If you have ever watched almost any of the bond movies, then you know what kind of cars I am talking about. The Aston Martin has one of the most legendary history and following of this car can be almost cult-like in some places of the world. This British super car company produces some of the greatest combinations of performance and luxury in the world. With models like the DBS and V12 Vantage being some of the most beautiful cars ever created, and they have been that way since they began to be built.
Whether they are capturing the viewers imagination in the latest bond film, or they are tearing up the racetrack or the autobahn, they are unmistakable and unforgettable. The most iconic things about these cars to me however isn't they way that it looks sitting still, but more how it sounds and takes corners beautifully and without effort. Almost all of their cars they make have either a V8 or a V12 in them, and they sound amazing. These Brits have been making these cars for almost as long as the car itself has existed.
And they know exactly what they are doing, especially on the race track. In the GT categories and the prototype categories, they compete against other top name manufacturing teams like Corvette, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mclaren, Ford and SRT. All of these manufacturers are highly competitive and stop at absolutely nothing to win races, and with this high of competition, it is not hard to find many Astons at the top of consistently very close to it.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Safety in numbers
I was perusing the internet and came across some very interesting videos. They were discussing the evolution of driver and spectator safety throughout the history of motor racing. Unfortunately, most of these safety requirements were made in reaction to horrible accidents in efforts to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.
Some of these horrible accidents that sometimes claimed the lives of some drivers include the 1955 wreck at LeMans, the wreck that killed Dale Earnheart, the 2008 accident that killed Doug Kalitta, the 1994 San Marino Grad Prix. The one thing that all of these of these accidents have in common was the fact that regulations and safety precautions were put second to power and lower times. If these two things were put after safety like they are in every legitimate and legal form of racing today, then these atrocities may have been avoidable.
Some of the new technologies added for driver and spectator safety is catch fences and higher padded walls. Especially seen in NASCAR racing, catch fences can hold back all major parts of a car that happen to go airborne and hit said fence. Built to intentionally disperse the forces and break, it has saved countless lives. The higher and padded walls are not limited to only NASCAR, as they are seen alongside sand and gravel traps alongside danger zones of racecourses all across the world. These too are designed with simple physics in mind, the idea is that the longer the time of the impact, the lesser the force is on the driver is.
A safety feature that is found not on the track per say, but on the race cars and had begun to find its way into street cars, is the idea of cars breaking apart when an accident happens. This is most obviously seen in formula 1 cars, where the entire front and rear ends of the car are built to fall away from the drivers tub. The other form of racing where this is highlighted the most is NASCAR, there is a full rolled steel roll cage type frame. However, the front end of the car up until the firewall is designed to break away from the diver's cage if the car goes into a roll or other horrid accident.
Other safety precautions include limiting of engine sizes and cylinder displacement or number of cylinders, along with creating universal dimensions of the cars allowed in certain classes. For example, GT3 class cars have different regulations then a prototype car, even though they both race on the same course at the same time. These regulations are for two reasons, for one, it limits the amount of advantages that a team with more money, and it keeps the drivers on a more level playing field, and it is not decided strictly on power and capability of the car.
As the level of competition and speed rises, pray that safety keeps pace as well, otherwise another scene like the LeMans race of 1955 may make a re-appearance.
Some of these horrible accidents that sometimes claimed the lives of some drivers include the 1955 wreck at LeMans, the wreck that killed Dale Earnheart, the 2008 accident that killed Doug Kalitta, the 1994 San Marino Grad Prix. The one thing that all of these of these accidents have in common was the fact that regulations and safety precautions were put second to power and lower times. If these two things were put after safety like they are in every legitimate and legal form of racing today, then these atrocities may have been avoidable.
Some of the new technologies added for driver and spectator safety is catch fences and higher padded walls. Especially seen in NASCAR racing, catch fences can hold back all major parts of a car that happen to go airborne and hit said fence. Built to intentionally disperse the forces and break, it has saved countless lives. The higher and padded walls are not limited to only NASCAR, as they are seen alongside sand and gravel traps alongside danger zones of racecourses all across the world. These too are designed with simple physics in mind, the idea is that the longer the time of the impact, the lesser the force is on the driver is.
A safety feature that is found not on the track per say, but on the race cars and had begun to find its way into street cars, is the idea of cars breaking apart when an accident happens. This is most obviously seen in formula 1 cars, where the entire front and rear ends of the car are built to fall away from the drivers tub. The other form of racing where this is highlighted the most is NASCAR, there is a full rolled steel roll cage type frame. However, the front end of the car up until the firewall is designed to break away from the diver's cage if the car goes into a roll or other horrid accident.
