Sunday, January 29, 2017

Washington DC Auto Show

Acura NSX: Built in Ohio, like NMS!
After visiting the annual DC Auto Show at the Washington Convention Center yesterday, all I can say is that if I win the huge lottery, then I've got a lot of expensive cars I will want to buy! It's fun to see the real expensive ones in person (I'm talking to you McLaren, Audi, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, etc.). It's also fun to see what is new from many makers, all in one huge location, even if I can afford them too! While I don't have professional photography skills, and I will confess that the art of taking good photos in brightly lit indoor car shows somehow escapes me, but it's still fun to share some of the cool cars spotted in DC.
Porsche 917
Let's face it, most of us will never buy a Bentley or an Aston Martin, but we can still dream!

Before  heading to the new cars, how about a Lasalle?
Enterprise will rent you an Aston Martin DB9 in DC!
McLaren

Nissan GTR: AKA: "Godzilla"
Tesla roadster

Friday, January 27, 2017

Cool Vehicles: US Army

You might not think of the US Army when you think about cool car museums, but up at Fort Eustis Virginia (or Joint Base Langley-Eustis), they have a cool museum that salutes the Army Transportation Corps. Its chock full of not  just cars, trucks, and jeeps, but helicopters, trains, oddball flying machines, and good general history of the US Army, from the mule to the modern vehicles like the MRAP. That only makes sense when you think about it, because other than the Revolutionary, 1812, Civil War, and a few others, our Army has had to play most of it's game out of town, so transportation to get there and get things done becomes critical to winning the ball game!

Here's a sample of what's in the museum, you can visit them for free anytime you're in the area. The base is conveniently located near Yorktown, Williamsburg, Langley, and not far from Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Just get yourself to Richmond VA and go east a bit! If you hit the ocean, you've gone too far!



I couldn't resist a photo of this Chevy on base. Not sure about those tail lights!

WWII era Plymouth

Classic WWII posters

WWII 

Even the Union Pacific did their part

WWII era poster

WWII Jeeps were built by Willys and Ford

WWII Europe setting: Red Ball Express

WWII in Europe

DUCK, see next photo for description

Built in 1942 with 91.5 horsepower!

Korean War era helicopter: a la M.A.S.H.


Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 from WWII

Check out the Weasel, built by Studebaker!

M29 Weasel: I had never seen one of these before!

Mule description, and in the next photo

Variations of the Mule built from 1956-1970

HMMWV or Humvee or Hummer
Just for fun, let's all say "high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle" 


More modern HMMWV

HMMWV

MRAP: Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Tidewater Sports Car Club 2017 Autocross Schedule


Believe it or not, recently we had some snow here in the Tidewater area, enough to close schools for three days! That made for some fun driving out on the street, snow, ice, and slush, but now it's time to get serious about 2017 autocross with my favorite club, the TSCC. From their secret underground lair, somewhere near the AUTOCROSSING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, PUNGO VIRGINIA, the TSCC released their schedule for this year, so, here we go! If you live in the Tidewater area, or the Hampton Roads area, or Virginia Beach, or Chesapeake, or Norfolk, or Portsmouth, heck, anywhere near here, you need to come out to one event this year. You'll have a blast, and I guarantee you'll want to come back and do it again. I'm always willing to let folks ride in my car or even co-drive, so just let me know.

Before getting to outdoor stuff, you can also brush up on your indoor karting skills with the TSCC by driving at their indoor kart series, every Wednesday night from now to February 22nd, at the Speed Club Center Indoor Go Karting at 14346 Warwick Blvd in Newport News VA.


You can get all the latest info on the Tidewater Sports Car Club's website at TSCC
March 4, 2017
  • High Performance Driver Education - North Carolina Center for Automotive Research
    March 4, 2017
    NCCAR, 310 Technology Dr, Garysburg, NC 27831, USA
    Not an autocross, but driving YOUR car on a track with other drivers. If you're new to this, we'll give you an instructor to ride along, and you'll have a LOT of fun!
March 19, 2017
  • Autocross #1 - Pungo Airfield, just north of Pungo Pizza
    March 19, 2017
    Fast technical driving on a demanding little course in your car!
April 29, 2017
  • Gripfest 12 - North Carolina Center for Automotive Research
    April 29, 2017
    NCCAR, 310 Technology Dr, Garysburg, NC 27831, USA

    On the track at NCCAR, driving laps at high speed. 

April 30, 2017
  • Autocross #2 - NCCAR
    April 30, 2017

    Last year we did one autocross at NCCAR, and it was the fastest course of the year, so I'm really looking forward to doing this again! Great facility. 
May 20, 2017
  • Novice School - Pungo Airfield, (just north of Pungo Pizza on Princes Anne)
    May 20, 2017

    If autocross is new to you, or you just want to check it out without competing, then this day is for you. We'll provide the instructors and helmets, you just need a car and a desire to drive!
May 21, 2017
  • Autocross #3 - Pungo
    May 21, 2017
June 17, 2017
  • Test and Tune - ACU-4, (on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story)
    June 17, 2017

    An autocross like event, but not competitive, this day lets you try different driving techniques and vary your car's set up. 
June 18, 2017
  • Autocross #4 - ACU-4
    June 18, 2017
July 16, 2017
  • Autocross #5 - ACU-4
    July 16, 2017
August 20, 2017
  • Autocross #6 - ACU-4
    August 20, 2017
September 2, 2017
  • Academi Fall Event
    September 2, 2017
    ACADEMI, 850 Puddin Ridge Rd, Moyock, NC 27958, USA
    Another road course event, whoo-hoo!
September 17, 2017
  • Autocross #7 - ACU-4
    September 17, 2017
October 15, 2017
  • Autocross #8 - Pungo
    October 15, 2017
October 28, 2017
  • High Performance Driver Education - NCCAR
    October 28, 2017
    NCCAR, 310 Technology Dr, Garysburg, NC 27831, USA

October 29, 2017
  • Gripfest 13 - NCCAR
    October 29, 2017
    NCCAR, 310 Technology Dr, Garysburg, NC 27831, USA
    Back to the track at NCCAR!
November 19, 2017
  • Autocross #9 - Pungo