Classic cars on display

From Montana to Vernon, Dale and Nancy Grochowich’s 1926 Model T Roadster has seen lots of roads.

The Grochowiches are the third owners of the car which got its start in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

40392vernona Roadster Classic cars on display

“The original owners had the car for 39 years, then their son drove it from Montana to Seattle where he had a teaching job,” said Dale. “The car broke down in Seattle and a mechanic bought it and kept it for 17 years. We bought it in 1982.”

The event will run June 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Village Green Centre’s north end parking lot (near Sport Chek).

Registration for the event will start at 9 a.m.

Admission is by donation.

There will be awards, 50/50 draw, door prizes and food and music throughout the show.

The Grochowich 1926 Model T Roadster plus one other club vehicle will be on display from Wednesday to Saturday inside the Village Green Centre to help promote the event.

The Grochowiches had the car fully restored in 1984 and will have it on display along with others from their club, the North Okanagan chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada, during the club’s 19th annual Father’s Day Car Show.

http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/community/210637941.html

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Peking to Paris Vintage Car Challenge roars off in China

Few car rallies can compete with the stunning backdrop provided by the Great Wall of China.

Some 96 vintage and classic cars are setting off from the historic setting in a race to Paris that spans more than 12,000 kilometres.

maxresdefault Peking to Paris Vintage Car Challenge roars off in China

For many, who comes first is not the main priority. For Bentley driver, Daniel Woodcock and his brother, the rally is about honouring the memory of their late father.

“My dad decided he was going to do it a couple of years ago, but then he was sadly diagnosed with cancer and passed away last September. So then my brother and I decided that we would do it for him and his memory and carry on his dream and hopefully turn up to Paris. And I’m sure he’ll be looking over us at some point,” said Woodcock.

For others, completing the journey will be a victory in itself and a voyage of discovery. Belgian Pierre Malingreau said: “If we can discover this country with an old car, then it’s beautiful. That’s the only reason that we do this rally.”

The participants, who hail from all over the world, will travel through eight countries in 33 days with the rally scheduled to finish in the French capital at the end of next month.

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“swap your ride”

Traditional Mexican Recipes

The Manitoba Classic and Antique Auto Club (MCAAC)

The Manitoba Classic and Antique Auto Club (MCAAC) is a non-profit organization of hobbyists, incorporated under the laws of the province of Manitoba.

MCAAC is a member of the National Association of Antique Automobile Clubs of Canada (NAAACCC) and is a charter member of the Manitoba Association of Auto Clubs (MAAC).

 The Manitoba Classic and Antique Auto Club (MCAAC)

MCAAC is one of the oldest automobile clubs in Manitoba. Members collectively own hundreds of antique and classic vehicles ranging from horseless carriage high wheelers and brass Model T’s to muscle cars and vintage sports cars. Our collections also include many trucks, motorcycles and even a vintage dirt track racer. The film industry looks to MCAAC members to provide vehicles for period movies.

The purpose of the Club is to bring together, in good fellowship, persons who are interested in the preservation, restoration and admiration of vehicles 25 years old and older.

MCAAC recognizes as “Club Cars” vehicles which are essentially as manufactured. Modifications for reasons of safety or other minor changes which do not significantly alter the appearance of the vehicle are acceptable.

The Club has a variety of activities throughout the year starting with the New Year’s Day Frost Bite Tour and including monthly meetings, the swap meet, garage hops, corn roast, other tours and dinners. These gatherings foster friendships which cross all generational lines. We take pride that most of our activities are geared to involve our families including toddlers, teens or octogenarians

Any person of good character who wishes to enter into the fellowship of the MCAAC may join. Ownership of a qualifying vehicle is not a condition of membership, only an interest in the vehicles and related topics is necessary. Our members come from all walks of life.

Members receive the Club’s monthly publication, the Sidemount Reporter. This magazine announces club activities, presents articles of interest to the membership and provides free want ads. A comprehensive lending library is available to members doing research or reading for pleasure. Club merchandise such as jackets, T shirts and caps is available to members at or near cost.

MCAAC general meetings are held monthly. If you are interested in membership we encourage you to come as a guest to one of our monthly meetings.

http://www.mcaac.mb.ca/

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Mazda 6/GS/GT

VEHICLE: 4-dr., 5-pass. Sedan, FWD

ENGINE: 2.5L 14 DOHC/^/3.75L V6 DOHC HP (@ RPM): 170@6000/^/272@6250

TORQUE @ RPM: 167@4000/^/269@4250 TRANS 6M

FUEL CONSUMPTION (L/100km): CITY: 10.4 HWY: 6.9 FUEL GRADE: Reg TANK (L) 70

TIRES: 215/55R17/ 235/ 45R18

SPECIFICATIONS (mm): WB: 2789 L: 4940 W: 1839 H: 1471 CURB WEIGHT (kg): 1489

Bigger, longer, wider, and ‘more’ in nearly every way, the 6 trades its formerly modest dimensions for a significantly stretched skin. Similar to these check this out Eagle Ridge Chev Maple Ridge Canada. But by dropping the popular wagon and hatchback models, is a ‘one-size-fits-all’ the best way to go? Time will tell.

