Coming to Montreal

[Dan]

I am going to Montreal today and will be there from tonight on until this coming Sunday.

Between now and Wednesday I am going to have a lot of time on my hands since my wife will be working and I will be checking out the sites.

If we have anyone in Montreal who wants to hook up I can be reached at
Hotel LeSaint Sulpice
414 Rue St. Supice
(514) 288-1000. Leave a message for Stra.

I don't know if we have any Montreal Marauder owners here but if so, let's connect.

Best,

Dan

[TripleTransAm]

I believe I live in the vicinity of Montreal ... ;)

I'll give you a shout, things are kind of crazy nowadays but it'd be fun to hook up.

You're staying right smack in the middle of the old town, very scenic and a stone's throw away from the old Port and all it's waterfront relaxation! And the weather should be nice, so the 'scenery' pleasant, to say the least. :)

[Logan]

Yeah, you're in a great neighborhood. Go eat at the Keg, awesome baked garlic shrimp... Tons to see and do in that area.

Wish I was there. Snow should be gone by now... ;)

[TAF]

What's the Old Steakhouse down there /Steve? Gibsons? Gibby's? I think that's it...it's in 'Old Montreal. I use to stay at the Chateau Champlaign...too bad you're not there for the 4th of July...KILLER Jazz-Fest!!!:banana:


I'm sure /Steve will make sure you see *cough* all the "culture" you want. :up:

[TripleTransAm]

Gibby's... actually, I'm due to visit that fine eating establishment soon, my wife and I promised ourselves a nice night out when we sold the house and... well, we sold the house, so...

For the culture-curious, it's always nice to visit Les Deux Pierrots on St.Paul which is right down the street from his hotel, to catch the local Chansonniers (translation: sort of "troubador" or folk artist) singing Quebecois folk music, usually just acoustic guitars, and usually just b*tching about the evil English and what they're doing to the french-Canadian peasants. ;)

The other culture TAF is referring to... hey, his wife is in town too, you know! ;)

[Logan]

That was the one part of work I always enjoyed while I lived there, was the lunch "Meetings"....

[TAF]

The other culture TAF is referring to... hey, his wife is in town too, you know!
Hey...I WAS referring to the "folk-art" ;)

[Logan]

Uh huh... ;)

[Marauderman]

What's the Old Steakhouse down there /Steve? Gibsons? Gibby's? I think that's it...it's in 'Old Montreal. I use to stay at the Chateau Champlaign...too bad you're not there for the 4th of July...KILLER Jazz-Fest!!!:banana:


I'm sure /Steve will make sure you see *cough* all the "culture" you want. :up:
Ah!!! My man Todd---there's not a place he hasn't been... or knows something about --or directions to and from---a Library of info--Ain't he Great!

[Dan]

OK. I am here. I see that I have a mesage flashing. I will get it and get back with you guys. I am hoping that it is a message from one ofyou.

Dan

[Dan]

GREAT!!!! I heard from Steve and left him a message back. I bet some fun comes of this. :)

I have to go eat now but I can't wait to tell you guys about the X5 that I went up against on the way up. What a blast!

Best,

Dan

[Dan]

The X-5 story....

I think that it was an X5 4.8. Perhaps it was a 4.4 but I don't think that the 4.4 has the type of pull that this guys vehicle had. Anyway...

While on the last 16 miles of NY State I was travelling at around 80 and an X5 blew past me. He must have been travelling at 110. I saw him coming too late so my attempt to accelerate next to him was not successful. Further that with the fact that he wound up getting through a section of traffic that held me up.

After I got throught the pack he was still in the distant view. Sight distances on 87 in this area can be up to a mile and a half and I was NOT going to get pinched at warp speed.

So, I came up to this one long stretch and decided that I was going to catch him. I have to say that it was the longest time I have spent travelling above 120 in my life. Certainly enough to become a bit more comfy with it. (Please note that there were no cars to be passed during this stretch.)

