Carlisle Celebrity Award

Its almost two weeks until the All-Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, PA and I Can't Wait! I took the last two years off from going to the show and I am looking forward to meeting up with some old friends and meeting a few new ones.

The club tent is all set and my car is registered, all done well in advance of the event, so when I got an email from Carlisle Productions last week from a person I don't usually have contact with I had to wonder what was going on.

I have been invited to attend the Celebrity Luncheon on Saturday during the event. What does this mean? Other than getting a free lunch I was chosen to judge a "Celebrity Pick" for the event this year. I'm stunned, surprised and ecstatic to have been chosen for this. This is going to make the show really special for me this year.

So. I have to set some criteria for my pick. It goes without saying that for the purposes of fairness I won't be choosing an early Valiant or Barracuda. I don't want to play favorites.

So I guess it gets philosophical. What do I believe a car should be? What are some of the trials and tribulations we as early Valiant and Barracuda owners have we had to endure during the restoration or resto-mod process of getting our cars back to driveable status?  I have a very "Do It Yourself" attitude about this hobby so any car chosen must have a hands on approach by its owner and family.

The chosen car must exhibit some resourcefulness to overcome some the adversity of finding available parts, or the lack of parts. We all know how hard it is to locate that one trim piece or match the seat covers for some models. We can't just open a catalog and order everything needed for a repair and that will factor into my choice.

Does it need to be painted? No. Does it need to be driven? Yes. Does it need to be a complete restoration? Probably not as I have a soft spot for "rolling restoration" projects.  It will most likely be a 1966 or older Mopar but I'll leave a caveat for that one because you never know what will show up at Carlisle.

Will it be a modern Mopar? NO! No PT Cruisers or 2012 Challengers. Will it be a cheesy 4x4 Duster painted orange with a "01" painted on the side? Don't hold your breath! Will it be an E body? Doubtful.

This is going to be very hard and very fun at the same time. Picking a car that represents the Club's attitude of "Just Fix It, Drive It and Enjoy It" will keep me on the show field more and in the swap meet area less.

But that's OK. Because this year, I'm a Celebrity Judge representing The Early Valiant and Barracuda Club at the biggest all-Mopar show on the east coast! Its going to be a good weekend!

Stock vs. Modified - Factory vs. Aftermarket

If you have been following along then you know I'm currently in the process of installing throttle body fuel injection on my 1966 Barracuda. Its not being done from a kit and there is a lot to alter to marry the wiring needed to power and control all the various components to the existing stock harness.

I also had to modify a distributor for the system. Here's where I find the "Great Divide". I already made the mods and went searching through various forums for more info on others who have done similar mods or upgrades to their Mopars. Many have and there are quite a few people using GM ignitors to fire their ignitions, either a full on HEI distributor setup or just an ignition module bolted to a stock Mopar electronic distributor.

Here it gets weird because there seems to be those who feel that anything but components from Ma Mopar are the ONLY suitable part to go on the car. The other side of the argument are the people who are looking for more performance or better fuel mileage from their cars. To the first group, the only ignition upgrade from points ignition that YOU SHOULD EVER DO is to install the Mopar electronic ignition. BECAUSE IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE FACTORY, WHY DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE!

Sorry for the yelling, but that's how some of those forum posts get. Below is an exchange between two people from a Mopar forum to show the divide.

My Garage

 So, I'm in my garage working on my car and along comes the friendly neighborhood OSHA inspector. He walks right in and immediately trips on his own feet but claimed it was because of the pile of parts blocking access to my tools.

"Be Careful!" I tell him. But he says nothing for a minute or two as he looks around and writes some things down on a little note pad. "This place is a mess." he finally says. "Your work bench is cluttered, You can't get to your tools, your window is half blocked and you have a pile of crap in the middle of your work space."

"Can I see some I.D. Please." I ask the guy. He continues, "You have too many hardware bins with multiple items that need sorting, Your vise is in the wrong spot on the bench and for heavens sake put the bench grinder on a pedestal stand and gain some area on the bench."

"Who are you?", I ask.  "I'm afraid I need to fine you a 6 pack for all these infractions. You're lucky I'm willing to overlook your blatant misuse of pegboard. Simply awful."

