….but there is a sad reminder that most of my favorite mountains continue to carry the scar of the horrible Sation Fire that some say is still burning in the mountains behind Baldy. Here are a few video time lapses of the Fire from last Fall as grim reminders of how horrible arson can be.

found via….
Station Fire: Time Lapse from Mt. Wilson webcam

Spent the weekend at the Grand National Roadster show at Pomona….I’ll share the photos when I get my camera back from a buddy….anyhow, one thing that really struck me is how much more intricate older cars are.  Lots of crafty touches, neat hood emblems and metal working….nowadays manufacturers can’t afford any labor intensive metal pieces leaving pieces like this as a lost art. Sad really.

Flickr Photo Download: Ancient Pontiac.

Diva Gina Fail « FAIL Blog: Pictures and Videos of Owned, Pwnd and Fail Moments

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Paint Job Win

A big thanks to the FailBlog for getting me through the day. When times are tough I just browse their pages and realize it could be a whole lot worse!

More Pics at Jalopnik

Very cool set of photos that remind us car guys that green doesn’t mean ugly…..actually it looks like it can mean super sexy.

Concept Fisker Karma – a set on Flickr.

Adam Cleaning Alex’s car.

Full Album with thumbnails.

Top Gear Tests all three version….most expensive car test ever?

Top Gear (via Auto Fiends)

This looks like fun, I wonder how long it will be before we have Eletric Super Motards?

Zero-X Electric Off-Road Motorcycle: Whisper-Quiet, Off-Road Power | Zoomi Life

You want 118mpg?  Get something with two wheels.  Want to stay out of the rain and not have to put a foot down when you come to the stop?  Check out this lane splitter from the congested streets of Paris.

While us Americans think that high gas prices and traffic are some new American invention, the Europeans have been dealing with this as a matter of course for the last few decades.  Their pumped is already primed with out of the box thinking that I guarantee is more fun to drive than a Prius.

Follow the link below to one of my favorite blogs for all things with less than two wheels, to see more photos and details.

Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor Concept combines C1, MP3 and Prius tech to create most advanced scooter ever – Hell For Leather

15 years. That’s how long I’ve waited to own Godzilla, and here I find myself on a plane flying into tropical storm Fay pounding Atlanta the day I take delivery.  Even though my wife and I had recently moved with StreetFire from Atlanta to Los Angeles, we chose Nalley Nissan in Atlanta, Georgia to order our car back in February.  I had been smitten with romantic images of taking our new arrival around Road Atlanta shortly after delivery, perhaps even a visit to the Tail of the Dragon.  Now I realize we are going to have to arrange transport back West as I don’t want to break the car in on the never ending monotony that is I40.

Over the past month I have become an avid reader of anything GT-R, and have spent a fair amount of time posting on NAGTROC and the GT-R Register.  I can’t have my morning coffee until I’ve hit the GT-R Blog Sites too! (CBA-R35, 2009 GT-R and GT-R Blog) StreetFire organized a visit to Universal Nissan in North Hollywood to witness delivery of the first GT-R in the United States, and I even got a chance to speak with Steve Millen about his thoughts on the GT-R. But when I walked into the dealership and saw my car for the first time.  Well, I felt like I was 16 again.

My First sight of the GT-R

Nissan is proud of their flagship and it shows with the white glove treatment I received from Nalley.  The paperwork was quick and painless and I quickly found myself in the driver’s seat.  My GT-R sat roped off on the showroom floor for over a week while I was preparing for my trip.  My salesman, Todd deserves a medal for fighting off hordes of admirers. John Clark, the General Manager, had insured that my car was delivered in perfect condition with only 34 delivery miles on the odometer.  (Delivery Checklist from NAGTROC).

I can see why. The GT-R is a car you have to see in person to appreciate.  It’s a very three dimensional vehicle, with a lot of depth and detail in the design.  Photography tends to flatten the car and remove much of the drama the sculpted lines create.  Perhaps I’ll get our friends from Car Pix to elaborate some time as to why some cars look so much better in person than on film.

GT-R Paddle Shifter

Nalley Nissan had sent their head mechanic to GT-R service training, to prepare him for both delivery and service. This is the only car I’m aware of that the manufacturer insists your first ride be with a trained technician for proper orientation.  I think headquarters is concerned that someone might mistakingly buy a GT-R thinking it will behave like a Maxima, only to be surprised that the GR-6 Sequential 6 speed makes clunking noises as you roll to a stop, or that 6 pot Brembos with racing pads tend to squeak a little.

Andy Robinson, Nalley’s master technician, was very knowledgeable about the vehicle, and explained how the side vents create a pressure bubble of hot air down the side of the vehicle to aid in aerodynamics. I had wondered what the hood vents were for, and he showed how they dump cool air right onto the turbos when the car is moving, and allow the turbos to vent hot air back up when stationary.  A neat trick to reduce under hood engine temperatures.

