COVERAGE> More Mooneyes Lifestyle at Irwindale
It's no secret that one of my favorite car events to attend every year is the annual Mooneyes Christmas Party at Irwindale Speedway. When I first began posting up stories and photos from Mooneyes and related hot rod events on MotorMavens in the past, and I think some of our readers were sort of confused. I know, I know... this isn't the sort of content that people might normally expect from a media outlet that normally covers things related to Japanese car culture and motorsports. However, we're making efforts to expand out of our normal comfort zones... because from drifting to road racing to hot rods to European cars to exotics... there's a common denominator that binds all of us as car guys together... we are passionate about cars!
We've lightly touched on the MotorMavens passion principle in previous stories, but we'll be seeing more of this in the future, as we spotlight cars that people are passionate about! I know I'm intensely passionate about the cars in my collection, and you are too. Although some of us might not come from hot rod or kustom car backgrounds, we can definitely appreciate and respect the automotive passion that the owners of these cars have put into their cars; it seeps into and affects every bit of a person's life. It really IS a lifestyle - a person's love for cars and the culture that surrounds them really does affect every bit of their lives, if they do it right. This goes out to the real gearheads! This goes out to the people that live this stuff day in and day out, because THAT is what it's all about. This isn't just a hobby for us - this is what we build our lives around, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Anyway, enough of my rambling... on to the photos! Read more...
We've lightly touched on the MotorMavens passion principle in previous stories, but we'll be seeing more of this in the future, as we spotlight cars that people are passionate about! I know I'm intensely passionate about the cars in my collection, and you are too. Although some of us might not come from hot rod or kustom car backgrounds, we can definitely appreciate and respect the automotive passion that the owners of these cars have put into their cars; it seeps into and affects every bit of a person's life. It really IS a lifestyle - a person's love for cars and the culture that surrounds them really does affect every bit of their lives, if they do it right. This goes out to the real gearheads! This goes out to the people that live this stuff day in and day out, because THAT is what it's all about. This isn't just a hobby for us - this is what we build our lives around, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Anyway, enough of my rambling... on to the photos! Read more...
CARSPOTTING> Farm Boys CC & Wrecked Metals
I arrived at the Bonneville Salt Flats around noon on Friday, August 13th (huh, Friday the 13th - my lucky day). Friday is considered a Tech Inspection day where teams arrive early to get their cars inspected by the SCTA Officials before racing begins on Saturday. I picked up my Media Pass from JoAnne at the SCTA trailer (one of them anyway - there are like four). Even though there was no racing going on, there was plenty to see, so I immediately headed over to the pit area on my 1959 J.C. Higgins beach cruiser pit bike to have a look around. To look legit out on the salt, you've gotta bring a beach cruiser. LOL!
As the day was coming to an end and I was ready to head over to the Nugget Casino Cruise-In, I spotted a group of hot rods parked outside the pit area. It was the Farm Boys Car Club from Boise, Idaho having an impromptu photo shoot of their own. I put the pedal to the metal on my Higgins bike and hustled on over to get some shots. Read more...
COVERAGE> Bonneville Salt Flats Speedweek 2010
Speed Week 2010, run by the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) at the Bonneville Salt Flats has come and gone. It's more than a week later and I've still got Salt on my Suby (and my brain). For reals, I washed out more white stuff from under my bugeye WRX today. The Salt gets EVERYWHERE! I love it! Salt Fevaaaaaaa!
As I was snapping pics...photos (this is MotorMavens, these are photos!) of the activities, I was thinking about what I wanted to share with you guys on MotorMavens.com. There are TONS of things going on at the Bonneville Salt Flats! There were over 500 vehicle pre-entries at Speed Week 2010 - plus over 100 hot rods roaming the salt! Amazing! My hope is that I give you a flavor for what you'll experience WHEN (not if) you guys and gals attend your first Speed Week. Read more...
As I was snapping pics...photos (this is MotorMavens, these are photos!) of the activities, I was thinking about what I wanted to share with you guys on MotorMavens.com. There are TONS of things going on at the Bonneville Salt Flats! There were over 500 vehicle pre-entries at Speed Week 2010 - plus over 100 hot rods roaming the salt! Amazing! My hope is that I give you a flavor for what you'll experience WHEN (not if) you guys and gals attend your first Speed Week. Read more...
COVERAGE> Rainy Day Rodding at Mooneyes
With December in full swing and Christmas-time near, tis the season for parties and holiday cheer. With hot rods on the freeway, plus an onslaught of rain, I had to yell at times, "stupid ass, stay in your lane!!!"
This past weekend, I attended the Annual Mooneyes Christmas Party at Irwindale Speedway. I can't believe it's already been a full year since the last time I visited the show. I have to admit... cold, rainy weather makes me feel pretty lazy. Living in Southern Cali, I think I've gotten used to the weather being 73 degrees all year round, so when it dips below 55 degrees outside, it's pretty hard for me to convince myself to leave the comfort of my baffled goose down comforter behind and trudge through the rain with 30+lbs of camera gear and flyers on my back. This Saturday, it was especially difficult because I was out with my friends at a house party and didn't get back until 4:30am on the day of the show.
However, I'm really glad I did make it to Mooneyes this year. Speaking to my friend Shige (the man behind Mooneyes and Crown Classics in Yokohama Japan), we both agreed that the rain did put a bit of a damper on the event's attendance, but it was good in a way. It weeded out most of the "trying to be down" scenesters and showed everyone who the real hardcore hot rodders were. Most of the guys who came to this year's Mooneyes Christmas Party actually drove their period correct traditional hot rods with vintage whitewall tires on the 605 freeway IN THE RAIN to and from the show. Now that's dedication! Much respect! Read more...
This past weekend, I attended the Annual Mooneyes Christmas Party at Irwindale Speedway. I can't believe it's already been a full year since the last time I visited the show. I have to admit... cold, rainy weather makes me feel pretty lazy. Living in Southern Cali, I think I've gotten used to the weather being 73 degrees all year round, so when it dips below 55 degrees outside, it's pretty hard for me to convince myself to leave the comfort of my baffled goose down comforter behind and trudge through the rain with 30+lbs of camera gear and flyers on my back. This Saturday, it was especially difficult because I was out with my friends at a house party and didn't get back until 4:30am on the day of the show.
However, I'm really glad I did make it to Mooneyes this year. Speaking to my friend Shige (the man behind Mooneyes and Crown Classics in Yokohama Japan), we both agreed that the rain did put a bit of a damper on the event's attendance, but it was good in a way. It weeded out most of the "trying to be down" scenesters and showed everyone who the real hardcore hot rodders were. Most of the guys who came to this year's Mooneyes Christmas Party actually drove their period correct traditional hot rods with vintage whitewall tires on the 605 freeway IN THE RAIN to and from the show. Now that's dedication! Much respect! Read more...
COVERAGE> More Rod&Kulture Dragfest!
Continuing our photographic coverage of the Rod&Kulture Dragfest in Bakersfield... What's that? Love Potion #9o? Reminiscent of the early days of drag racing it's interesting to see the relationships between the Dragster, his car and his girl. Read more...
