Culture|Garage

Tom Hazen, of Minnesota Austin Healey Club, puts on some incredible events from highspeed runs at an airport, to country cruises, to my favorite event, the hillclimb.  The hillclimb starts with a very simple autox portion in the lower parking lot and then you round the last turn and charge uphill.  To slow the speeds and keep the event safe, they add a couple of chicanes for good measure.  This year, four c|g’ers made it to the event.  All of us enjoyed our time and even placed fairly well, I will update later with results.  For the time being, enjoy the video of Andrew Douglas and my runs.

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This is incredible!  This was just sent to me by my friend Andy.  He just received the below in an email from one of his friends (the owner and driver of the above car)

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Not to get all sentimental on you. But most of you are probably here reading this due to dad introducing you to cars. While my dad was never a car guy, I certainly remember having car talks with him. I remember asking him why anyone would want to drive stick (he is a perpetual automatic-guy) and he told me because people want to feel like race car drivers. So, all three of my current cars are manuals. Nothing makes me feel more manly then that.  Well that and when I was potty trained, I got stars.  A certain number of stars equaled a Hot Wheel car of my choice.  This continued until I was 14.

Anyways, most of you have probably heard of the Hoyts. If not, please watch the video. It’s an incredible story about the love and bond between a father and son. I first learned of the Hoyt’s when Rick Reilly, of Sports Illustrated, wrote of the father/son team. I wept. Read it here.

It’s a reminder to say thanks. And if you didn’t have a dad like that…it can help give you something to strive to be.

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From the forums, thanks Jesse!

With it’s latest concept, the company that makes the “Ultimate Driving Machine” has created what could be considered the Ultimate Project Runway task- make a fabric car!

The BMW Design Group has unleashed this “fierce” flexible fabric covered, movable wire frame concept, based on BMW’s GINA Design principle(Geometry and Functions In “N” Adaptions). GINA is said to promote innovative thinking by allowing maximum freedom of creativity.

Depending upon driver mood, he or she can do things like make the fenders larger, streamline and lower the sides, in addition to customizing the interior layout and seats. The hood also peels away from the center to reveal the BMW heart and the headlights and kidney-grill can reveal/hide at a whim.

I think the science and technology behind it all is wicked. But I can’t help but feel that the hood (especially when opened) makes the traditionally phallic sports car look awfully va-GINA-like…

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Spotted this on adrants.  The art direction and flow is pretty good.  But seriously, can you get more pretentious than this?  And further, how many young, 1 series owners or potential purchasers, even know who JackKerouac is?  This makes me want to never own a BMW.  Good thing this is running in Spain, so I don’t have to see this during my regularly scheduled programming.

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Street racing- some call it a social ill, while others see it as a good way to spend time. I think both sides have an argument to make, but because the problem seems to have been swept by the waysde due to other, “more pressing” issues such as the conflict in the Middle East, the rising expense of living and the overall scheme of world life and politics, it has become a sideshow. With any luck, the upcoming film, 1320, A West Coast Story, will once again make the issue of street racing one worth pursuing, and bringing some resolution to. Don’t waste your nickel seeing Speed Racer, give this movie a shot instead. (EDIT- Release in 2009)

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Sure, you could have just placed your crusty Hot Wheels on a sheet.  Or a table.  Or a desk.  But what fun would that be?  According the the ebay’er, “both are great fun.”  I am venturing a guess that there MAY be some innuendo in that statement.  Further, the model is single, but does not come with sale.  Here’s to staying classy.  For those hoping for a closer inspection on the pair, check out the auction.

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Last week, Morgan Stanley economist Ole Slorer made a statement that is cause for celebration: oil will one day fall to $60 a barrel again. However, Slorer warned that crude could hit $150 before the dollar regains value and prices begin to stabilize. Read the rest of this entry »

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