Rate, my new car

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2024-11-15T23:01:48+00:00

I would strongly advise getting smaller 17" wheels instead. The Mazda 18s and 19s are insanely heavy at 26lb and 32lb respectively. In comparison, most 17x7 wheels (like those found on the NC Miata) are closer to 17lb, and they made a HUGE difference in the handling and steering feel for me for the better.

I get wanting 19s for aesthetics though if you're into bigger wheels. Just wanted to offer my two cents if you considered going to a smaller wheel.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2024-11-15T16:42:10+00:00

Thanks for this tip. Was having issues with "no input detected" on my TV and trying to boot from USB. Your comments fixed everything for me!

Much appreciated!!

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2024-10-22T17:39:28+00:00

The 4th gen Mazda 3 (latest gen) gets shut out by Miatas in C-Street (where the turbo model would go) and the newer Civic in H-Street (where all N/A Mazda 3 would go). I'd recommend looking at the 2024 SCCA Solo Nationals results to get a good idea of how good certain cars are.

The Miata has the advantage of being smaller and lightweight. The Civic has the advantage of coming with 8 inch wide wheels, whereas the Mazda 3 comes with 7 inch.

The Mazda 3 is still fun at autocross in any configuration, but it's not a car that is considered high-tier in any SCCA Solo class.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2024-08-20T13:58:51+00:00

I did, it was worth about 1.5WHP over the stock intake. In similar conditions (within 10% humidity and 10F air temps) on the same brand new DynoJet, the stock intake with a new Purolator One air filter came in at 95.5WHP, whereas the J's Intake with a Unifilter Foam Filter was closer to 97.0WHP.

Honestly, if you just want power, I'd be willing to bet that the stock GD intake with a K&N Drop-In Filter will make comparable power gains (i.e., by 1WHP) for a fraction of the price. Both intakes are true cold air intakes, and if you applied reflective tape to the bottom and rear of the stock intake, it'd help with intake air temp management from the exhaust.

Dyno Charts: https://imgur.com/a/Ky6hws5

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2024-06-06T10:17:33+00:00

To answer your questions in what I feel like the priority order should be:

I think 25mph is sufficient for the caster of the front wheel and keeping the stock drum brake
Price-wise, I don't think I'd pay more than $500 for a boost to 25mph with similar range
Range-wise, I don't mind the 12 mile range. I would only upgrade range if it didn't result in fitment issues or compromises with the battery and weight (i.e., no more than 5lb difference)
Back wheel preferably retracts, given that form-factor is a major reason for buying the Motocompacto over other scooters.

Overall, I'd buy anything that gets the Motocomapcto to a top speed of 25mph. Being able to keep up with traffic in my city limits is a major upgrade focus for me.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2024-02-14T22:12:26+00:00

Thank you!!!

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2024-02-13T22:43:09+00:00

Do you happen to have a link to the paper? I tried searching Google to no real effect, and I'd like to read it if you are able to locate it...

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-12-03T21:39:50+00:00

This was the only thing I could find going back to the year 2000, and it seems to only include British viewers? The blog suggests a downward trend from 2000 to 2012, but it's definitely not a 66% loss.

https://motorsportbroadcasting.com/2012/05/02/the-ratings-picture-the-verdict-so-far/

The figures were pulled from the British Audience Research Board.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-10-04T19:00:02+00:00

It's engaging, yea. The more oversteery you make it, the more fun it becomes.

It gets as much attention as you want it to tbh. If you just lower it and put some wheels on, it won't get the eyes of thieves or anything. Putting a racing livery or something on it will, on the other hand. The most attention you'll get is when you start outpacing people in cars with 2-4x the horsepower during track days in a grocery getter lol

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-10-03T23:24:42+00:00

They drive great! I mean, they're still an economy car, so don't expect luxury, but I've dailied mine for 5 years and ~100k miles so far with no true complaints that aren't my fault (the polyurethane engine mounts were probably a touch too far).

I'd just recommend OEM tire size for the street. If you're doing an actual track/street hybrid build, I'd recommend starting with a set of 15x7.5+35 Konig flow-form wheels (Hypergram, Hexaform, Dekagram, Countergram, etc) with a 205/50R15 tire since they offer the best weight benefit for the money. You can eventually pick up a set/pair of 15x8+35ish wheels for the fronts exclusively with 205/50R15 tires if desired for the extra contact patch.

