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Converting from Candles to Light Bulbs

Eric M
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Converting from Candles to Light Bulbs
Over the last year, I’ve gotten opportunities to engage with and review what I consider are the 3 mainstays in available alternative power-trains: Gas/Electric “in-motion” hybrid, Plug-in Hybrids and all-electric vehicles. As many of you know we reviewed the Ford Fusion Hybrid as part of it’s swan song, so we won’t spend too much time talking about that technology, but I do encourage you to review that article as we focus on the plug-in and all-electric cars.

The All-electric Experience.

I’ll admit, I’ve had a really hard time coming to grips with the idea of a Tesla. At first I viewed them as merely a fad, a fashion statement, the new high tech attention getter. #bling. But with the introduction of the long awaited “cheaper Tesla” (aka the Model 3) its hard not to go just about anywhere and not see one, including on track at Road Atlanta last year and Summer Bash 5 – they seem to be multiplying like feral cats.
That being said, I got the chance to drive (and ride in) a Tesla 3. And I have opinions. First impressions are everything, especially with cars. There is no denying the Tesla is quick, that is something you can’t fake. I’d like to think that after many years of racing and coaching, I have a pretty well-tuned “butt dyno,” so I can say even in standard mode, the Tesla 3 pulls, and pulls hard. And unlike the all-electric go-karts we ran in an enduro last year, the Tesla doesn’t run out of go, until the batteries are drained. Jokingly, I’ve recently been caught saying we should use a new unit of measure for rating engines by “X no. of Teslas.” – 350 bhp (aka 261 kw) nah… that’s like 1 Tesla – which all kidding aside, is very close approximation since converting the electric output of the Tesla 3 to horsepower puts it just shy of 300 bhp. More importantly, it’s very difficult to have a conversation around fuel economy when there is no fuel involved… so let’s not, and say we did. 

 

The lack of sound, other than a substantial amount of road noise was off-putting, especially since I drove my VR6-powered #wookiewagon earlier that morning. The Tesla 3 has a surprisingly STIFF ride, which I wasn’t a huge fan of. I assumed it would be much more “floaty” because of the expectation that Tesla is competing with the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes. The owner of the Tesla I was riding in mentioned that his previous car was a Mercedes. We talked about how he made the transition, but I still wasn’t convinced, the math works out but in my head we were comparing apples to chainsaws.

 

Back to the ride-comfort… the other reason I wasn’t a fan of the Tesla’s harsh ride, had to do a lot with the roads we were on. Our route took us down some heavily trafficked and construction-riddled paths. Trying to avoid the “accelerate and aim when a pothole is visible” that some drivers seem to employ, I used it as an opportunity to test out the handling #slalom. Using my “butt dyno” again I would say that the Tesla’s suspension is as rough a ride as my #wookiewagon on its FK coil-overs, maybe not nearly as much #stancebro hopping, but you’d have sworn a bomb went off under the car if you did hit something. I was also impressed with how Tesla made the pedal and steering “feel heavy” but I found it to be more of an illusion to distract you from how disconnected you are from the road and the power-train compared to a traditional vehicle.

 

Remember how I mentioned “first impressions” earlier? – Outside the impressive speed of the Tesla 3, the interior was like stepping into an IKEA showroom… Very sleek, modern, and clean. At first you’re like “wow, that’s cool, oh man, check that out… how clever!” – then you start to realize, don’t touch anything because it might tarnish or break immediately! There’s no other way to say this: “the Tesla 3 feels cheap” – rental base-model Toyotas have more substance. Call me biased, but I am used to a certain level of “bank vault quality” having been primarily exposed to older German vehicles. Overall the Tesla does a really good job of packing it all in an attractive way and “blinding you with science” with all the gizmos and gadgets.

Outside of the Star Trek-inspired command center… I mean dashboard, err… giant iPad, the interior of the Tesla 3 “doesn’t have much kit” as the Brits would say. Its actually rather spartan. But for everything it lacks compared to a “regular car”, it’s quickly superseded by all the “new apps” being added through the single central console. I did have a #bigbrother moment while inspecting the Tesla’s interior. I asked the owner “what’s with that camera above the rear view, is Tesla watching us?” – He replied “It’s inactive and slated for future use” – I am not convinced. But what was more shocking was the revelation that Tesla’s have active recording road cameras, meaning they are recording other drivers without any sort of permission. I again asked the owner “How does that work?” – He said “I’m not really sure, but I was instructed to install a USB drive here…” pointing to a location low in the center console. Seriously?!?

 

This Tesla, like a lot of others, did have the auto-pilot feature. I asked the owner to demonstrate its capabilities during our trip. The Tesla uses some 10 cameras and radar to constantly orient itself and detect objects, etc. The auto-pilot does its best to follow the road, but being a coach we always talk about “smooth steering inputs” – and as you can imagine, I wasn’t a fan of the jerkiness in the corrections that the computer was making to the steering as it tried to follow the painted lines. I did fantasize a few times that if the lines suddenly veered off into a lake we’d end up like that episode of “The Office” where they blindly followed the GPS. LOL.

Final thoughts…

Consider me old school… but would I personally prefer a locomotive inspired Diesel-Electric Hybrid? – Absolutely! can you imagine? 100+ eMPG … easily! – But without naming names, we have some folks across the pond to thank for ruining that possibility. That’s not to say that continued advancements in small petrol-engines partnered with forced induction won’t push us close to “diesel-like” levels of efficiency. And I don’t know that I’m entirely sold on the idea of abandoning diesel or gas all together, but I have come to terms with these new possibilities, matured in my thinking, and have made some concessions.

 

Having experienced all three types of “electric” vehicles first hand: the All-electric, the Plug-in Hybrid and the “Moving Hybrid”. In the end I believe the moving hybrid, consisting of vehicles like the Prius, Fusion-hybrid, Jetta-hybrid, A3 e-tron, etc – makes the most sense for America. Pure electrics are AWESOME in the city… *if* all you ever do is city driving. But breaking up a 400+ mile trip with kids, pets, etc and having to charge-up to continue on would get rather old, quickly. Much like an all-season tire, the plug-in hybrid tries to be the best of all worlds and in some ways fails at all of them. Whereas the moving hybrid is self-contained, takes moments to “refill” (like a traditional petrol-vehicle) and you still have the freedom to roam about the country.

