Miata Mailing List: February 1999, Message #43

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Sue:
	I hope you are getting paid REAL well to live up there!

Sue wrote:
> 
> Just in case anyone's heard of our record breaking cold and wants to feel
> better about where ever it is that they live, here's the URL:
> 
> www.alaska.net/~nwsar/
> 
> I live out of Fairbanks, in the Tanana valley region.  The warnings,
> watches, advisories section in the top part is interesting, too....
> 
> To all Alcan 2000 (or whatever we finally call it) listers, I promise, it
> does warm up.  It'll be in the 70's+F in June.   And pure daylight...no dark
> at all.
> 
> Prop planes fly down to about -40F, turbos to about -60F.
> 
>   Cars are ok down to about 45-50 below, if they are properly winterized,
> plugged in or garaged and cared for.  At about 40 below and lower, you can
> feel the shifter stiffen, the clutch takes a lot more muscle - and then
> doesn't exactly engage quickly, the steering is stiff, the brakes hard and
> much reduced in effectiveness, belts tend to break, and forget the CV
> boots - they're goners.  Top speed may be around 40 MPH.  At about -55F,
> most cars refuse to run.  Smart cars.
> 
>  Dumb bosses - we have to go to work anyway - carpool in the biggest,
> toughest vehicles, and hope for the best - about a 15 mile run to town.
> Then there is the joy of ice fog - frozen vehicle and other emissions -
> turned to ice crystals suspended just above ground level....kinda like
> driving in a cotton ball, only with sharp, hard things (other vehicles, etc)
> hidden in it.  BTW, the Yoko Guardex's saved my Protege, and possibly my
> life the other day....a Cheechako got scared in the ice fog, and stopped
> dead (almost literally) IN the on ramp. (Sourdoughs know not to stop in
> driving lanes - and preferably not to stop at all - I can't tell you how
> blinding this stuff is - worse than the worst Oregon coast fog I ever saw)
> Didn't see him until the last sec., and the tires plus my dear old Dad's
> winter driving lessons saved my butt.  Thanks, Dad and Yoko tires!-and all
> you guys who gave me great tire advice.  I owe ya...
> 
> At -50F, a cup of boiling water thrown into the air turns to ice before it
> hits the ground.  At -70F, the boiling water turns into a cloud and floats
> away - nothing hits the ground at all - BTDT.  It's waaayyyy too cold to
> snow.  That stops at about -25 to 30F.
> 
> Anyone wanna adopt me?  I'm a light feeder, housebroken...come complete with
> a shiny black/black 99 PEP.   Free to a good home, must be placed together.
> 
> (I gotta get out more!)
> 
> Hey guys, keep telling me how warm it is where you are.  That really helps,
> Jeff! :-p
> 
> Sue and Panther
> North Pole, ALASKA
> (the magnetic north pole is easy to distinguish - it's farther north, and
> warmer...)
> 
> Oops, translation:
> Cheechako = newbie, newcomer.  Dumber than dirt in the cold. Thinks the
> bears are all out to get him, personally.  Easily frightened by our 1#
> mosquitoes....target of jokes.
> Sourdough = old-timer, tough, knows it all... (800# for Hawaiian Vacations,
> liquor store locations, nearest tanning salons, and tall tales - including
> the ever famous, 'yea, boss, I was sick.  Really!')
> Old translation is sour on the country, not enough dough to get out - from
> the Gold Rush days - in '98 - you know..." North to Alaska".  Except they
> all headed for the Yukon....
> 
> OK, I'll shut up now.  Gotta go thaw the cat off the windowsill....

-- 
Joe Portas "The KNOBmeister"
Littleton, Colorado USA

'91-RED"A"   "KNOBzilla"       
'85 CJ-7     "MUDmagnet"
'78 GMC Van  "Bessy the MIATAhauler"

Team "Everything in moderation - nothing in excess"

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