Monthly Archives: December 2020

Houston’s 1940s Air Terminal Museum

I was touring Texas and the American south in the summer of 2020, driving a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica from Hertz. With the pandemic making its way around the country the NASA Space Center was closed. As an alternative I found this place in southeast Houston, sharing what is now William Hobby Airport, primarily serving Southwest Airlines.

This is part of a 3000 mile road trip series with the Chrysler Pacifica. See Part 1.

From the museum website:

1940 Houston Municipal Airport Terminal Building

The principal artifact of the museum is the building in which it is housed: a spectacular Art Deco structure designed by noted local architect Joseph Finger. The terminal, which also housed airport administrative functions and the airport control tower, opened on September 28, 1940 and served the airlines and their passengers until spring of 1955.

During that short period, the terminal oversaw a period of massive growth in air travel, from fewer than 100,000 passengers in its first year of operation, to nearly a million in 1954. After most airport operations were moved to an entirely new terminal on the north side of the airport (still in use today), the 1940 structure went through a long period of decline, and in 1978, abandonment.

WR-4 Hangar

Located up the street from the 1940 Air Terminal Museum, the Municipal Hangar WR-4 was constructed soon after the airport first opened in 1928 and is believed to be the oldest aviation-related structure still existing in Houston.

After serving successively as a maintenance facility for air mail planes, Eastern Air Lines’ Houston maintenance base and eventually the ‘Sky Travel’ Fixed Base Operator, the hangar now provides shelter for the museum’s collection of aircraft.


I walked inside and immediately drew my eyes to the pillars, fixtures, and curved walls that defined the style of the art deco era. Communications rooms and offices are staged to show how the terminal was configured eighty years ago.

Off to each side are displays of luggage, uniforms, model aircraft, utensils, pins, publications, and airline memorabilia of every imaginable type.

After touring the display cases they unlocked the gate and took me to the back, the tarmac where commercial flights were taking off and landing, to see inside of a Lockheed Lodestar, left exactly as it was in the 1960s with all of its upholstery in tact.

This Lodestar began service in the 1940s and remains in fully serviceable, airworthy condition. A few feet away was a United jet parked for service.

If you’re into aviation history, especially commercial aviation, check it out.

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2018 Chrysler Pacifica – 3,000 Miles, 9 States, 1 Pandemic – PART 1

May 2020.

After months in self-isolation the sun finally made an appearance, restaurants and vacation spots gradually reopened, and the spread of the Wuhan virus (at the time) slowed significantly. After my trip to Italy in March, moving from Michigan/Ontario to Missouri, and going on furlough while collecting unemployment, I became fairly seasoned at traveling during the outbreak, leaving the world cleaner as I passed through it, wiping everything in sight, wearing a mask, and mostly avoiding indoor crowds.

A friend in Texas pitched in for part of the trip; he purchased a McIntosh amplifier from a guy in Columbus, Ohio. At four thousand dollars and over 100lbs it ended up being cheaper and safer for him to pitch in for my fuel, hotel, and rental costs instead of paying to pack, ship, and insure it. It was also safer for me to see the goods in person, confirm the merchandise was legitimate, and handle the cash transaction face to face. I could have carried it in the BMW but the trunk of my convertible wasn’t large enough (I keep fluids and emergency tools and parts back there) and storing it in the back seat would have been a security hazard.

Meanwhile Hertz, with its rental business harmed by restrictions on travel due to the pandemic, was on the verge of bankruptcy. The Ballwin, Missouri branch was happy to hand me the keys to a rental for $10/day including tax, an excellent deal that was cheaper per day than buying or leasing a new vehicle or putting wear and tear on my own car. Equipped with 7″ UConnect infotainment and Chrysler’s Pentastar V6, the dark gray 2018 Pacifica I received was a nice step up from the only other vehicle they had available, a Chrysler Town and Country.

While the old Grand Caravan/T&C handled acceptably for its size, the body was jittery over minor bumps with springs and dampers that leaned toward firmness. The Pacifica, with major improvements to steering, suspension, and ride quality, carries itself like a modern luxury sedan, emphasizing comfort and refinement but offering confident predictability in routine driving — comparable in feel to a Cadillac Seville or Lincoln LS. Moderate speeds through onramps feel adequately secure, inspiring some aggressive throttle input until it waddles a bit at higher cornering speeds, at which point the 13-inch brake discs perform admirably at slowing things down. Still, it’s fun to romp on the throttle and weave through traffic.

Minivans can be fun. The Pacifica has character.