After a bit I caught him and we ran along side of each other like a Panther and Bull running side by side. He figured he could play with me but each time he would pull out I would pull up and pass him by a half a nose and then come back down. We were playing this game of "who has the most torque at high speeds" at around 110.

I was on top of him each time, of course. :)

I could see that he knew the road so I motioned with my hand in a gentlemanly fasion for him to take the lead and we proceeded to motor on down the road with him in front and me pacing him from about 3/8-1/2 a mile behind.

There was one time when I got hit with laser in the rear. I think he did, too. It was funny because he sped up just then and I took his cue. After a mile I saw no evidence of any one interested in asking for our licenses.

He got off of exit 42 and, as he did, he rolled down his window and gave me a big thumbs up.

I have too much respect for the guys in the BMWs who actually know how to drive so I would not call this a kill. It was more like two swordsmen fencing with their practice gear on. I mean, this guy actually used his blinker on every single pass that he made. Who, in America, does that?!?

It was quite a bit of fun.

Best,

Dan

[Dan]

On Martinis in Montreal...

In CT you can go just about anywhere and they know how to make a Martini. I can order a Martini in CT like most moms can order a "venti half caff non fat no foam two pump light ice extra equal mocha no lid" at Starbucks and the 'tender can go right to it. If I want a Bombay oliver twist, extra cold, stirred-not shaken, with a water back they go to work and I have the exact drink I want in under a minute.

In Montreal most bars don't even chill the glass. I was in a restaurant the other day and ordered a Martini and wanted to know what types of gin they had. Her answer was "ONE". I got a Martini from a bar and they used PITTED OLIVES.

There is one place in Old Montreal that seems like they can do it right. It is called Brandy's. I am going to try there tonight.

ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH. Maybe it is just Old Montreal that is like this. Maybe, if I went to the Montreal Hard Rock it would be different. My problem is that I really dislike going to franchise places when I am away.

Oh well. The food is good. The women are gorgeous. The people are friendly and laid back (for the most part). And the city is beautiful.

Best,

Dan

PS: As an interesting aside I have learned that "watering hole" is not a local term here in Montreal. The guys at my hotel are so desirous to offer great service that when I asked him "Where's the nearest watering hole?" he looked at me with the most curious look. Once I explained it to him he got it but it was quite funny.

[TripleTransAm]

Montreal's a big town... lots of bars, and most of them aren't in the old Port. If I had more advance notice, I might have been able to take a day off and lead you to some of the trendier areas (there are about a half-dozen at least) but with my life schedule it would be tough to get freed up in this fashion now.

In any case, if you're still online, check your phone messages, I left you a message about tonight's musclecar gathering (20 years and older, but they usually appreciate all cool cars), or we could just hook up for a long lunch somewhere.

And then there's Friday nights at Laval, which (if the damned weather warms up!) is usually populated by hundreds of cool musclecars that hook up at a burger joint at a mall just north of Montreal... always some cool street-driven muscle to behold.

I'll have to wash the damned car first, though.... my construction site is still just sand and mud for roads, and I just haven't had the time to wash the car in over a month!

[Dan]

Steve,

I am sorry about the short notice. It seems that everything in my life is that way.

It was good to talk with you on the phone. I am looking forward to tonight.

Best,

Dan

[Dr Caleb]

Sounds like too much fun!

Dan, there's a really good pub just off St. Catherines IIRC, near Place des Arts, just south of it. Irish Pub - O'Malleys (?) that has some fantastic Scotch and a proper cigar bar in the basement.

I've been kicked out of some of the best and worse bars and pubs on St. Catherines . . . Ahhhh, Montreal!

[Dan]

Doc, et al,

Steve and I are headed to a car cruise tonight at some burger joint/diner type place in the Montreal area.

Anyone interested should post here. It looks like Steve is monitoring this thread and I am certain he could give fairly good directions.

