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Jun 12 2015

$9.5 million in cars sold during Mecum Seattle

Photography by Deanna and Robert Isaacs.

On Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, the Events Center of CenturyLink Field in Seattle was bursting from its seams with cars of every kind, all there to be sold at the Mecum Auto Auction.

[Read more…]

Written by Deanna Isaacs · Categorized: WIP · Tagged: events, Ferrari, Lamborghini

May 18 2015

Finding friends on the backroads of Washington

Pre-drive and pre-spit meeting for the Northwest Drivers group at the QFC on NE Novelty Hill Road.
Pre-drive and pre-spit meeting for the Northwest Drivers group at the QFC on NE Novelty Hill Road.

Recently, a friend (Harvey Sherman with the Aurora) informed me of a group of people who enjoy a good drive, the Northwest Drivers group on Meetup, regardless of what is driven. So I decided to check it out.

The founder of the Northwest Drivers group, Marko “Wolf” Wollschlaeger, has been part of the Jaguar and Porsche owners clubs in the area, but found that they weren’t too much into actual driving.

“So I was like, I’m going to found my own thing so that anybody can join. The main purpose was any brand or make, it doesn’t matter what you drive,” said Marko “Wolf” Wollschlaeger, owner of a 2014 Porsche Boxter S.

IMG_3248Two years later, the group has over 200 members – 40 or so of which showed up for the drive on Saturday, May 16.

The drive started at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of a QFC in Redmond Ridge. So, I got up early (for me), put caffeine in my belly and headed out in the Acura TLX I’m reviewing (more on that in another article).

Arriving with several minutes to spare, I pull the TLX into a space next to a Porsche and, I’ll be honest, there seem to be doubters about my choice of car – me included. I hopped out of the sport sedan and started schmoozing with the owners of Nissan GTRs, Fiat 500 Abarths, a ’90 Miata from the Miata Club where I purchased my own MX-5, and more.

There was a car for everyone, or near enough that it makes no difference. One duo came from as far away as Port Angeles just to come and drive with other car enthusiasts on nice roads.

“We don’t really have too many people into car culture out there, so when I found this group online I thought it would be a fun trip out to Seattle,” said Dallas Derma, who drove his 1999 BMW 328i from Port Angeles. “I was pretty surprised. I was just really surprised how many cars there were.”

Derma came out with his car-loving buddy, Brandon Meyers; both are 16-year-old high school students.

“I’ve never seen this many cars like this in one area, usually the car shows in port Angeles have one or two really nice looking cars, but this is really good,” Meyers said.

It's never too early to let the little-ones experience car culture!
It’s never too early to let the little-ones experience car culture!

What a great way to start the weekend.

After a quick drivers’ meeting, the group of around 40 split up into three driving classes: Cruise, Normal and Spirited groups. Now, that’s not by car, but by how a driver wishes to drive; cruisers were out for a leisurely drive, normal drivers were out for something quicker than leisurely, and spirited drivers were out to have a little bit of fun on the upcoming curves.

I stepped out on a limb and chose the spirited class. I figured, “Hey, I’ve got a V6 AWD Acura with ‘Sport+’ mode. Let’s do this!” complete with a mind-sized Joe Swanson from Family Guy.

I couldn’t have chosen better. Also in the Sport speed group was a Mitsubishi Lancer, a VW Golf R32, an Audi S5, the first Porsche, a Nissan GTR, two Honda S2000s, a Lotus Elise, another Porsche (targa), an Aston Martin Vantage, a Corvette, the Acura, and behind me a Porsche Cayman S.

The Acura TLX lines up with the spirited group with legendary cars.
The Acura TLX lines up with the spirited group with legendary cars.

What a train of cars to be among!

“I love to do the drives… I love meeting new people and driving my car,” said Joe Macri, 2009 Porsche Cayman S (driving behind me). “…A little spirited, [but] I’ll come back. I thought it was really fun and, going with a lot of people and meeting new people is really fun too.”