 

As much as I love petrol cars, I will say that I am starting to feel like the folks that were holding on to and fighting for Gas Lamps to remain in service as the Light Bulb was being invented – which is as near a perfect an analogy as you can make during this transition in automotive history. 

#vorsprungdurchtechnik “progress through technology”.

Road Trip: International Motorsports Hall of Fame

Mike C
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Road Trip: International Motorsports Hall of Fame

During GTM Cannonball Run 2019, we actually drove very close to Talledega Superspeedway in Alabama, but it wasn’t really a good time to stop and check out the track or the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.  During a more recent road trip, Chrissy and I were going to again be driving right past it, and this time we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stop by and check things out. It was only a 30 minute detour from our best possible route, and it was the Thursday before the NASCAR race at the track, so that just made it all the more interesting.

I know one of the first criticisms people might have is that the museum is billing itself as an “International” hall of fame, but is based at a track that only hosts NASCAR races, sort of like Major League Baseball calling it the World Series when all the teams are in North America. That said, the elected members of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame come from many forms of motor sports. (Click on the image below to expand). 

Opening in 1990, the inaugural class was chosen from from an initial list of 50 possible names.  There are of course NASCAR names on that list such as Lee Petty and Bill France, Sr., but other inductees that lend credence to its name as an international, multi-disciplinary, museum include Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Mickey Thompson, and Dan Gurney. (Harry Gant’s Skoal Oldsmobile, below).

All of that said, unless you are a NASCAR fan, there aren’t many cars that will interest you at the museum.  There is the Hall of fame wall, the trophies for each inducted member, and a few odd-ball cars here and there (like the SCCA VW Golf pictured below; front splitter reads: “it’s not a car, it’s a volkswagen” – LOL), but most of the cars are Stock Cars or somehow related to stock car racing.  Don’t get me wrong, there are some very historic stock cars in the museum, including ones that are little more than a pile of scrap, so for a NASCAR fan it can be a fun trip down memory lane, just don’t expect to see F1 and Indy cars throughout the museum.

While we were there, we took the opportunity to take the track tour, which is really just a ride around the facility and the track in the back of a tram.  Since it was leading into NASCAR weekend, though, that meant Talledega was very alive with staff setting up for the weekend, campers and fans all over the place, and a very impressive inspection going on around the top of the walls.  The truck driving along the top of the wall for inspection looked like it was defying gravity.  The banking at Talledega is 33 degrees in the turns, and the truck was only moving around 2 mph, so it looked like it was going to fall down on top of us.

Being a NASCAR fan, I really enjoyed the trip and enjoyed the up close and personal look at NASCAR vehicles through the generations.  Seeing the old Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile stock cars brought back memories from when I watched NASCAR as a kid.  I wish there was more international flare to the selection of vehicles on display at the museum (like the Barber Motorsports Museum we visited early this year), but given that it is located at a NASCAR track, I imagine they are catering to their primary audience.  The thing that shocked me most about the museum is that it is the only one I have been to that is completely devoid of a gift shop.  You can’t even buy a post-card to commemorate the visit.   The trip even gave me an idea for a future article so expect to see a few more photos from the museum at a later date, but for now, I will leave you with one of the actual cars from Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. #iwannadrivefast

AACA – East Coast Nationals at Hershey

Matthew Y
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AACA – East Coast Nationals at Hershey

The Antique Auto Club of America holds its East Coast (National) event at it’s headquarters in Hershey, PA every year in October. This event has been happening for many decades and is an extravaganza of everything about the automobile from a gigantic swap meet to a high-end auction culminating in a car show of epic proportion. I had the honor of being invited as a guest of GTM member Allen R who brought his 1937 Cadillac Coupe to show in the Historic Preservation class as well as to participate in the swap meet.

Day 1 – Tuesday, setup

Arriving on Tuesday afternoon, we first made the rounds of the swap meet grounds to locate our vending spots. To call the swap meet enormous would be an understatement – it covers the entirety of the Giant Center parking lot (see cover photo) with vendors selling anything from mild to wild. If you want a supercharger for a 1936 Graham, it’s out there, along with enough parts to build a Model T. There is enough memorabilia to fill several hundred tractor trailers with signs, toys and even vintage clothing!! It’s difficult to see the entire swap meet even with a scooter in a very full day.

Day 2 – Wednesday, start of the show

Resetting on Wednesday morning, the swap meet started off a bit slowly as participants were starting to arrive. The most fascinating part of the event is the worldwide draw – I spoke with attendees from France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, German and more. It was fascinating to see how the automobile has such an international appeal. As the swap meet closed for the day, we returned to the Hershey Lodge which would be the site for the RM-Sotherby’s auction on Thursday and Friday evenings. We took the opportunity to preview the auction cars, many of which were fully restored although some were very well preserved and several being either ultra rare or impeccably restored. Among the well preserved was a 1914 Buick that wasn’t flashy but very clean and original in appearance. Of the impeccably restored was a bright red 1931 Cadillac dual-cowl Phaeton with the venerable V-16 – talk about stunning!!

Day 3 – Thursday, the Auction Pt.1

Thursday was a bit busier as the weekend neared.  Many clubs that are associated with the AACA hold their annual meeting at the East Coast National and the Oakland Club is no exception.  GTM’s venerable Allen R is a member and volunteered to put on a tour in May 2020.  This tour will be similar to the CCCA (Classic Car Club of America) tour in May 2019 although more relaxed partly due to older and slower cars.

