Brownsey Family

2012-01-27T10:31:00.002-05:00

DP: 01 Ganassi

GT: 51 APR Motorsport

Rachel picks the red one, because red cars are fast.

2012-01-26T15:55:00.000-05:00

DP: 99 Gainsco
GT: 70 Speedsource

2012-01-26T02:26:00.002-05:00

My Daytona 24 picks. I looked my picks from the last three years and they haven't changed that much.
DP:
1-10 Suntrust
2-02 Ganassi
3-8 Starworks
4-90 Spirit of Daytona
5-5 Action Express

GT
1-23 Alex Job
2-67 TRG
3-70 Speedsource
4-45 Lizard
5-88 Autohaus

2012-01-25T20:44:00.001-05:00

Daytona 24 Picks:

DP: 10 Suntrust
GT: 59 Brumos

2012-01-23T12:23:00.006-05:00

On Saturday the wrx underwent an upgrade involving ported/polished exhaust manifolds, highflow crosspipe and uppipe, all with ceramic coating Now the entire exhaust system has been replaced, minus the turbocharger itself.

oil pan oxidation courtesy of the new york salt mines.

2012-01-22T09:24:00.000-05:00

2012-01-21T19:45:00.002-05:00

Philip has been putting the finishing touches on the chicken house. He got the paint on a few weeks ago before the rain and put the roof materials on this afternoon. It is just about ready for the chickens, who will arrive in approximately one month by mail as one day old chicks!

2012-01-20T02:12:00.001-05:00

Cameron after her orchestra concert at the high school. She was really great.

2012-01-17T10:46:00.002-05:00

4 Hour ALMS race at VIR September 15.

I'm going, Noah has to, who else?

2012-01-16T10:39:00.008-05:00

the red dragon lives...

2012-01-07T10:07:00.000-05:00

Joel and brothers New Year's 2012

2012-01-07T09:56:00.000-05:00

Rachel and Philip by snowman in Stillwater

2012-01-07T09:44:00.000-05:00

Family New Year 2012

2012-01-07T09:31:00.001-05:00

Mon wants to know who these belong to so she can return them

2012-01-04T00:17:00.003-05:00

There was an article in the Times Union on Dec. 22 about the Saratoga-North Creek Railroad. The railroad wants to reopen the tracks from North Creek to Tahawus. The railraod wants to use the tracks to ship "tailings" leftover from the mining that are currently being shipped out by truck. Some clown group called "Protect the Adirondacks" is trying to stop them. The land the tracks pass through are now designated forever wild.

2012-01-01T17:28:00.003-05:00

Trip to North Carolina. Lake Lure:
Hickory Nut Falls (from Last of Mohegans movie):

Back home for warm New Year's Day:

Chris

2011-12-29T20:27:00.001-05:00

Christmas at the playhouse

2011-12-21T12:43:00.002-05:00

Big move for AJ A. Check out Paul Tracy's twitter.

2011-12-13T17:58:00.001-05:00

Happy birthday to Doug!

2011-12-12T13:28:00.002-05:00

becauseracecar.org

2011-12-11T09:06:00.002-05:00

In "The Economist" this week Dad found, in the special Technology Quarterly section, an article about superconductors that mentions Paul's company, SuperPower.

2011-12-11T08:47:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Chris!

2011-12-07T21:30:00.002-05:00

Rachel is making lasagna (Donnie) Brownsey style with mozzarella and ricotta that I made last weekend and homemade noodles. Too bad we had to buy tomatoes, beef, and eggs. We have been using the pasta maker about once week over the last couple months.

2011-12-03T22:08:00.004-05:00

Future Christmas tree. Jonathan did the sawing.

Nutcracker's soldier:

Chris

2011-11-27T21:44:00.001-05:00

Our newest family member. 8 month old girl named "Paisley".

2011-11-27T21:39:00.002-05:00

Canadian Pacific Holiday train. Made a stop at the ALCO heritage society near Maxon Rd. in Schenectady. I also spoke with the new owner of Mohawk Valley RR train shop. Should be open by Christmas at the same location on Hamburg St.

2011-11-25T22:44:00.000-05:00

2011-11-25T22:38:00.000-05:00

2011-11-19T16:22:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Patrick!

