What does that third pedal on the left do?

New Job!

2011-01-24T18:00:00.000-05:00

I've officially taken the plunge into the automotive profession! I've made a full time job of it, as well as keeping a part time job on the side. So far the first week of said new job has exponentially increased my knowledge base. Simple things and tricks that I would have never learned just poking around on my own car. You the reader can expect future posts on tips and tricks for basic automotive service car. In the above picture you can see my very own Miata on the lifts at work! Nothing beats getting paid to work on your own car!

US Top Gear Review

2010-12-31T01:52:00.000-05:00

We all have our favorite shows of the UK's Top Gear. My personal favorite would have to be the episode where they tried to send a car to space. The first couple US Top Gears have been pretty fun to watch. That's not to say that there aren't a few out of place feelings between the hosts. Or that the humor seems forced and scripted. But Tanner Foust is soon going to become a big name in motorsports. I'm going to venture out and say that man's name will become synonymous with drifting. Picture the Tony Hawk or Tiger Woods of drifting. Let's wait and enjoy for some new car episodes!

Ways to make money with a car

2010-10-04T20:07:00.001-04:00

We could all use a little play money every now and then, thats why I've compiled this awesome list.

1. Lets get the ball rolling with the easiest one on here, get the spare change out of that beast! I once found 8 bucks worth of change in my car. The usual culprits are in your cup holders or any little holder on armrests or inside the center console. Places that I was surprised to find some supple coinage was underneath the seats, take a good look under it. One of my biggest shockers was in the trunk. I still to this day wonder how 54 cents found its way into my tiny little trunk. If your extra motivated I'd take a look under your center console carpeting as well!

2. I don't know about you, but I've got some pretty lazy friends, offer to wash/detail their cars. Here's what I did that made it a real money maker, tell them its proceeds will help fund your current car endeavors. If you can make it heartfelt people will really sympathize and shell out the cash-especially friends. I wouldn't just leave it to friends either. There are plenty of powerful and FREE tools that are already at your disposal. Craigslist is an excellent to post your services. With some good time and thought into your advertising you really start to set yourself away from the mainstream average Joe car washers! I would also recommend devoting a blog page and domain to your car wash service (don't worry there are plenty of free blogging sites that you can use). This way you can link it to your craigslist advertisement and look extra professional. Putting up some good old fashioned fliers will also do the trick. I'd recommend going to churches, community bulletin boards, and grocery stores to name a few. Just think of anywhere that large groups of people go. You know those 500 friends you have on facebook and/or myspace? Let them know about your new business! Offering a referral program is another great way to make current customers feel extra special. For them its simple, they get 2 or 3 of their friends to enlist in your services and they will get like 40% off the next detailing. A one size fits all approach to your washing or detailing isn't going to get you far, give different levels and options of service to your customer! Some people just want their car to be washed and the inside to be vacuumed. Other people want their baby's to be pampered with a clay barring, waxed, shampooed carpets, aka the works! This way you save time and money not waisting products on a car that just needs to be soaped and scrubbed. This one takes a lot of work but you can make some serious cash if your motivated enough. I'll have a blog posting that will have suggestions about detailing soon, don't touch that remote -err... URL?

3. Become a delivery driver. It's a great way to work on driving technique if you have the right kind of car! I also found that it's a great way for me to learn some of the navigational skills that I inherently lacked. A fun car also helps with tips, especially convertibles! A word of caution: be ready to put a TON of miles of your car. Make sure your up with maintenance. I very quickly went through a set of tires with my slide happy nature.

4. Start a car club! This one probably won't make you a ton of money but its a great way for networking and being around people that share the same passion for cars that you do! Truthfully I haven't started a car club... yet. But I did start a bmx/skate club that had over 150 members and I managed to make a little bit. Here's how I did it, by establishing a brand name. My group, Northern VA BMX/skate had t-shirts, bumper, stickers, funny contests, and videos! I basically started handing out shirts to attractive girls at my high school and gave a few to elite members of my group. Eventually I had people asking me where they could get their own! Making a custom shirt isn't as hard as you'd think! I did a quick google search and was making designs in five minutes! The biggest part was the initial investment in the shirts and other swagger. This one definitely takes a couple hundred your willing to risk. A fellow blogger of mine made an excellent posting on how to host a successful car meet, you can check it out here: http://www.drivendaily.org/owners/host-successful-car-meet/

Here's just a few ways that I've found to make money using that little mode of transportation. Do you have any suggestions/ideas/stories on how you made a buck with your car? Comment!

Weekend Track Visit!

2010-09-03T21:50:00.001-04:00

This weekend will consist two things, work, and Summit Point Motorsports Park. On the drive there I decided to drop top and bake in the goodness that is Miata. Every time I'm at a track I feel more and more at home. I probably saw 50 different Miata's today! Most of them were fully specced out racecars but

I actually saw a few nice street cars. Another great thing about events like this is the great people, which almost rivals the levels of cool that some of the cars exude. People are proud of their cars and they'll gladly answer any questions you can muster the courage to ask.