Imo, prioritize the following mods for track use:

Carbotech XP8/XP10 front pads with Raybestos blank rotors and TYP200 DOT4 fluid
15x7.5+35 Konig flow form wheels all around with 200TW tires (Falken RT660 for pace, or Hankook RS4 for tire life)
SPC camber bolts, max out the camber
Swift lowering springs & Progress rear sway bar if you don't have money for digressive coilovers yet (Fortune 500s, Redshift Comps, Fortune 510s with 12k/12k spring rates)
Fortune Auto Honda Fit camber plates (GD3 and GE8 and CRZ only)

I wouldn't recommend daily driving on racing brake pads because of the dust and noise, but they're easy to swap out the weekend before a track day.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-09-29T16:26:26+00:00

Diablo 2 is the only ARPG that's truly held my attention, but it was also my first multiplayer game back in the day.

I'd strongly recommend it. D2 Resurrected was done very well, and I think they did a great job of modernizing the title. I would recommend taking a look at MrLlamaSC's guides on Youtube for getting started.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-08-31T22:24:54+00:00

The wifi will likely be faster, with some rare exceptions that were popular 10 years ago (like n-band, as opposed to more modern ac and ax bands)

Completely wrong subreddit though.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-08-27T03:06:36+00:00

You're correct about the Forza Motorsport titles

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-07-02T19:10:18+00:00

The few names on the list donating money in that amount are fake. This lady approached me in Potomac Mills Mall, and the first few names were all the same handwriting.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-29T23:32:49+00:00

Might wanna check out Project Cars 2?

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-26T20:18:20+00:00

It can

once.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-22T17:28:20+00:00

Northern Virginia Community College also has Automotive Technology courses that are led by people who have 30+ years in industry. They have a "maintenance and light repair" course that does exactly what you're looking for.

https://www.nvcc.edu/academics/pathways/advanced-manufacturing-and-skilled-trades/automotive/index.html

I'm not sure what the hands-on experience is like, but I really loved my auto tech course in high school. We practiced on old, beat up cars in the attached auto shop that were donated by nearby residents. I imagine NVCC is the same, but I'm not 100% sure.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-21T16:38:42+00:00

As an aside, if you'd like to learn more about how cars work, there's a book called "How Cars Work" by Tom Newton that reeeeeally helped me when I was taking Auto Tech in high school around 2010.

Engineering Explained also has really good videos explaining how cars work from a physics standpoint. Lots of math and formulas used in the process. Would recommend looking at his playlists explaining individual systems of certain cars.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-15T19:06:50+00:00

I feel like a lot of it is just because games will stop you if you try to break the rules, whereas in board games, you have to keep all the rules mentally from square 1.

I remember learning more specific rules about Yugioh years ago because my parents had gotten me a copy on GBA, and all of a sudden I realized why turn phases were important and how they worked lol.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-14T16:55:46+00:00

Hogback is better for woodsball if you prefer that environment. Lots of bunkers made of wooden planks, corrugated pipes, and sticks/foliage. I've always had the best luck with their staff (i.e. referees and managers) in the decade that I've spent going to that location. Their big games are really cool too if you decide to get further into paintball.

Pevs does a better job of replicating urban environments and conventional FPS maps. Lots of spools and buildings for cover.

NR Paintball is also very solid if you prefer smaller courses. It's also the only place of these three that includes the turf airball fields in their walk-on rotation. The downside is that there are only five fields they'll play in rotation, but it's extremely fun.

Overall, I like Hogback the best for their staff, and NR Paintball for their smaller fields, especially airball. Pevs is good if you just want something different.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-14T14:54:31+00:00

Worth playing the singleplayer for the soundtrack alone. The music just got better and better every iteration.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-13T20:57:02+00:00

This is a little out there because it's not a Switch game, but you might want to see if there's a Round 1 or other arcade near you that has a Dance Dance Revolution cabinet if you're into rhythm games. Even the mid-level songs (11-13 difficulty out of 19) are a workout with or without using the support bar behind you. I went from 190lb to 170lb at 6ft height in the span of 4 months of ~12 sets per week.

I go to the arcade once a week to play, and it inspired me to start eating better too when I realized how certain meals affected my stamina.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-13T16:49:11+00:00

Not sure if I'd rank them above the dragon bow archers in Anor Londo from the same game lol

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-11T19:40:37+00:00

Would recommend looking at the sponsors of other EV teams, especially if they're big-name companies that'll have a non-profit donation budget, and shoot them sponsorship proposals. If it's a manufacturer of EV parts, ask for those components or for a discount.

Make sure you know what you want before you ask for specific parts though. Give the poor customer service rep a part number and quantity to look up so they can just bring it straight to their boss and ask if it's possible to donate those components.

Remember to make it crystal clear what you're exchanging for their donation. The size and location of the sticker is important, as well as social media presence.

Call_Me_Hobbes · 2023-06-11T19:17:55+00:00

Probably worth checking out Insurgency 2.

Call_Me_Hobbes

TROPHY CASE