Random Thoughts - Part III The Search for Spark (No Politics)

[spike021]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

That is cool but also a bummer. I have only driven the west layout but it was a great track. The guy who designed The Ridge up in WA was the same guy who designed Thunderhill. They have a similar feel.

I've only driven East, but it was cool also (other than going off-track at the Cyclone corner, whatever number it is..5?).

Honestly though the best part about it wasn't even driving my own car but riding along in my instructor's 2017 BRZ with performance pack. He joined the class with the fast cars and was keeping up with the Porsches, lol. I think he said he was like 72 years old or something, retired SCCA/racing driver. Maybe @Sapphireho would know him.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by spike021

I've only driven East, but it was cool also (other than going off-track at the Cyclone corner, whatever number it is..5?).

Honestly though the best part about it wasn't even driving my own car but riding along in my instructor's 2017 BRZ with performance pack. He joined the class with the fast cars and was keeping up with the Porsches, lol. I think he said he was like 72 years old or something, retired SCCA/racing driver. Maybe @Sapphireho would know him.

The east layout looks more fun to me as it has a lot of faster corners. West was tight but had great flow to it.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

The east layout looks more fun to me as it has a lot of faster corners. West was tight but had great flow to it.

I think East is probably better for a more typical track experience if that makes sense? It has a couple hairpins, sweepers, long straights.

West is more like a technical touge track, which isn't bad and I'd love to try it (I've gone on a ride-along on it before).

[2020BRZtS]

Originally Posted by spike021

They've been horrifically awful. The one time I got to be inside while the vet was checking out Haru, I saw him insist he had to shove Haru into one of those tiny plastic cat carriers so he could weigh him (since he wouldn't stand still on the scale). He literally shoved Haru in and slammed the door shut on his face.

Other than stuff like that, they never pick up their phone, the voicemail box is always full. Supposedly they can't afford to pay a receptionist, so they have the techs handle the phone. But I'm guessing someone's just pocketing that salary money because they're constantly over-booked and charge a lot for their services.

I'm definitely going to be looking for a new place again.

Also, that story about yours sounds awful. I haven't had a good impression of vets so far, seems like a lot of them just have their heads stuck up their asses.

We adored our previous vet. Our newfie needs to be expressed every few weeks and during initial lockdown they would not see anyone. We had to go to a new vet and they did it a few times as a courtesy but after a several months they needed us to switch. It's sad because one of the vet techs at the previous vet has worked with us for nearly 15 years. We have more vets in the area than fast food chains so there are plenty to choose.

From what you said before about Haru and the car may be linked to the vet. He may be anxious he is going there and that's why he calms down at any destination other than the vet. Dogs have pretty good instincts. If there is a link, the solution is more car rides to Starbux for pupiccinos.

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by 2020BRZtS

We adored our previous vet. Our newfie needs to be expressed every few weeks and during initial lockdown they would not see anyone. We had to go to a new vet and they did it a few times as a courtesy but after a several months they needed us to switch. It's sad because one of the vet techs at the previous vet has worked with us for nearly 15 years. We have more vets in the area than fast food chains so there are plenty to choose.

From what you said before about Haru and the car may be linked to the vet. He may be anxious he is going there and that's why he calms down at any destination other than the vet. Dogs have pretty good instincts. If there is a link, the solution is more car rides to Starbux for pupiccinos.

This is very true. Maya, usually comes with us to visit the in-laws and she knows that we are going there because we mention "We're going to see Tootsie!" and she fine the whole car ride.



When we went to the Finger Lakes in NY, 2 weeks ago, she was very stressed and what not because it was a long car ride, and a long car ride, often, would mean dropping her off at the kennel whenever we go on our yearly vacation. The more stops we did, the better she would do. Once we arrived and started visiting the different lakes/trails, she was good as new.



The ride back was a little tough, but all dogs can get anxious and car sick, some might be more sensitive than others to vehicle movements. I would recommend using that "Happy hoodie" I suggested a few weeks ago.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

That is cool but also a bummer. I have only driven the west layout but it was a great track. The guy who designed The Ridge up in WA was the same guy who designed Thunderhill. They have a similar feel.

Yea, if I remember right we even got track credit for the work. I may have some time coming,lol. Think they still have records?

Back then it suddenly got impossible to get track time for the club. We were making full flat race courses at air force base out of runways and tiedown pads. Sucked. SF-SCCA I believe still owns the raceway.

Edit: clarification:it was hard to get track time at Laguna or Sears Point, so SF SCCA said, "let's build our own."

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by spike021

I've only driven East, but it was cool also (other than going off-track at the Cyclone corner, whatever number it is..5?).

