As we sit back and enjoy this holiday season, I took a moment to reflect upon the season and it reminded me that Motorsports isn’t something that most people just wake up one day and are immediately interested in. It is rooted in our childhoods… It starts out with car noises and Tonka trucks. #vroom-vroom-errrr-vroooooom. Unwrapping those basic toddler toy cars, dump truck or tractor – many of which are not the most accurate replica of their real life counter parts – got us excited about cars. Those toys and stocking-stuffers we received were just the fuel we needed to ignite a life-long passion.
The next step into car culture was through hot wheels and matchbox cars! – These scaled down vehicles were so realistic to us, not only did they have real-life cars but they had their own crazy concepts! I remember admiring and day dreaming about designs of my own. It showed us we could think outside of the (match)box and my brother and I had an entire matchbox village as kids!
Some of us were fortunate enough to build “model cars” as a hobby. This was our first chance to customize a vehicle and make it our own. It could be any paint scheme we wanted and a blank canvas for our imagination! Some kits even came with parts to build a stock or souped up version and some kits came with multiple cars, JACKPOT! – early LS-swap-all-the-things!
For most of us big wheels, scooters, and bicycles were our original Motorsports options! – There were plenty of races in my neighborhood among the kids. We would ride our bicycles and pretend to be on a motorcycle either making the noises by mouth or adding a baseball card to the spokes. And I have to point out, Big Wheels = Front Wheel Drive.
Those of us brave enough would even try to hit those sweet jumps!
Taking it to the next level, some of us had a dirt bike, 3 wheeler, ATV, or go kart. If we didn’t have one of our own we would jump on the chance to go to the neighborhood kids house that did have one!
Later we began to have control over cars with remote/radio controlled cars, slot cars, or even video games. Being a kid in the ’80s for me ExciteBike and RC ProAM for the original Nintendo were my go to racing games. It goes without saying, but video games have improved drastically in comparison to what was available back then!
Gran Tourismo was like nothing many of us had ever seen when it was first released.
Realistic damage, tire wear, fuel consumption, and drafting were real-life racing concepts that we had never seen in games before. This was a huge step towards making it more than just “an arcade game.” Today we can play against multiple individuals from all around the world, a huge change from two player split-screen mode on a 13″ CRT! With “photo-realistic graphics” and 4K the games look absolutely breath-taking!
Even after we got our drivers licenses we would journey out in our snail paced jalopies as if they were a race car on the back roads. The desire to be part of Motorsport was always there no matter what we were behind the wheel of! – Gifts in those days might have included tickets to a major race, monster jam, or sharing an experience with friends and family at car shows or other upcoming car-related gatherings.
… and buying more pickup trucks than any other state is just one more thing to add to that list. One out of every 4 vehicles sold in Texas are pickups. So it makes perfect sense that Ford choose Houston, the 4th largest city in the US, as the place to show off the new (2019) Ford Ranger.
NE Region Chief Harry B tipped us off to this exclusive event, and we were keen to check out it. Being a sports car enthusiast, I don’t generally get excited about new truck lines, but when you frame it in the context of “Could this be a new alternative for a track day toy hauler?” – you have my attention. Being more of a Mopar fan, the reintroduction of the “Comanche“ is more my style, but I have always appreciated the Ranger, so #sendit.
Ford introduced the Ranger in 1983, and discontinued production in the US/Canada of the 3rd generation (above) Rangers in 2011. Much like the return of the Bronco (slated for 2020), people have been waiting 8 years for the Ranger’s return to America even though the 4th generation Ranger has been available in Europe since 2015.
In some cases it seems like manufacturers have divided their national truck marketing into North, East, West, and Texas. With slogans like “Built Texas Tough” – “Built by Texans for Texans” – and various Texas inspired special editions like Ford’s F350 “King Ranch”, Chevy’s “Texas Edition” Silverado and let us not forget Dodge’s “Lone Star Edition” 2500. But compared to the fully decked out pickups like the F-250, Silverado and Ram 2500 many with Power Stroke, Duramax or Cummins diesel engines dominating the roads in Texas, how does the smaller Ranger compare?
The 2019 Ford Ranger, at a glance…
Powered by a 2.3 litre, Eco-boost (turbo), 4-cylinder which is currently shared with the Focus RS and Mustang, mated with an all-new 10-speed Automatic Transmission.
Ford has re-tuned the 2.3 Eco-boost with different cams, a forged crankshaft, and purpose-driven engine software for better towing/torque numbers producing 275 bhp and 310 ft.lbs. The engine is peppy but even if they pumped V8 acoustics into the cabin like other car manufacturers have allegedly done, there’s no denying it’s still a 4-cylinder. The transmission is exceptionally smooth, making it hard to know when its shifting and what gear it’s holding.
There is no diesel option for the Ranger like there is in Europe, rumor has it that the 2.7 litre Eco-boost used in the Lincoln MK-X, Ford Edge, and others may be available later.
You’ll have to wait even longer for the “Raptor” version of the Ranger, *maybe* after the Bronco debuts.
Ford is boasting “best-in-class” towing against the Chevy Colorado and Toyota Tacoma at 7500#. The Ford reps contend that if you compare the other offerings against the Ranger it comes out on top. “To get the same towing capacity you have to get the V6 in the Tacoma and the Diesel in the Colorado.”
Speaking with the folks that have been driving these pre-production Rangers across America, the Rangers have been averaging 25 MPG in real-world conditions. “Towing a nearly 7000# enclosed trailer at 70 mph the Ranger is getting about 9.5 MPG” – boasts one of the drivers.
The Ranger comes with a Class 4 hitch as well as trailer brake controller and 7 & 4-pin connectors.
You are locked in with the spring/braking package that Ford has chosen, there is no “HD” option currently.
The FX4 package (as driven) comes with a slightly more off-road appearance package, under cladding, smash bar and skid plate along with 8.9″ of ground clearance over the base ride height of 8.4″ The 4×4 system keeps the Ranger in 2H (2-wheel-drive High) unless you turn the dial to select 4L/4H.
The FX4 package also comes with an “automatic hill ascent” (and descent) feature. Part of the Ranger test day was a 22-degree climb that was completely controlled by the off-road system. Leveraging the cruise/braking systems to cross the hump without the need of driver.
The 210″ overall length makes the Ranger a couple inches shorter than its competitors. During the “turning radius exercise” part of our test drive, I was impressed to see that the Ranger has an extremely tight turning circle, better than most SUVs and trucks in its class. By comparison, it turns like a small econo-box making it easy to maneuver and park.
The Ranger will be offered in crew and extended cab versions.The Crew Cab version comes with a shorter 5 foot bed; while the extended cab version will gain you back ~1.5′ of cargo space.
