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CarSpace Alternate RouteTurn off the nav system, crumple up that MapQuest printout, and let's find out where the next random turn may take us! Sep 27, 2009 - Nurburgring
The photo of one of my favorite drivers of all time, Jim Clark, airborne at Nurburgring. Clark won two F-1 championships, and the 1965 Indy 500 in a rear-engined Lotus, the first time a rear-engined car won at Indy, and no front-engined car has won Indy since then.
May 1, 2009 - Who Knew?
Mar 8, 2009 - Twists Of History
Dec 11, 2008 - Interesting History
Consider this bit of an interesting article I ran across this morning about American Motors inthe mid '50's... In 1957, the U.S. economy was in recession, the big three auto makers were losing millions (sound familiar) and Rambler sales were rising! (HUH?) That Time magazine article profiling Romney says that In 1958 American Motors netted a $26 million profit while Ford and Chrysler lost $61 million. But here’s the rub, that same article talks about the rising demand for small cars! American Motors Rambler had 1.6% of the US car market in 1957 by 1959 it captured 6.2% and was the fifth top selling car. More troubling for GM, Ford and Chrysler, Imports in 1959 captured 10% of the market up from 0.8% in 1954. (Chorus gasps in horror). That’s right, in six years imports went from 0.8% of the market to 10%. Romney’s so called dream, price and economy turned out to be the big three’s nightmare. This ability to dangerously ignore the market is nothing new for Ford, Chrysler and GM which had no small car offerings until 1960... History remembers the Chevy Corvair, Ford Falcon and Dodge Dart as successful cars. Ralph Nader would object to that last sentence, but those machines were the panicked production of industry leaders that were playing follow the leader and failed to see the future which was not just staring them in the face, it was clobbering them over the head! History is important. Just because something didn't happen in your lifetime, doesn't mean it isn't relevant. Read the entire article at FoxBusiness
Jul 6, 2008 - Making Progress?
But remember when acid raid was front page news? or how bad LA smog really was? I remember on a vacation approaching Los Angeles and seeing the dark gray cloud hugging the ground in the distance. People talk about smog in LA now, but it's nothing like it used to be. From This Day in History at History.com The Federal Air Pollution Control Act was implemented on this day in 1955, providing federally allocated funds for research into causal analysis and control of car-emission pollution. Concern over the effects of air-pollution had mounted steadily in the U.S. as urban sprawl increased. In 1952, a "killer fog" enveloped London, causing an estimated 4,000 deaths. Though both the cause and the precise effects of the fog were unclear, the phenomenon sparked an international hysteria about the effects of emissions pollution. The following year, Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit discovered the nature of photochemical smog, determining that nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons combined with ultraviolet radiation from the sun created smog. He also discovered that ozone played a key role in the bonding process that created smog. It was at this time that the U.S. began a rapid shift from coal as an energy source, replacing it with natural gas. It would not be until 1960 that the government specifically addressed car-emissions pollution as a legal issue, with the Federal Motor Vehicle Act of 1960, calling for further research and development into the control of car emissions. The next year, the first automotive emissions control technology--positive crankcase ventilation (PCV)--was mandated by the California Motor Vehicle Board. PCV technology limited hydrocarbon emission by returning blow-by gases from the crankcase back to a car's cylinders, where they were burned with fuel and air. In 1963, the first Federal Clean-Air Act was passed, allocating research money for local and federal institutions to combat air pollution.
Jun 15, 2008 - Drive Long And Prosper
This was the day in 1844 that Charles Goodyear got the patent on the vulcanization process. Vulcanization makes rubber harder, much more durable and also more resistant to chemical attack, which is a handy thing for things like the tires on your car. Wouldn't it be fun if we had to change tires every couple of weeks as they failed.? So while you're celebrating the most significant early influence on the extensive historical process that led to the rule of constitutional law, be sure to give proper due to the man who had a lot to do with keeping you on the road!