Other safety precautions include limiting of engine sizes and cylinder displacement or number of cylinders, along with creating universal dimensions of the cars allowed in certain classes. For example, GT3 class cars have different regulations then a prototype car, even though they both race on the same course at the same time. These regulations are for two reasons, for one, it limits the amount of advantages that a team with more money, and it keeps the drivers on a more level playing field, and it is not decided strictly on power and capability of the car.
As the level of competition and speed rises, pray that safety keeps pace as well, otherwise another scene like the LeMans race of 1955 may make a re-appearance.
What makes a fast car fast?
Many people from the outside in often wonder what it takes for a car to be fast. Well, if you are one of these uneducated people, allow me to enlighten you.
The first thing that you need to do to have a fast car is to have a realitively light one. What this allows to happen is faster acceleration, because the less weight the motor has to move through the air at high speeds, the faster the car can go. Ways to have a light car include using carbon fiber or other lightweight yet strong materials including titanium and aluminum. Other options for weight reduction is to eliminate extra seats, that's why almost all 200 mile per hour cars have only 2 seats. Other options include a manual transmission, no air conditioning, and other comfort amenities that are in normal cars. Not only can these add weight, but they can also draw power off of the engine, like a/c.
The next thing that is needed after a lightweight frame and body is a lot of power. There are many ways to accomplish this. Everything from electric assisted direct drive engines, to forced induction to stand alone electric motors. The objective is to obtain the most powerful motor in the smallest displacement possible. This is called power density, and it is what is going to drive the next wave of innovation. For example, if you have two engines that produce the same amount of power, but one is a 4 cylinder and the other is an 8 cylinder, the 4 cylinder is the better option because it is more power dense. This is because the smaller engine produces twice the amount of power per cylinder, thus making the same power as a car with and engine that weighs twice as much. It is more simple physics.
After those two major points, a combination of smaller but still important parts of the car need to come together to allow the cars to reach great speeds. The first major smaller item is the wheels and tires. Not only do the tires need to be able to hold together at high speeds, but they need to have an insane amount of grip at those speeds. Special designed and compounded tires are made just for high speeds. The wheels need to be not only strong, but lightweight. The lighter the wheel, the less amount of energy needed to move the wheels. Materials and techniques like forging and using carbon fiber in wheels are on the cutting edge of wheel technology. Other things include aerodynamics in the form of spoilers, splitters, and diffusers, in order to maintain down force on the car.
The first thing that you need to do to have a fast car is to have a realitively light one. What this allows to happen is faster acceleration, because the less weight the motor has to move through the air at high speeds, the faster the car can go. Ways to have a light car include using carbon fiber or other lightweight yet strong materials including titanium and aluminum. Other options for weight reduction is to eliminate extra seats, that's why almost all 200 mile per hour cars have only 2 seats. Other options include a manual transmission, no air conditioning, and other comfort amenities that are in normal cars. Not only can these add weight, but they can also draw power off of the engine, like a/c.
The next thing that is needed after a lightweight frame and body is a lot of power. There are many ways to accomplish this. Everything from electric assisted direct drive engines, to forced induction to stand alone electric motors. The objective is to obtain the most powerful motor in the smallest displacement possible. This is called power density, and it is what is going to drive the next wave of innovation. For example, if you have two engines that produce the same amount of power, but one is a 4 cylinder and the other is an 8 cylinder, the 4 cylinder is the better option because it is more power dense. This is because the smaller engine produces twice the amount of power per cylinder, thus making the same power as a car with and engine that weighs twice as much. It is more simple physics.
After those two major points, a combination of smaller but still important parts of the car need to come together to allow the cars to reach great speeds. The first major smaller item is the wheels and tires. Not only do the tires need to be able to hold together at high speeds, but they need to have an insane amount of grip at those speeds. Special designed and compounded tires are made just for high speeds. The wheels need to be not only strong, but lightweight. The lighter the wheel, the less amount of energy needed to move the wheels. Materials and techniques like forging and using carbon fiber in wheels are on the cutting edge of wheel technology. Other things include aerodynamics in the form of spoilers, splitters, and diffusers, in order to maintain down force on the car.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Ford's new Italian Horse-Eater
I am sure that by now, almost all of you have heard that Ford is going to be releasing a third generation of the Ford GT. If you haven't, well then let me be the first to introduce you then. This car is obviously all new, powered by a twin turboed V6, and it's looks and sounds are indescribable. Just look and you can see what I mean
The blue car in the front is the new model, with the blue car in the middle being the one that was made in the early 2000's and the one in the background was the original car in the 1960's. When the new car was released, it was evident that many new things were added to the car, but the designers still kept the car to it's heritage. The iconic hood scoops and the overall body outline are the same, bu the new car uses many new technologies to set itself apart. For example, the entire body of the car is made from carbon fiber and it is only available with an automatic transmission instead of a manual. This new car also has an active deploying spoiler that doubles as an air-brake, similar to the Bugatti Veyron and the Lexus LFA. This spoiler, coupled with the massive carbon ceramic brakes allows the car to stop faster than any other Ford GT before it. The dash board also doubles as the cross-plane support for the front of the cabin tub. This doubling of form and function has also made the Ford GT one of the lightest supercars out there, and when you couple that with a 600+ horsepower eco-boost engine, I think it is safe to say that this is a 200 MPH car, possibly capable of much higher speeds.