Rear seating in the crew cab (4-door) was just enough to let me sit behind my myself. Had it not been for the beveled seat backs (seen below) my knees would have been against the seat, and more importantly at 5’11”, anyone taller either up front or in back would have been in for a tight fit.
There are currently no sunroof options for the Ranger.
The interior of the Ranger is very similar to the outgoing Ford Fusion that I recently reviewed.
It even shares the Fusion’s same instrument cluster and SYNC-3 system – and No Tach!
The Ranger will be offered in XL, XLT (as test driven) and Lariat versions, with a starting price of $32k and a “fully loaded” price tag closer to $45k. Pre-orders are already being filed, and most dealerships will be receiving the more plush versions of the Ranger first, meaning “economy and work-truck” versions will have to be special ordered.
The Ranger is easy to drive, and doesn’t feel like a Truck. It drives well, visibility is good and it’s rather comfortable. Comparing it to 2nd & 3rd generation Rangers which were parked in the lot close-by, the new Ranger is size-wise on par with older F150s – It’s by no means the “small pickup” we remember. Ride comfort aside, the engine – though peppy – is still a turbo-4 that makes you realize how heavy the Ranger is. But 25 MPG from a Truck this size with a gas engine isn’t anything to sneeze at, but I think it may have been better suited with the 2.7 litre eco-boost right out of the box. The 4-cylinder does make sense, *if* you’re going to use the Ranger as your primary vehicle with occasional trips to the hardware store and camping/fishing trips on the weekend. I would not rush to trade in my SUV for the Ranger as a “family hauler” alternative either.
That being said, if I were in the market for a Truck and knowing my audience and what we do with our rigs… I would much rather have a lower end model F-150, and here’s why: with a 4-door (super cab) and 5.5′ bed, the base F-150 with the 3.3 litre eco-boost clocks in at $34k (using Fords Build & Price app) and carries a 10,000# towing capacity. Despite being physically larger, the F-150 is a much more versatile every day truck. It can be used to pull your track toy/camper, go to work, haul your family and the dog, or be used as a company work vehicle. But what if you don’t want something as large as an F-150?– Knowing owners of and experiencing the Duramax version of the Colorado firsthand, I see that as a better alternative (despite the heavy upfront price tag) to the Ranger, if you’re looking for a smaller “do everything” pickup; and that’s mainly because of the Ranger’s current engine.
I feel that the Ranger is a “great but late” alternative into the smaller pickup vertical when compared to its class members the Colorado and the Tacoma. The best of luck to Ford, because “If you can make it in Texas, you can make it anywhere” – twisting the phrase originally coined for New Yorkers – because that’s the challenge laid out for the Ranger.
Have you ever looked at the back of a car and just wondered about all the alphabet soup that manufactures lather all over it? Or wasted time pondering what “Arteon” or some other bizarro model name is supposed to convey? Or better still – where did the brand name come from? Well, in this not-so-much an article but a reference guide and we’ve compiled a list for you! — **You can help us update this list by using this form (must be signed in to access).
Manufacturer
Badge
Meaning
Additional Comments
Volvo
XC
Cross-Country
Volkswagen
CC
Concept Coupe
Volkswagen
Scirocco
Name of a Wind
Scirocco - is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and can reach hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe, especially during the summer season.
Volkswagen
4motion
All Wheel Drive
4motion is the successor to Syncro; which is VWs version of All Wheel Drive.
Volkswagen
Syncro
All Wheel Drive
VWs original version of All Wheel Drive.
Volkswagen
TDI
Turbo-Diesel Direct Injection
Volkswagen
GLI
Grand Luxury Injection
VARIOUS
R/T
Road and Track
Used by Chrysler and Dodge for their mid-level performance vehicles
VARIOUS
GTI
Gran Touring Injection
Volkswagen, Peugeot and others have used the "GTI" badge on several models
VARIOUS
GTO
Gran Turismo Omologato
Grand Tourer Homologated - In English; Used by Ferrari originally, then Pontiac in the 1960s.
VARIOUS
HD
Heavy Duty
VARIOUS
AWD
All Wheel Drive
VARIOUS
4x4
Four Wheel Drive
4x4 is usually a "switchable" system where the vehicle can operate in 2 wheel drive (usually rear wheel drive) and then the remaining 2 wheels can be engaged for 4 wheel drive. 4WD and AWD are generally not the same system.
VARIOUS
S
Sport
Any car with an "S" badge is usually a "Sport" model/trim
VARIOUS
T
Turbo
Many cars with turbo engines will have a 1.8T, 2.0T, 2.5T, etc on them. the T stands for "turbocharged"
VARIOUS
R
Racing
Many manufacturers use an "R" badge to denote their "race derived" packages/trim level or homologated vehicles.
VARIOUS
FLEXFUEL
This motor can use different Fuel Types
The motors ability to run different GASOLINE fuel types: from standard unleaded to E85.
VARIOUS
Limited
Refers to a trim/visual package.
Often abbreviated to LT, LTD or LE
VARIOUS
4WD
Four Wheel Drive
Toyota
Camry
Crown
The name "Camry" is an Anglicized phonetic transcription of the Japanese word kanmuri (ja:冠, かんむり), meaning "crown"
Toyota
MR-2
mid-ship, run-about, 2-seater
Toyota
TRD
Toyota Racing Development
Toyota
SR5
Sports Rally 5-speed
Used to mean Sports Rally 5-speed; but now stands for an upgrade package
Subaru
STi
Subaru Technica International
Subaru's Highest Performing vehicles are badged STi
I have never been less excited to test drive a car than I was on my recent trip to San Antonio, TX. I had psyched myself up… gettin’ a Challenger, I want a Challenger, HEMI!, gonna be awesome! #sendit! – With none available on the lot and utterly heartbroken, I was handed the keys to a brand new…
FORD.FUSION.HYBRID.
Grrrrrrreat! – And when I say new – I mean new-new – it had 24 miles on the odometer! Exciting? Inspiring? Something you wanted to spend your spare cycles reading about, right!? Probably not, but hear me out. Normally, I wouldn’t bother everyone reviewing something a mundane as your run-of-the-mill “rental turd” but by now, you’ve probably heard the news: earlier this year Ford Motor Co. announced that it had decided to discontinue any vehicle in its line up that isn’t a Truck or the Mustang.
I’ve never spent any real time with any of the newer Ford models outside of the Mustang and the Focus RS, let alone Hybrids of any brand. On a theoretical level, there is nothing inherently wrong with these new “green technologies.” I can appreciate the engineering leaps that were taken from the days of the GM EV-1, Tesla Roadster, and others to get them to where they are today. But “green-tech” is not something I tend to geek out over. Spending an entire week with the Fusion would leave some lasting first impressions and hopefully prove to be an educational experience.