2011-11-15T08:31:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Cameron!

2011-11-13T22:06:00.001-05:00

New posts at Noah's Motoring Garage.

2011-11-13T18:11:00.005-05:00

We have had a busy weekend here in Red Bluff- or at least Philip had. He started building a chicken house in the backyard for the chickens we hope to get in the new year.

Then he made homemade pasta with the new pasta maker. It turned out really well despite a few initial speed bumps!
This morning when I woke up there were sticky buns going into the oven for breakfast (this was a birthday special!).

After our spectacular breakfast of sticky buns and coffee we explored a small wilderness area in the southwest corner of Shasta County called the Chanchelulla Wilderness. It was very scenic although quite cold and windy at the peak. -Rachel

2011-11-13T08:59:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Rachel!

2011-11-13T00:49:00.003-05:00

There is a gallery of photos on www.dirttrackdigest.com . They are from 10-18-11. Albany- Saratoga speedway now under the command of Howie Commander having new clay put down over the new asphalt. There will be dirt racing again in Malta in 2012.

2011-11-12T22:59:00.002-05:00

After a squirrel battle that couldn't be beat... well Jon beat it, to death. We did the Christmas drawing as we have reached the maximum members present between now and that thing.

Paul gives to Philip
Cyndy gives to Noah
Joel gives to Rachel
Philip gives to Cyndy
Rachel gives to Paul
Noah gives to Christopher
Kate gives to Christine
Christopher gives to Joel
Christine gives to Kate

If anyone has any issues with that then you are well on your way to ruining another Christmas. Cyndy and I will be eating Christmas meat at our house, if you are listed above you and your family can come to that unless otherwise noted.

2011-11-07T22:23:00.004-05:00

Philip and I went to the "first crush" at our local olive orchard this past weekend. There was a big party complete with hay rides, tritip sandwiches, wine tasting, and a live band that I though was karaoke at first. Turns out they are professionals. We didn't last long because it was cold and windy, but we did see all of their fancy Italian olive crushing machinery. -Rachel

2011-11-06T13:08:00.001-05:00

Happy birthday to Tracy!

2011-11-03T08:49:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to Grandmother Steates!

2011-11-02T21:52:00.001-04:00

Mom and pumpkin head friend

2011-11-02T09:13:00.000-04:00

Donnie and Laura at Knitting Conference Hartford, CT

2011-10-29T21:53:00.003-04:00

Pumpkin carving during a snowstorm.

2011-10-28T08:23:00.001-04:00

Thursday- 1st snow in Stillwater.

2011-10-25T14:18:00.001-04:00

Humpy says F1 NJ

2011-10-23T21:56:00.004-04:00

Even more Italian trains:

We spent a day in Tempio Pausania, a very neat town in the interior of northern Sardegna. We took a walk down to the train station (because that is what one would do, right?)

The guy with the camera and the yellow shirt turned out to be another train aficianado and Rachel ended up waiting on a bench next to his wife as we both took pictures of trains.

Inside the waiting room were some neat murals.

While we were inside, the Trenino Verde, a summer tourist route pulled in. The engine is an old diesel crocodile style locomotive. The cars on this train are from the 1930s era.

Old Euro-style coupler:

I was taking a picture of the engine entering the shop and one of the workers waved a couple of the people taking pictures, including me, in. I don't think that it is normal practice in the U.S. to allow people you don't know to enter an operating engine shop, particularly people that have no means of verbally communicating with you.

Inside the shop was a restored 1913 railcar that I got to look in.

2011-10-23T15:23:00.003-04:00

More Italian trains:

I don't have much information on this steam engine. We found it in a small park dedicated to Guiseppe Garibaldi in a small town in the Appennines.

2011-10-23T14:32:00.004-04:00

Trains in Italy.

I realize that I have been remiss in posting anything about Italy and I will try to correct some of that.

One day, we took the train to the Cinque Terra (five small towns along the coast, connected a hiking path). We delayed the trip because there was a day of potential rain showers. This resulted in traveling by rail on a day of a planned national strike. If you want to get somewhere in Italy, do not take the train on a day of national strike. The trains do run, albeit on a very haphazard schedule, and there is no one to ask what is going on.