You may be asking, why now? Well, the 50th anniversary of when the original Ford GT swept the 24 hours of LeMans race after Ferrari dropped a deal with Ford, the engineers at Ford thought that it may be a good time to bring the beast back from the dead. And so they have, with a GT-class race car ready to go for this year's LeMans race, we will see if Ford can pull it off again.
The blue car in the front is the new model, with the blue car in the middle being the one that was made in the early 2000's and the one in the background was the original car in the 1960's. When the new car was released, it was evident that many new things were added to the car, but the designers still kept the car to it's heritage. The iconic hood scoops and the overall body outline are the same, bu the new car uses many new technologies to set itself apart. For example, the entire body of the car is made from carbon fiber and it is only available with an automatic transmission instead of a manual. This new car also has an active deploying spoiler that doubles as an air-brake, similar to the Bugatti Veyron and the Lexus LFA. This spoiler, coupled with the massive carbon ceramic brakes allows the car to stop faster than any other Ford GT before it. The dash board also doubles as the cross-plane support for the front of the cabin tub. This doubling of form and function has also made the Ford GT one of the lightest supercars out there, and when you couple that with a 600+ horsepower eco-boost engine, I think it is safe to say that this is a 200 MPH car, possibly capable of much higher speeds.
You may be asking, why now? Well, the 50th anniversary of when the original Ford GT swept the 24 hours of LeMans race after Ferrari dropped a deal with Ford, the engineers at Ford thought that it may be a good time to bring the beast back from the dead. And so they have, with a GT-class race car ready to go for this year's LeMans race, we will see if Ford can pull it off again.
Gas or Diesel?
The eternal debate between all car owners. Which is the best? Diesel or Gasoline? There are many benefits and draw-backs to both options.
Diesel- The stuff of torque monsters. Diesel is used in motors that rely on much higher compression levels in the cylinders to ignite the fuel, thus creating much higher torsion power. What this allows diesel motors to do is pull much heavier loads more efficiently than gasoline. Diesel is also much more stable than gasoline is when being stored, thus making it easier to transport. Another good thing about it is that it takes less to refine diesel, and there are no varying levels of octane grades, so no performance advantage or disadvantage comes from the price or octane rating of the fuel. The cons about diesel is that the exhaust can be much dirtier than gasoline, and since they make less of it, it is usually more expensive than gasoline.
Gasoline- This stuff is how nearly everybody gets around. It's power is harnessed through injecting it into a lower compression ratio, and then ignited with a spark plug. It is much more volatile than diesel, and allows for more power in the realm of speed. The higher the octane grade of the fuel, the better the fuel performs in the engine. This varying in qualities allows for consumer-specific applications, since drag racers running setups with up to 120 octane, don't want normal pump gas, and the everyday driver doesn't need nitromethane to power their cars.
I would say that I am a double fan, it all depends on what the situation call for.
Diesel- The stuff of torque monsters. Diesel is used in motors that rely on much higher compression levels in the cylinders to ignite the fuel, thus creating much higher torsion power. What this allows diesel motors to do is pull much heavier loads more efficiently than gasoline. Diesel is also much more stable than gasoline is when being stored, thus making it easier to transport. Another good thing about it is that it takes less to refine diesel, and there are no varying levels of octane grades, so no performance advantage or disadvantage comes from the price or octane rating of the fuel. The cons about diesel is that the exhaust can be much dirtier than gasoline, and since they make less of it, it is usually more expensive than gasoline.
Gasoline- This stuff is how nearly everybody gets around. It's power is harnessed through injecting it into a lower compression ratio, and then ignited with a spark plug. It is much more volatile than diesel, and allows for more power in the realm of speed. The higher the octane grade of the fuel, the better the fuel performs in the engine. This varying in qualities allows for consumer-specific applications, since drag racers running setups with up to 120 octane, don't want normal pump gas, and the everyday driver doesn't need nitromethane to power their cars.
I would say that I am a double fan, it all depends on what the situation call for.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
The Legend of the Jeep
As the company that helped the Allies win World War II turns 75, I think that it is fitting that we take a look back at the different models throughout the years.
