tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83722189314576230902024-03-13T19:46:32.813-07:00Simon TseSimon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-40969583006029058762019-06-25T13:59:00.000-07:002019-12-17T14:03:11.305-08:00PNW Oppo Meet Recap: LeMay Museum<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Having read CarsofFortLangley’s post about this has gotten me in the mood for some quick writing. </span>I already had a tremendous amount of fun at the <a class="inline-node__Anchor-sc-145m8ut-0 qEQhe js_link link__Anchor-sc-1out364-0 jaYiFX inset-skip" href="https://oppositelock.kinja.com/bc-oppo-meet-simonkhtses-photos-1834770763" style="box-shadow: rgb(90, 186, 247) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s;">first BC Oppo Meet</a> not too long ago, and when he asked if I was in for this one, I just had to say yes.
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Started the day at 5:30am to meet up with CarsofFortLangley just south of the border in Blaine, WA. Crossing the border this early is always fun — even more so when you have to explain to the US Border Patrol that you are traveling down to meet up with a bunch of internet people.</div>
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Our first stop was Chuckanut Drive near Burlington. As advertised, that road delivered plenty of fun in the 3rd and 4th gear range, complete with a good amount of corners. It was also quite narrow, which made me glad that I didn’t bring the much bigger and slower <a class="inline-node__Anchor-sc-145m8ut-0 qEQhe js_link link__Anchor-sc-1out364-0 jaYiFX inset-skip" href="https://scontent.fcxh2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18880329_10158902991285096_517592612034215849_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=f732be11dbcfbf98c6c4bf7086c0e418&oe=5D79B18C" style="box-shadow: rgb(90, 186, 247) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s;">635CSi</a> — my summer ride. Instead, I showed up in my 2009 BMW 128i, with the cold weather package (apparently this is what you talk about at these meets). </div>
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Got to the LeMay Museum at 10am, pretty much on the dot. This is after we’d gotten lost driving around the outskirts of Bellevue for a while, so talk about great planning! This is where we met the rest of the crew: Nkato, Zoidberg, Studystudystudy, just-a-scratch, Spaceball-Two & Gettingoldercarguy.</div>
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The museum had a good amount - and a surprising variety - of cars. It was just a little odd to see so many Fast and Furious-type cars by the main floor. One of the staff (looks to be in her 60s) also helpfully explained to us what “hellaflush” meant while we were gazing at a MK 3 GTi with a Porsche Cayenne V6 swapped in. How incredibly helpful.</div>
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The good stuff though were hiding downstairs.</div>
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That was a pretty good way of spending a Saturday morning.</div>
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My day wasn’t over though — the previous night before the trip, I had scouted on Seattle Craigslist for potential parts purchases for my E24, as well as a seller who was willing to part with a brand new (albeit aftermarket) carbon fiber spoiler for $130 (which is much cheaper than how much you’d have to pay online). Thankfully, they were also free during the afternoon, so I came home with a brand new spoiler and a small amount of interior parts from a stripped-out 633CSi. Alas, as his car was an ‘82, I couldn’t find too many interior parts that were good for my ‘87.</div>
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<figure class="align--bleed js_lazy-image has-image image-node__ImageNodeWrapper-sc-1eow4w5-1 lpjGux" contenteditable="false" data-format="jpg" data-height="3024" data-id="jpkzfxgbrgpwzqtalhpx" data-lightbox="true" data-recommend-id="image://jpkzfxgbrgpwzqtalhpx" data-recommended="false" data-width="4032" draggable="false" id="uid27" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; margin: 0px auto 1.5rem; max-width: none; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 836px;"><div class="image-node__ImageWrapper-sc-1eow4w5-2 lgmWWB" contenteditable="false" data-syndicationrights="false" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; max-width: 4032px; padding: 0px;">
<img data-format="jpg" data-height="3024" data-id="jpkzfxgbrgpwzqtalhpx" data-lightbox="true" data-recommend-id="image://jpkzfxgbrgpwzqtalhpx" data-recommended="false" data-width="4032" draggable="false" src="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/f_auto/jpkzfxgbrgpwzqtalhpx.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 836px;" /><br />
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<figcaption class="caption js_caption caption-container__Caption-sc-1ptbguh-0 fiCicm" contenteditable="true" data-placeholder="Caption (optional)" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #7d7d7d; font-family: ProximaNovaCond, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 0.5rem; position: relative; text-align: left;">The remains of the ‘82 633CSi I scavenged some parts from.</figcaption></div>
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The gentleman parting out his E24 also had an amazing collection of Volvos out front. He even sold the parts to me for free, on the condition that I help ship a box of seasoning salts (I had to check to make sure that they were indeed seasoning salts, of course) to his relative in Calgary. “Shipping this stuff here will cost me $54,” he said. Shipping in Vancouver costed me $18. </div>
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<img data-format="jpg" data-height="3024" data-id="mdzrceo5woxwlaslxcvs" data-lightbox="true" data-recommend-id="image://mdzrceo5woxwlaslxcvs" data-recommended="false" data-width="4032" draggable="false" src="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/f_auto/mdzrceo5woxwlaslxcvs.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 836px;" /><br />
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<figcaption class="caption js_caption caption-container__Caption-sc-1ptbguh-0 fiCicm" contenteditable="true" data-placeholder="Caption (optional)" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #7d7d7d; font-family: ProximaNovaCond, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 0.5rem; position: relative; text-align: left;">A straight up gorgeous shell of a Volvo P1800.</figcaption></div>
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<img data-format="jpg" data-height="900" data-id="sc7a0rfwf7hktvidlu2d" data-lightbox="true" data-recommend-id="image://sc7a0rfwf7hktvidlu2d" data-recommended="false" data-width="1200" draggable="false" src="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/f_auto/sc7a0rfwf7hktvidlu2d.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 836px;" /><br />
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<figcaption class="caption js_caption caption-container__Caption-sc-1ptbguh-0 fiCicm" contenteditable="true" data-placeholder="Caption (optional)" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #7d7d7d; font-family: ProximaNovaCond, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 0.5rem; position: relative; text-align: left;">Followed by a pristine-looking Volvo P1800ES.</figcaption></div>
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The new spoiler looks pretty darn good too. Not bad for $130.</div>
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Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-82701916494964831422017-05-16T09:42:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:42:34.509-07:00Castle in the Sky: Colorado Road Trip Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2IFOOssDG0/WQoxNNbeSkI/AAAAAAAADWs/5Co7ciP3v-QyXwqaBzfIa8v4Ed9CEYnIwCLcB/s1600/Mount%2BEvans%2BBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2IFOOssDG0/WQoxNNbeSkI/AAAAAAAADWs/5Co7ciP3v-QyXwqaBzfIa8v4Ed9CEYnIwCLcB/s640/Mount%2BEvans%2BBlog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>[Previously on the <a href="http://bit.ly/2psjIVW" target="_blank">Thinkware Colorado Road Trip</a>: I took a giant detour driving from Colorado Springs to Denver. It should've taken me about 2 and a half hours. I took 12.] </i><br />
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After 2 days of exploration and (new-found) experience with extreme altitude, I felt considerably more prepared to drive up Mount Evans -- which cradles North America's highest paved road at 14,130 feet. Yes, it is higher than Pikes Peak.<br />
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I didn't do so well at Pikes Peak.<br />
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Before my trip to Mount Evans, I stocked up supplies in Denver to best prepare me for the drive up. I got snacks, plenty of water, and sunscreen (you are a lot easily sunburnt at 14,000 feet than at sea level, which is also one of the reasons why people get dehydrated easily, which leads to altitude sickness).<br />
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Interestingly, the local shops in Denver also offered <a href="https://www.boostoxygen.com/">pressurized oxygen canisters</a> for an instant kick when you need it the most. I didn't think I needed it.<br />
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Alas, half way through my drive towards Mount Evans, I realized that I forgot one of my most important gear -- my trusty DSLR. So, most of the images on this blog will be pictures taken on my trusty iPhone 6.<br />
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So, off to the highest paved road in North America we go.<br />
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An hour and a half hour west of Denver is Mount Evans. The morning drive there was quick enough -- just head West on the I-70 and turn off the highway when you see the gigantic mountain on your left. Weirdly, there weren't a lot of signs advertising the mountain's presence.<br />
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Going off the highway, you take a left and drive on this small country road for about twenty minutes before you'd see the entrance to Mount Evans. Along the way, there were an assortment of pickup trucks with ATVs towed in the back. The side of the road also had a number of large country houses, many with a couple of 1960s and 1970s era pick ups parked out front, from old Chevys, GMCs, and even a Datsun.<br />
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This place is a bit of a hidden playground.<br />
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Half way up the mountain, it became evident that this is unlike any other mountain passes I've driven on for the past two days. It is hard to describe the feeling, but driving on Mount Evans is quite unique on its own right. <br />
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If Pikes Peak is America's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y20CLumT2Sg&t=315s">rallying playground</a>, then Mount Evans is kind of like its evil cousin. The road up Mount Evans is every bit as entertaining as the one on Pikes Peak, complete with all kinds of twists and turns. However, the road is just a little more narrow, just a little more bumpy, and all of these things add up to a much more scary experience.<br />
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Vast sections of the road did not come equipped with a guard rail, and yet the road is barely wide enough to fit two medium-sized sedans. This is also a two-way road, which means you will encounter traffic coming down the mountain. On occasions, I'd be approaching a blind corner not knowing that there is a full-sized SUV barreling down on the other direction.<br />
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Have I forgotten to mention that I was also driving a full-sized Ford Explorer?<br />
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Every now and then, you'd also see hikers resting on the side of the road. Except there is no "side of the road" -- it is basically the edge of the cliff they are sitting on, with raging two-way traffic going on behind them. Can't imagine that they'd find this experience particularly soothing.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AD_RtjsLONE/WRYT-3PeEUI/AAAAAAAADbc/UxoKoeXi2hATEingQED0jAZbh8v92tmnACLcB/s1600/IMG_7282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AD_RtjsLONE/WRYT-3PeEUI/AAAAAAAADbc/UxoKoeXi2hATEingQED0jAZbh8v92tmnACLcB/s640/IMG_7282.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Once on the top, you are also greeted by a herd of mountain goats. Yes, mountain goats. It seems like they are so accustomed to people that they were not too bothered by all the curious crowds. Traffic, understandably, grinds to a halt in their presence.<br />
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The view is just as advertised. Turns out, there used to be a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crest_House">restaurant and a gift shop</a> here in the 1940s -- dubbed the "Castle in the Sky". However, a fire broke out in 1979 and the place has been partially destroyed ever since.<br />
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I found a parking spot in the overcrowded parking lot, and moved around slowly to avoid straining myself and trigger another full-blown episode of altitude sickness -- after all, if I get sick here, it will take easily 2-3 hours to drive back to my hotel in Denver, through the non-guardrailed mountain passes and the resting hikers. And the mountain goats.<br />
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This isn't too bad, I thought.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQE9R07iaBg/WRYT9uSDAbI/AAAAAAAADbU/MIpzCmAbk3M5Hpk1V-9I6POfiKTgx6z5ACLcB/s1600/IMG_7191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQE9R07iaBg/WRYT9uSDAbI/AAAAAAAADbU/MIpzCmAbk3M5Hpk1V-9I6POfiKTgx6z5ACLcB/s640/IMG_7191.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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And then I looked to the left: stairs.<br />
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Yep. Turns out, the parking lot wasn't the peak of Mount Evans at all. The final 100 feet has to be hiked up on a series of stairs and slopes. I decided to soldier on -- I have come this far now, to turn back would be a crying shame.<br />
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I began the slow ascent.<br />
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Along the way were hundreds others, young and old. Some of them even brought along dogs too of all sizes. They were mostly happy, with a few exceptions of the young ones. Of course, there is no cell phone reception here.<br />
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After about 45 minutes, I made it to the peak, exhausted and slightly dizzy, but tremendously satisfied at what I just managed to achieve. I can officially tell people that I hiked up a 14,000-foot mountain (I'll gloss over the part where I drove up most of the way).<br />
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Here, the mood was celebratory. People posed for selfies, had lunch, and were generally enjoying the experience. And then a couple frat guys nearby decided that streaking and running around naked was a feat worth doing.<br />
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Most importantly, however, my preparation worked. Despite the hike, I was doing just fine.<br />
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I have managed to drive on the highest paved road in North America. This is not something that I'll get to experience very often.<br />
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After staying at the peak for about an hour, I made my way downhill and went back to the hotel.<br />
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In the span of three days, I have driven to Pikes Peak, the rallying playground I have known to love since childhood; been to Aspen and the Rockies, where the scenery can put places like Scotland and Italy to shame; and Mount Evans, where I can officially claim to have driven higher than everyone I know. Not bad for a short road trip.<br />
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Heck, at the end of the trip, I was glad to have the Ford Explorer -- it was the right vehicle for the job, despite my craving for something lighter and sportier. After all, I can't go off-roading in a Mazda Miata.<br />
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Coming back to Denver, I explored the city on foot and enjoyed the general quirkiness that is the city. Colorado is a charming place.<br />
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I definitely will be coming back.<br />
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<i><br /></i>Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-78118236224840895072017-05-09T09:42:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:43:01.145-07:00Top of the World: Colorado Road Trip Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bXYpPqK1m0/WP_i9SQPr5I/AAAAAAAADT8/bPbRETn2fIo2ktLxIsMuX5yq8Fatw008QCLcB/s1600/Rockies%2BBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bXYpPqK1m0/WP_i9SQPr5I/AAAAAAAADT8/bPbRETn2fIo2ktLxIsMuX5yq8Fatw008QCLcB/s640/Rockies%2BBlog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>[Previously on the <a href="http://bit.ly/2qC45MI" target="_blank">Thinkware Colorado Road Trip</a>: I flew to Denver, CO so I can drive to Colorado Springs, CO so I can drive up Pikes Peak, CO in a soccer-family-special Ford Explorer. I also got altitude sickness.] </i><br />
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After recovering from said altitude sickness, I looked at the map and pondered my options. I knew that I wanted to go to the Rockies, because a) it's the Rockies; and I knew that I wanted to spend my last portion of the trip driving up <a href="http://www.mountevans.com/" target="_blank">Mount Evans</a> as well. However, the portion between Colorado Springs and the Rockies were very much still up in the air.<br />
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As far as I was concerned, I had two options:<br />
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1. I could either take the I-25 through Denver to the Rockies, which would be about 2 hours and 40 minutes of driving. We will call this the "boring" way;<br />
2. Or, I could take a "slight" detour through the state highways, taking in the scenery, through <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/aspen" target="_blank">Aspen</a>, a world-class ski resort town, and eventually circle back to the Rockies, before stopping in Denver. This would take me about 12 hours. We will call this the "fun" route.<br />
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Guess which route I took?<br />
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In the morning, still feeling a little groggy, I set off from Colorado Springs, heading west towards the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Pass_(Colorado)" target="_blank">Independence Pass</a> -- a stretch of highway in Colorado that cuts across Mount Elbert, and takes me to Aspen, <a href="http://www.saabhistory.com/2008/12/14/the-history-of-saab-police-cars-in-aspen-colorado/" target="_blank">the land of weird police vehicles</a>.<br />
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Independence Pass, in case if you haven't noticed from the F770 video, is probably one of the single most scenic drives in the country. It has everything you can ever ask for as a driving enthusiast -- long, curving sweepers; sharp turns; long straights; narrow sections; and most of all, an incredible scenery.<br />
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Who needs Monte Carlo or Italy? Colorado mountain passes, in terms of sheer driving pleasure, is just as good -- and much closer to home. Too bad I wasn't driving a car that is a little sportier.<br />
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That said, as the miles rolled by, the Ford did a very good job of keeping me in comfort -- something that is appreciated in a long 12-hour drive. The V6 engine hummed quietly and gave me reasonable fuel economy all at the same time. Is it powerful? Not exactly, but it does the job.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car spotting in Aspen: Don't know what this is... Don't think I'd want to know. </td></tr>
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By the time I got to Aspen, it was already lunch time. I grabbed some food at one of the many crowded restaurants in town, and went on my way quickly -- the Rockies part of the drive is best done when the sun is still up, you see. As nice as Aspen was in the short hour and a half I was there, I had to put my foot down.<br />
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Relying solely on Google Maps, sometimes you'd have to prepare yourself for nasty little surprises -- one time, I discovered (the hard way) that the side road I chose to head back from the Oregon coast back to the Interstate was through an unpaved mountain pass -- I was practically going off-road in my regular car.<br />
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So I guess I should've seen this coming.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bit of off-roadin'.</td></tr>
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Half way there, the road simply disappeared and turn into soft gravel. This was no short stretch of road either -- I was driving on this unpaved road for close to an hour. I was finally glad that I picked the right vehicle for the job.<br />
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The second part of the trip is quite different -- rather than driving through canyons and heavily wooded areas, the drive on the Rockies is considerably more open.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9aftANyR5I/WQkVHeAaDOI/AAAAAAAADV8/56yEJGlpNcUQNPc6FNyVQZUy3PrHKNjHQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9aftANyR5I/WQkVHeAaDOI/AAAAAAAADV8/56yEJGlpNcUQNPc6FNyVQZUy3PrHKNjHQCLcB/s640/IMG_6818.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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At over 10,000 feet, I was practically driving on top of the Rockies. Having learned a lesson from my previous excursion to Pikes Peak, I kept myself hydrated and tried not to exert too much energy. The much more gradual incline also helped.<br />
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Roads around here are definitely more relaxed -- no touge driving here, but I had enough fun on the Independence Pass to appreciate the laid back drive for the second part of my voyage.<br />
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The roads here are also slightly more congested (as you'd expect), but overall, traffic condition has never been bad to the point that I felt I was being held up by a slow-moving tourist (or a tow truck... more on that later).<br />
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The roads even got more, shall we say, "poetic" as we hummed along. One of the street signs near a scenic overview helpfully informed me that this is a fragile world and to "use it lightly". A little cheesy? Sure. But in this environment, with this glorious back drop, it works.<br />
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As I made my way across the Continental Divide, the sun was heading down. It was time to head towards Denver.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So the X330 was on the Atlantic side, and the F770 was on the Pacific side. You don't get to say that everyday. </td></tr>
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This is where I was faced with another conundrum -- I haven't had a meal since lunch, and it was already close to 8pm. Denver was at least another 100 miles away. Do I stop in a small town to pick up some food, or should I just lead foot it until I get back to civilization?<br />
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I wasn't too hungry at the time, so I decided that heading straight for Denver was probably the wisest choice. I gunned past the nearest town and stayed on the highway.<br />
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Alas, this was the wrong choice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First sign of trouble. </td></tr>
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The traffic started building up on the road, and the average speed crawled down to the single digits in some sections. I thought that this would just be a temporary snag in my otherwise smooth journey.<br />
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Nope. 20 minutes later, I was still averaging at 25 miles an hour, behind a parade of frustrated drivers, with no passing lane in sight, and no gas station to fill myself up with cheap hot dogs and snacks. The only thing I was full of was absolute regret. And then, as if the motor Gods were making a cruel joke, the stereo in the Ford Explorer started blasting "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM" target="_blank"><i>Don't Stop Me Now</i></a>".<br />
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Turns out, there was a tow truck ahead, leisurely driving at 30 miles under the limit, while people behind him were itching to get around him like NASCAR drivers do to pace cars.<br />
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Another 20 minutes went by before a passing lane appeared before our eyes. We all lined up and full throttled our way past the truck, presumably uttering some choice words for that driver in the process (I certainly did).<br />
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Eager for some good food, I aimed straight for downtown Denver to explore my options -- only to find myself surrounded by traffic. Turns out, the Rockies were playing, so the roads were a little congested, and parking was just a little hard to come by, seeing how all the restaurants and pubs were filled with slightly depressed sports fans (the Rockies lost 9-2 to the Cubs that night).<br />
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At long last, I found a parking spot and dashed towards one of the nearby restaurants, and proceeded to stuff myself with food and a cold glass of local craft beer. It was 10pm.<br />
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I'm never again taking a road trip without making sure my car is stocked up like a Safeway.<br />
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Up next: <a href="http://www.mountevans.com/" target="_blank">The highest paved road in North America.</a>Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-44842688962405969482017-05-02T09:43:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:43:35.361-07:00The Only Way is Up: Colorado Road Trip Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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14,000 feet.<br />
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I repeat: <b>14,000 feet</b>. That is 100 feet higher than your typical skydiving altitude. In fact, if you jump off a cliff at this height, you'll be freefalling for just about a minute. Not that you'd be able to, of course, as the tallest cliff in the world only clocks at a paltry 4,100 feet.<br />
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At this height, Oxygen becomes very thin (as I later found out). You will also see the curvature of the earth quite easily in the distance. Here, the boiling point of water is at 185 degrees.<br />
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In other words, 14,000 feet is quite high.<br />
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It is also the altitude you can find yourself at in Colorado. Colorado just happens to have 53 of those places above that altitude, known locally, as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteener" target="_blank">fourteeners</a>.<br />
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My goal is to drive up to two of those mountains -- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikes_Peak" target="_blank">Pikes Peak</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Evans" target="_blank">Mount Evans</a> -- and see what the drive is like.<br />
