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Nial

@vintageracer.bsky.social

250 followers 70 following 1.3K posts

Retired college prof (Engineering) - Stuff I like: my family, MGs, Austin-Healeys, British sports cars, vintage racing, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, VSCCA, VRG - also 3D printers, CNC programming and progressive social values.

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 2h

Happy trails!

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 15h

I'd call her a maggot.....but won't. At least maggots are useful.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 15h

This car had a great, underdog win at Lemans in '91.
Still the only non-reciprocating engined car to win.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 16h

Our Britfest event tomorrow has been cancelled due to Nor-Easter weather prediction.
Sorry to see this cancelled but probably a good decision.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 16h

I'll take it! Do they accept PayPal?😉

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

Excellent video!
I've owned three Renaults: a Dauphine, an R5 (racer) and an R9.
A good friend of mine owns a LeMans class-winning '64 Renault-Alpine.

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 1d

Oh definitely Paul Newman. He finished fourth place driving a Corvette in a pro race at Watkins Glen when he was age 82.
And his "Newman's Own" foundation work is laudable.
I've stood next to him at a driver's meeting at Lime Rock and chatted with his wife. Both very nice, low-key people

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 2d

I was just retiring & wanted to replace my 17-year-old Miata. I'd saved about $30k. Enough for a new Miata. Then HR told me that they owed me $25k as a sick leave bonus. I found a dealer that would sell me a new 718 Cayman for $54,800. Perfect! It's faster than my friend's 3.2L 6 cylinder Cayman

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 2d

I bought a '17 Yamaha TW200 from a lady in Oct 2017. It was her 1st (& I assume last) motorcycle. Had just 150 miles on it. I changed oil a lot. To be fair, one of my best enduro riding pals was a gal.

My '00 NB is still my favorite car. Bought it as a left over with 16 miles on it for $19,000

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 2d

Cars I've purchased new:

1987 Renault Alliance (R9)
2000 Mazda Miata MX-5 (photo)
2004 Ford Freestar minivan
2010 Chevy Express cargo van (V6)
2018 GMC Savana wheelbase cargo van (V8)
2018 Porsche 718 Cayman PDK/2.0L

Plus a sh1tload of cheap, worn-out Brit sports cars.

Anyone else care to share?

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 3d

Next Sunday, I'll attend Britfest here in Morris County, New Jersey. We always have a good time.
Here's some shots of a previous Britfest.

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 4d

On my side of the country, it's PSE&G.

This afternoon I sat for almost an hour for a PSE&G road closure....while the "workers" stood around not working. Traffic was jammed up over 5 miles for this non-working event.

Considering the mood I'm in, a fatwa sounds about right.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 4d

Folks...
1-Mika Hakkinen, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Jackie Stewart, Bernie Ecclestone, Lord March, Mario Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve and Emmerson Fitipaldi.
2-Bob Bondurant John Fitch Phil Hill, Dick Gulstrand
3-Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Graham Hill
4-Steve McQueen, Jaquline Bisset

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 4d

I saw this similar Abarth at our local Cars & Coffee here in New Jersey on Sunday.

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 5d

Great photo! Later on, Gurney worked with Bell Helmets to develop the full-face Bell Star. I bought one in '71 (for motorcycling).
Sidenote: I'm always shocked to see the height of the "roll bars" in these old racing cars. This is especially obvious with a tall lad like Gurney.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 6d

Went to our local Cars & Coffee today. Took the Midget.
This was just a last-minute event...scheduled yesterday.
The 275 GTB/4 was to die for.
All my photos from today are here:
photos.app.goo.gl/eoRpv44fSTmh...

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 8d

I have both ('69 B and '70 Midget).
Overall I prefer the Midget.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 8d

I live near Rt. I-80 which is transcontinental. Speed limit is 65 mph but most ignore it. I stay off it but the other day I needed to use it. I was in my Cayman and had just merged into the fast lane. An SUV behind me is tailgating me.
That’s when I noticed that I was doing 103 mph.
Everyone was.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 8d

I just saw Sam at a Lime Rock event about a month ago.
As most people know, he is very debilitated from his Parkinson's Disease....but he remains cheerful and involved in cars despite his speech and mobility limitations.

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 8d

More from our recent Adirondack tour..
1961 flat-floor Jaguar E-type 3.8L. He put 990 miles on it for this trip.
More Adirondack interior decor
Our cars near the waterfall hike.

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 8d

A very sad loss. I was there in 1971 to see him on podium. Can't find my ticket for that year (nor '68 when I first attended) but have my '69 and '70 tickets.

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 8d

Sites from our Adirondack tour..
Fire tower /Cessna 180 float plane/ restaurant decor / Climbing the fire tower

Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 9d

Me and my old buddies did a 1000 mile "Mille Miglia" over the last few days through the High Peaks area of the Adirondak Mountains. Our host led us through some of the best roads in the US. We had a Boxter, 3 Caymans, a '61 Jaguar E-type and a Subi WRX-STI. Climbed the Whiteface trail + a fire tower

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 12d

Enjoying our first day of the Adirondak Mountains tour. Six hours of driving today. Lots of neat sites.
We stopped at my friend's farm to see his donkeys / took a boat ride / had some nice beers

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Nial @vintageracer.bsky.social · 13d

Every few years, me and six of my racing friends do a 1000 mile "mille-miglia of the Adirondack High Peaks area near the Canadian border (in New York state, 7 hours from my house). We're leaving for our "almost Canada" trip today. Great food, sights and company. Photos from previous trip.

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