These are the things that impress me the most about the GT-R, the car is so thought out. A small ridge on the side view mirror creates an air vortex that is channeled by a crease in the C-Pillar right into the rear spoiler. In later weeks I would learn that the downside of this great aero, is that the GT-R is a dirt magnet like no other vehicle. A price I’m delighted to pay for a 0.27 Coefficient of Drag!

Wind Tunnel Testing

That first time you push the GT-R’s starter button, is more akin to hitting an adrenaline dump on an IV.  You don’t know what to expect, and there is a slight delay as the computer runs through the pre flight checklist before engaging the motor…. just enough delay to build anticipation, I wonder if some Japanese Zen master measured how soon is too soon and how long is too long?  Andy gives me a brief on the multi function display, but I find myself paying more attention to the sounds of the motor and transmission whirring up in preparation of the first drive.

Previously I have owned a handful of V8s (L81, L98 and LS1) and most recently a BMW M3, (my M3 is now For Sale BTW) each with a distinct aural sound.  The GT-R is a distinctly mechanical symphony with a bit of jet turbine mixed in. It reminds me somewhat of the straight cut gears you hear in a racing transmission, which it may be, the GR-6 sequential manual is worth paying attention to, it’s simply brilliant. As I eased away from the dealership, I was stunned by how smoothly we accelerated from a stop and how transparently the gear changes are.  My only other exposure to “manumatics” had been the E46  BMW SMG system which feels more like a high school driver’s-ed simulator.

Transmission, Suspension and VDC

Left in Automatic mode the GT-R quickly finds 6th gear for maximum economy.  Andy explains that the normal setting for the transmission is to maximize economy.  The Race setting keeps the car a downshift away from maximum acceleration.  It’s not like the other manumatics where you have multiple settings for shift speed, the GT-R is smarter than that.  It looks at the RPM and % throttle application to understand how the driver is driving, and changes shift firmness accordingly.

The GT-R is not the first car with this sort of dual clutch sequential transmission, but when combined with this chassis and driveline, I think it’s found it’s ultimate expression.  I never thought I would give up the clutch pedal, but how can you not love this gear box?

Magic Happens Here

Tropical storm Fay gave me exactly 15 minutes of dry weather to familiarize myself with the GT-R, and then all hell broke loose.  The word for storm in Japanese is “Arashi” but it could just as easily be “GT-R,” because the twin vortexes made by the turbos apply power to all 4 tires with near limitless traction regardless of how violent the weather is.  The storm simply didn’t matter.  The winds glided undisturbed past the body work and the water parted like the red sea before the AWD.

I left Nalley and proceeded to put 500 miles on the GT-R in some of the worst weather this Florida boy has seen in a long time, and the GT-R consistently performed. I found myself doing a sanity check and pulled into a parking deck at Atlantic Station to look at the stock Bridgestones. I simply couldn’t believe that this tread pattern with the mocking suggestion of water channels could provide this sort of traction in wet weather.

GT-R Bridgestone Tires

I horsed the GT-R around some of my favorite Southern switch backs and never once did it lose composure. I hate to say it, but the GT-R is faster and more confidence inspiring in the wet, than my beloved E46 M3 is in the dry.   If you can’t find a GT-R to drive for yourself, then drive a E46 M3 to the limit, and realize that’s what a wet weather warm up lap in a GT-R feels like.

Despite missing a proper Road Atlanta track day, I’m happy Fay gave me a little wet weather exposure.  The GT-R is Los Angeles bound, and doomed to a future of dry desert mountains and eternal sunshine.

Coming soon.
Part 2 How to transport a car cross country.

Photo Resources

• Photos of the First GT-R Delivery
• Photos of Streetfire’s GT-R Delivery
• The StreetFire GT-R with a Ferrari F360 Modena

GT-R Web Sites

• CBA-R35 (blog)
• NAGTROC (forum)
• The GT-R Register (forum)
• GTRBlog.com (blog)
• GT-R World (portal)
• Official GT-R Site (Nissan)

Credits
A special thank you to John Clark, Todd Robinson and Andy Robinson and the rest of the team of Nalley Nissan for a fantastic delivery.

NalleyNissan.com
(888) 919-6677
1625 Church St
Decatur, GA 30033 (map)

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Smart Cars We would Drive , Audi, Porsche – Images, Photos

Only a month and a half away from the biggest event in the automobile world, and what do we all talk about?  Yea, the SEMA Girls.  Here is a nice little gallery from last year.

SEMA Girls , – Images, Photos.

Love my Job, Love my job, love my job.  Here’s why, a little phoot slideshow of a hot little number and a 1968 Camaro….did I mention I love my job?

Car videos, car photos, events and community on StreetFire.net.

More behind the scenes photos from last week’s Head to Head video shoot.  I can’t tell you how badly I’m looking forward to this new saeson….since the Silver GT-R is mine

Car videos, car photos, events and community on StreetFire.net.

Bugatti Atlantic Coupe Plus Lambo doors equals classic design regardless of century. Wired has a pretty cool fanciful gallery of other neat designs.

