more stuff/stains on the surface...

Scraping the stain of the drawers on the RH side...

Still in process...

 

Friday, November 6, 2020 -- Manhattan Beach Pier (overcast... supposed to rain tomorrow for the first time in 8 or 9 months?)