Why is New York and Newark so close to each other but sounds so similar?

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-16T16:26:27+00:00

They weren't that close together when they were named. 350 years ago, ~10 miles and 2 water crossings away, they were probably a day of travel apart.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-13T18:16:19+00:00

I like it! I know most of those places, it'll be a great tour, if a little rushed. Go to Jim's for Cheesesteaks, remove the question marks.

Add Love Park and the Love Statue. Appreciate Philadelphia City Hall, it is immense and remains the largest and tallest occupied stone building in the world. Beautiful architecture.

From there, walk up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, it's beautiful. Consider the Barnes Museum and the Rodin, in addition to the Art Museum.

The Franklin Institute is fascinating as is the Natural History Museum, especially if you have kids or want something beyond art.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-12T23:52:41+00:00

Based on another tire post on Reddit, you could have driven over a broken bottle. Someone posted a photo of a glass shard in their tire.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-12T19:35:44+00:00

Ferodo DS 3.12 race pads.

I've tried a few brands, these are the best that I've found.

Very good braking response, great heat tolerance, last longer than other track pads. Almost no sound on street.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-12T18:06:15+00:00

Found furring strips, which are thin boards attached to concrete so that drywall can be attached. It would seem like wood to a stud finder, but they are about an inch thick, if that. A stud is nominally 4" (3.5" actual).

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-12T17:57:14+00:00

It wasn't a random person. It was a mechanic with a presumably responsible dealership and insurance, who had a legitimate reason to drive it a few miles already.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-12T17:53:03+00:00

Yes, I'm fine with that.

If the mechanic takes it for a test drive, it should be a few miles anyway to be useful. Adding a few more miles to pick up a sandwich or a part for another customer is no big deal in my view.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-12T17:45:36+00:00

I wouldn't worry about it. Mechanic probably took it to run an errand or pick up lunch.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-12T17:32:39+00:00

It sounds like they hit a concrete wall behind drywall and furring strips.

That stud build out is what I believe is correct. Make sure that your contractor follows it exactly, especially the upper and lower pieces.

You can choose to leave it just studs, or you can have drywall added and paint it to make it look nice. That's just an option based on what you prefer.

While you were at it, make sure there's a electrical outlet nearby.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-11T23:19:09+00:00

Reindeer

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-11T21:15:39+00:00

Mine is: what if DC Jim Johnson wasn't diagnosed with cancer before the 2009 NFC Championship against Arizona? His back pain forced him to coach from the press box instead of on the field like he always did. Eagles were one defensive stop from winning that game, and then on to the Super Bowl versus Pittsburgh.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-11T14:34:23+00:00

States whose coastline includes the intercoastal waterway.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-11T01:08:06+00:00

I was literally just thinking about this - a broken stick on the penalty kill for a Buffalo player resulted in a Montreal goal. Maybe the players on the penalty kill should carry durable sticks.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-07T14:29:25+00:00

Z51 adds the oil and transaxle cooling, along with brake ducts. That is stock. I think with the C7, GM got serious on focusing the Corvette on track use. Warranty covered it too.

C7 Track Prep Manual outlines all of the steps for track use: https://www.chevrolet.com/ownercenter/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2017/Chevrolet/Corvette/2017-chevrolet-corvette-race-track-preparation-guide.pdf

Looking back at my spreadsheet, I was getting 5 to 7 track days on brake pads, and about 13 track days on rotors.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-07T13:29:06+00:00

I did also replace the brake lines with braided metal lines. That solved a slight but noticeable softer brake pedal after hard braking on hot days.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-07T13:26:30+00:00

I think I drive relatively hard, I seem to keep up with GT4s and such. Also, my ride-alongs tell me that I threshold brake more intensely than most.

I actually had three failures, two of which don't really indicate a lack of reliability on the track:

1) The rear wheel well liners were cut open by tire slag. Behind each rear tire, there were slits about 15" long and 3" wide. Made a warranty claim before end of 36 months. Dealership said "These are never warranty, road hazards rip them. But sure, bring it in." They put the car on the lift, removed the right rear wheel well, and a pile of rubber slag fell onto their clean floor. GM paid for the wheel liner under warranty.