So the guy rips off a page from his note pad, hands me a list of the infractions, picks up some beer and promptly leaves muttering something about being back for a re-inspection or more beer. I'm stunned, speechless really. I would have tried to stop him from leaving if I didn't know he was right. My garage work space was a mess. Well I did something about it! Check the photos below for the transformation.

What Makes You A Car Guy?

What makes you a car guy? Or car girl for that matter? Why do you like cars? What makes you pause when a Hemi Roadrunner drives down the road? Why do you stop at tag sales when there's car parts laying on the lawn?

Driving to work today I was asking myself these questions and I can't really pinpoint a specific answer. I don't know if its a lifestyle or a sub-culture, but I like being known as a car guy.

This past year while experiencing my "Automotive Burnout", I still knew I was a car guy because I would see an older car on the highway, or drive past a cruise night and I felt that spark inside me light up for a moment. I can still tell most makes and models by the headlights or the tail lights. I still liked to see the cars even if I didn't want to stop and look around.

I finally snapped out of it and have a new upgrade to focus on at the moment. The questions still linger. What is it about these older cars that I like? Well, I like making something worn out work again. I like making something old, new and usable. I like being seen in my car when I drive around and taking time to talk to people in parking lots about cars.

I like upgrading old technology with new components to improve its function. I like putting my personal spin and custom touches on a stock design and making it my own.

Automotive Burn Out.

Have you ever worked on something for so long you just got tired of it? So much so that even the thought of it made you want to do it less and less? Thats how Iv'e felt for the past year. Except for me, it's not just working on my car, it's working on the entire EVBC club itself.

My car is one thing that needs some attention. It needs a vacuuming and a good wash. The interior needs a wipe down and the chrome polished. The Windows need washing and the bumpers and mirrors need a polish too.

The Car Club was something else all together. Emails went unanswered, Google group membership and Facebook requests fell on deaf ears. Blog posts stopped completely. Web site additions non existent.

The Cost of Coming to a Stop

I found an interesting link on the CNN web site about a proposal given at the recent TED conference by Gary Lauder.

He tells the story of how he received a ticket for rolling slowly through a stop sign at a three way intersection while there was clearly nobody else at the other sides of the intersection.

He goes on to explain how these types of intersections can be dangerous, fuel inefficient and time wasting for most people. His idea, A new type of sign. Not a Yield or Stop, but a "Take Turns" sign.

He would prefer that there be Traffic Circles or a Rotary as they are safer than the traditional intersection and he goes on to give some stats to prove this.

He also gives some stats on the fuel cost and time spent at a traditional intersection. Now, I thought his numbers were good, but he did not break it down for an individual car. Here are some numbers I worked up using some of what he proposed.

My numbers are based on the premise that if you have to stop at one, three way intersection on your way to work and the same intersection going home from work.

Time to slow to a complete stop = 10 seconds x 2 = 20 seconds.

260 work day per year (not including weekends).

260 days x 20 seconds per day = 1 hour 26 min. per year.

The amount of gas needed to accelerate from a stop, 2oz =$.05 x 2 = $.10 per day.

$.10 x 260 days = $26.00 per year.

I don't know where he got his numbers from and for the sake of argument I'm assuming they are correct. If thats the case, I have 4 of these types of intersections on my way to work that I feel would quality for this new type of sign. For eight total stops, thats $104.00 in gas alone for the year and almost six hours of my life I would get back! (I would just waste the time watching TV anyway.)

I guess the point to be made is that safety, fuel efficiency and time management can be improved for everyone through better planning of intersections and roads.

Watch the video of his speech and then decide for yourself, can't we all just "Take Turns"?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/16/lauder.new.road.sign/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Driving Behaviors and Personality

When you drive the same route to and from work for a few years, you start to notice the same drivers everyday and their driving habits. Some have good habits, others bad, a few are awful. I started to wonder what these behaviors said about their personalities. Could they be indicators of more bad behaviors in other areas of their lives?