However, we did make it there and back. It just took a little longer than we had planned:

2011-10-17T14:07:00.001-04:00

Furukawa?

2011-10-17T00:27:00.003-04:00

Dan Wheldon, Watkins Glen Open Test June 18, 2005.

Mid Ohio August 2009.

2011-10-13T08:37:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to Philip and Elliot!

2011-10-07T08:58:00.001-04:00

2011-10-07T08:32:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday Donnie

2011-10-04T17:12:00.001-04:00

2011-10-01T13:33:00.002-04:00

2011-09-30T13:47:00.002-04:00

Noah's Little LeMans Picks
Lmp1 #7 Peugeot. Hard to pick against McNish in this race, but I am.
Lmp1 gasoline #20 Oryx/Dyson. I thought this team was a joke when it was announced for Lime Rock. Steven Kane can drive, Al Masaood can keep it off the wall, We know what Butch can do.
Lmp2 #26 Signatech
GT # 45 Flying Lizard
GT/am #61 AF Corse
Lmpc #05 CORE
GTc #66 TRG
GTc will be the hardest class to win. It will be a true endurance race for them. Whoever survives the punting will win. The car that can be rear ended by a diesel truck the least will win. All the cars are capable of winning otherwise

2011-09-28T15:00:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to Oliver!

2011-09-25T23:58:00.004-04:00

Black River Stages

Peter and Donnie

Motorcycle

Subaru go sideways.

Focus

Fiesta

Whee

Watching

BMW 318i in paddock

Stage 1 M-Sport Fiesta. Available from Team O'Neil 15k car + 10k kit.

Subaru that Mother liked.

Martin Donnelly in the EVO 9 won again. The Focus won the 2wd class. 7/35 DNF

Cyndy doesn't know if she should make her car a rally car, buy a fiesta and have O'Neil convert it for her, or buy a KTM motorcycle.

2011-09-23T07:54:00.001-04:00

Uncle Paul and Oliver at the top.

2011-09-20T12:19:00.002-04:00

Cyndy job yay.

Fowler Law Office

2011-09-17T22:39:00.005-04:00

Lime Rock/Lebanon Valley Double Header Saturday

F2000

F1600

The Mystic Missile modified had the best hauler, no contest.

Drive up hot dogs at the paddock exit.

Bryon Chew. Most drivers got a handle on turning right, a few did not. Bryan Chew did not, qualified last and lasted about 4 laps before pulling in.

Lime Rock Burger

Winner. These cars rode over the curbs like pickup trucks compared to anything else I've seen. Lots of suspension travel, the car was not unsettled at all.

This car has been unsettled.

This car unsettled itself and the fence. I saw it lose it coming out of west bend putting the power down.

Resettling the fence. The backhoe is driving in a new post.

Win shot. These cars suited Lime Rock very well, good racing and incredible sound. When they started both at the beginning of the race and after the red flag it sounded like something was exploding. I approve, though not very many people, certainly below a Friday ALMS crowd.

F2000 using the original uphill. About a 50 second lap.

F1600

Next stop, Lebanon Valley for french fries and fried dough. It was very cold but we prepared with long underwear.

"Historic" Modifieds, kind of like all the "historic" towns you have to drive through going to Lime Rock and Lebanon Valley. There were about 10 and they were fairly competitive. Modifieds ended their season last week, we saw the last budget sportsman, sportsman, and pro stock races of the season.

Now to watch Indy Car at Motegi, Japan.

2011-09-13T12:30:00.002-04:00

Introduction day at nursery school. Elliot had a really good time.

2011-09-13T05:46:00.005-04:00

We took a boat from Cala Gonone, Sardegna out to some caves and then the beach.

Rachel at the beach.

Maine should get some ocean water that is as warm as the Mediterranean Sea. I think that it would help boost tourism.

There were also some goats and steers at the beach.

2011-09-13T05:43:00.000-04:00

Santo Poco honeymoon.

2011-09-10T02:41:00.001-04:00

Burger's Farm Loses Entire Crop

2011-09-08T12:52:00.002-04:00

Thursday at noon time

2011-09-06T13:17:00.001-04:00

Oliver building a wooden boat at Stillwater. It floated.

