Episode 21 of Auto Off Topic

I haven’t shot any car events for almost a month. Winter in New England can be a bummer. At least we have a nice rally-x program. That is all, enjoy.

Hello OPPO,

I’ve got some really sweet jump shots from STPR this year, but this shot of Higgins/Drew from the start of SS8 is one of my favorites from the weekend. I like the light to dark progression of the foliage and the “S” shape dividing the image. With my rally photography lately, I’ve been trying to strike a balance…

Repeat after me, I hate automatics, I hate automatics, I hate automatics. This truck had a weird shifting issue when I bought it and since I’ve spent most of my life driving a manual transmission. I had a tough time figuring out there was something wrong with it. I thought maybe it was low on fluid, or maybe it needed…

Hat tip to Japanesenostagiccar.com for the “Made in the ‘80s sticker”. Looking good on the Garbage Montero.

I don’t know where I got this Matchbox, I just know I remember always having it as a kid. I clearly played with it a lot. I wouldn’t buy a casting that looked this normally, but since it’s from me actually using it as a kid, I think it’s pretty cool. The orange and white looks great too, reminds me of creamsicle. I…

That’s how I found it, amongst a pile of trashed Hotwheels and Matchbox cars. It was the only one in a package, ripped in half, but still never opened. The best part is that it was $1. I was with family in VT before Christmas and while on an outing of antiquing, while I muttered to myself “who the hell would buy that…

With the Montero safely parked in my driveway, it had to be cleaned before I could address any mechanical issues.

I had the pleasure of meeting Phil this summer, who is the owner and caretaker of a special Eagle Talon. While DSMs have become known for drag racing over the years. It’s often unknown or forgotten that DSM cars where a force in SCCA competition during the ‘90s.

There has only been one electric F1 style go kart place in the the Boston area for about 5-ish years and several gas power kart facilities of varying quality for more than 10 years. I’ve always shit on the electric karts; the one place that did them before has a small track, restrictive power levels based on some…

Since the Garbage Montero appeared to run decently and the guy I was buying it from had been driving it around for the last month, I figured I’d just drive it the hour and a half home. No big deal right?

Just to be clear, THIS IS NOT MY GALANT VR4. This is the car that I helped convince @tsiss350 to buy, well to be clear he didn’t need much coaching. This car had major work done to it by the previous owner, who is a great guy and we’re totally friends with him. So it sucks when stuff like this happens. This gem of a…

The dream: cruising the vistas in a Montero.

I didn’t make it to all the Clubloose North events in 2015 at NHMS, but I did make it to most of them and I shot a ton of photos over the summer. While folks practiced drifting, I was able to practice shooting. If you live in New England, definitely check out drifting with ClubLoose North. I really hope the popularity…