1940's
The obvious big ticket and well known original Jeep was the Willys MB. This was the main troop transport of the U.S. during WWII. With the coming of this vehicle, horses, and motorcycles with sidecars became instantly obsolete, with this new chariot of the GI spearheading every attack in every allied force throughout the world. Other models produced during the 1940's include the CJ-2A, the Willys Wagon and the Willys Overland truck. The last two were some of the first of their kind, as after war efforts and innovation helped move along the U.S. postwar economy and introduced new products to the market.
1950's
With the Korean war came the M38 models. These were found all along the 38th parallel, and they did the job of the earlier WWII jeeps as a light troop transport and the did it extremely well. Quite possibly the craziest fitting presented to the M38 models was possibly the option to mount David Crockett type transportable nuclear weapon launchers onto the jeeps. The M38 was produced for just under 20 years, and the other long term production that emerged in the 50's was the legendary CJ-5. The CJ-5 enjoyed even larger success and was produced for 28 years and was easily the most capable, powerful and comfortable off-roader the entire time it was produced.
1960's
The 1960's saw lots of wagons and trucks emerge, from the wagoneers, to the J-2000, J-3000 and J-4000 models entering production during this time as well. However the most intriguing model produced during the 60's would have to be the Fleetvan. This model was the future ice-cream truck or delivery truck for america at the time, and was definitely an intriguing sight.
1970's
The 1970's saw the emergence of the Cherokee, the CJ-5 evolved, and the pickup trucks also evolved. The Cherokee began as a tall-bodied wagon, as one of the first SUV. It was revered for its offroad capability, combined with its massive person capacity. The Jeep CJ-7 was also introduced in 1976, which is considered by many as the first modern jeep, with a removable hardtop, and a longer wheelbase, this jeep was definitely an offroad monster just like it's older relatives. These cars also packed a much bigger punch, with a V8 under the hood rather than a V6 or inline 6, they had no power problems whatsoever.
1980's
The 1980's saw a huge evolution and growth in the Cherokee and Wagoneer models. More luxury options became available during this time as a main contributor to it's massive popularity. The CJ-5 came back with the Laredo edition, the CJ-7 emerged with more options, and the CJ-8's and -10's came out as specialized vehicles for consumers to choose from. Then in 1987, the game changed with the emergence of the Jeep Wrangler YJ model, the first of the modern jeeps to wear this name,
1990's
The 90's was a quiet, yet productive decade for Jeep. The Wrangler was evolved in 1997 to the TJ configuration (which is the year of my personal Jeep) and the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee SUV models soared in popularity.
2000's +
The turn of the millennium brought about profound change to all models in the vehicle lineup. The Wrangler Rubicon was introduced in 2003, and the Wrangler Unlimited was introduced in 2004. Both of these new Jeeps offered dramatically improved on-road and off-road performance. More changes to the Cherokee andGrand Cherokee were made, including ta drastic redesign. Many new models emerged including the Liberty, Commander, The new Wrangler JK and Wrangler Unlimited JK (the first 4-door wrangler option), and the Jeep Renegade. With so much innovation and change being brought about, the future of jeep looks incredibly bright.
1940's
The obvious big ticket and well known original Jeep was the Willys MB. This was the main troop transport of the U.S. during WWII. With the coming of this vehicle, horses, and motorcycles with sidecars became instantly obsolete, with this new chariot of the GI spearheading every attack in every allied force throughout the world. Other models produced during the 1940's include the CJ-2A, the Willys Wagon and the Willys Overland truck. The last two were some of the first of their kind, as after war efforts and innovation helped move along the U.S. postwar economy and introduced new products to the market.
1950's
With the Korean war came the M38 models. These were found all along the 38th parallel, and they did the job of the earlier WWII jeeps as a light troop transport and the did it extremely well. Quite possibly the craziest fitting presented to the M38 models was possibly the option to mount David Crockett type transportable nuclear weapon launchers onto the jeeps. The M38 was produced for just under 20 years, and the other long term production that emerged in the 50's was the legendary CJ-5. The CJ-5 enjoyed even larger success and was produced for 28 years and was easily the most capable, powerful and comfortable off-roader the entire time it was produced.
1960's
The 1960's saw lots of wagons and trucks emerge, from the wagoneers, to the J-2000, J-3000 and J-4000 models entering production during this time as well. However the most intriguing model produced during the 60's would have to be the Fleetvan. This model was the future ice-cream truck or delivery truck for america at the time, and was definitely an intriguing sight.