After the day’s Swap Meet activities was the first evening of the RM Auction which was quite an eye opener.  RM Auction provides bidders with booklets of all the items (cars and memorabilia) in each evening’s auction in addition to the previous evening preview. Having watched auctions but never having attended one live, it wasn’t nearly as frantic as those shown on TV.  It is amusing to watch the bidder calling out numbers and gently cajoling bidders to spend their money – $50,000 – do I hear $55,000? $50,000, now $55,000. You sir – you’ll be out if you don’t bid – $55,000 to buy this beautiful Geo Metro Convertible.  $50,000 is the current bid – going once, going twice at $50,000.  Anyone?  SOLD for $50,000

Day 4 – Friday, the busy one & Auction Pt.2

Friday is likely the busiest day for the Swap Meet but after having staffed our spaces for 2 days, I wanted to look around so Allen and I shared the time and also left the booth in the hands of our kind and gracious neighbors.  I took advantage of the show to buy some tools and some new tie-downs for my trailer – the prices are very reasonable and it’s amazing just what kinds of “stuff” is available.  No, the tools aren’t Snap-On – but for my needs, the price was good and they work just fine!  I then took the opportunity to walk the Car Coral filled with “used cars” that spanned the gambit.

Remembering that the majority of this show is antiques, cars over 25 years old, most of the cars in the Car Coral were newer antiques – ’60s and ’70s cars.  My tastes are a bit eclectic and I found myself drawn to the 1976 Sedan de Ville in bright white with a white leather interior – some folks also looking at the car seemed a bit concerned when I commented that I liked the car because it was easy to put dead bodies in the trunk without having to remove the legs. The one vehicle I wanted to take home was a 1965 GMC C10 truck – nicely repainted but not overly restored to the point that it would become a garage queen.

The Friday night auction was the “big show” with the high dollar cars interspersed throughout the night.  Unlike the first night, Allen was more antsy than usual and beat me into the room.  I found a seat and recorded sales amounts but didn’t see anything too exciting. As I stood up to leave, I ran into two friends of Allen’s – Norm and Sherrie who are business partners in a car collection and a vintage race team based in Reading, PA.  I joined them and we started a rolling commentary on the events which we are glad was NOT captured on tape.  I learned quite a lot from them about antiques and the importance of color and appearance at an auction.  Several cars that we saw sold well below estimates which we attributed partly to color choice –

For example, a 1914 Buick (above) that we’d seen in the preview was very nice but very plain in black with black wheels.  When it crossed the block, it brought a lackluster response even though it was an early car in what appeared to be either un-restored or lightly restored condition.

The V-16 Cadillac Phaeton (above) was estimated to sell for $1m and it was certainly exciting to watch the bidding as it ultimately sold for ~$1.2M!!

Then there was the infamous Marmon coupe that Allen STILL regrets not buying.  The irony is that neither of us remembered seeing it in the previews but the days were LONG and we were certainly tired.

Day 5 – Saturday, show day

Saturday was Show Day for the event.  We were up early to drive to the field – en route, we passed a fellow we’d met earlier, John M who was DRIVING his 1906 curved-dash Oldsmobile the 3 miles to the field.  It isn’t fast but it was interesting to watch him steer the car with a TILLER.  The show field was also immense with an interesting mix of “antique” cars.  We were on Avenue 14 where the Preservation cars were parked.  It’s fascinating to see the progression of the automobile from the brass-era to the pre-war to the ’50s to muscle cars and into the ’70s (yuk) and ’80s.  While I enjoy “things with wheels,” – I’m not much of a Q-tipper and virtually every vehicle here was spotless and “perfect”.  As a Miata owner, it was more than amusing to see a couple proudly displaying their 1990 Piñata with 40K miles that looked like it never left the showroom – I understand the concept, I just prefer to play with my cars rather than polish them with a diaper.

The AACA maintains a museum in Hershey, PA – this could certainly be a tour destination if there is interest from the GTM community.

Hunting the wild Marmon

Eric M
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Hunting the wild Marmon

At first I thought Mountain Region member Allen R was going on about the hunt for some absurd rodent on his property – something not uncommon out in his part of the world.

But he wasn’t talking about a “Marmot“ (seen above) – which undoubtedly you’ve heard more about than the long forgotten automobile manufacturer: Marmon. It turns out the brand “Marmon” is quite special in the Classic Motorsports world. Marmon Motor Company founded by Howard C. Marmon based out of Indianapolis, Indiana was a leading manufacturer that took on the likes of luxury brands like: Packard, Cadillac, Lincoln and Pierce-Arrow from 1903-1933.

Marmon was unlike other brands at the time because they weren’t following the same heavy-weight lux-o-boat formula as their competitors, but rather, building aluminum engined + aluminum-alloy bodied sedans and… race cars. Unique to the Marmon platform was a smaller, lighter but powerful inline 6-cylinder engine, whereas other brands used inline-8 cylinder and V12s engines.

Where Marmon excelled in engineering, they were quite stodgy and unimaginative in their naming convention. Back then you didn’t have cool names like Scirocco, Countach, Testarossa… Marmon named their models in most cases by the amount of horsepower they produced, ie: the Marmon 34 made a whopping 34-hp (although bench tests showed they could produce up to 75-hp with proper tuning). And because the Marmon weighed nearly “half a ton”  less (that’s 1000# for those not doing the math) than other vehicles in its class, it was “quick” and also touted fuel efficiency numbers of 14 MPG! Marmon owners often joked that they had the perfect getaway vehicle for bootlegging (during prohibition) because they were very difficult to catch.

Not only were the Marmon’s quick, but they handled better than most of their rivals because on an innovative chassis design, whereby the overall ride height was lowered to just shy of 21″ and with a molded floor pan welded over the frame which required less structural pieces to create rigidity. Some newspaper articles reviewing the Marmon (when they were new) made a point to show off the “lowness” of the vehicles. One could say Marmon’s were America’s first “low-rider.”

“So, what was Allen on about? ” – you ask.

It so happens earlier this year, at the Hershey Historic Swap Meet an annual AACA event (now in its 62nd year), he and fellow classic car enthusiasts had an opportunity to bid on a 1921 Marmon restored as a replica of the 1921 Indy 500 Pace Car (celebrating the 10th anniversary of the race) – See the listing on RM Sotherby’s website for details.

