Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Other Women

Some people say owning a car is like being in a relationship. I whole heartedly agree. Just like in a relationship, your girl usually gets mad when you checkout other girls. The problem is, that's just human nature. I'm not just attracted to one archetype of a women like some people, so my automotive tastes vary quite drastically. I do own an AE86, and I am into odd Japanese aero and large lipped wheels, but I also dream of owning some of Europe's elite. I'm not really talking the mass produced, abundant in Beverly Hills automobiles (however great they may be) but I'm talking specifically about vehicles a connoisseur would own. Something a little more rare. Something that goes unsuspecting to average people, but pretty captivating to those in the know. Two words help describe this: homoligation special.

I browse automotive sales sections of forums and other places like craigs list every now and then to see what's in the market. These two vehicles that I found recently truly make me swoon.


The first is this 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 16v Euro edition. While the vehicle in itself is very rare and desireable, this one has special edition Aero, widebody, and a turbocharger system. Talk about car porn:


















Next is this E30 BMW M3. This one is more expensive but you can see the attention to detail the current owner has put towards this machine. Everything looks brand new! In addition, the engine was recently overhauled and he says it only has about 450 miles on it. Such a clean, clean machine.






I of course don't have the cash to buy either of these (there's no way in hell I'm ever selling the Corolla). It never hurts to look though!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Best Sound in the World

This is an old video of Renault testing one of their Formula 1 engines. Quite plainly, it is a visual and audible bombardment of ecstacy.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Race of Champions...Who do you want?

The Race of Champions is coming. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the event but for those of you that aren't, the event baisically takes the world's best drivers, divides them up according to country and pits them against each other on the same track. All drivers use the same machines, at the same time. Ever wonder who would win in a race between Sebastian Loeb and Michale Schumacher? How about testing a NASCAR guy against a DTM guy? All those dream scenarios come to life with this single event.



For the past few years, USA has had quite the showing. In 2002, team USA even won the Nation's Cup with a dream team consisting of Jeff Gordon, Colin Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson. In 2006, both Jimmie Johnson and Scott Speed were unable to race the day fo the event due to injury, leaving Travis Pastrana to fend for himself and to single handedly represent the USA. What happened you ask? Travis finished 2nd. He beat out the worlds best but eventually lost to the Finns (Heikki Kovaleinen and Marcus Gronholm).



So the question remains, who should represent? There are certainly a number of drivers that could put on a great show. I'd love to see Nikki Hayden, Tanner Faust, Marco Andretti, or event Boris Said compete and represent the USA. Above all however, I'd like to see.....








This guy....










...and this guy






How awsome would that be? Who are your pics to represent the USA?

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

No Canadian GP for '09

So last year, I started really getting into Formula 1. Only after I started racing myself and began understanding the technology behind the cars as well as the discipline and concentration needed to move a machine around a race track did I become a pretty big fan. After my trip to Japan, I was delighted to see that other countries shared in my enthusiasm. It was only natural that I then wanted to attend Grand Prix as soon as possible!

The debate was, do I go to Japan again to further explore hentai, maid cafe's and small AE86 shops? Or do I travel to another country to experience Formula 1 in all its glory? The question still remains, but one of the options was to attend the Canadian GP, since it was fairly close to us. It would be a chance to visit Canada, perhaps see my good 'ol friend Migs, and view the world's most popular motor sports all in one shot. Apparently Bernie doesn't care about me, my dreams or budget, and has taken the Canadian GP away at least for next year.

The small light at the end of the tunnel, is the rumor about '10's possibility of a US Grand Prix, perhaps in Vegas. Anika at the OG here I come!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Chaser of my dreams

Its been difficult to find time lately to update, as I've been all over the place. Two weeks ago I was at the Coronado Festival of Speed, which was a blast. I got to hang out with some friends I hadn't seen in a while, and watch vintage race cars duke it out on a mini circuit. It almost looked like another round of the Monterey Historics, if they had a full racing schedule. Me being the idiot I am, forgot to bring my camera with me. Then this past weekend, I was at a wedding in NorCal. Again, forgot the camera, but the only thing automotive related that I experienced was riding in my friend's new BMW. That being said, I wasn't really equipped to blog about any automotive experiences in the past few weeks, until I came across this thing. This photos is of Daigo Saito's Chaser which is currently for sale.





I'll probably have to create a separate post to describe the Alex Pfeiffer trifecta for automotive hotness (with new addition thanks to Taka Aono) but this Chaser has it all. The funny thing is, this isn't even Daigo's "A" car anymore, and it still reaches a level of super-hotness rarely achieved by anyone. Maybe I adore it because its a Toyota, or maybe I adore the generous usage of BN Sports, but either way, its definately a vehicle I'd buy if I wasn't repaying college loans, gettin tricked into taking hoes out to eat, and putting gasoline into my 9 mpg AE86.

Check it out for sale, here

Monday, September 29, 2008

One helluva ride

Its one thing to crash in a car. Its another to crash in a convertible. Its a totally different story when you crash in a 1500 pound open top rocket at the Nurburgring. At very least, the owner has this awsome picture to help tell his tale. Makes for some fun beer drinking with friends, when he can lift his arms again.