A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
|
Do you like auto racing ?
I'm not a big racing fan in general, but there are three or four that I follow each year. Since two of these are coming up this month I thought it would be a good time for a diary on racing.
I don't really like any racing series. The Indy 500 used to be the iconic American race. Now it's just part of a series, just another stop on the tour. All the cars are alike and that's what turns me off. I like to see progress in race car engineering, not a bunch of identical cars designed to a rigid formula. Case in point, the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. In NASCAR racing the cars actually are identical. The car bodies must fit the same template and they're stuck in a time warp; push-rod V-8s, rear wheel drive, 4-on-the-floor. If they were really stock they'd be front wheel drive straight 4s with overhead cams and automatic transmissions. Since the cores are all the same fans cheer for their favorite dravvers and the drama is about which cores will spin out since they're not allowed to use decent tars. I much prefer individual races where different classes compete and innovation can occur.
I've done a lot of driving on dirt roads in the desert in Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico so "off-road" races appeal to me. When I was young it was the Baja 1000. It started out as a race down the Baja California peninsula from Ensenada to La Paz. In the old days it was VW "Baja" bugs and Honda 450s, with the bikes usually winning. Nowadays the race is dominated by Trophy Trucks. These aren't really trucks at all but specialized racing machines with tube frames, mid/front mounted V-8 engines, gobs of horsepower and ridiculous amounts of suspension travel. (Trophy Truck pr0n here, featuring last year's Baja 1000 winner ☛ YouTube) My current favorite off-road race is the Dakar Rally. (Official website here ☛ Dakar Rally) It used to be the Paris-Dakar Rally but because of political instability in Africa it now takes place in South America. There are divisions for cars, quads, bikes and trucks. Originally it was just cars and bikes but the support trucks began racing each other informally so they were given their own division. For the last few years the truck division has been owned by trucks manufactured in Russia by a company called Kamaz. (Official site here ☛ Kamaz Master.ru) This year's Dakar has already taken place. Here's the announcement of the winner in the truck division on Russian TV.
Coming up at the end of this month, on the 29th, is the Pikes Peak Hill climb. (Official site here ☛ PPIHC.com) Now, this one truly is an American classic. It's a race up a mountain road; 12.42 miles. There's a bunch of different classes and all kinds of vehicles are used. The road used to have a dirt section at the top but it was paved all the way up in 2011. A new record was set last year; 8 minutes, 13.878 seconds, by a guy named Sebatien Loeb in a Peugeot 208 T16.
Finally, My Good Friends and Fellow Sports Car Racing Fanatics, this weekend is the Big One, the Grandaddy of Them All, the World's Greatest Motorsports Event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Official site ☛ 24 Heures du Mans) This is an endurance race so reliability matters. The cars race for 24 hours, day and night, around an 81/2 mile course. The one that travels the farthest wins. Sometimes it rains. Do the officials shut down the race like in NASCAR ? No, drivers turn on their windshield wipers and keep racing. The race was first run in 1923 and it has been held every year since, with a ten-year break from 1939-49. Le Mans fairly reeks of history; so many legendary cars, drivers and incidents. It is far and away the most prestigious event in motorsport. And the cars; who can forget Blower Bentleys, Jaguar D-types, Ferrari 250 GTOs, the Ford GT40 and the awesome Porsche 917 ? The classes used to be based on displacement. There are now four classes based on car type. The lowest class is GTE Am. These are privately owned sports cars and amateur drivers. Porsche 911s usually win this class. The next class up is GTE Pro. These are factory cars with professional drivers but they are based on actual sports cars. This year there will be factory 911s, Ferrari 458s, and Aston-Martins. Although there will be no Vipers this year, 'Murcans can root for the Corvettes which have been doing well in this class. The P2 category is sort of a junior prototype class; purpose-built racers, but with rules to keep costs down. P1 is the money-is-no-object, super hi-tech spaceship class. These are always the overall winners. This year the P1 class has been split into two further sub-classes. There's the P1-L class for "ordinary" bazillion-dollar prototypes and the P1-H class for hybrids; cars that use a kinetic energy recovery system. Three manufacturers will fight it out in this class. Audi turbo-diesels have won Le Mans the last four years and their R18 e-tron quatrro with its 3.7 liter V-6 is the defending champion. This year Porsche is back in the P1 class after a long absence with their 919. The 919 uses 2-liter V-4 burning gasoline. The Toyota TS040 has a 3.7 liter gasoline-burning V-8. Where the other two P1-H cars store their recovered energy in batteries, the Toyota uses a super-capacitor for energy storage.
