Sunday, May 19, 2019

In The Garage

Lately I've been following a lot of the work of Adam Savage online. You may be most familiar with him as one of the main co-hosts of the Mythbusters TV show. As a generalist, he makes all kinds of cool, nerdy stuff. I like making cool, nerdy stuff...including race cars.
The drawers are all pretty full, but I still have stacks of tools and parts needing homes.

One of the biggest things I've taken away from watching him and the crew from Tested, is that it's important to show the process and even failures and not always just the shiny final results. I'm hoping to run with that idea in future posts, because especially with my experience in the 24 Hours of Lemons, nothing comes easy and there's a lot to learn in all the struggle.
The new tire trailer fits! ...When the toolbox is unbolted and you lean it carefully against a wall.

Today I made a lot of progress cleaning up the one car garage. Speaking of failures, buying a one car garage then trying to build race cars in it and have an active car hobby is pretty high up there! It's a lot of work keeping the small space clean enough to get anything done, but at last, the purple car is back inside!

There's still several boxes of spare bolts that need sorting and organizing. 
I've been continuing to invest in more shelving for the ever-increasing inventory of spare parts and tools, but I've managed to also kill a lot of working space around the sides of the car, so even getting a jack under a Miata is a tight fit.  It's also pretty common that I just can't get all the tools and parts put in their homes (or find them a home) quick enough between projects.
Miata, Miata, Honda...the lawnmower just barely fits.

It will always be a work in progress, but for now, everything fits inside and I can still walk all the way around a Miata, so I call that a win!

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

USMMA Auto Show Part Two

Hey, we've got more cars to share from the United States Merchant Marine Academy's 2019 annual Auto Show. Thanks to the Academy, and all the car owners for  bringing these cool vehicles to our show!

1936 Chrysler, Parked at Walter Chrysler's House! The Details
of the Older Cars Knock Me Out, From the White-Walls and Spare Tire to the
Rear Brake Lights. 

48 Chevrolet Featured at the Flag Pole

Mercedes

Nice Two-Tone Oldsmobile Starfire

Ford: I Noticed the Wood Frame for the Convertible Top!


As ZZ Top Sings: "What's the Word? Thunderbird!

Hot Rod, Flames. 'MERICA!

Buick Grand National!

Ye Olde Speedometer, Goes All the Way to 85!

Buick Grand National
Did You Know That Decades Ago, Ford Had a Hard Top Convertible?

Willys Jeep

Corvette

Colorful 40 Ford

One of the Midshipmen Shared His Civic Type R

This Ford Was for Sale Too!

Plymouth Fury, When America Was Covered in Chrome! 

Plymouth Fury, Great Detail in the Lights

Now THAT'S a Steering Wheel! 

Spoiler Alert!

Sunday, May 12, 2019

USMMA Auto Show!

The United States Merchant Marine Academy hosted their annual auto show on May 11th, and the cars, the weather, and the setting on Long Island was beautiful! On the north shore of Long Island, on the LI Sound, and the former home of Mr. Walter Chrysler, the grounds of the Academy make a great setting for cars of all kinds. As one of the five federal service academies, the Merchant Marines produce some outstanding young people that are trained in operating ships around the world, many of them with engineering majors, and as you might guess they are handy at working on cars too!

Two highlights I want to share include a Tucker, specifically number 1044, and if you're not familiar with the Tucker story, I suggest you start Googling that right away! Also, a new brand of car to me, in this case, a 1923 Gardner Radio Special!

Tucker, popular with civilians, Midshipmen, and dogs!


Central headlight turns with the steering wheel

Suicide doors

Why is there an air intake on the rear wheel quarter panel? Because
it's rear engined!



Rear lights are very unique.


Also unique at this show was a Gardner. I'll confess I'd never heard of Gardner, and I had to get Googling on this one! You can find more info on the Gardner line at Wikipedia, or this Gardner website: GARDNER MOTORCARS

They were built in St. Louis, and the family had previously been a big builder of wagons, and then Chevrolet's. At one time, a Gardner automobile held the record for driving across the country. They produced cars from 1920-1931.

This was cool to discover a brand of car that was new to me. 

Gardner 1923 Radio Special


No frills on the dash in the 1920s!

Did you notice the solid wheels?