Is there a road trip in your future?
May 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Experts estimate that over 30 million Americans will hit the road this Memorial Day weekend. If you’re one of those determined drivers, check out our infographic below for a few helpful tips.
Download your own copy of Rules for Road Trips. Feel free to share with friends and family.
Wherever you plan on driving, we wish you safe travels and a fun-filled long weekend.
Jim Kazliner
Editor • DIY’er
Name That Part revealed – Ignition Breaker Points
May 21, 2013 by 3 Comments
Kudos to our fans who guessed this week’s mystery part was “Ignition Breaker Points.” That one wasn’t easy!
For more information about this Ignition Breaker Points visit Advance Auto Parts.
Thanks for playing and we’ll see you on Facebook next Monday for another round of Name That Part!
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Ignition Breaker Points
Show what you know by playing Name That Part at the Advance Auto Parts Facebook page every Monday. How it works: we post a shot of an auto part, and you submit your best guess for a chance to win the admiration of DIY’ers across the globe.
If you’re a “pinner” on Pinterest, follow our Advance Auto Parts Pinterest boards!
Editor’s note: Advance Auto Parts has what you need to get those spring projects done. We’ve also got great deals, and you can’t beat our service and selection.
Advance Exclusive: SoWo 2013!
May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Every year, thousands of car enthusiasts swarm the small town of Helen, Georgia, filling the air with the mechanical sounds of pro-tuned engines, open headers and blow-off valves.
This isn’t your average weekend car show. This is SoWo 2013.
“SoWo” is short for Southern Wörthersee, a car show specifically for VAG (Volkswagen Automotive Group) enthusiasts. VAG cars include the following: Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, Bentley, Bugatti, SEAT and Skoda, among others. So, if these kinds of cars appeal to you, then this is the show for you. The name of the Georgia car show comes from the Wörthersee Tour in Reifnitz, Austria, an event that draws the largest group of VAG fans in the world who come each year to see the newest innovations. Because the town of Helen, Georgia has the same quaint Bavarian feel as Reifnitz, it is the perfect location for the United States tribute to the VAG car show. The 2013 show just took place on May 17th-19th, with free admission to all activities. This year, a special emphasis was placed on the Volkswagen/Audi vehicles.
Arriving at SoWo 2013
The Helendorf Inn was already roaring with activity as SoWo 2013 kicked off. Car enthusiasts from as far away as Japan traveled to Georgia to show their cars during the three-day festival, which included two vendor areas and an expansive showfield. Registrations for the event sell out quickly, turning the town of Helen in a showfield of its own. The Helendorf parking lot alone featured spectacular examples of creativity and originality.
Cars in the spotlight
Some people simply attend the event, while others register a showfield spot to highlight their vehicles. For the latter group, every night and weekend during the months leading up to the event was spent planning a build and working on their cars. For SoWo, owners try to think of something that hasn’t been done before such as an impossibly low suspension setup, a new vehicle vinyl wrap or an improbable wheel / car combo.
Hotel and cabin reservations are typically made eight months in advance (which means that, if you’re thinking about attending SoWo 2014, then you should start looking for a room over the upcoming summer months). SoWo threads on Internet forums buzz with activity as veteran attendees share stories of the Lowdown Showdown at Bigg Daddy’s or inside tips on getting a free bar glass from Forge Motorsport.
While competition is high for a SoWo top 50 car show award, most attendees make the annual trip to Helen for a different reason. They come to see their friends.
While SoWo is essentially all about cars, it’s the friendships that are made during this spring weekend that attendees remember most. Year after year, new friends and old share meals and drinks, form large convoys for spirited mountain cruises and/or circle chairs in the Helendorf Inn parking lot to just talk.
While 2013 is now behind us, planning for SoWo 2014 is already well under way. Armed with new ideas and fueled with inspiration, enthusiasts have already started their next build, even if it’s only in their heads.
A car show award for placing in the top 50 would be nice. But, for most, the 50 new friends they’ll make is even better. See you there in 2014?
Editor’s Note: If you’re looking to trick out your ride, text “Spring” to 36898 for a hot deal now. Up to 5 messages per month; message & data rates may apply.
Do you speak Klingon?
May 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
While it’s not really DIY-related (unless your projects include working on advanced space vessels), we thought this was pretty cool.
In honor of the new Star Trek: Into Darkness flick, check out our blog, as translated in Klingon!
Have a great weekend, and may the force be with you…uh, sorry, wrong film!
Jim Kazliner
Editor • DIY’er
Must . . . wipe . . . out . . . Smell in Car . . .
