The Civic is back from the body shop...

... and looking great! I had the hood painted red at the same time as the big dent was repaired by the insurance. Pat even managed to fix up the cracked front lip and the car looks great.

I did manage to make it to ICAR the other day, but I was in such a rush to get out on track after waiting in line to get my bracelet, that I was not able to start my timing software or camera. Also, the alternator light began flashing during my session, so I decided to stop after only one session and try to drive the car to Pat's before the battery died. I made it to Pat's and we looked under the hood. He pointed out that although the alternator belt was still present, the bolt that keeps the tension on the belt was gone, and the belt was barely touching the pulley... a 10$ fix it turns out. Anyway, I left him the car at that point for the body work, and only picked it up yesterday. I will try to go to Monday night lapping at St-Eustache, as there are only a few of these left before the track closes. 

I went back to the scrap yard to pick up a couple of parts for the BMW. I decided not to take the aluminum interior trim, because it was actually made of plastic. I think the M3 version was real aliminum. I've been driving the Saabaru quite a bit and I still think it's a real hoot to drive. I hope I can keep it in drivable condition for a long while yet.

Finally, I am trying to put together a plan to be able to head out to Mosport for the Thanksgiving track day hosted by our club, with the family. It depends if Pat is interested in coming and trailering the Civic in. 

Blacked out Maybach... Dracula's car?

Interesting wheels on this Porsche Turbo

Late V12 XJS

Aventador's invariably draw a lot of attention...

An Audi A5 with nice wheels

A surprising spot at Kenny U-Pull

A nice clean 944S

There are a few of these lovely AMG GTS's around now

The E36 still looks great in my book.

I've never seen a Boxster with an Ebay rear wing...

Another AMG, this one with bright red wheels

Oscar posing with the Civic, before the dent repair.

No track time in August...

I somehow managed to spend the whole month of August without driving the Civic on track... a combination of trips and other events jest made it impossible to go to St-Eustache or ICAR... hopefully this evening the weather will clear up and I'll get a chance to go to ICAR.

Since my last post, we have been on a family trip to the Boston area and to the project house on several occasions. The mileage on the M3 has been adding up, and I had to do an oil change last week as a result. The car is performing well. I still need to change the oil temperature sensor plug and there is still a check engine light for some throttle sensor issue that has been there for years. At least with the summer tires on, there is no more slow leak on one of the tires.

The Civic will go to Pat's this evening or tomorrow so he can do the body work and finally try to figure out if there is an easy solution to the oil consumption issue. He still has the Saab, but hasn't had time to investigate the suspension noise and vagueness in the rear end.

News of my old Civic: Sajan managed a 1:49 lap at Tremblant with the car... pretty impressive for a normally aspirated FWD car. He accomplished this with 2 rear wings and a splitter.

Here are some random photos of the past few weeks

Questionable colour for this AMG GT

The M3 after a rare car wash... the wheels were filthy

A rare Dodge Demon

A rare Jaguar XJ-R

... and a rare AMG GT-R all spotted within 5 minutes of each other on my walk home.

I like this spec of STi

I still like the design of the GC8, more than any WRX since

Another rarity: Saab Turbo X

A super clean Plymouth Prowler, with the cool plate "Concept"

 A clean Z3 M in the same parking lot in Ogunquit

An anniversary edition WRX spotted in the Boston area, a model we did not have in Canada

Livin' the low life

A very shiny early Miata on steelies in Revere, Massachusets

Still one oy my favourite cars of the last 20 years, the AMG SLS

The M3 just after I installed the summer wheels

A subtle, debadged M2