zoomvroom Vehicle repair

Woe of Mows!

My Lord, Woe of Mows!  We can’t mow!  What to do? 

Sorry, I should start a dramatic play blog!  I shall leave that to the Bard.  Our 2007 John Deere L110 Automatic’s (small tractor) mower deck isn’t allowing our mulching cover to attach.  The reason is that the mower deck has hit so many rocks and sticks, that it’s bent out of shape.  When my dad and I were trying to put the mulching cover on, it kept popping out.  We wondered why.  Maybe we weren’t putting it in correctly.  We were stumped. Then, I saw a HUGE dent on the side that had forced the mowing blade to shred (literally) the previous mulching cover. 

Now, we have to detach the whole mower deck and take it to a welder.  Yuck! 

P.S.  I am on vacation next week, so tune in on Tuesday, August 2!  If you tune in on August 2, then you’ll be able to see my road test of heavy machinery!  Come and see what it is on August 2!

zoomvroom Biographies or "the who" in the auto industry, Car Culture

Louis Chevrolet, possibly one of the greatest men in the car industry

Louis Joseph Chevrolet was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland on Christmas Day 1878.  In 1886, his family moved to Beaune, in the Cote-d’Or département (country subdivision) region of France.  It was there that young Louis became interested in autos, or anything that was motorized.  Soon after he moved to Beaune, he got a job in Paris, working for the Roblin Mechanics Shop; where he worked fixing bicycles.  In 1900, he emigrated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  In 1901, he moved from Montreal to New York City as a mechanic.  When he was in Montreal, he was working for the De Doin-Bouton “Mottorete” company (car biz).  In 1902, the company was bought by private shareholders, and Louis lost his job.  About a week after he lost his job, he got a telegram informing him that his father had just died.  He immediately sent back a telegram urging his mother Angelica, and family to come to the U.S.  On May 2, 1902, the Chevrolet family arrived in Brooklyn. 

Eventually, Louis got a job at Fiat in Manhattan, working for the racing team.  In 1903, he watched his first auto race. 

On a sunny and beautiful July 3rd, 1905, Louis Chevrolet married Suzanne Treyvoux.  His honeymoon was in Niagara Falls, in between races. 

Louis had two sons:  Charles Chevrolet, born in 1906; and Alfred Chevrolet, born in 1912. 

Not long before Charles was born, Louis got a job on the Fiat Racing Team.  Louis’ first documented race was on May 20, 1905.  He drove William Wallace’s 90 horsepower Fiat.  He performed considerable mechanical work on it.  Louis beat the previous one-lap mile record, which was 53 seconds.  Louis did it in 52.4.  He then went on to Chicago for an ACA race, where his Fiat developed radiator problems.  At his next race (with a repaired Fiat), he beat Barney Olfield.  Over the next 6 months, he would beat Olfield in 10 out of 11 races. During an early morning practice for the second Vanderbilt Cup, Louis went into a patch of fog and hit a telegraph pole!  Oh, and did I mention that he was driving a 110 horsepower Fiat? 

On March 5th, 1909, Louis and Arthur (his brother) Chevrolet were hired by the Buick Racing Team.  In one of the races that Louis was competing in, he was leading, and his front suspension failed, giving the lead to Harry Grant.  Louis was able to bring the broken Buick to a halt safely. 

In 1917, William C. Durant (founder of GM) thought that ‘Chevrolet’ had a pleasant sound to it.  He then pressured Louis to design a six-cylinder car.  Louis agreed and designed and built the first Chevrolet prototype.  Durant was wise in marketing the car as ” a fast, enjoyable family car designed by a race-car driver!” The car sold quickly.  Unfortunately, Louis’ relationship with Durant was loathing  at best. 

Durant started pressuring Louis to design a lower priced car.  Louis retorted by saying that he did not want his name to be associated with a lower-priced car.  Louis sold his stock in GM to Durant and left, thus leaving an opportunity to become extremely wealthy.  Oops!  Louis went back to racing. 

In 1928, Louis’s brother, Gaston was killed in a tragic racing accident on lap 146 in Beverly Hills, CA.  Louis, overcome by the loss of his youngest brother swore to never race again.  He sold all his race cars, and started to build race-car engines. 

