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About this blog

A monthly blog about all things associated with cars from car clubs, car events and random musings...

Entries in this blog

The Thing about First Cars....

In the past year I have purchased 2 cars for drivers in my household. This is an important rite for me as a parent and for my children. I believe right up there with a first favorite rock group, first crush on the opposite sex, or a first kiss lives the all the dominant first car. Mainly among men, but women too, is the pride, or maybe the embarrassment, of sharing what their first car was. Some have the unfortunate story of owning an AMC Pacer or their parent's hand me down wagon with full wood

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The Thing About Cars and Driving a BMW...

I drive a BMW. There, I said it. It’s out in the open for all to see, hear, interpret and judge. I drive a BMW and being a car guy this can be difficult when talking with people who are not car people and sometimes even with a fellow automotive lover. Whenever the inevitable question of ‘What do you drive?’ arises I am never quite sure what to say. I feel like the old make up commercial with the tag line ‘Don’t judge me because I am beautiful.’ I want to scream, ‘Don’t judge me because I own a B

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The Thing About Cars and Racing...

As fall turns to winter and the colored leaves turn to brown and drop from their branches it is a rare home that does not have a football game on television (on Saturday, if you live in the south, on Sunday for the rest of the world). Whether you root for the SEC teams or love everything NFL there will be a group at someone's home drinking beer, eating chips, maybe grilling and quarterbacking from their chair. This is completely normal, and even encouraged, in most circles. In steps me. Footbal

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Carism for World Peace

I belong to many automotive related groups on different social media. From old cars to new cars, cars that people see on the highway to ones sitting in someone's garage in a 1,000 pieces, particular brands, types and even colors - you name the category there is most likely some car group out there related to it. Most of these groups require a rule that when broken is dealt with swiftly and with justice. What makes me write about these groups along with the above rules is that I theorize tha

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The Thing about Driving Classic Cars

Ahhh, Fall! Cool and dry weather. Foliage turning the leaves colors that even the Home Depot paint department can't replicate. Life is slowing down as we prepare for that inevitable coming of winter where being indoors is best for our fragile human bodies. Fall also gives us the opportunity to get our classic cars out and enjoy them for a Saturday evening cruise-in, maybe a car show, or just a Sunday afternoon jaunt on some pretty back roads. Imagine how I felt when my good friend told me

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Do you like it? Then it is perfect.

Today someone in a BMW E28 group on Fa cebook posted a pictures of some wheels he planned to install on his car and asked the inevitable question: "What do you all think?" I looked at the post and knew, just knew, many purists were going to comment 'Dude, that is hideous', or 'I guess if you like to look like one of those guys' and the other myriad of comments that come from the question 'What do you think?'. I wrote to him: And I meant it. I recently purchased a 2000 M Roadster in sil

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The Thing About The Car Bug And Turning 50

http://thethingaboutcars.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-thing-about-car-bug-and-turning-50_53.html By the time you read this I will have hit a very major milestone in my life. I will cross over the half-century mark. I know when I turned 40 just last year, or was that 10 years ago? I was shown the secret handshake for those that are four decades old. No one has told me what secret comes with turning 50, maybe just getting to 50 in one piece is the secret in itself. They say you are as old as you feel

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The Thing about Retirement Cars

Years ago my friend said that when he retires he plans on pulling out in front of every car he sees and then drive slowly as he does errands as payback for those that have done that to him. This from a man who accumulates speeding tickets like people collect souvenir spoons or Precious Moments dolls. I know for the cars I have owned, going on 25 strong now, I have tried to own either sporty cars or cars that were the sporty counterpart of a standard car. I started with a 68 Mustang Fastback onto

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The Thing about the Car Bug and Turning 50

By the time you read this I will have hit a very major milestone in my life. I will cross over the half-century mark. I know when I turned 40 just last year, or was that 10 years ago? I was shown the secret handshake for those that are four decades old. No one has told me what secret comes with turning 50, maybe just getting to 50 in one piece is the secret in itself. They say you are as old as you feel - who knew that 100 would feel so good! Enough about my age - 46 years ago I was bi