2011-09-05T23:36:00.003-04:00

Cameron at camp. Cyndy's fuzzy-on-purpose-camera-lens.

Me and Oliver at Stillwater Mountain fire tower.

Elliot ready to go up fire tower. Someone put up a cheater ladder so you don't need to climb the supports.

Noah and Kate leaving the fire tower.

Elliot in the water.

Mother.

Oliver found some mud on the beach.

Cyndy, Cameron, and Oliver walking on the big shoal on the island with the beach that has that big shoal.

Boat Dad.

Up to no good not fuzzy Elliot.

"Now I'm driving the bus."

Cyndy bush whacking.

Oliver on a big rock.

2011-09-04T05:19:00.003-04:00

Somewhere in France.

2011-09-02T17:32:00.002-04:00

There is a garden show on the city wall in Lucca for the next few days. One of the exhibits was done by a vintage tractor club. Most of the tractors were Fiats and Landias.

2011-09-02T04:17:00.001-04:00

Lucca, Italy 10:20 am September 2.

2011-09-01T17:17:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to Austin!

2011-08-31T14:22:00.002-04:00

Lock 7 Wednesday afternoon.

2011-08-31T14:14:00.002-04:00

River photos are taken Monday afternoon. The last one Oliver's hand is at the high water mark on the sign post

2011-08-31T10:21:00.002-04:00

Are there any particular car museums or factories within a day's trip of Lucca that would be interesting for us to visit? I suspect that there wouldn't be as many on Sardegna, but one could check their, too.

2011-08-31T08:45:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to Kate!

2011-08-30T10:39:00.004-04:00

Excerpt from the Gazette last night.

"The locks along the Mohawk River are holding despite raging flood waters, but state officials fear a possible problem with Lock 7 in Niskayuna.

High water is digging a path around some of the locks, particularly Lock 7, Canal Corp. spokesman R. W. Groneman said.

The corporation is bringing in dirt and stone to fight the erosion, he said. The state Power Authority has a small hydroplant at Lock 7 and is organizing the erosion-fighting efforts.

“The Canal Corp. knows of no structural problems with the dam,” he said.

Schenectady County officials were advising residents of about 30 homes near Lock 7 to evacuate earlier this afternoon as the structural integrity of the lock was questioned.

Emergency responders were going door to door in the affected areas, and Schenectady County was utilizing its emergency response system to call residents directly.

Although the lock has not failed, erosion around the lock could lead to a sudden flood. If a sudden event damages the lock, county spokesman Joseph McQueen said, it would happen too quickly to organize an orderly evacuation.

“We wouldn’t have time,” he said. “We don’t want people to be stuck down there, so we’re asking for a voluntary evacuation now.”

While Lock 7 is not in danger, some water is seeping through an earthen embankment at the Vischer Ferry dam behind the lock. The state Power Authority, which maintains the dam as a hydropelectrical plant, called for evacuations of 30 nearby houses as a precaution.

Authority spokeswoman Christine Pritchard said the affected embankment makes up only a small part of the dam."

In summary, there is a problem with Lock 7, but it's not the dam, and it's not the lock. The problem is that the embankment next to the lock is eroding and if it erodes to much the lock will fail, but the lock is not in danger. The embankment is a small part of the dam, but remember, there is nothing wrong with the dam.

2011-08-30T09:48:00.002-04:00

Malta for sale likely to be replaced by housing.

2011-08-28T13:52:00.003-04:00

Power went out at 9:30 am Sunday. Power came on a 1:30pm Sunday. Everything is good at our house right now. We made sand bags for the old basement with money bags left by the previous owner.

2011-08-25T22:07:00.004-04:00

"Yankees hit a record 3 grand slams in a rout of A's" (Associated Press, August 25, 2011) ... to lose the series to the A's (59-71) in New York by only 2-1 instead of 3-0. In this context, I wouldn't necessarily say that the Yankees have it all together this week.

Another headline that could have been used and would have conveyed more information would have been, "Despite hitting a record 3 grand slams in one game, the Yankees have their worst series against the A's since July 1, 2007." They need to better than that to win the pennant. Just sayin.