The drive was sporty and fun. I was the tallest car in the group and, between a Corvette and Macri’s Cayman S, I looked seriously out of place.

But, the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) manumatic in the Acura was responsive and clean in the corners and on acceleration, so I didn’t make Macri in the Cayman’s drive dull.

People were safe; not taking things too quickly, but still at a very nice pace.

“We’re a bunch of guys [and gals] trying to have a good time, trying to be safe,” Wolf said.

Brakes would be applied into the corners and then, upon exit, a chorus of climbing rpms rose to the sky. On the hairpin corners, taken at an unbelievably careful pace given the powerhouses under some hoods (complement, not complaint), the reward was a cacophony of engines as drivers stretched the cars-legs upon exit, the engine vocals resounding in my heart.

The Aston Martin Vantage’s belting out a monstrous growl, the Lotus Elise pouring a high-pitched scream into the air and the Acura TLX’s V6 gave me a smile at every gas pedal tap. It may not have had the same tone as those around it, but it was still a blast to hear (and drive).

It sounded glorious. The other cars sounded glorious. The roads were glorious. All around glorious.

So glorious, that I wished it was longer.

IMG_3240Luckily for me, and all the other enthusiasts out there, this wouldn’t be the only time they gathered. The Northwest Drivers group is open to all people with all makes of vehicles – cars, trucks, whatever your flavor of wheels – and only requires that one likes to drive.

“Join, by all means. We have been very lucky so far, we haven’t had any idiots or any people that are rude or unfriendly,” Wolf said. “There were a couple [of people] we had to say, ‘hey take it bit easy’ and they did and it was fine.”

The next event has an added bonus of starting at the end of the June 6 Exotics at Redmond Town Center and heads up into the Cascade Mountains for a bit of Bavarian fun at the end.

The Northwest Drivers group has also gone up north to Lummi Island, out west to Lake Crescent, down to Mount Saint Helens, held track days at local motorsports parks and more. Because: Why. Not.

“I’m tickled, obviously, it’s nice. The community aspect is a big part of it, for me, and I love all the cars,” Wolf said. “While I am biased toward German cars, being German, I love them all.”

So, until next time Northwest Drivers, thank you for the wonderful drive and the earful of fantastic car sounds.

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Written by Deanna Isaacs · Categorized: WIP · Tagged: Acura, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Volkswagen

May 01 2015

Exotics at Redmond Town Center are a ‘Go’

Exotics at Redmond Town Center are a ‘Go’
There won't be rain during Exotics at Redmond Town Center, but there will be hot cars like this Lotus!
There won’t be rain during Exotics at Redmond Town Center, but there will be hot cars like this Lotus!

The Auto Reporter will be heading to Exotics at Redmond Town Center, tomorrow, live tweeting all the hot cars!

The show starts at 9:00 a.m., but you may catch a few cars before then, too. Redmond Town Center has agreed to host the event, now in its 7th year!

Follow The Auto Reporter on Twitter, on Facebook or on Instagram.

Written by Deanna Isaacs · Categorized: WIP · Tagged: Caterham, Ferrari, Lotus, Porsche

Nov 12 2014

Godzilla Has No Clothes

Godzilla Has No Clothes

[ originally published 11/12/14 | updated 01/22/18 ]

Driving a slow, low-powered machine has taught me much. I’ve got a whole new appreciation for things.

[Read more…]

Written by Brian Driggs · Categorized: Editorial · Tagged: Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, commuting, daily driver, drama, fast, Ferrari, gearhead, MANIFESTO, Mitsubishi, Montero, Pajero, plans, Shogun, slow, Spider, thoughts, Toyota, traffic, worry

Oct 22 2014

Gratuitous Car Gallery

Gratuitous Car Gallery

Enjoy the gratuitous car gallery from this last weekend’s Seattle Auto Show! AON Media can’t wait for it to come around next year!

bracket
lungsfire
ericamustang
leesEK
codysupra
synchro_shift
lungsvette

 

Written by Deanna Isaacs · Categorized: Events, News · Tagged: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Featured, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Lamborghini, Tesla, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Golf GTI

Aug 15 2014

Gordon’s First Ferrari – 2

Gordon’s First Ferrari – 2

[bd] How long have you wanted a Ferrari? Did you ever think you would? Why or why not?

