Testosterone running poor decisions has been the undoing of many men and women. Poor judgement in the effort to show off, rears its ugly head. At some point it happens to us all, it is part of what makes us tick and also so dangerous. My earliest memory of testosterone experience was when I was maybe 5, I really wanted to ride my big sisters 26 inch bicycle. She asked me to watch it while she visited a friend. The temptation was too great. I hopped on pushed off and took off on the downhill run on the sidewalk. As momentum turned into speed I was in ecstasy with the resulting increase, fear gave way to the accomplishment that I was riding a BIG bike! As gravity accelerated the bike, I had to face the reality of figuring out how to stop. I was too small to activate the brakes. Nearing our house and quickly reaching the end of the sidewalk I chose to run into a hedge as a way to stop. It did not do the bike much good, broke the fork and bent the front tire, I sustained minor scrapes and scratches and had to face the wrath of my 13 year old sister who on one hand wanted to kill me on the other she was worried that I was seriously hurt. I was not and Federico, our handy man had her bike fixed as good as new in a couple of days. This adventure eventually led to me to be a professional risk taker. I have spent a lifetime on the edge and perhaps that may be the reason that the survivor in me figured out early on were the limits are. But most of all, the need to show off always was balanced by the need to do no harm to others. I have done a thousand burn outs at the drag strip, never once on the street or a parking lot full of people, NEVER. I have raced on the streets, but always in a controlled environment. The consequences to innocents in my mind, has always overruled the need to just show off. I am guilty of trying to set land speed records at 3 am, again with the though of doing no harm.
Does an old car need to be perfectly restored to be enjoyed, or can an original car preserved in its current condition provide the same enjoyment to its owner. It depends who you ask. For many, only a near perfect restoration will do, and their passion is that goal. But recently, an increasing number of collectors are starting to re-think the entire restoration process. Rather than performing a restoration, more owners are choosing preservation, as opposed to restoration. I am seeing more and more cars with their original “patina” intact at car shows and cruise nights, and drawing a lot of attention in the process. In past, I have seen some tragic restorations done to beautiful, but not perfect, low mileage original cars. They are only original once, and after they are repainted and reupholstered, a historical artifact is gone forever. The trend is catching on, and un-restored, or “survivor” car prices are going up at auctions and shows.
The appreciation for original cars is a fairly new trend here in the US, but in Europe, an original car with the right patina has been admired for many years, especially with vintage sports and racing cars. Original paint cars have character, with each area of wear a document of the cars past and a piece of its history. It is like watching an episode of the Antiques Road Show, when the anxious owner of a chair made in 1825 asks “how much is it worth?” The expert replies “One like this with the original patina intact is worth easily $50,000, but since you had it refinished……only $5,000.”
Besides preserving automotive history, the un-restored original is cheaper to own. Of course a super low mileage, beautiful original car will command a premium, but well-worn cars with thin paint and surface rust can be a lot of fun. With paint costing north of $10,000, not mention chrome plating and reproduction parts costs rising, it makes economic sense as well. Plus you don’t have to worry as much about people touching the paint, or getting caught in the rain. Dial it in mechanically, and start driving. Sometimes it is just nice to get back to having fun, care-free driving, without all the fussing over making everything perfect. Back to the original car, having fun like you did originally, when you had your first not so perfect car.
This April will be the 3rd annual ImportAlliance gathering at the Atlanta World Congress is coming in April.
Last April I heard of an up coming event in Atlanta, that was not on anyone's published calendar of events. It was publicized through bulletin boards and emails. Although part of my job is looking everywhere for events, I have child hood issues with bulletin boards, Dungeon and Dragons and failed physics experiments due to a misplaced digit. So there is much I miss and have to rely on the kindness of others to keep me informed on what goes on in "the Boards".
So when I heard from one of my sources that this was the second year of this event in Atlanta, I just had to go, I a;ways though a parking structure was a great idea and here was someone doing it. I got up early Sunday morning to drive to the parking structure of the Georgia World Congress Center pay $5.00 and hang out with a bunch of other worshipers.
