Tag: Kansas City Cars

The Thunder Valley Sand Drags were dusty.  Dustier than a panhandle bean field during the Depression.  Dustier than the room seems to get at the end of Braveheart.  Each step and dropped cone sent up a pale cloud above the long field, but a strong, cool, southwest wind cleaned it up for us just as quickly.  Saturday was my first rallycross experience, and the racing was so awesome that I didn’t mind a little fesh fesh.  I didn’t drive this event, but by the end of it, I wished I had, and I will the next chance I get.  You should, too.  But don’t.

Continue reading “You Should Rallycross, But Don’t”

There was only one answer, really.  I had just bought a 2006 Honda Civic Si, bloated in design and bleached-bone white.  When I remembered that our October Cars and Coffee event would host a Trunk or Treat and that the following day’s autocross would have a car costume competition, the new-to-me Civic had to become its cinematic analogue – the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.  I hope I didn’t ruin the car.

Continue reading “How Not to Make a Car Costume for Halloween”

Continued from Part 1:

There are no curbs, no signs, nothing to hit but cones.  And since the average autocrosser tops out at 50 or 60 before having to brake for the next corner, autocross is about the safest motorsport outside of Forza.  This is why no one needs a roll cage or racing harness, just a 2010 Snell-rated helmet.  If you don’t have a helmet, you can borrow one for free.

Continue reading “Autocross is Worth It, Part 2”

I was scheduled to autocross on Sunday, and at 4am on Saturday, I finally got the transmission back into place. My jack proved about an inch too short, and tired muscle had to do the rest. Sleep and money whirled clockwise into a vortex before disappearing into a lost weekend, but I knew at the first orange cone, a long right sweeper, that it had all been worth it. I’m sold. Autocross is always worth it.

Continue reading “Autocross is Worth It, Part 1”

Reuben was nervous about chopping up his rear bumper cover.  Once it was done, it was done.  He loved the cut-off look of timeless rally cars like the Lancia 037, with its gearbox hanging out like a turbine out of a Batmobile.  His current gen Hyundai Genesis isn’t mid-engine like that beast of yore, but it does have an attractive straight-pipe exhaust system he wouldn’t mind showing off.  And since that exhaust had required an underbody diffuser removal, the bottom section of the bumper was only catching air, acting as a parachute.  Reuben, Collins (first name, not last), Jay, and I stood in Reuben’s garage while he used his Dremel and a specially-ordered plastic cutting bit to slowly carve away the offending section with dental precision.  And it was a great time.  It’s one of many memories with car friends that will go into the vault until I’m senile and driving something with a CVT.  If you’re a gearhead, it’s better to have car friends.  Here’s why, and how to find some. Continue reading “How to Make Car Friends”

At 4 this morning, I decided to admit to myself that sleep wasn’t coming, so I got up.  Hands shaking, I customized my new phone until I could reasonably get dressed and drive down to Dagwood’s, the nearest diner open at 5.  Dagwood’s was already ancient by the time my ’87 CRX was in development.  It was dishing up massive half-orders of biscuits and gravy when the first Camaros rolled into Kansas City.  It made pancakes when the Willys Jeep was still shuttling GIs toward victory in Europe.  As I shoveled similar pancakes into my mouth, a sturdy brace to a stomach bitterly void of all but pain meds, I got to thinking about that old rusted heap of Honda parked just outside. Continue reading “Old Cars Are Just Better”

Casual car shows are fun.  There’s no commitment, you can bring whatever, and you can leave when you want.  But when you have an awesome car, you can turn it into a weapon against the forces of evil by entering it in a benefit car show.  There are car shows to benefit just about every good cause, including arts education.  We shot one a few weeks ago here in Kansas City, and we’ve just been sitting on it.  Sorry about that. Continue reading “Awesome Cars Use Superpowers to Fight Stroke”