There is a good chance that I'll be doing a parade lap in a complete SSM spec miata! Stay tuned for more track stuff, I'll probably post more on Monday!

New Tattoo for Driver!

2010-08-27T12:08:00.001-04:00

I'm sorry it's been a while since my last posting. I'm also sorry that this has nothing to do with cars but I thought I'd put it out here just because I'm under the impression that its the coolest thing since sliced bread!

Matt's new Tat

Who doesn't love a random posting?

Top 39 reasons why your a gear head

2010-08-10T13:59:00.002-04:00

Before you is a list of what I would call the 39 reasons why your a gear head:

You know the whine of a supercharger
You know what that "PSSSSST" means that comes from a BOV
You know the sound of a diesel
You had (or have) a collection of hot wheels
being able to name at least 4 out of every 10 cars you see
at one point in time you've made a dream cars list
at another point you've made a dream car list that one day you could actually own
you have a favorite form of racing
you subscribe to car and driver
you actually do the work on your car
you know useless information and facts about your car
you can bore bystanders just talking about all the stuff you've done to your car
people compliment you on your car even after 234K miles :)
you made a blog about your car(s)
joined forums about cars
have a favorite brand of car cleaning products
you use your exhaust with or instead of a horn
You know that the left lane of a highways is for passing, ONLY passing
before you die you will drive on the Autobahn
attended at least one monster truck rally
you know of motorcycle brands like Ducatti and Buell
attended car events
have a driving playlist on your ipod
you freak out when you see exotic cars in everyday life
you gasp while your freaking out
you know what heel toe means
you can actually heel toe
you've been on a racetrack
you've been in a racecar
you've been a flagger for a SCCA sanctioned event.
been in a car that goes 0-60 in five seconds or faster
you've actually gone 0-60 in five seconds or faster
raced your car at a stop light full knowing that you will loose
keep most of the stock parts on your car just to say you can put it back if needed (exactly why you would want to return it to stock specs is beyond me... but I still do it)
have done a doughnut... in a parking garage... at 3am
screaming Supras send chills down your spine
driven an American muscle car (any year any type)
found out first hand that an American muscle car will not turn in any direction what so ever over 45mph
crossed the 100mph barrior

Let me know if I need to add anything! Perhaps later on I will make a this a check list.

Its Never Speed that Kills...

2010-08-03T22:28:00.000-04:00

Its suddenly becoming stationary that gets you.

   I forget where I heard that, but I'm completely agree with it. You could go a screaming million billion miles an hour, break though sound barrier, and still not die. On the other hand you can go 60 and smack into a tree. I'd put my money on being dead. Street racing is popular amongst us youngsters. I can personally say I've been in at least 20. None of them have ever been in safe area. Some of them have been in daylight, others have been at 2 in the morning. There are so many things that can go wrong in a street race, you making mistakes, the dumbass in a riced out Honda thats now behind you, other cars, pedestrians, wild animals (its happened to me), and bad roads. I've lost count of how many close calls I've had. I'm expecting my luck to run out soon. Even with all this I've never managed to get a speeding ticket. Not even so much as a parking ticket. Almost makes you angry huh? I recently had a conversation with a friend and he manged to point out something that I'd known in the bike world for a long time, its translation over to cars just didn't occur to me. In a nut shell he said, it's not a matter of if your going to crash or not... it's when. Then it dawned on me. Every time I've been in a race I was flipping that coin. When will it be my turn? How bad will it be? Hopefully my car is the only thing that gets the damage.
   I can tribute most of my luck to one thing. Instinct. There were times where I just refused to take part in a race. Something just felt wrong. I remember one time where I point blank refused to get in my car and drive somewhere. I couldn't tell you why or how I get this feeling.
  I'm getting better about the racing thing. I've been doing it less. What's getting worse are my midnight drift runs though. ;)

I ♥ drifting at night. I'll post up some pictures of my spots in a future post!

Is the Miata a good drift car?

2010-07-31T13:41:00.001-04:00

Sick of driving like grandma? Why not drive a Barbie car sideways? The miata isn't a fast car but its redeeming quality is when you reach a corner. As you approach you realize how low you are and the steering response (even when stock) inspires confidence- sometimes a little too much confidence. As you reach peak grip it is predicable and controllable. The back end likes to swing out and make you look like a better driver than you are in actuality. Now who doesn't love that idea? A healthy male mentality will tell you that your good at two things, sex and driving a car. The latter being more relevant and better when you appear to be skilled. The rev happy motor is bulletproof (mine has 234K and still runs like a beast) and begs to be floored. Speaking from personal late night experience you can have a blast. Doughnuts in parking garages, secluded business parking, and dead end roads is probably where you will start. I present exhibit A, a product of late night "sessions". I quickly learned the value in tire rotation. It really helps what little longevity this activity holds for tire life.