This particular Marmon up for auction would have been a chance for Allen to add a historic “race car” to his growing collection.

And just like Bill Murray’s character trying to catch the gopher in “Caddy Shack“, it looks like this whascally-marmon slipped through his fingers yet again. #betterlucknexttime.

Did you know…

  • Marmon was one of the first brands to experiment with V6 and V8 engine designs.
  • In 1911, a Marmon (known as “the Wasp”, above) won the first ever Indianapolis 500!
  • In the early 1920’s a Marmon held the title “fastest production car in North America”
  • In 1934 a Marmon set the “cannonball run” record CA to NY in 5 days 18.5 hrs?
  • Henry Ford drove a Marmon to work before acquiring Lincoln to FoMoCo
  • Marmon’s most power and most expensive model was “the 16” a 200-hp V16 sedan clocking in at $5000 in the early 1930s.
  • Marmon produced nearly 110,000 cars in their 30 year production run.
  • and there is a dedicated national Marmon Club of America

…of course you didn’t. Neither did I! #knowingishalfthebattle #neverstoplearning.

Motorsport Memorial – James Dean

Brad N
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Motorsport Memorial – James Dean

There are so many men and women that we have lost over the years: Ayrton Senna, Dale Earnhardt, Jim Clark, Peter Brock, John Lingenfelter … the list continues. Many other Motorsports organizations have written and will write about those heroes today. But this year I am choosing to write about someone lesser known for his Motorsports accomplishments and more for his acting and the tragic story surrounding his death. Today we take a moment to remember the race car driver and actor: James Dean.

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James Dean was an accomplished actor and American heart-throb, his most popular films being East of Eden and Rebel without a Cause. But did you know that he was also an avid Motorsports enthusiast and amateur race car driver? He owned many motorcycles and sports cars, including a Triumph Tiger T110 and Porsche 356 speedster. He started competing in the Spring of 1955, earning first place in the novice class in his first race at the Palm Springs Road Races (and second place in the main event). He also raced in Bakersfield and Santa Barbara, California through May of 1955. With his early successes in those amateur races he set his sights on competing on a bigger scale and was set to race in Salinas, California on the October 1st weekend of that year with his new Porsche 550 Spyder.

The Crash

James purchased a Porsche 550 Spyder in anticipation of the Salinas race (Fun Fact: he also purchased a Ford Country Squire to tow the little Porsche, and an open trailer). The car was named “Little Bastard” after a nickname bestowed upon Dean from his friend Bill Hickman -OR- rumor has it *he* was called “Little Bastard” by a former studio president who was angry at him once, hmm?!

The origins of the name are a bit fuzzy. Either way, On September 30, 1955, one day before his next scheduled race, James Dean and his 550 Spyder, as well as Porsche factory mechanic Rolf Wutherich, were breaking in the car and making changes in preparation for the race. (Fun Fact: before the crash, Dean was pulled over and given a citation for speeding!). They were traveling from Los Angeles to Salinas with a few other friends following in another car. At around 5:45 pm at the intersection of U.S. Route 466 (now SR 46) and Route 41, a 1950 Ford Tudor, was crossing the intersection turning left onto Rt.41 in front of the actor’s convoy. James Dean was unable to stop and T-boned the unsuspecting Ford. Wutherich was ejected from the car and sustained serious injuries, while Dean was trapped inside, breaking his neck and killing him almost instantly at the age of 24. It is noted that the driver of the Ford Tudor suffered only minor injuries.

What Could Have Been

It’s a sad and tragic story. Who knows what his racing career could have been had he made it to the races in Salina the next day, would he have won? Would he have given up on acting all together and jumped head first into racing for the rest of his career? – Many other actors have flirted with racing: Steve McQueen, Patrick Dempsey, Michael Fassbender, Paul Newman, to name a few. Allegedly, Dean’s dream was to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Had the crash not happened, maybe we wouldn’t be speaking about James Dean the actor, but rather James Dean the Indy 500 winner. Unfortunately we will never know. All we do know is that a young talented life was taken from us way too soon and the Motorsports history books are at a loss without him. For an in-depth review of Dean be sure to check out this documentary (below).

The curse of the 550 Spyder…

It is theorized that James Dean’s death was not his own fault, but rather that of the car. It is also said that this particular Porsche 550 Spyder has it’s own dark and unsettling past. Legend has it that someone building Dean’s 550 died during the construction of the vehicle at the Porsche factory and their soul “haunted” the vehicle after its completion. Check out more of that particular part of the story, through this “unsolved mysteries” clip (below). #happyhalloween

A few other creepy factoids … well, mostly tall tales, gossip and legends, but!

    • Before taking delivery and driving the car to his death, Dean had custom touches added such as striping, paint, and the cars name “Little Bastard” emblazoned on the body, as well as the number “130”. These personal touches from Dean gave the car a rather evil look. It’s believed that these touches also gave the car its devilish personality. >maniacal laugh<
    • Before the wreck, Dean was told by a friend “If you drive this car you will be dead in a week”. (No doubt, that friend wishes they hadn’t said that).
    • In addition to being involved in Dean’s death, the car, and parts of it, are also involved in other deaths and injuries:
      • The passenger, Wutherich, was so riddled with guilt after the accident that he tried to commit suicide, eventually dying in a drunk driving accident.
      • The new owner of the 550’s carcass had a team of mechanics trying to unload the car from it’s trailer, the car slipped off and crushed one of the mechanic’s legs.
      • A thief attempting to steal the steering wheel ended up with a broken arm.
      • The car’s engine and drive-train were removed and sold separately, the engine was later placed in a car that lost control and struck a tree during a race, killing the driver.
      • The drive-train from Dean’s 550 was installed in another car that also crashed and the driver sustained serious injuries.
    • The car was also on display at a Highway Patrol exhibit and fell off it’s stand crushing a spectator’s hip.
    • And the most unusual story of all, the storage facility where the car was housed randomly caught fire one night and everything was destroyed… except for the car.
    • And apparently the chassis/shell and what remains of the car outside of the engine/drive-train, are still to this day missing. (Though some claim to have found it).

