Carpundit

Motoring on July 4

I post merely to drop the Elizabeth Edwards story off the top of this blog.  I'm on the Cape, enjoying vacation.  I'm running every day, driving every day, drinking every day (that comes after the driving), and trying to figure out if there's some way I can paid for this behavior.

I just took my BMW out of storage.  It's a '94 325ic with all the options (except auto tranny), a Supersprint exhaust (great note) and a Vortech supercharger.  Dyno'd at 299, it's a fun car.  You can hang with M3's that think they're about to wave goodbye.  Still....

Having driven my Carrera all spring, I now think of the BMW as my sporty little beach car.  The Carrera eats it for lunch.  As in: I thought I was fast, but I wasn't.  I imagine this is what Carrera Turbo owners experience after they upgrade.

My son calls our three cars the "sports car," the "sporty car," and the "family car."  He's dead-on.

I'll be driving the Porsche to the July 4 parade, my children in back, coffee in one hand and wheel in the other (sacrilege, I know, but it's a Tip and we're in no hurry).

Happy birthday to America.  (Yes, the "y" is white.)  The current tyrant notwithstanding, this is a wonderful place to live.  If you live in America, you should be thankful.

I am.

Lewis Hamilton Won the U.S. GP at Indy

As foretold here, Lewis Hamilton won the 2007 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  That was a good prediction on my part and, as I also said last week, "Having seen him race, I say he's the next world champion.  I doubt anyone can catch him."

I stand by that.  Hamilton is Formula One's next World Champion.  Simply awesome.

Carpundit At the Canadian Grand Prix

Let's get one thing out of the way: it's incredible that Robert Kubica survived the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.  His accident, about halfway through the race, took the wind out of the crowds' sails - at least out of the sails of the sober, which included me.  I wish F1 had announced something; the uncertainty was the worst.  I hope he's back soon.  Now to the actual race.

It was clear, from Lap 1 -when Alonso went off course in a desperate bid for first- that Lewis Hamilton was going to win.  His speed through Turn One (Senna Corner), where I sat, was noticeably and significantly faster than anyone else's.  He had the car and the course mastered, and his driving was amazing.  Simply amazing.  Having seen him race, I say he's the next world champion.  I doubt anyone can catch him.

At left is Lap One, Turn One.  Click for larger, as always.  That's Alonso going off, overdriving the corner as he would three or four times in the race.  Hamilton is the lead car (from pole) of the pack properly on course.

At right is Alonso's second or third agricultural excursion.  He simply couldn't drive that turn as fast as Hamilton.  He may have psyched himself out, or pushed too hard trying to catch his team's number two.  It must be tough to be reigning world champ and have your own teammate showing you up.  So far in 2007, Hamilton's a better driver.

Let's see what happens at Indy.  I predict Hamilton wins.  He's had a taste, and he's that good.

Carpundit at the Canadian Grand Prix of 2007

The McLarens rounding the first turn on a gorgeous Saturday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in practice for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.  Later in the day, they qualified in spots one and two for the race.  In this photo, Alonso is ahead, but that's not how the qualification turned out.  Race day tomorrow, with perfect weather forecast.  Hamilton's on the pole.

Another Great Carpundit Investment

While we're talking about BMW 2002's, I should perhaps mention that mine just sold for about $2500.  That's roughly one third of the total amount I put into it in the past two years.  I drove it about seven times, for less than 1000 miles.  I don't want to work out the exact per mileage cost of that particular learning experience.  Lesson learned?   I like to look at BMW 2002's, but not own them.  Did I just answer yesterday's question?

But, damn, that Alfa GTV looks nice....

Why Is That BMW 2002 So Damn Cheap?

Recently, a correspondent asked if I had any resources to help him price a BMW 1600 he was selling.  I didn't have much, but I sent a few links and included my opinion at no extra charge.  It got me wondering.  Why are the early sport-sedan BMW's so undervalued?  I mean, of course, the 1600, but also the 2002.  They can be had for a song in decent shape.  Excellent ones are well under $10,000, and if you want a sporty, tinker-with-it-yourself weekend car, you'd be hard-pressed to do better.

By comparison, the Alfas of the era are much more expensive, with really good ones getting into the 20's, retail at least.  Why?

Bumper Cars In Boston or Why I Park Mine In a Garage

Here's the rear end of a Porsche Carrera (996) that's seen some better days, cosmetically.  Those protuberances on either side of the license plate may have been black originally, as on my car.  The painted versions are available aftermarket (bumperplugs.com, e.g.) and look a lot better, I think.  That is, they look a lot better until they get scratched and dinged from parking in Boston.  Click for larger and see the damage.   Yikes.

Random Car Photo

Kaiser Deluxe - maybe a 1951?  I love the lines, especially for the era.  Click for larger, as always.

Everything But the Polio

Some people are really in to their old cars.

April 2007, Norwalk, Connecticut.

Click for larger, as always.

Chickens Roosting

My ink cartridge is empty.  I don't print much, really.  But my children get up extra early, go to my study, search the Internet for cool car photos, and print them all.  As 8x10's on plain paper.

Come to think of it, we need some more paper too.