0
0
March 27, 2009
Bullrun Episode Six: Dart is Dismissed
By Mike Musto
RideLust.com
Bullrun Episode Six has now come and gone, with our favorite little green Dodge Dart getting the boot. For the participants, this is the point in the show where they are probably starting to think that they may actually have a shot at winning. The weaker teams have been let go and those who remain are there either because of driving skill or navigational prowess. More…
Zombie Jetta
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor
Spotted outside a grocery store in Boca Raton, FL, presumably while the owner was inside shopping for warm human flesh. And you thought the Matrix-themed Subaru and the Lord of the Rings Celica were out there! See the rest below the jump.
Via Sci Fi Wire.
A Mack Truck that Hauls: The Killer Mack!
By Jim Brennan
UDMan
Looks like the guys at BangShift.com have an in-depth feature in the works, but in the meantime I thought I’d post a few of the videos of this insane truck for your entertainment. The speed, the noise, the smoke–it’s amazing! More below the jump.
Continue reading "A Mack Truck that Hauls: The Killer Mack!" »
On eBay: Former Stock Car Converted To SCCA Road Racer
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor
This Monte Carlo started life as a Hendrick Racing ASA stock car. Somewhere along the line, presumably after the demise of the ASA, it was converted to run road races. It’s still running its ASA-spec LS1. Among many tweaks to set the car up for the road course were “modifications to chassis to achieve symmetry (basically the balanced ability to turn left and right),” and the original oil pan “replaced with a larger and deeper pan and Razor scavenge pump preventing oil starvation on right turns.” Tearing up the road course in your converted stock car? Cool! Check out the auction here.
Continue reading "On eBay: Former Stock Car Converted To SCCA Road Racer" »
Lost Chevrolet Dealership In Honolulu, Hawaii
By Dan Strohl
Hemmings
Jim Kelly, who already showed us a pretty nifty AMC dealership in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been out there looking for more old neat Hawaii dealership photos and recently came across these four photos of Aloha Motors, once the Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealership in Honolulu. What set Aloha Motors apart from its competition was its four-story parking rack, accessed by a unique auto elevator, necessitated by very little free space for the dealership’s full inventory. It’s like something you’d see out of Tokyo or New York City. Continue reading at Hemmings.
Cool Build: Twins Turbo Viper
By Speedhunters
Car Culture At Large
Twins Turbo Motorsports builds badass stuff day in and day out, and this Dodge Viper is no exception. This car, when finished, will be beyond badass. The owner of this car has had nine other Vipers before this one, in every imaginable configuration. When Twins Turbo was tasked to build this car, they were told to dream up the meanest, baddest street Viper imaginable–and to get it done. See the whole build at Speedhunters!
-Linhbergh Nguyen
What Car Do You Regret Keeping?
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor
Yesterday, Chris asked if you had misgivings about cars you’d sold. It seems like a lot of people do, which is part of the reason I can never let go of any of my rides. But what about the flip-side of this equation: what car do you rue the day you ever laid eyes on? Typically, the car you regret will be a major basketcase–that mother of all projects, the car that will always have you broke and stumped–the ride that, demonically, develops another catastrophic problem each time you fix the one that’s currently disabling it. And yet, you can’t let it go.
My ultimate basketcase is my ’84 diesel Escort. Sure, it’s been fun learning how to work on diesels, and I haven’t stopped working on this car since the day I bought it. It’s got a Mazda motor–the parts for it are incredibly rare and obsolete, and anything I do to it costs me about five times more than the equivalent repair on my Ford-powered Escort, which generally runs like a top. The diesel has demanded major overhauls, presented me with massive parts failures, and generated huge bills. It’s left me stranded and once even caused me to wreck. In short, the diesel Escort is the bane of my existence, and it’s a car that needs to be gotten rid of. But I can’t–and I regret it more with each successive drama.
How about you? Ever had a car you wished would just be destroyed by an act of God? Do you still have it?
Gearhead Destination: The Blue Ridge Parkway
By Brian Lohnes
BangShift.com
A while back we told you to go check out the Tail of the Dragon, an amazing stretch of road that will test your nerve and your ability to toss your junk through the corners. Today we’re sending you to another stretch of road. This one is called the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is among the most beautiful and enjoyable sections of macadam in the United States.
The road was started as a Depression-era WPA project in 1936 and was technically finished in 1987. It runs for nearly 500 miles from Virginia to North Carolina and along the way you’ll see amazing views, historical sites, and best of all, lots of curvy roads with elevation changes and the type of sinewy goodness that you dream happy dreams about.
e
There are 26 tunnels along the way that were hewn straight through the rock that stood before the road builders. There are also nearly 200 bridges. The highest point will put you more than 6,000 feet above sea level. The speed limit is on 45 mph but we’ve heard that the route isn’t teaming with smokeys so leaning into the loud pedal for a few curves may not cost you an arm and a leg.
Hit the official website to get the info. This would be a perfect way to spend a vacation with your family and hot rod.
Spot the Difference: The VW X-Ray
imotormag
Some people have said about the new Golf 6 that it’s more like the Golf 5.5, due to the similar looks to the outgoing model. However, aside from the exterior cosmetic tweaks, the new Golf is actually hiding most of its changes under the skin. So what better way to check it out than to use this cool draggable X-Ray? We also did a comparative video review to highlight the changes with the new model. Enjoy!
Where Have the Manuals Gone?
By Brett Powers
audiobahnv8sho
Where have manual transmissions gone? They’ve been getting harder and harder to find, and it’s not just rental fleets they’re disappearing from. Has anyone else noticed that the true manual transmission is disappearing? When I say “true manuals” I am talking about three pedals and a stick in the middle. 25 years ago, you could go to a dealership and find at least one or two of the exact car you wanted, with a manual, but in this day in age, it’s almost like a manual tranny is a special-order item. Since profit margins are higher on automatics, the sales rep may even try to talk you into one. Thankfully, the latest generation of muscle cars might be bringing the true manual back, but how long before the car gods snatch it away again?
