Best Of

Damaged an L3 disk when I was about 42 when lifting a short wet log (150 lbs estimated) into the back of my Cherokee. Was having trouble and decided to power through. Was successful with the log but in the process heard a thunk from my lower back and felt a shift that I expect was the disk rupturing. Was largely recovered in 9 months but 23 years later it still seems to sap my energy about 30%. Whole lower back becomes tight with moderate activity that includes bending over.

I didn't think you were trying to school me, I was just trying to focus more on the turbulent jet making its way into production. Achieving 40% thermal efficiency is amazing for a gasoline engine.
I do have concerns about longevity of that design. The pre-chamber appears to be a different metal piece which is probably press fitted into the head. Will that last 150,000 miles, or will it work loose and destroy the engine?

Due to the work that I did when I first came to Los Angeles, installing cell phones, Chuck was the first celebrity that I met doing that work. He had a Mercedes 560 SEL back in the day and it was literally the first phone I ever installed in someone’s car. I remember trying desperately to get the backseat out of that thing to the point that I ripped the leather under the headrest, I was able to repair it to a point that it wasn’t noticeable any longer, but I still lived in fear for a good long time afterwards that I was going to get my AZZ kicked by Chuck Norris. Looking back on it now I wish he would have because it would’ve been something else to have a memory about. About a year later, he came back in the shop and we took the phone out of that car and installed it in a different one. Over the years I met with him I half a dozen more times the last time being about 2002. He was always smiling, cheerful, and pleasant to be around. And he always had a story to tell. He was a great man. He will be missed.

Wow! Can't top those stories but will share that I once put my back out by being bent slightly and having a major coughing fit on my way to class in college.

Lost my 1st full time job due to back situation when carrying a heavy load into my parents basement and had to bend slightly to clear a low ceiling in the stairway. After a few days of agony went to the doctor and said to her I think I pulled something in my leg as I can't bend much w/o getting major pain...this is when I learned about sciatic pain. Wound up in the hospital for 5 days in traction and went home with lots of pills.