Gah, tire bulge...

So the question still remains. Is the Miata a good drift car? Lets break it down. From the factory the suspension isn't half bad. It will get you started. Some cars come with limited slip differentials which is exactly what you need. My car doesn't have one, but I can say you can still get started. Its a great car to work on, everything is simple and you can basically take the entire car apart with 5 different socket sizes. The weight distribution is almost 50/50. Its poised and proper when you transfer weight. Speaking of weight, the Miata is the car equivalent to an anorexic catwalk model. Parts are readily available thanks to track junkies who race. This car is arguably one of the most raced cars in the world. As a whole the car is very forgiving when you come in to fast, you can quickly abort your drift and not end up smacking into the curb.

On the negative side, a short wheelbase is probably the biggest problem. So once you begin spinning out, there is no stopping, you have reached the point of no return. Hold on, hold breath, put in clutch, steer into turn, and hope for the best. One of my biggest fears is flipping, and believe me with the worn out suspension on my car, its entirely possible. One word, pancake. Don't flip a convertible. It's unspoken man law. If your curious google "rolled Miata" and you'll be a little slower around corners for a the next few days. It is worth noting that most of the flipped Miatas that show up in google images have aftermarket roll bars. Imagine being even more of a pancake, dare I say, a crepe.

In my opinion this car is perfect for drifting applications- just man up and get a freaking roll bar.

Road Trip!!!

2010-07-27T00:48:00.000-04:00

   I cannot deny the allegations any longer, the talks of driving my Miata across the country are true. A quick Google search has shown that not many other people have trekked in a two seater convertible. Much less one that just clocked 235 thousand miles.... 500 miles ago. I've been going through worst case scenarios for the past couple days, my biggest fear is being in a wreck or breaking down. The latter being what I'm concerned the most about. This will be by far the farthest I've driven.
   Originally I had was on the fence about driving all of the way down. But I've exhausted every other option. The first and most heartbreaking, selling the car. I've had many compliments on this car, even offers. To date I've received three offers on the car. I would loose a part of my soul if I ended up selling it. It goes against everything that this blog stands for... although I'm not exactly sure what to make of this blog.. haha.
   Another thing I considered doing was to ship it from Virginia all the way down to Washington state. First off, let me say... BAD idea. I would have to pay just about the amount I bought the car for in order to get it down there, who knows that kind of people drive those big trailers either! In my economically conscientious state, I decided to go around and get quotes. Regrettably I decided to put my phone number in a contact box. The next day I received 17 phone calls in a six hour period. Yes thats 17. Four days later I am still getting phone call about it. Horrible mistake.
   With the 17 phone calls in mind I decided that instead of handing my hard earned money to people blowing my phone up I would put the money into the motor of the car. I'm currently saving up for a JDM spec motor. I'd like to explore the possibility of a 6 speed transmission. Let me tell you, driving in 5th gear at 80mph with 4k on the tach isn't cutting it.
   So aside from the finding the motor and tranny, putting it in, making the rest of my car long distance worthy, buying all the supplies, getting new tires, balancing the tires, I have one more problem that I just can't seem to solve. Where the hell am I going to sleep? Now I have to plan my day into segments by hotels... I really don't want to do that. I just don't want to spend the money on a hotel room. Gahhh... I've thought about trying to sleep in the car. But there's no way that will be even remotely comfortable. Where is a place to pull over the car and get some shut eye anyways? If anybody has any solutions to this problem let me know!

Oh and here's a little something cool :D

Two Miata's never looked so ominous at night!!!

A down side

2010-06-09T18:40:00.004-04:00

Everyone knows that I love having a Miata. But there are draw backs. So off the top of my head I'm going to list some of the bad.

The lack of security. Anybody can puncture a soft top with a swiss army knife, possibly if motivated enough, with something as dull a key. Let us note, this can be fixed with buying a hard top (insert sigh here.. I love those things)
The lack of seating. This can go both ways. It is an excellent excuse for being to lazy to pick people up from the airport. Even if it is just one person, it would be a miracle if they fit their luggage in.... I don't think that will be happening any time soon. Not having a back seat ensures that you and a date won't be doing anything X rated. Alternatively I've found it can make an intimate setting for conversation :(
The blind spot. That stupid place. Every time you make a lane change its there. I find myself having to lean at least half way to the steering wheel to do a shoulder check. Not cool. The easy fix is to put the top down. That is the way a Miata should be by default anyways!
Barbie car. Admit it, you or your girlfriend has at one time put Barbie dolls in a toy car that looks just like it. It's not the manliest car in the world. But for the punch of fun it packs I'll take the hit.
Other drivers don't see you. In my days as a pizza delivery driver I can't tell you how many times I've had to counteract somebody else trying to turn into my lane. I don't want to be smacked by a soccer mom while I'm in a tin can. Being in someone else's blind spot is really really bad. That's also another reason why I don't merge onto a highway in any other gear than third. I need to be in that higher rpm range in the event that I do need what little get up and go my car actually has.
The ugly steering wheel. I hate that thing with an indescribable passion. The kind of feeling that makes you want to punch babies in the face. Yes I said it. Punch a baby in the face. Also honking the horn isn't as easy as you would expect. You can't just slam your palm into the center of the steering wheel in a fit of rage, that would be to easy. You have to squeeze your thumb into a space next to the edge no wider than an inch wide. Which doesn't help the situation your in if you refer to #5. I picked a Momo wheel out that looks awesome, its also detachable. Who wouldn't want that? Now only if I had money.
Having a top with a glass window. That little zipper has been a focal point of frustration for everyday driving. In order to put the top down you have to unzip the back portion of the top. On paper it looks really simple, but in real world applications it's abysmal. There is no comfortable position to sit or stand in while doing this. Especially when somebody else is in the car, you end up leaning all over them.
The cup holders. They are relatively small so not everything will fit in. Also anything that is in the cup holder directly interrupts your shifting. Even when my phone is in the cup holder I have to angle it so that it is slanted towards the passenger side.