1970's
The 1970's saw the emergence of the Cherokee, the CJ-5 evolved, and the pickup trucks also evolved. The Cherokee began as a tall-bodied wagon, as one of the first SUV. It was revered for its offroad capability, combined with its massive person capacity. The Jeep CJ-7 was also introduced in 1976, which is considered by many as the first modern jeep, with a removable hardtop, and a longer wheelbase, this jeep was definitely an offroad monster just like it's older relatives. These cars also packed a much bigger punch, with a V8 under the hood rather than a V6 or inline 6, they had no power problems whatsoever.
1980's
The 1980's saw a huge evolution and growth in the Cherokee and Wagoneer models. More luxury options became available during this time as a main contributor to it's massive popularity. The CJ-5 came back with the Laredo edition, the CJ-7 emerged with more options, and the CJ-8's and -10's came out as specialized vehicles for consumers to choose from. Then in 1987, the game changed with the emergence of the Jeep Wrangler YJ model, the first of the modern jeeps to wear this name,
1990's
The 90's was a quiet, yet productive decade for Jeep. The Wrangler was evolved in 1997 to the TJ configuration (which is the year of my personal Jeep) and the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee SUV models soared in popularity.
2000's +
The turn of the millennium brought about profound change to all models in the vehicle lineup. The Wrangler Rubicon was introduced in 2003, and the Wrangler Unlimited was introduced in 2004. Both of these new Jeeps offered dramatically improved on-road and off-road performance. More changes to the Cherokee andGrand Cherokee were made, including ta drastic redesign. Many new models emerged including the Liberty, Commander, The new Wrangler JK and Wrangler Unlimited JK (the first 4-door wrangler option), and the Jeep Renegade. With so much innovation and change being brought about, the future of jeep looks incredibly bright.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Build-a-car workshop?
There is a new car company in the country, and they are taking a whole new spin on the way we purchase and build the cars today. The name of this company is Local Motors and they are here to start a revolution. The design for their first car was selected from a contest of online designers, and the buyers actually build the cars themselves. What this allows for Local Motors to do is to take pre-existing and already certified materials for the drive train like an engine and transmission from a corvette, and put them into their cars and designate them as "kit cars". This loophole drastically cuts the costs of making an entire new car in such a restrictive environment as the automotive industry and the EPA.
Their first car is called the rally fighter, and it is a beauty. It is modeled sightly after a P-51 mustang, from the high, arching cockpit like drivers stadium, to the rounded hood just like the front end of the plane, It also has the power and prowess to match the plane as well. It dominates anything off road, just like the mustang dominated the skies late in WWII. The exhaust exits the Rally Fighter in the same way as the P-51 does, Just in front of the driver along the side of the fuselage or corner panel (whatever you want to call it). Both sport massive engines respectively. The Rally Fighter has a massive V8 from a corvette. The P-51 had a V12, both engines have one thing in common, they both power the rest of the vehicle to the top of their packs of their times.
With a body made entirely out of fiberglass in-house, local motors looks to be settling into the automotive game very well. After your two weekends of building the car with Local Motors, the car is yours and the world is at your disposal. Or so it may seem that way with this much power capable to go so many different places under your right foot.
Their first car is called the rally fighter, and it is a beauty. It is modeled sightly after a P-51 mustang, from the high, arching cockpit like drivers stadium, to the rounded hood just like the front end of the plane, It also has the power and prowess to match the plane as well. It dominates anything off road, just like the mustang dominated the skies late in WWII. The exhaust exits the Rally Fighter in the same way as the P-51 does, Just in front of the driver along the side of the fuselage or corner panel (whatever you want to call it). Both sport massive engines respectively. The Rally Fighter has a massive V8 from a corvette. The P-51 had a V12, both engines have one thing in common, they both power the rest of the vehicle to the top of their packs of their times.
With a body made entirely out of fiberglass in-house, local motors looks to be settling into the automotive game very well. After your two weekends of building the car with Local Motors, the car is yours and the world is at your disposal. Or so it may seem that way with this much power capable to go so many different places under your right foot.
Hot Rods
A special realm of the car world that many see, but few understand is that of hot rodding. The hot rodding community is filled with many different types of people with one main goal in mind. To make the coolest looking, lightest, fastest and loudest car possible from a pre-1960's car body. The formula for a hot rod is simple.
Step 1- Motor.
Like all major realms of the car world, the motor is a major part of the car, and none more so than hot rodding. The car's motor is what the people seeing the car drive by see, and hear first. Since the hoods at that time ran along a hinge along the middle of the hood, the entire hood must be removed in order for the blower to operate at maximum efficiency. A way that the owners improve the aesthetics of the motor and all of its components is to put chrome on every visible part, that way it does not give off a dirty metallic reflection and instead, it gives off a shiny, clean appearance. The motor and it's appearance are crucial to the success of the car to viewers. Along with it having to be very appealing in appearance, but it also had to sound and be powerful. The most common ways to make a good sound from these cars is to run either side pipes on the car, or have the pipes just angle outwards from the cylinder exhaust valve with no muffler. Trust me, these sound freaking amazing. The other key part to a good motor is the power. Almost every hot rod out there has either a blower or supercharger when running off of gasoline. This is for two main reasons. Superchargers on hot rods look like they fit together than anything else in the world, and that superchargers are great for drag racing. Since all hot rods are only good for straight line speed, why not make it be really good at that one thing?
