The Lounge

Dear Diary: [/color] Massachusetts Winters Aug. 12 - Moved into our new home in Massachusetts . It is so beautiful here. The hills and river valleys are so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak tree in my front yard. Can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This is truly God's Country. Oct. 14 - Massachusetts is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special places on Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I love all of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I want to walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail deer.. They are so graceful, cer…

I don't know if it's on their website, but I just saw this video on CNN Headline News...a motorist that had been pulled over and ticketed for speeding put his Camry in reverse and backed up over the hood and into the windshield of a Crown Vic PI. All captured on video by the in-car camera in the police car...pretty funny.

Only Female racer to win a Trans Am race in series 45 year history wins yet again... Congrats to Amy and GM! ...and Erica Enders became the first woman to win ever in pro stock... Congrats to the ladies for stepping up to the plate!

So my girlfriend and I have discussed a few times which is better better to do when slowing down/coasting and/or coming to a stop? Her aunt (who taught her) said it was better to downshift, although she usually put it in neutral. She taught me that way, so it's how I do it. A friend of mine puts it in neutral. So...which do you do? and which is better or worse or the car?

Okay, so earlier this year my wife was testing her employer's online travel site and "accidentally" booked an AirTrans airlines ticket. Of course she had to pay for it and it hasn't been used to date (we should have figured out how to use it when we went to Walt Disney World in May, but she went through a travel agent). I was going to use it to fly to the NAIAS in Detroit in January, but recently learned that the ticket expires December 31. It's roughly a $120 ticket, so it's not like the family can take a trip anywhere, it's really a one-person trip. So I was thinking, a'la Yes Man with Jim Carey, where can I fly round trip to for a day, that would be worthwhile? I …

The other day I was out walking and something popped into my head about GM. Everyone says they have to many brands, including many within GM. I am not sure that they necessarily have to many brands as much as they have to many brands fighting for the same market. Perhaps GM needs to separate the brands more and going to the extreme as my mind often does I came up with the following to separate out the brands as best as they can be (albeit in a fantasy world): Chevrolet Core values: volume, affordability, practicality Core vehicles: FWD compact sedan/coupe, FWD midsize sedan/coupe, RWD volume large sedan Key competitors: Toyota, Honda, Ford...(other mainstream b…

Given the constant rise in gas prices, can you imagine a world in the not-too-distant future where cars are despised, abandoned, destroyed? That was my nightmare the other night. Due to some personal issues, I've been having trouble sleeping as of late and this nightmare certainly didn't help matters. In the nightmare, gas prices were nearing the $10/gallon mark, and people with cars averaging less than 25 mpg were terrorized and threatened, while their offending vehicle(s) were beaten up and set ablaze before their very eyes. That included me ... I was forced to watch all 5 of my MCs "burned at the stake". Oddly, the radio on in the background was not playing music…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Lb4A4q4zYyM&feature=endscreen

Today at the exhaust shop, I was standing there watching the guys do their thing, when an old farmer walked up to me and struck up a conversation: "Is this your truck?" "Yup." "You didn't get a Toyota?" "NO! I hate those things!" "Did you see where Toyota is rolling over GM, Ford and Chrysler?" "Yup." "Why do you think that is? I just don't understand that." "It's the media, putting ideas in people's heads. It's not real experience. I've always had good luck with my GM trucks." "Yeah, the media's putting on a big show, trying to put the American companies down. We had one (a Toyota truck) on the farm back in the 80's, and that was enough. It was a good litt…

So im finishing up my last english class of high school, and we're working on alot of shirt stories, most of them pretty boring. Our latest one is "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. I love it! it has the craziest plot twist, and contrasts a "civilized" small american town with the barbarian nature that embodies every american, and holds a message that we ignore violence and suffering until it personally affects us. ive read it a few times, and everytime i read it i discover more symbolism, and im usually not this much into English stories. Anyone read it? if your interested its not that long. The Lottery

Ok, you are in a supermarket or at Costco or in a large office building. You are walking around a corner or going down the aisle and you almost run into / come face-to-face with a person who has a disease which has disfigured them, have been severely burned or subjected to some other tragedy that has markedly altered their appearance. Because of the fact that you were taken off guard and you were hurrying about, you would have ordinarily tried to be very composed, but I think that what happens is that you may make eye contact and then look away a little TOO quickly. You wind up feeling real bad. But you also know that others, in similar circumstances, may have reac…

Today I was driving home from work getting off at Jordan Creek Parkway, which runs through the heart of upper-middle class suburbia in West Des Moines. I was in the lane to the left and zooming up beside me was a gouge-my-eyes-out bright orange Honda Civic, with white American Racing wheels, body kit, small wing, tint, altezza headlights, fart can...the whole works. His car sounded like a weedwacker on steroids. But the best part was that the guy had orange vinyl graphics covering the width of the window that boldly said "All Show, No Go." At least the guy was honest! ------------------ While I was looking for a good rice picture, I came across this....nice 1987 H…

If the eye holes in your ski mask allow it, please feel free to post your icy car spots here!

