a time in America before politicians made everything illegal, and lawyers got filthy rich sueing everyone for everything, a plane landed downtown

in the late 1930's in downtown Arcadia, on Baldwin Street, and no one had a hysterical fit, no one was sued til they were homeless, no one was jailed, and no one lost a job.

A mechanical problem caused the pilot to put it down so he could make a quick repair, he fixed the problem, the cops were nice enough to clear the road and he took off and went away.

What a nice place America used to be.

A 90 yr old friend of mine told me about a squadron of airplanes landing on a country road near Galveston Texas, getting refuled, and carrying on to their airfield. Nothing but a country day in the 1930's.

Photo and first story from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5895929&postcount=14751

The blog for Iso, Bizzarrini, and 60's European sports car lovers

Mike started his blog this past December, and it's got the best coverage of San Francisco area concours shows, plus superb looks at the cars that matter in the auctions. http://mycarquest.blogspot.com/

another cool motorcycle riding the rails

Found on http://thenewcaferacersociety.blogspot.com/ but originally from http://gunter-spb.livejournal.com/1057966.html

This is a great scratch built cycle rail car, but my favorite is still the Indian I posted http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/04/coolest-thing-well-see-all-week-indian.html

a hand held car pusher for car impound lots, and other parking lots with cars that won't move on their own power

First one I've ever come across

Cool photos from RideRideRide tumbler

from http://riderideride.tumblr.com/

Last of the private steam locomotive collections? Even had a Big Boy... the Blount collection

looks like a Big Boy http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/big-boy-used-coal-so-fast-that-shovels.html

In the late 50's a seafood company founder began collecting steam locomotives... can a guy collect anything bigger? Has anyone? I doubt it.

Anyway, he made a small tourist attraction and called it Steamtown, moved it a couple times but didn't get very close to any major cities... he stuck it in Vermont.

Anyway, he died in 1967, at the age of 47 and without setting up a modicum of management to keep the trains in good condition, so they were sold off, neglected, and falling apart. The company that ran the collection moved from Vermont to Scranton, PA in 1984 after about 20 years of barely surviving, and went bankrupt in 1986

Congress was quick to make it a national park, and the park service now runs the train attraction as a learning center about 1850 to 1950 steam locomotives.

Read a bit more about it from the souce of my info: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6160936&postcount=20825

Variety of cool photos, art, and sidecars from Motorcycle 74 (they love sidecars)

This guy has no embarassment, but he's got a big can o beans

all from http://motorcycle-74.blogspot.com

Ed Roth's trikes

if you like this, you'll love http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-does-elvis-have-in-common-with-ed.html

In the top photo is Ed riding it

found on http://motorcycle-74.blogspot.com/2010/07/ed-big-daddy-roth-custom-chopper.html

Harley Davidson buried for 48 years in Belgium, dug out by the grandson

Wow, I'd freak out to find a Harley... and the buried treasure aspect. Wouldn't that make your year !?!?

Found on http://motorcycle-74.blogspot.com/

Digging for the story on the internet was finally successful, the story briefly was that a small town young guy has a new Harley shipped to him in Belgium. Eventually he crashed on it, put it in the backyard, had a family, and in 1961 his young daughter was paying on it, fell, and it made the guy so mad he buried it. So the man dug up an old well and dumped the bike into it.

Just recently in Oct 2009 the story made it into the news http://www.editiepajot.be/regios/15/articles/9032 after months of trying to talk the (now Old man) reluctant grandad into allowing an excavation, and a bottle of gin to lubricate the deal, he got some buddies to help shovel... and unearthed it after 48 years of a dirt nap

Everything old is new again

Above: BMW

So obvious, but it was a Forest Service contract that never got past R&D

Above: The KTM

Above: the Hyanide

Above: the Baal

New BMW Performance Kit Boosts

s well setting the stage for the world premiere of the Vision CD roadster concept and the production version of the pure-electric 1-Series ActiveE, the Geneva Motor Show will also see the launch of BMW's new Performance Power Kit for the firm's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine found on numerous models including the 1-,3- and 5-Series range in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. The upgrade is available for both the previous 177HP as well as the newer 184HP 2.0L engine.
Thanks to an engine software optimization plus a larger intercooler and a more-efficient fan for the main radiator, output is lifted from 177HP and 350Nm to 197HP and 390Nm, and from 184Hp and 380Nm to 200HP and 420Nm, for each engine respectively. According to BMW, the acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h in 5th gear is up to one second faster after the conversion.
Buyers can also add BMW's Performance Sports Silencer that comes with two round, chrome plated 74mm tail pipes, and which in addition to optimizing exhaust back pressure, also offers a sportier sound.

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Mitsubishi Flexis Concept

The current generation Mitsubishi Grandis is a good representation of the Japanese automaker as a whole. Plastic-y interiors, underdone ride and handling and anodyne looks combine to make the Grandis a poor substitute for the vastly superior and better selling Toyota Tarago [Australia]. With its South Korean competition having long ago stepped up to the plate, it’s disappointing to see Mitsubishi lagging so far behind.

David Cardoso, the artist who in the past has brought us design studies such as Renault Twist MPV and Audi Hydron, has envisioned a possible successor to the Grandis in the form of the Flexis. Appearing to be smaller than the Grandis - with seating more likely for five instead of seven - the Flexis takes it’s styling cues from the Opel Meriva, Peugeot 3008 and 2012 Ford Focus. Overall it’s a good expansion on Mitsubishi’s current design language, and a far sight better than when Mitsubishi tried applying its new corporate face to the aging Colt. You can check out our full gallery below or voice your opinion in the comments section below 

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alfa romeo 159

Alfa Romeo 159, the compact executive car from the Italian Manufacturer has never looked sportier than in its latest embodiment, courtesy Novitec Tuners. For it sure has some snarl with the Mitsubishi Lancer is another anecdote, let us just acclaim the work Novitec has put in.

The choice was a little surprising for maximum of them with their scissors go for the petrol variants, Novitec went for the 200 hp, 2.4 liter 20 valve turbo diesel variant. It pepped up the horses by another 29 units using its Novitec’s Power rail III system and a Novitec stainless steel dual tailpipe exhaust setup. As far as the exterior trimming is concerned, a front skirting, side skirts and a rear spoiler all from Novitec have been added. The suspension kit is a Novitec stainless steel sports suspension system, which is both height and hardness adaptable.

The Tuned Alfa Romeo 159 runs on the tarmac with its Novitec N9 multi-piece 20 inch wheels enveloped with Pirelli 255/30/R20 tyres.
We all know don’t we how good the Alfa Romeo inline engines sound and with all that modification will this one from Novitec live up to that reputation , only time will tell and vis-a-vis the ‘Chinese tinge in an Italian car’ just shuffle Italian for Chinese in this quote!


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