Things to ponder

Why, with all the speeding penalties on pit road, don't nascar drivers use a GPS unit for speed information??
And another thing; You can lead a liberal to water but he will never understand why.

Trimming and weed killing.

I made some changes to the Snow Fox and went to the dog track to test them out. I brought 2 gallons of weed killer/plant food for the weeds growing between the cracks in the pavement. I added some bleach to the mix and brought the clorine granules I found in the stuff I cleaned up. The changes were a bit better and I sprayed about 5/8 of the circle and spread the granules over the rest. We will see how it works out.
I made some more changes when I got home and went back to the dog track a few hours later. The latest changes helped some too. I made even more changes when I got home. Maybe test them tomorrow. Great weather, temps in the 70's dewpoint in the 40's a little windy but not too much.

Morning flight

I got to the dog track at 0800 this morning and tested a new tank design using an old ringmaster. It went fairly well but didn't go as well as I had hoped. I put in a flight with the Padre and went home. Next contest on Aug 12.
I made up a horseshoe stake and went to the Jogues club to fix a stake on pit 2. It has dropped 4 inches since opening day of the league. I dug up the old one and it was driven through the wood block. I drove it back out to where it should be and put a board with a steel plate over the end to keep it from getting driven down again. I had fixed all the pits a couple years ago and this one has needed attention again. I didn't need the stake I made up after all.
I changed the oil and filter on the Dodge when I got home. 12000 miles since the last change.

Oil is here.

I changed props on the Padre to get the c/g back so it would turn harder. The change removed 1.1 ounces off the nose and the plane did turn better. The temp. was rising fast so I only got in 2 flights. UPS brought the oil early this afternoon, the check should get there this week.

East Coast Sturgis.

I heard about this motorcycle rally today after flying and found it's web site. The interesting part is they have a demolition derby on motorcycles. 7th annual this August.

Flying in the morning.

We went to the dog track around 8 am and I got in two good flights with the Padre. Richard Wood stopped by with his grandson and we chatted for a while. When I got home I went over the fleet that had plastic tanks and re-set/secured all of them.
I saw the pictures of a Jeep Cherokee and then saw one on the road and I had an idea for the rocker panels. Rustoleum flat black from the bottom of the black plastic door protector to the bottom of the rocker panel. No worrying about matching color that way.

I think I got it.

I've been working on the poor engine runs for a week. We went to the dog track this morning and there was no improvement. I tried the big ringmaster with another Fox .40 and the engine quit inverted twice. I hadn't put any metal strips on the rudder, canopy or nose and they got ground up a bit. I adjusted the tanks and installed them more securely so there isn't any chance of fore/aft or up/down movement. I shortened the fuel clunk/pickup a bit on the ringmaster tank to keep it clear of the back wall and repaired the damage with lite ply and aluminum strips. We then went back to the Sterling grammar school and flew both over the grass ball field. Both ran like they should up right and inverted.
I got a call from the owners of Richoni's lounge and we will meet them at Riverview for dinner. We went out for fathers day two weeks ago to avoid the crowds. I may have to mention that fact as the resturant was packed earlier today.