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/pebble-beach-faux-pas/53459/page1/ I guess I need to write a column on this stuff for our sister magazine, Classic Motorsports, but I will share this with you guys first. I am always nervous out here representing at Monterey and Pebble Beach. Those of you who know me, know I am much more comfortable in a junk yard, than at the Rolex dinner. So last night, I am talking to long time friend and GRM supporter, and west coast Ford P.R. guy, John Clinard. He is standing and talking to another guy as well and I nonchalantly ask this guy, if he too is a Ford Guy. He quickly retorts, “no, I am a Chevy guy... what do you think!?“ John Cli…

Here is an interesting typo in the Toronto Star. Read the highlighted and lets see what you think.

Instead of racing this on the tail of the dragon...they race it on the nose of the dragon?

In my area, SAAB 9-3's are more common than Volkswagen Golfs based on how often and much I see them in town.

I don't know if any of you are interested ( or if the link will work), but I got on a roll one day and wrote this: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=7045...&topic=7792

Yesterday evening I decided that, given my hatred for my hateful old Astra hatchback has grown to burning new heights, I would pay a visit to Kentucky's largest independent auto auction — the Kentucky Auto Sales Pavilion, or KASP for short — located 30 miles north of me in Lexington and try to take home a beater or project car for less than $1,000 dollars. Here, it was certainly an obtainable concept and less of a challenge based on late Sunday night programs I had watched; numerous Clinton Administration-era vehicles seemed to cross the auction block here rarely ringing up at more than $1,500. It also seemed far less droll than spending countless future weeks of sifting …

Well with Election Season climaxing and important people being everywhere I was approached to Strap on the Vest and load some shells. Its funny how they won't leave me alone. Tomorrow i go to see if I'm still good enough. I really didn't want to do this at all. Ever since last winter when I was close to dieing, It hasn't appealed to me again. The Tone of there voice suggested that I had no option though. So I'm Dusting off the Scope and Cleaning the M-82. I have to hit 6 objects at 500+ yards with in 30 seconds. sounds like a cake walk. The pay is crazy. I mean its just weird. For an Event Its $8,000 if something goes down and no important people get hurt its $22,000. …

... just posted 4 scary pics of me on facebook. I need to think about revenge.

I thought you guys might enjoy this one.... A guy met an older woman in a bar. They drank and flirted and he decided she was pretty hot for a fifty-five-year-old. As they exchanged a passionate kiss, she whispered in his ear: "Have you ever had a mother and daughter together?" "No" he answered. "But it's something I've always fantasized about" "Well, tonight could just be your lucky night." she said, knocking back another double vodka. Scarcely able to contain himself, he went back to her place. She turned the key in the door, put the hall light on and shouted upstairs: "Mom, you still awake?"

you will see a Grand Prix in the background. :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :omfg:

Drift this way

The Dealer found an appropriate Cobalt with the Appropriate Equipment and agreed to take back the G5 I bought in May... So I'm now driving a Slate-colored 2008 Cobalt LT. I've only noticed two differences from the 2007 G5 (except for now having the safety features I paid for )- and those are the body colored bumper trim and the instant fuel mileage gauge (very welcome addition). They switched over my iPod Interface and Tripletred tires for free- I just have to have Nitrogen put back in them (ugh- there's 20$ I'll never see again). I'm thinking of putting on the 2009 Wheelcovers after seeing this picture here... seems attractive enough. I may add Tire Pressure Senso…

I'm driving home after lunch and realize that my odometer is about to roll over to an even number (you know, ending at ,000)...but it wasn't quite there. So, I didn't pull into the driveway and instead drove around the neighborhood a little more to make it get to that "magic number." I find that I've done this more than once, among other weird quirks. Do you do this kind of crap with your car? Or, do you have other weird quirks you care to share?

Snap-On tools used to be quite racy back in the 50's.

Some of it is simple and some is just downright ridiculously hard! Wouldn't you agree? How many of you have analyzed poetry?