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My journey starts from Denver, Colorado. From there, I'll drive to the nearby Colorado Springs, visit the world-renowned Pikes Peak, do a day trip through Aspen and the Rockies, and eventually travel back to Denver for Mount Evans, where it holds the highest paved road in the world.<br />
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Accompanying me would be my two dash cams, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jvdqJ2Z6Yo" target="_blank">Thinkware X330</a>, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7tfswCz-gg&t=68s" target="_blank">Thinkware F770</a>. I've also acquired a Ford Explorer from a local rental company, because of the amount of <i>exploring</i> I'd be doing for the next couple days. Heh, get it? <b>[Ed. note: That was terrible.]</b><br />
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The first part of this blog chronicles my drive to Pikes Peak, America's rallying playground.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-bvwJEoEBQ/WPkRE7evcxI/AAAAAAAADRs/ISXzf7s5GdUYfZbu7thlqRxq9TkiCHEugCLcB/s1600/IMG_6618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-bvwJEoEBQ/WPkRE7evcxI/AAAAAAAADRs/ISXzf7s5GdUYfZbu7thlqRxq9TkiCHEugCLcB/s640/IMG_6618.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Pikes Peak holds a special place in my motoring life, as it is one of those near mythical places I have <a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/pikes-peak-hill-climb-race/" target="_blank">always read about in car magazines</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y20CLumT2Sg" target="_blank">watched in countless YouTube videos</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu192dcuWEM" target="_blank">played on video games</a>, and just generally wanted to visit. It just offers breathtaking views, a huge variety of corners and sharp turns, an insane elevation climb, and rally pedigree that not many other roads can offer.<br />
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If you have ever watched any rallying at any point in your life, you have probably seen Pikes Peak before. In other words, driving up the same road would fulfill a big part of my childhood dreams,<br />
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And what does the rental company offer me? A Ford Explorer. A standard one at that, without EcoBoost.<br />
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I must admit, traveling all the way to Colorado only to be offered a <i>soccer-family-special</i> SUV was a bit of a let down. They have completely run out of Camaros and Mustangs, so this is the best they could do. So off I went in a Ford Explorer.<br />
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In the morning, I drove up Pikes Peak as soon as it opened its gate at 8:30 in the morning. Turns out, I was a little too late -- ahead of me was a squadron of minivans, SUVs, and motorcycles, all waiting to climb another 7,000 feet to the peak.<br />
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Sure enough, I spent half the drive up being stuck behind slow-moving vehicles.<br />
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Not that it mattered anyway.<br />
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The majority of Pikes Peak also consisted of really steep inclines and no guard rails on the side of the road, so chances are you'll be more comfortable doing well under the posted speed limit of 25. Which you will, because once you get past 10,000 feet in elevation, the engine is so starved of oxygen it simply can't produce the power that I wanted.<br />
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Still though, at the rare stretches where there was nobody to get in my way, driving on Pikes Peak was a blast. I even forgot that I was driving a large sized, heavy SUV at this stage, as I was simply having too much fun to care.<br />
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There were even some side roads where I can take the car to do some off-roading as well, which is always fun. The hill crawl function in the Explorer worked just as advertised, controlling the vehicle's pace at 5 mph while going down a pretty steep incline.<br />
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The only things that would have made my drive better were if the roads were closed off to public, allowing me to tackle the twisties in our <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2015/08/we-bought-miata.html" target="_blank">office Miata</a> and thus fulfilling my <i>rally-slash-Initial D</i> dreams at the same time.<br />
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Once I got to the top (and I was second!), the sight it offered was quite unlike any other. You can see out in the horizon in all directions, and Colorado is quite spectacular. There wasn't much on the top of the mountain, other than a gift shop, a cafe, and a small train station.<br />
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Unfortunately, my first foray into driving in Colorado has proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. Two things of note, in particular:<br />
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<b>1. It was very cold.</b><br />
I went in the middle of August thinking that it would be warm and sunny. It was sunny, but warm it wasn't. Half way up Pikes Peak, the temperature was hovering in the low 40s. By the time I made it to the top of the mountain, the temperature was in the mid-30s. It was so cold, that I, a guy from the Pacific Northwest, went into the gift shop and bought myself a sweater.<br />
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<b>2. Altitude sickness is very real.</b><br />
From the gate to the top of the mountain was about 45 minutes of driving. Alas, it was also my fastest ticket to altitude sickness ever. I was woefully prepared for the altitude I was tackling, and the general lack of oxygen and my own dehydration were not helping matters. Half way up, and I was already feeling nauseous. At the top, I felt like a zombie stumbling around on the set of the Walking Dead.<br />
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Altitude sickness is also quite important. I was now on top of a 14,000 feet mountain, cold, groggy, with a headache that most Detroit Lions fans would be familiar with. I was also over an hour and a half away from my motel in Colorado Springs.<br />
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Making the drive down the mountain with a full-blown case of altitude sickness was not very fun. One thing to note while driving down the mountain is that one must use engine brake generously -- if you are riding the brakes the entire way down the mountain, the brakes will start smoking. I was extremely hungry, yet the mere sight of a McDonald's drive-thru almost set me off to the side of the road.<br />
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Eventually, at 4 in the afternoon, I dragged my corpse of a body back to the motel room, and slept for the rest of the night.<br />
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Well, then. I need to be better prepared for the rest of my trip. Off to Aspen. Stay tuned!<br />
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<br />Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-59871592773197552032017-03-31T09:44:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:44:09.143-07:0010 Best Driving Video Games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Any gearheads probably spent a considerable time in their childhood playing car racing video games. I certainly did: at the age of 6, one of my first interaction with Lamborghinis and Ferraris wasn't through a bedroom poster or a cut-out from a car magazine -- it was through my dad's old Windows 95 computer, driving around the country side while evading the cops, in a game called the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GScJzCQp81I" target="_blank">Need for Speed</a>.<br />
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It was glorious, and the game basically cemented me as a car person.<br />
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Since then, many more car racing games have been released, some are more arcade-ish games where you can shoot rockets out of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Kart" target="_blank">go-kart</a> (or something), and some are more simulation-based games where you need to observe the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvosbiMvuQ" target="_blank">proper racing lines in order to achieve the best lap</a>.<br />
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As kids who have played a lot of those, here is our picks for the 10 best driving video games.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Out Run (1986)</span></b><br />
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Some say it is illegal to have an article about car racing video games without mentioning Out Run, the grandfather of all car racing games. Talk to any gearhead today and not one of them (unless they are under 25) will not fondly remember the days when they first took control of a red Ferrari Testarossa convertible, traveling the world, with upbeat 80s music playing in the background. As a kid, this game was tough to beat. Once you do manage to beat the game though, the satisfaction level will be high.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Battle Gear 4 (2005)</span></b><br />
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Ever dreamed of racing down <a href="http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/04080045/ID-Manga-01-1200x750.jpg" target="_blank">Mount Akina in a panda-coloured Hachi-ruku like a certain tofu delivery driver</a>? This relatively unknown arcade game has already fulfilled your wishes over 10 years ago. With a roster of JDM sports cars, a realistic physics engine that tests your driving skills, complete with a <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YREmiWLQ1qU/TUFT0AmNaDI/AAAAAAAAB-M/hh1Edv46R7o/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" target="_blank">manual gear box (with a clutch!) set up</a>, AND the ability to purchase your own car (<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/BG4_Net_Entry_key.jpg" target="_blank">with a car key</a>) and tune it through the online system, this game is every driving enthusiasts' dream, and still popular in certain arcades today.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Grand Theft Auto V (2013)</span></b></div>
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GTA V has never really been a racing game -- it doesn't have the best driving physics, and it is certainly not designed to be a driving game. For some of us though, that hardly matters. The game has provided one of the most immersive environment to be driving around in, in the setting of Los Santos (an LA-replica) and the surrounding Hollywood Hills and a sprawling desert. It is the sandbox where you can drive anything you want, from taxis, garbage trucks, police cars; to muscle cars and foreign exotics. With such a beautiful environment and a lively city complete with back roads and highways, this is the ultimate road-trip simulator.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Forza Horizon 3 (2016)</span></b></div>
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Speaking of fun sandboxes, Forza Horizon 3 offers exactly that, minus a lot of the mayhem but with a whole lot more realism when it comes to driving mechanics. Complete with gorgeous rendering of the Australian outback, engine sounds that could pass off as the real car, and a vast array of cars and SUVs that are available at your fingertips, it is a great spin-off from the track-focused driving simulation game genre. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Need For Speed 5: Porsche Unleashed (2000)</span></b><br />
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When you talk about Need for Speed, most people will immediately associate it with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daN2FVAqOHA" target="_blank">underground racing</a> and being <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1AxLJpY-DQ" target="_blank">chased around by Highway Patrol units</a>. Very few people will likely remember this particular installment, which exclusively featured a vast number of classic and modern Porsches, complete with exhilarating game modes that place you as a factory test driver and winning one-make races against other Porsches. It was also one of EA's few attempts to step away from the arcade-style video game and do a grown-up simulation game. They did a good job. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Driver (1999)</span></b><br />
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The year was 1999. At that point, most of the driving games were still focused on closed circuit racing with exotic cars. Out came Driver, which jump-started the mission-based, cops and robbers style gameplay set in the heyday of American car chase movies -- the '70s. The open world game featured a beautifully recreated Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City as your playground. Want to feel like Gene Hackman or Steve McQueen? Go to your local Blockbusters, pick up this game, and pop it in your Playstation. And seriously, just watch that intro sequence. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Midtown Madness (1999)</span></b><br />
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Midtown Madness was another open-world game that came out in the late 90s, featuring a game world recreation of modern-day Chicago, while at the same time giving you the freedom to choose from driving a Ford Mustang to a Freightliner semi-truck. The game also provided freedom in choosing the weather model (including snow) and traffic density, from having no traffic at all to a full-on traffic jam in the middle of Downtown. What's more notable though, is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umah4Y2uk7w" target="_blank">insane customization</a> you can do to the game, with online communities adding more cars and locations to the game like an automotive equivalent of Minecraft. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sega Rally Championship (1994)</span></b><br />
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Anybody who has grown up in the 90s will also more than likely to remember this game as well, complete with the classic Toyota Celica rally car in the red, green and white Castrol livery.<br />
By mid-90s standards, the driving physics and handling were unrivaled, an experience akin to placing you right in the driver seat of a rally car with your navigator guiding you through desert, forest, and mountain range courses.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gran Turismo 2 (1999)</span></b><br />
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They call this game the "ultimate driving simulator" for a reason. When the first Gran Turismo came out, it revolutionized the driving game genre, with its ultra-realistic driving dynamics, insane customization allowed for vehicles, and the huge variety of real-world courses you can stretch your supercar legs on. GT2 took the original formula, and cranked the volume up to 11 -- now, you have access to nearly 650 vehicles and 27 racing tracks, including rally. You can also modify your car and fine tune suspension, gearing, and brake set ups, and observe how they all change your car's behavior and your lap times. All from a game that came out over 18 years ago.<br />
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Think we missed your favorite video game on this list? Let us know in the comments! </div>
Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-68710149452769488592017-02-12T09:44:00.000-08:002017-06-20T09:44:33.037-07:00Can You Autocross With a Family Wagon?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wagons always get an unfair reputation for being the nation's favourite schoolrun-mobile -- images of an <a href="http://www.imcdb.org/i029181.jpg" target="_blank">'83 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser</a>, driven around by <a href="https://images-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/uploads/photos/file/85672/beethoven-cast.jpg" target="_blank">a family with three kids and a St. Bernard</a> in the trunk doesn't exactly help shed that relative uncool-ness. <i><a href="https://qz.com/259000/why-americas-love-affair-with-the-station-wagon-is-over/" target="_blank">Wagons just aren't sporty,</a> <a href="http://randalrauser.com/2012/05/why-arent-station-wagons-cool/" target="_blank">and they sure aren't cool</a></i>, people say. Over here, we have seen many people ditch the wagons in favor of the taller SUVs and crossovers for their bigger size.<br />
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For most of the world however, wagons are great alternatives for those who want to haul more things without needing to get a truck, but still retain the fun driving dynamics and fuel economy of a 4-door sedan. Don't believe me? Take a quick look on Google Streetview for streets of London and it will take you less than a minute to have the <a href="http://autoguide.com.vsassets.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-jaguar-xfr-s-sportbrake.jpg" target="_blank">first wagon-sighting.</a><br />
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Case in point: in addition to the <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/search/label/SharkNoseDiary" target="_blank">#SharkNoseDiary</a> 6 series project car that I have, I regularly drive a <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-f750-dash-cam-captured-my-at-fault.html" target="_blank">slightly-scratched up</a> 2007 Mazda 6 wagon as my reliable daily commuter. Fitted with a 3.0 V6 engine that produces 212 horsepower, the car (nicknamed Mazda Miyagi because why not) can propel itself from 0-60 at a respectable (in 2007 standards) 7.1 seconds.<br />
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My favorite thing about it though? It's mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Combined with the zoom-zoom Mazda driving dynamics, I can go fast enough to quickly fall in trouble with the law while hauling my apartment in the trunk. You can't really do that with a modern SUV (unless you are willing to spend a lot of money for one of <a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/bmw/x6-m" target="_blank">these</a>).<br />
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The bottom line is: The car is a lot of fun, and it can do fun while hauling as much stuff as your neighbor's CR-V.<br />
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To prove my point, why not enter my car into an Autocross event?<br />
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For those who are unfamiliar, an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocross" target="_blank">Autocross</a> is a legal, affordable, and fun motorsport event where car enthusiasts gather in an empty field / parking lot, craft out a course with traffic cones, and have people do timed laps in their cars. These courses are usually of a low-speed nature (you'd be lucky if you get past 40 on the track), and serves as a test for a car's handling and agility, as well as the driver's precision and smoothness.<br />
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Sounds like the perfect proving ground for me and my wagon, then.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning mechanical inspection.</td></tr>
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I have been a car enthusiast my entire life, but I have never attended an autocross event before. Upon entering, you find yourself surrounded by a huge array of cars, from JDM Hondas, Nissan Skylines; hot hatches like the VW Golf GTi and Ford Focus STs; classic sports cars like the 1980s BMW 3-series and Mazda Miatas (they do extremely well in these events); to some more unconventional choices, like a Suzuki Swift and... a Nissan Leaf?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep. A Nissan Leaf. </td></tr>
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With the inclusion of my 2007 <i>Familymobile</i>, I think I am firmly planted in the last category. No matter -- I am not here to beat any records or embarrass people who drive cars much faster than mine. It seems that the average time for the course is mid-50 seconds. As a first-time autocross attendee, this target is probably a tad too tough for me. In that case, I'll settle for being under the one-minute mark.<br />
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This is also when I found out that I was grouped in the same performance class as a Nissan Sentra, and the aforementioned Nissan Leaf. Well then, as long as I am not the slowest in my class, I'd be happy with that too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A SW20 MR2 that was famously <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkfVnkFzeZk" target="_blank">reviewed by Matt Farah</a> because of its V6 engine from a RAV4. </span></td></tr>
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As the day started, I was told that I would have the opportunity to have seven timed laps, which means I have 7 cracks at breaking under the one-minute mark.<br />
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To help my car go a little faster, I emptied the trunk, took out all the carpets, and removed the spare tire to shed some weight. I also hooked up my car with an extra <a href="https://www.amazon.com/THINKWARE-TW-X550D-Dash-Bundle-Rear/dp/B01LY6ZCK5/ref=sr_1_27/152-2489527-5544166?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1486765420&sr=1-27&keywords=thinkware" target="_blank">Thinkware X550 Dash Cam with the rear view camera</a> mounted on the side window (in addition to my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/THINKWARE-Sensor-Traffic-Enforcement-Warning/dp/B00VA5S9PW/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1486765446&sr=1-11&keywords=thinkware" target="_blank">Thinkware F750</a>), for some extra shots of the interior.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autocross 101: Learn to read these cones so you don't get lost around the track. </td></tr>
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My first outing was a bit of a disaster. Despite walking the course twice to familiarize myself with the layout, plus the hour of spectating time watching others have a go, I still managed to get lost and missed a corner. This resulted in a <i>DNF</i> -- Did Not Finish. Whoops.<br />
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I was determined not to make the same mistake again -- and thankfully, I never did. My first proper lap resulted in a <b>64.6</b> -- a full 4.6 seconds short of my target. Anyone familiar with motorsports will tell you that shaving a mere second off is a difficult task -- let alone 5 seconds.<br />
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This was the first time I properly tested the performance limits of my car. As expected, the Mazda 6 feels a little big on the track, and the power was adequate at best, but it redeems itself in the corners with nimble handling and a back that was surprisingly willing to step out to help narrowing the angle of attack. The steering is responsive and the car is wonderfully composed around the slalom courses, despite its size. Not bad for a 9-year-old car with almost 100,000 miles on the clock.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CBWTgsxeqFw/WJ4w_pCXWoI/AAAAAAAADHE/MHG0vvrxOGUyD5KpFiuYKFvMmuZFrhanQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CBWTgsxeqFw/WJ4w_pCXWoI/AAAAAAAADHE/MHG0vvrxOGUyD5KpFiuYKFvMmuZFrhanQCLcB/s640/IMG_6453.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nissan Skyline GT-R R32: Gran Turismo special. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Still, if I want to shave 5 seconds off my lap, it will take more than my car to do that. My skills have to improve as well, which means being more smooth on my inputs to the car -- the gas, the brakes, and the steering.<br />
<br />
Smoothness is key here, as any loss of traction will just result in understeer, tire squeal, and wheel spin -- three things that will not help my lap time. At the same time, I have to be pushing my car just enough that it hovers around the upper limit of its capabilities in order to get the most performance out of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3uZiOp3LYw/WJ4xOzDqY_I/AAAAAAAADHI/vidwq2f3V0EMaeHxUJGEShbfx4xXt7RlwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3uZiOp3LYw/WJ4xOzDqY_I/AAAAAAAADHI/vidwq2f3V0EMaeHxUJGEShbfx4xXt7RlwCLcB/s640/IMG_6040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An E92 BMW 3 series makes an appearance. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My third lap results were back:<b> 62.3 seconds </b>-- 2.3 seconds faster. As I kept trying throughout, I did one second faster on my fourth lap, and another 0.6 seconds faster on my fifth lap, bringing the totals finally down to <b>60.7 seconds</b>. At this point, I was confident that I would do under 60 seconds.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On my sixth lap, I went about as fast as I could possibly drive. I was careful to be smooth around the corners, and I aimed for the apex of each corner for the shortest time, and my foot was planted to the floor as I reached the finish line. The result? <b>60.2</b>, a mere 0.5 second faster than my last lap. I am so close. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--seRVIMKuPM/WJ4xtVdr5vI/AAAAAAAADHQ/7-LbH7OwDzYQF_jgtmW6IApJjAIq626TwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6404_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--seRVIMKuPM/WJ4xtVdr5vI/AAAAAAAADHQ/7-LbH7OwDzYQF_jgtmW6IApJjAIq626TwCLcB/s640/IMG_6404_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gee, somebody missed their turn on their way to Crenshaw High."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
With only one more lap to go, mild panic stepped in. Maybe this is a tall order after all. Maybe I am not good enough for this. Maybe it is a crazy idea to be bringing a family wagon to what's essentially a gun fight. Maybe, just maybe, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1ZkZZ6SA68" target="_blank">I've brought humiliation upon myself and my father</a>. Okay, maybe not. But you get my drift. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the world on my shoulders, I went out for one last run.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first couple of corners went fine. I moderated the throttle to keep the engine within the power band through the corners, and gunned it as soon as I saw a straight line. The brakes and tires are still in good condition after the first six runs, so I had plenty of traction to exit the turns too. I went through the slalom with as little drama as possible while at the same time maintaining on the gas, and crossed the finish line at the 7,000rpm redline. The lap felt a little faster than the last one, but was it good enough to get under 60 seconds?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHfWlaMNno0/WJ4yiZ7TMeI/AAAAAAAADHY/wSwzD-iGF1czLZiIGYk4aRfB5L2UUOjJwCLcB/s1600/5D3_2532_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHfWlaMNno0/WJ4yiZ7TMeI/AAAAAAAADHY/wSwzD-iGF1czLZiIGYk4aRfB5L2UUOjJwCLcB/s640/5D3_2532_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy: UBC Sports Car Club.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I glanced at the timing board on the side of the track, and it read: <b>58.988. </b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The feeling of joy overwhelmed every fiber of my being. Not only did I get under the 60-second mark, but I have eclipsed my target goal by a second. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I looked at the leaderboard, my lap time was faster than some who turned up in RX-7s, STI's, Miata's, and a couple of BMWs. Overall, I was just outside of the bottom 15 in terms of the worst lap times of the day -- and I am perfectly happy with that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the other two drivers in my class, I came out on top of the Nissan Sentra, and yet I was a full 2 seconds slower than the guy who showed up in a Nissan Leaf... I am not too sure how I feel about that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vQo07K3OeQ/WJ40fOdC7yI/AAAAAAAADHo/-Q7O8JGKpQ4T_gvISAJ0UR1dI_A8ZCuEQCLcB/s1600/AutoX.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="32" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vQo07K3OeQ/WJ40fOdC7yI/AAAAAAAADHo/-Q7O8JGKpQ4T_gvISAJ0UR1dI_A8ZCuEQCLcB/s640/AutoX.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are a lot of things I have learned from my first autocrossing experience. Chief among which, my driving skills can always improve despite me having ten years of driving experience spanning from California to Florida. Also, the Mazda 6 has more than proven itself as a deserving and competent entry in the autocross event. Who says that wagons can't be sporty? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To sum up: Can you autocross in a family wagon? In short, yes. And you will have a ton of fun doing it. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hH47SjKycHY/WJ5CJfzmZNI/AAAAAAAADH4/N0LEI7csxEM6i_LdvNtkIVpUfUYz2Ah8wCLcB/s1600/IMG_6401_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hH47SjKycHY/WJ5CJfzmZNI/AAAAAAAADH4/N0LEI7csxEM6i_LdvNtkIVpUfUYz2Ah8wCLcB/s640/IMG_6401_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-45022398764881884242016-11-17T09:44:00.000-08:002017-06-20T09:44:57.332-07:00The Grand Tour: What We Know So Far<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88G0DMzPwSQ/WCzl9ixO-_I/AAAAAAAACcY/i0vm7zZIHzgNYckATK743Qc9PD9wJ_YOACLcB/s1600/13503103_472108006321079_4633408926490601062_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88G0DMzPwSQ/WCzl9ixO-_I/AAAAAAAACcY/i0vm7zZIHzgNYckATK743Qc9PD9wJ_YOACLcB/s640/13503103_472108006321079_4633408926490601062_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit: Amazon.</td></tr>
