Long Live Western Democracy

Long term they'll go down. Always. There's no escape. I'm talking about maniacs in power surrounded by yes men. But their evil force can spread death and destruction before they eventually meet their own destiny and humiliation.

 

Let's make it faster this time than back in the 40ties. The sooner we put a pin in Putin's war wheel the less the world will suffer. But where should we have the 2023 Nuremburg Trails? In US, EU or Ukraine. Let's think about that while we follow how the Russian economy develops from tomorrow and onwards.

Long live Western Values.

And Freedom!

Peace, Hot Rodding and Understanding

Will hard rain fall? Will there be a war? As cold clouds gather in the east we celebrate freedom and clear western skies. We're staying tuned and keeping our minds cool with activities, dreams and hope. Because dreams and passion keeps you sane while the world seems to be set on repeat, as good and evil is in a power struggle.

The Salt Slush way forward is to keep business open 24/7, because the race is on again. Here's what; Gatebil will happen 2022 and there will be Aftertrack parties too. Time Attack has endured the pandemic and now there's a race schedule with audience planned. Besides, Salt Slush will go to the US of A to race at Bonneville Speed Week again!

But right now we're in waiting-for-spring-mode. In active waiting. Because we know that when sun rays at our latitude finally are ready to warm us, our rides and the asphalt...we want to be ready too. 

 

Magnus avoid the void through a solid flow of car parts driven by dreams

 

The West: Bob's Big Boy Burgers under a clear open sky in California. Love it.

 

More of the same. Western freedom outside Autobooks & Aerobooks Store in December 2021.

The result of elbow grease and contemplation...a clean, sealed and painted transmission. In LaSalle Green. An early man 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission. Yes it's from 1949...shifting gears before few of us were born.

Carina in progress phase. Contemplating.

Meanwhile in another part of the Salt Slush workshop, Anders cast cup cakes in aluminum. What's the next step? Will he provide pistons to us all or will he loose his foam? Nobody knows.

 

However...

Keep sane in the cold rain

Freedom is not for free

Sun will come back.

Always.

 

Precious Metal

Let's first of all state that Smeagol is not a role model. We don't want to end up like him. We need to fence off severe addiction that magic powerful metal in any form might bring. But at this point we need to make a distinction. 

Metal that has been formed in to an object of passion represent category one. Here I'm thinking about hard-to-get vintage car or bike parts or low volume speed parts. The search, the waiting and the saving period required for this type can make a strong man weak for a while. But when that kind of stuff arrives, there's euphoria even in February. 

We need however to keep in mind that there's a potentially dangerous addiction lurking at eBay and Web shops too.

 

Next type of precious metal represent more of a Midas moment. When ambition is too strong, not even magic thinking will help. Rethinking might be needed to avoid disaster.

 

 

Precious metal type one according to definition above. When it arrives after a couple of years of eBay searching there's relief and true happiness all around. Yes, it's an upper grille bar for a 1949-1951 Oldsmobile.

 .

Another type one example; a significant piece of metal that is very precious for the group of people that spend a couple of years building this racer. Yes it's our metal speed machine.

 Third and last example of precious metal type one. High precision parts that forms a AirWerks or EFR turbo or a Magnuson supercharger of significant size. Precious for those in need for speed and smoking tires.

  

Precious metal type two, representing the Midas moment. The dream of electrification expansion of any kind in any device based on Lithium might need rethinking as price per tonne is on a rocket ride.

Did I hear the word sustainability echo from the mine hole?

 

Workshop weather and hope

The temperature bouncing around freezing point. Rain or snow and grey gloom. Fever, flu and a February feeling down. On top of that, lurking global political conflicts and the ongoing omicron peak. Life's a bitch. But on the other hand...

 ...the pandemic is coming to an end in a couple of weeks. The social restrictions will go away and within months, the race, the show and the party are ON again. Already this spring we can race, cruise and socialize again. Besides, days are getting longer and a couple of days ago, the sun could be seen for a couple of minutes at latitude 57.

All good? Nope. This means that it's time to shorten the Fika (A Swedish social habit that involves coffee), reduce the our endless Big Lebowski type of discussions and make things happen. 

Why? Beside our Landspeed racing in US and providing turbos and superchargers to people with crave for power, most of us have rather exhausting project that needs to be completed too. Preferably before summer and Bonneville Speed Week.

Consequently, the Salt Slush Workshop was really busy this Sunday. Energetic and loud. Speedy. Felt good.

 

 Ragnar kept the lathe spinning. Aluminum chips was all over the place. Literally. 

