Racing friends at Daytona

At Daytona, FL, in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge 2 1/2 hour race, a few friends have qualified their cars very well for the start of the race later today. In 5th position on the grid is Jameson Riley, driving (for the first time at Daytona) the Riley Racing Mazda RX-8. Co-driver will be AJ Riley, Jameson’s younger brother.

Riley Racing Mazda RX-8

Also, on the grid right next to that car, in 6th position, is the MINI Cooper S #197 of RSR Racing, driven by Sarah Cattaneo and VJ Mirzayan.

And, 13th position is the #196 MINI Cooper S driven by Randy Smalley, principal of RSR Racing, and Owen Trinkler.

RSR Daytona garage area

 

Post race comments: Both MINIs were running fairly well, #197 with Sarah on board was up to 2nd place for quite a while, but finally both broke engine parts and finished poorly.

Jameson Riley lead most of the race in ST class in the RX8, then had to come in for a touch more gas and was in 13th with AJ in the seat when an inexperienced driver took the car out in a crash.

This house rocks!

Drywall happening now – on schedule for mid April completion, I hope.

This view looks from where the kitchen will be, through the breakfast nook, with the porch to the right, and into the family room.

Closed Cell Foam Insulation

Being sprayed in now, followed by sheet rock.

Half done!

The bank inspectors say we’re 50% done!  Rough plumbing and electric inspections done, now for closed cell spray-on insulation this week, and rock next week! Making interior trim decisions now.

50% done

GT5 fortech moke

GT5 fortech moke

Originally uploaded by pbraun

A beauty!

Shingles on the roof

shingles on the roof

Originally uploaded by pbraun

Black shingles getting ready to get nailed on. They will match the color of the solar panels.

Most windows in!

windows and wrap

And now, the trades can work better! Electricians, plumbers, data, sound and security, solar, then the super insulation! Soon, the black roof shingles will go on. Shortly followed by the solar panels.

Moke

Wish the house was done, then I’d buy my friend Kemper’s partially restored Moke.

Moke shell all rebuilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of these fine days, there will be a Moke in my garage!

Windows in soon!

And, the roof goes on, with black shingles, and 20 solar photovoltaic panels, 2 panels for solar hot water.

Solar panels on this main, rear, roof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now investigating the possibility of a rainwater harvesting system, using cistern storage, to irrigate plants and lawn, water plants and wash cars. With an average rainfall of 52″ per year, just using the rear part of the roof, we should be able to get up to 32,400 gallons of water per year.  With the 9″ of rain there today, from Hurricane Ida, that would be more than 5000 gallons in the last few days. Now, where to store that? The cost of water is not going down.

Roof Rafters started

Rafters, from front of the house