[gc] As a kid, I knew the American cars of the 60s. My mom had 2 Mustangs (a 65, then a 68), and Dad had a 70 Toronado, so there was a bit of a family inclination to interesting cars. I became “sports car aware” around 1970, when I was in Grade 5 and read “The Red Car” by Don Stanford from the elementary school library. That book really opened my eyes to a scene that was fascinating, and I began to notice the MGs, Jaguars, Triumphs, and the more rare Porsches, etc. when we’d visit Winnipeg.  [Read more…]

Written by Brian Driggs · Categorized: WIP · Tagged: Canada, Ferrari

Aug 14 2014

Gordon’s First Ferrari – 1

Gordon’s First Ferrari – 1

I’ve been lurking on FerrariChat for years, now, every so often popping in, hoping I might find someone with whom our readers might identify; first time Ferrari owner, turns his or her own wrenches, etc. Recently, I got lucky, finding Gordon Choate, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He fit the bill perfectly. 
[Read more…]

Written by Brian Driggs · Categorized: WIP · Tagged: Canada, Ferrari

Sep 03 2012

Pimp My Ride Old School From Automotive Holy Week

Pimp My Ride Old School From Automotive Holy Week

For some, the holiest of automotive weeks is “Speed Week” on the Bonneville Salt Flats. For others, it is the Pebble Beach Conours d’Elegance. Automotive passion is not defined in dollars (or Euros, or Lakh, et al.). It’s not about how much we spend, but how pleasing the end result is.

This was on our friend Lisa Smith’s mind as she returned to the Monterey Peninsula. The things we have in common are what empowers us to get the most from our differences.

[Read more…]

Written by Guest Contributor · Categorized: Events · Tagged: Buick, Delage, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, usa

Feb 15 2012

Back to the Past: Spa Retromobile Meeting 2008

Back to the Past: Spa Retromobile Meeting 2008

We are always looking to bring you stories you won’t find anywhere else. We like to interview you (gearheads make the world go ’round), but we got to thinking maybe you’d like to see some of the things we’ve seen over the years. We’re going to start going back in time to report on past automotive events, starting today, with these pictures from when I attended the 2008 Spa Retromobile Meeting in Belgium.

[Read more…]

Written by Dennis DeJong · Categorized: Events · Tagged: Audi, Belgium, Dodge, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, Opel

Darren Thomas outworked all his friends

Darren Thomas outworked all his friends

The Gearhead Project | TGP S01E06: Carter Mercer Beckworth, Dirt Roads & Clean Living, imo

The Gearhead Project | TGP S01E06: Carter Mercer Beckworth, Dirt Roads & Clean Living, imo

If you’ve ever had an EVAP code, you can empathize

If you’ve ever had an EVAP code, you can empathize

The Gearhead Project | TGP S01E05: Arron Stump explains internal combustion for next level gearheads

The Gearhead Project | TGP S01E05: Arron Stump explains internal combustion for next level gearheads

Who taught me how to run a magazine?

Who taught me how to run a magazine?

Here’s why you can’t buy a Triton, HiLux, or Navara in North America

Here’s why you can’t buy a Triton, HiLux, or Navara in North America

April Foolishness

April Foolishness

The Gearhead Project | S01E04: Andy Lilienthal & SubCompactCulture

The Gearhead Project | S01E04: Andy Lilienthal & SubCompactCulture

Are you a gearhead like us?

Are you a gearhead like us?

The Gearhead Project | S01E03: Scott Glassbrook & FTYracing

The Gearhead Project | S01E03: Scott Glassbrook & FTYracing

Gearhead reading: Urban Outlaw; Dirt don’t slow you down

Gearhead reading: Urban Outlaw; Dirt don’t slow you down

American Pajero: Speculation on the record

American Pajero: Speculation on the record

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