Best,

Dan

[TripleTransAm]

Dan, don't sweat it about the last minute thing... sometimes I head out on business and I know I won't have time to schmooze but then all of a sudden I get surprised and find myself with available time.

In the meantime I hope you're enjoying your stay. Hopefully we'll have a couple of semi-clean Marauders representing tonight... they usually only let 20 year old cars or older into the show area, but back when my WS6 was new they were sufficiently impressed to let me park right by the entrance. Anything could have changed over the years, though... we'll see how it goes.

If you have a map, we'll be heading over to Decarie (hwy 15) and Paré, to a place called the Orange Julep. It's a big-a$$ (tm) orange, sitting right on the side of the freaking highway, famous for it's orange-flavoured drinks. Thursdays are rice nights, but Wednesdays are cool.

[TripleTransAm]

A couple of pics from tonight's get-together...

Dan, hope you made it back to the hotel okay, I'll post directions to the Laval thing once I get some sleep.

Nice meeting you and your wife, by the way...

ps: the second attached photo was accomplished through judicious use of shutter speed and as steady a hand as possible (didn't feel like getting my monopod), and was taken when it was completely dark after sunset. Aren't digital SLRs the ****z? :up:

[TripleTransAm]

BTW, my son really enjoyed the coin trick...
(check out the cool effect on the coin with just the right shutter speed!)

From left to right: Dan, my wife, little Victor.

[TAF]

Dan...I'm glad you hooked up with /Steve...he's a good man that I've had the pleasure of meeting, as well.

I'm diggin' the pics/special effects there /Steve :up:

[woaface]

Steve! If only you knew how much I love photography! I really want to learn some tricks and stuff, I've got a 3.3meg digital.

[Dan]

There is a coin trick that I taught myself where I roll an American Silver Dollar across the top of each finger from the thumb down to the pinky and then under my fingers and back to between the thumb and forefinger to start anew. It is something that was in an old Bogey movie, I think.

Anyway, Steves son Victor was absolutely captivated by the trick and loved it.

Steve, your hospitality is specatacular and your family is as nice as they are handsome. Thanks for last night. I can't wait until tomorrow night and hope that it does not rain.

It was a lot of fun to see how popular the MM is and especially the blue one. I had many people ask me about the color and display surprise that the car came in blue.

Best,

Dan

[Dan]

PS: What did you do to get that photo? Maybe we should spend time tomorrow taking photos instead of doing a car show. You seem to have learned a lot more about your SLR than I have and I would love to do a photo thing.

Your call, though. I am just l'invité. (I hope I translated that right. I am trying to say, just "the guest.")

[TripleTransAm]

Wow... talk about timing... I was about to check this thread to include some info for tomorrow's get-together.

Attached is a photoshop-ized map: as much as I'd love to escort you up there again, the travel logistics for me would be even worse than yesterday's. But it's real easy... just bask in the knowledge that you'll be following the thickest flow of traffic on a Friday night drive home for most suburbanites, so you'll have plenty of time to check the highway signs. ;)

You'll start from your hotel location and look for a highway entrance to the 720 West (that's the Ville Marie autoroute/tunnel we took yesterday). From your hotel, I think the easiest way is to make it over to Berri street, turn west on Viger and catch the downramp to the tunnel just before the Palais des Congres... small signs pointing to the 720 should be visible around there.

Once on 720, continue up out of the tunnel (as we did yesterday afternoon)... at this point you're about at the first arrow I drew in the red trajectory in the attached map. This time, you're NOT taking 15 north, but staying on the 720 as it becomes highway 20, in the direction of Toronto. Do not panic, you will not reach Toronto anytime soon. ;)

Stay on 20 West in the direction of Toronto and look for signs for highway 13 North. Once you get on highway 13 North, just stay on that highway as you cross all sorts of other highways (520, 40, etc) eventually leaving the Island of Montreal northbound... you're now in Laval Island. The first exit on the right should be for Samson or Notre Dame, taking this exit will eventually allow you to take an overpass and cross over to the west side of the highway 13. The get-together is in the huge shopping spread there. There are 2: one for the Mustang club, one for the classic car crowd. The classic car crowd is the one further north, near a Donut shop and a gas station.

