Good fortune smiled on me yesterday morning as Dad called and asked if I'd like to go up to the Seattle Auto Show. Of course, I said yes and instead of the 3 1/2 hour slog up there via I-90 I got to fly over in his buddy's King Air. Gotta love a twin-engined turbo prop.
And, of course, he has a spare Suburban parked over at Boeing Field so we just hop in and drop the girls off to go shopping while we go drip testoterone at the convention center.
I think my favorite was the actual prototype Camaro used in the Transformer movie.
An Audi prototype was pretty cool too.
Then, of course, I can't help myself, but spot the NASCAR challenge by State Farm. A hydraulicly suspended car mock up with feedback from a NASCAR video game. Various rider bust the rear end loose at 150 and bounce off the wall. Top 5 times vary from 33.2 to 34.5 seconds. One warm-up lap and then two timed laps. I run the first lap conservatively letting up on the throttle into the corner...and rock out a totally boring to watch but smooth 32.1. Second lap I mash the gas and have to oversteer in the corners and squeak out a 32.5. I had to leave at 6 p.m., but cautiously optimistic it will hold and they'll send me an Ipod shuffle for the day.
A little dinner after the show, wander back down to Boeing Field about 8 p.m., and then get to fly right seat for the 45 minute flight back home. His Garmin GPS system was a bit cooler than mine.
Help him fuel the plane aftewards realizing he has the same kind of fuel cap as on my fuel cell and rearrange 4 planes in the hangar to fit. He has to move his brand new Atomic Orange Z06 505 hp Vette to make room for the helicopter that would be put in later.
Yes, I made a huge carbon footprint that day, but it was a good day to have wealthy former spud farmer friends.
And, of course, he has a spare Suburban parked over at Boeing Field so we just hop in and drop the girls off to go shopping while we go drip testoterone at the convention center.
I think my favorite was the actual prototype Camaro used in the Transformer movie.
An Audi prototype was pretty cool too.
Then, of course, I can't help myself, but spot the NASCAR challenge by State Farm. A hydraulicly suspended car mock up with feedback from a NASCAR video game. Various rider bust the rear end loose at 150 and bounce off the wall. Top 5 times vary from 33.2 to 34.5 seconds. One warm-up lap and then two timed laps. I run the first lap conservatively letting up on the throttle into the corner...and rock out a totally boring to watch but smooth 32.1. Second lap I mash the gas and have to oversteer in the corners and squeak out a 32.5. I had to leave at 6 p.m., but cautiously optimistic it will hold and they'll send me an Ipod shuffle for the day.
A little dinner after the show, wander back down to Boeing Field about 8 p.m., and then get to fly right seat for the 45 minute flight back home. His Garmin GPS system was a bit cooler than mine.
Help him fuel the plane aftewards realizing he has the same kind of fuel cap as on my fuel cell and rearrange 4 planes in the hangar to fit. He has to move his brand new Atomic Orange Z06 505 hp Vette to make room for the helicopter that would be put in later.
Yes, I made a huge carbon footprint that day, but it was a good day to have wealthy former spud farmer friends.