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On Friday November 18, the whole world will be tuned to watch the debut of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01J93ZNN2" target="_blank">The Grand Tour</a> -- Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May's post-Top Gear project following a <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32052736" target="_blank">major fracas that really went on for way too long</a>. Following almost a year of speculation, the beloved trio is finally coming out with a new car show on -- surprise surprise -- Amazon Prime.<br />
<br />
Oh, when I said "the whole world", I actually meant the UK, the US, Japan, and Germany. You live somewhere else other than these four countries? Well, too bad. You won't be watching with the rest of us in the developed world.<br />
<br />
Don't fret, however. Amazon has just <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRkNMvK8UEE" target="_blank">announced yesterday</a> that Amazon Prime streaming will be available in over 200 countries starting December this year. Unless you are HoldenMan3000. In which case, I am afraid you are stuck with... <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_Australia" target="_blank">Whatever it is that you watch over there</a>.<br />
<br />
So, what can we expect from this brand-sparkling-new motoring show that is not Top Gear, but featuring a <i>transferred-from-Top-Gear</i> cast and Andy Wilman, the executive producer who made the old Top Gear one of the best TV programs at not only the BBC, but -- insert Clarkson voice -- <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMuO-8S_0Wg" target="_blank">in the world?</a></i><br />
<br />
In this blog, we will look back and try to dissect what <i>GT</i> will actually be like.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What We Know So Far:</b></span><br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>The Grand Tour is named after a kind of upper class European trips popular in the 16th - 18th Century. The name is also a play of sorts on the Grand Tourer -- a category of <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/search/label/SharkNoseDiary" target="_blank">sleek, highway-slaying sports cars</a>. The show is named as such because the word "Gear" is not legally allowed. <a href="http://jalopnik.com/the-grand-tour-had-to-take-tons-of-precautions-to-avoid-1788379688" target="_blank">We have no idea why</a>. </li>
<li>Also, I resent the fact that they didn't take the opportunity and name the show <i>"Auto-ness Prime"</i>. Come on, guys. </li>
<li>In all seriousness, don't expect to see everything you've loved from the old TG to show up here on this show -- that includes everything from the Stig, to the Cool Wall, to a <a href="https://youtu.be/6-shNHaJigM?t=1m6s" target="_blank">grand piano being dropped on a Morris Marina</a> (I am assuming), to the delight of the two Morris Marina owners left in this world.</li>
<li>Anyway, perhaps appropriately, the new show will feature the three blokes traveling around the world -- Grand Tour style -- and shoot the studio segments on location. The studio segment for the first episode is filmed in Los Angeles, California -- with Johannesburg, Stuttgart, Nashville, and Dubai to come for future episodes. In total, 44 countries were visited so far. </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>That said, it is unlikely that we will see them visiting <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3295173/Jeremy-Clarkson-Gear-crew-face-three-year-jail-sentence-Argentina-judge-reopens-investigation-s-H982-FKL-number-plate-stunt.html" target="_blank">Argentina</a> anytime soon. </li>
<li>This show will be expensive. Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, has reportedly paid $200 million dollars to finance 36 episodes. That works out to be about $5.5 million dollars per episode for just a car show. </li>
<li>We are assuming that some of the budget will be reserved for blowing up camping trailers and RVs. </li>
<li>But of course, it isn't just a car show. According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/nov/16/jeremy-clarkson-the-grand-tour-amazon-everything-we-know" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, the first episode is rumored to be a "Mad Max-style chase across the Californian desert involving 150 cars, 2,000 extras, stilt-walkers, fire-eaters and a squadron of jets". </li>
<li>Otherwise, the old TG formula of<i> "Ambitious, but rubbish"</i> -- three middle-aged blokes messing about and hitting things with hammers should remain, if the promotional materials are to be believed: </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>One familiar element: Stars. There will be guest stars in some particular episodes, ranging from Simon Pegg to British comedian Jimmy Carr. </li>
<li>The show is going to be shot in 4k resolution. If anyone was worried about how the show is going to look without the money flowing in from the BBC, well, don't. The show looks so bloody gorgeous I am sure it can win a beauty pageant. </li>
<li>The show will still feature a test track of sorts to evaluate a car's performance. However, we are not sure if said road tests will be conducted in the same continent as the host (where they set up the tent) locations. </li>
<li>Cars to be featured on the show include: some powersliding LaFerrari, Porsche 918, and a McLaren P1; Dodge Viper ACR; Dodge Challenger Hellcat; Alfa Romeo 4C; a couple of Aston Martins; an amphibious Land Rover Defender; an exploding GMC Yukon; a helicopter; and a tank. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srG9ghRAJ48" target="_blank">Oh, there is a camel in there somewhere</a>. </li>
<li>Unlike most online-only shows, the Grand Tour will not be all uploaded at one go. Rather, each episode will be uploaded on Amazon Prime every Friday. That means no 12-hour marathons where you are glued in front of the TV until a natural disaster happens. </li>
<li>If you drive a Toyota Prius, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/16/grand-tour-wrecked-toyota-prius-hybrids-art/" target="_blank">this show may not be for you</a>.</li>
</ul>
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Are you excited, or are you excited? Let us know what you most look forward to in the comments section!Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-1924199448217128292016-10-20T09:45:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:45:23.367-07:00#SharkNoseDiary: Hibernation and Repair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Mileage:</b> 40<b> </b>miles.<br />
<b>Fuel Economy: </b>18<b> </b>mpg.<br />
<b>Expense: </b>$195 (brake service, reservoir sensor reset).<br />
<br />
Winter is here, and unfortunately being in the Pacific Northwest, it only means that people are only thinking about two things: 1. <i>Boy, it is really starting to rain now</i>; and 2. <i>Honey, let's start packing for the emergency ark we have on our backyard. </i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66LGj4GR6BI/WAfb6SbRYlI/AAAAAAAACTg/YSQOPaglKI8a6HnvF55kiU590BignerWwCLcB/s1600/tumblr_mnoiuocVbD1r1mr1po1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66LGj4GR6BI/WAfb6SbRYlI/AAAAAAAACTg/YSQOPaglKI8a6HnvF55kiU590BignerWwCLcB/s320/tumblr_mnoiuocVbD1r1mr1po1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normal winter day in the Pacific Northwest. Surf's up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately for me, it also means that I am going to stash my 6 series for until next year when the sky clears up. Not so easy though...<br />
<br />
<i>[Previously on <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/search/label/SharkNoseDiary" target="_blank">#SharkNoseDiary</a>: After <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/09/the-sharknosediary-bmw-goes-to-luxury.html" target="_blank">displaying my $2100 classic BMW alongside $2-million hypercars</a>, it is time to activate the Anti-Rust Protection Plan -- storing the car for the Winter]</i><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<i><br /></i>Ever since I bought the car, it was never my intention to drive the BMW in the Winter -- as discussed before, <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/06/sharknosediary-2-some-issues.html" target="_blank">these cars are notorious rust-buckets</a> and being in the Pacific Northwest certainly doesn't help. To keep my car in good condition, I only purchased insurance for the summer and fall, and I was planning to store the car in the garage when it starts getting really wet outside.<br />
<br />
With a little over a week to go on my insurance, I thought I'd take the car out for one last drive on a nice, sunny day. I grabbed my keys, the gas tank was full, and the car started up without a hitch. Great.<br />
<br />
I put my foot on the brake pedal, and the brake pedal just stay stuck on the floor like a collapsed marshmallow. Uh-oh. A soggy brake pedal never equates to anything good. And sure enough, once I started creeping forward, much of the normal stopping power for the car has basically evaporated.<br />
<br />
Really not good then.<br />
<br />
Immediately I had a dilemma -- do I fix it now so I can still drive it for a couple more days, or do I just forget about it, put it back in storage, and wait until next year?<br />
<br />
After struggling with the decision for a grand total of 5 seconds, I put the car in Drive and limped my 30-year-old car to the nearest BMW specialist -- who, thankfully, was only a quick 5-minute ride away -- still, the prospect of driving an old car without brakes on a public road is admittedly quite scary.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bgsB1qV5ao/WAkCdrTRRZI/AAAAAAAACT0/kdkDEHF0V-8ZNm7o5ZlweotIFehno80AQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7609_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bgsB1qV5ao/WAkCdrTRRZI/AAAAAAAACT0/kdkDEHF0V-8ZNm7o5ZlweotIFehno80AQCLcB/s640/IMG_7609_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two different generations of 5 series. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pulling into the garage, I met the owner, Moe. The garage itself is a rather impressive sight -- was littered with classic BMWs, from classic 5 series to a collection of M-badged monsters. Walking inside, the shop is littered with classic BMW parts (<a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/06/sharknosediary-3-paul-parts-guy.html" target="_blank">maybe he and Paul know each other</a>). I have a feeling that he will do a decent job getting my car back on the road.<br />
<br />
Moe is also a proud owner of a 22-year-old BMW 540i and an Alpina 7 series -- two cars which are not exactly easy to find.<br />
<br />
As he inspected the problem, he deduced that all the brake fluid was gone (however, we couldn't find any source of leaks), and that the car needed a brake service. He also said he'd give my car a thorough going-over for any quick fixes. He said he probably needed a couple days to get this car road worthy again.<br />
<br />
This is a week before the registration for my car expires. No pressure there.<br />
<br />
A couple days later, the news was surprisingly good -- no major mechanical fault other than a really old connector that needed replacing. He serviced the brakes, smoothed out some rough patches in the interior, and he finally fixed my coolant warning light for good. All at the cost of $195. Not as bad as I'd originally feared, given that BMW specialists usually charge about the same as a ocean-side mansion in Malibu.<br />
<br />
Although he also discovered that the Anti-Lock Braking System doesn't work anymore. In the words of Captain Darling, "<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1iC7SzZ4N8" target="_blank">bugger</a>.</i>" Next year, I guess.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5zvLOwbnLY/WAkA6-JXv-I/AAAAAAAACTw/KKnad2XONO4xoOJ3RdmJisD-76St4NUfQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7613_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5zvLOwbnLY/WAkA6-JXv-I/AAAAAAAACTw/KKnad2XONO4xoOJ3RdmJisD-76St4NUfQCLcB/s640/IMG_7613_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New age vs. Old school. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I got my car back, I only had two days left on my registration. So, after work, I went for a drive. It is still as good as the day when I got the car -- even though that was only back a couple months before. Despite its age, the car is still as sporty as it came off the manufacturing line back in the 80s, and there is certainly nothing on the road today that gives the same driving dynamic as a pure mechanical classic car.<br />
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After that, it is full hibernation for my 6 series until late Spring / Summer next year. As it currently sits in the garage, I kind of miss driving this car already.<br />
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Oh well. I guess I'll have to settle with the <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2015/08/we-bought-miata.html" target="_blank">Office Miata</a> for now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cure to the Classic BMW Withdrawal Syndrome: the Miata. </td></tr>
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Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-34396541190181215252016-09-21T09:45:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:45:50.400-07:005-Car Dream Garage Challenge: My Picks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit: <a href="http://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercar/what-%C2%A320m-supercars-looks">Top Gear</a></td></tr>
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This challenge has been <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR0Ks71ndXM">making the rounds on social media</a> of late in enthusiast circles. Being car enthusiasts ourselves, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to argue amongst ourselves, draw up PowerPoint presentations, fill out Excel tables, call each other stupid, and just generally spending half the day at the office not doing the work that we are supposed to.<br />
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So, needless to say, we have taken the liberty of drafting out a list of 5 cars that we wouldn't mind having in our dream car garage.<br />
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<b>Here are the rules:</b><br />
<b>1.</b> These are the five cars that we will not mind driving for the rest of our lives (sadly with our money, we likely won't) -- and five only.<br />
<b>2.</b> Money no object -- it can be as cheap or as expensive as we want it to be.<br />
<b>3. </b>Fuel economy not an issue either -- see rule #2.<br />
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We have also implemented some house rules for ourselves:<br />
<b>4. </b>Despite the unlimited budget, this is not about getting the fanciest or the most expensive car in the world -- otherwise, this would look like a Dubai hotel parking lot. This is about choosing <b>the best car that we have ever wanted</b>. Sadly, this rule has encouraged one of our staff members to keep nominating a 29-year-old BMW... <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/search/label/SharkNoseDiary">Don't know why</a>.<br />
<b>5.</b> It must consist of at least one car that we can drive everyday (because Ferraris are not really meant for only getting groceries at your local Whole Foods, despite what you see in Beverly Hills).<br />
<b>6.</b> We have also broken down into five categories to make up for the cars that didn't make the list -- <b>one hyper car, one dream car</b> (doesn't have to be fast), <b>the classic car</b> (must be older than 25 years old), <b>the crazy car </b>(could be an off roader or something that is not a conventional dream car), and of course, <b>the daily driver.</b><br />
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Everybody is allowed to dream, and here is a list of what we generally dream about:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. 2007 Pagani Zonda F - The Hyper Car</span></b><br />
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<b>Runner up:</b> Porsche Carrera GT<br />
<b>Power:</b> 594hp<br />
<b>Seats:</b> 2<br />
<b>Cost: </b>$1.4 million<br />
<b>Why:</b> This is one of the last truly analog hypercars that you can buy. Unlike the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagani_Huayra">newer offerings</a> from Pagani that come with a sequential gearbox, the Zonda F had a 6-speed manual gearbox mated to a 7.3 liter V12 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBr9hWxF1lE">that screams like the God of Thunder.</a> Oh, and it is probably one of the best-looking Italian sports cars of all time, with one of the best-looking interiors of all time -- and that list includes many Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Only 25 were made, however, so finding a willing seller might be an issue...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. 2016 Singer 911 - The Dream Car</span></b><br />
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<b>Runner up:</b> Ford GT40<br />
<b>Power:</b> 390hp<br />
<b>Seats:</b> 4 (2 really, because the backseats are not really designed for humans).<br />
<b>Cost: </b>$600,000<br />
<b>Why:</b> The California-based Singer Vehicle Design specializes in revitalizing classic Porsches into modern work of art. It is not the fastest car in the world, and it is not the best handling car in the world. It is, however, a hand-crafted, exquisite weapon that takes over 4,000 hours to complete. Everything is restored with just a little extra bit of flare to let you know that this is not just any other classic Porsche -- it's a classic car that is updated with modern technology and modern engineering, while retaining the unfiltered driving experience of an air-cooled Porsche. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJQ4hQSusjE">Chris Harris loves it</a>, and that's all you need to know about this car.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. 1973 BMW 2002 Turbo - The Classic Car</span></b><br />
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<b>Runner up:</b> Ferrari 288GTO<br />
<b>Power: </b>167hp<br />
<b>Seats:</b> 4<br />
<b>Cost:</b> N/A (approx. $110,000 in value)<br />
<b>Why:</b> It's the 1970s, and this is the car that got the turbo craze started. The <i>Neue Klasse</i> 2002 Turbo was BMW's first attempt at a turbocharged production car, and boy -- did they do it with style. We love the inverted "2002" and "Turbo" stickers on the front bumper to signal to the cars in front that they are about to be overtaken by something truly special. Of course, the 167 horsepower figure is nothing to write home about now -- but in the 1970s, the 2002 Turbo was just a mere 20 horsepower away from some of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Merak">offerings from Maserati</a> at the time. What a car.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. 2008 Mercedes Benz / Brabus Unimog - The Crazy Car</span></b><br />
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<b>Runner up:</b> Land Rover Defender 110<br />
<b>Power:</b> 282hp... Don't be deceived though, it won't be winning any drag races.<br />
<b>Seats:</b> 2 - 20 if you include troop benches in the back<br />
<b>Cost:</b> $270,000 ($304,000 today)<br />
<b>Why:</b> Look at this list. It is comprised (rightfully) of performance cars that emphasizes on the joys of driving on smoothly-paved asphalt roads in the dry. What if you have a ranch in the Wyoming countryside that you need to get to in the middle of December? You wouldn't be taking your 6000-horsepower hypercar, you'd be taking one of these -- the mid-slinging, rock-climbing Mercedes Benz / Brabus Unimog. The Unimog laughs at your puny Land Rovers and it scoffs at your Humvees, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT_wribltEA">it does it while climbing over a 45-degree slope made of loose mud in the middle of a snow-covered forest</a>. This is also the most rare vehicle on this list -- only 5 were made.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5. 2001 Audi RS4 - The Daily Driver</span></b><br />
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<b>Runner up: </b>Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluizione II.<br />
<b>Power:</b> 380hp<br />
<b>Seats:</b> 5<br />
<b>Cost:</b> $63,000 ($85,638 today)<br />
<b>Why: </b>A Cosworth-tuned V6 twin-turbocharged wagon. 4-wheel-drive. 6 speed manual -- this is the ultimate grocery-getter that would scare the Ferraris and the Porsches of this world. The RS4 can seat 5 comfortably while holding all your groceries in the trunk, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HYdVXmYA-w">it can do it in such speed</a> that your kids will be crying to get out of the car by the time you get to the driveway. The subtly-aggressive styling means that you can blend in with traffic and not worry about getting bothered by the local kids who want to challenge you at stoplights every block. It is the ultimate sleeper wagon that we need. Alas, these weren't sold in North America. Ah well.<br />
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What are you five dream cars in your garage? Comment below!Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-71290094458173798012016-08-10T09:46:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:46:14.901-07:00#SharkNoseDiary: Road Trip!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Mileage:</b> Approx. 100 miles.<br />
<b>Fuel Economy: </b>14 mpg (it's improved by a staggering 1 mpg!)<br />
<b>Expense: </b>1 tank of gas = <b>$60</b><br />
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<a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/07/how-to-get-most-out-of-your-dash-cam.html" target="_blank">It's road trip season</a>, so I figured that I might as well take the old girl out for a cruise. And what a cruise we had.<br />
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<i>[Previously on <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/search/label/SharkNoseDiary" target="_blank">#SharkNoseDiary</a>: I bought a 1987 BMW 635CSi for $2100 and figured, eh, might as well take the car up and down a mountain pass for a full day to see if anything falls out of the car.]</i><br />
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On a weekend, I met up with a couple of my friends and headed up to <a href="http://www.hellobc.com/pemberton.aspx" target="_blank">Pemberton</a>, a small town about 2 hours away from Vancouver, BC. The appropriately-named <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g154922-d155556-Reviews-Sea_to_Sky_Highway-British_Columbia.html" target="_blank">Sea-to-Sky Highway</a> is something to behold -- from the ocean view of Vancouver to the snow-capped mountains through the ski resort in Whistler, the road is probably one of the best driving roads in the Pacific Northwest.<br />
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Now, if only my 12V power outlet was working... Alas, all the footage collected was from my friend, Eric, who has a F750 unit in his Hyundai Veloster Turbo.<br />
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Now, keep in mind that I was driving a 30-year-old BMW. Sure, the drive itself wasn't too far away, but the roads have plenty of gradient and corners -- two things that don't usually bode well with cheap European classics. The BMW took it like a champ, however. The car was even somewhat composed in the corners (well... as composed as a 30-year-old car can be), and the engine seemed to pull even stronger as the trip went on too. A couple of Italian tuneups probably helped.<br />
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Sure, <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/07/sharknosediary-owners-report.html" target="_blank">my stereo wasn't working</a>, but who cares? The weather was great, the road had a perfect blend of straights and corners, and cruising with your friends is always fun -- especially when you are driving a car that is guaranteed to attract eyeballs and waves from other drivers on the road.<br />
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Even my friends were quite impressed at how well my old BMW was doing -- surely, their brand new turbocharged hot hatches would surely leave my old and heavy German tank in the dust. On the contrary, the engine provided plenty of torque and power on the way up, and I even gave some much newer BMWs a run for their money... Until they followed me into a corner, where the BMW leaned over like the Tower of Pisa while they overtook me on the fast lane.<br />
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All in all, it was a great day. Driving the 6 series up and down a mountain pass was just the icing on the cake.<br />
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<br />Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-64485293636353726662016-07-20T09:41:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:42:00.653-07:0015 Underrated Road Trip Songs that You Need in Your Library<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your friends would be happy like the people in this stock photo if you have some good tunes on the road. </td></tr>
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It is well-documented that we here are huge advocates of <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/04/the-70s-make-best-driving-music-and-it.html" target="_blank">classic rock as driving anthems</a> -- for very good reason. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't anything good from other genres and eras either, as there are hidden gems everywhere that are often overlooked by many driving enthusiasts out there who'd like to listen to some good tunes <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwqMKf7r7Xg" target="_blank">while shiftin' gears</a>.<br />
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So, as a public service, here is a list of 15 songs often overlooked by people while they are looking for a good road trip playlist. Don't leave home and go on the roads without these songs.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>When you are running away from home to start a new life in Alaska (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless" target="_blank">please don't do that</a>).<br />
<b>Best lines: </b><i>"There's a big / a big hard sun / beaten on the big people / in the big hard world"</i><br />
