Rules of the Road
This page will contain the road map for the blog. This site is an all inclusive and community based project. With limited experience and a lack of all around knowledge the help of others is what will piece together a fantastic automotive enthusiast's look at the wide world of wheels. Input from around the city, state, country and world are more than welcome, they are what make this site tick!
Piston Rings - This segment will cover my current Car Crush of the week. Just a photo and a few words. Sweet, simple. Add a few words if one of them peaks your interest!
Kreature Komforts - This page will cover Car Culture and some show car couture. Some segments will be from the local car shows, travel encounters and other articles covering the broad spectrum of car subcultures.
Crank Case - Rants and Reviews. I'm on my soap box. Get over it! Car reviews are here too. Love 'em, hate 'em we all need to know what's worth the cash these days.
M Power - Motorsports coverage, here and abroad. The focus for this site is to try and keep it fairly local but in the world of Motorsports that's fairly impossible.
Blown Head Gasket - Engine of the Week. Engine Pron with a little info to boot. Need anything else?
Forced Induction - Questions/Lists. This page will include an automotive question or list to be made from you, the people! Stick around, these should be fun!
Side Pipes - On the streets of Dallas. Jalopnik does it, and TTAC does it. Now I'm doin' it. Just on the streets of Texas or wherever I might be.
Von Dutch - Car Art. Starting out as a segment for my love of the BMW Art cars, I have been a member of the lowrider and custom community for many a year. So this segment will also include some great custom cars worthy of the title Art Car. Some may be projects by manufacturers, some might be race cars. You never know what's art these days.
Eighty Eight Mike - Transportation was my world in the Army and now I'm passing on a bit of Military wheeled and winged awesomeness.
Background
The 80's - As far as I can recall, one of the first books I knew how to read, besides Where the Wild Things Are and probably Where's Waldo, was a book called Hot Cars. Some kids had blankets, I had a book. A book with Aston Martin Vantages, Sledgehammer Corvettes, Lamborghini Countach, Wiegert Vectors and a Porsche 959. Once I was taken to a car show and I remember my dad let me pick out a Countach 5000S T-Shirt that I wore until I could barely tell what kind of wedge-mobile was on the front. Just like any lucky kid, I got to steer my old man's El Camino every once in a while. Or so I thought at least. I was told that the only way to get me to sleep was to take me out on the motorcycle and ride around on the back for a while. From a young age I had become prisoner to the harmonics of a petrol burning engine. The seed had been planted.
The 90's - Growing up, I always wanted to start amateur Kart racing. But even then, I was moving a great deal and already knew it was an expensive hobby to begin. The best practice I got was in my grandmother's Ford Tempo. Like any other youngin' with cars on the brain, I stayed true to my love for that crazy tractor company in Italy. Just like anything else in the 90's, things were quite a stalemate in the automotive world and not much was built as a glory to the road. Though my experience was in the back seat of Ford's little gift the Escort GT. Before that a Bronco II and Cutlass Supreme. But I didn't falter.
The 2000's - After seeing hope in the form of Dodge's Viper success and pony cars like the Camaro SS and Mustang Cobra, vigor had been restored. Though my life had taken a different route. Customs. Hot-Rods, Muscle, and mostly Trucks. Yeah, yeah, I can hear it now. Yep, custom trucks was huge for kids in Oklahoma and that's what we had. Joining the military I took my love for wheeled vehicles a step further as a PLS (Palletized Load System) in a combat oriented line haul unit. At that point it was like Group B rally, just in a 50000lb vehicle and a 500Hp V8 diesel.
Most recently I've been able to focus back on my love for road racing and high performance cars more than trucks. I wasn't able to engross myself in early racing like I would have hoped but I finally decided that if I wanted something bad enough, I'd set out to get it...
The 90's - Growing up, I always wanted to start amateur Kart racing. But even then, I was moving a great deal and already knew it was an expensive hobby to begin. The best practice I got was in my grandmother's Ford Tempo. Like any other youngin' with cars on the brain, I stayed true to my love for that crazy tractor company in Italy. Just like anything else in the 90's, things were quite a stalemate in the automotive world and not much was built as a glory to the road. Though my experience was in the back seat of Ford's little gift the Escort GT. Before that a Bronco II and Cutlass Supreme. But I didn't falter.
The 2000's - After seeing hope in the form of Dodge's Viper success and pony cars like the Camaro SS and Mustang Cobra, vigor had been restored. Though my life had taken a different route. Customs. Hot-Rods, Muscle, and mostly Trucks. Yeah, yeah, I can hear it now. Yep, custom trucks was huge for kids in Oklahoma and that's what we had. Joining the military I took my love for wheeled vehicles a step further as a PLS (Palletized Load System) in a combat oriented line haul unit. At that point it was like Group B rally, just in a 50000lb vehicle and a 500Hp V8 diesel.
Most recently I've been able to focus back on my love for road racing and high performance cars more than trucks. I wasn't able to engross myself in early racing like I would have hoped but I finally decided that if I wanted something bad enough, I'd set out to get it...
Marx' got nothin' on this Manifesto
Throwing Rods Manifesto
Throwing Rods is an online, based, community centered on automotive enthusiasm. Started with nothing but an idea and a hope to bring out renewed interest in the automobile and the role it has and will remain to play in a moving society.
Based out of Dallas-Fort Worth, I am looking to create a new generation of enthusiasts and keep up with current and past enthusiasts alike. Throwing rods is partly a crowd sourced community relying on the help of others, much like any other community. Though much like a car club, I am looking to form a community of like minded enthusiasts to enjoy, gather and educate others about why we love and respect the automotive world. Be it the culture, the cars or the connection we have with them. I don't discriminate. We all have our stories, and that's what this community is all about. Not just a love for one kind of car, but a respect for all of them.
What's being started as a lone blog is intended to become a gathering. If you are thinking car club, well, that's a start but think even greater. I like to think of it as a community of friends, pulling together for future social gathering, education sharing and community projects. Lend a wrenching hand kind of thing!
The use of social media has been the web's new tool for years and this is no different. I need support just like anything else does. In order to run the type of site that is planned, a few helping hands, some hard work and a, can't quit, attitude is needed. We aren't shooting for Road and Track status, but in order to provide real content, access will be needed. Press access to events both racing and social, shows and car reviews. Community support is also needed from the local North Texas Car Clubs, Dealers and enthusiasts alike. We'll start from there and see how far we can go!
Goals:
- Develop a community of local enthusiasts willing to provide the support needed for social gatherings and lend a hand for some community projects.
- Grow an online community of interest for supporting the ideals that keep an automotive community together. Spread the knowledge and interest that help keep an online automotive community running.
- Work with local clubs, dealerships and manufacturers for up to date information on the happenings of the automotive world. Spread the news of new local events put on by the local clubs, racing teams and dealerships.
- Getting an insight into what's new with car reviews and showings. This might be the toughest one. Press credentials are required so this, being possibly the loftiest goal, will need the most work.
- Throwing Rods project outlook. Every once in a while I will get an idea. Maybe I should be sharing this idea with my community!
- Supporting the Throwing Rods community. While I may need support, I will return the favor to our community.
- Motorsports. Texas is full of it and I intend on looking at all aspects. It's a great time in Texas as Austin will see the US Grand Prix. With it brings F1, V8 supercar, and much more. Sometimes Motorsports fans get caught up in F1 but there are some great series from SCCA, Grand Am, American LeMans, Indy Car and many more that deserve recognition.
-Keep a light hearted attitude!
