I was battling a cold and felt like crud. But I was committed to go on our annual pilgrimage to Metric Mechanic. So I packed up my camera and cold meds and took off to meet Tom Kyle. We’d decided to caravan on a separate route from the rest of the group. It would take a little longer, but the back roads would be a lot more fun.

I’d taken the route myself one other time, but it was a lot more enjoyable going with a friend. It ended up being the PERFECT day for the drive. The weather was made to order and the leaves were well into their glorious fall colors. The route itself offered the kind of twisties that are the very reason we buy these cars.

We’ve always been greeted warmly by the gang at Metric Mechanic and this time was no exception. This was my third or fourth trip and it felt like a homecoming. Tom and I ended up arriving a little earlier than the rest of the crew. Apparently they were delayed due to some lane closures on Hwy 44. While Tom and I waited, Teddy explained a few things about a motor they were working on for a guy in New Jersey.

When the other club members showed up (about 15 in all) Jim, Teddy and Courtney hosted a great technical session. Courtney was his usual animated self which makes the visit that much more pleasurable. We all shared light-hearted stories about our experiences with the local constabularies. And we learned more about the challenges of being a high performance shop and the legitimate need to test their product from time to time on local roads.

Jim talked about piston design. His detailed knowledge is impressive, and I have to admit that I didn’t have the capacity to take it all in. I think some of the other guys were better equipped to understand the deeper technical points. But the bottom line is that Jim obviously knows how to generate horsepower with reliability.

Another topic of discussion was differentials. Courtney talked about Limited Slip Differentials, how they work, and why they are preferred in many cases. He showed us components of their own design and why it works better.

At this point I was more involved in taking pictures and didn’t listen very well. But the club members appreciated the depth of knowledge and the ability of our hosts to communicate technical information in a way that’s understandable. And they’re pretty patient with us when we ask lots of questions.

Although the folks at Metric Mechanic are known for their mechanical ability, we rave about the food. Mary always puts out a spread that leaves me wanting only one thing – another stomach! We sat around and talked a little more about cars and life in general. We were all very appreciative of the hospitality shown by Jim, Teddy, Courtney and Mary.

Being sufficiently stuffed I elected to take Hwy 44 home. I reflected on my thoughts from early in the morning. I was very glad I still went and I would have missed oit on a lot if I’d stayed home. Now I’m looking forward to next year.

For the whole photo set click HERE.