Transmission responsiveness improves with a quick-shifting 9-speed gearbox that replaces the old 6 along with a slight bump in both power and fuel economy. The revised, muscular sounding 3.6 gets a 5 horsepower boost to 287, nothing noteworthy but it’s plenty for carting around myself, a friend, and some luggage, enough to hit 60mph in just under 7 and a half seconds. That’s on par with my 2008 BMW 328 convertible (likely faster) but with acres of useful space, Stow and Go storage versatility, room for eight people (if equipped), and spectacular long distance comfort. I spent a few hours in the third row on a Zoom call while my friend drove us from Houston to San Antonio. Trust me, adults fit fine back there.

Fittingly, before my trip, my first task as minivan captain was to drop off my little sister and her friend.

I have to make a concession — at my age, driving a tall box on wheels with teenagers in the back looks more natural that I care to admit. But why should there be any shame associated with favoring function over fashion? If you want to demonstrate the importance of your role as a parent, a minivan should be a point of pride rather than a concession to life’s obligations. As America’s birth rate falls, being a parent is an increasingly deliberate role. Trendy crossovers with high floors have limited storage, carry fewer people, and tend to be less enjoyable to drive, especially popular choices like the Chevy Equinox and Nissan Rogue. In terms of image, a “Karen yelling at the barista” is a far worse vehicular identity than “I have kids and they play soccer.”

Minivans are for good folks who need to get things done. Crossovers are for people who need to speak with the manager.

Columbus OH

I arrived in Columbus and checked into a Doubletree, among my favorite hotel chains for clean rooms, high thread count sheets, and a warm cookie upon check-in. I noticed the lobby was full of young people checking in wearing BLM t-shirts, activists staying in town to join protests in Columbus. Because of ongoing civil unrest I booked most of my rooms in the suburbs. I also declined the extended insurance coverage so it was on me to be cautious with Hertz’s property.

I headed to town looking for snacks and toothpaste but noticed Walgreens and CVS both closed early. I also received notifications on my Blackberry warning of curfews and potential violence and civil unrest. For America, this was a summer to remember.

The next morning I checked out of the Doubletree and headed to the bank to withdraw four grand. It was my first time inside of a local bank branch since the pandemic began so the protocol had changed. The drive through was open but for the amount I was withdrawing they needed me to come in. As I walked through the double doors a table with four employees was there to greet me; I imagine it’s awkward for branch employees since you’re usually told to remove face coverings rather than wear them. I gave my identification and account information to a woman who said she’d withdraw the cash and bring it to me outside.

She came out, mentioned she ran into some trouble, and asked me to be patient while she tried again. It seemed odd. Acquiring money from a bank seems like a pretty normal, natural thing to do. I didn’t have to sign any Patriot Act documents nor did I come close to the threshold that triggers that so I wasn’t sure what was going on.

After about 20 minutes of back and forth she finally came outside with my stuffed envelope and counted out the cash. I thought it was a bit of a security hazard since we were both outside in the parking lot but we’re in strange times and the rules are on hold.

I then made my way over to Wendy’s to try their new breakfast sandwich. It’s fantastic but your doctor will disapprove. Sausage, bacon, and a fresh egg are encapsulated by a soft, glistening bun. It’s simple, perfect, and long overdue from America’s best nationwide fast food chain — I said what I said and I stand by it. No, I’m not being sponsored.

I headed over to the seller’s house, went inside, examined the goods, determined it wasn’t a cardboard box full of bricks, and handed him the cash.

The amp fit perfectly behind the third row, cushioned by towels and covered by soft luggage. People expect vans to carry grubby children, their trash, and middle aged depression — things that no thief wants — so it felt like a perfectly secure place to store it on my journey.

Nashville TN

My next stop was Nashville to see some friends and their dogs. My friend Austin also drive his $800 Miata up from Georgia to meet with us for dinner.

I stayed the night with a good friend of mine, a police officer in the Nashville suburbs at probably the safest (and thoroughly armed) home in the metro area. This is his dog Mickey. Mickey is a lot to handle but he’s absolutely spectacular with a tongue that seems to be too big to fit inside of his head.

Even working in a suburb a half hour away from the city he’s had to deal with threats of arson and violence. It’s a tough time to be a firefighter, cop, or EMT. If you have friends in healthcare, law enforcement, or other high-contact public services be sure to check on them.

It’s hard to believe this original and unblemished car was only $800.

Austin came up from Georgia to join us for tacos and meet up with a guy on Craigslist selling a radiator. I hadn’t owned or driven a first-generation (NA) Miata since the one I sold in 2014. Everything from the finger-sized chrome door handle to the stubby shifter and wraparound glass felt completely natural, like a favorite t-shirt that fits, not too loose and not too tight. And of course the pop ups! We’ll never see them again due to regulations on pedestrian safety and fuel economy. Like curb feelers and wire wheels they represent a specific, more leisurely time in motoring history.