But before everyone clicks away screaming Blasphemer! It’s Voodoo, pure Witch-craft! I’m not going to waste your precious attention on a campaign of “electric vs petrol” but rather spend a moment talking about a car that is about to become extinct.
The Geeky Stuff
The Fusion Hybrid comes equipped with a 2.0L iVCT Atkinson-cycle I-4 engine and 88kw electric motor, featuring electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT).Whaaa? Whooo? Where? #blindedwithscience. #turboencabulator.
The Fusion boasts an all-electric top speed of 85 mph and 21-mile range on a full charge. And the MPG figures? – Well… we’ll talk more about fuel economy numbers later in this article. Meanwhile, the Jean-Luc Picard inspired “ENGAGE” menu (below) is the only useful feedback from the vehicle outside of the Speedometer on the dash.
Since there is no tachometer and the motor is utterly silent unless you’re ringing its neck, the “Engage” menu acts as your power monitor and rev-counter. From what I could gather, each tic-mark on the petrol side was about 1000 rpm, which meant a low red-line of around 5k. The electric motor can assist the gas engine up to about 70% (3000 rpm) when you put the hammer down. Again, rough calculations put this engine at a cruise RPM of just under 2k at 75 mph (which is the speed limit on I-10 West in TX) which makes for a pretty decent final drive on this 6-speed automatic.
When EV is 100% engaged, the menu turns blue with a small “EV” in the center and gives you a “real time” MPG metric. The real-time MPG stuff is a bit of a laugh in my opinion, but I will say there is very little latency in the UI (user interface) when the menu is switching between readouts.
Driveability
From a purely performance perspective – the Fusion Hybrid is … “a gutless wonder.”
Someone wiser than me once said: “Horsepower is what you hear, and torque is what you feel” – none of which applies to this car. When solely propelled by the electric motor (at lower speeds) the vehicle feels like a golf cart. When the gas engine is 100% active the Mazda 2.0L is too weak to get out of its own way. Thankfully, Ford has effectively leveraged the electric motor to assist the gas engine on long hills, lane changes, etc., giving the driver a sensation similar to “turbo torque.” The system switches between Gas and Electric seamlessly, and the entire engine bay is generally so quiet you can’t tell when the motor is turning on/off or transitioning.
During the long drive from Houston to San Antonio, I took the opportunity to test out another feature of the Fusion: ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control). Generally, with automatics I’ve always felt that unless you had “decent power” standard cruise control was always an exercise in futility. The cruise system waits too long to adapt speed, you end up feverishly tapping buttons to get it to react and there is always a delay in the transmission kick down, it kicks down too far and then the engine starts to scream to maintain speed. In my opinion, it makes for a very obnoxious ride.
ACC is a feature that I have on my daily-driver but have never used. Being “old school” and hearing some horror stories about ACC systems, I’ve never wanted to try it. Since my vehicle lets me disable ACC and use standard cruise, I’ve opted for that. But since this wasn’t my car … #sendit #rentalinsurance.
Ford’s ACC gives you 3 “following distance” settings, each measuring approximately 1 car length (plus/minus a couple feet). I choose to use the “1” option to try and keep up with the flow of traffic and make my test more realistic. The ACC works for the average driver but it also has some “unusual side effects”:
ACC will come to a complete stop if the car in front of you does as well, and it will take off again when they do… Just don’t forget that when you come to a stop light/sign you might want to turn off the ACC else the car tries to pull out into traffic. OOPS!
Situational awareness is key with the ACC. If you’re not paying attention you will follow the car in front… for a long time… at 20 miles under the limit. Grrrr.
If a car cuts in front of you, the accident awareness system kicks in and the system puts on the breaks – hard! One question I still don’t have an answer for: If the car is stopping for you, are your brake lights on? – Always remember to check your mirrors!
Lane changes. If you come up on a slower vehicle and you’re within range the ACC will slow the car down, and when you stick your nose out to pass there is a delay before the ACC starts accelerating, which means, there best not be anyone making an approach in the left lane or they will have to slow down to avoid you.
Overall, I found the ACC to be more stressful than standard cruise control. I felt as though I needed to babysit it more and that took focus away from the road. Using standard cruise control, I could just pay attention and override the system with either the gas or the brakes. If this is any indication of what “self-driving” cars will be like, I’ve decided … I just don’t feel like it is something for me.
And the last bit of tech that influences the driveability is “the Coach”(above). Sadly, the Coach isn’t voiced by Craig T. Nelson, but the system is supposed to help you learn how to drive your Hybrid more efficiently. I have to admit that driving a Hybrid is a very different experience than a petrol car, there is a bit of a disconnect from you and the engine bay. The braking coach was especially entertaining in the beginning, when I learned that very long “limousine stops” would gain you higher percentages (points!) than hard stops. I tested this out and a panic stop from higher speed would net you about 25% energy return even though you were using “more brakes.” Double braking is also a no-no. At first it was a game: how many times can I get 90+%? Can I get to 100%? – but like anything new, the shiny object becomes dull and you move on. #gimmick. Note: You *must* come to a complete stop for the Coach to register a value!
Creature Comforts
The Fusion interior is pretty well sorted and spacious. Nothing is really out of place where you say to yourself “why the heck did they put *that* >>> there?” It has a familiar quasi-european-econo feel to it, but borrows many of the angular cues and coloring from the Focus line. Some pieces of the interior – though not important to the operation of the car – feel like Ford was trying too hard to make it “different” when they didn’t need to. If you get the chance to look at the upper part of the dash in person, you’ll know exactly what I am talking about. I much prefer smooth lines, and honestly thought the center arm rest was one of the nicest accent pieces in the car (above).
I have never been one to get excited about Stereo systems or MFI (multi-function interfaces) in vehicles but they are now a big part of the design of modern interiors. Coming from a vehicle equipped with uConnect (voted one of the best MFIs available) it was hard to get adjusted to the Ford Sync system. Others might argue otherwise, but a big let down for me was the recent update to the Sync. Ford broke it’s relationship with Microsoft, and in doing so broke their MFI. The stereo is by Sony which sounds great, and is quite on par with other manufacturers who offer Bose or Hardon-Karmon systems in their vehicles. Sadly, the entire interface for the Sync looks and feels like a Sony blue-ray player UI from 2009. The coloring is bland and some of the menu navigation is clunky.
Depending on how you use this car, this next part might be a deal breaker for you. Using the graphic above from Fords website to help illustrate my point, you will notice that the battery system for the Hybrid was retro-fitted to an existing chassis design. This design already accommodates both a FWD and AWD drivetrain which robs the vehicle of valuable cargo space. The addition of the batteries creates a rather tall shelf in the trunk. Placing a medium-sized check-luggage and a backpack in the trunk filled up the entire space. You can place some smaller Amazon boxes on top of the battery shelf if you need to but that’s going to be about it.
