Advance Auto Parts - DIY Garage Blog
The Blog for Auto DIY'ers from Advance Auto Parts
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
And the answer to this week’s mystery part is…”Ballast Resistor.”
We appreciate the great guesses we get from you each week on Name That Part.
And, we welcome your participation, even if you’re not a car expert and are just throwing your best estimates against the wall. As long as everyone respects each other, it’s all good.
For more information about this Ballast Resistor, visit Advance Auto Parts.
We’ll see you on Facebook next Monday for another round of Name That Part!
Ballast Resistor
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.
Okay, we admit that this one might’ve been a little too easy. But for those who didn’t guess it right, this week’s mystery part is a “Turbocharger.”
For more information about this Cardone Turbocharger, visit Advance Auto Parts.
We’ll see you on Facebook next Monday for another round of Name That Part!
Cardone Turbocharger
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.
Hey Players, this week’s mystery part is an “Oil Pump Drive Shaft.” To be specific, it’s an oil pump drive shaft from Melling, who also happen to be sponsoring our weekly $250 Gas Card Giveaway! Enter for a chance to win one of 5 gas cards each week!
For more information about this Oil Pump Drive Shaft, visit Advance Auto Parts.
We’ll see you on Facebook next Monday for another round of Name That Part!
Melling Oil Pump Drive Shaft
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 take away only one message from the April 2013 Car Care Month campaign, it should be that there are significant benefits of regular car maintenance and repair.
In 2012, at community-based vehicle inspections held across the country in April and October, a full 77% of inspected vehicles needed service or parts. The biggest car maintenance issues uncovered were:
Other issues found included:
For even more service and parts issues uncovered, see “Three Out of Four Cars Need Service.”
Car Care Council offers plenty of car care tips
To keep your vehicle running well during Car Care Month and throughout the year, the Car Care Council has identified the 10 most important car maintenance priorities. And if you, like a growing number of Americans, want to be more “green” in your driving habits, here are tips to increased green driving, even if you can’t buy a new, more environmentally-friendly car right now. Ready to go even greener? Here are tips on what’s the newest, latest and greatest in green car technology.
With that, we look forward to seeing you on the road this driving season!
Editor’s note: To get service reminders, car care tips, recall alerts, and help in finding the right mechanic, sign up for an Advance Auto Parts account. For info on the best parts and tools for your maintenance and repair projects, visit the Advance Auto Parts store nearest you.
A hearty congratulations to those who correctly guessed this week’s mystery part as a “Brake Master Cylinder!”
For more information about this Brake Master Cylinder, visit Advance Auto Parts.
We’ll see you on Facebook next Monday for another round of Name That Part!
Brake Master Cylinder
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.