I also discovered that Publix, a grocery chain I enjoyed on trips to Florida long ago, had locations in Nashville. Naturally, I found the closest one and ordered one of their legendary sandwiches.

The Publix deli sandwich is a thing of beauty, densely packed with hopes, dreams, and magic, made possible by crisp, dense bread with the strength and resilience to hold it all together and bring that Boar’s Head meat it to your face. I’ve eaten a lot of things in a lot of places around this planet and few things are as consistently exceptional as this.

Oxford MS

From Nashville I headed west to Oxford, Mississippi to see another friend, an engineer from Rhode Island who thrives as a fish out of water in the rural south.

I wound through small towns and rural two lane roads, avoiding big cities where conflicts between protestors and police could be an issue. I favor the right to protest but that wasn’t on my agenda in someone else’s vehicle.

The bridge that connects Memphis to Arkansas was taken over by demonstrators so I made sure to stay clear of any food stops downtown, sacrificing a visit to one of Memphis’s legendary barbecue joints in favor of gas station food.

And as far as gas station food goes, you can never go wrong with Rap Snacks. Yes, there’s the novelty of a deceased hip hop artist’s image being used to sell snacks, but these are genuinely good. My favorite so far is Migos Sour Cream and Ranch.

Setting the mood for my arrival I set Apple Music to blend a station based on southern country and familiarized myself with Alabama’s entire catalogue of hits. Who doesn’t love Randy Owen?

James gave me a tour of Oxford and the Ole Miss campus, pointing out the sorority houses and landmarks. Oxford still has a Sears, strictly an appliance and hardware store with signage boasting of being locally American-owned, located just outside of a charming town square.

This is his Nissan 240SX. A tree fell on it and now it’s a pickup truck.

C7 FTW.

A sloth I bathed with.

Baton Rouge LA

After a night of sushi, eggrolls, blasting tunes, and getting drunk I slept hard then drove south to Baton Rouge to meet Ian and drop off the amp.

We stopped at a diner called Laura’s, a place visited by the late Chef Anthony Bourdain. Today’s special was barbecue chicken and it was freaking phenomenal. Every southern cliche you know about a kind black woman serving you a scoop of magic while calling you “honey” was fully in tact, topped off at the end by a generous slice of cake that was pure heaven. The moist pieces of chicken were glistening with a coating of sweet and smoky sauce. Even the beans and rice were on point.

I left that place smiling and haven’t forgotten it. I felt like I’d received a special invite to someone’s house for a home cooked meal.

I was prepared to head home from there but we figured there was no reason not to head over to Houston and San Antonio for sightseeing. I called Hertz and asked to extend my trip and they gladly obliged with no additional fees or complications. I probably could have negotiated a lower rate with minimal persistence.

Heading west on I-10 we traveled on causeways hovering over the swamp below, an area that’s still recovering from BP’s oil spill in 2010. Though the economy has bounced back much of the wildlife hasn’t with unknown levels of damage to the deep ocean.

Houston TX

Upon arrival in Texas I got to see Andre, a majestic Great Dane enjoying the rare age of 11, a survivor cancer who’s defied the short lifespans that typify his breed.

Houston’s air is thick, as humid as Thailand with moisture you can slice with a butter knife. The region is blessed or cursed, depending on who you ask, with ribbons of wide, well maintained highways making it possible to cross the sprawling metro area in reasonable time if you’re aggressive enough. Some despise what they call a “concrete hell” but it suits my driving style perfectly.

People from all over the continent are drawn to Houston, America’s fifth largest metro area with nearly 7 million people, for its leadership in energy, aerospace, financial services, information technology, and manufacturing. Young people are drawn to a low cost of living thanks to generous zoning regulations that make it easy for developers to supply housing and taxes that remain relatively low. Property taxes in Texas tend to be high but income tax is non-existent. While Austin is Texas’s progressive left, Houston represents the state’s libertarian right, emphasizing economic development.

The Chrysler Pacifica is well-suited to the environment thanks to steady and powerful brakes and quick responses from the 9-speed automatic, mastering lane changes and abrupt transitions from free flowing traffic to heavy congestion. Driving in Houston bears similarities to Atlanta, requiring your full attention for a safe and timely arrival.

That evening we headed to Katz’s deli for socially distanced indoor dining where I enjoyed bourbon and a corned beef sandwich. After leaving Michigan where everything was closed it was nice to sit at a restaurant again.

