Jalopnik

A lesson I've learned and always tried to apply while driving on expressways and highways is

"there is always someone faster than you"

This has served me well. Even when it's not the case. I'm a commuter cyclist, and my riding style can be summed up as going "as fast as I can, for as long as I can". It is a very rare occurrence that someone is ever actually going faster than me. But for the half dozen times that a non-smoker on a $1000-plus bike with clip peddles passes me (non of these descriptors apply to myself by the way), I take comfort in knowing that I was in no way shape or form impeding their progress.

I only wish I could say the same for others.

This is a bit of a unicorn story with a a twist.

The Bricklin SV-1.

The infamy of this car is well known around these parts. How many Canadian made supercars that were surrounded by controversy, government meddling, and a reputation for shoddy build quality can you name?

It's like a Delorean, but more obscure and ridiculous.

Growing up in Vancouver, I was about 12 years old and walking down a quiet street in an upscale neighbourhood when something caught the corner of my eye in a driveway about 30 feet from the street. It said "Bricklin" on the back and it blew my mind. Never saw one again.

UNTIL I moved to Ottawa. Now I live around the corner from a shop that has two (2!) SV-1's constantly parked inside it. In fact, I've never seen any cars actually in the shop and being worked on. Just the Bricklins, and some other interesting iron which takes up all 4 bays in the shop. Not that I'm complaining, as I get to drool over my unicorn on a daily basis.

One of them has a familiar serpent badge on the back with the seductive words "CobraJet" underneath. I can't wait to finally catch the owner of the shop and thoroughly interrogate him!

Also, there's a yellow Isuzu VehiCross that's always parked at a bank a few blocks from my house. Just sayin'.

@smokyburnout: It does actually. It was a key strategy in distinguishing ourselves from our British masters.

Maybe he was in a hurry?

#tips

Man charged after extracting tooth while driving:

[www.thestar.com]

- Another victory for Canadian ingenuity. #tips

The first all female mechanic shop in North America is being sued. By a bunch of pussies.

[www.theglobeandmail.com]

#tips

I love that Hustler titled their piece for this "What Car Has The Most Sex-Friendly Backseat?" And then they pose a scantily clad woman in front of a Saturn Sky. Or at least used a photo they had kicking around of a scantily clad woman in front of a Saturn Sky. Regardless. Point is, no back seat. I've done it in a variety of vehicles, the least well reasoned of which was a Ford Festiva. Tiny box hatchback with big, untinted windows all around. Not too discreet. But surprisingly spacious in the back with good angles of approach. I would recommend it!

Ok, I know it's ridiculous. But also pretty awesome. I found myself thinking, if I walked out of an airport in Germany, and there was a Panamera Turbo taxi waiting in line with all the regular cabs it would go down something like this: Me: Holy shit! Is that a Porsche taxi? In Germany? I need to check this out. Me [to the driver]: Is this a real taxi? Driver: Of course! It's more expensive, but it's a real taxi. Where do you want to go? Me: [whatever destination I'm going to], how far is that? Driver: 5 kilometres. Me: Is it an exciting drive? Driver: Not really. Me: Can you take a longer route and make it exciting? Is there any possibility of throwing in some time on the Autobahn in there? Driver: Yes. I could do that. Me: How much would it cost? Driver: Just get in the Porsche. Me: Jawohl! So yes, it is silly. But if it was ever true, I'd get in that thing. And it would be a hell of a way to start what I'm sure would be an amazing trip. You just know there's no way I could pass up a run at the Nürburgring after that.

Lech Kaczynski, the Polish President's funeral was the other day? What did he roll in for his last ride? A Maserati Quattroporte hearse. Hell of a way to go. #tips