Thats all I have for now. Will update in the future!

Step into my Office

2010-05-30T17:26:00.006-04:00

Very few people know that I work as a delivery driver for a popular pizza chain. I must admit, the Miata is probably the perfect car to do so. Extreme reliability, great gas mileage, fun to drive, and you can drop the top when the weather is nice. You would think that not a lot of pizza would fit in it. However I've managed to squeeze 30 large pizzas and twelve two liter sodas in. Although I will note.... its not easy.

One of the issues I found on my first day is putting the actual pizza topper on. Most people have a convenient place on the roof. I don't have a roof. You'll see in the photo that I decided on a more artful place. Driving with traffic is also an issue, nobody sees you! I'm constantly on alert for people swerving into my lanes.

I have a habit of referring to my car with the top down on a sunny day as my office. I was surprised at all the comments and remarks I get about driving a convertible. I'll even occasionally get waves and smiles. I remember one time specifically, a middle aged gentlemen pulled up behind me at a stop light in a brand spankin new BMW M3, when he noticed me looking at his car he smiled and gave a thumbs up. People can really relate to the idealism behind a car like this. So I believe its transition into being a money maker is natural. Being that most of my income is based on gratuity, having a fun car to show up in really improves tips. On the trip to and from houses I work mostly on driving technique... well that and listen to stupid radio commercials on blown speakers (you'd be amazed at just how many times radio stations play one single song in a day).

Tips and Tricks, Your Miata

2010-05-28T15:07:00.010-04:00

I've compiled a list of things that will result in a happier Miata, because we both know that when she's happy, your happy.

This first trick I learned has probably saved the life of my soft top. One of the biggest drawbacks to having a miata with a glass window is putting the top up and down. Every time I want to put the top down and soak up the sun you have to unzip that stupid zipper so the rest of the top can go down. If you've ever done it before you'll know what I'm talking about. The zipper sometimes just refuses to move. Resulting in you just yanking the hell out of it. A failed zipper is a situation you don't want to get yourself into. The solution? It's really one of those things that you want to bang yourself on the head and say "I should have thought of that before". I've found most of the troubles comes in the tension caused when your top is still latched into the windshield. Simply put, unbuckle the latches to your top before you unzip.
This one is for the drifters. We would all love to get a hold of a hydraulic e-brake. But they cost to much in my opinion (thats just me making excuses for not having the money)... But this one is just as simple, just place a piece of tape over the button on the e-brake. That way it will move as much as you want it to with out having to thumb it down every time you want it to come off. What's even better is it will be back to normal after you take the taping off.

This is my first installment of the tips and tricks. As I find more I'll make updates. Surely a master list will be in place in the months to come. Do you have any suggestions or tips? Let me know in the comments below!

Drive

2010-05-27T17:44:00.002-04:00

A couple days ago I went for yet another drive. This time I brought along a friend (whose commentary probably makes the video the most entertaining) who had two semi capable hands to hold my phone and take a video. Of course on the two corners that were the best he got distracted and put the phone to the floor. It was still fun though!

Miata drive from Matt Boyd on Vimeo.

Getting lost

2010-05-25T09:35:00.003-04:00

Who can say they've dropped top in a thousand dollar convertible car and gotten completely lost on purpose? That would be me! Let me set the scene for you, the last few days in Virginia have been completely rain ridden. So yesterday when the sun was shining I decided to take advantage of this weeks oddity. My only problem was I had no idea where to go. I finally decided that I didn't need a place to go, I just wanted to blast the music in my blown speakers, bob my head to distasteful heavy metal, and just take it in. As I was a couple miles into my journey, I began feeling a little philosophical. I wondered if these moments are what I'll look back on and enjoy the most.