Step 2- Stance
Next to the motor, stance will make or break a hot rod. These monsters have to be able to not only handle the stresses of high horsepower and torque, but to look good and be safe at the same time. That it why all hot rods' stances are lowered considerably, and the bodies are always "chopped". Chopping is when you take a given amount of the window pillars and then put the top of the roof back on. During this process, many drivers also install roll cages in case the unthinkable happens in a race.
Step 3- Paint
What gives these cars the final amount of uniqueness, is the many custom paint jobs available. Options ranging from metal flake neon paint to flames, to lightning, there are literally too many options to list in the time you have to read this blog. The paint job is the ultimate expression of the driver to the world. Many are the driver's way of flipping 99% of the world the bird, telling it to stuff it and go about it's business. This expression is what so uniquely categorizes hot rodders in the car world.
Step 1- Motor.
Like all major realms of the car world, the motor is a major part of the car, and none more so than hot rodding. The car's motor is what the people seeing the car drive by see, and hear first. Since the hoods at that time ran along a hinge along the middle of the hood, the entire hood must be removed in order for the blower to operate at maximum efficiency. A way that the owners improve the aesthetics of the motor and all of its components is to put chrome on every visible part, that way it does not give off a dirty metallic reflection and instead, it gives off a shiny, clean appearance. The motor and it's appearance are crucial to the success of the car to viewers. Along with it having to be very appealing in appearance, but it also had to sound and be powerful. The most common ways to make a good sound from these cars is to run either side pipes on the car, or have the pipes just angle outwards from the cylinder exhaust valve with no muffler. Trust me, these sound freaking amazing. The other key part to a good motor is the power. Almost every hot rod out there has either a blower or supercharger when running off of gasoline. This is for two main reasons. Superchargers on hot rods look like they fit together than anything else in the world, and that superchargers are great for drag racing. Since all hot rods are only good for straight line speed, why not make it be really good at that one thing?
Step 2- Stance
Next to the motor, stance will make or break a hot rod. These monsters have to be able to not only handle the stresses of high horsepower and torque, but to look good and be safe at the same time. That it why all hot rods' stances are lowered considerably, and the bodies are always "chopped". Chopping is when you take a given amount of the window pillars and then put the top of the roof back on. During this process, many drivers also install roll cages in case the unthinkable happens in a race.
Step 3- Paint
What gives these cars the final amount of uniqueness, is the many custom paint jobs available. Options ranging from metal flake neon paint to flames, to lightning, there are literally too many options to list in the time you have to read this blog. The paint job is the ultimate expression of the driver to the world. Many are the driver's way of flipping 99% of the world the bird, telling it to stuff it and go about it's business. This expression is what so uniquely categorizes hot rodders in the car world.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Drifting
With the entire country blanketed in snow, and the roads as slick as an ice rink, teenagers and other people with under-powered cars with overpowered dreams can rejoice. They can drift about on the roads as they please and they can feel like a race car driver with a bajillion horsepower at their disposal. For the few of us that don't have to wait for old man winter to blanket the roads in order to get a little sideways, I have one thing to say to you. Be thankful.
For those who want to get into the world of drifting, here are some ideas for you. For a car, I would recommend that you get something easy and inexpensive to fix, along with is being rear wheel drive. Rear wheel drive and a good handbrake are key. Another good thing to have is a front-engine car, that way the massive weight of the engine helps keep the front end planted to the ground, thus helping the rear tires break loose easier with less weight in the back of the car. Some of the possible cars that you can easily buy that fit this criteria, include the Chevy s10, ford ranger, ford mustang, chevy camaro, nissan 370z, or the mazda miata.
Once you have made your choice of cars, you are going to want to make some modifications to the car in order for it to be a proper drifting car. The steering struts and supports will need to be replaced with longer traveling steering bars to allow for the driver to hold the drift, along with installing a larger motor, or modifying the existing motor. In cars like the mustang, things like a supercharger will add plenty of power to the motor, but in cars like the missan or the mazda, an engine swap is the best course of action. There are tons of motors and transmissions that can be transplanted into these cars due to sheer availability and the massive space in the engine bay offered by these cars. After this has been done, it is time to go begin practicing your art of getting sideways.