OK, there's some racing pr0n for your Tuesday morning. Be sure to go to all my links and check out the technical details and let us know ...
Do you like auto racing ?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
by peregrine kate ♥ for Motor City Kossacks
The Kossacks in Detroit are in the planning stages of getting ready to host Netroots Nation 2014. peregrine kate has them organized and ready to go. Their last meet-up was about all the efforts they are making to reach out to local Dem orgs to setting up the lounge area in the Exhibition Hall for the conference. Our hats are off to them for all the work they're doing and I look forward to seeing them all the third week in July.
L-R: dkmich, SharonRB, GwenM & gregsullmich, provokingmeaning, DoReMI
Please visit peregrine kate's diary for many MORE photos and food pr0n! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Motor City Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to peregrine kate.
The SFKossacks Welcome Regina in a Sears Kit House
by navajo ♥ for SFKossacks
The SFKossacks swung into high gear at the last minute and rallied to welcome Regina in a Sears Kit House on her visit to San Francisco June 4th. She and her husband were here getting visas for their move to France. Jalousie totale. We had a wonderful time, enjoyed Spanish tapas, paella and sangria all evening. Bon Voyage, Regina in a Sears Kit House and stay in touch across the pond.
Mr. & Mrs. Regina in a Sears Kit House and our requisite food pr0n offering, paella!
L-R: Glen The Plumber, norm, Mr. Regina in a Sears Kit House,
random ginger dreadlocked photobomber, dharmasyd, (sitting) Meteor Blades,
kimoconnor, Regina in a Sears Kit House & side pocket
You can join the SFKossacks by sending a Kosmail to navajo.
Saturday, June 14th
Inaugural New Jersey Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Cranberry's Gourmet Cafe
10 Cedar Brook Drive, Cedar Brook Corporate Park • Cranbury
ORGANIZER: Send Avilyn a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Avilyn
2. belinda ridgewood
3. zitherhamster
4. avamontez
5. Christin
|
Maybees:
Trosk
profewalt
|
Latest diary: NJ Meetup 6/14 - Come Join Us!
Saturday, June 14th
DC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: TBD
TBD • Washington, DC
ORGANIZER: Send NinthElegy a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NinthElegy
2. mdmslle
3. webgenie
4. mimi
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Sunday, July 20th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Meet-up with Lyon County Democrats & Governor Candidate Paul Davis
Paul Davis (D-KS) who is running against Sam Brownback will be present. Potluck Dinner format and short meeting for Kossacks/Democrats afterwards. There will also be several other candidates and a full meeting of the county party.
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Emporia, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Tim Huelskamp Asserts Benghazi is a Bipartisan Conspiracy.. And the Man who Could Beat him this year
Saturday, June 21st
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper's SO
3. T-BoneApollo
4. dougiemac
5. Regina in a Sears Kit House
6. Regina's SO
7. doingbusinessas
8. Eagle Keeper
9. Piren
10. SilverWillow
11. Sarge in Seattle
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Seattle Kossacks Dare to Dream 6/21/14
Sunday, June 22nd
March for Democracy Arrival Rally
Call for a national Constitutional Convention for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to end big money's corruption of our democracy. Dolores Heurta will be there to speak.
If you can't be there in person please sign this petition.