Mazda Speed3

VEHICLE: 4-dr., 5-pass. Hatchback, FWD

ENGINE: 2.3.OL I4 DOHC Turbo HP (@ RPM): 263@5500

TORQUE @ RPM: 280@3000 TRANS 6M

FUEL CONSUMPTION (L/100 km): CITY: 11.8 HWY: 7.6 FUEL GRADE: Prem TANK (L) 55

TIRES: 215/45R18

SPECIFICATIONS (mm): WB: 2639 L: 4491 W: 1765 H: 1466 CURB WEIGHT (kg): 1439

Ah, power. It corrupts absolutely, right? Well, not in the case of this car. Usually in front-wheel-drive cars, more than 260 horsepower is too much to handle. Check this out Eagle Ridge New GMC Trucks Chevs Used low km Toyota Nissan . Not here. And really, who doesn’t like driving a sleeper “wagon” that will do 240 km/h without breaking a sweat?

Mazda 3 Sport GX/GS/GT

VEHICLE: 4-dr., 5-pass. Hatchback, FWD

ENGINE: 2.0L 14 DOHC HP (@RPM): 148@6500/^/156@6500

TORQUE @ RPM: 135@4500/^/150@4000 TRANS 5M

FUEL CONSUMPTION (L/100 km): CITY: 9.2 HWY: 6.7 FUEL GRADE: Reg TANK (L) 55

TIRES: 195/65R15 / 205/55R16 /205/5017

SPECIFICATIONS (mm): WB: 2639 L: 4491 W: 1755 CURB WEIGHT (kg): 1272

We see a 3 Wagon. And apparently there’s nothing sporty about wagons. But naming this hatchback ‘Sport’ has helped it find favour with many drivers around the world, and really, the more wagons the better. Great practicality mixed with unbeatable driving pleasure.

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The point of spine compression should the tarmac be anything less than glass smooth. I could take Sport in small doses only – staying in that mode for too long proved tiresome.

What is far from tiresome is the cabin, specifically its high level of comfort for those occupying the front seats. (Yes, there are back seats, but they are of little use except as another place to stash the groceries.) The dominant material in the interior is black Alcantara, found in the centre sections of the sports seats, steering wheel rim, gear and hand-brake levers, door handles and door storage compartments. It feels almost ticklish to the touch at first, but it’s a unique alternative to leather.

Equally unique is the centre console, the same Carrara white colour as the tester’s exterior, as well as the bright red seatbelts, the same shade as the piston calipers hiding behind the stunning black-spoke rims. Check this out Eagle Ridge Chevrolet GMC Trucks Buick.

What isn’t so cool is the way Porsche jams it to its dedicated fan base, and I’m not just talking about the price discrepancy between Canada and the United States. Come on, $600 for heated front seats on a car with a $117,600 sticker? Ridiculous! How about $2,410 for the navigation system? Shameful.

That beef aside, the GTS is otherwise one sweet ride – a driver’s car that is docile when need be, ferocious when unleashed and eminently controllable. It’s a modern muscle car from the other side of the pond and a tonic for those of us with long, fond memories of performance past.

THE SPECS

TYPE OF VEHICLE: Rear-wheel-drive sports coupe

ENGINE: 3.8L DOHC boxer six-cylinder

POWER: 408 hp 7,300 rpm, 310 lb-ft of torque 4,200 rpm

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual

BRAKES: Four-wheel disc with ABS

TIRES: P235/35ZR19 front, P305/30ZR19 rear

PRICE: base/as tested $117,600/$128,045

DESTINATION CHARGE: $1,085

TRANSPORT CANADA FUEL ECONOMY: L/100 km 11.6 City, 7.9 Highway

Porsche GTS

What does a trip down memory lane have to do with the 911 Carrera GTS? It comes from Stuttgart, not Detroit, and it sure isn’t V8-powered, true. But that big-displacement (for a Porsche) 3.8-litre boxer-six, unfettered by a turbocharger a la 911 Turbo, pounds out a very Detroit-like 408 horsepower which is sent to the massive rear wheels. And since the engine is sitting over that same grippy rubber, hookup is instantaneous. With the optional Sport Chrono Package and Sport mode engaged, the 1,420-kilogram GTS will blister to 100 kilometers an hour in less than 4.5 seconds.

While nobody will mistake the banshee wail of the boxer engine in flight with the basso profundo of a seven-litre V8, the electrical charge it sends to your nerve endings is just as visceral.