I am not sure how many of these stories are folklore and how many are accurate, but whatever the case, there were definitely other powers at work the day James Dean died. But in the end, it’s important that we do highlight one important aspect that is missing from the Dean story: SAFETY. A lot of engineering and thought has gone into vehicle design since 1955 to keep drivers and passengers as safe as possible on the roads. And even more research and development has gone into racing cars, to make sure we lose our heroes to old age, rather than faulty or insufficient equipment. And that’s why organizations like the Motorsport Safety Foundation – which GTM proudly partners with – is part of a such a crucial movement in today’s age of motor racing, to continue the work that was laid out by racing greats like Sir Jackie Stewart who challenged the system and advocated for “Safety First” and “Drivers Rights.”  Let’s keep up that good work and remember to honor our fallen heroes.

For a complete listing of drivers from all disciplines who lost their lives behind the wheel of a race car, be sure to check out this webpage and take a moment to remember them, or get to know them better (via sites like wikipedia). Always remember #safetyfirst #neverstoplearning.

Top RUSToration shows you should watch

Eric M
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Top RUSToration shows you should watch

For many of us on the east coast, the weather is already starting to turn, leaves are slowly changing and the Motorsports season is quickly approaching its crescendo. Soon the holiday craze will set in and many of us won’t think about our cars until the final weeks of the spring thaw. RUSToration shows are a great way to spend some of your hibernation hours. Though they might not get you off the couch to brave the ice box better known as your garage, they just might be enough to keep you mentally engaged and motivated throughout the deep freeze. And after some extensive research, we’ve compiled a list of the top RUSToration shows you should watch during the off season… 

Roadkill

A GTM favorite, Roadkill** chronicles the adventures of Freiburger & Finnegan as they convert cars we would consider “junkers” into stunt cars, long distance cannonballers or all out racers. If you like “MacGyvering”, Roadkill is definitely the show for you. More importantly, if you end up binge watching all of Roadkill, you can always check other shows associated with Roadkill like: Junkyard Gold, Engine Masters, Hot Rod Garage, Roadkill Garage, etc.

Available on: Youtube, Motortrend, Motortrend Go (formerly Velocity)
**Check out Dan S review of Roadkill from earlier this year. #bestdayofworkever!

Rust Valley Restorers

Rust Valley Restorers (RVR) follows Rust Bros owner Mike Hall’s attempt to restore and sell the over 400 cars he’s amassed over his lifetime. The show takes place on-site at Mike’s property along the Trans-Canada highway in whats known as “rust valley” nestled in the Rocky Mountains region of central British Columbia. At 62 years old, Mike (above:center) with the help of his son Connor (above:right) and best friend Avery (above:left) has decided he needs to thin the herd of his “metallic hallucinations” – a task that is nearly at a point of costing him more than its worth. This show is a diamond in the rough to say the least, but that’s part of it’s charm. #letterkenny.

Available on: Netflix
**Check out the Rust Valley Restorers: Season 2 review.

Car Masters: Rust to Riches

Car Masters** follows Mark Towle and his Temecula, California based team at Gotham Garage’s new business venture: start with a $1000 vehicle and build something worth trading for another vehicle, build, repeat, trade, until finally having a vehicle worth $100k+ dollars – or what they refer to as “the 6 figure pay day.”  – unlike other RUSToration shows, this series is cumulative which keeps you more engaged as you track the team’s overall progress.

Available on: Netflix
**Check out the review of Car Masters: Rust to Riches from 2019. Season 2 Review from 2020.

Counting Cars

Set in the heart of Las Vegas, Danny “the Count” Koker and the team from Counts Kustoms don’t settle for anything less than #fullsend on any of their builds. Arguably as flashy as the city they’re based in, the builds can range from mild-to-wild. Cars, Choppers… pretty much anything on wheels. Although the show can feel a bit “produced” from time-to-time, it still gets our vote since it set the stage for shows like: Detroit Steel, Big Easy Motors, and others that follow a similar format. In the end, the work is really good and nothing stops this team from creating unique one-offs for all types of vehicles and customers. #sendit

Available on: History Channel

Goblin Works Garage

Set in Britain’s industrial north, Goblin Works Garage (GWG) is the only show in this bunch that takes place in Europe focusing on the #restomod of modern European classics. Each episode has a center piece vehicle: MINI 1275 GT, E30 BMW, Volvo 245, Porsche 944, to name a few. While working on the featured vehicle of the week, they also attempt a second (maybe less important build) which is usually a motorcycle. Each episode has a different objective: turn a cheap used car into an a drift car, bagged show car, sleeper-dragster, track-day (hpde) bomber, etc., and then find a buyer. Since the show is currently airing season 2, it hasn’t quite hit it’s stride making the chemistry of the GWG team a bit awkward. Despite not having the charm of other shows –  the work is top notch! – but the GWG team takes some getting used to. Admittedly, we’ve learned and adopted a couple of techniques from watching GWG for our own #restomod projects.

Available on: Motortrend, Motortrend Go (formerly Velocity)

Garage Squad

Garage Squad is the car worlds version of HGTV’s Extreme Home Makeover. The Garage Squad’s mission is to seek out unfinished project cars and get them across their long awaited finish line on behalf of the owners. If you’re into home renovation shows, this is the RUSToration show for you. The big reveal is often very emotional and gives you those “feels.”  – Garage Squad is definitely a show you can share with your significant other especially if they’re not a petrol-head.

Available on: Motortrend, Motortrend Go (formerly Velocity)

Salvage Hunters: Car Classics

Salvage Hunters: Car Classics (SHCC) is actually a spin-off of famed British antiques dealer Drew Pritchard’s show “Salvage Hunters”. SHCC has a slower pace than many of the other RUSToration shows on this list, but Drew’s keen eye for design sets this show apart from the rest. Many times cars are chosen not for their significance or pedigree but rather what Drew can conjure up, to expand upon a key element in the the vehicle’s design that speaks to him artistically. All projects are kept within a budget, but the work is overall superb.