May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Does it seem like I’m gasping for air? My kids say they are whenever I suggest that we pile into the truck instead of our other vehicles. “Mom, we’re not going in until you get the odor out!!!”
My auto interior needed a serious scrub down. I’m up for troubleshooting moving-part problems, but I’m still a work-in-progress with keeping it clean inside and out. Since I get engrossed with any car-related matter once I learn more about it, then keeping my crew cab truck immaculate should be no different. Because I spend more time in an auto interior as opposed to its exterior, I started inside.
Once in, it’s the first thing that assaults the senses. My kids have christened it Smell in Car. What got the odor in? Leftover smells from gorgonzola-and-onion tarts, curry-chicken empanadas, and deep-fried Italian rice balls — our catering company’s top-selling appetizers! We deliver all week to local cafes and other small eateries. Delish to devour, but when aromas mix and mingle, they become a stale, stagnant bouquet that lingers in an auto interior. My kids refused to get anywhere near the truck until I chased the odor out.
So it was me against this villainous Smell in Car. I needed expert advice on getting the odor out so I checked advanceautoparts.com and other trusty auto-care sites for tips on getting the odor out. Learned about the latest odors remover products that’ll keep the car interior upholstery looking and smelling good, too. After all, it’s the car interior upholstery that absorbs and becomes home to that notorious nuisance, Smell in Car.
To get the odor out, you need the right tools to usher out any fiendish Smell in Car from your car interior upholstery, like:
- Baking soda — use it the way you use it at home to deodorize your carpet: sprinkle some on, let it set for a few hours, then vacuum
- AC filter — if you haven’t changed it lately, install a new one and let it circulate and clarify the auto interior air
- Handheld steam cleaner — the natural power of high-pressure steam tackles odors without harsh chemicals
As for those latest auto interior odors remover products, they range from new, organic/environmentally-friendly formulations, to the tried-and-true names we grew up with that’re now amped up with added deodorizing muscle. All are safe for most car interior upholstery types. I liked:
- Turtlewax Oxy Power Out! Upholstery Cleaner — deep cleans and leaves behind that classic, protective shield
- Blue Magic Carpet Stain and Spot Lifter — its one-step cleansing action is just my speed
- Refresh Vent Sticks — easy to use, is long-lasting, and great for helping neutralize the appetizer-tray aromas
As a result, that scandalous Smell in Car has been lifted from my auto interior. I think I could like this concept of keeping a car clean and the odor out. And my kids will enjoy this nice breath of fresh air.
Editor’s Note: Advance Auto Parts can help you prevail in the fight against foul odors.Text “Spring” to 36898 to save now. Up to 5 messages per month; message & data rates may apply
Photo courtesy of Approved Gas Masks.
Advance Author Series: Steve Ulfelder and SHOTGUN LULLABY
May 15, 2013 by 1 Comment
Steve Ulfelder was “always a car guy, racing for 15 years” with a burning desire to write a mystery novel–and, during the past several years, more than one of his dreams has come true.
A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Steve spent a couple of decades working as a technology journalist. In 2006, he left his journalism career behind to co-found a company, Flatout Motorsports, with two partners (more about that later) and, in 2011, his first mystery novel was published.
Titled Purgatory Chasm, this book was nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Award = the Oscars of the mystery novel world) in the category of Best First Novel and chosen Best First Mystery by readers of Romantic Times.
A Romantic Times book review reads, in part: “Ulfelder’s debut grabs you from its wryly hilarious opening line and keeps going full throttle till the finale. His characters are deep and realistically rendered – sometimes painfully so – and the broken family dynamics are right on the money. Ulfelder writes so well that even non-NASCAR fanatics will get something out of the car talk and racing scenes.”
Steve shares how he wanted his detective character, Conway Sax, to “be gritty, with a working man occupation,” so he created the following backstory: “Conway used to be a NASCAR driver, a very promising one, but life’s problems got in the way, so he quit racing. Now a recovering alcoholic, he works as a mechanic in independent garages. He gets things done, he works with his hands, he does rather than talks.”
Before beginning this book and subsequent ones in the series, Steve created a situation/problem and could picture the final scene in his mind–and then he simply began writing, filling in the story as he went along. “The biggest challenge,” he admits, “is to keep track of all of the threads, because there are lots of moving parts in my novels. It’s hard to remember who did what, who knows what, who talks to whom in what chapter, but I keep writing the first draft until it’s done. Then, in the second draft, I make all consistent. For example, if Jane knows about the gun in chapter 2, she can’t be surprised to learn about the gun in chapter 4.”
In 2012, the sequel to Purgatory Chasm was released, titled The Whole Lie. And now, the third book, Shotgun Lullaby, has just hit the stands. In 2014, we can expect another one.