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The Thing About Rental Cars - Part 3

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjnRNqJs6nw/U-Dbq4Hk0-I/AAAAAAAAIDE/fLe7VT7LkTQ/s1600/Jeremy+Clarkson+-+Smug.pngThe greatest rental car comment ever uttered has to have come from Jeremy Clarkson on BBC's Top Gear. As he and James May set off on some excellent adventure Clarkson shows up in a light blue Toyota something or other. He points to the car and says  James asks how in the world could a boring sedan be the fastest car in the world? Mr. Clarkson exclaims 'It's a rental!'. From that point fo

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The Thing about the Car Bug and Turning 50

By the time you read this I will have hit a very major milestone in my life. I will cross over the half-century mark. I know when I turned 40 just last year, or was that 10 years ago? I was shown the secret handshake for those that are four decades old. No one has told me what secret comes with turning 50, maybe just getting to 50 in one piece is the secret in itself. They say you are as old as you feel - who knew that 100 would feel so good! http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A5qUB6ZN1io/VAXatvtM8s

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The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 1

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pe_0EQ8er0s/VF4_n0DeGUI/AAAAAAAAKqg/MNpI_TD4cZ4/s1600/Tale%2Bof%2BTwo%2BCities.jpgIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Mr. Dickens penned those words over a hundred years ago and for many of us this happens on a regular basis. My story for the next two months is just like that, the best and worst of times, rolled into one. Unfortunately, more the worst of times but with the rose colored glasses perspective of the best of times. Please enjoy my journey wi

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The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 2

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAcDY_DE-cE/VHzbqSrR8rI/AAAAAAAAKyg/1e7SY8irVQQ/s1600/WV%2Bmap.pngSo where were we – that’s right, on my way home from Pittsburgh to Birmingham, AL on a cold and rainy day. But no stinkin’ rain can dampen my spirits – I have a 79 Mercedes convertible to bring home. The rest of the trip is what one could call many things. Exciting? Strange? Frustrating? Twilight Zone? You pick the description, each and every one is true at some point along the way. 5:00 PM http:/

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The Thing About Cars - New Year's Resolution

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_HpBEAqON0/VMLINJBFYrI/AAAAAAAALKQ/A27XORVnre4/s1600/Happy-New-Year-2015-Facebook-Banner-04.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHdYs_M9u9A/VMLE5AQaykI/AAAAAAAALJk/Ik061CjU8Nw/s1600/fitness_center_large.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKlyPznIfUE/VMLE3spgDsI/AAAAAAAALJQ/1KEFwf4s3NE/s1600/busyfitnesscenter.jpgThere are over 50 million people who have fitness center memberships in the United States. Six million of those signups happen in January as part of a New Year’s Resolut

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The Thing About Cars: Making Car Friends

The long, dark and cold days of February are ahead. Thankfully February is a short month that http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bp9w8gsLhBw/VNE1bd-cUlI/AAAAAAAALNk/xlvhLc321ko/s1600/cloudysky.jpgquickly leads into March giving us glimpses of warm spring days to come fighting winter as the ocean waves fight the beach during high tide. Back in the days when you produced your own food February was a month where little outside work could be done making reflection a possibility. Even in modern days February

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The Thing About Rental Cars - Part 3

The greatest rental car comment ever uttered has to have come from Jeremy Clarkson on BBC's Top Gear. As he and James May set off on some excellent adventure Clarkson shows up in a light blue Toyota something or other. He points to the car and says  James asks how in the world could a boring sedan be the fastest car in the world? Mr. Clarkson exclaims 'It's a rental!'. From that point forward the little car never had a chance. So it is true with all rentals, they seemingly live the life of a

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The Thing About Rental Cars - Part 3