Even though I arrived early there was a line to get in and there were already quite a few imports in the garage. I wound my self up to the floor where Abby Cain from NOS told me the organizers were set up.
There were already a couple of thousand people milling around and others picking out parking spots there was a huge crowd and what seem like a party going on in a corner occupied by the most unconventional Honda 2000 I had ever seen. This car looked like a race car, and inspite of its Georgia registration if it looks like a Duck....Its a race car.
At every turn there was something of interest, with unique vehicles and the great variety of people just having a good time talking about their cars. I think I counted 9 levels to this garage the operator was reserved the first to levels for customers and employees of the Center and many more parked out side for free and walked in.
The ImportAlliance concept is the brainchild of a group of Nashville, Tennessee based import car owners and enthusiasts. The three principal owners of ImportAlliance, Ron Cartmell, Don Napier, and Omari Winbush, embarked upon the mission of organizing a grass roots event to bring together all aspects of the import car culture in April of 2006. The first ImportAlliance occurred on July 30, 2006 and was a tremendous success. Since then we have grown to become the largest all import car meet in the country.
It’s a grassroots style… cruise-in/ meet/ social gathering/ show-n-shine/ learning opportunity/ teaching opportunity/ marketing opportunity/ motorsports event. ImportAlliance is everything that you love about import cars. It is not a lifestyle event. It is how people who enjoy import cars get together and have fun while learning things to make their cars better. ImportAlliance is about import cars and the people who drive them.
For the import car enthusiast, ImportAlliance is a truly laid back, relaxing, and fun atmosphere that will allow you to interact with other people just like you. For the aftermarket and OEM manufacturers of import cars and performance parts, ImportAlliance will give you unfettered access to real import car enthusiasts. Also you can take the opportunity to conduct market research, as well as to debut, demonstrate, and position new product lines. ImportAlliance attendees are credible customers who know how to spot quality and are committed to using quality products and services.
The meet began in 2006 and has since become the largest Multi-Manufacturer Import Car meet in the country. The number of cars and attendees has steadily grown from the beginning.
2006- 700 cars and approximately 1500 people in 2006 for our first event
2007- 1200 cars and approximately 3000 people for the 2nd annual event.
2008- 1900 cars and approximately 4000 people for the 3rd annual event
2009- 3500 cars and approximately 5000 people in attendance.
National and Local Sponsors and Vendors have increased for every year.I
Testosterone running poor decisions has been the undoing of many men and women. Poor judgement in the effort to show off, rears its ugly head. At some point it happens to us all, it is part of what makes us tick and also so dangerous. My earliest memory of testosterone experience was when I was maybe 5, I really wanted to ride my big sisters 26 inch bicycle. She asked me to watch it while she visited a friend. The temptation was too great. I hopped on pushed off and took off on the downhill run on the sidewalk. As momentum turned into speed I was in ecstasy with the resulting increase, fear gave way to the accomplishment that I was riding a BIG bike! As gravity accelerated the bike, I had to face the reality of figuring out how to stop. I was too small to activate the brakes. Nearing our house and quickly reaching the end of the sidewalk I chose to run into a hedge as a way to stop. It did not do the bike much good, broke the fork and bent the front tire, I sustained minor scrapes and scratches and had to face the wrath of my 13 year old sister who on one hand wanted to kill me on the other she was worried that I was seriously hurt. I was not and Federico, our handy man had her bike fixed as good as new in a couple of days. This adventure eventually led to me to be a professional risk taker. I have spent a lifetime on the edge and perhaps that may be the reason that the survivor in me figured out early on were the limits are. But most of all, the need to show off always was balanced by the need to do no harm to others. I have done a thousand burn outs at the drag strip, never once on the street or a parking lot full of people, NEVER. I have raced on the streets, but always in a controlled environment. The consequences to innocents in my mind, has always overruled the need to just show off. I am guilty of trying to set land speed records at 3 am, again with the though of doing no harm.
