Autumn Road Trip

In many parts of the country, autumn is a great time of the year for a road trip, in our favorite car, with our favorite travel partner. Even though many of the Northern areas have already seen snow, here in the American Southwest, we're getting into a very nice time of year. The air is a little cooler, and in many places, the fall colors are at their peek. I'm lucky enough to live in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and it doesn't take much prompting to get me out on the road anyway. Pack a light lunch, grab the camera and binoculars, and we're out the door. The spectacular Kolob Canyon, on the northwest corner of Zion National Park, is only about a 30 minute drive from our Southern Utah home. We had very nice weather, and had a very enjoyable time. Get out and see what adventures you can find in your area. Also, check out my book at;  Grab Some Gears

Our Mustang GT in Kolob Canyon.

Summer on the Road

I've spent a lot of time on the road this summer. I'm moving to a new home, and doing most of it, one trip at a time, in our cars. The Charger will haul a little larger items, but the Mustang is a little more fun to drive. They are both excellent road cars, and over the last few months, I have a whole new appreciation for that. I love these cars.
The Mustang has a little more noticable personnalized plate "FFFAAST' , and it has advertising for my book on the side back windows, so it gets more attention from car enthusiasts. The Charger looks like an un-marked police car, so it gets a different kind of attention from other motorists.
I've mentioned before in this blog that I love music, and especially when I'm driving. I've really used my Sirius satellite radio a lot, on every trip. If I'm in heavier traffic, I sometimes listen to a mix CD of my favorites, anyway the music never stops.
Even though it's been a lot of work, and a lot of driving, I have had an enjoyable summer - on the road.

Me and my Mustang, in Snow Canyon, in Southern Utah.

A Garage for Cars

Many car owners around the world don't have a garage, so parking out in the elements is the norm. Many people who have a garage just use it as a storage unit, so their car sets outdoors anyway. For me, I have had a garage at the last three homes I've owned, and I have been parking my cars indoors for the last 32 years. I wouldn't want it any other way.  If you live in a cold climate, it keeps your car out of the snow and ice. If you live in a hot climate, it keeps your car from baking in the sun. My garages have always been finished and painted inside, and decorated with memorabilia celebrating the performance cars, and drag racing, that have been such a big part of my life. They're a nice place to do mechanic work, or spend time enjoying my hobby, and pampering my cars. For more of the story, check out my book at; Grab-Some-Gears

The first "Darwin's Garage" from 27 years ago. Cobra-jet Ranchero and 5.0 Mustang.

Spring Cleaning

Spring is here, we're all anxious to get those performance cars back on the streets. If your car sets all winter, under a cover, the task may not take much work. But, If your car, like mine, is occasionally driven year around, it may take a little more effort to get it looking its best again. When the weather finally is nice enough, a good wash job, some detailed cleaning, and a fresh coat of polish, will have your pride-and-joy looking like it should. For me, a car should look its best all the time, but, I always put forth a little extra effort this time of the year. It just helps get me in the mood for some cruising the streets and highways in style.

My 2013 Mustang GT, ready for some action.

Need For Speed

The "Need For Speed" movie is out and playing everywhere. If you read the reviews, the critics will have your expectations pretty low, but, I just got back from seeing it, and it was spectacular. Maybe it's the old street racer in me, but I totally enjoyed this movie. I think most "car guys", and "car gals", who see it will agree that the cars are the true stars. Sure, the movie stunts, crashes, and over-the-top chase scenes are pure action movie fantasy, but the awesome on-board sounds of these top shelf performance cars are what dreams are made of. If you have ever been a racer, a muscle car fan, or just like high performance action, go see this movie. You won't be disappointed. Also, race fans, take a moment to check out my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing" just follow this link; Grab-Some-Gears

The modified 2014 Shelby GT500 from the "Need For Speed" movie.

Steamboat Springs

We are celebrating 50 years of Ford Mustangs this year, and with that, we can expect many local car shows to feature Mustangs in the spotlight. There are special national celebrations for the Mustang in April on the 50th. anniversary of the iconic cars introduction. But, if making it to one of those special events is not something you can do, there are other, maybe lesser known, Mustang shows that may be just as good, or even better. One such event is the "Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup" in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This show is held in June every year, and is a spectacular Mustang show. I have attended several times and have never been disappointed. For anyone living in the Western U.S., it is a show well worth attending for any Ford or Mustang enthusiast.  Another great Mustang show is the one held in Sturgis, South Dakota. I haven't been to that one, but some of my family members have, and I hear good reports. Check out this link to the; "Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup" .