Steve Ulfelder successfully followed the adage to write about what you know.
“I love cars and so it’s pleasurable to write about them,” he says. Steve has done more than write about them, of course, working as a mechanic, racing cars and co-creating the Flatout Motorsports company, which now has eight fulltime employees. Flatout Motorsports serves talented amateur race car drivers who don’t have the time or the mechanical skills to maintain and/or repair their own race cars.
So, the company maintains and repairs the vehicles for clients; delivers the vehicles to the appropriate race tracks at the right times; serves as pit crew; and then takes care of the vehicles, post-race. “All the drivers need to do,” he explains, “is to show up with a racing helmet and drive.” Flatout Motorsports also rents race cars for $1,000 per day for racers who don’t own one.
At this point, Steve doesn’t do much work on the race cars themselves, focusing on the financing and marketing aspects of the business, plus web site development. He still maintains his own vehicles, though, enjoying the hands-on work.
And, the bottom line, according to Steve, is simple: “I am,” he says, “the luckiest guy in the world.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed the Advance Auto Parts author interview with Steve Ulfelder. Keep an eye out for more author interviews coming soon.
Jim Kazliner
Editor • DIY’er
Name That Part revealed – Fuel Pressure Regulator
May 14, 2013 by 1 Comment
The wait is over…this week’s mystery part is a “Fuel Pressure Regulator.” Congrats to those who guessed correctly.
For more information about this Fuel Pressure Regulator visit Advance Auto Parts.
Thanks for playing and we’ll see you on Facebook next Monday for another round of Name That Part!
Fuel Pressure Regulator
Show what you know by playing Name That Part at the Advance Auto Parts Facebook page every Monday. How it works: we post a shot of an auto part, and you submit your best guess for a chance to win the admiration of DIY’ers across the globe.
If you’re a “pinner” on Pinterest, follow our Advance Auto Parts Pinterest boards!
Editor’s note: Advance Auto Parts has what you need to get those spring projects done. We’ve also got great deals, and you can’t beat our service and selection.
Dart vs. Dart
May 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The older you get, the more you miss the way things used to be.
That’s why it pains me to say what I’m about to say.
See, I grew up with the original Dodge Dart. Had one in college, as a matter of fact, a ’65 Dart Charger with the Commando 273 V8. Yellow with a black interior. Four on the floor, of course.
My dad and I bought it used for a song, because back then, no one realized that these old school muscle cars were going to be classics someday.
And believe me, I had a lot of fun in that car. It wasn’t in the greatest shape, and it wasn’t exactly the best muscle car around, but my goodness, the noises that V8 would make when you got on it, four-barrel carb gulping air up front with a cloud of tire smoke billowing out the back.
I loved it, I really did.
But now there’s a new Dart in town, the 2013 Dodge Dart, a front-wheel-drive economy sedan that doesn’t offer anything more than a four-cylinder engine. It’s styled by Italians and full of computer screens and all kinds of gizmos I could care less about. Its predecessor was the forgettable Dodge Neon, the one that said “Hi” in commercials. It’s an economy sedan for Godsakes.
And it’s a better car than my old ’65. Better by a longshot.
Why? Because the reality is, that Dart Charger wasn’t close to being the best American muscle car of its day. It was just a mediocre mainstream car with a decent motor—nothing more, nothing less. It didn’t even look special, unlike some other Dodge muscle cars I could name. And if you want to talk about the best muscle car engine from back in the day, the Commando V8 wouldn’t even be in the conversation.
But the 2013 Dodge Dart is close to being the best small sedan on the market right now. The new Dart comes packed with features right out of the box, so you don’t have to pay a bundle for some fancy trim level. It’s got a nice smooth ride that stays quiet at speeds I’m not allowed to disclose. Thanks to underpinnings borrowed from Alfa Romeo, it’s not afraid of corners, either.
There’s even a version for car guys like me: you can get it with a six-speed manual transmission and the same turbocharged 1.4-liter motor that’s in the Fiat 500 Abarth hot hatch. Is this the best “muscle car” engine, if you could call it that, in the small-sedan segment? It’s in the running, I’ll give it that much.
Don’t tell my college-aged self, but the new Dart turbo would embarrass that old Dart Charger off the line, Commando V8 and all.
So yeah, I still miss my ’65. Still remember the day it wouldn’t pass inspection—too much rust. Had to put it out to pasture, and I was pretty broken up about that.
But if you gave me the choice between a pristine Dart Charger and a 2013 Dart turbo, I’d take the new car every day and twice on Sunday.
You’re always gonna miss the way things used to be, but sometimes you gotta admit that 50 years of progress has its perks.
