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October 5, 2010
Big Bad Benz Truck
Atomicalex
While Mercedes-Benz is known best as a luxury car maker in the US, in Germany, they make and sell everything from tiny city cars to giant city buses. And if it wasn’t raining over here all the time, I might be able to get a decent pic of some of their big stuff. This truck sure deserves one – it’s a purpose-built road-and-rail truck that, you guessed it, runs on train tracks as well as the road. This one is used to clean the rails and the clips and plates that secure the rails to the sleepers and rail ties. A pic of the custom hydraulics for the rail wheels after the jump…
October 4, 2010
The Worst Sign on the Autobahn
Atomicalex
The Autobahn is often regarded as a driving enthusiast’s dream, but more and more of these signs are popping up: Stau (or Ruckstau) is the German word for traffic jam. It’s particularly bad around cities, just like in the US. I get to see this sign about three days out of five on my morning commute, and the image quality mirrors my mood about it. I’ll post a pic of the best sign next week. Hint: it’s the polar opposite.
October 1, 2010
Audi Aflame
Atomicalex
In keeping with the recent theme of terribly done flames, I spied this Audi a flambe in the parking lot at the German equivalent of Home Depot. I wanted to wait around for the owner and score it for my LeMons efforts. Don’t you just love the fact that there are crazy rednecks in Germany, too? The surreal flames are perfect on this total beater.
September 30, 2010
384 Hours of LeMons, Here We Come!
Atomicalex
Scirocket II did not have the best outing in the April LeMons race at GingerMan, racking up more penalties than were technically permissable. Somehow, we managed to get back on track and finish the race. In anticipation of what might happen in the two upcoming midwest races in October, Chief Perp Jay Lamm picked ten teams to document their experiences in the back-to-back 384 Hour challenge with a super-cool LeMons FlipCam. We made the cut, presumably in the “least promising” category: it seems these guys might have had some bad experiences with VWs in general! We’re taking this mission to heart – I’ll be linking over the vids as the LeMons crew get them posted!
September 29, 2010
Transformers 3 Spied in Detroit
Atomicalex
If you want to film a disaster zone, where better than Detroit, right? Especially if you want to include some props out of the GM Design Studio! MichiganVW.org member detvw grabbed these shots of the set, props, and Optimus Prime while driving home from work the other day. Heckuva commute, eh? Plenty more after the jump!
September 20, 2010
Worst Driver’s License Photo Ever
Atomicalex
My Michigan license has a picture of this cute chick with a big grin and bouncy blonde curls. So what happened on the way to the German license office? I was worried about having to take one of the most difficult driver’s license exams in the whole world, that’s what! I got lucky, though – my saucy Michigan license qualified me for a pass, and I got to skip the usual 120-question written test and the driving practical. Good thing for me, as regular Germans spend up to two years and $2500 on driving instruction to qualify for their lifetime license. Imagine if we had that in the States – would you have a licenswe if it cost $2500 to get? More on the Mighigan thing after the jump!
September 13, 2010
Random Morgan Aero in Paris
Atomicalex
I was in Paris last weekend and spotted this Morgan Aero sitting in the Place de la Concorde. This car has so much presence that the second largest traffic circle in Paris almost can’t contain it. I was only able to get one good shot off without swarms of people around it. While I find it a bit funny-looking and oddly proportioned, there’s no denying that it’s loaded with style and instantly identifiable. It’s one of those cars that photos don’t do justice to. What do you think of the modern-ancient thing the Aero has going on?
September 10, 2010
AMG E-Cell in Paris
Atomicalex
Wandering around Paris behind the Eiffel Tower, I came across the AMG crew shooting some promotional video for the AMG E-Cell, a full-electric based on the Mercedes-Benz SLS that may or may not actually go to production in 2013. The crew was not forthcoming with any information about the actual drivetrain in this car (as in, is it the real drivetrain, or a golf cart motor?), but didn’t mind my camera one bit. I love the wheels – odd as I’m generally not a fan of flat faces. These are just perfect, though! A bunch of pics after the jump!
August 26, 2010
Zombie Apocalypse Defender
Atomicalex
Oh, boy. If I was going to buy an SUV… If that SUV was actually available in the States… I would get a Defender. I spied this particular Land Rover Defender in the parking lot at work, kitted out for zombies, deep water, sand, and whatever else you can come up with. The Defender is one step down from a UniMog in functionality, and it’s definitely one of the truly classic functional vehicles. The dreary day seems to underscore the timelessness of it. I recently discovered that you can order a Defender as a pickup – I’d always figured that the ones in the movies were hacked up. Hmmmm, if it weren’t for the taxes, I’d be pretty tempted to enjoy one of these bad-to-the-bone toys while I’m over here.
August 13, 2010
‘Ring Rental Caterham
Atomicalex
I arrived home from work the other day to find this next to my house. It’s one of the many cars that you can rent specifically for use on the Nordschleife. That’s important, because car rental firms keep their eyes on the webcam at the entrance to the course, looking for their cars and denying insurance claims to all who crack them up on the fabled course. Private owners can find themselves in the same sticky spot as in the US – no coverage if there is any evidence of timing. Unfortunately, this track-prepped rental was in the possession of a lucky neighbor, not me! More pics and strange German road sign after the jump!