This song was famously used in the 2007 movie <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Wild_(film)" target="_blank">Into the Wild</a> -- for good reason. Combine the folksy guitar riff with Vedder's utterly soulful singing, and you got yourself a tune that is not only calming and peaceful, but great for a lonely drive as well.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>Taking a drive on Pacific Coast Highway on a sunny day.<br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"With a name like Dani California / Day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya" </i><br />
This is a bit of a borderline between "widely known" and "underrated". Red Hot Chili Peppers as a band is pretty popular in the road trip circles, and <i>Dani California</i> is certainly one of their most famous songs. That said, the song is still rather new in "road trip song" standards, so we will allow it to be on this list.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>When you are the designated driver driving your friends home after a pub night.<br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"If I'm not back again this time tomorrow / carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters"</i><br />
If you haven't tried this already, then do it now: Jam your car full of your friends (preferably ones who aren't shy) and, without any warning, just start playing this song on the stereo. Chances are the mood inside the car will change instantly, as your friends will automatically put on their best Freddie Mercury impression and start rocking out to this song -- bonus points if you and your friends can nail down the five-part a cappella.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. The Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for:</b> All occasions.<br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"What the people need / is a way to make 'em smile / it ain't so hard to do if you know how"</i><br />
I don't think there is an occasion where this Doobie Brothers classic is not good for. In the age where most of the songs are angry and pessimistic, we need more happy songs like these that seeks to do nothing but put a smile on your face. Being at the same time insanely catchy, this is the perfect song to sing along to as well.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Gary Numan - Cars</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>Cruising inside a 1980s MG roadster with the top down in the middle of London.<br />
<b>Best lines: </b><i>"Here in my car / I feel safest of all / I can lock all my doors / It's the only way to live / In cars"</i><br />
It's surprising that this song doesn't show up more on the "best driving songs" list on the internet -- this song describes perfectly my relationship with the two vehicles I own and how I feel about driving in general. The classic 80s sound with synthesizers is definitely a bonus as well.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. James Brown - People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for:</b> If you are feeling good about yourself and want to go for a solo-drive around the city.<br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"Raise up, get yourself together / And drive that funky soul" </i><br />
It is not just rock music that is perfect for driving as well, and we have none other than the God of Funk to give his best argument in this debate. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_PED2GpHAg" target="_blank">Some of you may know this song being used in a slightly different context</a>, but put Peter Parker inside a classic Ford LTD in the middle of Manhattan, and the scene will still work perfectly.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. Simon & Garfunkel - Baby Driver</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>Testing out the kit-racing car that you spent almost a year building for the first time.<br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"They call me Baby Driver / And once upon a pair of wheels / I hit the road and I'm gone"</i><br />
Another underrated classic from one of the best duos in modern contemporary music. Simon & Garfunkel are not exactly known for making driving music, but their collection of folk and country music are actually quite excellent. In the case of Baby Driver, they actually produced a rock song that is quite unlike their usual calming style.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. Meat Loaf - All Revved Up With No Place To Go</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for:</b> Ummm... Riding a Harley Davidson while bursting out of a graveyard?<br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"I was a varsity tackle and a hell of a block / And when I played my guitar / I made the canyons rock"</i><br />
All you need to know about Meatloaf's place in automotive culture could be seen on the album art of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9hLcRU5wE4" target="_blank">Bat Out of Hell</a> (yes, this song shared the same album as one of the most iconic road trip songs of all time) -- a Harley Davidson-like motorcycle bursting out of a graveyard. How much more hardcore could this be? This particular song features a fantastic piano piece and an awesome saxophone solo that will get you pressing on the gas pedal. Yes, you read that right.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>9. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for:</b> Heading home in your car after a week-long camping trip.<br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"Alabama, Arkansas / I do love my Ma and Pa / Not the way I do love you"</i><br />
I was first introduced to this song by an Irish bloke and a girl from Quebec -- a bit of an unusual combination, yes. However, it is not really a surprise, as people from these places are often more spontaneous, free-spirited, and love a good road trip. We spent a week camping in the pacific coast of Washington and this song was always heavily featured, while we whistled along with the singer. Good times.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>Midnight cruising on Mulholland Drive, with Hollywood Hills in the background.<br />
<b>Best lines: </b><i>"Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy / Out in the back seat of my '60 Chevy"</i><br />
You may not drive a '60 Chevy, but try listening to this song while driving on your favorite back roads in the middle of the night with this song playing on the stereo. Between Bob Segar's legendary vocals in this song, the choir singing in the background, the wonderful lyrics, and the slow riffs from the acoustic guitar, this 1970s hit is just pure magic.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>11. Third Eye Blind - Motorcycle Drive By</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for:</b> Riding a classic touring bike while heading west into the sunset. <br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"And I've never been so alone / And I've never been so alive"</i><br />
This is one of the songs I grew up listening to in high school, and every listen, I would always conjure up this image of a guy riding alone on his motorcycle leaving New York City after a bad breakup, while hoping to start a new life out west in California. The lyrics is definitely a highlight, and the song is something that most people definitely overlook from a band that brought you one of the 90s biggest one-hit-wonders.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>12. LCD Soundsystem - Get Innocuous!</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for:</b> Driving in the middle of New York City on a busy day.<br />
<b>Best lines: </b><i>"You will stay until the morning comes / You will normalize / Don't it make you feel alive"</i><br />
This is one of the more unconventional choices on the virtue that this is not a pop or rock song. Rather, this is a song from the electronic group LCD Soundsystem, which is a Grammy-nominated group that produced many other popular dance tunes. This song even made an appearance on the Grand Theft Auto video game -- guess where I got this particular inspiration from?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>13. New Radicals - You Get What You Give</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>Driving with a friend who likes to reminisce about the 90s.<br />
<b>Best lines:<i> </i></b><i>"Don't give up / You've got a reason to live / Can't forget / We only get what we give"</i><br />
Behold one of the greatest songs to have ever come out of the 90s. This modern classic is an uplifting tune that dives into the social and political issues of its day (albeit still very much relevant now), and features an insanely catchy chorus that would definitely get your friends singing if they are old enough to remember the 90s.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>14. The Head and the Heart - Down in the Valley</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for: </b>Taking a cruise on an open back road in central Washington.<br />
<b>Best lines: </b><i>"I know there's California , Oklahoma / And all of the places I ain't ever been to"</i><br />
Who says indie bands can't make driving music perfect for travel? This song is features a great mix of retro and contemporary sounds, yet again featuring a great acoustic guitar track, great writing, and fantastic harmony. The song creates a strong visual experience and gets progressively stronger as the song goes on. It is quite something.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>15. The Tragically Hip - Blow at High Dough</b></span><br />
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<b>Perfect for:</b> Blasting through the Canadian prairies in a Canadian-made muscle car. <br />
<b>Best lines:</b> <i>"Out at the speedway, same Elvis thing / Well, I can't catch her but I can get behind anything"</i><br />
This post is a bit of a tribute to Gord Downie, the lead singer of the <i>Hip</i>, <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gord-downie-cancer-1.3596839" target="_blank">who has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer</a>. Currently doing his (possibly) last ever tour with his band, they are seen together as a national treasure and are revered and loved all over the country. This particular one is my favorite driving song from their vast line up of excellent rock anthems. Keep on rockin', Gord, we salute you.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-89552314020649374252016-07-13T09:40:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:40:38.170-07:00#SharkNoseDiary 4: Owner's Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Price (when new): </b>$46,965 ($98,449 adjusted for inflation).<br />
<b>Price (as purchased):</b> $2,100.<br />
<b>Mileage:</b> Approximately 1400 miles since purchased.<br />
<b>Fuel Economy: </b>16.5 mpg.<br />
<b>Expense: </b>$145 (<a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/06/sharknosediary-3-paul-parts-guy.html" target="_blank">oil change, reservoir patch</a>, and a failed radio installation) + $50 (parts) = <b>$205</b><br />
<b>Getting waves from classic BMW owners:</b> Priceless.<br />
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It's been a little over a month since I bought my BMW 635CSi. It's been quite an experience. This is a quick summary of my first month of owning a 29-year-old European sports car at the cost of a 2-year cable subscription.<br />
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<i>[Previously on <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/search/label/SharkNoseDiary" target="_blank">#SharkNoseDiary</a>: I bought a 1987 BMW 635CSi for $2100. I have since put in another 200 bucks to show how much I don't care about my hard-earned money.]</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This rust spot that you can barely notice will cost me about as much as the whole car itself.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Things I don't like:</span></b><br />
<b>1.</b> I finally managed to swap in the original BMW cassette stereo system in the car thanks to <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/06/sharknosediary-3-paul-parts-guy.html" target="_blank">Paul the parts guy</a> (note: he did not consent to be referred as that), and the unit looks much better... And then I found out that the stock amplifier is kaput. Time to call the Paul the parts guy again!<br />
<b>2. </b>The 12V power outlet in the interior is broken, so no dash cam for now. I feel rather uneasy at times. <b>Temporary workaround: </b>On occasion when I go out on a drive with my friends, I'd ask them to drive behind me so they can film me on their Thinkware dash cam.<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdQ2fbSc0r0/V4V8Dyx1o2I/AAAAAAAAB0s/fJAsXzpXNdMqSH8gr17TRy8GT6BJd4y8QCLcB/s1600/Stereo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdQ2fbSc0r0/V4V8Dyx1o2I/AAAAAAAAB0s/fJAsXzpXNdMqSH8gr17TRy8GT6BJd4y8QCLcB/s320/Stereo.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>3. </b>The doors on the BMW are so heavy you'd think they were used as blast shields from the Manhattan Project. Many of my friends have difficulties closing the passenger door. Although I'd always take that opportunity to mock them for being weak.<br />
<b>4. </b><a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/06/sharknosediary-3-paul-parts-guy.html" target="_blank">Have I mentioned that BMW mechanics are expensive?</a> Well, apparently body shop guys are even more so. Fixing the rust spot on the rear wheel arch is going to set me back at a staggering $2,000, which is 95% of what I bought the car for. The rust spot doesn't even take 5% in size of the car's bodyshell.<br />
<b>5. </b>My local DMV has strict rules as to what constitutes a "Collector" car -- it has to be over 25 years old (check), mostly original (half check -- now that the original stereo is back in, consider it finished), and be completely clean and rust-free (er... let me get back to you on that one).<br />
<b>6. </b>This car drinks like an Irish construction worker on a Friday night. At 16.5 mpg, this car has the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/09/17/dodge-challenger-hellcat-gas-mileage/15791293/" target="_blank">same fuel economy as the 707-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat</a>. Seriously. The 5.0L V8 Mustang gets better mileage than this. Both cars are much faster than mine.<br />
<b>7.</b> Speaking of power... Well, there isn't much. Due to the strict emission standards back in the 1980s, many manufacturers had to make their engines slower in order to comply to the environmental standards. The automatic gearbox did not help either. All of this means this 80s European sports coupe goes about as fast as a Floridan pensioner on a moped.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain roads: This is where the BMW comes alive. </td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Things I do like:</span></b><br />
<b>1. </b>The classic BMW rumble. My word, that noise. This is the only reason why I can tolerate driving without the stereo -- I can drive 10 hours in <b>this </b>car without music, and I'll still be perfectly happy because this car makes one of the best sounds in the world.<br />
<b>2.</b> Despite it being manufactured in West Germany, it has been almost perfectly reliable so far (minus a couple of leaks), despite me taking it to a couple of cars and coffee and a 3-hour road trip outside town.<br />
<b>3. </b>Yes, the drive is a blast. This BMW is what they call a "Driver's Car" -- which means I will happily drive it 3 hours outside of town, and then drive back again.<br />
<b>4.</b> Its looks. The 80s classic shark look is still something that I catch myself glimpsing at even after parking my car in the garage. Also, a friend of mine called it the "original gangster car", whatever that means.<br />
<b>5.</b> I am now getting waves from other old BMW drivers on the road -- which is not something that would happen if you drive a regular commuter car.<br />
<b>6.</b> It compliments my other car rather well, on the virtue that it is also called a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda6#First_generation_.28GG.3B_2002.E2.80.932008.29" target="_blank">6</a>. And no, that is not the reason why I decided to buy the BMW.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Battle of the 6's.</td></tr>
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<b>8. </b>More than a handful of random passerbys would recognize the car and ask me about it. People are usually enthusiastic of the car still being on the road.<br />
<b>9.</b> I love how "analog" everything is. In the age of digitization and cars increasingly becoming an AMD Processor on wheels, this BMW is a stark contrast to the current trends. It's got an engine that runs. It's got a gearbox that shifts. It's got a steering column that is connected to the steering wheel, which is connected to me. In a drive-by-wire world, this is what I'd prefer.<br />
<b>10.</b> 55 miles per hour. Sun shining. Open road. Windows down. Sunroof open. Ray-Bans on. Just drive and listen to the noise. It is something special.<br />
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<b>Next week: </b>I take my cheap European classic to a proper collector car show, where people show up with far more expensive cars. This would be interesting.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-9786617221908378762016-06-29T09:41:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:41:32.990-07:00#SharkNoseDiary 3: Paul the Parts Guy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Expenses: </b><br />
<b>Service: </b>$95 (oil change, coolant reservoir patch, trunk liner fix).<br />
<b>Parts: </b>$50 (original BMW cassette stereo, '87 7 series original instrument panel, extra indicator stalks, original BMW floor mats, on-board diagnostic computer)<br />
<b>Chatting to a stranger for 2 hours about BMWs: </b>Priceless.<br />
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Every car should have a name. A couple years back, I had a Volkswagen Passat which I named after Sir Alan Rickman's most beloved character -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhOQ4VW6xV8">no, not him</a> -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnQEo4bazIo">Hans</a>.<br />
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It's been almost a month since <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/06/sharknosediary-goodness-i-must-be-crazy.html">I bought my nameless 1987 BMW 635CSi</a> -- it's about time to name it<br />
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Growing up with 90s action movies, I follow this odd tradition of naming my cars after movie villains -- hence Hans, my previous car. This car is German, so it has to have a German-sounding name. Beyond Hans though, it gets surprisingly hard, because there aren't a lot of good German movie villains outside the Die Hard universe.<br />
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<i>[Previously on <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2016/06/sharknosediary-2-some-issues.html" target="_blank">#SharkNoseDiary</a>: I bought a 30-year-old BMW, which is yet to be named. Until now.]</i><br />
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After a brief debate, we settled on Waltz, as in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr5MXQGhft4">Christoph</a>. Although he is technically not a German, he has played more than a couple of, um, memorable German characters. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68jAfiXmsUA">And because the guy is awesome</a>.<br />
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Anyway, on to the restoration.<br />
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As I said last week, this rolling restoration will probably cost me some money, especially if I want to be thorough with this work -- BMW parts aren't cheap, and BMW mechanics charge what you'd usually expect to pay for a 3-bedroom condo full of BMW parts. The only way, it seems, is to find some used parts myself.<br />
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So to Craigslist I went. I am in the market for some original period-correct parts for this car -- namely, to qualify for my local DMV's collector vehicle status, I needed to swap out the mid-90s silver Pioneer stereo back to the 80s BMW tape deck with a Bryan Adams cassette still sitting inside. The original seats, <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VHVAw1cpUks/V2raYNUrSJI/AAAAAAAABpc/kEfzgn0IZQwX9vTd_XfdOChr4ODN3uViQCLcB/s1600/File_005%2B%25282%2529.jpeg">which are still in my living room</a>, would have to go back inside the car as well.<br />
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Luckily, I found just the guy -- Paul.<br />
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Paul, a tow-truck driver slash mechanic who is parting this otherwise very immaculate 1987 BMW 7 series, graciously agreed to sell me the original stereo and BMW rubber floor mats for $50. Never mind the fact that he lived about an hour outside the city.<br />
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When I made it to Paul's residence after work, his driveway looked like a Walmart parking lot. There are two classic Volkswagens sitting in his garage, two more Volkswagens on his driveway, a flatbed truck, with an Audi sitting outside his driveway. Oh, and there's the BMW too.<br />
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I was prepared to toss him $50 in exchange for the parts I was looking for and go on my merry way. However, curiosity took over as I looked at his BMW. Why would he want to part out this car? The car looked amazing for its age.<br />
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"Oh, I got this car for free from an auction company. I don't quite need it so I was just going to sell some parts and see who would show up on my doorstep," he said.<br />
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I like this guy.<br />
<br />
"What are you going to do with the parts?" he asked. "Oh, I just bought this $2000 E24 6 series." "Oh, you mean the one that's been floating around on Craigslist for the past two weeks?" <br />
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Turns out, he also regularly scours around Craigslist looking for project cars.<br />
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Upon knowing that, he proceeded to rip out the dashboard and gave me a bin full of parts, including the on-board computer, the indicator stalk and the windshield wiper stalk, and the entire instrument panel (which includes the cassette stereo). He also insisted that he would only charge me $50.<br />
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I ended up chatting with him about old BMWs on his driveway for about two hours. He proceeded to tell me about his plans to restore his two 80s Volkswagens sitting inside his garage, the assortment of other classic German cars that he used to own, and how he wants to buy another BMW so he can drive it all the time. He even got me phone numbers to other parts sellers and mechanics that he knew personally.<br />
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Classic car owners are some of the best people. I defy anyone who tells me otherwise.<br />
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Anyway, a little update since my little trip to my mechanic: After holding onto my car overnight for a thorough inspection, I am happy to report that my car is officially problem-free. I was able to cross off a number of items on my to-fix list, including an oil change, fixing the leak in the coolant reservoir and the trunk liner. All at the cost of $95.<br />
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Although my mechanic did find a slight leak in the transmission... Oh well. That will be for the next visit.</div>
Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-91642936088602080172016-06-22T09:40:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:41:06.712-07:00#SharkNoseDiary 2: Some Issues. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzEwMKFhuWI/V2mWacZdP6I/AAAAAAAABnw/URQh7ng_4oI1NXFjCucUzIjsVXnG7NgxgCLcB/s1600/SharkNoseDiary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzEwMKFhuWI/V2mWacZdP6I/AAAAAAAABnw/URQh7ng_4oI1NXFjCucUzIjsVXnG7NgxgCLcB/s640/SharkNoseDiary.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two 80's icons. </td></tr>
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In case if you have missed the <a href="http://bit.ly/28ETTV2" target="_blank">last #SharkNoseDiary</a>, I have purchased a 1987 BMW 635CSi as my summer / weekend car. I guess you could classify this as an impulse purchase, partly fueled by my love of old BMWs and partly due to my lack of sound financial sense.<br />
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I have been living with the car for over two weeks now, and I have already done about 800 miles -- no small feat considering that it is a 30-year-old BMW that I bought at the price of a Smart TV.<br />
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<i>[Previously on <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/search/label/SharkNoseDiary" target="_blank">#SharkNoseDiary</a>: I bought a 30-year-old BMW at the price of a Smart TV. It could turn out to be a mistake.]</i><br />
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First two weeks of my ownership was utterly joyous. The drive is a blast, as the straight six engine absolutely sings, albeit at the cost of 15 miles per gallon. People also love seeing it on the roads -- I have gotten approval nods and thumbs up from Porsche owners, BMW owners, to a guy who drives a Hyundai Pony with a broken exhaust. Although, I must say, the people who tend to recognize the car are usually of, um, retirement age.<br />
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That said, the car is not without problems. According to my mom, any car that is manufactured before 2000 are under a real threat of spontaneously bursting into flames on the side of the I-90. My friends even got me a Triple-A membership just in case something breaks down.<br />
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While I am fairly sure that my car wouldn't throw a rod at a train crossing, the car does have a couple of issues. Here is a list of things that currently doesn't work in the car, listed in the order of how much it bothers me:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rust: Every classic car owner's absolute nightmare. </td></tr>
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<b>1.</b> Coolant reservoir has a small leak, triggering a warning light on the On-board Computer.<br />
<b>2. </b>Despite the "rust-free" status, the rear wheel arch has a rust spot that is about the size of three postage stamps.<br />
<b>3. </b>Odometer insists that the car is constantly at 168,000 miles with the same stubbornness as Ross insisting that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEn9YvJ3Gfg" target="_blank">they were on a "break"</a>.<br />
<b>4.</b> The high beams come on automatically when I activate the right signal at night... Which does annoy some people.<br />
<b>5.</b> The steering wheel has a lot of play, to the point that if you crank the wheel at 45 degrees, the car will probably still head straight for the tree that you are trying to avoid.<br />
<b>6.</b> The car shudders a little bit at 10 mph -- maybe a wheel bearing / drive shaft / engine mount / warped brake disc. Or maybe the car just triggers a small earthquake everywhere it goes.<br />
<b>7. </b>Driver side foot well gets suspiciously damp after a rainy day (cue rust paranoia). All the weather seals in this car are pretty shot.<br />
<b>8.</b> Washer fluid pump took an early retirement.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new living room seating arrangement.</td></tr>
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<b>9.</b> Driver and Passenger seats have torn stitches -- currently, they are sitting in my living room waiting to be repaired.<br />
<b>10. </b>Front bumper lip is "slightly" dented in what looks like an incident between the bumper and a curb.<br />
<b>11.</b> Air-conditioning blows air hotter than the sun, which means the <a href="http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq348/s13drifter89/IMAG1845.jpg" target="_blank">rear cooler</a> doesn't work unless your aim is to melt the cork out of the champagne bottle.<br />
<b>12.</b> Trunk liner has given up on being trunk liner.<br />
<b>13.</b> Center console window switch for rear passenger window does not work.<br />
<b>14.</b> There is a small dent right on the "nose" of the car.<br />