Ragnar's beard sparkled in silver i a certain light from all angles.

 

Me? I assembled our Rocket Engine. Because we want to take off soon...

Kalle had the workshop compressor runnning continuously as he worked feverously to get his Vespa ready for a paint booth. Reason: He's getting his -67 Camaro back from another paint booth soon...

Petter-The-Professor was working hard to get his latest -62 Amazon ready for Government approval. Welder eyes? Nope. After a working on a dozen old rusted out Volvo's, you become immune.

In between, there was a moment of contemplation. As when Carina was reflected over the the Rocket Engine progress. To which she really contributed.

Kalle's (92) mother, Lillebil, came by. A lot of stories was provided while Carina worked on the torsional vibration damper.

 

Summary: Progress was made through hard work while the cold rain was dripping outside and glimpse of hope was growing inside.

Before, after or instead of marriage counseling.

Not too long ago there was a beer in Sweden called Lawn ower beer. According to the marketing, this beer was a perfect beverage before, after or instead of lawn mowing. Which opened up for several opportunities.

 

Over time I've realized that this approach can be applicable for other dilemmas in life too. Like love and marriage. Like engine and car build. And especially the combination of these two.

Here's what; Before, after or instead of marriage counseling buy a car project in significant need of tender, love and care. Then team up with your spouse and get going. If the plan works, you have a common project and a new spark in life. Nothing comes however for free. A new set of reasons to argue will arrive. Gallons of wine will be need to be consumed while discussing tuning level, colors and eternal question about modifying or not.  

 

  Before, after or instead of an argument. Rocket Engine Rebuild Team work. 

 

Epilogue: There's no shortage of cars in need of rebuild or modification. Junkyards are of full engines that can deliver more power and a wouldn't be surprised if there are a few couples out there who need to team up and form a common dream too. Seems like we have a match.

 

 

 

Sunday, Sunday.

Sunday. A day of recovery from daytime work or hangover. When the hours after a long breakfast just disappear until the sun goes down. Perhaps take a walk in the park? Stroll to that cozy café? 

As always, there's an alternative. The Salt Slush way. Which means talk loud, make noise and do deeds until bed awaits. A way to get shit done, have fun with friends and relax while being busy. 

This Sunday was no exception. A solid post breakfast Semla Fika were followed by an energetic, noisy and enthusiastic work shift.

 

 Kalle made progress with his Vespa. At this point it might be worth to mention that safety glasses is a good thing to have when angle grinding. In addition, a white T-Shirt is not necessarily the best choice for a weekend workshop warrior. 

The work table located in no mans land in the Salt Slush workshop was too busy...and hence Cina had to look for a new calm place....

...while a crazy activity surrounded the belly up wasp continued

In the beginning God created Swedish climate, moister and rust. 

Then God said;

-Let there be angle grinders.

-Let there be MIG welders. 

   -Let there be those who weld.

Like Moses, Petter-The-Professor will weld Amazon's for 40 years. 

This Sunday was no exception.

Will he find the promised land? Where Amazons are sniffing low at significant speed over the salt? In the desert. Nobody knows.

Finally, Cina found a spot of her own, where she could work with the heater channel for her -49 Oldsmobile.

Meanwhile in another part of the workshop, technical dreams were exposed. 

 

The Salt Slush Way: When Sunday approach Monday, the mind should be free, project should have reached further even if the body might be a bit too tired. 

Stay Safe at Speed...as time goes by.

Better safe than sorry. Stay safe. Safety first. Safe travel. You've heard it all before. Several times and ignored it.

But when you're at Bonneville Speed Week safety feels more relevant than ever. However safety gear has a best before date which means that safety belts, helmet and fire extinguisher needs to be updated continuously even though the car has been sitting in a tempered garage under cover. 

You notice bitterly that the extinguisher has the same weight as when new and the safety straps looks like they did when delivered from the factory. You swear over the hassle to take care of (and remember) all these updates remotely from the a cold corner on the other side of the world (Sweden). But you know that if this stuff is not updated...no race.

So let's stop whining. When it's all updated I must admit that it feels good. Feels safe.

Helmets are expensive and should be changed too. Luckily not yet. We're good for 2022

Safety belts best before date was November 2019...

...hence Carina and I had to get the old once out and order new identical straps from Simsons. A couple of weeks later Simsons delivered to specification to Erik and we'll assemble these when we're back in California to test drive the Amazon at El Mirage in late April.

 Other than that we're good to go. Oh, I forgot The extinguishers need to be checked and updated too...