I've been a very faithful car cover user since the late 70's when I had my screaming yellow Opel GT. Do you remember that little car? It didn't have much go power, but it was fun. In 1991 I had the misfortune of having my Porsche 944 Turbo liberated from my ownership while parked in front of a hotel. You can imagine the feeling that came over me in the morning when I was ready to get in my car and go about my business. "Hmm, I thought I parked it right here!" Wouldn't you know it that it … [Read more...]
Running for Cover… My Car Cover, that is!
February 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Back in the 1980s and 90s I worked as an independent computer consultant. My work took me all over the east coast. For most jobs, I enjoyed driving to the client's site because it gave me time to think and relax. Any time I traveled away from home I brought a car cover with me to cover my car while it was not being driven. During the day the cover protected my car from sunlight, birds and airborne contamination. At night my car cover kept my car dry and away from the prying eyes of … [Read more...]
Safe Parking
February 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I hate parking lots, especially if they're full. I just know that some old battle wagon is going to pull up next to me and give my car a big door ding. I recently purchased an SUV, which has increased my parking challenge at least two-fold. Unlike my sport sedan, the SUV is too big to fit in the "compact car" spaces and it does not have door trim. It's a sitting duck for a door ding. I attended the Sneak Preview Night at the most recent Los Angeles Car Show. As normal, I headed for the … [Read more...]
Car Theft Prevention for Car Guys
February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In my last post I explained my thoughts on the two kinds of people in this world, those that love cars and everybody else. Car lover or not, having your car stolen is pretty traumatic. I know this from first-hand experience. Car theft is a crime that affects more than just car owners. Insurance companies and Financing companies are also affected. Car theft raises insurance rates for everyone. Car theft also floods the used car parts market with stolen parts. According to … [Read more...]
There’s Car People… and Everyone Else
February 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Maybe you have noticed this, too. It seems to me there are two kinds of people in the world: car people and everyone else. As a car person, I’ll bet you know what I’m talking about. You can always spot a true car person. They're the ones that give a look back at their car as they walk away from it in a parking lot. Everyone else simply walks away from their car without a second thought. After all, to the non-car person, a vehicle is just transportation; a mere utility for getting … [Read more...]
Watch for COPS Method of Defensive Driving (part 3)
February 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In Parts 1 and 2 I talked about how “Watching for COPS!” and good mirrors that are properly adjusted are the tools to keep you out of trouble and make you a better defensive driver. Now, let’s review what we’ve learned so we can put it all together into proper mirror usage. First, we use good mirrors so we can... that’s right, “Watch for COPS!” Second, we keep our mirrors properly adjusted so we can... correct, “Watch for COPS!” So, pulling this all together, when driving … [Read more...]
Watch for COPS Method of Defensive Driving (part 2)
February 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Yesterday I introduced my “Watch for COPS” method of defensive driving. Not only is it the best way to avoid a ticket, it’s also the correct way to remain alert and avoid an accident. Today, I’d like to discuss proper mirrors in order to prevent being a statistic. A proper mirror seems kind of obvious, doesn’t it? Heck, if you can see backwards, what more do you need? I’ve always liked the side mirrors on my Porsche cars. They’re big, which flies in the face of most sports … [Read more...]
Watch for COPS Method of Defensive Driving (part 1)
February 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
There’s an old saying that many Ferrari owners use that goes some thing like: “What’s behind you, she no matter!” While the adage may play into the forward velocity capability of powerful sports cars, it does not speak to driver blind spots or the idiots coming up behind you in traffic. Have you ever stopped to consider that the most valuable defensive driving capability you have at your disposal might very well be your mirrors? I hadn't either, but a little traffic violation … [Read more...]
On The Road… Again!
February 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Once you get your car perfectly detailed, you have to get back out on the road again. Which means getting your car dirty -- again -- is inevitable. Ah, what a lovely cycle for an OCD individual, like me. So, today I decided I would start a new area on my blog called On The Road. It's a place for me to share my tales, woes, and a bit of my 35 years and 500,000 miles of driving (and riding) experience. … [Read more...]