If you've never driven around in Virginia, I highly recommend it. There's a lot for you to see and experience. The first thing I did when I got into my car was turn off my phone and unplug that GPS. There wasn't going to be room in my car for a digital world. It was just a boy and his car. I found a curvy two lane road and followed it for miles. Soon a river ran parallel to the side of the road. I couldn't help but occasionally glance at it and take in its serenity. At one point water was trickling across a section of the road. So I instinctively slowed down and then floored it just to listen the tires squeal and spin. It's stupid things like this that make me smile and laugh. As time passed the road seemed to get smaller with more turns. Consequently I started driving faster. At one point I was using every bit of car driving knowledge I had. Approach corner in 3rd gear, brake, heel toe 2nd gear, spot apex, hit apex (hope there is no oncoming traffic), hold breath (not on purpose), power out, slowly come to outside of corner. It was amazing. For that little moment in time, all that existed in this busy world were those corners, my car, and speed. The other cool thing I saw was all these little po dunk towns. I ran across an archaic building with a rusted out sign on the top that read in big letters "General Store". I couldn't resist stopping to check it out. Well first I had to figure out how to open the door... It wasn't going to be persuaded to pull open, so after a couple seconds, I pushed... SUCCESS! ... Oops.... After the door incident the lady working in the shop looked at me a little weird but began by asking my name. I of course responded and we talked for like 5 or 10 minutes about the store how old it is, and how long the owners have had it. It was nice. But eventually it came time to turn the phone back on, plug in the GPS, and find my way home. Even driving back was fun. I'm definitely going to do it again, but next time I'll take pictures. ;)

So I mean this in the most polite and literal sense......

Get lost

Seriously do it! I was surprised at all the fun I had.

Hitting a slump

2010-05-11T02:08:00.003-04:00

Trying to determine a segue from not writing a blog to what I want to talk about seems a little taxing at the moment. So I'll just start fresh.

I have 3 different jobs (not to mention I've started a business venture on the side as well). Yes, that means I am employed by 3 different places that give me three different checks. Although I'll probably only have 2 in a little while... It can be a little taxing. I don't even want to think about how many separate W2's I'll be getting in the mail next year. I've found that with a full schedule your not going to make a single one of your managers happy when you tell them your very specific hours of availability. Now I've lost all will to work hard. Think of blindly sprinting on a treadmill and expecting to end up miles from where you originated. That is exactly how I feel. Even though I know I can make good money (which I could really use), I really honestly don't feel like doing anything. I sense someone will give me a lecture with that starts with the infamous saying "Part of being a man is doing things that you don't want to do". Very well put anonymous person who coined said phrase. When I'm not on the job, I'm constantly in worry about my work. Thinking that I should be at job B or C doing things. My brain is numb. Nuff said.

Cheers to not proof reading, summarizing, or writing a decent conclusion :D

Photo Shoot!

2010-03-04T23:22:00.013-05:00

She faces the wrong direction on the wrong side of the road. Her paint is faded, her body is bruised, tattered, and has scuff marks. Having over 226 thousand miles on the motor, I'm almost convinced she has the vehicular equivalent to a STD. She's a smoker too... Something that I have to keep constant attention to. Everything about this car seems wrong, but at the same time its that youthful kind of wrong that makes you want to stick out your tongue, put one finger on both hands up, and scream every profane word you've ever heard. I have completely fallen in love with this little car.

At the moment She is almost completely stock, same as the day she rolled off the the production lines in Japan... save for one little custom built exhaust. Its a raspy exhaust note that grows on you and begs to be floored. I'm a little concerned about my driving record now though... It is spotless. Not even so much as a parking ticket. With this car I can almost guarantee that will change. Especially for my intended applications for it- Taking it beyond its peak grip points and angling it around a corner sideways.... ON PURPOSE. It has accidentally happened already on a few occasions, while some of them being a little more accidental then others.

While I'm talking about this car.. I might as well talk about what I'm planning on in the future for it. For the most part I will be focusing on performance, but there it is:

Hard Top
Roll Bar (so in the event this convertible flips I don't become a pancake)
Newer Rims
Full Suspension Set Up (which is really the most important thing for drifting)
Sway Bars- front and rear
New Engine and Transmission (while I replace the engine and tranny I will also include a new clutch and flywheel)
Strut tower bar
Turn Signal Induction Kit
New Antenna (OMG finally something that is CHEAP!!)
Flat Black Paint Job
Limited Slip Differential (which probably means a new power plant frame as well)
A Witty custom License Plate Number
New Speakers and Radio
Hydraulic E-brake
Momo Steering Wheel (just because they look cool :P)

For the most part thats the major list. Its probably going to take a couple of years to get my car to that sort of level. I estimate I'll invest around 7 to 8 thousand dollars into the car. Something that I'm learning that will never improve that actual resale value of the car. I'm coming to terms that this investment is for the soul purpose of fun.

