The Boys of Bonneville (2011)

I will admit, I had never heard of Ab Jenkins.  I didn't know the full history behind the Bonneville Salt Flats, though I did greatly appreciate the history of it during our visit.  As much as I was amazed by Love the Beast, this movie perhaps even takes it a step further.  Where as Love the Beast addressed our deep connection we often have with our cars, this movie addressed the passion many have to race.  I am glad that The Mormon Meteor III was rescued from the state capitol and preserved by Abs son, Marv.  We WILL return to the flats one day, and seeing this car in person is now on my "to do" list.  This is yet another MUST SEE movie, and one that will be added to my personal collection soon.



The Boys of Bonneville

Scion FR-S powered by a NASCAR Toyota Smallblock

You may recall, I held great admiration for the Scion FR-S when I first spotted it a couple years ago at the North American International Auto Show.  I've never hid the fact that I'm not into foreign cars, but this rear wheel drive compact sports car looked like a blast to drive.  Well, Toyota took it a step further, making it absolutely awesome!  They dropped a NASCAR engine making 750 hp in this baby, and man, does it move!

Detroit Electric returns to build electric sports car

Detroit Electric (1907-1939) has been brought back to life.  The former electric car company, based in Detroit, MI, and owned by parent company Anderson Electric Car Company, has been brought back from the dead by Albert Lam, former CEO of the Lotus Engineering Group.  The new company, revived in 2008, will be HQ'd in the Fisher Building in Detroit, MI.  The company looks to hire 180 people, and start assembly of electric sports cars by August 2013 at an unknown location in metro Detroit.  Annual capacity for the new car will be approximately 2,500 units.  The company will unveil it's car to the world at the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show April 2013.  Let's hope this company proves more successful than the Tesla and Fisker cars out there.  Not that they both seem to be making good products, it's simply that the market just doesn't seem to be there yet to support electric sports cars.

2014 Cadillac CTS getting Twin Turbo V6, 8 Speed Transmission

Could this be the death of the V8?  A twin turbo V6 that puts out 420 hp and 430 ft/lbs of torque, even the most diehard V8   fans have to show a little love for an engine like that.

As the power V6's make continue to rise, I think the likelihood they will eventually replace V8's becomes a much greater possibility.

420 hp is no slouch, but with twin turbos, it won't be long until somebody tunes one of these engines to 500-600 hp, with relatively little effort.  You can't replace the sound of the tried and true V8, but with each passing year, it's becoming easier to achieve V8 numbers.  Could you add a set up twin turbos to a V8 and make even more power?  Sure, but it won't package in many cars anywhere near as easily as a V6 would.  It will be interesting to see which of the Big 3 apply this concept to their pony cars first.  I'm not sure how it will go over.  Will people buy a V6 muscle car?  Yes, there were others, such as the Buick GN, GMC Typhoon, and the Syclone.  I would argue however that they fell under a different kind of muscle car, cool just the same, but different.  Considering Chrysler doesn't offer a twin turbo V6, I would venture to guess that it's going to come down to the Mustang vs Camaro, and my money would be on Ford, considering they already pulled the trigger by putting a twin turbo V6 in the F150.  The next generation pony cars could be very interesting.

2014 Cadillac CTS getting Twin Turbo V6, 8 Speed Transmission

Love the Beast (2009)

 

I ran across this title recently on Netflix.  Last night, while lying in bed, I figured I'd give it a shot.  I honestly didn't have much hope for it, as I couldn't help but prepare myself for what I expected to be an extremely cheesy car flick.  Man, was I ever surprised! 

What I discovered was possibly one of THE BEST car documentaries ever made.  This movie captures our psychological attraction to cars, and I was shocked to hear Dr Phil nail it!  When Eric Bana wrecked his car, his pride and joy, his lifelong passion, I felt his pain.  I felt his pain, because I had experienced it.  My first car, which I planned on always holding onto, was totaled in an accident just 5 years after I got it.  Refusing to completely lose that first car bond, I would purchase a nearly identical car 8 years later, one in which I still have and always plan on having.

As much as it hurt to lose my first car, it's replacement, my 69 Camaro, would probably hurt even more.  Why?  Well, because of all the blood, sweat, and tears poured into it.  Jay Leno says it best in the movie, and tells Eric Bana had he rebuilt the car the last time, he probably wouldn't have wrecked it.  Had it been his time and effort, he would have driven the car differently.  Because the 3rd restoration/modification wasn't his time and effort, he treated it like a rental car.  Perhaps he was right.  While I don't question Eric's love for his car, maybe he did push it a bit harder because it was professionally built, and it wasn't his time and effort this go-round.

I did some searching, and was happy to learn that Mr Bana DID get around to getting the car put back together.  I'm sure it was no easy project, as the car appeared to have extensive damage that affected nearly every part of the car.  I would highly recommend checking this movie out, as it is truly amazing!  I never even knew about this Targa Tasmania race, and thought it would be an amazing race to race in...until seeing what happened to Eric's Ford Falcon.

GM's Heritage Center

It's a shame that this place isn't open to the public.  I do have an in, and hope to tour the facility one day.  That said, I'm not sure a camera will be allowed.  You would think that a company with such an extensive display would want to display it with a museum.  That said, perhaps the fact that the Walter P. Chrysler Museum closed at the end of last year is proof that there just isn't the support to warrant a public automotive museum designated to one make.

Rebuild a Jeep in under 4 minutes

This is amazing!

Roadkill: Episode 13

Glad to see they didn't abandon the trip to Alaska. Arugably one of the best episodes yet!

Roadkill: Episode 12

Sadly, the Caprice was long retired from the department by the time I came on the job.  That said, I would still take an age old Caprice over a piece of shit Crown Vic.  That trunk lid that doesn't shut in the video?  Yeah, we had a brand new 2011 that the trunk doesn't want to shut on.  Multiple attempts combined with multiple trunk button hits will get it closed.  Long live the Caprice!

2013 Detroit Autorama Ridler Winner!

This is the 2013 Detroit Autorama Ridler award winner!  It was one sharp car without a doubt.

2013 Detroit Autorama Show Coverage

This year's Detroit Autorama kicked off with a cacklefest with a couple of dragsters.  I had hoped to attend the opening, but working 12 hrs, arriving home at 7 am, proved too much for me to make it by noon.  Missing it by perhaps 30 minutes, it seems I didn't miss much, as they seemed to have simply idled them.  Cacklefest?  Hardly.

The Detroit Autorama once again doesn't fail to impress.  The cars are simply amazing, and with the 50th anniversary of the Ridler award this year, they invited previous cars that won the trophy, some 30+ cars in attendance.  It was cool to see the cars from the past.  Some have not aged well, as the custom mods screamed 1980's.  Others however, the styles have come around full circle, and once again are cool. I'm going to leave out the commentary this time around, and simply let the pictures do the talking.

Be sure to check out the rest of my photos via the link at the end.  I can't wait to return to the show tomorrow, camera left at home, and ready to spend more time studying the cars and looking to buy junk I don't need.

2013 Detroit Autorama - 400+ Photos