[alfa] Unsprung weight & stuff

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I appreciate all of those who contributed comments regarding unsprung 
weight. I'll confess it reminds me a bit of my old accounting class at 
the U of N. It Should seem so obvious as to what a debit and a credit 
are and was to just about everyone in the class except yours truly. Same 
with unsprung weight, but now do have a better picture of what it is 
(and isn't).

Especially appreciated George Graves comments regarding the weight thing 
especially in respect to the transaxle cars. True, he might be a wee bit 
biased in his praise for these cars, owning an '86 GTV6 3.0 'S', but 
I'll accept the praise in behalf of the Alfetta GT contingent.

Way, way off the subject, but read the "shoot-out" in the Sept. R & T 
between the 2004 Dodge SRT-4 and Saturn Ion Red Line. They weren't too 
keen on the latter's center gauges, especially with the tach on the far 
right - "A center-mounted gauge cluster is beneficial in that it is 
never obscured by the steering wheel, but on the down side, it is not in 
the driver's line of sight. In daily driving this isn't a bother, but 
when in a sporting situation, it's important for the driver to see a 
tachometer straight ahead."

So if Saturn did this very thing and placed the tach in front of the 
driver, leaving the other gauges in the middle, and just possibly had a 
somewhat slow first to second gear change, it would be ridiculed by 
virtually every automotive magazine in the world?

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA

It's too hot to work in the shop and I'm afraid if I go outside to work, 
the bogeyman will get me.

Don't suppose there are a couple of guys (and/ or gals) who have nothing 
to do for the rest of the week, live nearby, and have the following 
props: (since this is primarily an Hispanic area) a really wide brimmed 
straw hat, fake intimidating droopy mustache, (forget the correct name) 
the crossed belts filled with bullets, and a Winchester carbine. A Colt 
.45 revolver in an appropriate holster and bunches of bullets would 
certainly be a plus.

All you'd have to do is hold up the carbine every time someone tries to 
drive into the place. Need two people since there are two in / out 
driveways. Ask for papers. If any identify them being from the city of 
Irwindale, AQMD, Sheriffs (you're really on your own there), or Bureau 
of Automotive Repair, simply raise your carbine, pull the trigger, and 
say, "We don't want your steenking kind around here." A bullet through a 
fender might also help make the point.

Just a thought on a peckish afternoon yet running out of time to have 
Spider ready to paint by weekend.
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