2011-08-23T09:04:00.001-04:00

Do you think Noah is still reading the this blog?

2011-08-22T15:41:00.001-04:00

2011-08-22T09:34:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to Cyndy!

2011-08-19T17:09:00.001-04:00

Saw this in San Fransisco.

2011-08-19T16:48:00.000-04:00

2011-08-18T22:12:00.001-04:00

2011-08-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday, Megan!

2011-08-17T14:21:00.002-04:00

MAWWAGE . . . is what brings here together today. Have you the wing?

2011-08-17T14:09:00.003-04:00

Pacific Coast Highway

2011-08-17T14:02:00.002-04:00

GRRRRRRRRRRRR

2011-08-16T00:08:00.009-04:00

Oliver in San Francisco

Cyndy and Oliver in San Francisco

Phil and Oliver in Dad's Kitchen.

Cyndy, Big Tree.

Rachel is very good at growing weeds.

The key to invasive plant studies is data. Got to have data.

Rachel's greenhouse.

That looks interesting.

Greenhouses.

UC Davis cat litter research center.

Jonathan

Rehearsal

Rehearsing. Looks good.

Tres Hermanas.

Whee.

Huevos made Noah go something something. Go crazy? Don't mind if I do.

Elliot wedding.

Whee.

Chando's Tacos. Very good, the birria was not goat based.

The trip was nearly ruined by Old Sacramento.

All done.

Grass Toast

2011-08-09T13:10:00.002-04:00

Does it look like someone is gearing up for a big party? A family friend dropped by with the mother of all margarita makers- that's what friends are for.
-Rachel

2011-08-07T10:02:00.006-04:00

I left Fort Lauderdale at 3:30 am on Saturday (on no sleep) to be at Sebring for when the gate opens at 6 am. I ended up being the first one at the facility and waiting for the gate guy to let me in when it was still dark out. The car ran well all day, my gps receiver indicated a maximum speed of 124 mph. In my second session I ended up having a big spin at turn 15, similar to this video only I didn't go over the curbing. My friend had car trouble and had to replace his coolant expansion tank so I was also the last to leave the facility, making it my own version of the 12 hours of Sebring. I drove a total of 500 miles (200 on track) in one day and realized that driving on a race track is less fun without sleep.

2011-08-06T16:42:00.002-04:00

Saratoga Rail Station. There was a passenger train with all CSX labeled equipment. This may be the new North Creek train. It was an all CSX crew also. There were CP workers observing as well. The amtrak train was 30 minutes late from NYC.

2011-08-06T16:40:00.000-04:00

2011-08-05T23:12:00.002-04:00

There are many background shots in the episode. Awesome.

Chris

2011-08-05T15:24:00.005-04:00

TLC tonight at 10 is a show 'Four Weddings', one of the weddings they will feature I attended.

2011-07-21T12:41:00.004-04:00

$154,900

Coldwell Banker (more pictures)

Century 21 (actual agent)

Cyndy and I walked to the Ferguson this weekend and saw a for sale sign on the way there.

2011-07-16T10:10:00.001-04:00

Jonathan in Yarmouth Clam Festival Parade (middle back) yesterday.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/yarmouth-clam-festival-draws-cast-of-thousands_2011-07-16.html

Chris

2011-07-12T08:19:00.002-04:00

Do I look happy?

2011-07-10T17:11:00.003-04:00

Last weekend did a lap of Kettle Hole, Evergreen, Slim Pond, Shallow Pond and back to Kettle Hole. Needed a map for that.

Slim Pond, half way around.

This weekend Lime Rock.

Spikey Haired Risi Guy was very busy. Looked like he repaired the whole car from a crash Friday by himself.

John Fitch and his Fitch Phoenix.

John Cooper Works Coupe. Not yet launched in the US. Publicly unveiled for the first time at the N24 two weeks ago.

Noah had no faith in Dyson, and while they did try to throw away the race with an electrical fire on the way to the grid here, Masaood and Kane finished third overall.

Gold car.

GT battle.

Lola Aston Martin. You couldn't fully appreciate the sound at Lime Rock.

2011-07-05T20:41:00.004-04:00

Philadelphia Independence Day Parade:

With Roller Derby:

Chris