Honestly though the best part about it wasn't even driving my own car but riding along in my instructor's 2017 BRZ with performance pack. He joined the class with the fast cars and was keeping up with the Porsches, lol. I think he said he was like 72 years old or something, retired SCCA/racing driver. Maybe @Sapphireho would know him.

I might. Been lots of years.

[Sapphireho]

Going back to comfy rides, and awesome drives, I'm reminded of the most fun drive I was ever part of....

Early '90s, about 35 of us in the Porsche club Golden Gate Region are heading out early one morning for the annual National Porsche Parade that happens to be in San Diego that year. Our 2 lead cars are driven by members that are cops. We all have radios. We drove 100 to 110 mph from San Jose to San Diego with only a couple slow downs. I was 29, and still one of the coolest things in my life.

Oh yea, 1977 911S Targa with factory race seats is very comphy. No A/C.

Edit: here's a nice shot of her. 3 years ago just before we moved.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Going back to comfy rides, and awesome drives, I'm reminded of the most fun drive I was ever part of....

Early '90s, about 35 of us in the Porsche club Golden Gate Region are heading out early one morning for the annual National Porsche Parade that happens to be in San Diego that year. Our 2 lead cars are driven by members that are cops. We all have radios. We drove 100 to 110 mph from San Jose to San Diego with only a couple slow downs. I was 29, and still one of the coolest things in my life.

Oh yea, 1977 911S Targa with factory race seats is very comphy. No A/C.

Edit: here's a nice shot of her. 3 years ago just before we moved.

Air in the tires and everything!

Isn't that the picture you sent to say it was on the way to me?

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Air in the tires and everything!

Isn't that the picture you sent to say it was on the way to me?

It hasn't got there yet? Canadian post, what ya gonna do?

[spike021]

The vet has now had Haru since 9:30AM (almost 9.5 hours), and as of 5:30PM a bit over an hour ago they hadn't even examined him yet. So he's been stuck in their kennel for about 8.5-9 hours...

Edit: I called. Supposedly they _still_ haven't even started checking him. "Maybe in 10-15 minutes."

Really gotta find a new vet...

[2020BRZtS]

Originally Posted by spike021

The vet has now had Haru since 9:30AM (almost 9.5 hours), and as of 5:30PM a bit over an hour ago they hadn't even examined him yet. So he's been stuck in their kennel for about 8.5-9 hours...

Please find a new vet. The more I think about your cat carrier story the more I feel I need to say this. You treat Haru as a member of your family... so should everyone else.

Edit: Our newfie is 164 lbs. Last month she was 172 lbs. Next month she'll be 168 lbs. Why the variance? She bounces all over the place on the scale. Who cares? It only matters when they are on the boundary of how many pills to take for heartworm prevention.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by spike021

It's been one week since Haru's neuter surgery and things have been fairly smooth. But I have to bring him back to the vet tomorrow morning because they, yet again, screwed up with multiple things last week.

* They were supposed to check his paw for an infection or other injury, they didn't.
* They were supposed to give him an allergy shot because he's been battling some allergies lately. They didn't do that.
* They "include" a thorough nail trimming while the dog is under sedation, which I even reminded them I'd like to do since Haru is very sensitive about me clipping his nails no matter what I do. They forgot to do it but didn't tell me.
* The doctor was also supposed to check that Haru's adult teeth all came in correctly and apparently he didn't write any notes about that, so he probably didn't.

So I complained and they said to bring him in tomorrow, but for a day stay because they have to fit him in when the doctor has extra time between appointments.

I don't know how the heck they'll be able to do any of those things without him being sedated. Ever since the beginning, they've always rushed his appointments and been so forceful with him that he's been traumatized about the place. It's so bad that he'll try to bite them at times when they're examining him. He's not like that with anyone else, anywhere (well, except fake bites occasionally when he has a tantrum about going home).

So I'm kinda apprehensive and stressed about it. Last time (before the neuter appt) they got so tired of him they prescribed some kind of anti-anxiety med (like humfrz's prozac) to give him an hour before taking him to anymore appointments. So I'll have to do that.

I really need to just find a more reliable vet. Last time I looked in this area most vets weren't taking new patients since they're all overwhelmed by the pandemic pet adoption boom the past 2 years.

In addition to giving one to your dog - I suggest you take one yourself -

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Something to do with how somebody was parked or leaving the parking at the car museum.

Mind you he was still rattled from smacking the pillar in the parking garage so may have not been his normal reaction to such events.

UGH! - you just HAD to post another picture of that big, ugly, misplaced pillar -