Available on: Motortrend, Motortrend Go (formerly Velocity)

Can’t get enough?

Here’s a list of RUSToration shows you can check out for yourself on all the major providers:

Netflix

  • car masters: rust to riches
  • rust valley restorers
  • west coast customs

HULU

  • american restoration
  • restoration garage

Amazon Prime

  • all girls garage
  • americarna
  • big easy motors
  • dallas car sharks
  • detroit muscle (also on spike)
  • fantom works
  • fast ‘n’ loud
  • goblin works garage
  • hot rod tv
  • legendary motorcar
  • muscle car
  • my classic car
  • restoration garage
  • search & restore
  • two guys garage
  • unique rides

MotorTrend

  • chasing classic cars
  • engine masters
  • garage squad
  • goblin works garage
  • graveyard carz
  • hot rod garage
  • iron resurrections
  • roadkill
  • roadkill garage
  • roadkill’s junk yard gold
  • salvage hunters: car classics
  • wheeler dealers

VUDU

  • american restoration
  • american restoration: truck edition
  • restoration garage

History

  • american restoration
  • big easy motors
  • counting cars
  • detroit steel
  • leepu & pitbull
  • lost in transmission
  • road hauks
  • toymakerz

#neverstoplearning

How many wheels move you?

Alicia C
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How many wheels move you?

I grew up with a father (GTM member Romano C) who was and will always be very passionate about cars. Naturally I was drawn to all things that had a motor. I went from watching NASCAR every Sunday to being my fathers pit-crew for his weekend RC races. Then I purchased my first car, a black 1984 Chevy Camaro when I was 17.

Developing my skills as a driver was something I became passionate about. Any chance I had I’d practice being smooth with my acceleration & steering and learned to feel what my car was doing. This hard work was all in hopes that I would be an amazing race car driver one day. However, as you may have guessed, that’s not exactly how things turned out. Going to college for 6 years then straight to a full time job made things difficult. And I had very little to no money.

“Four wheels move the body but 2 wheels move the soul”

I found another way to embrace the world of racing, or at least get a taste for what it could be like, through motorcycles! My first time ever on a motorcycle was a two-up with my now husband. It was the most freeing yet equally terrifying thing I had ever experienced. Yet after each ride it left me wanting more. The adrenaline rush became something I looked forward too.

However, being the oldest daughter, and yes we can put emphasis on the ‘daughter’ part, still no money and a mother who would lose her mind it if she even knew I thought about buying a motorcycle made it damn near impossible for me to be apart of the two wheel world. If I couldn’t afford to be out there driving I need to be out there riding.

Making it happen

After being my husbands backpack for many years I finally got my own bike. I started with my husbands 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R fully built and ready for the track (above). As a novice new rider it was a heavy bike full of power and my feet barely skimmed the ground.

Even with those obstacles and people nervous I couldn’t handle the bike, I had a husband who knew I could do it. Instead I used all of obstacles to my advantage. My first lesson was in braking. Not being able to reach the ground so easily taught me the importance gradually applying the brakes when coming to a stop so that I wouldn’t upset the suspension and risk falling over. Over time my smooth braking off the track translated to smooth trail braking later on as I progressed as a rider!

Being a women in the motorcycle or even car world has its pros and cons. Fast forward 5 years, add a new bike (2015 Kawasaki ZX6R as seen in purple) and more seat time on and off track have given me so much. What I have gained from riding (regardless of gender) is a life full of passion, adrenaline and excitement from here on out!

More to come, keep the shiny side up. ~Alicia. 

Hidden Gems – Private Collections

Matthew Y
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Hidden Gems – Private Collections

A friend from the now defunct National Capital Area Volkswagen Club sent an announcement for an Open House featuring the collections of Randy & Susan Denchfield as well as Jack & Cher Gallagher. The directions to the event read like a James Bond novel involving finding an innocuous parking garage in Van Ness, taking a special parking token and driving to the bottom level! As it turned out, the collection is ferreted away in a corner of the parking garage that houses a Giant food as well as apartments and offices – There is a walled-off, secure parking area for about 15 cars. The rest are parked under covers in adjoining spaces.

Virtually all the cars in these collections are American classics. Too many of today’s collections are filled with over-restored cars that will never see the light of day because they’re too pretty. But this collection is quite the opposite, some are restored but a fair number are either unrestored or older restorations which was a nice change. Several of the cars are fairly mundane but increasingly uncommon. In particular were the mid-’70s Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible and a mid-’70s Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible.

The majority of the cars were from the ’40s and ’50s and DeSoto was a popular marque in the collection. For those unfamiliar with the brand, DeSoto was the mid-range offering from the Chrysler Corporation, slotted below Dodge but above Plymouth. Among the DeSotos in this collection two of the most interesting were a mid-’30s fire-engine red convertible and a beautiful ’56 Sportsman – the ’56 had the same color scheme but not the massive tail fins of the ’57 that was the basis for the notorious “Christine“.

Of particular interest was a rather unassuming 1938 Plymouth Express (pickup truck). These trucks were only produced from 1937 to 1942 and in fairly limited numbers because of WW2. Time and neglect adds up to very few survivors while keeping their history virtually unknown. Even though it’s not flashy, the Plymouth Express is likely the rarest vehicle in the entire collection. Adding to the utility vehicles featured in this collection was a ’47 Ford Sedan Delivery. Another well preserved example of a vehicle that typically did NOT survive due to hard use.

Some of the more interesting cars were the unrestored ’69 Oldsmobile Toronado and the ’64 Cadillac Eldorado convertible (example below). Both were excellent examples of American cars in their heyday, filled with technology and gadgetry that remains largely today. This includes such items as automatic headlamps, automatic dimming headlamps and cruise control.

Given the number of Cadillacs in the collection, this allowed for a very unique opportunity to view a ’48 and ’49 Cadillac convertible side-by-side. This was during a time when auto makers updated the appearance of their vehicles annually to stimulate sales by quickly out-dating the prior year’s styling. It’s interesting to see just how far the manufacturers would go to make last year’s model look old.