Gives a whole new meaning to where the rubber meets the road! Poor number 23! Stay clear of that one! :rotflmao: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health-...tings/index.htm

This is a random moment brought to you by a very bored random person. This has nothing to do with anything but i will put this up just so you can say whatever you want that doesnt belong in any other thread but would like to say just because you were bored like me ad it seemed like a good idea at the time. My random message is: Toyota sux! WHOO! Significance? Nope. But i feel better now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLtsUp5uSUc Discuss.

A rwd royal blue 2007 Infiniti G35 coupe, lease for 15 to 21 months!! OH YEAH!!

blackviper8891: Beautiful...and the GA looks good too. :P Very creative homemade sig. Excellent photography.

If anyone noticed among the quibbling and the politics I decided to take a leave of absence for a little while. My reasons primarily being that the politic engulfed this site (which in and of itself is not a terrible thing), but brought out the ugly side of some members (a bad thing). It's pretty painful to watch just how petty and immature some people got, especially when they are normally level-headed. I decided that with enough issues at home to deal with the last thing I needed was to come to a place that was so disharmonious. I figured I'd comeback after election day to see if it would finally clear up, people would return to their former sense, and we could actua…

So Tuesday night, I'm Christmas shopping for the wife and I'm about to leave the parking lot of the store I'm in. A black Toyota Highlander goes through the intersection and I pull out to the left (behind it). Suddenly, this dumb woman stops, throws the damn thing into reverse and boom! Takes out my front bumper. Pulled it completely off. *sigh* While waiting for the officer to show up, she conveys her wish to just write me a check once I get an estimate. Apparently in order to keep her monthly premium down, her deductible is outrageous, something like $1000. So I tentatively agree, especially after she's honest with the officer about whose fault it was. Well u…

I'd recommend everyone watch this: The Race To Nowhere

Good: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v469/FUTUREofGM/?action=view&current=MVI_1146.mp4 Better: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v469/FUTUREofGM/?action=view&current=MVI_1145.mp4 Best: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v469/FUTUREofGM/?action=view&current=MVI_1144.mp4 Goodest Bester: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v469/FUTUREofGM/?action=view&current=MVI_1147.mp4

http://jalopnik.com/5914488/800000-shelby-cobra-burns-inside-mountain?utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_facebook&utm_source=jalopnik_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

* Seems road construction season is nearly year-round. Luckily, “angry bird” season isn’t! My cars seem to be targets; how about yours? Seen anything like this…!? http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2015/03/30/daily-dose-mon-madness-11/ BTW, golfers: how about this as your cart…!? http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2015/03/31/twist-tuesday-11/ Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com 1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve "I got 1 shot left" __ Sylvia __ 'Nobody'

As you are reading this, you will notice the animated GIF files in my signature and in my Avatar. I have had one or two complaints about them, in that they are slowing down connections, browsing, etc. Really, the number of complaints is like 0.00001 of the site's members, but perhaps there are those who find them annoying and haven't said anything. I understand members still have dial-up internet and my files would be a huge drain on their speed. My question is, should I keep them going? I don't have a poll set up because I think that'd be dumb, because there could be some sort of middle ground or compromise, instead of just "Yes" or "No."

cnn what a trip she is.......man she has no clue

Hot off the presses: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-an...-business-print (Edit: fixed age. I previously wrote 37.)

LONDON - The level of violence in Iraq is "much worse" than that of Lebanon's civil war, outgoing U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said in an interview aired Monday. Speaking to the British Broadcasting Corp., Annan agreed that the average Iraqi's life is worse now than it was under Saddam Hussein and called the situation in the country "extremely dangerous." "Given the level of violence, the level of killing and bitterness and the way that forces are arranged against each other, a few years ago, when we had the strife in Lebanon and other places, we called that a civil war; this is much worse," Annan said. Last week, when asked by reporters whether the fighting in Ir…

Well, it's 10:07 PM Central time here and I'm still at work because the damn plotter has been finicky (sp?) all night. I mean, I'm being paid to be here...but I don't want to be here. Argh...is it just me, or does technology sometimes seem like a step backward? I don't know how many hours of my life I have wasted waiting/trying to get things to print here and at college. I wonder what the average number of hours (or years) a person spends waiting on printers to print? Anyone else have problems with things not working properly at their workplace?

Everyone has one frined that always emails chain mail and all kind of useless forwards... My biggest pet-peeve are this type of email: "forward this so that money can be donated to get little Jimmy the baboon heart he needs...". <_< Anyway I got this one today and refused to pass it along but I thought it might be a cool way for some of us to get to know each other better. I see so many new names as of late. Either share some goofy facts or just ignore it. :) 1. What is your occupation? Car collector. :P Me and my girlfriend have a home-based business. Accounting and the ambiguous "consulting". 2. What are you listening to righ…

Pathetic. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7241909.stm Gotta love this kind of logic. How does all this air get compressed? By magic? I'm certain that no fossil fuels will be burned to that end...

