Autos
Autocross:
Event Journal
Pics From Events
Project NX
Photos:
My Favorites:
My Reviews:
Tires:
Yokohama AVID T4
Dunlop D60 A2
Autos:
'00 Nissan Xterra
'99 Grand Cherokee V8
Commentary:
Kelway's Guide to Waxing
Cars I Have Owned:
(from 1st to last)
'89 Nissan P/U
'87 Supra Turbo
'89 Camaro RS V8
'84 Z28
'72 K-5 Blazer
'85 IROC-Z28
'87 Integra GS
'85 MR2
'93 Altima GXE
'92 NX2000
'00 Xterra
'93 Mercury Villager
New: My NX2000 Flash Website
New: Project NX2000
Autocross
5-5-02-
Rick Honeycutt Event - Chattanooga Region SCCA - I figure seat time is the only way to truly get faster, so I thought I would make this trip. I still have....
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4-28-02-
Oak Ridge Mall - This was my first run in STS, and my first with the Azeni's. Weather was OK, but really windy. This was not for points, but....
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3-17-02-
Oak Ridge Mall - IT RAINED. AND RAINED. THE TYPE OF RAIN you don't even like to drive in, much less autocross in....
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3-3-02-
Farragut HS - THE SECOND EVENT IS MORE FUN than the first. All of the first time jitters are gone, you kinda know where to go, what to do...
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9-24-01-
AUTOCROSS IN OAK RIDGE. Autocrossing is the test of all that you think you know about driving fast. Knowing how to drive is one thing, but actually being able to drive is an entirely different story...
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ETRSCCA- East Tennessee Region SCCA Website - For events, locations, and info. I am in STS this year.
9-4-01- MY BEST FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL races motorcycles now. He calls to tell me every little detail from the past weekend of racing against the likes of Ducati's, SV's, and Aprilla's. With a sick feeling in my stomach I salivate over each word, like a pothead watching a drug bust. My uncle, also one of my best friends, just bought an unbelievable, Satin (or Satan, if you wish) Black, 1100cc, Honda CBR Blackbird; I pretend to be uninterested, walking by non-chalantly, all the while I am memorizing burglar alarm security codes, locations of keys, points of entry and exit, and work schedules for Plan A,while devising a scenario in which the keys fall into my hands and I fake my own death in a mysterious biking accident in which the body nor bike are ever recovered, for Plan B. My son, who is every bit of one and a half years old, will not let a day go by in which he does not point out everything on two wheels that he catches out of any corner of his tiny (well, not really... his head is huge) eyes, saying with a boisterous exclamation," Da Da! Da Da! MOTOCYYYY!!!" And get this; even my WIFE, my rational half, the one who keeps me from doing stupid stuff, the one that causes me to drive a minivan, the one who is supposed to despise these boyish instruments of virility and wantoness, actually WANTS me to get one, telling me how sexy I would be riding it. Talk about pressure. Either I need a motorcycle, or everyone wants me dead.
8-6-01- OH, HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN. I have done one of the many things I said I would never do. I have delved into uncharted territory, and given up the notion of trying to appear youthful and unburdened. No longer am I able to look upon others in disgust for their heresy, as I have now, also, committed the unforgivable sin of automotive enthusiasm; I have bought a minivan. To my amazement, however, the planets did not collide, the Earth did not shake violently, nor did fire rain down from the sky; I simply sat down in the 8-way power adjustable seat with inflatable lower lumbar support, and drove away, looking out through the rearview mirror, over the 3rd row bench seat that folds down and slides forward past the removable 2rd row seat to accommodate large cargo, at my pride, waving goodbye from the dealership lot. And though I did sin, I found myself saying, "This is really, quite nice." Any criticizm will not be heard unless you have 3+ children.
Mercury Villager- It's like wearing jogging pants to the store; You just don't care what people think, anymore.
COMMENTARY
CARS ARE FUNNY THINGS. They are nameless, lifeless pieces of steel; forged by the
thousands, of elements extracted from the Earth's crust; assembled mostly by other nameless, lifeless pieces of steel.