Final Thoughts
The Good
I am always pleased when a manufacturer decides to just create an “engine swap” chassis instead of making their new tech vehicle look like something out of Minority Report (ie: Prius, Tesla 3, etc) – the Fusion is a typical sedan which is available in other configurations like a 2.5L 4-cylinder and a V6 option instead of the Hybrid – and lets not forget FWD and AWD variants.
The Fusion, though not as pretty as the recently departed Chrysler 200, takes it’s VW Passat-CC inspired low roof line and places the front seats low enough that it has good head height for taller folks along with great visibility and not much in the way of blind spots.
Although the seats in my rental car were (p)leather with some bolstering giving them a “sporty” look, they proved to be quite comfortable on the long drive.
I have never been a fan of CVT transmissions, they always give you a “clutch is slipping” sensation. The CVT in the Fusion is surprisingly smooth.
I put about 800 miles on the Fusion after nearly a week with the car, and spent a total of $23 on fuel.
Huge incentives from Ford if you can grab one of these vehicles before they are gone.
The Meh…
There is a definite disconnect between the “go pedal” and the engine compartment. Considering one pedal is controlling two different types of power supplies, it’s something you definitely have to get used to.
Lots of little tech-gimmicks which you can take/leave/trust, that’s entirely up to you.
Very small fuel tank, about 12 gallons. 21 miles of range on battery only.
On paper the MPG/eMPG numbers make the Fusion look amazing “43 city/41 hwy/42 combined mpg – 104 city/ 91 hwy/ 97 combined MPGe” – The reality is mid-to-high 40s as a cumulative average city/hwy is definitely achievable.
Even though the Fusion has two control stalks (one for wipers/cruise and the other for turn signals) there placement seems to be more for someone that drives with their hands at 10 & 2, making them out of place and harder to reach if you drive with your hands lower on the steering wheel.
Honestly, the handling isn’t anything to write home about, the car feels heavy and the suspension is soft.
The brakes are good, but I think people might be encouraged to overuse them to get the 100% recharge return from the Coach. This equates to wearing out the pads more quickly. You have to find a balance in your driving so you can regen some power without driving like your Grandpa, else you’ll drain the batteries in no time (in EV only mode).
Merging is an adventure. If I didn’t know any better, I would say the Fusion Hybrid suffers from “Turbo Lag” – and much of it goes back to “throttle application.” You can make the Fusion hit a respectable 0-60 in 8.5 seconds if you can get the timing right: EV first, then Fuel then assist from the EV = 8.5.
The trunk is oddly shaped because the batteries were retro-fitted into a chassis that wasn’t originally a hybrid vehicle. It looses 4 cubic feet of space over regular Fusion thanks to the batteries.
Production of the Fusion stops in 2019. Some people might be concerned about parts suddenly becoming unavailable, more than likely Ford will stock parts for the Fusion for another decade plus.
If you had asked me before this trip, the sheer thought of driving a Hybrid … gaak! – I seem to have the same adverse reaction as people do to the word “Moist” – ugh!
All kidding aside, being a long time Automotive Enthusiast, cherishing every drop of dinosaur blood I have burned over the years, the idea of driving – let alone owning – a Hybrid was something I wasn’t ever considering.But at the end of my journey, I came to like the Fusion – even with all its quirks – and had to appreciate it for what it is or maybe what it was. It’s a balance between size, comfort, and economy and makes for a great alternative for people just looking for something to commute in. #merrymotoring.
Having driven the 4Runner for 5 years and 110k miles, I determined that it was no longer feasible to drive a 6000-lb off-road truck to work every day. Not only is the 4Runner heavy, but it also gets poor fuel economy at about 12 miles per gallon. The 4Runner also does not fit into parking structures due to its height. Having a second vehicle would afford me the ability to work on truck projects for longer periods without having to get everything buttoned up before my Monday morning commute.
When I shop for a new vehicle, I generally have a pretty good idea about what I am looking for.
This time however I was fairly indecisive. Since I was keeping the 4Runner I knew that having a vehicle with better fuel economy would be ideal. We do travel long distances to the Midwest to visit family, so comfort and reliability were important as well as having space for the dogs to safely travel with us. I looked at large SUVs but I just could not justify having a second SUV when I already had one. I also was not interested in paying SUV prices. I decided a car would be the way to go.
I settled on the Toyota Venza XLE, with the 3.5L V6 (it also comes with a 4 liter which I had no desire to own). The only problem I knew I might run into was the fact that Toyota stopped making the Venza in 2015 for the US market. I began searching in all the typical places that I normally would – including local dealer website inventories and Auto Trader. I dreaded the car buying process and began to put it off. Just thinking about spending 4 hours at a dealer made me not want to buy a car at all. We went on our annual fall camping trip to Virginia and I consulted with a friend of mine who spoke very highly of Carvana. He mentioned the ease of the sale and that the car he received was the cleanest used car he’d ever had in his possession. I thought about Carvana and filed it away for further research.
I stumbled onto the Carvana website after thinking more about buying a car.
At this point I really just didn’t have the time to spend hours at a dealer. I knew I needed a car. I sat down on a Wednesday afternoon with the intention of just looking. I perused the Carvana website to see that they indeed had a Venza in my preferred trim in stock. I read through the Carvana process and checked out their page on how to buy a car online. I looked at the potential vehicle photos and their 360 view. They offer a closed door view and an open-door view. There were close-up photos of the interior and any blemishes were documented in detail. The page revealed all information about the car including how many keys were available and a copy of the original window sticker. I felt fairly confident that I knew what I would be getting. I decided I could live with the minimal blemishes (it was a 3 year old used car after all). And clicked on the “Get Started” button above the car’s photo.
This started the purchase process and placed a 24 hold on the car. It showed the final price including taxes and tags, and what I would need to continue the process. At this point I decided to go for it and contacted my bank. Within minutes I received approval for the loan. On the Carvana site I provided a photo of my driver license, and the name of the bank and phone number where I would be financing. Carvana does offer financing options, but I felt like I could do better through my own bank. The bank sent the loan check overnight to the house. Once I had the check in hand I uploaded it onto the Carvana website and my delivery was scheduled for the next week, based on a time slot that I chose. I spoke with a Carvana representative on the phone to verify they would not need any more information from me and she explained the delivery process. The carrier would arrive with the vehicle, I would get to drive the car, and if I decided I did not want it they would leave with the car. If I chose to keep the car, they would start the funds transfer process, and I would have 7 days to return it for a full refund, no questions asked. I also learned – and this is probably the best part – Carvana would take care of the state inspection, titling, and registration. So not only did I not have to visit a car dealer, I also did not have to go to the Maryland Vehicle Administration.
