CELEBRATING CHITTY-BANG-BANGS
WITH ALL the World War I reflections going on, I offer a celebration of its surplus aero engines. Specifically, three of these huge powerplants powered Chitty-Bang-Bang I, II and III, … Continue reading
MUROC MADCAPS
MUROC DRY LAKE, in the high desert about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, has a rich history in motor sport. Here are a few of my favorite Muroc madcaps, … Continue reading
A PILOT’S VIEW, EPISODE 3
THE FIRST airline passengers were as hearty as their pilots, both residing in open cockpits. But maybe wind in the face wasn’t a necessary part of the experience. And before … Continue reading
SPEAKING UP-COUNTRY SWAHILI
WHAT WITH Rosetta Stone© and related foreign-language learning methodologies, there are multiple paths to Swahili. However, for those into Karen Blixen’s Out of Africa, Kenya’s Muthaiga Country Club and the … Continue reading
MY MAYBACH—WELL, ALMOST
I CAME close to owning a Maybach 57, the Millennium’s Über-S-Class of automobiles. In retrospect, maybe not that close. But the tale touches on museum-worthy arts and crafts, mobile superiority and … Continue reading
GUIDE(S) TO PARIS
“PARIS, THE capital of France, may justly be termed the centre of the whole pleasure seeking world…” And for the armchair traveller, there’s nothing better than a stack of Paris … Continue reading
MAKE BIG AUTO BUCKS WITHOUT SELLING CARS
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES can give rise to curious marketing anomalies. For instance, it’s possible within the auto industry to make big bucks without selling cars. This reminds me of an adage … Continue reading
PETER HELCK—THE ENTHUSIAST’S ARTIST
MANY ARTISTS have specialized in automobiles, but few with the enthusiasm of Peter Helck. How many other American artists traveled Europe to cover motor racing? How many were commissioned by … Continue reading
ON BILINGUAL TROLLEY ACCIDENTS
DO OUR morals depend on which language we’re speaking? Can something be ethically acceptable in a second language, but not in our native tongue? Researchers in cognitive sciences say “yes,” … Continue reading
SCHMID LSR CRACKS 800 KM/H AT BONNEVILLE
VIRTUALLY, THE Land Speed Record car of Leopold F. Schmid has achieved its design goal of 800 km/h, 497 mph or 432 knots. I include this third equivalent unit because … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 