I started to formulate my own thoughts on what specific driving habits translated into certain personality traits. I also found there are a lot of sites on the Internet associated with this idea in mind. I didn't read too much into it as I wanted to share my take on this area of psychology. Below is my un-scientific list of driving habits translated to personality traits.

Good Behaviors

• Using signals to change lanes. * You make promises and follow through on them. You don't let people down. You have good communication skills.
• Keeping a safe following distance. * You are a cautious person, your trust is earned, not bestowed.
• Coming to a full stop. * You are consistent in what you do and are a stickler for the details. You practice what you preach.
• You drive a reasonable speed for road conditions (less than 10 mph over the limit). * You are a realistic person who is well grounded and centered. You do not deal in absolutes.


• You give other drivers the right of way. * You are a considerate person and volunteer to help others.
• Bad Behaviors

• Tailgating. *You know what you want but you bully your way to get it. You are overbearing.
• Excessive speeding/Zig-zagging through traffic. * You have no consideration for anyone but yourself. You are self centered and pompus.


• Driving the speed limit in the passing lane. * You are inattentive and complacent. You have no goals in life.


• Not having your lights on in the rain or snow. * You are arrogant and think you have all the answers. You have unrealistic expectations.


• You fail to remove all the snow from all areas of your car. * You are lazy and unmotivated. "it's good enough" is your motto.
• You fail to hold a steady speed. You are inconsistent and don't finish what you started. You leave people hanging.

I'm not a Psychologist and you may not see things as I do, and I'm sure there are many more of these I could add to the list like "what does talking on the phone" say about you, but I'll leave that one and others for you folks to ponder.

Below is a link to the Psychology Today's page to take the "What type of driver are you?" test. I took it and I think I scored pretty well. How did you do?

http://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/take_test.php?idRegTest=1309

My Results.

The end of an era?

Its a few days before I will be leaving for the Carlisle, PA event known as The All-Chrysler Nationals and I'm reading an article in Wired about the new Bugatti Veyron convertible. A small car, 1001 HP, 235 mph top speed, 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and only costs 2.1 million dollars.

Nice car, I'll take two. http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_veyron_convertible

It was a line at the end of the article that caught my eye. "We're at the end of the petroleum era, the end of a golden age of supercars where speed can be sought regardless of consequence."

It's the first part of that line, We're at the end of the petroleum era, that got me thinking that it really is the beginning of the end of gasoline fueled cars as we move more toward the alternatives. I guess its the natural progression of improving something as science and technology make new breakthroughs year after year.

The automobile is the same. look at the different improvements since the autos inception. There were no paved roads early on unless you consider cobblestones. The tires and suspensions were designed for dirt roads that turned to mud and changed to accommodate hard paved or concrete roads. Advancements in safety with safety glass and seat belts where there were none. The use of plastics instead of wood products.

Engine and transmission design improved, syncro mesh manual transmissions and automatic versions were developed. Engines got bigger with more horsepower and were adapted for different uses.

Now, cars have gotten safer and get pretty good fuel mileage through the use of computer controls. There is more wire in a modern car than in five Model T's. But with all the improvements, does this mean the end of gasoline cars in the near future? I think Yes.

The current politically correct lifestyle is to "Be Green". So you have people adding solar panels to their homes and wind farms popping up in the mid west and people trading in their Hummer for a Prius.

I think its a good idea to save energy any way we can, and if the "Be Green" lifestyle helps further this its good for all of us. Many improvements over the years have dropped tail pipe emissions bringing us cleaner air. We can debate if electric cars will cause more pollution due to the batteries being made later, everything has waste. Global warming? Not going to get into that either. The goal? Better quality of life for as many of us as possible with the least amount of harmful waste.

Consider the technology we have currently available. Hybrid fuel/electric, all electric and fuel cell. In the next few years there will be more of these cars on the road than gasoline alone powered vehicles as the technologies improve each year. Reliability improves as does the public's acceptance of these automobiles.

It comes down to this. Gasoline cars will eventually become as extinct as dinosaurs, as will the fossil fuels that run them.

In a few days, I'll be looking over a sea of brightly painted warriors of the gasoline era, driving my own battered bruiser to the event, enjoying the smells and sounds of what a car is to me.