I spent a great deal of the day taking photos of my car. Around sixty to be exact. I'm assuming the general public will never understand why I was driving my car around on the bottom of a parking garage while periodically crawling on the cold cement ground attempting to get a first epic photo. As you can see with the top photo I was literally stopping in the middle of a one way road facing the inverse legal direction. I did it all with a smile, waving happily at confused motorists passing by me on the road parallel to my car in the photo. The theme for the day seems to be "sitting in the middle of things".

Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery

2010-01-06T03:20:00.007-05:00

Seems like I always find myself on Youtube. If your anything like me and frequent Youtube, you know that there are very few different channels worth note. In a nut shell they're the journalists that I'll try and model myself after. I've been watching a great deal of their videos-some would say obsessively. They all create the impression of the same show, Top Gear. Top Gear has been a wildly successful show with a tasteful blend of British humor, cars, and filming. At one point in time these BBCers even launched a rocket propelled car into the sky. It's safe to say that I'm a huge fan of Top Gear.

So back to these Youtube channels, every one of them give the impression of Top Gear. From Jeremy Clarkson's so-so metaphors, to the challenges the TG trio goes on, everyone is trying to create the same sort of magic that the BBC must have sold their soul to the devil for.

As for the rest of these guys, I see a definite lacking of professionalism. I'd like to see a reviewer with even an ounce of racing experience, car knowledge (more than just whats on Wikipedia or the brochure, mind you), and fully know how to use and DEMONSTRATE driving techniques. I'm tired of hearing flowery adjectives from a thesaurus, show us how these cars drive. Having the ability to push the envelope is definitely a must. I believe that if people would approach cars from the same perspective as the rest of the extreme sports world, we would all be more satisfied. Let's break down how specific cars turn into the apex of a corner, discuss what blend of clutch stiffness and ease is needed for a realistic weekend track car that's streatable on the weekdays. Pit opposing car factions against each other! Who doesn't love a good BMW VS Mercedes debate? Ahhh, somebody give me a video camera and an Audi R8 for a couple hours.

**disclaimer** I am yet another person without an ounce of racing experience-but hey, I'm only 19. The rest of these guys are well into midlife crisis! :P

Searching for a Career.

2009-12-30T03:52:00.003-05:00

I've never been a boy that molded to the shape of conventional means. I've always done what I want, when I want, finding excuses and reasons to justify my means. Scholastics was nothing more than a joke to me. Currently I work a somewhat dead end job at a grocery store- where no passion exists, no love of ones job. It's become the same cut and dry routine for a little over a year. While at the same time crossing fingers and hoping that ends will meet. As this year draws to an ending, I'm not sure what progress I've made. I've looked high and low for this passion that people seem to describe. Something that makes a person wake up at 2 in the morning and think "man, I love what I do".

And dare I say... I might have found it. For as long as I can remember I've always been fascinated with cars. This innate interest was never nurtured. It would always remain in the back of my mind. Springing forth whenever I would end up on the highway and begin to wonder what years the Ford Mustang GT changed to a 4.6L motor instead of its famous "five point oh". I will always be tempted to turn around whenever I hear anything sounding menacing and dissect every part that I believe did not roll off the showroom floor. When I see a fast car, there is a feeling that rises from the pit of my stomach. Its this presence that I couldn't tag to anything I've ever felt before. As I think about it more and more, I start to believe that its the innermost beginnings of a passion. Something that I believe I was born to live, love, and enjoy doing for the rest of my life. I can still remember the night that exponentially rose my interest in the automotive industry like it was yesterday. At age 17 I'd moved away from family across the continent to live in Virginia. I had a late flight and probably flew in at around one or two in the morning. My now roommate picked me up from the airport in a Hemi powered Dodge Magnum SRT-8 (which is still today the fastest car that I have ever driven). Its Marlboro red color was perfect. I'll never forget the first red stop light we came up to. At idle the car had a low growl, hinting at what was soon to come. I think adrenalin hit me pretty hard right after we came to a full stop, we were waiting.... just waiting, for the green light. Finally it came, and over 430 horses came alive. I remember being pounded into the back of the seat, struggling to hold my head up. And though amazing, this was only the prelude to what was to come. Upon arrival to my new home, I saw a black 1997 Mazda Miata. A car that by comparison to what I was just in, is nothing but a cute little Barbie car. But I was far from right. It was really late but I was still used to pacific coast time, I wasn't tired. So then came the idea t0 drive the Miata. I thought I'd give it a try, just for shits and giggles. I found that I loved everything about the car. Its rev happy motor, the butter smooth shifting, the extremely responsive steering. Withing 2 weeks of roaming to and from point A to point B, I learned more about driving than any high school class would ever hope to teach its pupils. It was never a car that molded to the shape of conventional means.... which should sound a little familiar...

I've found that I love to drive, talk about, and work on cars. But so does every other guy on the planet. This is a very competitive job field. Right now I think I'm leaning towards automotive journalism. That seems like an awesome path to go down. It looks like a fickle job choice. But I'm going to let passion go full throttle.

