On Tue, 26 Nov 2002, David Brodbeck wrote:

> Houghton, Michigan, where I used to go to college, used "stamp sand",
> which is actually very fine crushed rock. Think gravel, but with grains a
> bit courser than beach sand.  It's all sharp edges, so it makes a great
> traction material, and they have vast amounts of it from the mine tailings
> piles that are everywhere up there.  The main disadvantage compared to
> salt is it has to be swept off the roads at the end of the winter; it
> doesn't dissolve away.

I want to live in Houghton!  I'd gladly trade sandy streets for an intact
vehicle. :)

Michigan, and southeast Michigan in particular, seem to have a vested
interest in rotting out cars, roads, bridges, and vegetation.  I only
half-wonder how much is the auto industry's political encouragement...
I haven't really been able to figure it out.  Casper, WY got just as much
winter precipitation as the southeast here, and they just used sand.  Salt
wouldn't have done any good in the really cold weather anyway.  They also
weren't too proud to close dangerous freeways.  They also enforced chain
laws.  What a lovely state was that for winter travel..

I'm afraid to even drive the syncro here this winter.  Seam rust, wheelwell
rust, control arm rust.. its major winter outings will probably be for donut
purposes in a nearby parking lot, if that.

ian Butler / ian@hplx.net
'88 Scirocco 16v, '87 Syncro GL