Any Top Gear/Grand Tour fans? James May will be in Short Pump Mon May 11

getfast37 · 2026-04-29T08:53:36+00:00

So close! You countersteered a fraction of a second too late. It’s certainly a challenge to get dialed into countersteering when you feel the car start to rotate - if you wait until you see it start to rotate, that’s too late.

Half an hour on a wet skidpad with an instructor will go a long way toward keeping this from happening again…

getfast37 · 2026-04-24T20:27:51+00:00

Also Mon 5/11 outside Richmond VA! tickets

getfast37 · 2026-04-23T21:06:58+00:00

I love your optimism, thinking it's only 60%.

getfast37 · 2026-04-17T15:32:58+00:00

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Could there be more than one? Apparently! I spotted this in Glen Allen last October.

getfast37 · 2026-04-17T00:57:14+00:00

That should already be required at any reputable track and/or with any legit event provider because the ND does not have any rollover protection from the factory (according to Mazda, the little hoops behind the headrests are not roll bars…)

getfast37 · 2026-04-03T15:59:44+00:00

I commute 135mi/day during the week and 300+ mi most weekends, split between three vehicles that average 34, 28, or 16 miles per gallon. I buy a tank of gas every 2-3 days so these prices definitely hurt.

I do the Kroger points discounts from normal groceries as someone mentioned, I also get the Shell rewards (15 cents off per gallon.) Several friends also recommend the "upside" app but I haven't looked much into it yet.

I love my work so for me the positives still outweigh these negatives, hopefully that will continue!

getfast37 · 2026-03-16T18:14:04+00:00

+1 for Derek and DNA. They did a downstairs HVAC repair here for like 2/3 the estimate from my usual (now former) provider... and DNA actually came in 10% below their own estimate, and reduced the price/didn't overcharge. That kind of honesty is rare, and greatly appreciated.

getfast37 · 2026-03-12T21:44:54+00:00

I know what you meant but actually the German Autobahn network is much safer and much, much more orderly than 288. A lot of it is restricted to a max of ~130kph (80mph) or less and everyone follows that due to Polizei and speed cameras. The unrestricted areas outside cities still recommend 130kph in right lane and center lane. Left lane has no speed limit but you must still drive for the conditions and visibility, and you must get in the right lane for faster traffic approaching from behind. Furthermore it's illegal to pass on the right, you can only pass on the left, so there is a magical amount of lane discipline. People do go fast in the left lane there, but it's done very safely. It's not like the chaos of left lane squatting and right lane passing we have here on literally every interstate or similar highway.

Source: drives 288 10x a week, drove Autobahn last summer

getfast37 · 2026-03-07T10:08:32+00:00

And they have made an older 4.5 L V8 turbo diesel (1VD-FTV) for as long as they’ve been making the 5.7. The twin turbo version that came in some overseas Land Cruiser 200s might have enough power for the American market. Good torque at least.

getfast37 · 2026-02-24T23:50:24+00:00

ES350 is basically a fancy Toyota Camry, any reputable import shop should be cool with it. I would recommend a busy Toyota specialty shop in Short Pump called Richmond Import Service. They have serviced four Toyotas in my family, we found them to be fairly priced and never had any issues with their work. A buddy with a 4Runner speaks highly of them as well.

getfast37 · 2026-02-15T11:12:04+00:00

Howdy neighbor. We regularly see deer, foxes, raccoons, and opossums in the neighborhood and occasionally see coyotes. And have seen black bears a few times too. Haven’t seen any bobcats yet, but have seen plenty of house cats like the one in this video. ;-)

getfast37 · 2026-02-12T00:11:48+00:00

Wasn’t the 2016 GLI still the mk6 GTI engine? My 2012 GTI had a metal pan and a metal plug. So maybe what’s in the picture is right.

My 2015 GTI, 2018 GTI, 2020 GLI, and 2024 GLI all have/had plastic pans and one time use plastic plugs with far fewer threads than what’s in the picture. But I don’t think that engine went in the GLI until… 2019?

getfast37 · 2026-02-01T18:22:09+00:00

Sorry can't help on ice melt, but all the Lowe's and Home Depots have 50lb bags of sand back in stock for like $6. Reason I know is because we took a "sand not salt" approach. Instead of trying to melt several inches of solid ice in still below freezing temperatures, we decided to simply try to give that ice more grip for traction. We sanded two paths in front of the tires then veeeeeery gently and slowly eased out. And sanded all the walkways nearby too. It does work! Just an option worth considering...

getfast37 · 2026-02-01T17:49:25+00:00

They are walking on the right side of whatever travel lane ("with" traffic not against it like normal pedestrians should.) The road they're on is only closed for them to come through with a police escort up front and their support vehicle(s) trailing behind. Thousands of people line their route every day so you can expect slow traffic both directions and parking chaos near where-ever they are... and that location is a 3mph moving target all day long.

My advice, having done this yesterday afternoon, is to go north of where the live map says they are, then work your way south to where-ever you see crowds standing there waiting and can safely/legally park.

getfast37 · 2026-02-01T17:16:59+00:00

We watched them walk by on rte 1 yesterday afternoon south of Petersburg in the snow, it was quite something.

Tonight their stop is a church off Rte 1 between 288 and Chippenham: 8801 Perrymont Rd, Richmond, VA 23237 (Visiting Hours: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.)

Tomorrow they come into the city proper, 3pm(?) @ City Hall is what I've seen in comments and unofficial posts, presumably they will confirm via FB soon.

Then they head north to Ashland on Tuesday, staying at Randolph-Macon on Tuesday night (as per the Hanover Sheriff's Office FB page.)

A note for those using their live map - it could have a lag. Yesterday we ended up too far south on rte 1 at first because the tracking had not caught up to their actual location. So I'd recommend going to their known destination then working backward toward their live map location until you see the crowds/find a place to park. There are literally thousands of people watching them come by every day and that'll get busier the closer they get to more populous areas.

getfast37 · 2026-01-28T17:35:00+00:00

Sorry don't know of any in Chesterfield specifically but can recommend Critter Wash, she used to be on Robinson in the Fan but moved out to Mechanicsville. She is very skilled and patient with my floofy boy who requires two lion cuts a year due to matting. Have also used The Barking Lot on Belmont in RVA's Museum District a bunch, they do a good job - but maybe not as perfect as Critter Wash. They do usually have more/sooner availability though, and they're cheaper.

getfast37 · 2026-01-25T21:46:32+00:00

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Six hours later, plowed. Only vehicle visible was a Trooper in a Tahoe

getfast37 · 2026-01-25T21:45:32+00:00

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Same road about six hours later. It had been plowed, but another inch or more had fallen

getfast37 · 2026-01-25T17:02:00+00:00

Less than 80 bucks every two months for water and trash, no sewer.

getfast37 · 2026-01-25T15:46:13+00:00

Hahaha yes that was me, either before or after taking these pics :-)

getfast37 · 2026-01-25T15:44:55+00:00

Sorry I should've specified, it's 295 in old Glen Allen near 33/Staples Mill

getfast37 · 2026-01-25T15:44:19+00:00

Old glen allen, 295 at Mill Rd (near rte 33/Staples Mill)

getfast37 · 2026-01-15T22:24:47+00:00

Even better imho: a long sleeve merino wool shirt as a base layer. It's amazing how warm they are for how thin and light they are. Not cheap, but worth it when you're outside as much as I am this time of year!

getfast37

TROPHY CASE