Update in the life of the not-so-homeless teenager

2009-09-19T10:33:00.004-04:00

My garage! (Mine is on the right... the one in more pieces hah)
The time had come. The moment I'd been long waiting for- 2 in fact. I eagerly drained every penny from my bank account. All the money to my name! This little segment in time... it was glorious! I was going to buy the car I'd been dreaming of. Some call it a girly car, a barbie car, a car that exponentially skyrockets the value of a rainbow bumper sticker. On the other hand, at the same time it is the worlds most common type of race car. A very misunderstood car in all its miens. The aforementioned car is none other than the Mazda Miata. Every other car I now drive is compared to the likes of this little two seater.

Current Endeavors

2009-08-15T19:52:00.003-04:00

In front of a lofty 4 or 5 year old 22 inch 100 pound monitor tied to an even older dell latitude d800 (Google image it... I dare you) sits an eighteen soon to be nineteen year old high school drop out. Actually, as he comes to think of it... he never formally dropped out from school, he just stopped showing up. His aims and motives are questioned by many. Including those closest to him. Like every other teenage male, he's driven by fast cars, motorcycles, buxom women, and the promise of the American Dream. What would any respectable professional recommend to a troubled young man in his situation?
Go to the cop out option! Get a GED. He could join the many successful businessmen/woman to have earned their GED and make something of themselves. Even joining the likes of the great Dave Thomas- the founder of Wendy's.
How about joining the military? That would be good, and make a real man out of him too! Not a bad idea, but there's always a catch! With a GEd I'd have to complete one full college semester. WTF uncle Sam?

My own suicide

2009-07-22T14:49:00.003-04:00

I'm going to talk about something that I believe everyone thinks about at least once in their lifetime. Not that you would ever resort to it... but the thought is always there... taunting you... teasing you... wouldn't it be nice. A surefire way to put down your cards, fold, and cash in what you have. Or at the very least attract a lot of WANTED attention in the event of your failure to do so. It is a desperate plea. It screams give me attention. It says I'm alone, someone comfort me. Someone hug me, kiss me, make me feel real again. Give me the love and affection I've been starving for. You convince yourself you truly don't care what happens. Your lying to yourself. Sometimes you might get so sick of trying. For me personally the frustrations come most from looking at what everybody else has. Jealousy, there's no word to put it better. I no longer know who I am. I know who I was. This person needs to find his release. I beg for it to be something constructive. I beg for it to be something people around me will be proud of.

That Neighbor

2009-07-08T18:38:00.003-04:00

Now that I've moved back into my previous residence, I realize that I live in a very sheltered community. Away from fears of recession, most people around here have secured government jobs that pay very well. The houses around me are in excess of 600 thousand dollars. People live very comfortably. Two or three car garages and patio decks that nicely compliment the exterior decors. Their children drive BMW's to school that are but a few years old... if not brand new. As everyone knows, there is always that one person that lives next door that does quite fit in. To put it delicately, the ugly duckling without the beautiful ending. This afternoon as I had what I thought was a morning cigarette as I'd just woken up a few minutes ago I look around at the houses around me. I am that neighbor... It first started as I was looking around at the freshly mowed green lawns. Lawns that any golf country club would admire. Every lawn that is, except mine. Blades of grass that would measure 5 to 6 inches. Patches of yellow that would resemble the stains left from what I can only assume to be the deification of some sort of hideous monstrosity. Then I glanced at my driveway, one fully caged SSM class miata race car, one black miata, one white miata, and one big dodge truck. How can I scream bachelor pad anymore clearly. It doesn't help when everyone else has eco-friendly minivans and prius's. Recently the cops were called on the house with complaints of noise... not from deafening noise of heavy metal... but from loud noises associated with working on cars. What the hell?!?! Somebody doesn't care for this neighbor! :P

2009-06-10T22:11:00.000-04:00

Life at the moment is exceptional. Outstanding. Wonderful. If I had the motivation I'd take every synonym for the word awesome out of a thesaurus, print them in size 32 times new roman font, cut out each individual word, randomly paste them on a mammoth 6 by 10 cardboard poster, take black and white pictures of it, display it on this page, and then boast about its ridiculousness. Luckily for both you and I, laziness is one of my greatest traits. The days where I spend my afternoons at a coffee shop with a pretty girl in my lap, and my evenings cuddled with the same girl on a couch are not uncommon, and dare I say... plenty. Conversing, flirting, laughing, basically having a genuine moment of love in its purest entities. It's been a long time since I've had this much stability, in all aspects of my life. It's change is warmly welcomed! Well.... aside from the medical bills I received in the mail today (but we'll save that for another day... another blog). For the time being I think I'll enjoy that fickle little thing called life.

Inevitable Change.

