A Horse With No Name

Yes, and not because I want to get into her pants. I don't mind a little extra on the tip for good looking waitress staff. However, I also tip extra for butt ugly and friendly as hell. Chris

I fix resteraunt equpment as part of my job, so some of the places I eat out are also customers. Often, the wit staff will give me a sandwich or a drink while I'm fixing something which is really appreciated when it's 95 degrees and I'm up on a roof repairing a rooftop A/C unit. Those people get a really nice tip from me when I bring my family back to eat. Chris

Ding, ding, ding...We have a winner. Which is why FWD cars get "in trouble" if you get them off of a racing line sometimes. In an Autocross or a Road racing situation, getting a car out of where the other cars have been will put you "in the marbles" (fine layer of gravel/dirt on the racing surface) and you can loose traction and control. I've told this story before, but it happened to the guy I used to crew for, Rolland Hahn. He was driving a Pace car (of all things) at Mid Ohio. NAPA happened to be sponswering the races then, and he was told that he would be giving the grandchildren (ages 11 and 12) of the NAPA vice president an "E-Ticket Ride" in the Prelude pace car before the race. He managed to get out of the racing line and spin the car, fortunately into the grass and into the tire wall with almost no damage to car or kiddos. But his pride took a big hurt. I would much rather try to recover a RWD car than an FWD car when it starts to spin. I've been stupid enough to loose control in both, alas. Chris

Not blowing smoke your way but...the Italians really do almost everything better than we 'mericans IMHO. Maybe not really, but I am impressed with the way they do a lot of things.

Mustang, that blue Chrysler is fabulous!!! WOW! I'm just...speechless. balthazar...LOVE the B-59 in the barn. I love living in the midwest, and fall is my fav. time of year. The B-59 photo has a very mellow, fall like feel to it. You'll probably shoot me for saying this, but I love Japanese watercolor as an art form. That photo is so subtle and so good it reminds me of a good Japanese watercolor. TED, neat plates! Chevy Nick...glad to see someone beating the hell out of a vette. I've experienced firsthand what these cars can do, and it's a crying shame more people don't run them hard. Frogger-Excellent night shot...

Love the color... Chris

Kind of an odd comment but... I've been a long term owner of a 66 Mustang Fastback (289 4 speed) a 70 Chevelle, a 71 Chevelle, a 91 Miata, and a 2002 Miata. All cars that people frequently put stripes over. I'ver not put stripes over any of those cars, although I've thought about it. To me, it takes a special car to pull of the stripes thing well. Looking at the Achieva with the white stripes and Ted's with the black...that cars pulls of the stripes really really well. And I love the nose on the Achieva. I'm probably one of the 7 people that feel this way, but that has to be one of the best looking noses of the 90's. Chris

Thanks, guys! Chris

This suggestion would probably drive teh ricer civic nuts, but we need a drivers ed system that is more like that of finland than that of the US. In a lot of places in europe there is a lot of real drivers education going on, in terms of how to actually drive a car. Chris

Jesus sweet mother of Mary that thing is awesome, Siegen! Love the photography...thought of you at the "Italian Gathering" an Italian car show here in Columbus, Ohio. They ahd an area for non Italian cars, and there was an awesome NSX in red. The NSX is just pure automotive lustworthy... Chris

I can understand the sentiment... Chris

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/chevrolet_aveo_2006/250.aspx Interesting how poorly it does...worse than almost any other small car available in europe. I say this not to bash GM, but in hopes they bring out world class small cars in their future offerings. Chris

I enjoy cycling but I prefer rural roads and bike paths. Cyclists can be idiots, I have lost my temper with 1 or two of them... But for the most part I try to live and let live.

Exactly. You guys know mypassion for salvage yards. I see lots of rolled SUV's. Something like a Suburu AWD would be much better, much more fuel efficient, and just a better driving experience IMHO. Chris

GM or non GM, nice cars and nice photography. Let's post some interesting stuff. Local GTI above...

Austin Healy

That's one thing I like about the US and due process laws. We have at least some level of protection against our cars being crushed... Guy needs to go to jail for a long, long time... Chris

...and another sad one, I always hate to see cars die. Went to scrap out some copper and some old electrical motors at a local salvage/scrap metal yard. Lots of CFC cars and some other decent looking cars, all getting flattened intact. They were getting ready to flatten a seemingly undamaged Chrysler Concorde that looked to be in pretty good shape. Not sure if the 3.5 Concorde was eligible for CFC, but the Concorde looked Wayyy to nice to crush... Chris

Back to cars...this is kind of a sad one, and sorry if I seem to post so much sad stuff but... I usually buy gas at the station right by the Ross County fairgrounds on my way home on Thursdays. Several times, I have run into a very friendly older guy with an immaculate red HHR. His kids are grown and we have often talked of how much fun he and his wife were having driving the HHR around on trips, just the two of them and how happy he was with his HHR. Wednesday, about a mile past the station, I saw a flatbed truck with what I am pretty sure was his HHR and a nearly brand new black Malibu. Looked like someone had rear ended the HHR and pushed it into the 'bu. From what I could see the rear wheels no longer lined up in the wheel wells of the HHR and the bags looked to be blown. I'd say for sure it and probably the 'bu are a gonner. Worried about the guy I talk to, hope he and his wife are OK. Chris

The daughter of a friend of mine, who was about 16 at the time, made a comment that has always stayed with me. She said .."I wish I was a guy. Guys can take it out in the parking lot, knock each other down in a fight, get up, shake hands, and its over and they are friends again. Girls can say one wrong thing and a four year friendship is over forever." I find a LOT of truth to what she said. Chris

Happy birthday! Chris

Damn, I'd be tempted just to leave it as a V6 survivor. NICE car... Chris

As a "hands on" guy myself I thought it was a great read. Thanks, balthazar. Chris

Cool! I'll bet some people at Toyota were pissed about THAT! Chris

Like Rob, I've flown in 747's across both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Wonderful experience.