Gallery: Cosmic Motors From Another Galaxy

Just got back from a FULL…(ugh, very full) day at Willow Springs..7AM to 7PM. We were shooting a Season of Head to Head that will be on StreetFire.net (Torque.tv production). Had some cool cars there from the Tech Art GT-Street 997 Turbo to a 650hp Supercharged Challenger. I don’t think I can talk about the pairings and results until the episodes come out, so I’ll keep the talk to the GT-R.

I didn’t get any real track time to work the car out, as most of it was taken up by the professional racers doing photo shoot work, so sadly that was a bit of a blow. That said the Pros completely fell in love with the car. In stock form it posted very high in the rankings (again can’t talk about the actual results, but I was ahead of some serious metal).

So the big criticisms of the car, I’ll address them.

Weight. Not really the issue you would think it would be. The car actually feels deceptively light, and the only way you know has some weight is under super heavy on the brakes hairpin turns. The car builds speed very smoothly, which may be the torque muted by weights, but to be honest the AWD lets you power out of any turn far earlier than I could in my E46 M3.

Tire Wear. Probably did a dozen full bore laps, a bit of drifting and doughnuts for the camera, and the stock tires really look fine. The car is so smooth that it lacks a lot of the drama that really eats up tires. COBB tuning was there with their GT-R, and they said that tires were not the problem, rotors were. They’ve been through a few sets, but then their car is a 100% track car with no street miles.

Road Feel. The faster you drive the GT-R the more analogue it feels. Cruising down the highway, you can turn off your brain and get away with thinking you’re in a stiffly sprung Maxima. Typically that’s an insult, but in my I405 commute to work in LA traffic, it’s a bit of a blessing. My E46 is much more alive under your fingers, so you are always DRIVING that car, which can get very wearing in LA traffic. If you don’t have a hell commute to work like I do, then I can’t say for sure if you’ll love or hate the synthetic feel when commuting. Put your foot down, and the Mr Hyde wakes up and you get a psychic link with the pavement. The car feels fantastic when driven with some aggression, HOWEVER even a smirk of aggression will put you at 30mph over before you realize what’s happening.

Power delivery. so my Trans Am made 550 RWTorque, so I know what big power feels like. My CBR-600RR has no Torque and a 17,000 RPM redline that takes it to 10.8@130mph…. so I know what revs feel like. The GT-R builds power very smoothly with a little if any lag. Launch Control is blistering, but it very quickly settles into a smooth delivery that builds and builds and doesn’t let up at all. my Trans Am fell off pretty aggressively and had much more violence below 100mph. I believe the 11.5-7@116-120mph times I’ve seen people post….but wierd as it may sound to say this, the GT-R is a waste at a drag strip. Drive the car around Willow Springs and you’ll agree, the car is made for handling.

Handling. This is the car’s forte. The other pro drivers affirmed what Millen said that the car holds astounding velocity in the turns. It maintains the speed by virtue of smooth power delivery and AWD. Because the turbine smoothness of the motor, you can get into the power far earlier than I would dare in a Porsche or my E46 M3. As the power builds, the AWD just keeps you planted and swings you around. COBB tuning told me there is a ECM dedicated to just AWD functions, and I believe it, all 4 wheels are always working for you.

Brakes. Impressive, the Pros had far more confidence in them than I do, but then the E46 M3 brakes sorta suck, so I’m gun shy… still learning where they live. This is a brake late leave sooner corner car. COBB says the stock calipers are fine, it’s the rotors that you have to be careful with.

On the Subjective points. Interior quality is very impressive but still Japanese. Not quite up to German levels, but I will say, you can tell Nissan took pride in this car, even the leather stitching on the dash appears to be done with pride. I’m not entirely happy with the Alcantera-ish cloth inserts in the seats, but damn if they didn’t work at the track.

Exterior. Photos really don’t do the car justice. It looks entirely different in person. Photos are very flat, and the GT-R is a very 3 Dimensional car with lots of body detail. I’ve received a shocking amount of attention from people that don’t know what the car is, and are even more confused when they see it has a Nissan badge. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually finding myself boasting that it’s a Nissan…. I think I may be having a little reverse Brand snobbery after 4 years in a BMW, and Nissan has a bit of underdog syndrome which I’m digging for the few months that the car is still somewhat rare.

Anyhow, so that is the brain dump, let me know if you have any questions….and to answer the whole Corvette vs. GT-R thing up front, Without a doubt, different horses for different courses. Drive both, and you’ll see they are very different on many levels, and it’s almost like asking “Which is better, a Fork or a Spoon”?…well depends on what you’re eating.

Old LS1 guy buys a GT-R – Corvette Forum.

Sent from a friend, here are some gorgeous Exotic car photos shot by ExoticDriven.com.  The Domain isn’t live yet, but after scanning these photos, I am really looking forward to checking out this community when it goes live.  For now the Pictures are posted on My350Z.com

Just a couple of cars… and pics *HIGH RES WARNING* – MY350Z.COM Forums