“Everybody understands that the cars are valuable, and it’s not good history to add to them if you hit one now. That’s a minus.”
1975 SFMoMA Artists Soapbox Derby
In 1975, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art gave 100 artists money to build Soapbox Derby racecars (and trophies) for a run through McCaren Park. Madness and hilarity ensued. I dug into the history, and spoke to many of the original participants, and the story is even better and richer than you can imagine–and I’m sure you can imagine the swirl of artists and art practices and art rivalries in that kooky city at that time.
This is one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever written. If you click on the thumbnails above you can read a crappy scan. And if you click this link, you can read the online version. But, really, you should just subscribe to Road & Track already, you chintzy bitch.
9/28: 928 vs 911
Booze, Belts, Speed
The American roadway death epidemic saw its greatest increase in a century, last year. The slaughter is rooted in analog issues–Booze, Belts, and Speed. Might the solutions also be analog? My investigative report for Road & Track.
Feeling Out the Bentley Bacalar
It was drizzling the morning I drove the $2.1 million Bentley Bacalar. The car is a classic barchetta, Italian for “little boat,” and collector automobilese for “I’m so rich, if it rains, I take the jet.” As such, it has no roof. That didn’t stop me from a proper test drive.
Doofy Old Journalist Drives Pristine Old Car, Renders Puerile Verdict
The CLK63 Black Series is the exception that proved the rule, by confirming that there were always people at staid and stolid Mercedes who relished the opportunity to put some rote in their colleagues’ sau.
Why Rotted Cars Are Important
“Is neglect a bad thing?” says Maxon
Click on the thumbnails above, then click again, to view a crappy scan. Or, check out this inferior online version. Or just subscribe to the magazine, you chintzy bitch.
Let’s Get Lost
What self-driving cars miss about the science of losing our way.
Click on the thumbnail above, and then click again, to view a crappy scan. Or click here to view the inferior online version. Or just subscribe to the magazine, you chintzy bitch.
Why Is Mercedes Un-Wagoning Everything?
Sadly, the new GLA fails the wagon test. This is also true for a host of other Mercedes-Benz vehicles available in the States.
The First Honda Dealer in America
Bill and Lori Manly did not intend to become car dealers. They were adventurers–motorcycle racers, car racers, vintage plane racers, hot rodders. But that’s what led them to start selling Hondas.