A7

Happy birthday...enjoy! Snow in Mass.? BTW - your AV is right up there with Nick's "Silkey"

I'm going to have to give up one of my Malamute pups. They have started to fight and draw blood on each other. I did some research online last night and it seems that they aren't likely to get over it - ever. It can be controlled with intensive training and forced separation but they could never be trusted without supervision. That wouldn't be fair to them or to me. So, with great sadness, I'm going to have to choose between them. Anyone else feel like their life is 100% ?

I looked out my bedroom window at 4:30 this morning and saw the most glorious sight EVAR OMG... 4 inches of virgin snow blanketing the area. Put on my cap and coat and headed out for some travel. So relaxing to be out driving in the snow so early in the morning in a vehicle that can make it through, no worries. Ended up in BFE again (not the same place as before, but still VERY country, with lots of hills and winding roads.) Snowy fun!

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1193994005.html

Available in poster form at chevymall.com By CaminoLS6

Uh, just a post to acknowledge that there indeed were 2 bomb attacks in Brussels Belgium. People died, and quite a bit more people were injured. It was awfully close to the capital building and NATO HQ. And certain people with certain views on certain peoples and their faith will make a case that their proposed solutions will work. Those peoples are currently in a national primary election. ^ I neutered what I was going to say because no politics. I'd have to ban myself from the topic.

Fly's post about the 1959 Ford Skyliner insipred this: As much as I do not like the 1959 Fords, I love most any other 1959 domestic. First & forermost the entire GM lineup including the Opel-Buicks. I would rate the GM stuff like this in order of favorites: Buick Cadillac Pontiac Chevrolet Oldsmobile (GMC/Chevy trucks fall somewhere in between Pontiac & Olds) But after that, the next best thing is a 1959 Imperial, which is about as easy to find as a polite Frenchman in Paris if you're wearing an American flag on your baseball cap. Back to reality, a 1959 Dodge 2 door hardtop of any kind is a great thing to aspire to without having your head up in …

Funny Website. B) http://www.beaudaddy.com/caddies/

Would-be carjacker thwarted by manual gears

Bloodbath in Germany Dressed in black camouflage gear, the only words 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer is said to have uttered during the schoolroom slaughter were: "Are you all dead yet?" Dozens of police arrived at the scene but the killer escaped and shot dead a gardener outside a psychiatric hospital opposite the school. He then hijacked a car, taking the driver hostage, and fled 20 miles to a car dealership. Once inside, he killed two more innocent people before a gun battle began with police The amateur video footage shows what is thought to be these last moments of his life. Regional police chief Erwin Hetger said: "He went into the school with a weapon and c…

http://jalopnik.com/5872514/

This was a fantastic show! Huge variety and hundreds of cars. Everything from dune buggies and a Mini Moke to a Ford GT and a 502 powered, '38 Lasalle. Pics to follow later.

Here we go again. It is 2007, and it is Toyota will be #1 manufacturer this year. The article is sickening, and while it bashes GM for building Big SUV's, it is praising Toy for building Macho, Turd. Morons. No mention about Toy's recalls either. These terrorist journalists should be whacked. #1 Toy-Boy-Ta Vote here, GM is lagging behind badly. See how bad people's perceptions are about quality. Poll! Vote Now.

Another chance to start a birthday thread.... It's aaaantoine's birthday today. HAAAAppy BirthdAAAAy, AAAAntoine. Ocn, you're slipping....

I was just making a CD with a bunch of weird songs. Since I'm under extreme stress right now Im about to go to Port Huron and drive to the park look at the Blue water bridge. I need to clear my mind and what a way to start the day? take 94 to 26 mile and take that and back roads to the water and drive it up. If I return is a different question. But for a CD I made, god what a mix, Free bird simple man Kashmir Riders on the storm Sultans of Swing panama Jump crazy purple haze voodoo child Roxxxanne Black betty Growing pains Faimly Traditions and holy diver to finish it i have like .00001 seconds left. Is that a odd mix or no? Tell us …

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/barn-200-vintage-cars-old-chevy-dealer-auction-190039996.html

