If it’s got an engine . . .

‘Fast Eddie’ Rickenbacker

By Dorri | May 11, 2008

It seems that this is your first visit. Would you like to subscribe? Enjoy your visit!

You know how every adventure movie has that one scene with the mining cart? You know, the one where the hero loses the brakes in the cart and goes careening down into the mine. Eddie Rickenbacker did that.

You know when Snoopy gets up on his doghouse and dons his scarf and goggles and becomes the World War I flying Ace? Eddie Rickenbacker did that.

Have you ever wanted to own a famous racetrack? Maybe the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500? Eddie Rickenbacker did that.

Have you ever wanted to run an airline, taking it from a financial mess to the first profitable airline in America? Eddie Rickenbacker did that. The airline was Eastern, and it was the first to operate without government subsidy.

You know how a lot of movies have someone shipwrecked for days at a time, clinging to a life raft, hoping against hope for rescue? Eddie Rickenbacker did that. He spent 26 days in a three person raft adrift in the ocean after a plane crash during World War II.

Now to the point of this post: have you ever wanted to own a car company? Eddie Rickenbacker did that. His Rickenbacker Straight Eight was the first production car sold with four wheel brakes, in 1923.

[?]

Share This

Topics: Rickenbacker, American Automakers | No Comments »

Cheap Auto Insurance? Isn’t that a contradiction?

By Dorri | May 8, 2008

That’s what I thought.

I’ve written about auto insurance before on this site. While I think the insurance industry as a whole could use a revamping, at least there’s a website designed to allow us to make the best of what’s available: www.CheapAutosInsurance.com.

Whatever your feelings about auto insurance, if you drive you have to have it. You could wade through all manner of insurance company websites, manually submitting your information over and over. If you are like me, you get fed up with this and settle for the cheapest after only two or three websites.

Or you could just head to www.CheapAutosInsurance.com and input your information once. It’s easy - there’s a big button right on the home page that says “get a free auto insurance quote”.

That’s what I just did, and they saved me over $400/year. (I was using Geico, but am now switching to Nationwide).

They offer more than just new auto insurance policies. They give tips on how you can save money with your existing insurance company, such as by bundling your auto and homeowner policies.

They also offer advice, such as what to do when you get a ticket, or how to save money on gas. Check out their article section for more, and check back often. They add more all the time.

If my own personal experience is typical, you will save money with CheapAutosInsurance.com.

[?]

Share This

Topics: insurance | No Comments »

There was a time . . .

By Dorri | May 6, 2008

. . . when I didn’t like Harley Davidson motorcycles. I think it had to do with the fact that I got my first motorcycle in 1987. This was not exactly a high point in Harley motorcycle history. They were on the upswing, though, after the AMF days.

From Wikipedia:

In 1969, American Machinery and Foundry (AMF) bought the company, streamlined production, and slashed the workforce. This tactic resulted in a labor strike and a lower quality of bikes. The bikes were expensive and inferior in performance, handling, and quality to Japanese motorcycles. Sales declined, quality plummeted, and the company almost went bankrupt. The “Harley-Davidson” name was mocked as “Hardly Ableson”, “Hardly Driveable,” and “Hogly Ferguson”, and the nickname “Hog” became pejorative.

As American automakers are currently finding out, it takes a long time to live down a bad reputation, but Harley Davidson has done just that:

Rather than trying to match the Japanese, the new management deliberately exploited the “retro” appeal of the machines, building motorcycles that deliberately adopted the look and feel of their earlier machines and the subsequent customizations of owners of that era. Many components such as brakes, forks, shocks, carburetors, electrics and wheels were outsourced from foreign manufacturers and quality increased, technical improvements were made, and buyers slowly returned. To remain profitable Harley continues to increase the amount of overseas made parts it uses, while being careful not to harm its valuable “American Made” image.

Today, Harley Davidson outsells Honda in motorcycles. There are also many more companies offering Harley Davidson Accessories than for any of the Japanese motorcycle makers. That’s because Harley owners are much more likely to customize their bikes than other brand’s owners. A Google search for “discount Harley parts” comes up with over 1.1 million hits, compared to a quarter million for “discount Honda parts”. And most of the Honda ones are for Honda cars.

One of the things that changed my mind about Harley Davidson was the Buell motorcycles. These were sportbikes built by Erik Buell utilizing many HD parts, namely the engine. This might seem like a strange marriage, but it worked so well that Harley Davidson purchased majority control of the company in 1998.

[?]

Share This

Topics: Motorcycle | No Comments »

Enough with the hatred.