$2 Canadian to park within the show limits.

Should be a smooth (if not slow) trek... the only 'weird' situation might be after the 720 becomes the 20... it's 3-4 lanes wide but on the wrong side of the highway. ie. the other direction of travel on that highway is to your RIGHT! Very odd looking, but it's a divided highway nonetheless. Just stay in the middle lane and follow the 20 West signs (Toronto) until the 13.

You can always call me on my cell phone if you get lost or need clearer information.

Haven't decided which car to bring... bringing an F-body would entail having to wash it... *sigh* I really don't have the energy left to wash another black car...

[Dr Caleb]

When I bought my car, I was told it only came in black. In hindsight, since my dealer had 3, I bought 1 and two are still there a year after, I guess they just didn't want to order a fourth if the other 3 weren't going to sell. From sales figures, I believe there were no blues sole in Canada, so your car being there was indeed rare!

Excellent pics by the way! Good thing Victor got his good looks through the mytocondiral DNA :) :lol:

[TripleTransAm]

PS: What did you do to get that photo? Maybe we should spend time tomorrow taking photos instead of doing a car show. You seem to have learned a lot more about your SLR than I have and I would love to do a photo thing.

Your call, though. I am just l'invité. (I hope I translated that right. I am trying to say, just "the guest.")


Good translation.

You're referring to the coin trick photo?
Tip number 1: make sure your subjects are standing absolutely still.
Tip 2: you need a slow shutter speed to get the motion blur... in our case, the dark ambient lighting took care of that.
Tip 3: you need a flash fire to highlight the subjects... in this case, that's the magic Slow Sync mode that I was desperately trying to show your wife all evening long, except I didn't realize I had the lousy camera on full manual mode!
Tip 4: a very very very steady hand, or tripod.

Slow Sync means the shutter speed (and possibly aperture as well, if you're in full auto mode?) is determined by the ambient lighting, as if you were using no flash. So that means a really slow shutter speed in low light. While the shutter is open, the flash will fire once as well (at the beginning of the shutter opening for regular Slow Sync, as the shutter is about to close on Rear Slow Sync).

By using flash without the slow sync in a dark environment, usually the foreground is well lit but the rear is totally dark (since the shutter speeds on our cameras will range from 1/60 to 1/125 with flash use - too dark to catch the background). With Slow/Rear Sync, the shutter speed can be very low (like, as low as 1/2 second) and the flash will fire lightly just to light up the foreground. Great for taking night shots against a pretty background (city night skyline, sunset, etc).

In some cases, the flash can still blow out the foreground because of too much light. In this case, I just crank down the aperture a bit more (in some cases, f/11 last night) which means yet slower shutter speeds to maintain the background, but the foreground flash fire might not blow things away.

Car photography has always been a passion of mine, but once I switched to my first digital I found myself yearning for the control one gets through REAL lenses, not the built in teeny weeny lenses. Hence, I am now able to get creative with perspective and depth of field:

http://www.tripletransam.com/mfba/2004/041804/DSCF2950.jpg

[Logan]

Ack! It's a CAMARO Picture! On my site!! ACK!!!

[TripleTransAm]

Steve! If only you knew how much I love photography! I really want to learn some tricks and stuff, I've got a 3.3meg digital.


After enjoying the image quality (color, tone, even with 640x480 images) of my old Fuji 2900 point/shoot digital (2.3 megapixel max), I decided to stay within the Fuji fold by getting the S2 Pro last year, which also provided me with the benefit of using any recent and semi-recent Nikon-mount lenses.