Vociferous power tools, presses, wrenches and mallets, are used to assemble the thousands of various components that must work together to serve their purpose. Yet by the time the machine reaches the end of the assembly line, it is not a cold, inanimate collection of individual parts;
Somewhere along the line it is given a soul. Who knows at what point it gains consciousness? Is it when it has achieved the ability it to roll across the earth with it's broad, meticulously designed wheels, the simplest, yet greatest invention known to
man? Or when the glossy enamel is applied to it's curved skin, transforming it's exterior from a shell to a body. Most likely, Its when the heart is implanted, allowing it to inhale and exhale,
to consume and expel, generating warmth and motion, and giving it a voice. Designed to sweep through the air that tries to impede, the body reflects the love of it's designer and the function of it's form, while the interior, swathed in leather and polished metals welcomes and accomodates the one
who turns the key. Each make, each model, each origin of birth having it's own personality, feeling and soul. The throaty, thunderous rumble of the American V-8 pulling from it's bottom-end; the shrill, frenetic screaming of a Japanese 2 liter near redline; the stirring tenor of an Italian thoroughbred rowing through it's gears; Few things in the world stir a man's soul like the melodious, mechanical clamor of one of these finely honed instruments at full song.
End Commentary
Things I have Learned
I HAVE OWNED my fair share of cars (12 so far). Some have been excellent, some...well, not so much. I've replaced everything from gas tanks to carburators, head lights to tail pipes. I love to work on cars, but would rather do it as a project, rather than out of necessity (which is usually the case). It seems that I always screw something up once, before I get it right, but I guess that's a good way to learn what not to do. Here are a few tips from my experiences:
- Never loosen a bolt on a transmission if you aren't sure that it's the right one.
What I learned: One bolt can completely immobilize a car. - Never completely loosen a fuel filter while laying directly under it.
What I learned: Just add fire, and you could easily do a great impression of Richard Pryor. - Always double check lug nuts for tightness.
What I learned: Loose lugs sink trucks (to roughly paraphrase a WWII slogan). - Never drive through town with open headers.
What I learned: An '89 Camaro will sound like a '73 Ford pickup, prompting women at traffic lights to casually, yet swiftly raise their windows, not to mention extra attention from authority figures and rednecks. - Never try to change a starter in an uncovered driveway, just before a rainstorm.
What I learned: Craftsman will not replace tools due to rust; Laying on the ground in a rainstorm sucks. - Never try to weld on body panels with a high-powered MIG welder, if it's your first try at welding.
What I learned: Sheetmetal makes good modern art. - Never touch a brake rotor immediately after heavy use.
What I learned: Fingerprints can melt while still on fingers.
- Always follow the manufacturers instructions when installing High-powered driving lights
What I learned: A smoldering fuse box can quickly make your car look like it should be in a Cheech and Chong movie.
My Wishlist
I'LL PROBABLY STICK WITH my current ride ('92 NX 2000) for a while. It might not look very menacing, but this turbocharged, 300hp (give or take about 160hp, and the turbo), monster will scorch just about anything. OK, so it's no speed demon, but it is fun, and you don't see many like it. I like cars that are uncommon, that people have to ask, “What kind of car is that?” I'm saving up for a 2 wheeler, for now, but I really like cars better than bikes; they just have more substance & character. Due to my current financial situation, I have also decided that I won't trade, again, until I can pay cash for the difference (or at least a decent chunk of it).
WHAT KIND OF CAR will I get, when I do decide to trade? I haven't decided. There are so many I would love to have, but I just don't know which I go for next. I've made a list of cars I will probably be shopping for, in my probable price range (in no particular order); Check it out:- Acura Integra Type R- $12K- $15K
- Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS- $12-$15K
- Mazda Miata- $5K- $10K
- '91+ Toyota MR2 Turbo- $8K- $10K
- '91+ Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo- $10K- $15K
- '94+ Toyota Supra Turbo- $15K- $20K
- '92+ Mazda RX-7- $10K- $15K
They may be out of my price range, but you neva' know. I like the 300Z the best. Ideally, I would like to save up about $30K, and buy an R32 Skyline GT-R from Motorex, but I don't think I could hold out that long; I know myself too well. If I had $12K in the bank, I know I would spend it on the first, good, low-mileage 300Z TT I came across.
IF I WERE BUYING A NEW CAR, with a budget of, say, $25K, I would have to say I would go with the '01 Subaru WRX. I love that thing. I always wanted the 2.5 RS, but they really did it with the WRX. 227HP, AWD & Rally Car suspension seem to beckon my name. The new Sentra SE-R Spec V will be pretty sweet, and cheaper, too, though not as powerful. But, then again the '02 Acura RSX sounds awesome... 8000 rpm's does something to a man's head.