The greatest rental car comment ever uttered has to have come from Jeremy Clarkson on BBC's Top Gear. As he and James May set off on some excellent adventure Clarkson shows up in a light blue Toyota something or other. He points to the car and says James asks how in the world could a boring sedan be the fastest car in the world? Mr. Clarkson exclaims 'It's a rental!'. From that point forward the little car never had a chance. So it is true with all rentals, they seemingly live the life of a L

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The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 1

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Mr. Dickens penned those words over a hundred years ago and for many of us this happens on a regular basis. My story for the next two months is just like that, the best and worst of times, rolled into one. Unfortunately, more the worst of times but with the rose colored glasses perspective of the best of times. Please enjoy my journey with me. Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars, Jeff Allen and Meg Bailey from The Car Chasers, the Gas Monk

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The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 2

So where were we – that’s right, on my way home from Pittsburgh to Birmingham, AL on a cold and rainy day. But no stinkin’ rain can dampen my spirits – I have a 79 Mercedes convertible to bring home. The rest of the trip is what one could call many things. Exciting? Strange? Frustrating? Twilight Zone? You pick the description, each and every one is true at some point along the way. 5:00 PM I return my rental car at a Hertz Local Edition where they normally will give you a ride back home

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The Thing About Cars - New Year's Resolution

There are over 50 million people who have fitness center memberships in the United States. Six million of those signups happen in January as part of a New Year’s Resolution. By the time you read this, 80% of those people will have stopped going. Thinking of New Year’s resolutions, fitness centers and our promises to ourselves and others for what we are going to accomplish or change begs the question – What is your plan for your car, or cars, this year? I don’t make resolutions as a matter of

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The Thing About Rental Cars - Part 2

http://thethingaboutcars.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-thing-about-rental-cars-part-2.html A new car is exciting and there is something about the new car experience that only a new car provides. The smell of new leather (or leatherette?). The thunk sound of a solid shutting door. The smell of the engine, heater, air conditioner as they reach maximum operating temperatures for the first time produce a magical experience. The issue for most is that the experience comes once every 4 or 5 years. More f

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Christmas Cars

Will you get one? Will you? You know, the Lexus 'December to Remember Event'. Did you get a new Lexus? Will Santa deliver a brand new white, or maybe his personal red, Mercedes? Maybe a new Acura fresh from the 'Oh what fun it is to drive' specials. BMW, Ford, Audi - all manufacturer's believe only a Neanderthal wouldn't purchase a brand new car for Christmas. How many people actually purchase a car for Christmas? Do you know anyone that has ever been given a car to celebrate the First Noel? Le

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The Thing About Cars - New Year's Resolution

There are over 50 million people who have fitness center memberships in the United States. Six million of those signups happen in January as part of a New Year’s Resolution. By the time you read this, 80% of those people will have stopped going. Thinking of New Year’s resolutions, fitness centers and our promises to ourselves and others for what we are going to accomplish or change begs the question – What is your plan for your car, or cars, this year? I don’t make resolutions as a matte

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The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 2

So where were we – that’s right, on my way home from Pittsburgh to Birmingham, AL on a cold and rainy day. But no stinkin’ rain can dampen my spirits – I have a 79 Mercedes convertible to bring home. The rest of the trip is what one could call many things. Exciting? Strange? Frustrating? Twilight Zone? You pick the description, each and every one is true at some point along the way. 5:00 PM I return my rental car at a Hertz Local Edition where they normally will give you a ride back home, etc.

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The Thing About Chasing Cars - Part 1

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Mr. Dickens penned those words over a hundred years ago and for many of us this happens on a regular basis. My story for the next two months is just like that, the best and worst of times, rolled into one. Unfortunately, more the worst of times but with the rose colored glasses perspective of the best of times. Please enjoy my journey with me. Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars, Jeff Allen and Meg Bailey from The Car Chasers, the Gas Monkey

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