Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : CYPRESS Semiconductor (CY) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: robert b furman who wrote (2677)	4/18/2019 10:44:03 AM
From: OldAIMGuy	Respond to of 2694

Hi Bob, <OT> Re: old cars and things....................... Tonight I'm giving a talk on my experience in La Carerra Panamericana from 1991 and 1994. It's a "once in a lifetime" experience, so I had to do it twice! Here's the car we used: (1955 XK 140 Coupe, somewhere in Mexico) The 6 Cyl early Corvettes were in the same class as us in Mexico. Also some Mercedes 190s and 300SLs. Very tough competition from both. Our Jag, too, had rather humble beginnings when we rescued it: When we started it was at least already dis-assembled. The steel was solid, so that saved a lot of work. We built a low compression 4.2 L XK engine for it specifically for the Mexican road race. Pemex gas wouldn't allow for higher compression, but we were allowed larger displacement than the 3.5L engine the car had originally. We cam'd it for torque, up-sized the twin SU carbs to 2" throats, added an engine oil cooler, doubled the radiator core depth and added an electric fan and upgraded the front disk brakes to the ones used on XKEs. We also used 72 spoke wire wheels from the later E-Jags. We took it to Mexico three times total. It always finished, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. 2000 miles of Mexican Two Lane with not a bit of Armco back then. We finished 10th (1991) and two 3rd Place (1992 and 1994) finishes in class (large bore production sportscars). In 1991 120 cars started the event in Tuxtla Gutierrez but just 80 were still in it at the end. That's a pretty high attrition rate. It's a different type of racing that road courses as you've never seen the roads before the event. "Drive it as you see it...." is the preferred method. We also raced this car on road courses even though it was set up for rally racing. It was an extremely competent car. We were clocked by the Mexican highway police at 142 MPH on one speed section in northern Mexico on our last day in 1994. It was a standing start, 6.9 mile segment with a flying finish. The road was about the only 4 lane "interstate" like road we drove. We averaged 116.83 MPH for the segment. Only the temp gauges for water and oil kept us from attempting go go any faster. If you look at Amazon, you can find the Pink Floyd movie, "La Carerra Panamericana - 1991." I believe it's only available in VHS, however. Gilmore, etc were there in 1991 with the rest of us. They fielded two Jaguar C-Type replicas and had a friend driving a 3rd one. They did quite well with the car that finished. The other two crashed rather badly and didn't finish. It's a great documentary on the race, its history and their efforts. amazon.com The movie I'm showing tonight is called "The Driver's Cut" from 1991 also. We're eating home made burritos, home made Salsa and chips and hanging out. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've used options (usually selling calls and sometimes puts) to complement my trading around the core. If nothing else it's a great way to collect rent on our shares if the share price range doesn't allow any regular transactions. It sounds like you are more active with options than I. Thanks, Tom