In the stock-market crash of 1929, Louis lost all of his life savings.  He died penniless in 1941, working on a Chevrolet assembly line, making Army trucks. 

Thus ended the life of one of the greatest men in the auto and racing industry. 

Louis was inducted into the National Race Car hall of Fame in 1995.  He was also inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1989.  He is best remembered for so many victories in the early days of auto racing.

zoomvroom Website Reccomendation

Watch Videos of Cars right Before Your Eyes!

Now the title may be confusing, but we can’t watch the movie “Cars” here.  I haven’t figured out how to do that yet (its pretty embarrasing!).  But, I do have a link to a cool website called Car-Videos.com.  It has enjoyable videos of cars, a horsepower and torque definition page, a speed/rpm calculator, and lots of stuff that only God knows about.  This is a great website for the practical car enthusiast.  Here’s the link.  Enjoy.

http://www.car-videos.net/videos/

zoomvroom Tech Talk, The auto dictionary. Look it up here!

Can You Trumpet like an Elephant Motor?

You’re probably thinking “I am NOT going to comment on this post!”  Well, you might want to.  This post is on the infamous “Elephant Motor.” 

The so-called ‘Elephant Motor’ is a 426 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi engine.  It is called the elephant motor because of its huge displacement (the volume of air displaced when the engine is turned a cycle by the pistons – in this casr, 426 ci), and huge power output (425 horsepower).  And that’s only in stock form! 

The Elephant Motor was developed for NASCAR in 1963.  Its first race was in a Plymouth Belvedere, in 1964.  For many years, the 426 Hemi won many races in NASCAR. 

In my opinion, the true Chrysler Elephant Motor is the 440 Six-Pack Hemi.  VROOM!

zoomvroom Car Culture, New car info

My first (and possibly last) cars!

The Bijan Bugatti

You know the old saying “An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor away.”  Well, Here’s another saying: “A Bugatti Veyron a Day Keeps  Sadness away.”  Well, you shouldn’t buy one a day, as your house will be foreclosed on, but imagine if you COULD have one a day! Or how about one for a day?  I can…

But, I think I should get to the point.  When I was recently down in So Cal, I saw not one, but TWO Bugatti Veyron’s!  And, did I mention that I saw them both in 1 day!  Awesome!

One of them was on Rodeo Drive in front of the Bijan store.  Nice…  I couldn’t help but take pictures for you!  I was walking Rodeo Drive with my grandpa Jack, looking for something nice when I spotted the Veyron.  We went across the street and took some pictures.  Grandpa Jack knocked on the Bijan door, and we were beckoned in.  There was a small version of the Veyron inside a glass case.  We were told that it wasn’t for sale, but merely a display.  But, IF you buy a Veyron, Bijan will make a limited-edition Bijan Bugatti Veyron.  Are you Veyron owners listening out there?  I hope so.  I REALLY want a Bugatti like the Bijan one:  Yellow and Black on a black/carbon fiber interior.  Wow.  That car is positively the best-looking car ever!

 

Bijan's Bugatti Model

The other was at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.  I took pictures of that as well.  My mom spotted the one at the Peninsula.  Here’s a funny story that happened while she was taking pictures.  While she was taking pictures of the Bugatti on her phone, a young man came up to her and said “it’s so expensive, it should come with a girlfriend and cover her maintenance costs!”  He then proceeded to also take pictures!  That must have been a cool sight!  Two people next to each other, taking pictures of the second-fastest- and second-most expensive car in the world!  Wow!  The Veyron at the Peninsula is similarly amazing; it is Gray and Black, with the same interior (Bugatti only offers one interior design).

The valet’s don’t know who owns it, because the hotel manager parks it.  He parks it in a spot where you HAVE to look at it!  Nice, huh?  The valets aren’t allowed to tell anybody who owns the Veyron (if they knew).  All they know is that it’s somebody extremely wealthy (or somebody extremely in debt!).  My Grandpa and I went back to see it.  Awe inspiring!

Bugatti Veyron

Are you ready for the spectacular specifications for the Veyron?

– W16 engine:  1001-1200 horsepower, 922-1106 foot-pounds of torque.

– Ricardo 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic:  Shifts in sport mode: as short as 80 milliseconds.