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Otherwise, as evidenced by my (approximately) 800-mile, problem-free drive in the past two weeks around the city, there is nothing with my newest old purchase that will require my immediate attention. Yet.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2wiYswLF93s/V2rJprJvaFI/AAAAAAAABo8/hoAJv-zhPN4ZBIAUWtGF08e4kUl3MgUAACLcB/s1600/File_000.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Anyway, as I start this "rolling restoration" and start crossing off the items on the list, there are some important things to note. Namely, I will have put some money in this thing in order to bring it back to its former glory.<br />
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There's a slight problem to that, though.<br />
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Since this is generally considered a classic car, chances are I'll have to hunt for parts myself on Craigslist or local junk yards. After all, new parts from BMW for the old 6 Series will cost about the same as the state budget of Idaho. I'll probably end up doing some of the work myself as well, since BMW specialists' by-the-hours charges are just a little more than what OJ paid his lawyers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQgcNhdYKX8/V2reqyLACPI/AAAAAAAABpo/vCn-1o4J1nkWpI2Xb0sPom7V74_2XoobgCLcB/s1600/File_000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQgcNhdYKX8/V2reqyLACPI/AAAAAAAABpo/vCn-1o4J1nkWpI2Xb0sPom7V74_2XoobgCLcB/s640/File_000.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"When was the last time you worked on a car like this?"<br />"Oh, a long time ago."</i></td></tr>
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Regardless, I still wanted to make sure I find all the potential issues before they arise. Hence, my car is currently sitting in my mechanic's garage so he can do a complete go-over with the car. Will he add more to the list? We will find out next week.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-64491181312970064302016-06-15T09:36:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:36:58.584-07:00#SharkNoseDiary: Goodness, I Must Be Crazy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week, I bought a 30-year-old BMW.<br />
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Actually, let me rephrase that. Last week, I bought a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_6_Series_(E24)" target="_blank">1987 BMW 635CSi</a> luxury sports coupe. For $2100. To those of you who know BMWs very well will know it affectionately as the <a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jF01RmQkgvo/maxresdefault.jpg" target="_blank">"shark-nose" E24</a> -- one of the most iconic and strikingly beautiful sports coupe to come out from Bavaria.<br />
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To those of you who doesn't know much about cars... Well, I bought a slightly rusted European car at roughly the same cost as what people would spend on a beginner's golf set. Oh, and the car was made in West Germany, because well, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany" target="_blank">West Germany</a> was a thing back then.<br />
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First off, this is definitely not a show car. This is not the sort of car you'd see in a classic car show that is organized in the middle of the park on a Sunday morning where people congratulate each other with a nod of approval. Indeed, for $2100, this will not be making any Top 10 list for the best show-quality Classic Car.<br />
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But then, I don't really need it to be -- I had lusted after a classic BMW ever since I was in high school in the early 2000s, when one of my neighbors drove around in a pristine-looking <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.hagerty.com/vehicle/web/800px-1972_BMW_2002_NY.jpg" target="_blank">1973 BMW 2002</a>. This is no 2002, but at the cost of a 20-month cable subscription, I still managed to get myself an 1980s classic Beemer, which is definitely close enough to my liking.<br />
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Plus, I only plan on having this car as my weekend / summer car. For my daily commute, I still have my <a href="http://bit.ly/1Tmm2cU" target="_blank">slightly scratched-up beater Mazda wagon</a>.<br />
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How did I find this car? A little back story then.<br />
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This 1987 BMW originally rolled out of a dealership in Santa Ana, CA, and brought up by the original owner to the Pacific Northwest a couple years after. After two decades of ownership, the car was sold to a second owner in 2012, who shortly sold it to the last owner of this car, David, who happens to own a garage that specializes in European cars.<br />
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As he already has quite an extensive collection of European classics already, he deemed this car to be expendable and put it up on Craigslist for sale at $2,600 a couple weeks ago (of course this is a Craigslist find).<br />
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This is where I came in.<br />
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At first when I saw this car on Craigslist, this car did not really tick all of my boxes. First off, a quick CarFax report revealed that this is the <a href="http://jalopnik.com/328837/1987-bmw-l6" target="_blank">L6</a> model, which came with extra luxury equipment like leather sports seats, sunroof, and a <a href="http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Picture-52.png" target="_blank">beer cooler</a> (!) as standard. All of this meant that the 0-60 time takes about as much time as it takes to build the Large Hadron Collider.<br />
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The L6 model also meant that it came standard with a 4-speed automatic gear box, which was cutting edge in the same way that Windows 2.0 was cutting edge. In 2016, the 4-speed doesn't quite do it anymore. Plus, the ultimate driving machine is best mated with a gearbox that will allow you to row your own gears.<br />
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Furthermore, a 30-year-old BMW that is on sale for $2000 pretty much guarantees that this will be a <a href="http://www.rtsauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/CIMG0113.jpg" target="_blank">rust bucket</a> -- cars back then simply did not have the same galvanizing technology as we enjoy today, and are seriously prone to structural rust that will increase the possibility of you falling through the floor while driving... Which is probably not the best way to drive.<br />
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However, fate has determined that I had to go look at it, as I randomly stumbled upon the very same car parked across town on the street a couple days after I first saw it on Craigslist.<br />
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And boy, does it look beautiful.<br />
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The E24 is arguably one of the best looking car that BMW has ever made. There is a reason why the 6 Series was featured in many 80s movies, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjOr-UEQcaI" target="_blank">co-starring alongside Bruce Willis</a> and even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ngJK-kTa2M" target="_blank">making an appearance on the Breakfast Club</a>.<br />
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It was the quintessential 80s upper class icon -- a car with such style and excess luxury that you'd have to be a driving this car with a huge cigar in your hands, while the fridge in the rear seats keep your champagne cool, as the digital trip computer informs you that you are doing 15 miles per gallon. But hey, this is 1987 -- your Wall Street investment is paying off your mortgage and gas is 88 cents a gallon.<br />
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This particular example, contrary to what I expected, looked quite pristine and rust-free. It just so happened that the guy selling the car, David, was close by when I stumbled upon it. So I got him to hoist up the car in his own shop, while I went hunting for any rust spots with a flashlight.<br />
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After 20 minutes of poking around, I must say that this is the cleanest classic BMW I have seen in a while... Which means it still has a little bit of rust. However, it was mainly a small spot on the rear wheel arch, which is not structural. I can live with that (for now). Plus, the engine in this car is proven to be one of the most reliable engines ever produced -- with many examples staying healthy beyond 300,000 miles.<br />
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I then took it out for a test drive. The previous owner had changed many of the engine, brakes, and suspension parts (with receipts, too!), and it drove like an 80's sports car should -- it was a blast.<br />
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The classic 6 cylinder engine sang in a glorious tone, with the BMW-signature low-timbre grumble coming out from the dual center-mounted exhaust pipes in the back of the car. Sure, this car won't be winning any drag races -- but put your foot on the naughty pedal, and the power will start flooding in after 4000 rpm.<br />
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Instantly, I was in love. I forgot that I was driving a near-30-year-old car. This is a living, breathing, surviving 6 series! Sure, cosmetically there is some work to be done, but how many of those do you see on the roads? How many are in this condition?<br />
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I decided that I had to go for it.<br />
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After a bit of haggling, I managed to chip $500 off the original $2600 asking price. I was trapped. The deal was too good for me to pass up. So I bit the bullet and took the title off his hands. Life is too short for me to worry about things like that.<br />
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Just like that, I got myself a summer car -- one that would never see rain or winter again under my watch. Hopefully at this current condition, I can squeeze a lot of miles out of this car in the summer.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qipT6tz4BI0/V1jOJuMGFmI/AAAAAAAABjw/79f97UYD9QUbLbwsZba-d-lEbPDHuLyfgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3101_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qipT6tz4BI0/V1jOJuMGFmI/AAAAAAAABjw/79f97UYD9QUbLbwsZba-d-lEbPDHuLyfgCLcB/s640/IMG_3101_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the immediate future, I will be looking into slowly restoring this car to its former glory. Again, this is not the perfect showroom car, but I am not looking for one either -- I bought this car so I can drive it. Fitting in a 5 speed manual gearbox will be on my agenda too, but that will come later.<br />
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This will either be the best thing I have ever done, or the worst mistake I have ever committed. Will it stay relatively trouble-free (despite the issues described above), or will it turn into a money-pit, requiring thousands and thousands of dollars in repairs?<br />
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Stay tuned to our blog to find out which will be the case.<br />
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At the meantime, I'll be driving this car, windows down, sunroof open, with my cassette stereo player blasting <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdqoNKCCt7A" target="_blank">"Don't You (Forget About Me)".</a><br />
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Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-6531098881630249162016-06-08T09:36:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:36:21.720-07:00Driving to the Southernmost Point in the United States in One Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ahhh, Florida: A dash cam company's paradise purely because of everything that goes on over there on the roads. Earlier in the year, I went down to South Florida for a short trip -- no, not because I wanted to have my own <a href="https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan" target="_blank">Florida Man</a> sighting. Instead, I was in Miami to attend a family wedding.</div>
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More importantly however (cousin, if you are reading this: your wedding was pretty good too), I was here in hopes of taking the famous drive from <a href="https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Miami,+FL,+USA/Key+West,+FL,+USA/@25.1585619,-81.5463293,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x88d9b0a20ec8c111:0xff96f271ddad4f65!2m2!1d-80.1917902!2d25.7616798!1m5!1m1!1s0x88d1b134ad952377:0x3fcee92f77463b5e!2m2!1d-81.7799871!2d24.5550593" target="_blank">Miami to Key West</a> -- a 4-hour drive over the Atlantic Ocean, featuring one of the best scenic views in North America as you head south straight for the southernmost point in the lower 48 states.<br />
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This should be a good one.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui_ZkAWtgaY/V1dRn5QP-zI/AAAAAAAABeg/dIO1xdrHReUJ4RfmfAy2ah3wA5za3EybQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui_ZkAWtgaY/V1dRn5QP-zI/AAAAAAAABeg/dIO1xdrHReUJ4RfmfAy2ah3wA5za3EybQCLcB/s320/IMG_2015.JPG" width="213" /></a>The car? After spending previous trips with the <a href="http://bit.ly/1JqCGhZ" target="_blank">Dodge Challenger</a> and a <a href="http://bit.ly/1nQ6VvQ" target="_blank">Ford Mustang</a>, surely I would be accompanied this trip with a something comparable like a Camaro or... Oh, I am getting a Mazda 2? Great.<br />
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To be honest, there is method in this madness: Driving in south Florida is supposedly so bad that you might as well drive a smaller car in hopes that the raging motorists somehow miss you when they swerve off the Turnpike to make that Fort Lauderdale exit.<br />
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Also, the roads get quite narrow once you are in places like Key West and Miami Beach -- instead of getting stuck everywhere you go, you might as well go with an economical city car (and it's the cheapest available rental option, so there's that).<br />
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I have also brought my trusted <a href="http://www.thinkware.com/Products/Dashcam/F750" target="_blank">F750</a> with my <a href="http://bit.ly/26uBxVV" target="_blank">rear view camera</a> (which I have previously brought to New Mexico for my <a href="http://bit.ly/1nQ6VvQ" target="_blank">Breaking Bad trip</a> as well), so I should be well covered against the craziest of drivers and Tony Montana.<br />
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No matter, on with the trip.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Driving in Miami</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The world is yours."</td></tr>
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March in Florida is like June everywhere else -- it is a balmy 95 degrees everyday at all hours, no matter if the sun is outside or if there is an reenactment of the Perfect Storm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>"I remember when rock was young</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Me and Suzie had so much fun</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Holding hands and skimming stones</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own"</i> - Elton John</span></div>
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Driving in Miami was a little bit like <a href="http://bit.ly/1OlP5J1" target="_blank">driving in New York</a>, except people drive faster here thanks to the wider and smoother roads. Much faster. So fast, to the point that you'd think they are hurrying home to defend their place against a squadron of alligators, except- <i>dammit honey, there goes the Fort Lauderdale exit! Oh well, we will run over that little blue Mazda if that's what it takes to get off this highway! </i><br />
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In all seriousness, it takes a special kind of reflex to survive on I-95 during rush hour. Once inside the city, it gets a little more civilized -- the roads are wide and it is generally quite easy to get around.<br />
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Cruising in and around Downtown Miami and Miami Beach, especially when you have Phil Colins on the radio, does make one feel quite like Don Johnson from Miami Vice. If only I had a <a href="http://cdn4.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/landscape_928x523/2015/03/Miami_Vice_Car1.jpg" target="_blank">slick sports coat and a Ferrari Testarossa</a>...<br />
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That said, there is certainly no shortage of exotic sports cars on the road. Driving from Miami to Miami Beach is akin to driving through an interactive Ferrari / Lamborghini / Bentley dealership, driven by people who wears Wayfarers and Aviators with Omega watches.<br />
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Driving around Ocean Drive certainly takes you back to the old days as well. Here, you'd find an assortment of old Chevys and Fords being driven alongside brand-new Suburbans and Escalades. Oh, and a lot of scooters, too.<br />
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True to the Florida experience, my cousin also took me boating in hopes of catching some Kingfish. While it made me feel a little bit like Dexter Morgan, it ultimately turned into a 8-hour boat ride in which no fish was hooked and I got a little sea sick.<br />
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Onward to the Keys.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Florida Keys</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8uJ13Rf6DM/V1c-6Bq4GCI/AAAAAAAABeA/_NfKxc07cWw9RufVMv9vQTF7I9iwvd2dQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8uJ13Rf6DM/V1c-6Bq4GCI/AAAAAAAABeA/_NfKxc07cWw9RufVMv9vQTF7I9iwvd2dQCLcB/s640/IMG_1954.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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I have been waiting for this for a while.<br />
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I grew up with movies like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wye2OCpyFt4" target="_blank">License to Kill</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B7HG8_xbDw" target="_blank">True Lies</a>, which features the drive prominently. The drive itself is a long stretch of road -- appropriately called the <a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3lnWUBWS-PM/maxresdefault.jpg" target="_blank">Overseas Highway</a> -- that stretches over a series of islands on the way to Key West. In other words, it is a 164-mile drive featuring <a href="https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/0a/29/21/mallory-square.jpg" target="_blank">sunny sky</a>, <a href="https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/9b/2f/b6/key-west.jpg" target="_blank">neverending beaches</a>, and <a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRWMwL84bhyIfrzvspTPFKTGEmggCcRRFNqgF1bk3WOoa2ExxBK" target="_blank">spectacular bridges</a>. To avoid traffic, I even picked a Monday to travel down in hopes of avoiding the weekend traffic. What could possibly go wrong?<br />
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It was Spring Break.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4KcD8n2dgYY/V1dj1l_hsdI/AAAAAAAABfc/MqZXdrd_K2kSJe99-yc8j11nTrZftbr4QCLcB/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4KcD8n2dgYY/V1dj1l_hsdI/AAAAAAAABfc/MqZXdrd_K2kSJe99-yc8j11nTrZftbr4QCLcB/s320/IMG_1967.JPG" width="212" /></a>Half of Florida was on the road to Key West. To make matters worse, the sky was hardly cooperating either. 2 hours into the drive, it was becoming darker and darker as clouds started looming over the sky. Couple that with the sheer amount of holiday traffic, the drive was shaping up to be a bit of a disappointment.<br />
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That said, the trip was not a total waste. The iconic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Mile_Bridge" target="_blank">Seven Mile Bridge</a> was just as advertised -- breathtakingly beautiful. The petite Mazda was surprisingly pleasant for this long journey as well, providing just enough comfort and power for me to forget that I was stuck in a traffic jam for almost two hours. The iPod-enabled factory stereo was also a much-needed option.<br />
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It took about 5 hours to get to Key West, about an hour and a half more than it should have.<br />
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Key West is a fascinating place -- one full of history and Cuban influence. Here you will find the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway_House" target="_blank">Ernest Hemingway House</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman_Little_White_House" target="_blank">President Truman's old office</a>, the fantastically wacky <a href="https://roadtrippers.com/stories/key-west-cemetery?lat=40.80972&lng=-96.67528&z=5" target="_blank">Key West Cemetery</a>, an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Key_West" target="_blank">old Naval Station</a>, as well as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southernmost_point_buoy" target="_blank">the Southernmost Point in the lower 48 states</a>, represented by an odd-looking Buoy-shaped monument.<br />
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For some reason, the roads are also inundated with free-roaming chickens. Yes, you are reading that right. It seems that they have developed an excellent sense at dodging the giant wheels of death on the roads. I even managed to capture a whole family crossing the street while managing to avoid being roadkill. Quite impressive, really.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/1UoYKj9" target="_blank">Why did the chicken cross the road?</a></td></tr>
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Also in Key West: Fan-bloody-tastic seafood. The proximity to the Caribbean sea meant that there was plenty of good seafood around.<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jp5ctr-gniA/V1iNlSr8Z3I/AAAAAAAABgU/n7UUBYsEC84QC4NcacWH48mBDgqg0U8twCLcB/s1600/IMG_1984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jp5ctr-gniA/V1iNlSr8Z3I/AAAAAAAABgU/n7UUBYsEC84QC4NcacWH48mBDgqg0U8twCLcB/s200/IMG_1984.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
As it was getting uncharacteristically dark, I ditched the car and started walking around. The small southern town is also great for walking around thanks to its small size. The streets are very walk-able with many interesting boutique shops and cafes -- so long as you don't mind bumping into other tourists on the sidewalk.<br />
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I spent a little more time walking simply because I had to walk some of that seafood chowder off.<br />
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After a couple hours, it was time to head back to Miami. Leaving at around 9pm, it would still take a good 3 hours to head back to civilization. It was a short trip by my usual standards, sure -- the traffic and the weather weren't as perfect as I'd have hoped.<br />
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Still, was it worth it? I'd have to say yes. When the roads opened up -- even for a brief moment -- the Overseas Highway was a blast of a drive that everyone should experience at least once. </div>
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Good thing I have family in Florida then, because I need another excuse to come back some time. </div>
Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-13981289639877827082016-05-25T09:49:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:49:27.710-07:00Top Gear: Who Are The New Guys?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"It's like you're always stuck in second gear..."</i></td></tr>
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If you are a car guy (and gal), chances are by now you will have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTWcEjj0w3s" target="_blank">May 29th</a> circled on your calendar in anticipation of the Top Gear... Er, reboot? Instead of Clarkson & Co who are on to Amazon for <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=10257739031" target="_blank">greener pastures</a>, the new show will feature six new hosts and the Stig, ranging from famous British personalities, an American (gasp!), to a number of other guys that nobody else but car enthusiasts seem to know.<br />
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For people state-side, it would be understandable if most people take the new Top Gear as Joey Tribbiani's actual big break since... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1xfjJ6V33U" target="_blank">Whatever that was</a>.<br />
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So on this weekend, before you sit in front of your telly (if you are in the UK) or in front of your computer (if you are basically everywhere else) furiously refreshing the BitTorrent page looking for the new episode, here's a little handy <i>who's who</i> guide for your reference:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chris Evans</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note to Chris: Avoid strawberries before taping. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bywvhmBjfMM/V0TflpzJEQI/AAAAAAAABXg/-ozIiVzlkQQizjQvLF7J7q5ZfsF-bSWkACLcB/s1600/_61498848_61498847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bywvhmBjfMM/V0TflpzJEQI/AAAAAAAABXg/-ozIiVzlkQQizjQvLF7J7q5ZfsF-bSWkACLcB/s200/_61498848_61498847.jpg" width="138" /></a><b></b><br />
<b>Who is he? </b>A widely popular British radio presenter on Radio 1. Known Ferrari collector. No, he is not Captain America.<br />
<b>Who is he to us? </b>Um... A guy the BBC seemed to have employed to keep the Brits happy. He also seem to have been chosen on the merit that he most resembles Jeremy Clarkson in terms of <a href="http://jalopnik.com/top-gears-chris-evans-was-so-mad-he-made-a-producer-cry-1773131662" target="_blank">generating controversy</a>. And no, he is not Captain America.<br />
<b>In all seriousness: </b>Chris Evans is and will continue to be a controversial choice for Top Gear presenter. Supporters will note that he has a habit of churning out <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_One_Show" target="_blank">successful BBC programmes</a> in the past, and cynics will point out that he doesn't seem to be a hardcore car guy that people look for in a TG-presenter, despite his owning of several million-pound Ferraris. First reports indicate that <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/top-gear-unimpressed-audience-members-walk-out-on-chris-evans-before-filming-finishes-a7042081.html" target="_blank">it was not going too well</a> -- however, only time will tell.<br />
<b>Notable (car) thing that he did: </b>He let <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxWMYcPX27s" target="_blank">James May drive his 250GT California</a> on an older episode of Top Gear. He also appeared in <a href="https://youtu.be/IB1kI-SnokE?t=12m11s" target="_blank">Star in a Reasonably Priced Car</a> a while back. He also can't seem to handle <a href="https://youtu.be/bTWcEjj0w3s?t=46s" target="_blank">Sabine's driving</a>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Matt LeBlanc</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sS1p_RXXapI/V0TVkKAvGkI/AAAAAAAABWY/J0WAIgMWfIctnpWx-H88EBGtmv4QssR9ACLcB/s1600/1421307659-joey-friends-london.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sS1p_RXXapI/V0TVkKAvGkI/AAAAAAAABWY/J0WAIgMWfIctnpWx-H88EBGtmv4QssR9ACLcB/s640/1421307659-joey-friends-london.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chandler doesn't seem to be too supportive of Joey doing a show in the UK.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-ljTcyRVo4/V0TWQmuEgvI/AAAAAAAABWk/dgs_MfoCVwIO03oDoRb0_MFHIQ48wcJAQCLcB/s1600/30E0E80000000578-3431769-_It_s_a_Porsche_a_Fans_were_left_in_shock_when_Hollywood_star_Ma-m-144_1454602754427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="155" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-ljTcyRVo4/V0TWQmuEgvI/AAAAAAAABWk/dgs_MfoCVwIO03oDoRb0_MFHIQ48wcJAQCLcB/s200/30E0E80000000578-3431769-_It_s_a_Porsche_a_Fans_were_left_in_shock_when_Hollywood_star_Ma-m-144_1454602754427.jpg" width="200" /></a><b></b><br />