Photo from the "Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup" in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

To Be A "Car Guy"

What does it take to be officially recognized as a "car guy"?  Is that how your friends and family see you?  Is that how you think of yourself? For me, the answer to those questions would be yes. I believe I've earned that title. Many guys are "car guys" at some point in their life, but it doesn't become their life-long passion. And I don't want to exclude the ladies here, there are "car gals" as well, though they are even more rare than the car guys. For us, our cars are much more important than just transportation. They are a great source of pride, and driving them is an enjoyable experience. We want cars that are something fun to drive, and have the looks to go with it. We also get plenty of enjoyment out of simply cleaning and maintaining them. When we hit the street in our favorite car, we're the whole package, our real self, and the car is the wrapper we display to the world. Yes, I am a car guy, and proud of that title, and probably will be for the rest of my life. If you want to read more about this, check out my book, just follow this link; Grab-Some-Gears

Me with my 2013 Mustang GT in Southern Utah.

Factory Supercharged

There have been a lot of cool Mustangs in its 50 year history. Among the most famous are the 428 Cobra-Jets and BOSS 429s of the late 1960s, and any Mustang enthusiast can recall others they have admired over the years. Of all the high performance models we have enjoyed, none have been more awesome than the factory supercharged Cobras and Shelby GT500s of the last 11 years. I have owned two of those examples, and they have been the high point of the performance cars I have loved, so far. Starting with my 2003 "Terminator" Cobra, I quickly became a big fan of factory supercharged engines. From the tire shreading torque right off idle, to plaster-you-into-the-seat acceleration, they are a thrill to drive. (the rev-limiters function very well, thank you Ford engineers). These cars respond especially well to minor performance upgrades as well. My "03" Cobra was easily tuned to over 500 horsepower, which was a preview of what I would get from my 2007 Shelby GT500. It started out with 500 horsepower, and was easily tuned to around 575 with cat-back exhaust and cold-air intake upgrades. The magic of fuel injection, computer controls, and factory supercharging, it don't get much better than that. For more of my story, follow this link to check out my book; Grab Some Gears

My 2007 Shelby GT500 and my 2003 "Terminator" Cobra.

More Than One Mustang

As we celebrate the Mustang's 50th anniversary this year, I have been reflecting on the Mustangs I have owned over the years. For a life-long car enthusiast, having owned many examples of my favorite car is a dream come true. For a 7 year period, between 2001 and 2007, I always owned two Mustangs. Sometimes I had one for sale, after purchasing the next one, but during that time I usually had two at once. It started in the fall of 2001 when I bought a new 2002 GT, and still had my yellow "99" GT. When they announced the specs of the awesome 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra (the "Terminator" cobras) I ordered one, and put the "99" GT up for sale. I still had the 2002 GT when my new Terminator Cobra arrived. I had both of them for over a year, then traded the 2002 GT in on a new 2003 Mach1. For the next few years, I had two Torch red 2003 Mustangs in my garage. It was a lot of fun to show them together at local car shows. I sold the Mach1 when I ordered my 2007 Shelby GT 500.

The 2003 Mach 1 and 2003 Terminator Cobra in my garage.

Show Your Mustang

Many of us "car ehthusiasts" like to take our pride-and-joy to car shows. We get to rub sholders with other like-minded people, share our love of cars with them, and present our passion to the general public. It's great to answer questions, share car stories, and let our enthusiasm rub off on those people interrested enough to walk through a car show. Especially the young people who show an interrest in cars. Over the years I have noticed that some cars attract a lot more attention than others. They stand out in a crowd, even when surrounded by other similar vehicles. One such car for me was our yellow 1999 Mustang GT. I would see people comming down a line of similar cars, looking them over as they go, then skip over the last few and walk up to make a closer inspection of my car. The color was very bright and different than the typical colors around, and that was a big part of it. I also spend more time than some at detailing my car, once it's parked in my spot at a show. That can make a difference too. If you have a cool car, take it to a show, and share your passion with the public.

My yellow 1999 Mustang GT.

Modern Mustang Mechanicals

In the mid-1990's, Ford made the move away from the old-style, push-rod, V8 that was designed in the 1960's. Over the years, the 5.0 (302) V8 had gone through many mechanical upgrades, and could still hold its own on the streets, but it was time for an update. The overhead-cam V8 from the full size Ford would be the new Mustang engine. In 1996, the Mustang Cobra got a double-overhead-cam, 32 valve V8, a spiced up version of a Lincoln engine. This was a major change. For us long-time Mustang racers, it would take some adjusting of our driving style. The new V8 had a very different power curve, peeking at a much higher RPM. To get the most out of it, you had to drive it more like a European performance car, than the American muscle car we were used to. In recient years, with the current 5.0 V8, they have managed to tune in plenty of low end torque, to go along with the high RPM horsepower. Kind of the best of both worlds.