For those who want to get into the world of drifting, here are some ideas for you. For a car, I would recommend that you get something easy and inexpensive to fix, along with is being rear wheel drive. Rear wheel drive and a good handbrake are key. Another good thing to have is a front-engine car, that way the massive weight of the engine helps keep the front end planted to the ground, thus helping the rear tires break loose easier with less weight in the back of the car. Some of the possible cars that you can easily buy that fit this criteria, include the Chevy s10, ford ranger, ford mustang, chevy camaro, nissan 370z, or the mazda miata.
Once you have made your choice of cars, you are going to want to make some modifications to the car in order for it to be a proper drifting car. The steering struts and supports will need to be replaced with longer traveling steering bars to allow for the driver to hold the drift, along with installing a larger motor, or modifying the existing motor. In cars like the mustang, things like a supercharger will add plenty of power to the motor, but in cars like the missan or the mazda, an engine swap is the best course of action. There are tons of motors and transmissions that can be transplanted into these cars due to sheer availability and the massive space in the engine bay offered by these cars. After this has been done, it is time to go begin practicing your art of getting sideways.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Mid-life crisis cars
Something that almost everybody goes through at one point in their life is the midlife crisis. This is most commonly spotted by people buying a fast car, or dying their hair a darker color or getting botox. For women, all three are very common, but for men it should definitely stop after the first thing. What a midlife crisis is all about is when someone is trying to relive their glory days when they have realized that the glory days are over for them.
These cars are the representation of the man's past. Fast, exciting and memorable when you hear about it. If there was no budget associated with a midlife crisis car, then here are a few of the best choices and who they are best for.
Lamborghini Huracan- This is for the man who likes the finer things of the world. He appreciates all regions, but his favorite is the Mediterranean. For other Lamborghinis however, like the Aventador, he could just be a retired rapper looking for a new fix.
1959 Ferrari Testarossa- This man owns the color blue. He has more zeroes in his net worth than some American cities. He probably has also been knighted as well, and enjoys the classic artists. This is no plaything for the whimsical reminiscent old man. This is a statement that the money you earned in your glory days is going to be of good use to you for the rest of your life.
2014 Hennessey Venom GT- For the man who wants to be the fastest. Period. This man was most likely one of two things, a fighter jet pilot who went on to win the lottery. The other option is that he is the lead singer of Aerosmth and he is just insane. Either way, this car is as close as you can get to strapping yourself to a rocket and living from the experience.
And for the alternate cheaper versions...
Mazda Miata- A relatively inexpensive roadster, with good performance attributes and a somewhat decent redesign, the only reason this makes the list is because of its combination of performance for the price value.
Ford SVT Raptor- This truck takes the versatility of a normal truck and take the performance factor up a notch while keeping the price tag under $75k, it is a good option for those looking to go off-road racing, and then having to stop by the Home Depot to pick up a new medicine cabinet and some tile for that new bathroom you and the sons are working on.
Any American Muscle Car- For most of these cars, you can find a reasonably priced american classic that you can drive around, have some fun in and still be comfortable passing it onto your kids when the time comes. There are also endless options provided by aftermarket companies to help customize your ride. If you are lucky and get a manual, you wont have to worry about it being stolen either because nobody dumb enough in this generation to steal a fully registered car won't know how to drive it!
These cars are the representation of the man's past. Fast, exciting and memorable when you hear about it. If there was no budget associated with a midlife crisis car, then here are a few of the best choices and who they are best for.
Lamborghini Huracan- This is for the man who likes the finer things of the world. He appreciates all regions, but his favorite is the Mediterranean. For other Lamborghinis however, like the Aventador, he could just be a retired rapper looking for a new fix.
1959 Ferrari Testarossa- This man owns the color blue. He has more zeroes in his net worth than some American cities. He probably has also been knighted as well, and enjoys the classic artists. This is no plaything for the whimsical reminiscent old man. This is a statement that the money you earned in your glory days is going to be of good use to you for the rest of your life.
2014 Hennessey Venom GT- For the man who wants to be the fastest. Period. This man was most likely one of two things, a fighter jet pilot who went on to win the lottery. The other option is that he is the lead singer of Aerosmth and he is just insane. Either way, this car is as close as you can get to strapping yourself to a rocket and living from the experience.
And for the alternate cheaper versions...
Mazda Miata- A relatively inexpensive roadster, with good performance attributes and a somewhat decent redesign, the only reason this makes the list is because of its combination of performance for the price value.
Ford SVT Raptor- This truck takes the versatility of a normal truck and take the performance factor up a notch while keeping the price tag under $75k, it is a good option for those looking to go off-road racing, and then having to stop by the Home Depot to pick up a new medicine cabinet and some tile for that new bathroom you and the sons are working on.