Editor’s note: Whether you drive a Dart or a DeLorean, Advance Auto Parts has the parts and tools you need to get your projects done. Text “Spring” to 36898 for a hot deal now. Up to 5 messages per month; message & data rates may apply.
Name That Part – Driveshaft Center Support Bearing
May 7, 2013 by 1 Comment
This was a tough one, but that didn’t stop some of our fans from correctly guessing this week’s mystery part as a “Driveshaft Center Support Bearing.”
For more information about this Driveshaft Center Support Bearing, visit Advance Auto Parts.
We’ll see you on Facebook next Monday for another round of Name That Part!
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Driveshaft Center Support Bearing
Show what you know by playing Name That Part at the Advance Auto Parts Facebook page every Monday. How it works: we post a shot of an auto part, and you submit your best guess for a chance to win the admiration of DIY’ers across the globe.
If you’re a “pinner” on Pinterest, follow our Advance Auto Parts Pinterest boards!
Editor’s note: Advance Auto Parts has what you need to get those spring projects done. We’ve also got great deals, and you can’t beat our service and selection.
Advance Author Series: Danielle McCormick and ESSENTIAL CAR CARE FOR WOMEN
May 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Advance interviews Danielle McCormick, co-author of Essential Car Care for Women.
Danielle McCormick may be the least likely person to write a wildly successful book about car care. “I was a typical girly girl,” she said, “and I didn’t know much about cars. I took my driving test, passed it, put gas in my car and then took it to the mechanic every once in a while. I didn’t know how to maintain my car and I didn’t understand the noises my car would make. Neither did my friends.”
When Danielle was hit with an expensive car repair bill and was told that she wasn’t maintaining her vehicle properly, she was shocked. “I didn’t even know how I was supposed to maintain my car! So, I went to the bookstore and asked for a book with pictures and easy language about car maintenance, and I couldn’t find anything.”
This was in 2008, when Danielle still lived in her homeland of Ireland. “I started thinking about my friends, who are all smart girls with their own careers and I realized that we all had horror stories about silly things that had happened, like a flat tire on the way to an important meeting, causing someone to be two hours late.”
So, Danielle decided to write the book she couldn’t find at the bookstores, a “girl’s ownership manual” with step by step pictures with easy to understand instructions. She self published the guide, using “fun pink” as the cover’s color. She did some PR outreach, but also needed to maintain her day job. In Irish tradition, because Danielle considered this an auto manual, she didn’t even put her name on the book’s cover.
Huge demand for author interviews!
People went crazy for this “auto manual” as soon as it came out, all 10,000 copies selling out in five days. “Even though I didn’t live with my parents,” Danielle remembers, “journalists were calling them, trying to track me down, once the word got out who wrote the book. I was all over the news and the book was on top 5 charts. I sure didn’t expect this reaction! The reality is that the time was right for a book like this and it came out shortly before Christmas, and everyone seemed to know someone who could use this book.”
And, what about the men? They tended, according to Danielle, to buy the book online. “The cover was really pink,” she says, “so, if they bought it at a store, they needed to sneak it to the counter.”
Her success quickly spread, as publishers began “banging on my door.” Editions were soon available in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand–and, after Danielle accepted a new job with a start-up company in San Francisco, the possibility of an American version of the book loomed.
“This was a fun opportunity,” Danielle says. “Other people had written something like my book, but the books were light on pictures and heavy on text. It might read, ‘find the jack’ while the reader is thinking ‘what is a jack???’”
One problem: the publishing playing field is more competitive in the United States, as compared to Ireland; there are differences in language, punctuation and the like; and Danielle’s Irish accent might be difficult to understand on interviews.
The solution: an American co-author.
Search for a co-author begins
After reviewing possibilities, the choice was Jamie Little of NASCAR and X Games reporting fame. “Girls like Jamie,” Danielle says, “and men want to date her. She is the nicest person, so professional. Her success is no accident.”
Jamie is, according to Danielle, passionate about educating women, about empowering women–and so was the perfect choice to co-author an American version of the book.
Essential Car Care for Women
In the American version of the book, released earlier in 2013, Jamie added chapters and instructional photos to the book, changing the language to make it more United States-friendly. Tips share how to save money, how to avoid wasting money, how to be smart when you talk to a mechanic, and what to do when something goes wrong. “The tone is not patronizing,” Danielle says. “It’s more like–let’s do this together. The book fits in your glove compartment and is meant to be a fun, easy- to-understand reference manual.”
Watch for the author interview of Jamie Little, coming soon on the DIY Garage Auto Blog.
Jim Kazliner
Editor • DIY’er