I know that this will not be the norm in the future as these cars will be seen as a detriment by some, vile and "un-green" by others and coveted by the rest of us. Will we become shunned for driving our gasoline powered monsters? Will I have protesters at my house because they know I harbor a known polluter?

With gasoline being un-available in the future, how will our kids enjoy these cars? Will they all become trailer queens or will there still be a single producer of gasoline for the collector car hobby. I would hate to see what 86 octane would cost per gallon then.

Yes, I think it is the beginning of the end of the petroleum era, the day the last gasoline only powered car is produced is still a ways off, but that day is coming.

But, as long as there's a gas station and a highway, I'm going to drive my gasoline powered Road Warrior, and you will know it was me when I pass you. You will hear the rumble of wide open secondaries from my engine and the sweet smell of my exhaust!

And don't even try to take my car with your "clunker laws".
"You can have my keys when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers!"

Post Bankruptcy Chrysler

Chrysler has been moving through bankruptcy court at a quick pace and it begs the question, "What will the Post Bankruptcy Chrysler look like?"

Well, all the talking heads have been using buzz words like "Leaner & Meaner" to describe how the company will be, and as usual, they speak without saying anything because no details have been released.

As it stands, there are 11 Dodge models (cars, trucks, SUV's) , 7 Jeep Models, and 6 Chrysler models that were being produced prior to filing for bankruptcy. Post bankruptcy may see a few of those models dropped or consolidated as they move away from larger vehicles toward the smaller more fuel efficient models.

Chrysler needs some small fuel efficient cars to stay in the game and compete with Toyota, Honda and Nissan as well as the other imports getting 30 MPG or better on most of their product line. A quick look at Hyundai models reveals better fuel economy than most of the Chrysler line up. This is where more work needs to be done, making more fuel efficient cars. Chrysler and Dodge combined has only 3 models getting 30 mpg or better with no hybrids and Jeep has 2 models getting 28 mpg with the rest getting 22 mpg or worse . They do have the ENVI cars, 5 models with 3 being readied for production, but none ready for the market as of this post.

Click the link below to learn more about Chrysler's electric vehicles.
www.chryslerllc.com/en/innovation/envi/overview/index.php

Chrysler has produced some really nice looking vehicles and performance has made a come back in recent years, but its a trade off for fuel mileage. People are looking to tighten their budget by saving money with better fuel economy. My 2004 Saturn Ion with 135k miles gets 30 mpg and that's what I drive daily because gas is expensive. The price is already going up! It's not even summer yet and with so many people out of work there is no reason for it other than the oil companies are greedy.

But, I digress. Its for that reason that more fuel efficient vehicles are needed to make Chrysler a viable company in the future. That's where Fiat comes in. Their 500 model is their retro version of a previous model and offers a 1.2L 4 cyl with 46 mpg or a 1.4L 4 cyl with 37 mpg. Not too shabby from a car powered only by an internal combustion engine. By comparison, the 3rd generation Toyota Prius Hybrid is boasting 48 mpg. Right now, hybrid models are pricey. The new 2010 Prius starts at $22k up to $27k. The Fiat 500 is expected to start at around $16k.

Click the link below for more info on the Fiat 500.
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2011-fiat-500.htm

With that info and the initial cost of the vehicle, a first time car owner or someone looking to get out of their older 18 to 20 mpg mini van may lean toward the Fiat model or at least give it a thought. Now we may not see the Fiat 500 in Chrysler or Dodge dealerships until the 2011 model year as they need time to get the parts and other infrastructure in place, but we will see them and other Fiat Specific models to follow.

During that time, new models will be designed buy American engineers and designers for our market based on other Fiat models. The Fiat Linea is a mid sized sedan that could have a Chrysler model based on that platform. It even has features like Ford's Sync bluetooth voice activated software. All of this will only work if they create new Chrysler/Dodge models from the Fiat technology, not just sell re-badged Fiat cars like they did with Mitsubishi in the 80's. Remember the Dodge Colt?