You may recall that old adage “stop and smell the roses” … As GTM members, and as car enthusiasts, it’s important that we take any and all opportunities to view Private Collections. The vehicles may not be YOUR favorites BUT these vehicles aren’t on display for the general public. The owners/families take joy in people taking interest in their cars and I’ll guarantee you’ll be surprised at what is “hidden” from the public. True that some of them might be mundane but sitting right beside those cars might be passion stirring exotics. Much like this collection I visited in Van Ness … not very modern, nothing overly exotic or incredibly well restored BUT mixed in… a Plymouth Express, who knew?!? – and for me, that alone was worth the price of admission!

Until next time. ~Matthew.

**Note: All pictures above are from previous tours of private collections in 2019. Check out earlier articles or shutterfly for additional information**

Striving & Driving to Enjoy Life

John R
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3
Striving & Driving to Enjoy Life

As a group we can push upwards of 100 days on track every year and the most invested among us drive 25+ days just by themselves. As a result we’ve driven nearly every track in the eastern timezone of the United States and every year we organize big events at new or distant tracks. We’re dreaming big and have our sights set on making it all the way to the west coast, but this past weekend at PittRace we met someone who puts us all to shame. Meet Kona Bob… 

>Excerpt Below< as seen on Track Mustangs, Online Forum [as of April 2019]

… I purchased my car in Houston in May of last year and went straight to COTA the next morning and ran with the [NASA] Texas Group. I was the second owner and the car had 3,200 miles on it when I purchased it. Running 4 times for 20 minutes 36 hrs after purchase was outstanding, thank you Texas Region. I then took the car to San Pedro, California where I have a unit in a controlled indoor facility. I started off this year February 2nd-3rd at a two day VARA event at Buttonwillow Raceway then onto Chuckwalla, Sonoma, Phoenix Wild Horse Pass, Utah Motorsports Park and finally Pueblo this weekend, all with NASA. My next event is COTA then NOLA, Barber Motorsports Park, Road Atlanta then Sebring on June 22nd. I have yet to finalize my Eastern Seaboard adventure after June 22nd. I will return to Kona for Marlin and Big Ahi Fishing during the month of July. (It is typically one of our best months) I will be back on the Tour August. There are many good tracks on the Eastern Seaboard so I am doing my research. I plan on my last event being Watkins Glen on October 5th and 6th, weather permitting.

This adventure was conceived by my wife Dianne and I two years ago after selling our business to our children and our manager. We were going to buy a large RV, a purpose built car and trailer and race it across the country on the same format. I officially was scheduled and did retire on January, 1st 2019. Prior to my retiring in July of 2017 my wife and partner of 47 years peacefully passed away in her sleep alongside me. I was inches away and did not feel her pass. Myself and my children (two sons and a daughter with spouses) were devastated … I have been on this adventure solo, seeing people, family and friends along the way. 

The Shelby GT350 was my alternate choice to the Big RV, trailer and another car. I am keeping it simple and really enjoying driving the car from event to event. It is a great touring car and track car with a fantastic warranty. I am an avid golfer so the 1st and most important item in the trunk was my set of golf clubs. All my clothes and support tools, jack, jack stands, etc, etc, etc had to fit in after the golf clubs.

There it is, my dream adventure I am on is to honor my wife and my passion. I am not waiting to chase my bucket list. Life can change in minutes. My children and relatives are backing me 100% so it is a family affair. I have always attacked life with a positive attitude. I would appreciate any advice for tracks to visit on the East Coast, Central Region, Lime Rock, VIR and Watkins Glen are on the list already. I hope all of us can pursue our passion racing wherever and whenever we can. Looking forward to meeting all of our fellow Mustang track addicts. If I can help anyone in anyway let me know.

See you at the track!!! Aloha, Kona Bob

WHOA!

We met Bob Tremain, a laid-back 35-year Hawaiian resident on a mission to drive his 2017 GT350 on as many tracks in North America (including Canada) as possible this year, at PittRace with HookedOnDriving (August 2019). As you read (above), he picked his car up in Los Angeles and has driven nearly 15,000 miles to over 14 tracks across California, Texas (COTA), Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana (NOLA), Kentucky (NCM), Florida (Sebring), Alabama (Barber MSP), North Carolina, Pennsylvania (PittRACE), Maine, and has more lined up before the season ends. If my math is correct that’s already two times more tracks than One Lap of America in one season. 🤯 How does he do it?!

Managing your consumables is important for any track day let alone as many as Bob is attempting back to back. Bob’s been building his own network of Ford dealerships closest to each track and uses them for any service the car needs after each event. He also works with them to order new brake pads and tires before the next event. Selecting a tire that can survive long road trips, rain, and abuse on track required some investigating. After a few calls with the engineers at Nitto, Bob settled on the NT-05 as his “all around” tire. A fresh set is already waiting for him at his next service stop. 

Kohalo volcano and mountain range
Kohalo volcano and mountain range

It’s not just a regular ol’ epic journey around the country. Bob is working on his own special project in Hawaii – a brand new 2-to-3 mile racetrack on a 450 acre plot on the main island of Kona carved out of the extinct Kohala volcano. 🤯🤯 Throughout this trip he’s been meeting with and interviewing the owners of the tracks he visits to know exactly how to build, run, and maintain a top notch facility! He has the support of the local county government and is looking for investors to fund the project to get the ball rolling. When it officially opens the track will be able to host road races, track days, autocross, and drag racing at minimum.

We’re super excited to see new courses being developed and can’t wait to drive it ourselves when it opens! More importantly, Bob has another GT350 waiting for him at home and will be using it to test “the feel” of his new course as development progresses. And the question you all might be asking yourselves at this point: What happens to Bob’s mustang when this is all over? Well … he plans to return to California to sell it. And maybe one of us will be lucky enough to snatch up his “track proven” mustang. I know I would. #fullsend.