Any American Muscle Car- For most of these cars, you can find a reasonably priced american classic that you can drive around, have some fun in and still be comfortable passing it onto your kids when the time comes. There are also endless options provided by aftermarket companies to help customize your ride. If you are lucky and get a manual, you wont have to worry about it being stolen either because nobody dumb enough in this generation to steal a fully registered car won't know how to drive it!
Pure Driving
If you are an automotive purist like I can be sometimes and all that you want in a car is an engine, a true manual transmission, two seats, a steering wheel and just a touch of traction control, then this car is the perfect fit for you. The Noble M600 is about as pure as it has ever gotten besides having to buy a legitimate race car.
Now, lets take a look at what makes this thing tick. It is powered by a V8 engine from a Volvo XC-90, with a couple turbochargers added as well. The result is a mind boggling 660 horsepower that sends the car to a staggering 225 miles per hour. The other key reason for the success of this car is because of the light weight, it only weighs about 1,200 kilograms due largely in part to the stainless steel frame, which also cuts down on the price quite a bit compared to those cars made out of carbon fiber instead.
I mentioned that this was a true manual transmission, and by that I meant that the car has three pedals, and a stick in the console. If you need more explaining than that, please kindly exit my blog and go do your research before you come back.
Now, lets take a look at what makes this thing tick. It is powered by a V8 engine from a Volvo XC-90, with a couple turbochargers added as well. The result is a mind boggling 660 horsepower that sends the car to a staggering 225 miles per hour. The other key reason for the success of this car is because of the light weight, it only weighs about 1,200 kilograms due largely in part to the stainless steel frame, which also cuts down on the price quite a bit compared to those cars made out of carbon fiber instead.
I mentioned that this was a true manual transmission, and by that I meant that the car has three pedals, and a stick in the console. If you need more explaining than that, please kindly exit my blog and go do your research before you come back.
Best Spring Break Cars
For thousands of college students, spring break represents some of the last times that they can go out, party their a$$es off and not worry about the rest of the world. For those in high school, or those with younger students, spring break represents a time to get away as a family and enjoy each other. What these two groups have in common besides the obvious fact that they have a break, and that is that they want to make it a memorable break. Now, a good way to start down the right path is to have the right car for the job. Whether it be a beach cruising convertible, or a rugged snow resort transporter, the car plays a key role in spring breaks all across the country.
Now, if you want to be the kind of the beach, and are able to rent a car, then the obvious top choice is the very fast yet very comfortable Ford Mustang. This is probably the most preferred option by spring breakers everywhere for good reasons. It is very inexpensive to rent, yet it still can pack the power of a big motor in a fun package. Oh and also it seats five, well technically 4 plus a "fun sized" friend if you have one. This reborn american classic is what the people want, and the rental companies delivered with.
If your idea of fun includes bringing along more than four and a half friends per car, or if you have more luggage than can fit in a mustang trunk, then the ideal spring break car for you is the Chevy Suburban. This massive party wagon can hold up to eight people with tons of room for cargo in the back. What makes it perfect is the fact that it embodies what spring break is perfectly: Big, loud, can sometimes smell funny, and after the party is over you might not have any money left ( Beware: filling this beast up will cost you a lot of dinero).
When you are wanting to rent something a little more exotic however, to really show off, then you can always rent a super car of your choice. Ranging from Lamborghini Superlegerras, to Aston Martin Vantages, these are the real deal. Just remember that these cars can cost well up to 3,000 dollars to rent for a weekend, and in some cases, even more than that.
Party safe, drink responsibly, but please, have some fun with it.
Now, if you want to be the kind of the beach, and are able to rent a car, then the obvious top choice is the very fast yet very comfortable Ford Mustang. This is probably the most preferred option by spring breakers everywhere for good reasons. It is very inexpensive to rent, yet it still can pack the power of a big motor in a fun package. Oh and also it seats five, well technically 4 plus a "fun sized" friend if you have one. This reborn american classic is what the people want, and the rental companies delivered with.
If your idea of fun includes bringing along more than four and a half friends per car, or if you have more luggage than can fit in a mustang trunk, then the ideal spring break car for you is the Chevy Suburban. This massive party wagon can hold up to eight people with tons of room for cargo in the back. What makes it perfect is the fact that it embodies what spring break is perfectly: Big, loud, can sometimes smell funny, and after the party is over you might not have any money left ( Beware: filling this beast up will cost you a lot of dinero).
When you are wanting to rent something a little more exotic however, to really show off, then you can always rent a super car of your choice. Ranging from Lamborghini Superlegerras, to Aston Martin Vantages, these are the real deal. Just remember that these cars can cost well up to 3,000 dollars to rent for a weekend, and in some cases, even more than that.
Party safe, drink responsibly, but please, have some fun with it.
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