I doubt we will see the Dodge trucks or the Challenger go away soon or any real changes in the Mopar Performance area as this is a smaller segment of the car market. If Fiat sees the value in creating a retro version of their 500, then they appreciate the value of the Dodge Challenger and going back in a company's history to recreate the past. I get the sense that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's interest is building up the company as he did with Fiat making that company viable again. Very unlike how Daimler treated and raided Chrysler to the shell it has become. At least Cerebus tried to build it back, but I don't think they counted on the economy tanking like it did.

For all those employed in this industry, I hope for their sake that this deal goes through so the company can stand tall again and keep from losing so many more jobs. To me, this deal feel like the right fit for the companies involved, un-like the earlier proposed GM-Chrysler merger. Had that deal been done, who knows how much worse it would have been.

I guess the upside of a Fiat-Chrysler merger is, since Fiat also owns Ferrari, that the Viper and the F430 will be cousins.
www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/CurrentRange/430Scuderia/Pages/Scuderia430.aspx

Antique Auto Plates

I don't know what the standard is where you live, but here in Connecticut, when we register our classic car we have the option of getting it tagged with an "antique" plate. We get a break on our taxes with this tag because it's assumed that the car won't be driven as often as our other cars.

I'm OK with that, but I have two issues with the plate in Connecticut. First, it hasn't changed in twenty years and second, it says "Early American" on the plate, not "Antique".

The normal plates are a medium blue that fades to light blue at the bottom. The "Antique" plate is white with black lettering with a picture of Henry Fords first automobile on the left side of the plate. See the picture below.

There are 61 different styles in the blue gradient "everyday" plate you can have, but us classic car owners have just the one. Even the motorcycle enthusiasts have a cool plate. I know, this is being picky, but I would like to have the blue gradient for the "Antique" plate too. See the regular plate below.

Click here to see the different ways you can get your plate customized in Connecticut. http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=811&q=276580

The "antique" plate is issued to any car that is 20 years old or older with the emphasis on "any". You can have an old Volvo, Saab, BMW, Datsun, etc, with our "Early American" vanity plate
Also, what is the cutoff date for "Early American"? 1955? 1935? 1979? Yes, here your Pinto is considered an "Early American" as is your Renault LeCar.
If the state does not want to change the color of the plate, at least they could change the text from "Early American" to "Antique". I'm sure the people with the classic imports would be happier and so would the classic domestic owners. Plus, that's 6 less letters they have to pay to have printed and the plates would be cheaper to make at least in theory.
This is not a huge issue, just one of those minor things that could be easily fixed by our DMV. Let me know your thoughts on this or share info about classic car plates in your state. Post your stories in the comments for this post.

Chrysler and GM in merger talks!?

I for one would not want to see the publicity photos of the 2009 Camaro coming down the same assembly line as the 2009 Challenger. Possibly on the same platform! It’s just too horrid a thought. Perhaps these merger talks are a very bad Halloween joke/nightmare being played on the car world. The thought of a Hemi in a GMC Denali, or any other GM vehicle for that matter, really, really depresses me.

How would this affect us older Mopar lovers? Well, I’ve always been one of those “Glass half full” kind of guys who tries to see the silver lining in things so here’s my take on the up side of this possible merger.

More Licensed Reproduction Parts.

GM has a pretty good program for producing or licensing good quality aftermarket reproduction pieces for their hobbyist’s vehicles.

In the GM camp, there are many aftermarket companies producing GM certified replacement parts at reasonable prices. If, and it’s a big if, GM and Chrysler were to merge, it would make good business sense that the licensing of Mopar Reproduction parts follow the same model as how existing GM parts are certified.

The trouble Dave Layson got into over the summer brought to light that there are some “Gaps” in Chrysler’s Reproduction Parts supply plan. Not to re-hash the “Laysons Incident” and not knowing both sides of the story, but what if Chrysler was charging outrageous fees to license their products? Could this be why Laysons never really pursued licensing the many good quality products they were making? Is it poor execution on Chrysler’s part?

As much as I would to hate to see a merger happen, the outcome for those in the hobby looking for genuine parts could be huge. There would be licensed Mopar Reproduction parts available, hopefully at a reasonable price, for all levels of the hobby and there would be no fear of sub-standard or non-licensed parts bringing down the value of restored vehicles.

