Shopsmith Forums

frank81 wrote:One year I was struggling to find a Spring project locally, and settled on an 83 Porsche 944 which is the absolute cheapest, most wannabe Porsche ever made.

I think that I must have thread-hijacking desease. I keep seeing these really interesting tidbits that are totally tangent to the topic at hand, and probably not worth a thread of their own. But I can't help myself .. I just have explore them.

So I got a graduate engineering degree from Ohio State in 1982, and immediately landed a fun and good-paying research job at OSU. I was a freshly-minted yuppie, to be perfectly frank. I had been subscribing to Car & Driver for a few years, and was lusting after a Porsche 944. (Hey, I still find them prettier than 911's). By 1984, my old car was dying. And still being single, not to mention childless, I had sufficient disposable income to make payments on anything much short of a super-car.

But my modest rural upbringing and generally conservative nature told me that spending $18k on a brand-new 944 would be an unwise, extravagant expenditure. So instead, I bought a brand-new 1984 VW Scirrocco for a bit under $12K -- the cheapest "real" sports car on the market at the time, according to Car & Driver. It was indeed a good car, and I enjoyed it well. In 1998, 14 years and 150k miles later, I donated it to The Nature Conservancy.

And what were 1984 Porsche 944's selling for in 1998? Yep, $18k -- same as they sold for brand new.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:I think that I must have thread-hijacking desease.

From table saws to an 84 VW Scirracco......that IS off topic, but civil.

mrhart wrote:From table saws to an 84 VW Scirracco......that IS off topic, but civil.

I did check out the carnage on your thread over at LJ earlier today, and must say that I find such rudeness repulsive. At the spinal-cord level.

I hereby swear, as a Southern-born gentleman, that if (and mostly when) self-restraint fails me and I hijack a thread on this friendly forum, I will always endeavor to do so with wit, grace, and hopefully a bit of charm!

[quote="BuckeyeDennis"]I did check out the carnage on your thread over at LJ earlier today, and must say that I find such rudeness repulsive. At the spinal-cord level.

I hereby swear, as a Southern-born gentleman, that if (and mostly when) self-restraint fails me and I hijack a thread on this friendly forum, I will always endeavor to do so with wit, grace, and hopefully a bit of charm! ]

Going off on a tangent started by someone else is not IMHO hi-jacking!:rolleyes:

Please lower that 'bar'.

JPG40504 wrote:Going off on a tangent started by someone else is not IMHO hi-jacking!:rolleyes:

Please lower that 'bar'.

If we stayed on topic (in the community folder at least), what kind of forum would this be?

I like the fact that we get distracted by squirrels. And then discuss how to best procure and cook them.

frank81 wrote:If we stayed on topic (in the community folder at least), what kind of forum would this be?

I like the fact that we get distracted by squirrels. And then discuss how to best procure and cook them.

SQUIRREL!!!!!!!!!!!



I loved that little animated movie.


.

A few years ago I was given a Rockwell contractors saw. I did not have room for it but could not see it get junked out. It has a 1 1/8 hp motor. The owners uncle was a friend of mine and he asked me if I wanted it and after some arm twisting I agreed to take it. The reason it was being junked is because the clip on the end of the rip fence broke. This saw was bought new I am guessing in the 1950's By Maks father and is all cast iron. The table top on it is I am guessing 3 foot by 5 foot. I put it back together and everything was ground so no shims were needed. I was a machinest for over 25 years and I checked it all out and it was ground to within a couple of thousands. It is the smoothest running saw I have ever used and I use it quite often. My friend had a ShopSith and he knew that I did also as this is way he knew I worked with wood until his death a few months afer he gave me the saw. He made doll house furniture. I took my rip fence from my ShopSmith and copied itto make one for my Rockwell and it works great. Now back to the car thing. When I was in Germany in 1972 you could buy a Porshe for starting out around 3600.00 and I looked at them alot but didn't think they would go thru the snow here in Mich very well

frank81 wrote: I like the fact that we get distracted by squirrels. And then discuss how to best procure and cook them.

... slowly, in a crock pot with chicken stock, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Serve with cornbread from a cast iron skillet.

robinson46176 wrote:SQUIRREL!!!!!!!!!!!



I loved that little animated movie.


.

Thanks, guys! I shall henceforth purse interesting tangents on this forum with a spring in my step, AND with a clear conscience.

I loved that movie too. "Up" was the name. The "Squirrel!!!" scene was the best part. The dogs obviously had had a taste of hickory-fed Ohio squirrel.

There is over 100 postings now.

Who is this Deb and Martin or whoever they are talking about??