<b>Who is he? </b>Emmy-nominated Sitcom actor. Biggest Porsche enthusiast since Seinfeld (see image on right).<br />
<b>Who is he to us?</b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43wkqM27z2E" target="_blank">Everyone's favorite pick-up line if you grew up in the 90s.</a><br />
<b>In all seriousness:</b> All-around nice guy Matt LeBlanc is turning Top Gear into a real-life version of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4yH0mI-yJs" target="_blank"><i>Episodes</i></a>. We in the US will like him because <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuymvEZ1pkU" target="_blank">we know him very well</a>. For Brits, the fact that there is an American presenter in a British national treasure prime-time TV show would be... Actually, it wasn't quite as controversial as we had originally expected. From early trailers, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMjMdouP5CI" target="_blank">it looks like he is fitting in just fine</a> (no pun intended). Going forward, there will likely be no shortage of Friends-inspired gifs going forward.<br />
<b>Notable (car) thing that he did: </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lijYIv5pULk" target="_blank">"It's Porsche-a!"</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chris Harris</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGqHBrLhXuQ/V0TV4bHk8YI/AAAAAAAABWc/5lKz5xO8sKY5Ciqfp9yUEblxJmR7D_DIgCLcB/s1600/sJXieH.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGqHBrLhXuQ/V0TV4bHk8YI/AAAAAAAABWc/5lKz5xO8sKY5Ciqfp9yUEblxJmR7D_DIgCLcB/s640/sJXieH.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Harris at work.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LIBlAibdiKU/V0TZkqybx9I/AAAAAAAABXE/LH9yN4SKTRUV0O6SAxp8aEgICNNBKY5OgCLcB/s1600/chris-harris-citroen-e1398066480355-640x350.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LIBlAibdiKU/V0TZkqybx9I/AAAAAAAABXE/LH9yN4SKTRUV0O6SAxp8aEgICNNBKY5OgCLcB/s200/chris-harris-citroen-e1398066480355-640x350.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>Who is he? </b>Automotive journalist who used to write for Autocar and EVO Magazine. Owns a very <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AMAhCRmep7VJKe1sxvHFg" target="_blank">popular YouTube channel</a> where he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJD4OLMbkdM" target="_blank">slides around corners a lot</a>.<br />
<b>Who is he to us? </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtOZNp6GOxI" target="_blank">Automotive-drift God</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36whvegFIqg" target="_blank">Miata-hater.</a> (we tend to <a href="http://thinkwarenorthamerica.blogspot.ca/2015/08/we-bought-miata.html" target="_blank">ignore that</a>)<br />
<b>In all seriousness:</b> If you are a hardcore car-guy, this is the TG-presenter that you have been waiting for as soon as you find out that Clarkson & Co are on their way out. His YouTube channel has been frankly brilliant and of superb, <i>Top Gear</i>-like production quality since Day 1. He also races vintage cars and owns a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKp7BrfOpEU" target="_blank">Citroen 2CV</a> and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzOPR7STqrQ" target="_blank">BMW E28 M5</a>. You can't go wrong with a guy like that. Also, have I mentioned that he is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LpPc8qutCA" target="_blank">drift God</a>? Yeah, I am sorry but I couldn't contain my excitement.<br />
<b>Notable (car) thing that he did:</b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3YPTkBRaOk" target="_blank">When he drove a McLaren P1 against a Porsche 918 and a LaFerrari with some pretty good drivers behind the wheel.</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sabine Schmitz</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80JxUl7kyP0/V0TXfZE2qmI/AAAAAAAABWo/e7pd2v37x7IkeFNTfjYoFMKcCkLhZwFOQCLcB/s1600/mwl3zvwmcpnrf6awpu5b.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80JxUl7kyP0/V0TXfZE2qmI/AAAAAAAABWo/e7pd2v37x7IkeFNTfjYoFMKcCkLhZwFOQCLcB/s640/mwl3zvwmcpnrf6awpu5b.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabine doing what she does best.</td></tr>
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<b></b><br />
<b>Who is she? </b>A German <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNemK-xKfZY" target="_blank">taxi driver</a> of some sorts.<br />
<b>Who is she to us?</b> The Nurburgring hero everyone wants to meet.<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-taIRc64nO78/V0TfYjJzQUI/AAAAAAAABXc/0tRqueql_W0x0nVZR0ipqyGo54HrixpqACLcB/s1600/bmw%2Bring%2Btaxi2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-taIRc64nO78/V0TfYjJzQUI/AAAAAAAABXc/0tRqueql_W0x0nVZR0ipqyGo54HrixpqACLcB/s200/bmw%2Bring%2Btaxi2.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>In all seriousness:</b> Sabine Schmitz is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnJOC_dDXzM" target="_blank">professional racing driver</a> who grew up in a small German village called Nürburg. She was the first woman to win the 24 hours of Nürburgring. Twice. In a row. She chauffeurs people around the Nurburgring in a BMW M5 in her spare time and eats Porsches and Ferraris for breakfast. <a href="https://media3.giphy.com/media/bSjZADVqfLoDS/200_s.gif" target="_blank">She also doesn't give any consideration for any TV idiot. No way.</a><br />
<b>Notable (car) thing that she did: </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQJKQjXpGQA" target="_blank">She also did this in a Ford Transit van</a>. She is awesome.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Eddie Jordan</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZKj0IZScRg/V0TY6Q12pBI/AAAAAAAABW4/dj5hi9jwXc82WbLCbJzXDfoDVhgwvzKJwCLcB/s1600/119819856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZKj0IZScRg/V0TY6Q12pBI/AAAAAAAABW4/dj5hi9jwXc82WbLCbJzXDfoDVhgwvzKJwCLcB/s640/119819856.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie Jordan is the early front-runner for the <i>"Most solemn-looking presenter"</i> awards.</td></tr>
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<b></b><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YUFsHVwQjY/V0TYpu_1dkI/AAAAAAAABXA/0-pgUyiXQOwhjqye5zN5bPDgA_Nk6grRwCKgB/s1600/Eddie%2BJordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YUFsHVwQjY/V0TYpu_1dkI/AAAAAAAABXA/0-pgUyiXQOwhjqye5zN5bPDgA_Nk6grRwCKgB/s200/Eddie%2BJordan.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Who is he? </b>Chief analyst for BBC Sport's Formula One coverage.<br />
<b>Who is he to us?</b> Retried former racing driver from Ireland. He also happens to be the owner of the awesome <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Grand_Prix" target="_blank">Jordan F1</a> team in the 90s and early 2000's, with Damon Hill and <a href="http://ms-fans.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/tumblr_lqhi4mpoPX1qapwfro1_1280-1.jpg" target="_blank">some bloke called Michael Schumacher</a>.<br />
<b>In all seriousness: </b>We on the other side of the pond will not have seen much of his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jocGhEPlKng" target="_blank">F1 coverage</a>. However, kids who, like me. grew up in the 90s will remember his bright yellow Honda Formula 1 cars through <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0GeKQMw0UA" target="_blank">other media</a>. Based on his rich resumes when it comes to car racing, he is a card-carrying, jacket-wearing member of the Petrolhead club.<br />
<b>Notable (car) thing that he did: </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BaR_WiciZc" target="_blank">He owned a bloody F1 team</a>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rory Reid</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-siQJ8By-LI0/V0TZP1IZXjI/AAAAAAAABW8/FXnIKUKe3PQ6QQYyIRWzHeJCAM_Ju6wCACLcB/s1600/_88216461_reid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-siQJ8By-LI0/V0TZP1IZXjI/AAAAAAAABW8/FXnIKUKe3PQ6QQYyIRWzHeJCAM_Ju6wCACLcB/s640/_88216461_reid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rory would be a close-second in the <i>"Most solemn-looking presenter" </i>awards.</td></tr>
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<b></b><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AxNmbwt-bAs/V0YmXCwVa4I/AAAAAAAABYQ/_JrySuVfCHYBS8IpQaAuH9zCLPPE_bC6QCLcB/s1600/rory-reid-large_trans%252B%252BqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AxNmbwt-bAs/V0YmXCwVa4I/AAAAAAAABYQ/_JrySuVfCHYBS8IpQaAuH9zCLPPE_bC6QCLcB/s200/rory-reid-large_trans%252B%252BqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Who is he? </b>According to Wikipedia, he is an automotive journalist and TV presenter who has done work for CNET, Sky, and BBC Radio 5.<br />
<b>Who is he to us?</b> ... We don't quite know.<br />
<b>In all seriousness:</b> Rory Reid is <a href="http://jalopnik.com/who-is-top-gears-new-host-rory-reid-1758456803" target="_blank">a bit of an unknown </a>across the pond. He apparently won over the producers at BBC after sending a 30-second audition clip and he is pegged to be co-presenting Top Gear's mini-spinoff, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW4BSlmofgU" target="_blank">Extra Gear</a>, with Chris Harris. The show apparently will focus on bringing more behind-the-scenes content, which will certainly be interesting to see. Looking at his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPzkTKX_EXI" target="_blank">presenter showreel</a>, he certainly does have experience doing creative stuff with cars in the past.<br />
<b>Notable (car) thing that he did: </b>He once tried to <a href="http://jalopnik.com/getting-in-and-out-of-a-lotus-is-a-lot-harder-than-you-1568404943" target="_blank">cram people into a Lotus Exige S</a>. It went about as well as you'd imagine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Stig</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vWQKJPOYPB8/V0Yvf_0W61I/AAAAAAAABZM/l9u6ZdeOu6IT3iYZ2bYxNVzLETW6fpNCwCLcB/s1600/_84822247_bbcstig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vWQKJPOYPB8/V0Yvf_0W61I/AAAAAAAABZM/l9u6ZdeOu6IT3iYZ2bYxNVzLETW6fpNCwCLcB/s640/_84822247_bbcstig.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some say that <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3608970/Have-new-Gear-hosts-revealed-Stig-s-identity-Matt-LeBlanc-Rory-Reid-followed-obscure-racing-driver-said-man-white-suit-Twitter.html" target="_blank">his identity has already been revealed</a>... All we know is, he's called the Stig.<br />
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So, will you be watching the new Top Gear when it airs, or will you be waiting for Clarkson, Hammond, and May in the fall?<br />
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Top Gear will air on May 29 (Sunday) at 8pm GMT.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-45583716071553321102016-05-17T09:35:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:35:51.207-07:00My Dash Cam Captured My At-Fault Accident<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSQbGLhM3Qc/Vzt2WNxo6VI/AAAAAAAABO0/WPy5U2xbac8_mZaEz9eNYEuSqDhfw3bnACLcB/s1600/REC_2016_04_09_16_23_56_F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSQbGLhM3Qc/Vzt2WNxo6VI/AAAAAAAABO0/WPy5U2xbac8_mZaEz9eNYEuSqDhfw3bnACLcB/s640/REC_2016_04_09_16_23_56_F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As a guy who does a lot with dash cams, there is one question I do get asked a lot: "what if my dash cam caught an accident and I was in the wrong?"<br />
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Well, I had a first-hand experience of that happening last month with my very own <a href="http://amzn.to/2cEA0tr">F750</a>.<br />
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First of all, full disclosure: I wasn't even the one behind the wheel, which made this situation even murkier as different insurance companies have different policies when it comes to <a href="https://www.esurance.com/info/car/myth-car-insurance-follows-the-driver">loaning your car to a different driver</a>. <br />
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Here is what happened. My parents were in town to visit -- as my parents live quite far away, it's not often that I get to see them without hopping on a 10-hour flight. Being the good son that I am, I naturally gave them the use of my beloved beater manual Mazda wagon that I practically consider as my primary residence.<br />
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Unfortunately, the last time my dad drove a manual car was when Atari was still making video games. He is also at the age where he considers porridge as digestible food by humans. So it went about as well as you'd probably expect.<br />
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Within a week, my dad had accidentally curbed the front wheel of my car. My front tire was officially kaput.<br />
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The week after that, my grey-colored beat up Mazda wagon had scratched up a pristine-looking, pearl white Porsche convertible that's parked on the street. Luckily, I was nearby when it happened, so I was able to tend to the situation.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y3cDn1N94E4/VzuHJxvqP3I/AAAAAAAABPU/_NDN9kgPzVM5DqRWrOXcOcnDBPFgS9lVwCKgB/s1600/IMG_5794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y3cDn1N94E4/VzuHJxvqP3I/AAAAAAAABPU/_NDN9kgPzVM5DqRWrOXcOcnDBPFgS9lVwCKgB/s200/IMG_5794.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIAL8yAFUB8/VzuSZg-6_aI/AAAAAAAABPo/IK1uVG_o6sERyU5_3wBXexRVlF14PdjRgCLcB/s1600/IMG_5818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIAL8yAFUB8/VzuSZg-6_aI/AAAAAAAABPo/IK1uVG_o6sERyU5_3wBXexRVlF14PdjRgCLcB/s200/IMG_5818.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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From initial inspection, my dad had clipped the Porsche on the driver side while parking my car. The incident left a long scratch mark on my rear passenger door and rear quarter panel. Looking behind me, and horror -- a broken turn signal light and a series of black scratch marks had been left on the Porsche.<br />
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This is not going to be cheap.<br />
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I quickly took some close-up shots of the damage with my cell phone. As the driver wasn't there, we left him a very apologetic note with my phone number and driver's license number on it. Since we were running late, we didn't have the time to wait for the other driver to return to his car -- which made me feel very uncomfortable.<br />
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Going through the photos later on my phone, it dawned on me that I'd forgotten to take a picture of his license plate as well. In other words, I was completely in the blind when it comes to any information on the Porsche that my dad had made a dent on.<br />
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Who is the owner? What if he is furious? What if he is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLfXg9UFyug">Negan </a>from the Walking Dead? What if he doesn't call me for a month? Do I still talk to him then? More importantly, <b>what happens if he starts pinning other mysterious scratches on his car on me?</b> How can I dispute <b>any</b> of that?<br />
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For a brief moment, I'd forgotten that I had a dash cam.<br />
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You see, a great thing about having a dash cam even when you are in the wrong -- <b>you can at least know that nobody can pin any additional phantom damages on you.</b> It also makes it even easier if I had to file a case to the insurance company -- the GPS tracker on my F750 had already logged the precise speed, time, and location when the collision happened. The dash cam video, thanks to the rear view camera, also got me his license plate as well as a front-and-rear, 20+ minute clip of the entire the incident too that features my dad slowly and agonizingly peeling the paint off the pride of Stuttgart.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xM3fDJ0rSvQ/Vzt2WDWp5EI/AAAAAAAABOw/Q85WVv9FJx0Z2c9TeUmRGAGqENb1OlAzwCLcB/s1600/REC_2016_04_09_16_23_56_R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xM3fDJ0rSvQ/Vzt2WDWp5EI/AAAAAAAABOw/Q85WVv9FJx0Z2c9TeUmRGAGqENb1OlAzwCLcB/s320/REC_2016_04_09_16_23_56_R.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
A couple hours later, I received a phone call from the owner. He was surprisingly calm and civilized about the whole affair, and graciously agreed to settle the damage without alerting our insurance companies. Apparently he was just glad that we'd bothered to leave a note at all.<br />
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We later met up at a reputable body shop, where I forked over $1,200 dollars for the damage -- which admittedly wasn't too bad considering that it was a <b>pearl white convertible Porsche</b>. I am also just glad that it didn't snowball into something much trickier to handle, insurance-wise.<br />
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Even if it did, however, at least I had my dash cam to cover my back.<br />
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Now, I'll just need to save up to fix up my own car. That, as well as the rental fee for that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUlKtqyUlo8">self-driving and self-parking Tesla</a> for when my folks inevitably come back in town.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-55669275931393779952016-04-26T09:34:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:34:36.851-07:00The 70s Made the Best Driving Music, and It Makes No Sense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_YihDg1O8gg/Vx_4O_4ZODI/AAAAAAAABNs/jBDCihp8NlkC5vZAck7OjDMdcmmNWgTFgCLcB/s1600/music-doobie-brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_YihDg1O8gg/Vx_4O_4ZODI/AAAAAAAABNs/jBDCihp8NlkC5vZAck7OjDMdcmmNWgTFgCLcB/s640/music-doobie-brothers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Greatest Hits of horrible hairstyles... And driving music? </td></tr>
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Just this past weekend, I had the opportunity to go on a road trip out of state. Just like what anyone else would do in this situation, I checked my music library to see if I needed to load up on driving songs for me to survive being tailgated on the Interstate by the one Honda CRX driver with a cracked muffler that's also missing a front wheel.<br />
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So for a couple hours on a Friday night, I went through a mental checklist of all the road trip essentials, which about consists of all the usuals.<br />
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And then it dawned on me: almost 80% of the songs in my driving playlist consist of bands from a particular era. More specifically, the 1970s -- the era of the Apple II and Ford Pinto.<br />
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I strongly believe that the 70s was the Golden Period for driving songs -- which really makes no sense, for the reasons I'll explain below.<br />
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Ever since the driving culture took off following the introduction of Interstate highways and (to a lesser extent) the American dream, the mainstream popular culture has embraced the idea of the automobile.<br />
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Cars take up a role in many songs in the 1960s, from dating ("<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6OS_ItMGpc">Cruisin' and playin' the radio / With no particular place to go</a>.</i>") to the symbolic freedom the car represents ("<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8">Like a true nature's child / We were born, born to be wild</a></i>"), these machines were slowly shaping the popular culture, firmly defined by the combination of a small block V8 and greasy hair.<br />
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It was only appropriate, because the 1960s was the holy grail in motoring. The Mustang fastback, the Stingray, the GTO, the E-Type and the gull-wing Mercedes, the jaw-droppingly beautiful Lamborghini Miura -- all of them were roaming around together on the I-5 at some point, presumably all being tailgated by an angry Honda CRX driver.<br />
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However, once the 1970s rolled around, Rock music exploded into a cultural phenomenon, In music, we saw the rise of <a href="http://assets.noisey.com/content-images/contentimage/24845/Page.jpg">double-necked guitars</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_drumming#/media/File:Grateful_Dead_at_the_Warfield-01.jpg">double drumming</a>, <a href="http://s587.photobucket.com/user/baranger1/media/2.gif.html">electric synthesizers</a>, 10-minute guitar solos, synthesizer solos, and John Bonham, whose <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-42mu1D9Y">drumming is so ridiculously insane</a> you'd think that he has seven arms and four legs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvaS_UhjemU/WUlOfDk_m3I/AAAAAAAABbE/2SR_C4dtxA03BuE_Id8VATqs4Pbx1grvQCLcBGAs/s1600/3260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvaS_UhjemU/WUlOfDk_m3I/AAAAAAAABbE/2SR_C4dtxA03BuE_Id8VATqs4Pbx1grvQCLcBGAs/s1600/3260.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Bonham manning the drum kit. </td></tr>
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Look online for a list of best driving songs ever made. I bet that you wouldn't see a list that doesn't have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEPmA3USJdI">Highway to Hell</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwqMKf7r7Xg">Radar Love</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSAJ0l4OBHM">A Horse with No Name</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WFLUhSym80">Highway Star</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QGMCSCFoKA">Bat Out of Hell</a>. If you come across a list that doesn't have any of those, then the guy who wrote it doesn't know what he is doing.<br />
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<i>I've been drivin' all night, my hand's wet on the wheel </i></div>
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<i>There's a voice in my head that drives my heel </i></div>
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<i>It's my baby callin', says I need you here </i></div>
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<i>And it's a half past four and I'm shiftin' gear</i></div>
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- Golden Earring, "Radar Love", because this song is just perfect.</div>
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What do all those songs have in common? They are all written in the 1970s by the sort of people who looked like they haven't showered since the Hoover administration.<br />
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There is just something about that particular decade that made rock and roll music so insanely good, especially when you are behind the wheel. The combination of electric guitars, 12-piece drums, and keyboard solos just adds so much to the driving experience that you just couldn't help but press a little harder against the accelerator. The typical excuse back then when you are caught speeding: "Um, officer? You can't write me a ticket. I was listening to <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM">Don't Stop Me Now</a></i>".<br />
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All of this is quite ironic, because 1970s was one of the worst decades for the automotive industry.<br />
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In technology, the decade gave us the launch of NASA's Voyager program. It also gave us the iconic Apple II and the Intel 4004 microprocessor.<br />
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In motoring? We got the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto">Ford Pinto</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevette">Chevrolet Chevette</a>. See also: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_roof">Cars with vinyl roof</a>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3055/3422030057_2bf49600d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3055/3422030057_2bf49600d1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sir? Your Pinto's on fire... Oh wait." (credit: Reddit)</td></tr>
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Essentially, the 70s was the <i>Police Academy 2 </i>of the car world -- it had some initial promise, but not only did it not live up to the previous era's vehicles, the '73 Oil Crisis gave us some of the worst cars we have ever seen.<br />
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It was so bad that the Ford Mustang -- the iconic American sports car -- became rivals with the AMC Gremlin.<br />
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It just made no sense that the 1970s would make such good driving music at all -- simply because the cars in the 1970s were mostly so utterly putrid and soul-suckingly horrible.<br />
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I just can't imagine driving a Pinto on a highway while rocking out to <i>Bat Out of Hell</i>. For one thing, the Highway Patrol would pull you over for going 30 under the speed limit in their Dodge Diplomats. It hardly makes Classic Rock material.<br />
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Despite all that, it didn't stop the artists in this decade from giving us some of the best driving music. For some reason, everyone just kept pumping out great albums that was just perfect for driving -- from <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon">Dark Side</a></i> to <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Captain_and_Me">The Captain and Me</a></i>; from <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumours_(album)">Rumours</a></i> to <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_(album)">Boston</a></i>; from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothership_Connection">Mothership Connection</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who%27s_Next">Who's Next</a>; they were all simply sublime. Speaking as a guy who averages 24,000 miles a year behind the wheel, I am eternally grateful.<br />
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The 1960s gave us Chuck Berry, but the 1970s gave us Free Bird.<br />
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<br />Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-83990358260255726022016-01-27T09:37:00.000-08:002017-06-20T09:37:47.246-07:00Driving Bad: A Journey to New Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HG5eAvx6C5A/Vqkw_RQdI8I/AAAAAAAABIU/JGaJU17kd34/s1600/Thinkware%2BNew%2BMexico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HG5eAvx6C5A/Vqkw_RQdI8I/AAAAAAAABIU/JGaJU17kd34/s640/Thinkware%2BNew%2BMexico.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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After the <a href="http://bit.ly/1QfuW8N">sheer madness that was CES</a>, I decided that it was a good time to drag my tired corpse of a body away from work for a little while.<br />
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I was already in Las Vegas -- a city which seems to be right in the center of every tourist attraction possible. So, a road trip is in order. Where to?<br />
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Being from the West Coast, I'd like to stay away from California this time around (although if you do have the chance, do the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_1" target="_blank">Pacific Coast Highway</a> -- you'll thank me later). I have also done the Grand Canyon tour as well, which leaves out Arizona. My first choice then, was originally Denver, Colorado -- Mile-High City, beautiful Rockies, maybe catch <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=did+broncos+win" target="_blank">a Broncos game</a>, why not?<br />
