Returning Smoker

[markss327]

Well, after a 10yr absence, I'm back.
Now retired, but working part-time. Needed to get out of the house kinda thing....
I haven't been to the old TDR since it changed ownership, but I see rather substantial changes.

I'll post some pics later, but know that I'm still pounding the pavement, just now on two wheels.
This is my 2015 Yamaha FJR.

[Basement Paul]

Nice to see you back here in hot rod land. Maybe we can coax you back to the drags at some point, or maybe just for lunch even.

-BP

[TireSmoker]

Welcome back, good to see you again! Post up some details on that bike.

-Dave

[markss327]

Sooooo.....
As it goes, about 10yrs ago I kinda lost interest in go fast cars. Lifestyle changes.
We sent my son Dan to a private high school, with some rather hefty tuition.
Then, he went off to college, with a full tuition scholarship. McDaniel University. Main campus in Westminster Maryland, and a satellite campus in Budapest Hungary. Dan spent 4 semesters in Maryland, and then transferred to Budapest, then graduated. Double Major - Political Science and Communications. I was there for his graduation. He’s now a teacher at Avon Montessori, and is living in Lakewood, Ohio.

Colleen retired in Nov 2022. Pretty much stays at home.
I retired in January 2024. 29yrs at PCC Airfoils, and 14yrs at TRW - TAPCO.
By March, I was climbing the walls at home. I needed a job. I found a part-time gig at Stanly Black and Decker in Berea. Three days a week, 6 hrs a day. Yea, it’s a 35min commute across 480, and then past Hopkins. I like the job. Good people here.

When I was last here, I had a 2012 Impala Fleet. Nice car. Ran it up to 143k and sold it. Then, I got a 2017 Dodge Challenger SXT. 3.6, 300hp. Nice car. Ran 15.3 at Quaker, and 14.9s at the old TDR.

It got to the point where it needed an exhaust (over a grand....) and was actually rusting thru in the rear quarter. That was really disappointing. Only had 117k. But the used car market was in my favor. Got half of what I paid for it new! Traded it for the current 2024 Equinox, my practical 'retirement' car.

While I still had the Impala, Dan and I got into off roading ATVs. Picked up a used 2002 Honda Rancher. We both road the snot out of it. Then, upgraded to a 2016 Suzuki King Quad 500.

Independent rear suspension, power steering... nice quad. Dan went off to college and lost interest. Sold off the Suzuki and decided to get back on motorcycles. I’ve been riding since 1978, and sold my last bike, a ’83 Suzuki GS110 right after Dan was born. Again, a priority change. Picked up a used 2015 Yamaha FJR, with only 4k miles, in Oct 2020. Now, I just hit 30k! If I ever get tired of that, my dream ride would be a C6, LS3, 6spd. Time will tell….

[MostMint]

Thanks for the update! Lots of changes in life.

I do wonder if your Challenger was stock. Based on what I've read these cars should be running 14.3 though recent "butt dyno" test in mine tells me it's probably closer to yours in performance. I hope to get some real numbers soon.

[markss327]

My '17 Challenger SXT was all stock. 14'3s uh...... yea.
Well, it did have a Class2 hitch. That's good for an extra 40lbs....
Keep us posted on what yours runs.

[TireSmoker]

I ran Gwen's '19 V6 Charger AWD once and I think it was in the low 15s. Not sure what the weight difference is between a Charger and Challenger, though.

[MostMint]

My '17 Challenger SXT was all stock. 14'3s uh...... yea.
Well, it did have a Class2 hitch. That's good for an extra 40lbs....
Keep us posted on what yours runs.

I was hoping you were going to say those numbers were on warm summer days!

The 0-60 meter in the car records a best of 6.0 though that could be down hill for all I know. I haven't tried it yet

Mine has CAI and mufflers/resonators deleted (too loud I didn't do this!) Maybe a few tenths there, maybe slower I don't know. I must have been mixing up ETs and vehicle mods because your experience is very consistent with numbers I'm reading on stock SXTs this vintage.

I do know that I have to be careful with this car on the freeway it feels like I'm going a lot slower than I actually am.

[markss327]

I can remember when I first got the Challenger.
I'd be in the sub triple digits, and wouldn't realize it until I looked at the spedo....
As time went on, (and Cooper tires) I learned to watch my speed.