The better scenario is Chrysler and GM don't merge and Ma Mopar steps it up in the reproduction parts business.

I know times are tough for businesses large and small and this merger is just that, business. But Ma Mopar being owned by GM just seems wrong. I guess the other good thing that would come out of this possible merger, other than better reproduction parts, would be the small consolation that Chrysler would at least be owned by an American company.

The Price of Gas!

With a gallon of gas about to hit the $4.00 per gallon mark in my part of the country it got me to thinking about how it affects me and my Barracuda. I have had this car for over 13 years now and it is finally a usable, drivable, hop-in-at-a-moments-notice-and-go-for-a-cruise, car.

I registered my car to be at the Carlisle All Chrysler Nationals this year for the first time and now I may not be able to go because of the price of gas. I feel so ripped off! I've been looking forward to this trip for years! By July I figure it will cost me about $450 to $500 in gas alone for a 3 day weekend!

Its hard to justify spending that kind of money on a hobby when you need to it to pay for other everyday things like food, electricity and gas for your daily driver to get back and forth to work. I know there are many of you out there who feel the same way. Many of you travel long distances to go to the car show every year because its what we do as car guys and gals.

So whats a person to do? Do we find many people in the same area and rent a car hauler to trailer our cars to the show? I know my car isn't a "trailer queen". Do we swap our V8's for Slant 6 engines? 4 bbl carbs for 2bbls? Do we drop in a de-tuned low hp engine and put the "good motor" on an engine stand?

How about going green? Anyone got an extra fuel cell laying around? Solar? Well hell Yea! Have you seen how big that back window is? Slap some panels in there, add some batteries and were off! We just have to travel during the day, as long as its sunny.

I'm not sure if I would pay to see the "Hurst Hybrid Under Glass" make any 1/4 mile wheels up runs at the drag strip. Somehow it wouldn't be the same.

I'm just a little tweaked about the whole situation. I could air out my political thoughts, rant about this for awhile longer, and it still wouldn't bring the price of gas down to a reasonable level.

Like the rest of you, I have to tighten up on spending and deal with it hoping things will get better soon. Maybe if I'm lucky I can convince the wife to let me use some of the money from our "Stimulus Package" and make the trip anyway.

I dunno. The whole price of gas situation just seems so intolerable. I will be at Carlisle this year. It's just that I may roll up in the wifes Corolla, not my Barracuda.

Second coming of the Muscle Car era

Driving to work the other day I found myself letting a new Mustang GT pass, then sped up just to get a look at it. On the way home I drove past a side street and srtetched my neck to get a look at the new Yellow Charger with black stripes come down the road.

With the new Challenger coming out soon as well as the Camaro and other retro projects, it feels good to look around and see some interesting cars on the road, changing the driving landscape from the boring everyday "jelly bean" cars we see day in and day out to an exciting sea of bright colored, high horsepower metal.

I was about six years old at the height of the Muscle Car era and don't remember much, but I'm told that when these cars were new, it was sort of the same attitude we have about todays cars. Normal. Everyday. Same old stuff.

In 1970 my 1966 Barracuda was four years old and two models behind. Fairly run of the mill, not exciting and relagated to daily transportation. It was only as I entered High School that I saw value in these older cars. Oh yea, the 1978 Mustang II was "real cool" and the gaudy 5 mph bumpers on the new Camaro was a real design statement, these cars never got my interest.

Flash forward to 2008. What was old is new again. The styles of the late 60's and early 70's is in vogue and we have more to look at on the highways than the lackluster styles of today. I'm a Mopar guy and the New challenger excites me as does the pictures of the 2008 Barracuda designed by the same company that did the Challenger. Ford has the new Mustang that I feel is so well done that I do a double take whenver I see one. Chevrolet is releasing the Camaro in a remake of the 1969 model, one can only hope they release a Pontiac Firebird as well since their GTO was so ill recieved.

With so much new retro tin rolling the highways and byways soon, I hope to experience what I missed as a child and witness the coming of the modern Muscle Car era.