My 1996 Mustang Cobra on the Drag Strip in 1997.

Modify Your Mustang

No other car on the streets has more aftermarket parts available than the Ford Mustang. For those who want more performance, or a customized look for their car, the choices are endless. Most of my Mustangs have had some aftermarket modification, and others have had a lot. My blue 1992 5.0 LX is the first one that I had installed many aftermarket parts on. It had aluminum under-drive pulleys, an aluminum drive shaft, slightly lower ratio rear end gears, nickel plated equal length exhaust headers, Flowmaster cat-back exhaust system, higher ratio aluminum roller rockers, a phenolic spacer in the intake manifold, and several special trim pieces. These modifications, and my special tuning, gave it approximatly 30 more horsepower, and improved fuel milage by about 3 MPG. It was a fast and fun car to drive. There is a lot more about that car in chapter 8 of my book. You can follow this link to check it out or read sample pages. "Grab Some Gears"

My 1992 Mustang LX 5.0

Street Racing -The Way it Used To Be.

When anyone thinks of street racing now, it probably brings up images of "The Fast and the Furious" movies in recient years. Those movies had more to do with showing wild, intense, action movie drama, than they did with real street racing. The old movie "American Graffiti" is a way more accurate portrayal of real street racing. At least, the kind of street racing we used to have. The races between muscle cars, hot rods, and normal, everyday street cars, was the old style street racing. When the souped-up imports started to enter the scene, and originally inspired the "Fast and Furious" style street racing, it marked the beginning of the end for street racing in America. It got too wild and out of control, and the general public demanded a crack down. I was involved in street racing for over 40 years, and I saw it happening. That's what inspired me to write a book about it. For an inside look at my experiences with the evolution of street racing over the last half century, check out my book;  "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing". Just follow this link: "Grab Some Gears"

Photo shoot for the cover of my book, my buddy's Viper and my 2003 Cobra.

When a Mustang was a Fox

Mustangs have been around for 50 years, and have gone through many changes in that time. For a lot of those years, 1979 to 1992, they were built on the "fox" chassis. That generation of cars are known as the "Fox body" Mustangs. Those are the favorite years for a certain segment of Mustang enthusiasts. The last six years of the fox body Mustangs are when true high performance was brought back for the first time in many years. Check out my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing" specifically chapter 5 "The Automotive Dark Ages", for more on that story. The book is available, and you can read sample pages at amazon.com , and it's available as a Kindle book. I owned several fox body Mustangs through those years, and they were an important part of my automotive history. Particularly my black 1987 5.0 LX hatchback. It got the most drag racing and street racing time of any car I ever owned. (see chapters 7 and 8 of my book for more on that story). The "fox body" years will be remembered as a very important part of the Ford Mustang's 50 year history. Here is a link to my book; "Grab Some Gears"

My black 1987 Mustang 5.0 LX, with appropriate personalized plate.

Mustangs for Show and Go

Mustangs have always been a car for everyone. Everything from a light blue "65" convertible for a school teacher, to a black "69" BOSS 429 for a guy who likes a little more wild in his ride, and everything in between. And, that's how it's been for 50 years. I have always loved the high performance models, even when I couldn't have one of my own. Many people enjoy taking their Mustangs to car shows, no matter which model they have, from the original classics to brand new current models. For many years I have taken my Mustangs to car shows. It's great to associate with people who love cars, and to share our pride and passions with the general public. In recient years, I have owned some of the top performance models, and they always attract a lot of attention at shows. I enjoy talking to people, answering questions, and especially promoting our hobby to the younger generation. They are the key to the future for these kind of cars. If young people aren't interrested in Mustangs, and other cars like this, they will cease to exist in the years to come.

My 2003 "Terminator" Cobra at a local car show.

