Parlez Vous Francais?

Apparently, there's some race called the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend in France.  To get everyone amped up for it, here's Hollywood's stylized take on the legendary race.  I hear this Steve McQueen fellow is pretty cool too.

The 80 Minutes of Le Mans

Just wanted to let everyone know that Audi's documentary about last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, Truth in 24 II: Every Second Counts, is downloadable on iTunes.  It can also be viewed via Youtube... which means it's also here on FPH.  What a great way to kick off this race filled weekend!

Breathe Easy

Recently, I've received a few emails from friends and family asking me to look over their tune-up invoice to see if they are being ripped off.  At the top of each invoice, it seems that mechanics are over charging for a simple air filter change.  I've seen some charge up to $55 for this service!  This is three times more than the actual cost of a regular paper filter that can be bought at any Autozone, Pep Boys, etc.  As a service to you, here's a quick video I found on Youtube that walks you through the simple process of changing an air filter.  Similar videos for your specific car can also be found on Youtube if you're still nervous about trying this.  Remember to check this every 15,000-20,000 miles.  You can thank me later for the savings at the mechanic as well as the pump.

The Other Other Daytona Race

Today, Daytona International Speedway played host to the climax of Daytona bike week with the running of the Daytona 200.  While the rules of the 200 have changed over time, the current 200 mile format saw 45 600cc 4-cylinder (or equivalent) motorcycles from Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Ducati, Buell, and Triumph battle both in the infield and on the high banks.  As the bikes sat pinging themselves cool, four riders knew they had given everything.  One had taken the checkers while the other three had lost out by a mere 0.048 seconds.  Here's how it all went down.

Boogity Boogity Boogity!

The winter is a tough time for race fans.  Engines sit cold; Tracks lay still and dormant; Speed Channel is showing some nonsense like Pimp My Ride.  While I don't follow NASCAR as much as F1 or MotoGP, the unseasonably warm winter has made me incredibly anxious for race season and I'm quite excited about the Daytona 500 (even more so that it will be run at night under the lights!).  Here are some of the best finishes passes redneck moments in NASCAR!

Light is Right

With the passing of ever increasing CAFE regulations, the auto manufacturers are looking to make their cars lighter in an effort to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining or improving their current performance envelope.  The everyday consumer market will hear about high tensile steel and aluminum structures that are more rigid yet lighter than previous versions of the same car.  This is even being touted by vanilla, people carrying toasters like the Camry.  For us enthusiasts, lightness usually comes in the form of carbon fiber, the most exotic material made from one of the most basic elements.  Check out this video of a carbon fiber weave under, what I assume is, an electron microscope.

Lost to Time

I've always found myself to be a history buff.  In college, I was actually a history minor... and by minor I mean whore.  Finding old pictures and videos like the one embedded below always fascinate me.  If you know of any articles, pictures, or videos about abandoned factories or dealerships please post the link in the comments.

WWMD: What Would Martin Drive

While most of us read the car magazines and watch shows like Top Gear, Fifth Gear, and The Car Show to get a feel for cars that we'd never have a chance to drive, these shows can't convey how incredible some of the cars really are (or are not) because the people who test the cars never drove the best cars.  Yes, Fifth Gear has genuine race car drivers in Jason Plato and Tiff Needell but Plato is a touring car driver and Needell only has a singular Formula One start under his belt.  To get a completely honest opinion, it needs to come from someone crazy enough (and good enough) to have driven the best of the best year after year, someone like Martin Brundle.

Oh the Humanity!

The other day, fellow contributor Pat Arrigo sent me a picture of a car he'd just seen in central New York.  This particular car (as seen below) was a beautiful Volvo P1800, a car which we both hold in high regard.  Upon closer inspection the license plate said "MILNMILR" and it just so happens that Pat had just seen one of the rarest cars on the planet - one with approximately 3 million miles on the odometer.

2 Legit

Aside from the tornadoes hitting western Massachusetts, there has been some lovely riding weather lately.  In addition to the splendid temperatures, a friend of mine is in the market for a new motorcycle and he's very much into bobbers.  Add in the Danny Choy factor of sharing a love for cafe racers and we have a perfect storm brewing.  Thankfully we found this video and it supplies a much needed old school motorcycle fix while keeping us out of debt.

Big thanks to Oscar of the Squadra Sutge motorcycle group in Spain for these beautiful shots!


A KIND OF PASSION, a tribute to classic motorcycles and the people who love them from Squadra Sutge on Vimeo.

A Quarter Life Crisis.

Sometimes I go to bed with comforting thoughts. I've got plenty of time and it'll be a while yet before I turn 25. But then the following morning, I would jump out of bed, look into the mirror, and tear my hair out with panic. I'm almost 25 and I've yet to figure out what to do with myself.

On that note, there's a lot that can be said about Adam Cramer. He figured his strengths and weaknesses and knew what it is he wanted to do at a young age. Anybody can see the passion he puts into his work. I mean, look at his shop! He even said he never bothered to count the exact amount of motorcycles.


Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles from Etsy on Vimeo.

His criticism to the new youths of America aside, I only hope to one day discover my own crystal clear destiny. It isn't very likely that I would become a vintage motorcycle mechanic but the whole idea of automotive journalism makes me pretty happy. And I'm not even getting paid for it.

Go out there and have a good weekend everybody!

To our viewers out there in Japan, our thoughts are with you. Hang in there, we wish for great success in your rescue efforts.

Why Do We Live?

No words are needed to understand this beautiful video.  Great find, Keqing!



Here is the general synopsis of the ad...