The thing about the GTS is not just the fact it is one of the most potent non-turbo production 911s, but that it also satisfies the requirements I have come to appreciate with that aforementioned maturity. Yes, I cursed like a sailor when I had to fill up – 93 octane or better is required – but the 13.3 litres per 100 kilometres I averaged for the week wasn’t horrid for something with the GTS’s performance bona fides. Much of the enjoyment comes from interacting with the six-speed manual tranny. Yes, Porsche’s PDK double-clutch manumatic gearbox is as slick as they come – and will actually hasten the GTS to 100 km/h in less time than with the manual – but there is just something proper about doing it yourself. While the sports car is perfectly compliant when puttering about town, there is some notchiness when sliding the stubby shifter gate to gate. It’s when you get a little more authoritarian with the Porsche that the action becomes fluid as the engine/transmission duo finds its sweet spot. The musicality of the boxer engine sitting behind you rises with the revs; a quick dab of the clutch and a perfectly slotted shift provide the requisite push back in the deeply bolstered, Alcantara-swathed sport bucket seat.

It’s quite addictive and please do check out Eagle Ridge New GMC Trucks Chevs Used low km Toyota Nissan .

Marry this powertrain with the GTS’s wider track – two millimeters at the front, 32 mm at the rear over a regular 911 – fat rubber and optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system and the car will slice corners with the keenness of a carving knife.

Before you fork over the $1,090 for PASM, though, consider the roads on which you normally drive. The GTS is already stiffly sprung; switching to the Sport mode ramps up the stiffness.

 

Preview: 2012 Porsche Cayman R

PALMA DE MAJORCA, Spain – With the new Cayman R, available in Canada as a 2012 model, Porsche has borrowed just about every page from its Boxster Spyder playbook to create the lightest and fastest Cayman ever. The power-to-weight ratio is the end-all of automotive performance, so making the car lighter while giving it more power will significantly improve its dynamics. This is precisely what the engineers at Porsche have done with the Cayman R, which is 55 kilograms lighter than the Cayman S. And its engine develops 10 more horsepower for a total output of 330 hp. The Cayman R’s chassis is also 20 mm lower and its centre of gravity is 22 mm lower than the Cayman S. And its engine develops 10 more horsepower for a total output of 330 hp. The Cayman R’s chassis is also 20 mm lower and its centre of gravity is 22 mm lower than the Cayman S. The numbers might not read like much, but, believe me, this new car raises the bar significantly in terms of performance. Here at the RennArena race track, the Cayman R proved to be totally at ease, thanks to its perfectly weighted and exceptionally communicative steering. With the optional ceramic brakes, the braking action was stellar, with immediate response and very good pedal feel, while the standard locking rear differential made for quicker corner exits. The Cayman R is available with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, which delighted thanks to the very precise, short-shift lever throws. But Porsche’s latest track-day weapon can also be had with the seven-speed double-clutch PDK gearbox, which now features proper steering wheel paddles that are set up exactly like those on its competitors – upshifts selected via the right paddle and downshifts via the left. Porsche has finally seen the light and ditched the previous arrangement consisting of awkward and counter-intuitive steering wheel buttons.

Acceleration times are quicker with the PDK gearbox, but the Cayman R is more satisfying to drive with the manual transmission.

Aside from a few laps of the race track, most of my time with the Cayman R was spent driving on the extremely slippery, wet roads of Palma, which compared with snowy or even icy roads in Canada. Under these conditions, the car’s electronic aids proved to be very useful, especially given the fact that it comes standard with a locking rear differential and high-performance tires.

The electronic stability control was very busy on the drive up mountainside switchbacks – not only when power was applied but also during the turn-in phase to help overcome the prevalent understeer. Applying power at mid-corner, with the locking rear differential sending power to both rear wheels, had the electronic stability control working to effectively control acceleration.

Under these treacherous conditions, the challenge was to drive just fast enough to remain below the threshold where the electronic stability control kicks in. This was easier said than done, given the peculiar pavement I was driving on, but I was secure in the knowledge that the electronics were constantly on the alert should the need arise.

With its standard fixed rear wing and more pronounced front spoiler, the Cayman R certainly looks the part and can easily be differentiated from a run-of-the-mill Cayman or Cayman S. Check this out Eagle Ridge Chevrolet GMC Trucks Buick.

Inside, the extreme weight-saving measures mean the car does not have regular door handles but red cloth pullers. It’s also devoid of an air conditioning system (which can be added as a $2,010 option) or even a radio (a basic unit can be added as a no-cost option). The standard one-piece sport bucket seats are very form-fitting and can be adjusted fore and aft. Wide adjustable seats are available from options list.

 

Volvo C-70

The C70 Coupe and Convertible look almost too good to be Volvos. Indeed, the Volvo badging is the only thing with a straight line on these cars. See and check out Eagle Ridge Chev Maple Ridge Canada.

Two new variations are added for a total of four models this year. The HPT models are highly “motorvated” by a 236-horsepower 2.3-litre high-pressure turbo-charged in-line “five”. LPT models do almost as well with the 190-hp 2.4-litre low-pressure turbo motor. In either case, the engines drive the front wheels. For 1999, a new 4-speed electronic adaptive automatic transmission adjusts to the driver’s individual driving patterns. The selectable winter mode is still included. Volvo’s Stability and Traction Control (STC) is available. Increased security is provided by larger Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbags and the addition of a Whiplash Protection System.