There's something about the look of a naked motorcycle. By "naked" I mean a bike with minimal bodywork, allowing the engine and frame to be seen in their full glory. It's a very different style from that of a fully-faired motorcycle, or even a car. There's a mechanical feel, a message that is conveyed that this a working machine.

 Most of the mechanical items we deal with on a daily basis do their best to hide all the working parts. The inner working of the machines are best left alone, a job for a techincian, someone qualified to deal with these contraptions. It's just not something we want to deal with. We all have our own sense of what reality is, and for many, mechanical things fall into the realm of magic. As long as it works, we don't care the how's and why' of it.

 Naked motorcycles, on the other hand, brazenly advertise the fact that they are a machine, and you will deal with it on it's own level, regardless of how you feel. To me, that's the most charming aspect of their character. The engine is right there in plain view, begging you to fiddle around with it. What does this piece do, how does it relate to the entire process of combustion. It may be something that many don't want to think about, but it piques my curiosity. I can't resist it.

 Go ahead, go out naked. You just might learn something about your machine, and hopefully something about yourself.

J G Halmayr @ 08:56  

 There's an infomercial running that's advertising a very interesting device. It's called the Tornado Fuel Saver. It's supposed to increase horsepower and fuel mileage. Of course, there is a slight disclaimer...

 Your results will vary. These tests were completed in a laboratory under test conditions. Mileage improvements, if any, vary widely depending on driving habits and the model, engine, and condition of the vehicle.

 I haven't bought one myself, but here's some things I find interesting about it. They don't tell you what laboratory did the testing, so you have no way to verify the test data, or find out what the test conditions were. If it does what it says, wouldn't the auto manufacturers have done this already? Form your own conclusion, but something that sounds too good to be true usually is.

J G Halmayr @ 02:33  

 Today we take a look at the Toyota Celica. Celica.net should be at the top of your list for info on Celicas.

J G Halmayr @ 01:53  

 Just bought the new issue of Cycle World, and there's a new bike I just gotta have! The MV Augusta Brutale S.



 I just love a naked bike. There's much to be said about flamboyant and alluring bodywork, but seeing the frame and engine on a motorcycle just seems right to me.

 Now, where did I leave that $13,995 laying around here?

J G Halmayr @ 08:32  

 Two things occured to me recently. I was reading an FAQ on Gran Turismo, and the writer's recommendations for best cars did not include any rear-wheel drive vehicles. Why? Because they are too hard to handle, said the author. This seemed strange to me. Being able to slide out the rear-wheels at will sure makes it easier to get around the turns, or at least I think so. Then I realized the author was probably younger than me, and probably never drove a rear-wheel drive car in his life.

 My first car was a Ford Granada, and my second was a Toyota Supra, both RWD. Growing up in Ohio, learning how to drive RWD cars in the snow, and sliding the rear wheels out in a turn was a natural part of the driving experience. For many people younger than me, those born in the eighties, FWD is all they have known. Dad's Camry, Mom's Accord, Uncle Larry's Taurus, these three cars have dominated the sales charts for so long that most youngsters only know FWD, and automatic trannies. If they only knew what they were missing.

 I started a new job yesterday, and have seven weeks of training to go through. One of the first things we did was interview each other so we could know a little bit about the memebers. There's fifteen of us in the class, and one of the questions was "What is your dream car?". One said Corvette, two votes for Porsche, two muscle car votes, and two Beemers. Every one else (except me) wanted some kind of SUV. We're talking dream cars, and these people want an oversized station wagon! And not one of them at least said Porsche Cayenne! Better treasure the performance cars on the market today, theyr'e a dying breed.

 What did I choose? A 1986 Toyota MR2, 5-speed, red (the color God intended it to be)!

J G Halmayr @ 08:33  

 Today we stay with FoMoCo, this time with the Mercury Division. Check out Cool Cats, focusing on 83-89 Mercury Cougars. Technical info abounds, and it's a great resource for these cars. My dad used to own a black XR7, so I'm kinda partial to them.

J G Halmayr @ 13:13  

 OK, two more Ford-related links for you. First, a site dedicated to my first car, the International American Ford Granada, Mercury Monarch/Cougar, and Lincoln Versailles Owners Club, although the info presented is rather sparse. But, no one else seems to have a website addressed to these cars. The second is FordEXP.com, Ford's little Escort-based two seater. Yeah, I know, a lot of Ford stuff, but they make, in my opinion, the best domestic cars.

J G Halmayr @ 22:37  

 I'm finally getting off my behind and updating the entire site to the new look. The news page is finally up, where I will put up announcements on what's going on with the site.

J G Halmayr @ 14:48  

 Been working on Babytang (Ford Tempo) the last couple of days, so here's some interesting Tempo links. First up is Tempo Topaz.com, the Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz car club of North America, lots of info on these cars. Then we have Brian's site, detailing his Ford Tempo GLS and Mercury Topaz XR5. His Topaz has a working lighbar like the Sable, and many other mods. Finally comes the SHOpaz, a Mercury Topaz with a Taurus SHO engine and transmission. Crazy!

J G Halmayr @ 10:47