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Except, I then remembered, that it was mid-January. Driving to Colorado at this time of year would probably have a similar difficulty curve as learning how to play <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peUyLXrgYZ0" target="_blank">Dodgeball with Patches</a>.<br />
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So, Colorado is out. But I do like the idea of staying down South on the virtue that it should be warmer (as it turns out, it isn't). But if I were to stay down South, then I'd rather go further out. <a href="http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Mike_Ehrmantraut" target="_blank">No half measures.</a><br />
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And so, I <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10czUKzpbgg" target="_blank">tread lightly</a> and found myself <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMEq1mGpP5A" target="_blank">knocking on the doors</a> of New Mexico -- more specifically, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, the famed city that provided the setting for AMC's <i>Breaking Bad</i>.<br />
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This should be fun.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The ride</b></span></div>
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I looked at the rental list and something intrigued me. Mustang. Open-top. Open road. The classic wind-in-the-hair fun. Can it get any more simple than that?<br />
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Actually, it's not that simple. The 2015 Mustang is the first in over two decades to offer a 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 engine. On the surface, it is a 310 horsepower pony car that should deliver a lot more torque with improved fuel consumption than its V6 counterpart. On the other hand, it shares the same amount of cylinders as your grandpa's '92 Honda Accord.<br />
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In other words, does it deserve the Mustang name? Would Steve McQueen approve of this? Is it a great American sports car or just a JDM wannabe?<br />
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To answer these questions, I clicked on the "rent" button to find out.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The drive</b></span></div>
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My trip starts in Las Vegas, where I'll take the I-15 northeast towards Utah and Arizona to my first quick pit-stop: Antelope Canyon. Two and a half hours away is Four Corners Monument, where Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico intersect.<br />
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Once in the land of enchantment, my first stop is Santa Fe, the state capital of New Mexico. Finally, I would put on my <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-krIaIGf6nVs/UgsVsWWp9XI/AAAAAAABK4s/-ICUzXSS3F0/s1600/walter_white_eisenberg_hat013.jpg" target="_blank">black pork pie hat with a pair of sunglasses</a>, and head for Albuquerque.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nevada > Arizona > Utah > Arizona > Utah > Arizona...</b></span><br />
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My journey started at 8:00am in Las Vegas. The drive in Utah and Arizona were quite scenic, if also a bit unspectacu... Wait a minute, IS THAT SNOW ON THE GROUND?<br />
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Yep, ladies and gentlemen: Remember when I said that it should be warmer if I opt to stay down south for my road trip? Yeah. It was a cool 30 degrees outside, with a blanket of snow covering up the vast Arizona desert.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJduSeC99-E/VqkcqJNEZRI/AAAAAAAABHc/S59C6_-D1iM/s1600/IMG_5016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJduSeC99-E/VqkcqJNEZRI/AAAAAAAABHc/S59C6_-D1iM/s200/IMG_5016.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mustang's passenger door was<br />
surprisingly practical.</td></tr>
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Slight miscalculation, that.<br />
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The EcoBoost Mustang, on the other hand, has been quite positive so far.<br />
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The 2.3 turbocharged powerplant is, as expected, very torquey -- once past 3,000rpm, the afterburner kicks in for the car and rockets you into wherever you are pointing towards. The sound of the turbo kicking in, coupled with the electric turbo gauge on the instrument cluster, makes the drive a rather intoxicating experience.<br />
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Stopping at Antelope Canyon does have its perks -- for one, it is situated 4.5 hours away from Vegas, making it the perfect lunch-hour stop. Also, the view at the nearby Horseshoe Bend is quite something... If you are brave enough to walk to the edge of the 1,000ft cliff:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Four Corners Monument, AZ / UT / CO / NM?</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-88gyzoA_0aE/VqbNaKApFaI/AAAAAAAABEk/20zwgZ692gk/s1600/IMG_0778_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-88gyzoA_0aE/VqbNaKApFaI/AAAAAAAABEk/20zwgZ692gk/s640/IMG_0778_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was in four states at once when I took this picture.</td></tr>
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After a quick lunch at a local gas station, it was time to press on. It was already past 1 in the afternoon, and if I continued my current pace, Google maps tells me that I would arrive at Four Corners Monument at around 4:30pm, or, just a little too close to its 5pm closing time.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t1TBuAoKZ6I/VqkcVEZDjbI/AAAAAAAABHU/nGvnoJn-7Vo/s1600/IMG_0747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t1TBuAoKZ6I/VqkcVEZDjbI/AAAAAAAABHU/nGvnoJn-7Vo/s200/IMG_0747.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'stang yielded an average of <br />
35mpg. Not bad.</td></tr>
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With the gas tank filled all the way up -- and by the way, the fuel consumption yielded a rather reasonable 35mpg -- it was time to flex the Mustang's muscle.<br />
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Miles flew by as I crossed Arizona. Overtaking was a rather relaxing affair -- signal, put the foot down, the 6-speed automatic gearbox then drops down a couple of gears while the speedometer climbs with the same velocity a volume knob has when AC/DC starts playing.<br />
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Under pressure, the engine sings in a surprisingly "meaty" tone which is a tad reminiscent to the old five-cylinder rally cars of the '80s -- which is not a bad thing -- although I suspect that may have something to do with the <a href="http://jalopnik.com/the-2015-ford-mustang-ecoboost-fakes-its-engine-noise-1638853878" target="_blank">sound symposer</a> that makes it sound a little too, shall we say, engineered?<br />
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Also, this is where I started pondering how much more fun I'd be having if the rental car company gave me a six-speed manual instead.<br />
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After extensive driving at speeds I'd rather not disclose over here, I finally arrived at Four Corners Monument. At 4:30pm. Damn you Google.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krz7kAw7Cig/Vqkk7FkE2wI/AAAAAAAABH4/l0AXlQhfvcQ/s1600/IMG_4986_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krz7kAw7Cig/Vqkk7FkE2wI/AAAAAAAABH4/l0AXlQhfvcQ/s400/IMG_4986_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four Corners Monument.</td></tr>
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Looking around, you get an unobscured panorama of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico -- with endless desert on the west, and snow-capped mountains on the east.<br />
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As it was closing time, the plaza was completely deserted, with no one around but me and a herd of horses standing majestically on a nearby hill top as the sun sets.<br />
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It was a magical moment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vT--QQQJev0/Vqkk85xXHSI/AAAAAAAABIA/N6Daughq1IM/s1600/IMG_0782_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vT--QQQJev0/Vqkk85xXHSI/AAAAAAAABIA/N6Daughq1IM/s640/IMG_0782_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I've been through the desert on a horse with no name..."</td></tr>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Santa Fe</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sKsZods5adY/VqbPCabLXXI/AAAAAAAABE0/O21lYSeoCds/s1600/IMG_0936_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sKsZods5adY/VqbPCabLXXI/AAAAAAAABE0/O21lYSeoCds/s640/IMG_0936_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Santa Fe.</td></tr>
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Driving into the night, one thing is very clear -- the convertible makes for a great highway cruiser.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oo7aA7GvhpM/VqlMk0eeOPI/AAAAAAAABI8/TP8eE8hs-xk/s1600/IMG_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oo7aA7GvhpM/VqlMk0eeOPI/AAAAAAAABI8/TP8eE8hs-xk/s200/IMG_5004.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leave water in the trunk<br />
overnight and this is what<br />
happens.</td></tr>
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The suspension (now all-around independent!) feels more robust than the previous generations, which makes tossing the car around in the back country roads of New Mexico that much more fun. The ride is more firm, but not too busy that makes long-distance driving feel like a seismic event.<br />
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The upgraded Infotainment system, Ford Sync, was also one of the more intuitive systems I have used in recent years. The layout is simple and clearly displayed -- all it needs is an iPod cable and you can start jammin' to "Panama" on-the-go.<br />
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Finally, 12 hours and 700 miles later, I arrived in Santa Fe.<br />
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This is also where my "keep warm by staying down south" plan completely disintegrates into shambles. The mental image of a city surrounded by a vast, blazing desert gave way to the reality of a city that is situated 7,000ft above sea level, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, icy roads, and temperature of a bone-chilling 5 degrees.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3IFhZLUAWjk/VqlMOTKGEeI/AAAAAAAABI0/0svaVs3l9Cw/s1600/IMG_0871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3IFhZLUAWjk/VqlMOTKGEeI/AAAAAAAABI0/0svaVs3l9Cw/s200/IMG_0871.jpg" width="200" /></a>My selection of wardrobe consisted of a couple of t-shirts, jeans, and a light jacket.<br />
<br />
Who knew that New Mexico is such a Winter Wonderland?<br />
<br />
My first day in Santa Fe consisted mostly of walking around the historic Downtown area. Here you will find many unique Pueblo-style Adobe buildings, along with many historic cathedrals, surrounded by the backdrop of snow and ice.<br />
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I finished the day by hiking up to the Cross of the Martyrs for the night view of Santa Fe. The hike may look very short, but the combination of the very thin air, extreme cold, and physical exercise have proved strenuous for my criminally out-of-shape body.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j2kVEn_hJJ8/VqlLLcj8bqI/AAAAAAAABIs/kU6JEr7-foA/s1600/IMG_0943_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j2kVEn_hJJ8/VqlLLcj8bqI/AAAAAAAABIs/kU6JEr7-foA/s640/IMG_0943_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cross of the Martyrs.</td></tr>
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What a view, though.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><strike>Heisenberg's Territory</strike> Albuquerque</b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmD8bn8kVcs/VqbP9WIzB_I/AAAAAAAABFA/yqKnzaX6LcQ/s1600/IMG_0991_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmD8bn8kVcs/VqbP9WIzB_I/AAAAAAAABFA/yqKnzaX6LcQ/s640/IMG_0991_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YEAH, CAR WASH!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Less than an hour away from Santa Fe is Albuquerque, the largest city of oh let's face it everyone is here because of <i>Breaking Bad</i>.<br />
<br />
If you are here for to satisfy your inner Heisenberg, you'll need a car. Most of the iconic locations from the show are quite close to each other, but if you'd like to venture out in the desert where some of the most important action takes place -- well, you'll also need to travel to <a href="http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Tohajiilee_(Navajo_reservation)" target="_blank">To'hajiilee</a>, a significant piece of land where <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70xgdry2TNw" target="_blank">Walter and Jesse had their first venture</a>.<br />
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Watch the video and see how many Breaking Bad filming locations you can recognize!<br />
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Really though, there's much more to Albuquerque than a couple of filming locations.<br />
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For one thing, Albuquerque is a great place to try some authentic New Mexican cuisine. Just be prepared to be asked the question: "<a href="http://mjskitchen.com/2011/09/red-or-green/" target="_blank">Red or Green</a>?"<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bebWSaDKfnk/VqlaXFhrFfI/AAAAAAAABJs/ERcVIJbCwQ4/s1600/IMG_5008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bebWSaDKfnk/VqlaXFhrFfI/AAAAAAAABJs/ERcVIJbCwQ4/s200/IMG_5008.JPG" width="150" /></a>Whatever answer you provide will likely dictate the color of your dish, as it will be smothered in either Red Chile or Green Chile. What's the difference? One of them feels like you are guzzling molten steel, and the other one feels like you are having your tongue tattooed by an angry teenager.<br />
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If, like me, you are about as good with spicy food as a freshman sitting in a math exam, I'd suggest that you ask for the Chile on the side instead of smothered all over your carnitas burrito -- just to be on the safe side. Otherwise, the food here is delicious.<br />
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At the end though. I got to take pictures of the F750, Breaking Bad-style. Mission accomplished.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18Veb6KlrRA/VqlYBrzXhbI/AAAAAAAABJg/ayIcrdVKO7A/s1600/F750%2BBreaking%2BBad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18Veb6KlrRA/VqlYBrzXhbI/AAAAAAAABJg/ayIcrdVKO7A/s640/F750%2BBreaking%2BBad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Epilogue</b></span></div>
<br />
When I first started this trip, my main goal was to go to some of Breaking Bad's filming locations and take some cool pictures. While I did manage to do that quite successfully, it became clear that the rest of the trip was nothing less than spectacular either -- from the vastness of the Arizona and Utah desert, the sheer historic beauty of Santa Fe, to the charm of Albuquerque, the trip was a worthy one that is completed by a very competent convertible sports car.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYieM50kS9M/VqlaouXSEjI/AAAAAAAABJ0/3IjoQ8btV9Q/s1600/IMG_0981_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYieM50kS9M/VqlaouXSEjI/AAAAAAAABJ0/3IjoQ8btV9Q/s320/IMG_0981_1.jpg" width="191" /></a>And that leads me to this: does the EcoBoost Mustang deserves the name its been given?<br />
<br />
On the one hand, it is a lovely car that does its job exceedingly well -- which is to provide entertainment to the driver with competent performance and timeless looks. On the other hand, the image of the classic Mustang has always been a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyVXqua8XhY" target="_blank">road-eating machine with a rumbling V8 under the hood</a>.<br />
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In this sense, is the EcoBoost Mustang a muscle car? Not quite. It definitely tries to be, as evidenced by the manufactured engine note that makes it sound angrier than it really is. The reality is, however, it is simply too refined to keep the muscle car title.<br />
<br />
What it should be, however, is the direct replacement of the V6 models, which is a class of Mustangs that has always been perceived as the slow and uninspired sibling that is not worthy of being anywhere but a rental lot. In other words, if Ford can put the Mustang label on those, surely then the four cylinder EcoBoost deserves recognition for making the entry-level Mustang feel more... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g-E4bvs94c">Alive.</a><br />
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Sure, it doesn't have the grunt of the old fastbacks or the Fox bodies, but this is why the GT model exists anyway. As an entry-level performance car though, the EcoBoost is a heck of an invitation to the Mustang experience.<br />
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I certainly wouldn't mind heading back to New Mexico either. What a place.<br />
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<br />Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-13557926959763631522016-01-02T17:37:00.001-08:002016-01-02T17:38:31.760-08:002015 in Headlines.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year, you filthy animals.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-43303212639686523912015-12-04T16:41:00.001-08:002015-12-04T16:42:16.118-08:00Headlines November 21 - December 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I need a skating buddy.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-86487197159461000812015-11-20T17:45:00.000-08:002015-12-04T16:41:40.443-08:00Headlines November 6 - 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just something new I am trying.</div>
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Seriously, watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3YPTkBRaOk" target="_blank">this</a> video. Oh, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-AFRQ941Co" target="_blank">this video</a> too. </div>
Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-38455576289336513982015-10-31T09:31:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:34:57.775-07:00What Car Should You Get in a Zombie Apocalypse?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6D71TvJAX0/ViVy9W9eg2I/AAAAAAAAA58/4zILEasbmdE/s1600/mad-max-fury-road-vehicle-guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6D71TvJAX0/ViVy9W9eg2I/AAAAAAAAA58/4zILEasbmdE/s640/mad-max-fury-road-vehicle-guide.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoilers: None of these cars make the list, because we found better ones. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(image credit: Warner Bros.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Say you wake up one day and you find yourself in the thick of a zombie apocalypse -- the city is empty and overrun by geeks (not that kind), and you are left to fend for yourself. What do you do? Chances are, you are going to need a ride -- whether it be to get food and supplies (read: zombie-shootin' weapons) or just gunning the throttle to the floor to avoid being swarmed by a massive herd of biters.<br />
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To celebrate this year's halloween, we take you to zombieland and provide you with a top 10 list of vehicles you should get for yourself in the event that you are, indeed, the last guy standing.<br />
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First of all, a little explanation -- the cars will be ranked by their performance (in case you need to outrun some walkers), reliability (in case your car breaks down in the worst moment), versatility (can you sleep inside the car comfortably?), fuel economy (because in the apocalypse, chances are your neighborhood gas station won't be open anymore), and most importantly, your overall chance of survival behind these wheels.<br />
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Ideally, the car should be fast, reasonably reliable (or at least very easy to fix), can be used for a variety of purposes (or can be easily transformed), doesn't take too much fuel, and just overall durable enough to increase your chances of survival.<br />
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So here goes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. A sports car. </b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QjUmarryTE/ViVxWtyLubI/AAAAAAAAA5U/LiSxWeVYlqY/s1600/i_am_legend_mustang_by_energie25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QjUmarryTE/ViVxWtyLubI/AAAAAAAAA5U/LiSxWeVYlqY/s640/i_am_legend_mustang_by_energie25.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelby Mustang GT500 -- Will Smith approves. (image credit: Warner Bros.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Performance: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 2/10</b><br />
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If Will Smith in I Am Legend has taught us anything, it is that humanity can be saved if you can manage to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQfzvVeEkGI" target="_blank">blow some infecteds up</a>. Well, that and the fact that you can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW7DBNHzUVQ" target="_blank">still look massively cool while having a boatload of fun during a zombie apocalypse</a>. The city is empty, and the roads become your Daytona 500. Supply runs (or hunting) have never been faster. Besides, who says that you can't have yourself some fun when the end of the world comes?<br />
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Of course, once you inevitably run out of fuel and your <a href="http://www.themotorreport.com.au/content/image/1/6/1660_ferrari_f430_fire_small-4b77aceb69724-mc:819x819.jpg" target="_blank">$140,000 sports car break down</a>, you will be on your own. But hey, at least you will be going out in style. You'll probably also suffer from a sore back just because of the stiff suspension, which means you won't be able to run away from the meat-eaters on foot.<br />
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<b>Recommended wheels: </b>Lamborghini Aventador, because you want to be driving a car that looks like a stealth fighter jet while you're chasing zombies.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>9. An electric car. </b></span><br />
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<b>Performance: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 10/5 (or 0/5 depending on if Elon Musk implements those awesome solar-powered charging stations)</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 2/10</b><br />
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This may be a bit of an unconventional choice, but hear me out -- imagine if there is a massive herd of lamebrains ahead of you, and there is an abandoned supermarket behind them that you really need to get to because your favorite shampoo has run out, the electric car might just be your best choice. First of all, it is silent, which means you can stealthily maneuver yourself around the herd without getting detected. Second of all, even if you are spotted, you can stomp on the gas (electric?) pedal and get yourself out of the situation quickly.<br />
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The flip side is, of course, if there isn't a solar-powered charging station around where you stay, then your electric car will just be a one-time, albeit quiet, option. Hope you packed lightly in that case because you'll be on foot for the rest of the day until you find your next ride.<br />
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<b>Recommended wheels</b>: Tesla Model S P85D -- if you are going electric, pick the one that goes from 0-60 in 3.1 seconds.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. Delivery trucks </b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vwRky0q_nCk/ViVyIbIJvJI/AAAAAAAAA5k/VrjySBFgTmo/s1600/15149728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vwRky0q_nCk/ViVyIbIJvJI/AAAAAAAAA5k/VrjySBFgTmo/s400/15149728.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Performance: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 4/10</b><br />
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Yep, those delivery trucks that you regularly do battle with on your local Interstate before that judgement day. Of course, now you get to dominate the roads for once. If you are lucky enough, you may be able to find a truck that is already pre-loaded with supplies. Plus, the extra room in the back means that you will be able to make yourself a home. The added toughness is a plus too, unless you wander in the woods and become stuck because of the truck gets caught in a tree.<br />
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Flip side is, of course, most trucks are very incredibly well-used which means they may be susceptible to breakdowns. In addition, fuel economy will be terrible. Prepare yourself to constantly hunt for diesel fuel.<br />
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<b>Recommended wheels:</b> any truck you can find on the street. Food truck would be a definite plus.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">7. An RV. </span></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tu_bwZgU1Y4/ViVyVtYQGuI/AAAAAAAAA5s/sjkyEbO5XLk/s1600/The_RV_Parked_at_Hershel%2527s_Farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tu_bwZgU1Y4/ViVyVtYQGuI/AAAAAAAAA5s/sjkyEbO5XLk/s640/The_RV_Parked_at_Hershel%2527s_Farm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(image credit: AMC)</td></tr>
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<b>Performance: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 6/10</b><br />
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The Winnebago -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7bZXFrYMjI" target="_blank">walker-tested, and AMC approved</a>. You know you are doing something right when it is featured so prominently on the Walking Dead. It is exactly like a truck, except the back is already pre-loaded with a washroom, a comfortable bed, and a kitchen. Once you have all the necessary supplies, you may never need to get out of the RV again. Cross-country from Georgia to California? Why not!<br />
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As with any big diesel trucks, fuel efficiency will be a problem. You'll also need to have <a href="http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/Dale_Horvath_(TV_Series)" target="_blank">Dale</a>-like knowledge when it comes to fixing one of these things. And, you know, try not to venture into New Mexico. You might bump into another RV with two zombies and <a href="http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Sky" target="_blank">a truck-load of the blue stuff</a>.<br />
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Recommended wheels: 1977 Winnebago. Duh.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. A wagon </span></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqbbTQ6RUpI/ViVyq5IeV4I/AAAAAAAAA50/whtLkbvLS6E/s1600/87-90_Chevrolet_Caprice_wagon.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqbbTQ6RUpI/ViVyq5IeV4I/AAAAAAAAA50/whtLkbvLS6E/s640/87-90_Chevrolet_Caprice_wagon.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you say no to a wood-panel station wagon?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Performance: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 5/10.</b><br />
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Wagons -- the ultimate compromise of performance and utility. It is designed to be exactly like a car, except there is so much space in the back you can fit a bed and a small kitchen in the back (<a href="https://youtu.be/c4OMuyOfQE0?t=1m29s" target="_blank">it has been done before, after all</a>). Depending on the model you get, you might even be able to find one that has quite decent handling and performance as well.