On the day of the delivery, the carrier contacted me about an hour before my scheduled delivery time. Due to the impending holiday she expressed that it would take 30 more minutes that she had originally planned.
Since my “waiting room” was at home, I went about my business making dinner. At 6:45 pm the carrier called to say she was outside. The information from Carvana said I would need proof of insurance, my driver license, and the bank check. I went outside to meet the carrier and she took photos of my license and proof of insurance. She promptly unloaded the car from the truck so I could take it for a test drive.
I drove to a nearby gas station with lots of lights. Since it was after dark I wanted to get a good look at the car in the light. The car looked well taken care of, and was in great condition for a 3 year vehicle. It drove as expected and I returned home to the waiting Carvana carrier. I gave the driver the bank check, signed the title transfer and bill of sale, and the car was mine.
The car came with a 45 day temp tag and the carrier said my Maryland license plates would arrive in 30 days or less. The driver left our street at 7:08pm. The entire transaction from start to finish was minimal. I spent about 15 minutes on the phone with my own bank before the sale getting my financing, 10 or so minutes with the insurance company, another 20 minutes or so to complete the purchase process on the Carvana site, and less than 30 minutes to test drive, and have the vehicle signed over to me. I did not have to go to the Maryland Vehicle Administration as all the legwork was complete for my license plates.
Hands down, this was the easiest and most stress free car purchase I had ever made… There was no sucking up half of a day waiting around at the dealer, I was able to test drive the car in my own neighborhood on my own streets that I was familiar with, and I did not have to go through the registration or inspection process. Carvana provided the Carfax report (before and after the sale), they were pleasant both on the phone and in person, and they did exactly what they said they were going to do. For someone considering purchasing a vehicle in this way, the only two things that could be a deal breaker are these: You do not get to see the car in person until it arrives, and there is no haggling about the price.
If you are looking for a used vehicle, do your research ahead of time, know what the vehicle you are looking for is worth, and if you do not want to spend your free time at a dealership, then I would say that Carvana is absolutely the way to go.
“The true story of the Drivers who risked their lives and changed the Sport forever.”
On a recent snowy day, I had some extra time and decided to finally get around to watching “1 – the movie.” – Unfortunately, my review comes a bit late since this film has been collecting dust on my shelf since 2013. But it’s new to me, and the content is still relevant. “1” is a glimpse into the darker side of Formula-1 (F1). It is presented in documentary style with beautifully remastered “originally televised” and behind the scenes footage going all the way back to the early days of F1. The film abruptly opens with Martin Brundle’s crash at Australian Grand Prix in 1996 – a horrific crash where he was able to walk away and jumps into the backup car and continues the race!
Then we dive head first into a chronology of Formula-1. The black & white archive footage was impressive with a some great pieces surrounding 5-time champion: Juan Manuel Fangio as well as Team Ferrari and “il Commendatore” (Enzo Ferrari). The end of this segment starts to vaguely set the tone for the rest of the film: SAFETY. After Fangio retired in 1958, it was the first time that significant rules changes were made by the standoffish FIA: Driver + Manufacturer scoring was to be separated.Wait… what?
Next up– It wouldn’t be fair to ignore the impact that Team Lotus + Colin Chapman had on Formula-1 during the sport’s trans-formative period of the ’60s. The Lotus influence (both good and bad) is weaved throughout most of the film, but I won’t spend too much time detailing this as there is another article brewing that will go into deeper detail on this particular topic. “1” then takes a quick turn to glorify and also vilify Monaco; the Monaco Grand Prix has been run since 1929 and is considered one of the more difficult and more dangerous tracks in the F1 season (with SPA and the Ring [at the time] being the Top 2). Monaco has ZERO room for error and has claimed many a vehicle and could be considered a “car crusher” more so than a track. But we watch the races for the wrecks, right?
> Let’s take a quick break and go on-board with Senna, at Monaco in 1990. <
About 30 minutes into the film, it finally takes a proper turn into addressing Motorsports Safety, highlighting the death of Jim Clark at Hockenheim (Pictured below, Clarks memorial at Hockenheim).
Clark was the superstar at Lotus, driving alongside teammate Graham Hill (father of Damon Hill – also interviewed in the film). Clark suffered a tire blow out which caused his Lotus to careen off the track, dying on impact. During this “goldern era” of F1, there were very little barriers around the tracks, if you went off there was a good chance you were going to hit a tree or some other stationary object. It wasn’t uncommon to loose several drivers a year to accidents.
Until the late 60’s, it seemed as though the FIA just didn’t care… no money or effort was being spent to upgrade the rules, the cars or the tracks. By 1969, Lotus was revolutionizing the sport once again and was the first team to add active aerodynamics to F1 cars. The added drag meant lower speeds on the straights but higher cornering speeds, and higher risks. After the tragic death of Jochen Rindt in 1970 and Bruce McLaren shortly after at Goodwood, Sir Jackie Stewart took up the cause for driver safety by starting the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Association) which could be compared to a “racers union” – to help promote safety, seat belts and getting the tracks to spend money on adding Armco and other barriers. As a “union” the drivers had power in numbers and often threatened to boycott races if changes weren’t made.
Like many causes, significant change is slow – but changes to the cars were outpacing the rules. Formula-1 was becoming more of a global spectacle. “There is no more an enthusiastic crowd of spectators than the Italians, they really follow the motor racing with a passion … they are so spirited, so enthusiastic, from that point of view, Monza is certainly the capital of the world.” – says Sir Jackie about the growth of F1 at that time. And after the death of Roger Williamson, the FIA finally implemented Fire Regulations and Fire Equipment became mandatory at each flag station. Can you imagine … 40+ years of Formula 1 and no fire regs? – CRAZY!
The second half of the film spends a lot of its time in focused on the 1968-1978 section of F1’s timeline. It was really cool to see the behind the scenes footage of the Watkins Glen. Especially the Seneca Lodge! – I think I might have sat in the same seat as Emmerson Fitipaldi at some point in my visits there 😉 –
Unfortunately this segment is quickly soured by the death of Francois Cevert, followed by the Hunt vs Lauda story (1976) – And by now, I’m sure many of you have seen the movie “Rush” so I can save you the recap. One quote you won’t find in “Rush” comes from candid moment with Lauda during this piece: “the easiest way back [from an incident] is to get back in the car and drive as quick as possible; don’t wait – the longer you wait the more worries you get.” – speaking to why he got back in the car so quickly after his incident.