By Dorri | April 23, 2008

I wish all the hate toward Exxon-Mobil (for their rather large profits) would stop. If the CEO of that company didn’t try to do all he could to increase profits, the board of directors would fire him.

Granted, $39.5 billion is a lot of money, but General Motors lost $38.7 billion during that same time frame.

From Autoblog:

Fortune’s 500 list is based on company revenue, not profit. If profit were the main criteria, GM and Ford wouldn’t be making any appearances on the list at all. Exxon Mobil would easily claim the top spot as the most profitable company around with GM posting nearly as much in losses over the same period of time.

Anyone who takes serious issue with the profits of a company should start a competitor and try to undercut them. You’ve got my support.

[?]

Share This

Topics: gas | No Comments »

First Smart Car sighting around here

By Dorri | April 20, 2008

Yesterday I saw the first Smart Car in this area. I spoke a bit with the owner and he seemed genuinely happy with it. He’s had it since February and has put around 1200 miles with it. He said the gas mileage was great, but he wished for a bit more space inside.

[?]

Share This

Topics: gas, Efficiency, Cars | 3 Comments »

Sorry I haven’t updated . . .

By Dorri | April 6, 2008

It’s been a bit hectic here.

Where’s my water pump?

My car is angry with me.

[?]

Share This

Topics: BMW | No Comments »

Autocross report - Atlanta SCCA #3

By Dorri | March 30, 2008

Just got back from the autocross (link not live yet). For those of you keeping track, this was the second time I’ve autocrossed by buddy Mike’s 2000 Corvette.

The course was pretty fast and had several high speed sweepers.

There were six of us there that knew each other.

Mike and I drove his Corvette. We both had times in the 55 second range. My friend David ran a 58 second run in his 2003 Mini Cooper S. Stephen ran 61 seconds in his 2007 Cooper S. Another Mike drove his 2007 Pontiac Solstice, with a run in the mid 60’s. This was his first autocross. Frank drove his WRX STi. This was his first autocross also, but probably not his last.

No pictures, unfortunately. I was too busy driving.

[?]

Share This

Topics: Autocross | No Comments »

Speaking of real estate . . .

By Dorri | March 30, 2008

A couple of days ago I wrote about the potential effects that the subprime mortgage crisis might have on new car sales. (Verdict: I don’t know.) While there is certainly a problem afoot with the housing market, I wouldn’t rule out real estate entirely. Now would probably not be the time to jump into real estate speculation, but if you don’t live in an area that has recently had large increases in home prices, you need to buy instead of rent your home.

The benefits are many. To you and others. If you don’t overpay for your home, and will live in it for several years, you will build equity. This is as good as money in the bank, and you wouldn’t have it if you rent. Also, neighborhoods with owner-occupied homes generally are better kept and have lower crime rates.

Another benefit of home ownership is that, if you have some equity built up, you can sell your house fast if hard times hit. That is a nice insurance policy that renters don’t have.

Please take into consideration that I am not a real estate expert, and these are only my opinions. You should talk with a financial adviser before considering any important financial decisions.

[?]

Share This

Topics: Not Automotive | 2 Comments »

Roadside Assistance

By Dorri | March 29, 2008

Driving, as I do, high-mileage cars, I get stranded on the side of the road occasionally. In the last three years, I’ve had to make use of my insurance company’s roadside assistance program four different times. Three times in the Audi (clutch, oil line to turbo, flat tire) and once in the BMW (alternator belt pulley).

If your insurance company doesn’t offer it, I highly recommend you consider purchasing it from someone. Paragon Motor Club Roadside Assistance seems to be very affordable, at $5.99 per month (in Georgia) is cheap insurance.

[?]

Share This

Topics: used car | No Comments »

It’s Autocross time again

By Dorri | March 29, 2008

Here at IfitsGotanEngine.com it’s autocross time again. This time I’ll be driving my buddy’s 2000 Corvette convertible, as none of my vehicles are currently in good enough mechanical shape to autocross. (The BMW needs brake work, and the Audi needs CV axles).

The first car I ever autocrossed was a 1977 Porsche 924 that I purchased for $250. Fun, but slow.

After that, I ran my 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. Fast, but ugly.

Since then, I’ve autocrossed the Corvette I’m driving today, and a 2003 Mini Cooper S that belongs to my Friend David.

Another friend with a 2007 Mini Cooper S will be attending today. He’s never autocrossed this car, so it should be interesting.

[?]

Share This

Topics: Autocross | No Comments »

« Previous Entries