TIME: 11:00 AM
LOCATION: California State Capitol
1315 10th St • Sacramento
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Latest diary: Something big is brewing in California
Tuesday, June 24th
NYC Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for Dave in Northridge
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Donburiya
137 East 47th Street (Lex & 3rd) • New York
(Not wheelchair accessible, entrance is 2 steps down)
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. Dave in Northridge
3. Avilyn
4. plf515
5. followyourbliss
6. MBNYC
7. cohenzee
8. joanbrooker
9. waterstreet2013
|
Maybees:
Laura Clawson
|
Latest diary: NYC Meetup 6/24: Come Meet Dave in Northridge
Sunday, June 29th
Koscadia Kossacks Meet-up at Catnip Manor with Ojibwa!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Home of the Reed sisters
Address given by kosmail • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. Sara R
3. winglion
4. llbear
5. watercarrier4diogenes
6. Oregon Gal
7. loggersbrat
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Koscadia Meet Up, Sunday, June 29
Wednesday, July 16th
Annual Cheers & Jeers Dinner to Kick-Off NN14, Kossacks Only
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine
1250 Library St • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. norm
8. maggiejean
9. Shockwave
10. a gilas girl
11. susans
12. Sara R
13. belinda ridgewood
14. sidnora
15. Mr. sidnora
16. thankgodforairamerica
17. brillig
18. mik
19. K1
20. loggersbrat
21. Dave in Northridge
22. 714day
23. NormAl1792
24. texasmom
25. texasdad
26. a gilas girl
27. peregrine kate
28. provokingmeaning
29. justiceputnam
30. tmservo433
31. Mark E Andersen
32. Son of Mark E Andersen
33. winkk
34. theRoaringGirl
35. shermanesq
36. Doggie269
37. shanikka
38. jakedog42
39. ramara
40. skohayes
41. DebtorsPrison
42. gmats
43. Adam Blomeke
|
Daily Kos Staff:
1. Markos Moulitsas
2. Susan Gardner
3. Will Rockafellow
4. Meteor Blades
5. Joan McCarter
6. Faith Gardner
7. Laura Clawson
8. Chris Bowers
9. navajo
10. Jen Hayden
11. Elisa Batista
12. Denise Oliver-Velez
44. LuLu
45. Chicklette
46. PerfectStormer
47. 4Freedom
48. DemSign
49. vicki
50. Cedwyn
51. jotter
52. aha aha
53. Dennis Shreefer
54. ohmydem
55. Brainwrap
56. Mrs. Brainwrap
57. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
58. Anne Savage
59. BlueBarnStormer
60. sandiegodem
61. Pam Miles
62. TexMex
63. linkage
64. 2thanks
65. bunnygirl60
66. binkaroni
67. zenbassoon
68. nomandates
69. thepegster
70. Ooooh
Maybees: N in Seattle, Turbonerd, winifred3
|
Latest diary: Connect! Unite! Act! ATTN: DC, Tucson & Seattle Meet-up Info! +Q: Roll Call, Are You Attending NN14?
Friday, July 18th
Daily Kos Detroit VA Hospital Service Project
Sara R delivers 65 quilts, hand knit scarves and hats, books, 65 teddy bears, hand made greeting cards, and phone cards from the DK Quilt Guild, WAYWO, the Readers & Book Lovers, IGTNT and individual Kossacks to the nursing home at the Detroit VA Hospital. This is a wonderful project that many people can be involved with even if they don't attend the convention. If you care about veterans in a nursing home this is your project. Please volunteer to help.
DELIVERY TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Volunteer Office of the Detroit VA Hospital
4646 John R St. • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a Kosmail to participate in making the gifts and/or deliver them.
RSVPs to help deliver gifts:
1. Sara R
2. NormAl1792
3. Winifred
4. linkage (videographer)
5.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: DK Quilt Guild: What Inspires You?
Plenary Session Tables during the rest of the Convention
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to have a seat reserved for you in the main ballroom of the convention center for the big events. These table will be there so we can all find each other as a group. The seating is not assigned. You can float from table to table. I'm only counting to see how many tables I need to reserve.
Cheers & Jeers Table:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. brillig
4. mik
5. K1
6. vicki
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Motor City Kossacks:
1. peregrine kate
2. provokingmeaning
3. 4Freedom
4. Brainwrap
5. Mrs. Brainwrap
6. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
7. 2thanks
8. Sydneyluv
9. DoReMI
10. Mideedah
|
SFKossacks Table:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. Tim Delaney
8. maggiejean
9. Jeff in CA
10. Mrs. Jeff in CA
|
SFKossacks Table II:
1. a gilas girl
2. justiceputnam
3. Dragon5616
4. DebtorsPrison
5. tmservo433
6. shanikka
7. aha aha
8. jotter
9. norm
10.
|
Los Angeles Table:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Dave in Northridge
4. gmats
5. 714day
6. jakedog42
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
New York Table:
1. sidnora
2. Mr. sidnora
3. belinda ridgewood
4. thankgodforairamerica
5. Denise Oliver-Velez
6. hayden
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Seattle & Portland Table:
1. Lefty Coaster
2. Sara R
3. loggersbrat
4. N in Seattle
5. Cedwyn
6. linkage
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico Table:
1. texasmom
2. texasdad
3. TexMex
4. nomandates
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Maybees:
kjoftherock, angry marmot, boran2, Turbonerd, northerntier, northerntier's SO,
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for navajo
Event will be potluck, so please sign up here with food, beverages or booze
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. arizonablue
6. Mr. arizonablue
7. Kane in CA
8. puzzled
9. Late Again
10. Mr. Late Again
|
Maybees:
rasbobbo
DaNang65
drnatrl
dewey of the desert
Mr. dewey of the desert
PSzymeczek
|
Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
Saturday, August 9th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.