My mind has been a little mixed up recently. I've had some very disturbing nightmares. The movie Silent Hill, as much EVERYONE I know hates it, fascinates me because much of the imagery in it is the stuff of my nightmares. That over sized, creepy Pyramid guy & his violent actions are pretty much something my mind would conjure up. Something is up with me, I know what it is I guess, just don't know how to deal with it. Julie and I are doing great, despite the miscarriage. Things are looking up and I've been a happy camper as of late, even on Thanksgiving I was thinking how I should count my blessings. But there's this "thing" looming over m…

Hard day for me, today and yesterday. We laid my grandmother to rest this morning. I so treasure her spirit, her humor and her Old World work ethic, which I inherited and thank her for. Born in Jersey City NJ to recently-immigrated parents, she worked long days in the Black Dirt Region of Orange County NY as a young woman, out in the onion & celery fields, with my father by her side as a young child. Later, she was a long-time factory production worker for Avon. After retiring, she and my grandfather drove down to Florida every winter, fishing and meeting up with friends & relatives. She cooked & canned, she crafted, she golfed, she elevated cleaning to an Oly…

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4817067 Amazing that these guys think being gay is the worst thing ever. Oh well, he can be Ted Haggard's new boyfriend.

Bought this for $15 from my wife's aunt. Her son used to drag race a '60s El Camino at the local strip. Having done numerous upgrades, motor swaps & other sundries in the backyard garage in the '70-80s, undoubtedly this vice came in handy. As the son hasn't lived in his mom's house for a few decades and no longer wrenches on cars, I thought I'd rescue it. Columbian 604-M2 machinist's vise. Disassembled, de-greased/de-rusted, stripped 5 coats of paint off (red, silver, blue, orange, black), deburred, painted 2 coats of Rustoleum (could maybe use another, but it's a vise), greased & reassembled. Works real nice, pretty heavy construction. Luckily for a guy trying …

C'mon now, you must have at some point felt like this! :)

Some light reading... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6487322

So, I'm back home from another Saturday night on the town and it was pretty much like every other Saturday night for the last, oh, how many years? I've never been the type of person to go out with the intention of meeting anyone. That is just setting yourself up for for disappointment. I'm always open to the possibility, but I'm not the type to jump into anything on a whim. I have multiple 'bar' friends that I see regularly and talk to but, and I hope I'm not sounding like a complete jerk here, they aren't people that I want to do anything with on a social basis outside of the bar, much less anyone that I'd be interested in developing a relationship with. There just …

June 10, 2007 Tokyo, Japan Toyota Motor, under intense pressure, today announced a recall of the special edition of their Yaris subcompact car. Known as the Yaris Hilton, the unique, black and white striped runabout features a "distressed" pink leather interior. Owners are urged to return the vehicles to a service facility immediately for the following conditions: the horn engages on its own and will not stop blowing, even if the battery is disconnected. Owners report the horn blows constantly until, as it begins to burn out, it becomes so shrill only spayed and neutered neighborhood dogs can hear it. Also, the headlight washers, through a short in the body control…

So we trounced Stanford...and UCLA was trounced by Arizona and Cal also lost. We should have smooth sailing all the way until the Rose Bowl...Go USC!

I don't know WTF is going on but I have not gone a week in the past few months without having a really freeky and whacked out nightmare. Last night I found myslef in the elaborate Baroque Dinning room of a Serial Killer. He had one of those fancy James Bond style multi purpose canes and was telling me how I was going to meet a violent death. When he said something about hurting my family though I just snapped and somehow got in a mortal wound on him with a fancy knife that was carefully placed on the table in one of dozens of elaborate place settings. It seemed like there was a good three minutes of my dream (nightmare) where I ended up cutting his neck so badly wi…

A show meant for pre-school and elementary school kids with an obvious slant against General Motors. http://www.pbs.org/wrenchturns/video/5

http://www.antiquetruckclubofamerica.org/f..._Show_Flyer.pdf Sponsored by the Antique Truck Club of America (ATCA), this show will be held tomorrow (Sat, June 16) at Macungie Park in Macungie, PA (not too far outside of Allentown). One of the highlights of this show is the free tour of the Allentown MACK Truck plant. I last attended this show in 2005 and took the free bus ride over to the plant. It was cool to see how MACK trucks are made, although the plant doesn't operate on the weekends. Of course there's a huge flea market full of truck stuff, and don't forget all the rows and rows and rows of nothing but trucks! I'll be taking my camera and will post pictures …

America's Oldest Road Race. The Historic "12 Hours of Sebring". Don't know what is more Famous though,... The Race,... The Cars,.. Or The Party. But if you like Fast Cars,... Hard Partying,... and Hot Race Chicks, then you Must make the trip to Florida in Mid March. "!2 Hours of Race,... 3 Days of Party!" Anybody going?