Even though Bob says “he’s solo” on this adventure, the love and support of his family keep him going, and communities like ours are here to make sure he feels welcomed and help fuel the excitement and enthusiasm of Motorsport across this great nation. Many of us got to run in the same sessions as Bob and it was a lot fun dicing it up with him on track and the conversations afterwards have definitely made a long lasting impression. If you happen to see Bob and his mustang at your next track day, don’t be shy 👋, he definitely isn’t and ask him how the adventure is going! Next up, Chapter 15: VIRginia International Raceway – followed by Lime Rock, NJMP, Mid-Ohio, Calabogie (Ontario, Canada) and more!

“I am humbled and can only hope that my story spreads the fever of our passion for road course racing to others who want to chase that same dream. It seems like everywhere I go when people want to talk about the Mustang I am recruiting another future road courser if they haven’t done it already. Nothing better than seeing the look on someone’s face when they get out of the car after their first 20+ minute session at 120+ mph!!! ” – Bob. 

From all of us at GTM HQ – Bob… we wish you the best of luck! Get to that final checkered flag where ever that might be… and leave us comments below! If you need any help while traveling the east coast, don’t hesitate to reach out. Because at GTM, “you never go to an event alone.” – Aloha! 

The C8 is NOT the first mid-engine Vette!

Eric M
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0
The C8 is NOT the first mid-engine Vette!

Some might argue that the first “mid-engine Corvette” was actually a ship dating back as far as the 1700s. All jokes aside… the sports car whose namesake is a ship, has actually had several mid-engine prototypes over the years. Let’s take a quick dive into the mid-engine ‘Vette evolution!

Picture it… Bowling Green, 1964.

With the sudden end to the Corvair production (thanks to some bad publicity) the engineers at Chevrolet decided to attempt to modify and graft a “C3-like” body to the Corvair rear-engine, rear-drive layout code named: the XP-819 prototype (below).

Reportedly, the handling of the XP-819 was an utter disappointment and the vehicle suffered a crash during tests. Officials ordered its immediate disassembly. Decades later, the remaining pieces were found, reassembled and restored by a dedicated Corvette enthusiast.

Project Astro

No, not the Chevy Astro vans we became familiar with in the ’80s… but rather two more Corvair-based prototypes built in 1967. Both the Astro I and II were powered by V8 “big blocks” mated to a Pontiac Tempest drive-train. Officially designated XP-880, the Astro II (above) was unveiled at the 1968 New York Auto Show. With its now center-oriented engine, backbone chassis design and two-speed automatic, the Astro wasn’t especially road-friendly and Chevrolet engineers returned to the drawing board.

The Aerovette

Refusing to give up, the engineers at Chevrolet pushed for a solution to this mid-engine ‘Vette problem and by 1969, they thought they’d nailed it. The XP-882 “Aerovette”  (above) like its predecessor was powered by a big-block V8 but this time mounted transversely and mated to an Oldsmobile Toronado transmission behind the driver.

A mid-engine Vette for the Disco Era

By 1973, attempting to push the innovation envelope even further, the Aerovette was equipped with a 4-rotor GM Wankel (rotary power-plant). Unfortunately, GM’s “Wankel program” was abandoned and therefore the final iteration of the Aerovette received a small-block LT1 V8. Although the Aerovette was sexy and seemingly popular, it never came into production. That didn’t stop the engineers from trying again.

An all-new prototype called the XP-895 was being designed alongside the XP-882 (Aerovette) in 1972. Two mid-engine Vettes? No way!  The brilliance behind the XP-895 was to take the Aerovette’s slightly overweight chassis and put it on a diet. And who better to take on the task than GM’s superstar designer John Z. DeLorean. Using something known as “the Reynolds Aluminium Concept”  he developed aluminum bodies that reportedly weighed 450 lbs less than the original design. The 895 proved to be a rather expensive endeavor because of the welding and bonding techniques necessary to render the chassis components, and therefore the project was closed. (Note: If you would like to get up-close-and-personal with an Aerovette today, visit the GM Heritage Center in suburban Detroit or the National Corvette Museum (NCM) in Bowling Green, Kentucky).

The Digital Age: Corvette Indy

If you don’t succeed, wait a while and try again. The Indy first appeared at the 1986  Detroit Auto Show as a rolling chassis. It boasted features like a one-piece passenger canopy, carbon bodywork, and an early version of the “Northstar” 32-valve DOHC V8 found in later Cadillacs. While the Corvette Indy (below left) never made it past the show floor, it did spawn the 1988 Pontiac Banshee IV (below right) and 1990 CERV III concepts as well. (Note: In a prior article we covered the evolution of some prototypes in a “where are they now” fashion – check out the similarities between all the Banshees and the Vettes mentioned here).

The Forgotten and Misunderstood – the ’90s.

Even though there was no mid-engine Corvette prototype specifically for the mid-’90s and early-2000s, we shouldn’t forget that GM did produce a mid-engine sports car for the masses, under the name “FIERO.” The Fiero came in a 2M4 and 2M6 option, with a transversely mid-mounted 2.5-litre 4 or 2.8-litre 6 cylinder engine. #nothingtoseehere

Fast Forward >> 2019.

It’s been about 30 years since the last mid-engine Corvette concept, so that’s enough time for people to have forgotten all the trials and failures, right?

The question bears repeating: Is the C8 the first mid-engine Vette? — Technically… it IS the first PRODUCTION mid-engine Corvette. But is it the absolute first? #hardno. We know there has been a lot of controversy about this radical shift from the “classic Corvette” design we’ve come to adore, but it does seem like this is an idea that has been a long time coming. And if, maybe just IF, the engineers had found a way to “make it work” all those years ago… a Front-Engine, Rear-Drive Corvette would seem odd to us today. #foodforthought. Overall, we’re still excited to see what develops for this new model and how it’s going to feel on track. And to GM… (after 55 years) we’re glad you finally “figured it out.”

What are your thoughts on the new C8? Leave your comments below, we’d love to hear them… good, bad or indifferent. #neverstoplearning.

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