2009-06-07T11:51:00.000-04:00

As I sit on the mattress on the floor that is my bed... I reflect on this entire year. A lot has happened, yet I can't help but think, it was probably my best year of high school. At that thought I sort of let out a long depressing sigh. Then I think about change. Inevitable change. I trust that is one of life's greatest guarantees. Many of my friends are soon off to college, am I that far behind them? I wish I wasn't. That is a mile high hill climb I'll have to sprint upwards in order to attain whilst others leisurely jaunt its path. The grass is always greener on the other side. Or so they say. Perhaps this whole troublesome journey will bring me some sort of unforeseen intellect. Maybe then I'll understand why. Why I choose the things I've done. Pray tell, share this master plan, and what it has in store for me. Life is like a game of Russian roulette, sometimes all you can do is grit your teeth and pull the trigger!

Sanctity from a Throne?!?

2009-06-05T09:51:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, a new and interesting thought permeated through the innermost depths of my brain. From where all said "new and interesting thoughts" come from. The bathroom. Its small confined space and tile walls that could probably use a good scrubbing is a haven for an ocean of comprehension. A playground for my intellectual being. Upon completion of the thought I suddenly smiled, convinced that I had instantly became a wiser and more profound individual. The sad thing? Ten minutes later I completely forgot what it was. To this moment I still have no clue. I'm truly concerned. I feel as though the fate of the free world depends on my remembering this cordial collection of words.... maybe not...

Something I've been wondering about, why the bathroom of all places?!? Why not somewhere with a hint of prestige? I'm sure if it were the hallway to my front door someone could make a symbolic meaning out of it! Perhaps on some subconscious level I associate the bathroom with a place of instant relief. A place where after I leave I definitely feel as though the weight as been lifted off my shoulders- or expelled from a bladder. Come to think of it... that's exactly how I perceive using the latrine. So it would only be natural for me to be able to reach a certain state zen in that room.

A true story

2009-05-27T22:52:00.000-04:00

Oh heart
a cordial welcoming of warm tingly sensations
how you begin to beat faster at the sight of this girl
perfection in its eyes
amongst its being a vital organ for life
it sees
it feels
and above all
it loves
and so hearts reside on this "a bench"
whether or not two hearts violently collide
or slowly conjoin
our spark
our love
can only grow stronger

Money.

2009-05-25T20:58:00.000-04:00

Today as I began my commute to work (a rather humble commute at that... an old pair of Nike shoes) I started thinking about all the things in the upcoming week. Atop the list? Payday. The forbidden fruit in which I always seem to crave. Unlike the the kitty in the above picture, I know exactly what I'd do. So how does mankind control his overwhelming urge to crank out cash? It's to my understanding that he doesn't. Perhaps it is the aura that is created by stacks of hundred dollar bills that intoxicates the body and soul of our very being. How I know this is true? I work with thousands of dollars everyday, ironic considering whats left in my bank account, and I see the look on peoples faces when I'm dealing with large amounts of money. Not that they ever intend to steal it, but I think that they almost subconsciously think about what is within the realm of possibility. The next time you see yourself in a professional environment and there is an exceptional amount of money in the general vicinity, note how differently people act. Its very subtle, but still there none the less!

A little about the writer.

2009-05-22T21:32:00.000-04:00

Where do I start? "They" call me Matt. I'm 18 years old. I've been kicked out of 2 houses. I have long brown hair that curls at the tips. Most of the time I am a very deep thinker. I've jumped out of planes at over eleven thousand feet, creamed towards the ground at speeds over 120mph, only to softly land back down onto a freshly mowed lawn. For a while I was a sponsored BMX rider-three sponsors to be exact. My bed is a twin sized mattress on the floor of a friends' house. My parents live on the other side of the country. I am a senior in high school, although this year I will not be graduating. I love cars. Some might say I'm a real geese monkey. Two years ago I fell off the hood of a speeding Subaru in a grocery store parking lot, and received a severe head injury. As a result I spent over eight days in the hospital. Four of those in which were spent in the infamous Intensive Care Unit. ICU for short. My recovery was over 3 months long. I am a firm believer that there is some sort of supreme being out there, and as such I believe everything happens for a reason. I seem to have troubles coming to terms with being the result of one giant bang. Music is my soul... sad, angry, happy, lust, frustration, love, hate.... there is a style of music for every human emotion. Music can amplify how I feel, for better or worse. When I write music, it isn't recorded... or ever in some cases ever played again. I just play and sing about what I feel in that exact moment in time. I can be very random. If I could meet one musician it would be Matt Belomy. Ironic we have the same first name isn't it! I am a very patient person. This only holds true to things I have a general interest in. When I see a single car drive down a road I'll pause and draw a slow, steadied breath because a cigarette will undoubtedly be between my lips, and I'll wonder where that person is headed in life, I'll wonder what they will learn, I'll wonder where they will go, and the lives they will effect or change. I am a very sympathetic person. I love to interact with people, even complete strangers. I love to listen to their life stories. Tell me, what is your story?