cobwebs and crickets

A little over 2 months since the last post.  Embarrassing.  The main reason for this is that we got some attached bicycles to ride around with the kids.  They are too big and heavy to disconnect from our bikes and take to the basement after each use, so guess what: they all now live in the last open space in the garage.  They make it completely impossible to open any drawers on 4 of 6 tool boxes, impossible to use the lathe, press, or workbench, and they use up the last spot of floor space where I could work.  Epic.

As if that wasn't bad enough spacewise, the mustang has finished shedding parts into my garage, and then I got this beauty off CL which is taking up some space I didn't even have:

At this point only the fact that I have a clear goal is separating my garage from that of a hoarder's.

Also school started 2 weeks back and I am teaching a new course in the afternoons.  However, my luck is turning.  The course I am teaching is a subject I know really well so it hasn't destroyed my free time. 

I also finally bought this:

 

I wish I had gotten it much sooner.  I am starting into the rear suspension design which would have been impossible without this book.  I say this already having 4 books on the subject.  One of the suspension chapters begins with an awesome quote:

 

"Figuring the suspension of a car is almost entirely a matter of making useful approximations.  It is not an exact science.  But neither is it a blind application of rule of thumb principles."

 - Maurice Olley 1961

I think we all tend to think that someone who analyzes less than us is a maniac, and someone who analyzes more than we would is too academic for the real world.  It is hard to know how much is the right amount.  I think this quote sort of helps ground that effort.  It makes me think I am doing things about right actually.  Although perhaps no matter what one's level of care were, it may make him think that!

I hope to be posting again soon with some rear supsension discussion!