Feb 24, 2008 - Doctor In The House
Today marks the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Hudson Motor Car Company. Hudson's big moment in history came in 1948 with the introduction of the Monobuilt design. The Monobuilt consisted of a chassis and frame that were combined in a unified passenger compartment, producing a strong, lightweight design with a beneficial lower center of gravity that did not affect road clearance. Hudson called the innovation the "step-down design" because, for the first time, drivers had to step down to get into their cars. That innovation led to the 1951 Hudson Hornet which dominated NASCAR racing until a rules change in 1955. In 1952 Hudson won 29 of 34 events. Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator in 1954 to become American Motors. The last Hudson was manufactured in 1957. The 2006 animated movie "Cars" featured a character named Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman). If you haven't seen the movie, the Alternate Route gives it 4 stars. Worth taking the time to see. You'll enjoy it!
Sep 16, 2007 - Lasting Impressions
In 1962 Jim Hall and Hap Sharp formed Chaparral Cars, Inc. and immediately began the design and construction of Chaparral 2, a mid-engined car with an aerospace inspired semi-monocoque fiberglass chassis. In it's first race at Riverside near the end of the 1963 season, Hall qualified Chaparral 2 on pole position with a new track record and after the first few laps of the race was a half mile ahead of the field when an electrical problem put him out of the race. Driving Chaparral 2, Jim Hall won the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) in 1964. With 25 starts in 15 events Chaparral 2 had scored seven overall wins, six seconds, and two thirds. In 1965 Chaparral 2 dominated United States road racing with 16 wins in 21 races, and its greatest win to date, the Sebring 12 hour race against top international competition. In 1966 Chaparral introduced the 2E for the Can-Am series. With its high mounted wing it was the car that changed racing forever. It scored a one-two finish at Laguna Seca with Phil Hill and Jim Hall driving. 1966 also saw the Chaparral 2D in World Championship Endurance competition winning the Nurburgring 1,000 kilometers event, driven by Phil Hill and Jo Bonnier. In 1967 Chaparral introduced the 2F, a high winged coupe for World Championship Endurance Racing. It set the fastest lap in five of its eight entries and won its final race at Brands Hatch. In 1970 Chaparral introduced its most controversial car, the Chaparral 2J. This car had a separate engine to drive two fans that exhausted air from beneath the car to create suction down force. The car was quickly banned after sitting on the pole in three of its four starts. In 1978 Chaparral won Indy with a Chaparral prepared Lola driven by Al Unser. For 1979 Chaparral decided to build its own Indy car, Chaparral 2K. Al Unser lead the race from the outside pole until 2K's transmission failed. In 1980 Johnny Rutherford won both the Indianapolis 500 and the USAC and Cart National Championships in 2K. Visionaries like Jim Hall are very special. I wonder who is making impressions on young minds now. Lasting impressions
Sep 13, 2007 - Jumping the Shark
Then in 2001 the new Mini was launched, and even though it was slightly different from the original, it still captured that Mini "feel" for me, in an updated, 21st century sort of way. From following the discussions in the Mini Cooper group I know there are issues with parts and service availability, odd sized tires on some models that are hard to find, but in general it still looked like a car that I could enjoy for just driving around for the pleasure of driving. With the introduction of the 2008 Clubman, I have to ask... Has Mini jumped the shark? Perhaps it's just the photos, and maybe I'd see it in a different light in person, but the Clubman loses some of the essence of Mini for me. With the added length and barn doors it gives me the impression of being a stylish version of the Honda Element, which sort of moves Mini in the direction of being more like the crowd and less standing out from the crowd. What's next? The four-door Mini with third row seating? Perhaps a Mini SUV? Surely not a Mini van? Once the Fonz jumped that shark, things were never the same in Milwaukee. Pat Morita left Arnold's, and even though Al Molinaro was a nice guy and kept the name on the place, something was lost. It's a tricky thing,
Aug 29, 2007 - In Search Of...
Internal Combustion Engine – The Stanley Steamer aside, would we even be having this discussion without the thing that makes a motorcar a motorcar? Your comments are certainly welcome below, but if you want a little more back-and-forth discussion, try the Seven Automotive Wonders discussion in the forums.
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