The Youth

I'm a little disappointed in my generation these days. I know everybody has their likes and dislikes but I don't think enough teens like cars. In my graduating class, I know of about 4 or 5 kids that truly appreciate cars for what they are...out of are approximately 160 kids. My dad always tells me stories about how his school used to be, there were a ton of gear-heads. I long for a school where a guy or girl could carry out a decent car conversation with me.

I understand times have changed and new technology is prevalent, but when a person only cares about the size of their stereo and rims I think its a little shallow. I've actually witnessed people say that a 1968 Charger is an ugly, old man's car! Now come on kids of America, that is something that should never be uttered or even thought of. I know people have their own preferences but in this case you're wrong.

Recently one of my friends told me that there was a Ferrari F40 in our area that is always parked outside. That car is one of the all time great super cars and I naturally I was very excited to find out where this was. He told me the location and I realized that it was only a Ferrari 512 TR. Still a great car but I'm sorry, they really don't look similar apart from the pop up headlights.

I'll be the first one to admit that I don't know everything about cars. A guy in my study hall over heard me talking about cars and continued to say that he was knew everything about cars. He said, "I bet I know more than you." Me being a competitive person, I wanted to challenge him so, easy question. Whats the 0-60 time of a Bugatti Veyron SS? He replies with the incorrect answer of 2.2 seconds. That's incorrect, the 0-60 time is 2.5 seconds. The extra 200 horsepower doesn't change the 0-60 time. (sorry if I sounded cocky)

If nothing happens, I think the problem of teens not appreciating cars will only get worse. So I ask, fellow car enthusiasts take a friend under your wing and teach them about cars or take them to a car show.

Car Fever

The winter, to some car lovers its the worst season of the year (at least in places with snow). The winter means the snow-blower comes out and your special car goes away. This time period for me is a time in which I can make modifications or mend the battle scars of a long driving season. This winter, my '66 Coronet got a set of Dynomax VT mufflers and a new 3rd member with 3.23 gears and Sure Grip.

I was anxious to test out the new gears and hear the new mufflers and for days the weather has not been complying with my wishes til finally one 70 degree day answered my prayers. In the words of James May, the first drive was like a cool hand on my fevered brow. I can report that the feeling was sensational. The rear end definitely makes a difference compared to the old gears. The mufflers sounded extravagant and vicious at full throttle. Another part of driving a car that you don't see often is the stream of comments that flow through the open windows. I had a friend come along for the ride and they thought it were confused as to why everybody was staring at us.

Now as the weather is becoming more consistent, I can take the car out more and more. My summer vacation will consist of a road trip to the Syracuse Nationals with one of my best friends. He will be taking the voyage in his 1968 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible. Its a beautiful car that's been restored will all original parts. A road test of that will come in the near future.

Driving Songs

Picture this, you're cruising down a deserted road listening to (insert song here) and driving (insert car here). I often think about what I would insert in that previous sentence. For me it would be "Hair of the Dog" by Nazareth and I would be driving my baby, my 1966 Dodge Coronet (My blog site named after my car, more about that in a future post). It hard to explain why I think "Hair of the Dog" is my favorite driving song. I like that it chants, "now you're messin' with a son of a bitch." and as odd as it sounds, it makes me feel empowered. It brings out my rebellious side where I'm not afraid to drive a car like I stole it. For my father, his favorite driving song is "Radar Love" by Golden Earring. His dream is to drive a big-block muscle car with a four speed while blaring this song.
The car is just as important as the song. I'm not saying if you drive a Pontiac Aztek, you can't enjoy your song. I think that whatever car you drive, you should have some sort of attachment or relationship with it. A bond with a car is something I can really appreciate and understand. This Coronet I have isn't something to tote me around town and to make me look hip, its more than that, its a friend. It contains memories of me and my dad spending hours getting it to the point where it is now. Example, I won coolest car at my school. I'll never win that in any other car in my future.
Whatever song that makes you put your foot down should be accompanied by a car that makes you remember the good ol' days.

Comment and let me know you're favorite driving song and the car it would be in!

Test Drive: 2012 Camaro ZL1

Supercharged 6.2 liter V8. First off, supercharged and V8 are two things that when mixed together can give any man visions of sugar plums dancing in their head.........no, wait, I meant visions of burnouts and tire streaks up and down your street. This Camaro was built for just such a thing, plus carving around corners of a local housing development at 3 a.m. At 17 I had the unforgettable experience of driving one of these muscle cars.

Looks. This car is trying to be a re-take of a coveted, road-legal racecar, a 1 of 69, 1969 Camaro ZL1 with an aluminum 427. Where an original ZL1 was simple to look at, this ZL1 is not. It has chin spoilers and a carbon fiber hood with holes in it. The car I drove featured Chevy's Crystal Red Tint-Coat and forged aluminum 20" rims. The ZL1 looks like a toy car with its massive wheels and shiny red paint with blacked out pieces.........I love it. The car is not beautiful but it does get your adrenaline going, it looks macho and majestic. In my opinion it looks more aggressive than the new C7 Corvette (which seems to take some styling cues from the Camaro, such as taillights). The interior isn't drastically different from a standard SS. Apart from some ZL1 stitching and a differnt steering wheel the difference isn't evident. My favorite part about the interior, is the head up display, its a neat little gadget.

Speed. With 580 bucking stallions on tap its goes and goes and goes to a top speed of 180 mph. When you stand on the throttle it feels as though you have just pressed a button marked, DO NOT PRESS. It throws you back in your seat with no regard for you and screams deep and thunderous demonic songs at you. The demonic songs obviously being the exhaust which I must say is a great noise. I adore a throaty V8 soundtrack especially when its accompanied by little, what seem to be like explosions, when you let off the gas. The automatic transmision is quick to shift when you poke the gas pedal. The massive wheels hide a set of massive brakes that are highly efficient. To accompany the great stopping power comes good handling, the ZL1 has slightly heavy but responsive steering and suspensions that makes you corner as flat as an old persons buttocks.

Complaints. As everybody else has said before and will keep saying is of course the sight out of the back of the car. Its horrendous and made me a little nervous when I drove it a month after getting my license. I'm searching for a clever simile...Its almost as if you were looking through a mail slot in a front door. You know, like the one from Home Alone? Another complaint is the weight of the beast, over 4100 lbs, I mean wow. A personal observation, I don't know if I would call this a complaint, its more of an odd sensation. The cabin is large inside, and i felt lost. I have less room in my dad's truck cabin with the seats all the way back. Its cavernous and I'm 6'1". Maybe the people in back would disagree though.

For me the Camaro ZL1 is an awesome car with some faults, its a hoot to drive. I think the original ZL1 should be proud. Not as exclusive as the original, this new one tickles your fancy in all the right places.

-Alex