More changes to the sport – thanks to the ground work of the Stewart’s GPDA, Bernie Eccelstone‘s coup d’etat of F1, Max Mosley‘s leadership and technology advancements of the ’80s / ’90s moved F1 into a better place, but not a great place. The safety measures were still quite lax … until Senna‘s death in 1994. Senna‘s death swept in a new era for Formula 1, he was the first driver to really make F1 races a global event, and in the advent of his death all eyes were on the FIA – something had to change.
Starting in 1995, here were some immediate and drastic measures that were imposed by the FIA to make sure that no more drivers died behind the wheel of an F1 car:
On-site Medical Professionals (ie: Dr. Sid Watkins, etc); Standby Medi-vac, On-site Hospitals at every track
Mandatory F1 crash testing
Data recorders
Higher bodies for better protection
Tracks were redesigned with better curbing, run-off and barriers
Wheel tethers were introduced
Redesigned helmets to better protection
6-point harnesses / submarine belts were introduced.
The film loops back and shows us the Brundle crash one last time, and now, after understanding the progression of F1 safety through the clips and the eyes of the narrators, “1” starts to finally make sense. There is no doubt that Motorsport will continue to improve as technology, available materials, and rules change. #sciencesaveslives.
During the conclusion the film boasts “that as of 2012 – Senna was the last driver to die in F1 crash.” – Fact checking for 2018: there have been 5 since Senna, 4 of them in “historics races” with Vintage F1 cars: John Dawson-Damer, Fritz Glatz, Denis Welch and David Ferrier but only ONE in a modern F1 car: Jules Bianchi (2014). RIP.
Even in our small Motorsport community safety is paramount. GTM is also trying to better High Performance Driving (HPDE) through partnerships with organizations like the Motorsports Safety Foundation (MSF) and other groups in our area. If you want to learn more about changes that are being made, or how to contribute to this effort, be sure to check out MSF’s website.
Anyone that knows me, knows: I don’t like to spend more than I have to on any item – especially car parts. But let’s face it, purchasing basic and performance upgrades to your daily driver – let alone getting involved in Motorsports – can all add up quickly. Over the years I have improved on my abilities to find “a good deal” and negotiate for better prices.
No, I’m not some magical deal finding truffle pig – as some might suggest – but the reality of it is: the internet has greatly improved our searchable surface area. Sites like eBay, Craigslist, or even the new Facebook Marketplace have made it so much easier to search locally, nationally or even for hard to find items from across the pond. We’ve come really far in our ability to shop, especially when you think back to the old “Penny Saver!” days.
There is a general assumption with car parts that you have to purchase “new-in-box” parts.But that’s only partly true, but in a lot of cases, many things in the automotive world can be rebuilt or even built up to make them perform better than their original design. Sometimes, these upgrades (or upgraded parts) even cost the same as the original piece and tend to be of better quality and last longer. I can’t tell you which, why and how many upgrades there are, its going to take a little research on your particular application and vehicle to be able to find those items. But feel free to reach out, and I’ll take a look.
What you need to be careful of are the “it’s a *rare* item” traps. Case-in-point: Seller is offering a component off of a “Wolfsburg Edition” VW and lists it for more that the identical part off the base model. If you don’t know any better, you’ll fall for a rarity scam through what member Matt Y likes to call “badge engineering.”#butitsspecial! #rarecolor
Manufacturers like VAG (VW, Audi & Porsche), Toyota and Lexus, Nissan and Infinity, even the big-3, have been reusing parts across their model lines for generations. Don’t let these sellers play you for a fool, do your research and cross match your part numbers!
There are cases where even dealerships will play these sorts of games. A perfect example comes from Harley Davidson. When they initially released the Street-Glide (above) motorcycle, it was the same as an Electra-Glide (below)but without the “tour pack” installed. Buyers not knowing any better saw a different badge – thinking it was a different model – and were paying between $4k-6k more (for less). Shoppers who knew better would buy an Electra-Glide and simply remove the tour pack. You could always buy the package separately for around $650-$2,500 depending on additional accessories such as a luggage rack – but at the end of the day you still have a Street-Glide! Since consumers have gotten wise to this ploy, Harley now charges the same for both bikes, even though you still get less on one model. If you’re unsure, reach out to someone you know or a local owners club and talk to people that have experience with the model(s) you’re interested in. Talking to people and reading as much as you can before purchasing will prevent you from making a costly mistake.
Down to brass-tacks!
Tips I have for buyers looking to find a good deal.
Online Shopping
Patience is key – never “buy it now” until you’ve researched all your options. Don’t be impulsive.
My number one task when searching online is to get the original manufacturer part number (ie: VW Part Number XXX-XXX-XXX) for the part I need and search by that instead of the vendor number (ie: Bosch PartNo. XYZ-123). By searching this way its allowed me to save nearly 30% off (even the sale prices) of a major distributor. Remember, sometimes there are smaller distributors that are able to beat the big guy’s prices.
If you need the part yesterday – expedited shipping can cut into your savings compared to a purchase locally. If you can wait for a specific part, online shopping can be a big cost saver compared to other options.
I also recommend not being afraid to steer away from the major “brand name” providers like ECStuning, UROtuning, etc (in the case of VAG products) in order to find a better price. If the same part is cheaper on RockAuto, The Parts Train, etc – by all means, get it.
Many parts stores have begun to price match not only other stores, but online retailers – always check tosee if they are willing to price match!
“In Person” Negotiating
I am a firm believer in a good poker face.
Never allow a seller to think that you need what they are selling.
Be well informed on what they are selling before going to look at it.
When you are face-to-face it is the best time to be very critical of the item. Inspect it carefully and have a maximum price (or how much less than the asking price) you are willing to spend before you get there. If you are able to get them to question the item’s value, many times they will lower the price without having to ask for a discount.
Make minor things seem like they could cause large problems.
If they wanted the item it wouldn’t be for sale. Remember: You are helping them out by being interested in purchasing it!
Diamonds in the Rough
One of my most vital pieces of advice comes into play when you will stumble across “a diamond in the rough” – you know, that item that the owner has no idea what they really have. Maybe it was passed down to them, maybe they forgot what it was, or just didn’t know any better – who cares – but don’t show your excitement and play uninterested, get them to try to sell you on it. Whenever I go to look at an item I prefer to start an unrelated conversation so as to relax the environment.
Often times this will open the opportunity for them to present other items they were on the fence about parting with. Additionally, if you can get the seller talking about a subject you have in common and many times they will be more willing to cut you a deal. If you’ve ever watched “American Pickers” on History Channel, they do this all the time.
