LSR "community" helping each other regarding non-racing things?

[tallguy]

Greetings, everyone, and best wishes for a great new year for us all.

It's been well-known for a long time that despite the competition, land speed racers are usually eager -- or at least willing --
to help one another, even if they are rivals in the quest for a specific/same land speed record.  This may be explained by the fact that there's no prize money in this kind of racing.  Just recognition. 

I have observed, for many years, that land speed folks are friendly -- and in addition to things related to racing, many of us
are quite knowledgeable about a lot of other useful/important things.  So I was wondering . . .

What do y'all (or any of us, even) think about posting requests for ideas/suggestions -- or even info itself -- about a subject or
perceived "need" that you could use help with?  For most of the year, most of our racing vehicles aren't getting a lot of active
attention, and we may have some time to help each other in various non-racing ways.

If this seems like a popular idea, I'm willing to post a list of things about which I personally feel reasonably knowledgeable
(and willing to share the knowledge with others in the land speed racing community). 

[SPARKY]

where do you live?

[tallguy]

I live in California.

[71GSSDemon]

I know on another forum I am on, there is a ton of general chat.  Then off shoot threads.  There is a thread on For A Bodies Only (mopar a body forum) that is just a bunch of us who have become friends, talk about anything (mostly about nothing), meet up at shows, help each other on building things of all kinds, general support, etc.  Several who never met in person, got together to put up a 2 post lift at another member's house.  We stop and visit each other when traveling, etc.  Lots of different backgrounds, knowledge and experience.  The thread is now on page 24,104 with 602,590 postings!

[Orydo]

Count me in!

[tallguy]

Well, so far . . . the response has seemed a bit "lukewarm" at best.

Maybe folks in general are kinda shy, or otherwise busy with their own priorities.  This is normal and expected.

Anyway, I have some areas of interest/experience other than specifically about land speed racing, and could also use some
help/advice/referral(s). 

Thank you to those folks who posted here.  Here's what I can offer:
Ideas/suggestions relating to mechanical engineering (such as design, choice of materials, and some sources of products and
services); an interest in weight-saving tips; an interest in aerodynamics tips; experience in manufacturing methods.

One of my areas of interest -- not related to land speed racing -- is writing of song lyrics.  I would like to connect with somebody in the San Francisco Bay Area, in order to have a song performed and made into a video.  The main purpose for
this is to get the video propagated widely, perhaps as a TV ad and/or an online ad . . . that encourages diabetics to pay
attention to their condition instead of ignoring it.  I've been a diabetic for decades, and have learned that with good management of this disease, it doesn't have to take a great toll on one's general health or well-being.  But this management
does take some effort.  And management of someone's diabetes is up to that individual -- not others.  If anyone would like
to help "steer me" or introduce me to someone with experience in singing, playing or producing music, recording video, advertising, or anything related to this, please let me know.  Thank you in advance.

[bearingburner]

If you have a specific question on building a car you probably get a bunch of answers . Not all correct

[71GSSDemon]

I typically just click on the "show unread posts since your last visit" tab.  This forum is very slow compared to the other one I am on.  But that is lots of just chatting.  Like Sienfeld mostly.  I work in the Product Development and Engineering department as a failure analysis technician by trade at an engine manufacturer.  Been into hot rods and rat rods forever. I have a rat rod my son and I built, we built him one as well, and in 2018 I was lucky enough to find my dad's old race car.  1971 Mr Norms GSS Demon.  It had been lost and resting in a garage for 34 years.  it is back on the road, looking good and tons of fun to drive. With a heavy art interest, I like the creativity.  Dad and I dabbled in Class 2 machine gun stuff for 20 years or so until Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot ended.  I have a love for music, whisky, coffee and cigars (all very little nowadays - EXCEPT COFFEE - lots of coffee).  I am building my Charger for LSR, likely in time only in an unheated/un air conditioned poorly lit garage in east central WI.  I plan to be out for Speed Week to help Sid, then hopefully will have my car there for WOS this year - if not, then there to help Marty.

[Orydo]

I think that?s a great idea. In my experience, the land speed crowd is pretty supportive, and a lot of the best tips or solutions come from just chatting with others when things are slow. During the off-season, it?s nice to have a space where people can ask for help or share what they know, even if it?s not directly about racing. I?ve picked up a lot from others over the years just by being open to questions and ideas, so having a place to do that more officially sounds really useful.

[tallguy]

I think that?s a great idea. In my experience, the land speed crowd is pretty supportive, and a lot of the best tips or solutions come from just chatting with others when things are slow. During the off-season, it?s nice to have a space where people can ask for help or share what they know, even if it?s not directly about racing. I?ve picked up a lot from others over the years just by being open to questions and ideas, so having a place to do that more officially sounds really useful.

I wasn't thinking in terms of anything very "official".  I was thinking of an (informal)
community of folks like you and me.  Surely, each of us has a unique combination of interests
and abilities, and sharing some of them with others here could be beneficial.  I plan to post
here again pretty soon.  Thank you for your interest.

[MRK]

I think that?s a great idea. In my experience, the land speed crowd is pretty supportive, and a lot of the best tips or solutions come from just chatting with others when things are slow. During the off-season, it?s nice to have a space where people can ask for help or share what they know, even if it?s not directly about racing. I?ve picked up a lot from others over the years just by being open to questions and ideas, so having a place to do that more officially sounds really useful.

I wasn't thinking in terms of anything very "official".  I was thinking of an (informal)
community of folks like you and me.  Surely, each of us has a unique combination of interests
and abilities, and sharing some of them with others here could be beneficial.  I plan to post
here again pretty soon.  Thank you for your interest.

The sharing of interests beyond LSR is a great idea!
Music, science, film, sailing or whatever moves you.
It's quite easy to create a new forum page or pages where almost anything goes.
Feed me some titles that you think would be cool.
The chosen title will receive something special from me.

[Stainless1]

Oh... I got one...
The useless stuff you do when you're not racing       

[tallguy]

(As Steve McQueen might have said,) Racing is the big thing, compared to other things.

When he was young, his life was pretty difficult.  I enjoyed seeing several of the movies

he was in, including "The Magnificent Seven",  "The Great Escape",  "Papillon", "Bullitt", and "On Any

Sunday".