The flip side? Good luck driving around off-roads. You also won't be able to haul as much canned goods as a pick-up truck or an SUV.<br />
<br />
<b>Recommended wheels:</b> Subaru Impreza WRX wagon -- expect to see lots of them in New England. Or, if you want to go in style, try to see if you can find a Chevrolet Caprice wagon, complete with wooden panels. Because if anything will remind you of the good ol' times with actual human beings, it will be a wood panel station wagon.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. An off-road ready truck. </b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IFw9GF92YLM/ViVzHEVr2KI/AAAAAAAAA6E/0DDsbeLwi9U/s1600/03-zombieland_cadillac_product_placement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IFw9GF92YLM/ViVzHEVr2KI/AAAAAAAAA6E/0DDsbeLwi9U/s640/03-zombieland_cadillac_product_placement.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(image credit: Columbia Pictures)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Performance: 2/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 6/10</b><br />
<br />
Like the wagon, but with more size and utility. Because of it, the SUVs are adopted in many roamer-themed movies and TV shows as well, from <i>Zombieland</i>, <i>I am Legend</i>, <i>World War Z</i>, to <i>The Walking Dead</i>. Many of them are also modified to include push bars, off-road tires, spotlights, or, in Zombieland's case, a full-on bulldozer-like "splitter" -- extra points for versatility there. Big SUVs and trucks usually have a pretty flat floor as well, so you can sleep inside the car if you wish.<br />
<br />
The flip side, other than the reduced performance, would be the fuel economy. Pack some jerry cans before you<br />
<br />
<b>Recommended wheels: </b>Ford Raptor. Imagine the irony of a Raptor roaming about after most humans have become extinct.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Ambulance. </b></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_H5YuVFd19w/ViV6oOAxu4I/AAAAAAAAA6c/PwqR9zlw5B4/s1600/74da08f60c500fe372ec14be0360e04d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_H5YuVFd19w/ViV6oOAxu4I/AAAAAAAAA6c/PwqR9zlw5B4/s400/74da08f60c500fe372ec14be0360e04d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Performance: 2/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 7/10</b><br />
<br />
From this point on, you can't really go wrong with any of these choices. An ambulance spends most of its time saving people. In the apocalypse, let it be your saving grace as well. What's not to like about an ambulance? Reasonable performance, tough, plenty of room in the back with a gurney and plugs for additional equipment, and plenty of spare parts and ambulances available in local hospitals.
Plus, if a member of your survival group is injured, the ambulance is already loaded with all the medical equipment that will surely keep you going.<br />
<br />
Just make sure to turn off all the fancy equipment before you park for the night. You don't want to wake up to find that your battery is dead.<br />
<br />
<b>Recommended wheels:</b> Any ambulance. Bonus points if you find one that is lifted like the one in the picture.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Armored truck. </span></b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxY0vWqD9vs/ViV69G3nILI/AAAAAAAAA6k/BQExnzemdhs/s1600/Garda_armored_car_Ypsilanti_Township_Michigan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxY0vWqD9vs/ViV69G3nILI/AAAAAAAAA6k/BQExnzemdhs/s640/Garda_armored_car_Ypsilanti_Township_Michigan.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Performance: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 1/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 7/10</b><br />
<br />
Another slightly unorthodox choice here, but why not? With so many undeads roaming about, it is always nice to have some toughness for your wheels. With this, there is also enough room in the back to have yourself a mobile fortified hotel while you are on the run from city to city. Sure, with its sheer size and weight, You don't even have to spend additional time and resources to make it impenetrable -- they already come with bullet-proof glass, doors and body panels.<br />
<br />
Obviously, it won't be outrunning any rotters anytime soon, but you won't have to -- having an armored truck means that you can just stay inside and be perfectly safe. As with any trucks, fuel economy is likely to be a problem as well, but you know that already.<br />
<br />
<b>Recommended wheels</b>: Just about anything that you can find.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. The Presidential Limousine.</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BlaJQamBi8/ViV8vz9CsrI/AAAAAAAAA6w/amKYMTch2Qk/s1600/obama_cadillac_limo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BlaJQamBi8/ViV8vz9CsrI/AAAAAAAAA6w/amKYMTch2Qk/s640/obama_cadillac_limo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Performance: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 2/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 2/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 7/10</b><br />
<br />
Wasn't expecting this, huh? This may be more for the survivors who live around the East Coast, but think about it -- chances are, the government won't be around in the event of a rage-virus epidemic. Why not get the car that used to protect the most powerful person in the world? Nothing screams "don't mess with me" than a heavily fortified limousine, complete with its own oxygen supply, a mini on-board armoury, bullet-proof everything, and a door that weighs the same as a cabin door in an airliner.<br />
<br />
If your version of a zombie apocalypse consists of ultra-fast infected wielding armor-piercing automatic weapons, it will protect you no problem, because you will have tear gas built-in underneath the car, and you will still have your own oxygen supply. And a DVD player. So you can still have a party going on in the back of the limo while the world falls apart around you.<br />
<br />
Problem? Well... There's only about two of those. And Channing Tatum may have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaHr9xBlkz0" target="_blank">destroyed one of them already. </a><br />
<br />
<b>Recommended wheels:</b> "The Beast" -- President Obama's wheel of choice. Or, you may try your luck with any of the Presidential Libraries -- chances are, they will have a limousine on display.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. A Police car. </b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nOcjq63zeY/ViV9CIBJGxI/AAAAAAAAA64/-74rHP5GpKM/s1600/tumblr_nfvyi854UW1tggo8ro7_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nOcjq63zeY/ViV9CIBJGxI/AAAAAAAAA64/-74rHP5GpKM/s640/tumblr_nfvyi854UW1tggo8ro7_1280.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deputy Grimes is out to get you. (image credit: AMC)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Performance: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Reliability: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Versatility: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Fuel economy: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Chances of survival: 7/10</b><br />
<br />
Incredibly easy to find? Check. Powerful? Check. Reliable? Check. The fact that this was Rick Grime's first vehicle of choice in The Walking Dead is just the cherry on top. Honestly, America's least favorite sight in the rear view mirror might just be your savior in a roamers apocalypse. If you manage to find one of these sitting in a, oh I don't know, deserted sheriff's office, for instance -- you'll be automatically equipped with a 4-door sedan that is a) powered with a V8; b) comes with a CB radio; c) pre-equipped with heavy duty suspension, tires, and spotlight; d) bullet proof; and e) incredibly easy to find. You will also look pretty cool, because cars with push bars usually look pretty cool.<br />
<br />
Plus, how can you resist the temptation to envision yourself as the next Rick Grimes? Grab that sheriff's hat, put on the uniform, and go and fight some walkers.<br />
<br />
<b>Recommended wheels:</b> Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. You can't go wrong with this classic.Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372218931457623090.post-59555369904674710992015-09-23T09:29:00.000-07:002017-06-20T09:30:39.090-07:00Rockies Queen: Roadtripping in the Canadian Rockies in a Muscle Car.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45kBqpyKzVA/VfoGD_FJTmI/AAAAAAAAA1c/24R5YPufzzg/s1600/IMG_9279_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45kBqpyKzVA/VfoGD_FJTmI/AAAAAAAAA1c/24R5YPufzzg/s640/IMG_9279_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Recently I had the opportunity to go to Alberta, Canada for a trip.<br />
<br />
More specifically, I had to fly in to Calgary, one of the most prominent cities in the great province of Alberta; and drive to Edmonton, also one of the most prominent cities in the great province of Alberta (note: the order of prominence may depend on who you ask in the great province of Alberta).<br />
<br />
Anyway, connecting them is Highway 2, which is designed by a guy who once put a ruler on a map and drew a straight line between the cities (note: probably true).<br />
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While it is a very efficient way to move people between places, it just isn't very fun. So I decided to take the fun way instead -- by taking 10 extra hours and spending it driving in the Canadian Rockies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The short way vs. the fun way -- always go for the fun way, even if it takes 10 extra hours.</td></tr>
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That settles the journey. Now what about the car?<br />
<br />
As my boss fiercely denied my chance to drive the <a href="http://bit.ly/1MLegVX" target="_blank">office Miata</a> to foreign land, I had to rent a car.<br />
<br />
Renting a car is usually quite a depressing business. You are packed in a plane for hours to go to a new city, only to be greeted by an 18-year-old employee sitting behind a desk asking whether you'd be interested in a grey 4-door sedan that is usually reserved for either rental fleets and transporting first-degree felons.<br />
<br />
Not this time. I am determined.<br />
<br />
This is the conversation I had with said 18-year-old employee, complete with the same amount of hair product you'd find holding together a light aircraft.<br />
<br />
"Say, do you have any available upgrades?" I asked.<br />
<br />
"Well... What would you be interested in?" He replied, sitting behind a desk staring into the computer screen, possibly playing Solitaire.<br />
<br />
"I don't know... How about a premium car?"<br />
<br />
"Nah, we ran out of premium cars. How about a Dodge Challenger?"<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--lQj7iF9a24/VgCcagYfWBI/AAAAAAAAA3w/XFsc0WZBq0A/s1600/IMG_9050_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--lQj7iF9a24/VgCcagYfWBI/AAAAAAAAA3w/XFsc0WZBq0A/s640/IMG_9050_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dodge Challenger, the retro-styled American muscle car? The one where I can roll down the window, and not look out of place crusing down an open highway while blasting Van Halen? A two-door coupe that is probably best reserved for drag strips and not 12-hour road trips? Doesn't matter. I have driven too many grey-colored sedans that I could barely contain my excitement at the thought of driving something different.<br />
<br />
"Erm, sure." I said, in a rather nonchalant manner.<br />
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Not long after, I was heading outside the city in a brand new Dodge Challenger, blasting Van Halen on the stereo with the windows down and the sunroof open.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOaZuCMoVJ0/VgCezT3vxLI/AAAAAAAAA38/IHuic6Hc_3M/s1600/IMG_3689_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOaZuCMoVJ0/VgCezT3vxLI/AAAAAAAAA38/IHuic6Hc_3M/s320/IMG_3689_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one of them is a normal-sized car.</td></tr>
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First of all, the Challenger is gigantic. Or, as the guys at Regular Cars put it, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRIqRicttv4" target="_blank">deceptively huge</a>". Primarily because the Challenger is actually based on the 4-door Dodge Charger -- America's new favorite police car, which is so large it makes a regular 5-door hatchback look like a Mr. Bean special.<br />
<br />
It feels weird calling it a pony car when it rivals the size of a pick-up truck. As a matter of fact, the Dodge Challenger is so buffed up it is now running for governor in California.<br />
<br />
Secondly, there is an inherent appeal to driving a car that looks like a 1970s hot rod: you get a lot of compliments. Everywhere it goes, there is an inherent celebrity-esque quality to the car. People are drawn to it -- young and old. It is more of a compliment of the design team that came up with the shape of this car, because boy, does it look fantastic.<br />
<br />
Now, a disclaimer: This is not the 707hp Hellcat model; nor is it the SRT8 model; nor is it the R/T model. This is the SE model, with a jaw-dropping 305hp V6 motor under the hood -- not exactly a rocket ship, but this will still be quick enough to get me in trouble with the Mounties.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-citrNmEYXzA/VgCbbq-LmtI/AAAAAAAAA3k/3kwdUllF9M4/s1600/IMG_9036_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-citrNmEYXzA/VgCbbq-LmtI/AAAAAAAAA3k/3kwdUllF9M4/s320/IMG_9036_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With me were also the Thinkware <a href="http://www.thinkware.com/Products/Dashcam/X500" target="_blank">X500</a> and <a href="http://www.thinkware.com/Products/Dashcam/F750" target="_blank">F750</a> dash cams.<br />
With so many speed cameras in Alberta, they are bound to <br />
be useful, especially in this car.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Speed is one thing, cornering is quite the other. As the highway crosses into Banff and Jasper National Park, there are mountain passes and swooping corners to be found here. How does this big American (note: manufactured in Ontario) pony car handle it?<br />
<br />
More importantly, how will my body last in this 12-hour road trip with two doors and limited interior space? After all, this is not a big, comfy SUV that shields the bumps from the passengers, with enough room in the back to accommodate a medium-sized family.<br />
<br />
Guess we have to find out.<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>9:00am: Leaving Calgary.</b></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uNzXJ7kqRXA/VfoHr4igSbI/AAAAAAAAA2k/tDOssihTBXs/s1600/IMG_9053_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uNzXJ7kqRXA/VfoHr4igSbI/AAAAAAAAA2k/tDOssihTBXs/s640/IMG_9053_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dodge Challenger scoffs at your parking restrictions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Driving in Calgary is tricky. As I am driving a much bigger car than usual with not much of visibility, and the vintage-callback instrument cluster doesn't provide clear indication of how fast I am going, it becomes very scary to be driving in a 300+ hp car in a city that is littered with speed and red light cameras.<br />
<br />
Luckily, both the X500 and F750 I loaded for this trip come with the speed and red light camera alerts and they have saved me in more than a couple occasions.<br />
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Once I got outside the city though, the stress goes away and I can finally focus on driving.<br />
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<b>10:00am: Arriving in Banff National Park.</b></div>
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One hour outside of Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway is Banff National Park. The weather is overcast and foggy high up in the mountains, and the temperature is hovering at a cool 41 degrees. Here, you will go through what must be world's most luxurious toll booths in the shape of country cottages, where I have been greeted by a very friendly park ranger. Very Canadian indeed.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtS8usFYCB8/VgHkaEjDWFI/AAAAAAAAA5E/8uW9GZC2hks/s1600/F750%2BRockies%2B%25282%2529.MP4_20150922_162926.868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtS8usFYCB8/VgHkaEjDWFI/AAAAAAAAA5E/8uW9GZC2hks/s400/F750%2BRockies%2B%25282%2529.MP4_20150922_162926.868.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scene from the F750: One of the most luxurious toll booths I've seen. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The day pass for both Banff and Jasper was $9.80 CAD, or slightly less than what it costs to cross the Holland Tunnel. Given the amount of sights I'd encounter in the Canadian Rockies, I'd say that's reasonable.<br />
<br />
Plus, no early-90s Plymouth Relient would pass you on the shoulder and proceed to yell at you. That's a win.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>11:30am: Lake Louise.</b></div>
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Continue driving west on the Trans Canada Highway and you will be greeted by majestic mountains and towering trees. Among these mountains lies Lake Louise -- a glacial lake that is named after the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. </div>
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The green / emerald color you can see in the water is the result of rock flour being flushed from the mountains to the lakes. It makes for a rather spectacular sight, and a good pit stop before heading back on the road. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>12:15pm: Back on the road.</b></div>
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Ah, yes. Back on the road with the Challenger. </div>
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Lake Louise is also the junction where Trans Canada Highway meets the Icefields Parkway -- a 140-mile country road that heads through Jasper National Park towards the north. </div>
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It's been just over three hours since I embarked on this journey, and so far it appears that everything is in order. My back hasn't disintegrated because of the body-hugging bucket seats, and while it isn't quite Saturn V-type of ferociousness, the 305hp powerplant provided plenty of oomph to overtake motorhomes and camper vans. </div>
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It was also here where I found myself traveling in the Swiss Alps. Quite a staggering sight it was. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RN6PxN7FQ8/VfoG99VGXWI/AAAAAAAAA2E/d83ytZhrkHU/s1600/IMG_3737_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RN6PxN7FQ8/VfoG99VGXWI/AAAAAAAAA2E/d83ytZhrkHU/s640/IMG_3737_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Give me a pair of sunglasses and a 60's Lamborghini and I'm set. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO8RGw-1RJs" target="_blank">Oh wait...</a></td></tr>
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<b>2:30pm: Jasper National Park.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtmV1BzsuV0/VfoGx_tcK4I/AAAAAAAAA18/vrDKpNTZT0I/s1600/IMG_9235_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtmV1BzsuV0/VfoGx_tcK4I/AAAAAAAAA18/vrDKpNTZT0I/s640/IMG_9235_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of them is an exploration vehicle, and the other is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unimog" target="_blank">Mercedes Unimog</a>. </td></tr>
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Crossing into Jasper National Park, the Icefields Parkway start getting twisty. That is normally a good thing if you're driving a $120,000 exotic European sports car, but a $30,000 Dodge Challenger...? Surprisingly not bad.<br />
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It is no Miata, and the sheer mass and size of the car makes it a little intimidating in narrow country roads. However, it is still willing to be thrown into corners, with the 7-speed automatic gearbox working with the engine to pull the scenery past the windows. The power delivery is very smooth, which is a good thing to have for a long drive like this.<br />
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Right in the heart of Jasper National Park is Columbia Icefield -- the largest icefield that Rocky Mountains has to offer. Here, the landscape looks like it belongs in a Christopher Nolan sci-fi movie.<br />
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Oh, the temperature was hovering at 35 degrees and it was snowing for a bit. Because Canada.<br />
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<b>4:00pm: Lunch in Jasper, Alberta.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CiQqUqnPMY/VfoHL4nrhNI/AAAAAAAAA2M/K6G4Nv1Ja7I/s1600/IMG_9270_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CiQqUqnPMY/VfoHL4nrhNI/AAAAAAAAA2M/K6G4Nv1Ja7I/s640/IMG_9270_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern vs. Vintage: the 70s-inspired Challenger meets a 1950s GMC 100 truck. </td></tr>
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After 7 hours of driving, it was time for a "lunch" break. Jasper, being a small town, doesn't offer much in the way of a "quick" solution to hunger -- most of the restaurants in town were diners. Since I was on a bit of a time table, I didn't quite have the time to stick around.<br />
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Luckily, they still have a local coffee and donut shop, so it was just fine.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXQ8spi7p5c/VfoI-Xc8ZwI/AAAAAAAAA20/N_qoaPbdgjw/s1600/IMG_9316_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXQ8spi7p5c/VfoI-Xc8ZwI/AAAAAAAAA20/N_qoaPbdgjw/s400/IMG_9316_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This coffee shop is named after a Canadian ice hockey player. Because Canada. </td></tr>
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<b>4:45pm: Back on the road.</b></div>
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The town of Jasper, Alberta is where the Icefields Parkway intersects the other Trans Canada Highway -- Highway 16. The exciting part of the trip basically ends here, as Highway 16 leads directly east to Edmonton while cutting straight across numerous small towns.<br />
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That said, it has been a full solid day of driving at this point, so I definitely don't mind taking it easy now.<br />
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On our way to Edmonton, the Challenger settles in and transforms into a rather comfortable highway cruiser. Any doubts I had about the car's ability to transport me long distance comfortably were erased.<br />
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<b>7:45pm: Sun down.</b></div>
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The view of Northern Canada is still no less spectacular. The sky was finally clearing from the light snow earlier afternoon. The sun set occasionally peeked through the gaps between clouds, and every now and then you'd see a rainbow on the horizon. The highway was empty.<br />
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In this situation, I did what most sane person would do: activate the cruise control, pop in <i>The Dark Side of the Moon</i>, and take in one of the best wallpaper that mother nature can offer, while listening to <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAydj4OJnwQ" target="_blank">The Great Gig in the Sky</a></i>.<br />
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Driving on this wide open stretch of road, I finally started to appreciate the charm of the American muscle cars.<br />
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Yes, the combination of the classic design cues and raw power contribute to this unmistakable feeling of freedom. However, the idea of the classic American muscle car happens only on the stage of a wide and lonely stretch of highway. Once you have that, then everything comes together. And that's a good thing.<br />
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And remember, this is only a rental car with a V6 engine.<br />
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<b>8:45pm: Arriving in Edmonton.</b></div>
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After nearly 12 hours of driving, I had finally reached Edmonton, the northernmost major North American city.<br />
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As I parked at West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping mall in North America, I took the dash cams off the windshield and downloaded the videos onto my laptop. Good thing then, because I equipped myself with a couple of <a href="http://amzn.to/1OPHjco" target="_blank">64GB MicroSD cards</a> -- the majestic sights offered by the Rocky Mountains required a bigger memory card, after all.<br />
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It had been a fantastic drive, and I have no regrets ripping the keys of a Dodge Challenger off 18-year-old rental agent at the airport. Yes, it is massive in the cities -- but then so is a full-sized SUV. Would an SUV be more comfortable and practical? Perhaps. Would an SUV offer better visibility in cities? Perhaps.<br />
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The thing is, after 12 straight hours of driving, I was free of any slipped discs or sore limbs. I didn't have the desire to check myself into a chiropractor clinic because of the ride. On the contrary, the road trip has been nothing but comfortable. Miles and miles went by and I was still in total comfort, with more style than any SUV can offer.<br />
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And, once the Canadian Rockies appeared on the windshield with hundreds of miles of open roads on the horizon, then playtime was on. If you find yourself in Canada, take a drive in the Canadian Rockies -- but get yourself a fun car.<br />
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Just try not to get any hair product on you when you grab those keys from the rental agent.<br />
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<br />Simon Tsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11629318977123684527noreply@blogger.com0