On a recent parts excursion, I found a seller that had a set of BC Racing coil-overs that were slightly damaged (at least one of them in the set). The seller was disappointed in their condition and in talking made a comment that he’d be willing to take $20 for the set. WOAH?!? thats cheap! hmm… I know other brands (Koni, Bilstein, etc), but I have minimal knowledge of “BC Racing” and that had me hesitant, especially not knowing if they could be repaired. I didn’t show a lot of interest and allowed the conversation to continue. Before I left I mentioned the coil-overs and said I’d be willing to take a chance on them at $20. SOLD! – Luckily, after contacting BC Racing, I found out that I will be able to repair the damaged shock for $95 giving me a set of functional coil-overs at a great price. #onemansjunk
And as always… CASH IS KING! – There are times when negotiating you will have to come across slightly arrogant to pull off a deal. Countless times, I’ve been caught throwing numbers around and it doesn’t seem to do the trick – but if you pull out the cash and sit it in the seller’s view, they will gravitate towards the deal. #howhungryareyou? – and NEVER be afraid to walk away from a deal – feel free to state your top dollar price and give contact info if they are willing to change their mind on the value of the item. This works really well for items that have been posted online for a long period of time. Occasionally you will stumble across a chance and it is always a gamble of whether it will be worth it or not. As Kenny Rogers sang “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em – Know when to fold ’em – Know when to walk away – And know when to run”
Each person will find their ideal way to find deals. If you ever want to practice your bartering skills I recommend going to a used car lot with no intention of buying a vehicle but act interested in one and see how far you can get them to drop their price – I used to do this a lot in my free-time when I was in the military. They have no idea that you have no intent to buy and since you don’t need the vehicle it helps keep you focused on the mindset of “I don’t really need this” when you eventually haggle for something you do want.
Yes, yes I did. And only after I got here did I realize that the “Aussies and Kiwis” use Ute for more than just the cars with pickup truck style beds.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
Ute is actually a universal term for anything with a bed – from a ’70s El Camino to a Ford Ranger Raptor. My sightings of the car-based Utes have been lower than I hoped, probably in large part to being located in a city, but I have seen a few Ford Falcon Utes and Holden Utes though. Let me run through some of the details of what can be found down here in the land of Hobbits.
First off, with the Holden Commodore-based Ute, it is offered with a 362 hp 6.0L V8 and a manual transmission. Think: Pontiac G8 GT or Chevy SS with a bed and that is what you have. In fact, at one point there were rumors that the US would get the Ute variant as well, before the whole recession causing GM to shutter Pontiac. Ford, on the other hand, had the Ford Falcon Ute. Rather than a V8, Ford went with a Inline-6 cylinder Turbo that still pumped out 362 hp and actually had 3 more ft-lbs of torque than the Holden’s V8. Think of the track-car possibilities here!
If you could legally import one of those final year Utes into the US (rather than wait till it is 25 years old) you would have room in the bed to haul things plus the ability to tow a small trailer. It would be so much quicker to empty than a hatch-back or a trunk just from sheer access.
Having the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Holden Commodore platform to build upon also presented the opportunity for a full-size RWD station wagon to be built (above). The Commodore Sportwagen was even available in an SSV Redline trim with the V8, but was unfortunately only available with an automatic. The Ford Falcon also has a wagon variant up until 2010, during it’s last two years of production it was only available as a very base trim and it never got the full performance treatment of the sedan and the Ute. All of this fun has come to an end though as both Ford and Holden shut down their Australia based production in 2017 which manufactured all of the RWD Falcon and Commodore variants. No more RWD sedans, car-based Utes or wagons are making their way through the pipeline. Now Holden imports car like the Buick Regal (as the Commodore) and Astra (yes Astra) and slap a Holden badge on them.
Being a RHD nation has lead to the presence of Japanese models being available in New Zealand that never made it to the US. The Honda Odyssey is a much different beast than back home. It still has three rows, but it is more like a high-roof wagon than a van with 4 conventional doors and a lower ride and roof line. I have seen a few Nissan R33 and R34 GTRs driving around the city. Then there are rest-of-world models that the US just never had or possibly had them under a different name (Example: Skoda >> VW below). Small jelly-bean shaped vans are also used all over as work vehicles, and while they aren’t as large as a Ford Transit van, they are very functional.
Obviously there is the Toyota Hilux, which unlike it’s American cousin does appear to have gotten more regular appearance updates. Similarly the Nissan Navara, which used to have styling identical to the Frontier, has left it’s American counterpart in the dust. Ever since the Tundra and Titan became more popular in the US, their smaller counterparts have been left to rot, and I believe a large part of that is to not cannibalize sales from their large siblings. Here in New Zealand, the Tundra and Titan do not exist, so the Hilux and Navara have been allowed to flourish. The Toyota Soarer might not sound familiar but sure would look familiar as we got it as a Lexus model, the SC-300. That said, all of these models are available almost every except the US, so no big shocks here.
Overall, I think the biggest surprise to me was the MkVI Golf GTI Cabrio(above) that I randomly stumbled across one day. I actually had to do a double take to make sure that it was in fact a “factory” convertible but the lines were so clean and it was molded so well into the car there was no doubt. Now, that isn’t a car I lust over, but it was nice to see. What I want is the B7 Passat R Wagon, the Holden Commodore Speedwagon SS-V and the Holden Ute SS.
Maybe in 20 years or so, one will be mine. For now, they will remain forbidden fruit that I lust after.
Yeah, I did that recently.Street Racer, released in 2008, came on SkyTV down here in New Zealand, and since I was feeling under the weather, I decided to give it a watch. Well… that was a mistake. It was bad, but it did actually talk about racecraft, which made me wonder how many fictional car movies actually talk about real racecraft, no matter how bad some people think they are.
In Street Racer, a former street (drag) racer ends up getting taught how to circuit race for the purposes of advancing the story and getting him redemption. The “straights are for fast cars, corners are for fast drivers” type line is actually said, although it might have been drag racing vs circuit racing, I can’t remember the exact wording. For extra credit, the racecraft is taught using shifter-karts. Carrying more speed through the corners, smooth inputs and out-braking your opponents are all things that get discussed on screen. Now how about some other movies that talk about REAL racecraft, not “granny shifting instead of double clutching like you should.” (Fast and the Furious).
Yes an actual matchup from Street Racer
Days of Thunder is a movie a lot of people either love (because NASCAR) or hate (because NASCAR) but it does talk about some actual concepts. Grip, down force, the difference between loose and tight, drafting, tire wear and the slingshot technique are all things they discuss.“The tires are half as wide and the car weighs twice as much.” – “Loose is fast and on the edge of control.” There are some great one-liners in there. Granted, the slingshot discussion involves two sweetener packets heading up Nicole Kidman’s leg to the *ahem* finish line, but it is still discussed. It also gets some extra bonus points in my book for talking about the topic of race car drivers and concussions back in 1990 when it is still a taboo discussion as Dale Earnhardt Jr. has proven recently since his retirement.