A Mustang of My Own

In the early 1970's, we sold out trusty Falcon Sprint, and after a few months with a couple "other cars", I found my first Mustang setting on a used car lot in Phoenix. It was a light yellow 1966 coupe, with black deluxe interior. The deluxe interior included wood grain on the instrument panel and glove box door, special seats with running horses embossed into the upper portion of the seat upholstery, and special door panels and door handles. The Mustang had a 289 V8, and 3-speed on the floor. I finally had my first Mustang. I went right to work, applying all the "tuning tricks" I had learned, and detailing the car to look its best. Being a young street racer, I also made a few minor modifications to enhance the performance. I had a lot of fun with that car. Those familiar with my book may recall the "Hemi" encounter in Chapter 4. One sunday afternoon, I also made a few laps with the Mustang around the Phoenix International Raceway. It was just after the track was first built, and all the fences and gates weren't there yet. That yellow "66" coupe was the first in a long list of Mustangs I have enjoyed over the years. Follow this link to check out my book; "Grab Some Gears"

Me with my 1966 Mustang in the early 1970's.

Where Mustangs Came From

When Ford decided to introduce a sporty new model, they found a great starting point in their Falcon line. The Falcon was the right size, the power train options were there, and the cost savings of using an existing platform would be great. The cars were a nice little car on their own, but a sporty new body would really ramp up the popularity. The Falcon Sprint, at the time, was their sportiest version, being V8 powered, and trimmed up with some sporty finishing touches. I owned a 1964 Sprint, back in the day, and it was a fun little car. It was the car we had when we got married. Beside the basic platform and drive train, the first Mustangs used the Falcon's basic dash structure and instrument panel. My "64" Falcon Sprint had the same speedometer and instruments as a "65" Mustang. The steering wheel was also the same, only the horn center emblem was changed. The sporty new Mustang model was a hit, and the rest is history. It became the Mustang we have loved for 50 years.

My V8 powered 1964 Falcon Sprint near Phoenix, Arizona, in 1970.

My First Mustang Experience

In the mid 1960's when the first Mustangs were hitting the streets, they made quite an impression. They were so much different than everything else on the roads. I remember well how cool it was to catch sight of one in the small South Dakota town where I grew up. Then in the fall of 1966, my parents actually bought one for my mom. My brothers and I were shocked, they were the coolest parents ever. It was a new white 1966 coupe, with tan interior. It had the 289 V8 with the select-shift automatic transmission. The chances I would get to drive it would not come as often as I would have liked, but for a 16 year old boy, each time was heaven. I remember still the experience, the crisp feel of the new drivetrain, the look of the new dash instruments, and the brisk acceleration the V8 provided in the sporty little coupe. Those first memories are forever burned into my brain. Read my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing" for the rest of the story. Available at amazon.com, and as a Kindle book, or you can read sample pages there. Here is a link; "Grab Some Gears"

Me at age 16, and my mom's 1966 Mustang.

Something Fun to Drive

For the general population, "fun to drive" may not even be part of the process when shoping for a car. For the car enthusiast, it's a major consideration. There are hurds of boring transportation appliances cloging our streets and highways these days. Millions of cars, built for people who don't like cars. For some of us, a car is much more than that. We do our car shopping homework looking through car enthusiast publications, not Consumer Reports. We want something fun to drive.  My son Dan has a Dodge Charger SRT-8, one of their top-of-the-line performance models. It's the type of car a guy can take pride in owning, driving, and even show at the local car shows. We get a lot of enjoyment from owning our cars. From the conversations we have with people at car shows, and even at the grocery store parking lots, many people see these cars as something special. Everyone has a story of a car they used to have, or that a friend once had. But then, they get back into their plain white, front wheel drive, 4 cylinder, econo-box, and drive off with the rest of the hurd.

Dan's SRT-8 and my Mustang at the 4th of July car show.

The Dodge Side of the Garage

Anyone who has read many of my posts know I'm kind of a Mustang guy. Then there is the other side of the garage. My wife's car is a Dodge Charger. It's a 2013 that we have had for about 4 months, and it's a great car. I like the new Chargers for a lot of reasons, but mostly because it's one of the few 4-door sedans that can pull off the "muscle car" image. And, anyone who has followed one at night knows they have the coolest tail lights on the road. We have a couple Chargers in the family, my son has a SRT-8, and I'll write about that in an up-comming post. Anyone who has read my book may remember that Chargers, and other Dodges, have been a big part of my automotive history. One of my first street races, back in the late 1960's, involved a Dodge Charger. Then there was the Hemi encounter on the streets of Phoenix in the early 1970's. And, my last street race in 2006 was with a Viper. You can checkout my book; "Grab Some Gears - 40 Years of Street Racing" at amazon.com, and read sample pages there. Link to my book; "Grab Some Gears"

2013 Dodge Charger  (random google image).