Category Archives: Commentary
If history teaches us anything, it’s that we humans forget things – even bad things – pretty quickly. You might argue it has something to do with our resilience as a species, but it’s equally likely we are just slow learners. In either case, the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us on a global scale, and there is a good chance things won’t be exactly the same once the planet re-opens for business, or at least lands on what becomes the “new normal.” We’ve already talked about how to enjoy our car addictions in lockdown mode, but now we’re looking forward. As Car Geeks, we’ve been pondering and debating what that means to us as individuals and to the car hobby in general. Here is a short list that we here at Totally That Stupid agree on (more or less).
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2 Comments | tags: Acura NSX, Alfa Romeo, Amphicar, Blockbuster Video, BMW, BMW 330i, BMW M3, Car Geeks, Cars and Coffee, Cars and Coffee Irvine, Chivas Regal, Classic Auto Mall, Copter Kids, coronavirus, COVID-19, Datsun Roadster, Duetto, E55 AMG, Grand Blanc High School, Grease Movie, Isolation Island Concours D'Elegance, Lotus Elise, malaise-era, Mazda Miata, Mercedes Gullwing, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Museum, Millennials, Pandemic, Peppermint Twist Drive-In, Peterson Automotive Museum, Porsche 911, Porsche 986, Porsche 996, Rad Report, Radwood, Scotch, Techno Classica Essen, Twister Movie, Zoom | posted in Commentary, Resources, Totally That Stupid
I visited an old friend last night – and before you start asking me about social distancing, mask-wearing, and all that, it wasn’t that kind of visit. David E. Davis, Jr. actually died in 2011, but his was one of the voices that instilled in me the passion for cars and the desire to write about them professionally. Davis was a Car Geek, a racer, an Ad man, and a motoring journalist. HE was also a quintessential “renaissance man”. His book “Thus Spake David E.” is a collection of his editorials and articles from throughout his career, and they are some of the best automotive and life reading out there. There is the obvious automotive content, but beyond that are stories about women, whiskey, camaraderie, adventure, the outdoors, and style. As a pre-teen Car Geek, I wanted to BE David E., or at least to know him.
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Leave a comment | tags: Automotive Journalism, BMW, Car Writing, Cars, David E. Davis Jr., Mercedes-Benz, Nürburgring | posted in Commentary, Resources, Story Time!, Totally That Stupid
Like most people *everywhere*, there is a good chance that due to the Coronavirus health crisis you find yourself these days with a little more time on your hands and a lot fewer places to go. I’m not a profoundly social person, but even I have found the inability to engage in even the most basic of interactions outside the home a little frustrating – and I have no doubt I am wearing thin on my family. Thank goodness for carry-out beer pickup from my favorite local. But I digress. If you’re reading this, there’s a better than fair chance that you’re a Car Geek like us. With that in mind, I decided to lay out some ways to actively engage in full-on Car Geekery whilst adhering to all applicable stay at home, social distancing, and whatever other rules apply to your locality. Interested? Read on!
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3 Comments | tags: Buying Cars, Cars, Cars and Coffee, COVID-19, G50, Hobbies, Kids and Cars, Mercedes W124, Porsche 911, Subaru WRX | posted in Commentary, Resources, Totally That Stupid
As far back as I can remember, I wanted to write for car magazines. Heck, I think I started flipping through my dad’s Car & Driver and Road & Track magazines when I was still potty training! As I got older I’d find myself taking beauty shots of the family cars, studying the specs, and even putting pen to paper from time to time. I’d go to car dealerships to get brochures about cars I liked but as a 12 year-old expat kid in Hong Kong was not likely to purchase – under the auspices of them being “for my dad.” Suffice it to say: I was addicted from a young age, and it’s only gotten worse.
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5 Comments | tags: Automotive Journalism, Automotive Journalist, Car Magazines, Car Writing, German Cars, How to write about cars, Justification for Higher Education, Kaveh Sardari, Laumbach Consulting, Mercedes Enthusiast, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche 928, Turtle Garage | posted in Commentary, Resources, Totally That Stupid
There’s change afoot here at TTS. No, neither of us has gone transgender, and yes, it will include some more frequent posting. This once-a-quarter pattern isn’t really working for us, although traffic has remained remarkably substantial. The internet is a fascinating place. First off, if you’re not following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, please do! You’ll find more frequent tidbits through those outlets than on the official blog, although this remains our home of homes. But all that’s not what I’m really here to talk about, either. This is first and foremost a car blog, and as such the interesting content is about cars. So brace yourselves, folks, as there are changes coming to the TTS fleet!
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2 Comments | tags: 124.036, 500E, 996, 997, Alfa Romeo, AMG, AMG Hammer, Aston Martin, BMW, E39 M5, German Cars, Grey-market, Mercedes-Benz, Miata, Porsche, Porsche 911 | posted in Commentary, Fleet Update, Totally That Stupid
One of the most asked questions of “car” people, second to “What kind of car should I buy?” and “How much do you think x will cost to fix?” is, “What would be the best car to buy for my [new driver] kid?” And I have a standard list of cars I cut and paste and send to people, and they just go buy Camrys anyway. The tables, however, have turned, and I’m faced with a child (yes, CHILD) who is at 18 months until she can legally qualify to get a driver’s license. And who, like her dad, can’t wait.
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6 Comments | tags: Cars for Kids, CraigsList Cars, E320, First Car, Mercedes-Benz, New Driver, Not a Camry, W124 | posted in Commentary, Fleet Update, Resources, Totally That Stupid
The Car Geek Life, During And After COVID-19
If history teaches us anything, it’s that we humans forget things – even bad things – pretty quickly. You might argue it has something to do with our resilience as a species, but it’s equally likely we are just slow learners. In either case, the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us on a global scale, and there is a good chance things won’t be exactly the same once the planet re-opens for business, or at least lands on what becomes the “new normal.” We’ve already talked about how to enjoy our car addictions in lockdown mode, but now we’re looking forward. As Car Geeks, we’ve been pondering and debating what that means to us as individuals and to the car hobby in general. Here is a short list that we here at Totally That Stupid agree on (more or less).
Continue reading
2 Comments | tags: Acura NSX, Alfa Romeo, Amphicar, Blockbuster Video, BMW, BMW 330i, BMW M3, Car Geeks, Cars and Coffee, Cars and Coffee Irvine, Chivas Regal, Classic Auto Mall, Copter Kids, coronavirus, COVID-19, Datsun Roadster, Duetto, E55 AMG, Grand Blanc High School, Grease Movie, Isolation Island Concours D'Elegance, Lotus Elise, malaise-era, Mazda Miata, Mercedes Gullwing, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Museum, Millennials, Pandemic, Peppermint Twist Drive-In, Peterson Automotive Museum, Porsche 911, Porsche 986, Porsche 996, Rad Report, Radwood, Scotch, Techno Classica Essen, Twister Movie, Zoom | posted in Commentary, Resources, Totally That Stupid