Simanaitis Says

On cars, old, new and future; science & technology; vintage airplanes, computer flight simulation of them; Sherlockiana; our English language; travel; and other stuff

LE MANS

WITH THE Le Mans Vingt-Quatre Heures de l’Endurance coming later this month, it’s appropriate to recall Le Mans tales, several entertaining, one horrific. Its Le Mans start is historical now, … Continue reading

June 6, 2013 · 2 Comments

A SMALL CYCLE COLLECTION

I AM current custodian of a small cycle collection. Well, not all cycles, as one of them is a Vespa; the others are a Dirt Bike and a Road Cruiser. … Continue reading

June 5, 2013 · 6 Comments

CALIFORNIA COOL

IN THE mid-part of the last century (how quaint this sounds in 2013!), Southern California was the birthplace of the cool. A wonderful exhibit curated by the Orange County Museum … Continue reading

June 4, 2013 · 1 Comment

WHAT’S “FRENCH KISS” IN YIDDISH?

THE WORD police of the world have been very active recently. Matters have ranged from “French kiss” to “Jewish dumpling,” which certainly suggests the breadth of it all. And, in … Continue reading

June 3, 2013 · 1 Comment

F1 ENGINES 2014—HONDA 2015

RACING IMPROVES the (Honda) breed. The company’s recent announcement to return to Formula 1 in 2015 as McLaren’s engine supplier makes great sense for Honda, its production cars, its engineering and … Continue reading

June 2, 2013 · Leave a comment

TUPOLEV ANT-25

WHEN STALIN said “Jump,” Soviets were wise to respond “How high?” Famed aircraft designer Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev was no exception. In fact, I’ve already recounted two of his technical leaps, … Continue reading

June 1, 2013 · 3 Comments

NIKOLA TESLA

THE TALE of Nikola Tesla is one of advanced technology, high drama, eccentricity bordering on the barmy—and even modern crowdfunding. It’s almost incidental that Tesla has a car named after … Continue reading

May 31, 2013 · Leave a comment

OLD SCHOOL TIES

I’ve managed to get through most of my life without wearing ties. Not that I don’t appreciate this element of traditional menswear. In fact, rummaging through my books recently I … Continue reading

May 30, 2013 · 5 Comments

FAKED PHOTOS

IF YOU happen to find yourself in Houston, Texas, between June 2 and August 25, 2013, this city’s Museum of Fine Arts is hosting “Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop.” … Continue reading

May 29, 2013 · Leave a comment

AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILERS

AIRSTREAM TRAILERS are iconic elements of transportation design. More than several years ago, I attended a gathering of Airstream and other travel trailers in Newport Beach, California. This photographic gallery … Continue reading

May 28, 2013 · 4 Comments