1A Auto: Aftermarket Auto Parts

Possibly The Scariest Van Ever?

I roam the interweb  far and wide searching for automotive beauty, and occasionally I strike pure gold.  Is this van the scariest thing that you have ever seen?  Probably.  Does it look like it has a questionable past? Yes.  Does it do wheelies? Please…  Do I want one just like it?  Maybe.  This Chevy Van doesn’t even look safe enough to lean on, never mind the horror show that must happen when you rip on the throttle.   One thing that seems to be missing is the inspection sticker on the windshield?  He must have forgotten to get one.

…. And a wheelie video.

Fantastic pictures borrowed from:

http://www.cncpics.com/main.php

Worst Automotive Photography Ever.

I am the absolute worst photographer that you have ever witnessed, even when I’m trying really hard.  My problem is that I don’t have any idea why I am so terrible.  Even if I had the best camera in the entire universe, my pictures would still be awful.  I just don’t know how to capture the moment like Volkswagen owners do.  They can make a beat up stock GTI look like it is dripping in 40 layers of fresh clear coat with a beautifully streetlight lit background.  Me? Well, my best pictures appear to be taken under water.  Blubb Gurgle Blubbb Blub…

I’m pretty sure that I just don’t understand light.  Light does crazy things, especially when I am holding a camera.  As soon as my hand touches the camera, the failure begins.  I can have the camera towards the sun, away from the sun, flash on, or flash off…….none of it matters.

For those of you that know what you’re doing, can you give me some quick pointers so that I can provide better blog pictures? I’m tired of blur.

How To Be Awesome: Bacon Motorsport Rally Team

People from Massachusetts are known for many things.  Our spoken alphabet does not contain the letter “R”, we drink coffee during all hours of the day & night, and more than anything, we are passionate about our home teams.

Bacon Motorsport is one of the home teams that the car enthusiasts around here are truly passionate about.  Why the name “Bacon”? you ask.  Well, because that’s Bill Bacon’s last name of course!  Now, truth be told, I have never met Bill in person.  However, it seems as though everybody that I know is within 1 degree of separation of him.  It’s truly amazing.  I hang out with my friends – Bacon.  I pick up a Craigslist transmission – More Bacon.  I hop on Facebook to over-share my world – You guessed it, bigtime Bacon.  Gearheads are talking, Bacon Motorsport is the word, and the automotive world is intently listening.

The Bacon Motorsport team competes in the Rally America Championship Series (Click that link and look at the current standings on the top left. Notice who #2 is).  When I say “competes”, I mean it.  The team has consistently placed in the top 3 throughout the 2010 racing season (….ok, fine, except once!).   You may have even seen their team mentioned in USA Today a few days ago when they jumped ahead of the some of the more heavily funded competitors.  That has got to feel good. Naturally, I was hoping to have the Bacon Motorsport Team at our 1A Auto Car Show on July 31st, but they will be competing in the Rally X-Games.  Bummer for us, but DAAANG that is Awesome for them!  I wish them nothing but continued success, because they deserve it, and we will be sure to keep tabs on them throughout the X-Games.

If Bacon Motorsport reads this > Good Luck!  There are way more fans than you even realize rooting for you!

Now watch Bill in the Bacon Motorsport EVO tear up the track.

Two Lane Blacktop: The Car Movie You Must See.

Tow Lane Blacktop

I’ll admit that about 70% of the “car” movies out there are positively painful to sit through.  Don’t give me that look. Fess up! You feel the same way as I do.  The only reason we watch these atrocities is to see the cars driving at time-bending speeds, through dark tunnels, being chased, with flames out the exhaust, close ups of gear changes, and atom-bomb style explosions nipping at their rear bumpers.  Of course cumulus cloud-esque burnouts everywhere also helps.

Well folks, Two Lane Blacktop is no exception to the 70% rule.  It takes place around the same time that the movie debuted (1971) and stars a flat black 1955 Chevy with a mailbox looking hood scoop and jacked up suspension.  The car drives around to random little towns street racing locals…… Oh did I forget to mention that James Taylor in his early 20’s is “The driver”, and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys is the sidekick a.k.a “The Mechanic”?   What, no character names? No Sir! Throughout the entire movie, you never actually learn any of the main characters names.  Bizarre? You bet it is.  If that isn’t a movie with “Academy Award” written all over it, I don’t know what is.  James Taylor’s quiet voice, and bad attitude make for amazing dialog during this 102 minute saga.

That being said, I 100% believe that as a car enthusiast, you are obligated to watch this movie.  So be sure to hop on Netflix before everybody else does and grab this flick.  Prepare some popcorn and throw on your favorite automotive t-shirt,  this movie will take you on an automotive voyage that will make your brain doubt your eyes.

Pics borrowed from:

http://www.jdmfilmreviews.com

http://bostonist.com

That Car is Looking at Me Funny.

Jettaface with rare fang option.

Yesterday I found myself driving behind a VW Jetta that was taking the speed limit very seriously.  Since I was also obeying all of the rules of the road, I found myself mean muggin‘ staring intently into the trunk of this Jetta.  Before long, it began to stare back in my general direction.  :|   I pinched myself to make sure I hadn’t fallen asleep, and it hurt, as expected.  Sure enough, there WAS a face looking back at me.  I call it “Jettaface”, and it kind of looks like a snake.  So yeah, Jettaface finally turned away, and no more than a few minutes later Galantface appeared on the scene……   he looked like he was up to no good, mischievous at best.  I borrowed some pics from eBay to show you guys the faces.  I added fangs to Jettaface to really drive the point home.

Pictures borrowed from eBay:

260633267703 Silver Jetta

180522674410 White Eclipse

220629607336 White Galant

200493937045 Blue Mazda