I remember my dad bought one of these used when I was a little kid. Must have been about ten or eleven years old. I thought it was the coolest car we'd ever owned up until then. Come to think of it, it definitely was the coolest. The other car we had at the time was a 4 cylinder Mazda MX-3, and that held the title until the Isuzu came around. For a eleven year old car nut, it was awesome. For starters it was black as night, and looked badass with those hooded headlights. Secondly it had a proper manual whereas the Mazda had a slushbox. I remember my dad had to get used to shifting his own gears after not having done so in years. And finally, there were those badges on the flanks. "Handling by Lotus". My family owned a car that Lotus had a hand in designing. LOTUS! Needless to say I was ecstatic. At the time we had some family friends visiting us. The husband is the best driver I've ever known in my life. I had fond memories of him tossing around my family's Aerostar in a snow covered parking lot with me flying around in the back with the seats folded flat. I have no doubt in my mind that he could have gone pro had he wanted to. He is also a car nut and played a large role in nurturing my fanaticism for the automobile. In any case, when this guy got his hands on the Isuzu, all hell broke loose. I him driving, my dad in the passenger seat, and myself in the middle back seat between my mom and his wife. The women hated the car. The rear window sloped down at such a harsh angle that they kept hitting their heads on it. This was of course made worse by the driver chucking it into every corner he could find. But I was in complete heaven. I'm sure I had the biggest, stupidest grin you'd ever seen on a little kids face. I was heartbroken when my dad sold that car... That is why I voted nice price. $4,500 is a bit steep for what this Isuzu is, but my god would it ever bring back amazing memories for me...

@bmoreDLJ: Speaking of synchronicity , I was listening to the Floyd when I started reading this article. The song? Another Brick in the Wall Part II. What're the odds?

I was driving my parents' 96 Taurus down a two lane street with my girlfriend one night. The Taurus had a bench seat up front, which lets just say my girl was 'taking advantage of'. We came up to a red light, and across the intersection there was some sort of incident with a few cruisers pulled over. I calmly drove through the intersection on the green, and about one block later see the dreaded lights in my rearview. I pull over, and the cop comes up the window and just starts yelling. He tells me that "too many kids have died for stupid reasons tonight", and screams at my girl to get back in her seat. She's terrified, and I calmly told the officer that the car has a bench seat, with a middle seatbelt up front, and is legally registered to carry 6 people. He asks me if I've been drinking (which I hadn't), and then grumbles something about driving safe. It's a damn good thing he didn't stick around to investigate further, as the middle belt up front didn't work. The buckle had been stuck within the rails of the front seats for years. #qotd

Wait, at the start of the explanation of the system, the OnStar rep explains that they have the ability to control the vehicle IN BETWEEN ignition cycles. He goes on to say that they can prevent a thief from starting the vehicle (again) after they've already stolen it. So, assuming the guy doesn't stop driving, like say in the case of, oh, I don't know... perhaps a high speed police chase? There's nothing OnStar can do other than give the police the position of the vehicle. However, newer vehicles with OnStar will (or already do?) have the capability of gradually reducing the speed of the vehicle once it's already in motion. It sounds like current OnStar owners are safe? Either way, sucks to OnStar. And onboard GPS in general. I don't like the idea of anyone but myself knowing where I am at all times. And sometimes, I don't even want to know where the hell I am! #onstar

Luckily, Jalopnik already showed the holy grail of cars from 1985. Behold, the crackpipe CRX convertible! #qotd

STUNTS. That game was old already old when I was growing up and spending my quarters on San Fransisco Rush. However, it would always be tops for me. The game was very challenging, but the coolest part was that you had a proper shifter, and a clutch pedal to boot! It was an amazing game! I also enjoyed playing it on the PC and designing my own outrageous courses. A few years ago a buddy of mine picked up a STUNTS cabinet, and it worked! I didn't want to leave his basement, even if it was the most disgusting place I'd ever spent time in.

The driver's name is not Rajd Elmot, nor is his navigator named. Osuch Szczepanski.

Rajd means rally race in Poland. So the race is called Rajd Elmot.

Osuch is the last name of one guy, presumably the driver, and Szczepanski is the last name of the other guy. Presumably the navigator.

There is a whole lot of Polaks swearing after the accident. Talk about a close call...

Anyone else catch the Stile Bertone Mantide spinning out after the NASCAR crash sequence? It's not red though, but instead a boring grey. I'd like to see how that rear end holds up to damage modelling.

On a side note, I know it looks cool, but why the hell would you want to race that thing? I'll take a ZR1 instead thank you very much!

I saw a Mazda Cosmo driving down my street over the weekend. That blew my mind and I had to do a double take.

The thing had a sticker on the back that said "Money Pit". I'm hoping to see that baby again soon.

You had me at "clock in the hub!". Nice Price!

I will have to pass on this one. The price is just to steep, even living in Canada and not having to deal with importing it into the U.S.

Now, how much do you want for that Honda Beat in the background? That's a bit more to my Kei tastes...

Conflicted