It's a 6.something megapixel CCD sensor with honeycomb-shaped pixels, except that they are stacked at a 45 degree angle (instead of the usual Bayer horizontal/vertical pixel orientation). So the output images are all interpolated based on what the camera picks up from these pixels (except for the raw-type files, these are simply straight dumps from the CCD without any processing or interpolation). The above-posted Camaro photo was done at a 6.something output size and shrunk using Photoshop... this means the camera took the CCD output with its 45 degree pixel layout, and interpolated an image file in the classic horizontal/vertical orientation that is required by today's image viewers. At full tilt, the camera can produce 12.something megapixel images. Here's another example at 6-ish megapixels...

http://www.tripletransam.com/S2/DSCF6065.jpg


As you can see, the Fuji sensors tend to really react well to colours (and you can turn down the colour sensitivity if you want as well). Also, there are some theoretical studies done claiming that the 45 degree sensor orientation results in less pixelation due to the fact that statistically there are more angled lines in everyday scenes, but it's all theory and really hard to quantify.

At full tilt, the original 12-megapixel output image allowed me to read off the "Made in USA" print at the base of the little white slash at the top of my bass guitar, in the following shrunk photo:

http://www.tripletransam.com/music/DSCF4338_1.jpg

[Logan]

Ack! French guys and Flowers on my site! ACK!

[Dr Caleb]

Next thing you know Logan will turn into a cat and start saying *Pffffffft* a lot.

Nice pics Steve!

[Dan]

Just got back from a cruise with Steve. Wow. My second cruise in my Marauders life and they were both in Montreal.

Steve, tonight was a total blast. Did you see and/or hear me as I launched from the access road between the gas station and the chicken place? I had the TC off and the rear was on that nice edge between being ready to flail and the limited slip keeping it in line. There was a hopped up antique 'Stang in front of me that I caught by surprise. Once we were rolling I let him ride ahead of me when he nailed it. The MM stuck him like glue and left him for done at, where else, the top end.

It was all in good fun and I would NEVER call a classic 'Stang a kill. I have way too much respect for those cars. And I think that the guy in the 'Stang was probably asking his buddy what the he!! was going on, too. He was smiling but he just had to be wondering, too.

But what a BLAST I had tonight. The Canadians really know their cars and show a genuine interest (and lack of arrogance) toward anyone who is a motorhead.

Thanks, SO MUCH, to you, your wife and that squirt Victor. I had a blast. When I get the charger in I will have to come back up for some more fun.

Best,

Dan

PS: If any of you ever get the change to go to Montreal make sure Steve knows you're on the way. You won't be sad you did.

[TripleTransAm]

It was my pleasure to meet up with you, Dan. I've met a ton of car people over the years based on internet car clubs and one thing I've learned is: you can't judge a person by the car they drive, you get your mix of 'special' people and good folk. You definitely rank among the good folk that I've met in this fashion, and I'm glad it seems I left a similar impression. :up:

Also had a good time at the car gatherings. Talking to you about photography has got me thinking it's just a matter of weeks now until I cave in and get the 70-200mm f2.8 VR lens we were talking about. Ironically enough, I've also started using my 28-105mm D lens a lot more since we were at the Friday cruise. While it may not be the sharpest thing fully open (F3.5-4.5), I kind of like what it can do at f6.7 or around there. Even without ED glass, I still like the color it can deliver. I'll most likely be selling my 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 ED on ebay now, and might get one of the new DX lens to satisfy any wide wide angle requirements.

Talking to you about nighttime photography also re-ignited my interest in special effects photography. Here's how our two experiments came out (unfortunately, only hand-held, but next time I'll actually take out my tripod!):

http://www.tripletransam.com/2004/laval0521/DSCF4622.jpg

http://www.tripletransam.com/2004/laval0521/DSCF4625.jpg

Next time you're up in the area, do give me some advance warning. While family responsibilities preclude going on a rampage for any extended amount of time, I think I could leave my kid with my wife for an evening and allow us a boy's night out...