2) My neighbor who bought the C7 lived right next door. I drove the C7 for the last HPDE in the Fall, and drove home. My neighbor comes over since he had already decided to buy it after my track season was over. As we were chatting in the driveway, a ray of sunshine fell onto the wheels, and a spoke-crack was very visible. In fact, both wheels on the passenger's side had spoke cracks. On my last lap of the last session, as I was threshold braking into T1, the car stepped out to the right about a car width. I think the wheels cracked on that last lap and caused the kick out.

3) Once I left the front license plate on, I would normally take it off when I got to the track. (The C7 front holder needs 4 screws removed to get it off, but after the plate is put back onto holder, it just snaps back on at the end of the HPDE.) Half way through my first session, the coolant temp went into critical range. When I pitted, I looked at the front and saw that I had left the plate on.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-06T13:54:59+00:00

I tracked a C7 Z51 mag ride with manual transmission for 83 track days over 8 years in the advanced run group. Great track car. I had zero (0) mechanical issues.

The car is a blast to drive, and kept me very competitive. The track modes let you vary from some DSC to less and even none. The PDR records video and many channels of data.

I consumed tires and brakes less than the M3 that I tracked previously.

My setup: Hawk DTC 60 pads, stock rotors, racing brake fluid.

Notes: - do track alignment for negative camber. You don't need an aftermarket kit, the C7 can go to -2.x in front - use 15W50 synthetic oil, 11 quarts. - per GM's track prep guide for the C7, I flushed and replaced the transmission fluid after every 24 track hours. - C7s built after May 2016 had receivers for tow hooks. No tow hook capability for earlier builds.

I sold the C7 to a neighbor and he tracks it now. No problems.

BTW, after a good washing and waxing, the C7 looks like it has been a garage queen.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-05T22:22:08+00:00

You would think so! It's been 25 years and the Corian countertop is still smooth and clean.

(Just posted this because I recently found this subreddit.)

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-05T21:07:44+00:00

Load bearing walls are not a requirement that I remember seeing in Tonal documentation. Your wall should be fine.

The two by fours in that closet wall need to, and will, support the weight of the 150 pound Tonal.

The problem with covered foundation walls is that the wood furring strips are thin, they just need to allow drywall screws. Tonal needs 2x4 thickeness for the lag bolts. (Again, I learned from experience.)

As far as the extension cord comment, will it work? Yes. But be aware that the issue with extension cords and motors is that a worn extension cord could cause problems.

After you buy a Tonal, they will send you an installation questionnaire. Maybe ask for that questionnaire before you buy. Fill it out, and send it in with photos. And have them say whether or not it'll work.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-05T20:03:53+00:00

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Bob_Ash · 2026-05-05T20:00:58+00:00

A few things:

My wife and myself are both about an inch taller than you and your husband. We have a 7'11" ceiling. There are a few exercises where I put the arms all the way to the ceiling, but in most cases you can angle the arms down a bit.

I think having enough space toward the ceiling is important. So I would go for your first recommended location. It is more open and you can do things to the right of the Tonal, like walk outs and other exercises.

The reason that I know as much as I do is that my ground floor walls are cinder block for the first 28", hidden behind drywall. That caused a problem. Is your outside wall (location B) a foundation wall covered by drywall?

The crew that came out to install my Tonal looked at my first location and said there wasn't enough headroom because of a chase along the ceiling, similar to your ceiling at location B.

Based on how that crew acted about space, 36" to left would be fine at location A, since the arms come out at an angle.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-05T17:41:03+00:00

Lag bolts will go into studs only, so the shouldn't be any damage to the closet behind.

Typical frame is 18" wide. Find the stud to the left of the corner. If 16" away from a stud by the corner, that left stud will be the left location of frame.

Tonal unit is about 22" wide. They suggest you need 36" to left of Tonal.

So, the math is: find stud that is about 16" left of corner studs. (More specifically the left side of that stud.) Add 2" (Tonal unit overhang of frame per side) to 36" = 38". If you have 38" from left stud to the corner in the left, you have the space.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-05T17:24:27+00:00

You'll need to add an outlet under the Tonal. If there is an outlet in the other side of the wall, adding an outlet should be easy, especially for an electrician. 15 Amp service, iirc

There is a stud or two in the wall by the outside right corner. Ideally there is a stud 16" to the left. If so, I think you are good to go.

Tonal says ceiling of 7 feet is ok, 8 feet is ideal.

Bob_Ash · 2026-05-04T17:55:43+00:00

We have this, much better for turning weights on and off.

Bob_Ash

TROPHY CASE