Saturday, February 12, 2011

The 1936 BMW snow machine Schneekrad, for Schnee-Snow and krad-caterpillars.


I found these photos before, but never could find the top one to make them a pair in a post, because in the top photo, you can't tell that there is a sidecar, and I didn't know it was a BMW

Top photo from http://motorcycle-74.blogspot.com

Update, Jan 2014, George made a full post about this bike, http://www.dwrenched.com/2014/01/dwrenched-special.html

Round the world trekking Zundapp with sidecar, and damn cool looking for it's utilitarian adaptations for long range use

labeled Zündapp KS601 „Grüner Elefant“ sidecar - 1953

Check out the map painted onto the sideacar fender and the Gerry can, all the stickers gathered along the trip.. my compliments

ignore the rider, what do you think about this unique morphing of a motorwheel and a motorcycle

found on http://motorcycle-74.blogspot.com/
if you get a kick out of unusual "Motorwheels" from the innovators who kept trying to perfect a great big wheel you rode inside of, take a look through http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/motor%20wheel

the Michelin Man parodies well known icons


Possibly the only tucker to race is NASCAR


it's all written up, from Dan at Hemmings http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2008/12/24/seeing-really-is-believing-a-tucker-did-indeed-race-in-nascar-and-we-found-the-photo-to-prove-it/  helmed by Joe Merola of Braddock, Pennsylvania, at the 1950 Poor Man’s 500 at Canfield Speedway in Ohio.

A tribute page to Eddie Hill on Flikr

See it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom-margie/sets/72157603893624297

Duece of Spades movie review

It's a good movie, and incredible that it's the first for the (writer, director, producer, set director, music, editor) do it all - Faith Granger


I'd give it a 2 stars out of 4, editing and storyline could have been improved and cut down a bit. Remember, it's a good movie, and I'm not a professional movie critic, I do this for free.


The sets, costumes, cars, realistic dialog, and humor are beyond reproach. In fact, compliments on the dialog not being censored, actually... kudos to Faith fro not censoring any damn thing. You can tell I mean it, I swore. No ratings board bullshit, just real people talking like we do.


Serious praise for the sets, 1950s without error, nothing distracting or out of place, so if you'd like a look at the way it was, bingo, she nailed it. The production value is high, terrific


Funniest scene, the main character is determined to convince his love interest that she should get in his car, and tries every single day to give her a ride to school (they are both teens, it's cool) and without any dialog it's damn funny, this has to be directed to the actors and directors credit. Like Pixar, a short or scene does not rely on dialog to keep the audience riveted.

If other movies had Pixar "Cars" on their poster advertisements


Evolution of the Batmobile, all 70 years of it


This, you have to click on for full size
found on http://fireballtim.com/blog

Segway is now obsolete, the Honda U3-X

The U3X is an electronic unicycle manufactured and distributed by Honda. Currently only available in Asia, the U3X would retail in North America at about $660. The U3X is said to be a technology breakthrough and the world's first driving system capable of 360 degree movement.
a compact experimental device to provide free movement in all directions just like human walking - forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally. Honda will continue research and development of the device including experiments in the real-world environment to verify the practicality of the device.

This new personal mobility device makes it possible to adjust speed, move, turn and stop in all directions when the rider leans their upper body to shift their body weight. This was achieved through application of advanced balance control technology, robotics research, and the world's first* omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System), which enables movement in all directions, not only forward and backward, but also directly to the right and left and diagonally. (think of the wheels on the "I Robot" vehicles)

In addition, the compact, one-wheel-drive personal mobility device was designed to be user friendly and unimposing to people around it. This is achieved by making it easy for the rider to reach the ground from the footrest and by seating the rider at roughly the same eye level as a person standing.




Tere posted a bit more about it, with images that make it easy to understand the multi-wheel that this rides on, it can go forward/backward or side/side: http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/2011/02/honda-omni-personal-mobility.html

There is a similar wheeled thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOoFEKiK8A that doesn't have a seat, or a chance at succeeding when the Honda has a seat, the Segway has a hand hold, and this has a reliance on the balance of the operator. Never going to make it.

Solid tire Mack trucks, building the Empire State


I think I found this photo on the HAMB

Friday, February 11, 2011

Hot Rods of the Dry Lakes Era Blogspot

http://hotrodsofthedrylakesera.blogspot.com/

great stuff on Rat Rods Rule






just a sample, see the rest at http://ratrodsrule.tumblr.com/

When streamliner is the consuming passion, and all the guy had was a VW bus

found on http://ratrodsrule.tumblr.com/

Charles Loupot's painting of the Voisin auto, 1923


Simple, elegant.
from http://www.sportschrono.com via http://artdecoblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/charles-loupot-voisin-automobiles-1923.html

It's been a long time since I posted a good train photo

René Groebli, 1949
from http://www.sportschrono.com

CGI hot rod school bus but not real, not yet


I'm impressed, this "Mini Ripsaw" looks like it can go over anything


if you aren't impressed, and aren't sure you want to play on this thing, see a bit of the video at
http://www.howeandhowetechnologies.com/video.php?Id=14

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Sandy Belond's 1931 roadster, one of the first to race over 100mph on the dry lakes, in 1938 he went 125, fastest prewar lakes record








Sandy joined the USMC, entered the war late and was back by '46.
When Sandy returned he went to work for Archie Porter where he reunited with Bob Hedman, later to be known as the founder of Hedman Hedders. It is believed that Sandy learned the muffler business from Archie Porter in the mid 30's at the Porter's Muffler Shop and Sandy returned to work there for a short stint after the war.

But Sandy was anxious to open his own shops again, so he along with Bob Hedman and Bud Gregory proceeded with the manufacture of a couple of ideas Sandy had for a new equal length V8 60 header for midget cars. Karl Orr lent him the money and offered him a space in the back of his speed shop. Sandy installed a drive on lift on the west side of the Orr's Speed shop, and he moved into a small apt behind the speed shop on the east side of the Orr's property with his wife Ruth and their daughter Donna. This was '47, Bud came over with Sandy as the shop foreman and Bob joined them shortly thereafter.

Sandy began building the midget headers with Bud and they were a great success. He saved some money up and ventured into his next project creating the Sandy Belond Equa-Flow Exhaust System which revolutionized the header industry by creating the first ever jigs for exhaust systems.

Information from a full post by the owner, on the HAMB http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359942

Rally Fighter, on track to success







A new American car company is making these rally fighters to order, learn more at http://www.local-motors.com/rallyFighter.php

VW fans really love their vehicles, and customize them alot, but I've never seen a bug grafted to a van before, just this one in a movie


the reason? It makes for standing room!