The Disney-Pixar Cars movies have also had some good racecraft discussion for the budding automotive enthusiast, but unlike the ones I just mentioned, these are much more liked. Cars has the famous turn right to go left scenes where Lightning McQueen is learning how to drift through the corners on a dirt track. It also gets extra chops for having Paul Newman, a racing man in his own right, voice the experienced Hudson Hornet teaching McQueen his racecraft. Cars 3 is actually Days Of Thunder but animated. Your hero has a horrible crash, loses his nerve, has to fight his way back and talks about the race craft of drafting and finding the openings in traffic to move through the pack. It even ends at Daytona. Nothing is new in Hollywood… LOL.
Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift. Yes, I just mentioned Tokyo Drift after mocking the first Fast & Furious above, and it is probably one of the most hated Fast & Furious movies, but hear me out on this one. Tokyo Drift is a movie that spent a lot of time discussing drifting while the lead of the movie tried to learn. I was on the fence about including this one, but of all of the Fast & Furious movies it is probably the one that takes itself most seriously. No undercover cops and super villains bent on world domination, and no 5 minute 1/4 mile drag race sequences. It also spent the most time seriously discussing an automotive discipline out of all of the other films in the franchise. Sure – it goes over the top, but all of the movies on this list do!
While doing the “difficult” research for this article, I added a movie I had never seen before to the list of reference materials, Born to Race: Fast Track. This movie actually has some serious cred in this arena as the movie largely takes place at a racing school at Willow Springs Raceway. It basically starts with Eric M and Sam H racing down mountain roads (MkIV R32 vs Subaru WRX) and has enough Celicas in it to get Racer Ron S excited too. Heck, Tania M basically makes an appearance as the one female at the school who is also driving a MkIV GTI… LOL!
At the race school they spend a bit of time talking about the line in a corner, car control and smoothness and there are scenes that will somewhat resonate with the coaches in the group as they spend time sitting right sight coaching their team mates to improve their lap times. Even the racing scenes are better than your average racing movie. The time spent at the Pep Boys Speed Shop amuses me considering how much some of our members have had done at the one in Glen Burnie, MD. It is really funny how many pieces of the movie related to GTM members. No VW Bugs though.
There were other movies I have seen and even re-watched to see if they would make the cut, but didn’t. Need for Speed doesn’t have any racecraft discussion in it, even if the lead character was a skilled driver who grew up racing. And in Driven, the only thing that is really racecraft related is the announcing during the racing, which is pretty damn good, but really just enough for the people who watch real racing to be content.
Now, I am not saying go out and watch all these movies, especially *not* Street Racer. Please, save yourself, and don’t watch it! I just wanted to point out that sometimes you can get some basic automotive knowledge from even the worst car movies. It can serve as an easy way to get people to understand some of the concepts of racing without forcing them to sit down and read racing theory books. It also can serve as a gateway for aspiring gear heads to go absorb some knowledge and get that passion growing within them.
Hollywood takes our passion for cars seriously enough to be accurate with at least some of their depictions of Motorsports and that is refreshing. They will also go over the top and present unrealistic situations for the sake of drama, but by keeping the science and physics of racing at least based in reality, it means car people like us can enjoy the movies more because we don’t want to yell at the writers and directors for making extremely stupid scenes. You know, like having the laptop that controls the ECU and Nitrous start screaming “DANGER TO MANIFOLD” as the rivets for the floor pan suddenly start popping off.
The car is so “fast” it is blurry in HD.
And just to be clear, I actually enjoy the Fast and Furious series of movies, I just don’t take them seriously.
Grab your wine, some parmigiano cheese and prosciutto – sip back and enjoy a tale with its beginnings in a small town in Northern Italy called Varano de’ Melegari. A recent trip to Italy to visit family brought me through this quaint little town more than once. And, full disclosure, I forgot that I had been here before when I was only ~7 years old, and was brought to Varano to see the home track “Autodromo Riccardo Palletti” – a ~1.5 mile road course originally started as an oval track in 1969 and expanded twice, first in 1972 and again in 2001. The track is currently named after a Milanese Formula One driver, Riccardo Palletti, who unfortunately barely got his career going before his untimely death at the 1982 Canadian GP.
As the sign says: Benvenuti in la terra dei motori (Welcome to Motor Valley)!
Disappointingly, this trip did not allow time for visiting the track (darn…), however, this is not the only reason why this town is dubbed Motor Valley. It is also the home of Gian Paolo Dallara, headquarters for the race car manufacturer of the same namesake, and home to the newly opened Dallara Academy (which opened to the public on October 13 – lucky me! My last day in town!).
But wait a second… I’ve never heard of a “Dallara” racecar… Well, well, are you sure about that? Have another bite of that parmigiano. Mmmm-yum.
Mr. Dallara earned his degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Milan Polytechnic and began his career in the racing department of Ferrari. After 2 years he jumped ship to Maserati, and after another 2 years jumped ship again to Lamborghini where he helped conceive and design… wait for it, the…
Yes, the Lamborghini Miura! (His start was really on the 350 GT and he followed the Miura with the Espada). It was pretty much all downhill from here. Following his days at Lamborghini, he made a quick jaunt with De Tomaso, before finally being ready to go it alone, and started Dallara Automobili in 1972.
As its name would suggest, it’s an educational institute. Students from all over the world trying to earn their Masters Degrees in race car engineering can go there to take classes in “Racing Car Design.” It’s also a museum open to the public displaying some iconic race cars and guiding folks through the history of the company.
Now if all that wasn’t enough, Dallara decided to manufacture a car to bear his name, and in 2017 the first Dallara Stradale was born. The car can be (and was) seen cruising the mountain roads of Varano.
The 2017 Dallara Stradale – the first production road car by the company. For all those pony fans (not the prancing kind), the Stradale features a 2.3L I4 turbo ecoboost Ford engine! Woooooo.
Now if a quick jaunt across the Atlantic is out of the cards for you, perhaps the next time you find yourself in Indianapolis you can make a pit stop at the Dallara Indycar Factory. According to their website: “The Dallara IndyCar Factory offers visitors the chance to explore 23,000 square feet of interactive and hands-on exhibits centered around the engineering and technology of the world’s fastest sport! Take a walk through a tunnel filled with IndyCar blueprints and design concept drawings or sit down and relax in our theater as you catch up on the history of Gian Paolo Dallara and his company, Dallara Automobili!” The Factory also boasts the ability to go for a ride in a street legal 2-seater Indy car, as well as simulation time with iRacing. How intriguing.
> Plug over. Now back to your regularly scheduled reading. <
I, for one, learned something new on this trip. I had no idea the true depth of the Motor Valley, nor the many contributions Dallara has made, and continues to make, to Motorsports.