– All-Wheel-Drive:  Torque-vectoring rear axle (only on Super Sport), 3.92:1 rear axle!

With all that horsepower and torque, can you imagine how hard it would be to drive with a six-speed manual transmission?  You’d have to be a Top Fuel Dragster driver (that is with a manual!)  Yikes!

One last picture to leave you with…..

Bugatti Veyron
zoomvroom Humor

A Basket Full of Dreams

Waddaya think of this?  It can definitely hold all the food that my mom has to get when she goes to Costco…  If I can make one, I’ll be REALLY lucky!  This one happened to have a HUGE engine.  My guess is that it was  probably a bored and stroked GM ZZ502 Crate engine.  At least, that’s what it looked like.  It was basically a hot rod chassis with a huge cart body welded onto it.  My guess is that you can probably go up to about 60 mph before you lose control and the milk goes flying!

My dad and I think that the driver and owners have to go through a clutch per parade!  The driver is constantly riding the clutch and revving the engine! I saw this shopping cart at an Independence Day Parade near my house.  Everybody else was riding trailers pulled by concourse-restored tractors!

I know one thing for certain:  It definitely isn’t street-legal!  If it crashed, the driver would take flying lessons!   It might be fun to drive, but I wouldn’t want to drive it onto the trailer.

zoomvroom Book reviews and good reading, Car Culture

What To Do When You’re Stuck in Traffic

Answer: Listen to a good book on tape. 

Have you ever been in the car going somewhere, and stuck in a traffic jam?  I’m sure you have.  I have.  Los Angeles, CA is one of the most congested cities in the U.S., along with New York City and Washington DC. 

The book, “Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do” explores, in-depth, the psychology of traffic.  It discusses why we drive the way we do, and all about traffic patterns.  It is available all over the place (Amazon, Barnes & Noble…).  It’s written by Tom Vanderbilt, an editor for The Economist.  It’s an extremely fascinating book that I highly recommend.

zoomvroom Tech Talk, The auto dictionary. Look it up here!

What’s A Firewall, Dad?

Tech Talk Day!

Well son, a firewall is a wall between the engine and passenger compartments.  With a front-engined vehicle, the firewall is part of the induction cowl, and ahead of the passenger compartment.  With mid or rear- engined cars, it is behind the passenger compartment.

The firewall protects the passenger cabin from an engine fire.  Most firewalls have carbon-fiber in them to protect from the engine flying backward into the passenger compartment.

Way back when, firewalls used to be about an inch thick, and made out of steel.  The only thing that could break them was a bomb or a massive engine fire.  Nowadays, they are about half an inch thick, and extremely strong.

zoomvroom Car Culture, cars and music

Cars, songs & culture

I’m driving in my Pink Cadillac.  NOT!  I’d rather be in a purple Rolls Royce.  Not.  Again.  Today we learn about cars and music (what could go wrong?).  Cars and music go together like bread and butter.  Always have and always will.  What could be better than flying down the highway at 95 mph and listening to rock and roll blasting.  Mom, if you’re reading this, then I am just exaggerating.  Songs refer to cars and show cars in their videos.  They are part of the same culture.

Just like my Beach Boys post,  I have downloaded some songs about cars for you to listen to and watch.  Right below the text is the link for the song I talk about.

First on the playlist is “Drive”, by The Cars.  My mom went to one of their concerts!  Rick Ocasek wrote the lyrics, Robert “Mutt” Lange produced it, and the lead vocals were by bassist and lead vocalist Benjamin Orr.  This video is from their 1979 tour. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6avuh3K_70

“Drive My Car” by The Beatles.  This video is from the tour when the song debuted.  A woman tells a man that she is going to be a famous movie star.  She also offers him to be her chauffuer, adding “and maybe I’ll love you.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ts2U1mkfz4

“Fast Car”, by Tracy Chapman.  Its a good song.  Its about a poor girl who’s mother divorces her alcoholic father.  She (the girl) then marries a man who, despite having a job at a grocery store, falls into poverty and depression.  He then starts drinking.  She tells him to “get into his fast car and drive away.” It’s a sad song.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfqEisOIMJc

“Car Song” by Woody Guthrie.  Yeah, I know he did folk music, so this IS folk music.  Original folk music.  You’ll see.  Period.  End of sentence.  I dare you to NOT crack up when he does car noises!  (I want to see if you think this is funny!)  Trivia moment!  Did you know that Woody was an Okie?   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUDtFdnn9oQ

“Pink Cadillac” is by Nat King Cole’s daughter, Natalie Cole.  It has great dancing, a Cadillac and awesome music.   It is filmed at a gas station!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FdAO1JgvA0

Aretha Franklin performs this song, “Freeway of Love.”  It gives you nice views of Detroit, funny clips of some cars, and of course, Aretha!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip_pjb5_fgA

I’m sure many of you have either heard this song, or heard of it.  It is “Little Red Corvette”, by Prince.  It was the second music video performed by an African-American artist (the first was Michael Jackson with Billie Jean). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS70tCPP-_4

Gary Numan performs this song, “Cars.”  It’s a teensy bit on the sci-fi (make that A LOT a bit) side of music.  Its fun.  It’s got a futuristic feel, and a techno beat.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldyx3KHOFXw

This is a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s song, “Fire” done by the Pointer Sisters.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRCydGQvvE4

Bruce Springsteen does this nice music video of “I’m on Fire.”  It doesn’t refer to cars, but I’ve included it because of the ’58 T-Bird Convertible.  Sweet ride!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRCydGQvvE4

Rascal Flatts sings “Life is a Highway.”  The group did the songs for the movie, “Cars.”  It’s about driving the highway of life.  I really think that you’ll enjoy it.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRCydGQvvE4

Of course, this wouldn’t be a post without “Route 66”, by Nat King Cole.  Route 66 was the “Main Street of America” for over 40 years.  On a personal level, you can see lots of old cars, scenery, and possibly the best, the Sno-Cap Diner in Seligman, AZ.  I know I did.   Enjoy this video.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCYApJtsyd0

And one of my personal favorite songs, “I Can’t Drive 55”, by Sammy Hagar.  It’s a really fun video with a Ferrari.  The video ends with Sammy putting the Ferrari in first gear, and putting the pedal to the metal.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k

I hope that you’ll start a playlist titled “Candler’s Car Songs”!  If you do, then I’ll be your personal DJ!  Hopefully, you’ll listen to them and maybe download them to your iPod (I would, except I’m waiting for an iTunes account, mom!).

zoomvroom The auto dictionary. Look it up here!, The History of Autos

Are You Taxing MY Chickens?

For those of you who know me, I have chickens (but my sister tends them along with her flock).  According to the title of this post, you COULD be taxing my chickens, but let’s be positive.  Well, this isn’t a chicken blog, but a car blog.  So how does a chicken tax relate to cars?

What in the world do chickens and trucks have to do with each other?  Apparently a lot.  The chicken tax has been in action in the U.S., since 1963.  If foreign automakers sell trucks not built in North America, than the automaker will have to pay a 25% “chicken tax.”  The term originated when, in 1963, Germany imposed a heavy tax on frozen chickens coming from the U.S. to Germany.  The U.S. retorted by imposing the chicken tax on any foreign-built pickup truck, or other small truck coming into the U.S.  This also applies to vans, as they are built on truck platforms.

The chicken tax forced Honda, Toyota and Nissan to build their trucks here.  But, the chicken tax is imposed on the Ford Transit Connect (a small car-based platform, cargo van).  After figuring out a loophole, Ford decided to use it as a solution to the chicken tax problem.  The Transit Connect comes to America with the rear seats in.  This qualifies it as a station wagon.  Ford realizes that most Transit Connects will be sold in the cargo van configuration, so the rear seats are ripped out of most and sent to a company, where the steel from the seats will be recycled, and the remaining part of the seats will be sent to the dump.  How green can Ford be?  Pretty tricky….

The other truck that is in danger of the chicken tax is a Mahindra pickup truck.  The Indian firm, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is in high hopes of selling their pickup stateside by December 2011.  But, there is the chicken tax.   The plans are to have complete kits of the truck sent to the U.S., and then be assembled in a plant in Ohio; thus avoiding the chicken tax.  That’s pretty smart, and green!

Even though there are very few American frozen chickens in Germany, the chicken tax is still there.  At least no one is taxing my chickens!