Much of the Chrysler’s styling is carried over from the 200 sedan, copying it’s dolphin-like front end, sweeping dashboard, and blue backlit gauges. The face is an acquired taste, probably more palatable if you’re into marine life. The interior works well with soothing displays, a chunky rotary shifter, soft touch surfaces, and a look that’s upscale-intending. It doesn’t feel like a Lexus LS500 but it does feel like designers cared a lot about the presentation, certainly a notch above some of its Japanese van competitors.

I spent the following day exploring, making the obligatory trip to Whataburger, walking along the beach in Galveston, and visiting the 1940s Air Terminal Museum. I hoped to see the Houston Space Center but it was closed due to the pandemic.

More in Part 2.

See also: Houston’s 1940s Air Terminal Museum

Tucson’s Hotel McCoy: An Oasis of Calm and Culture

I know it’s obvious to say the desert is hot but 2020 was absurd.

On top of a compressed and stressful week in the Phoenix area juggling work, job interviews, travel, and exploring the desert and forest, I watched the temperature display in my aging BMW climb to 118F. The cooling fan made sounds indicative of a helicopter landing while the oil temp gauge crept disconcertingly upward.

I desperately needed to calm down. After an hour long massage in Scottsdale followed by steaks with old friends up in Surprise, I drove two hours south to Tucson.

I love the Phoenix area for what it is — highly transactional and briskly paced. It isn’t as lonely as Los Angeles but it’s missing some local culture. Phoenicians are fine people but they come from everywhere, a contrast to the midwest where everyone knows everyone and traces their local lineage back several generations. Though I have a huge network of friends and family there, Phoenix is primarily a town of strangers.

Tucson’s different. A metro area with just a half million people, it’s a younger and more independently minded place. Offbeat aesthetics take the place of commercial polish. Hotel McCoy fits the vibe perfectly, a place to enjoy the comforts of the present with the bright aesthetics of the 1960s.

25 Things You Should Know About Tucson | Mental Floss

McCoy’s bones are a highway motor lodge that would have been popular in the Mad Men era with spacious and sparkling clean rooms flanking each side of a large parking lot, greeting visitors with a bright blue Ford Thunderbird.

I rolled in at 11:30pm completely exhausted, greeted by a friendly clerk and a stunning lobby, detailed in every way from the pens to the light fixtures.

After receiving a drink token and room key I wandered around the lobby taking in the local artwork (for sale, commission free).

Each parking space bears the name of someone or something from the region, a Walk of Fame for locals. The building itself serves as a canvas, adorned inside and out with spectacular murals, light fixtures, and messages of peace, calm, and compassion.

My room featured a mural painted by the same young woman who checked me in, an outline of Arizona’s boundaries with a rattlesnake and blooming foliage. It is, effectively, a perfect summary of the rugged yet beautiful landscape that defines the high desert.

My deluxe room came with a retro-styled fridge, 55″ television with Roku, hangers, luggage stand, a spectacularly comfortable mattress, a kitchenette with a waffle maker, and a spectacular air conditioner. During the pandemic, food and beverage service were handled by employees properly masked and gloved for guest safety.

My old friend Brandon works here (he invited me) and tossed in a couple bonus items. Loved it!

I wandered the property taking photos and checked out the pool and artwork, fetching a fresh beer at the front desk.

I love the physical indulgence of hotels — sleeping in the nude on someone else’s sheets, rolling around on a cloudlike mattress, cranking the AC down to 65, knocking back a few drinks, leaving the lights on, showering until my fingers wrinkle, and sprawling out in careless solitude. But the Hotel McCoy goes beyond bodily comfort and achieves something spiritual. I felt calm, like I’d found peace. After the stressful, intense, and gut wrenching day I endured, I really needed this.

Add to that a year that involved losing my job, getting it back, my dog dying, this bizarre pandemic, and relocating several times. It’s been a stream of endless chaos and the Hotel McCoy was a much needed reminder of humanity, decency, and peace.

They say Tucson is magic. I’m starting to get it.

For the best rate, call them directly at 1-844-STAY-MCCOY or visit https://hotelmccoy.com/

Hotel McCoy: Vintage vibes. Modern perks. Affordable rates.

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Road Trip! Why fly? Buy a Beater

October 2012.

I was in the car business at the time buying and selling “modern classics” from the 1970s to the 1990s. My business partner and I flew to Las Vegas and drove to Phoenix and Tucson looking for rust-free cars to bring home and resell, inspecting late model BMW 7-series, Mercedes S-classes, and 1970s BMW 2002s.

Overpriced.

Repainted. Ugly wheels.

Overpriced.

Also overpriced.

Interesting! Owned by an enthusiast in the Los Angeles area.


Fast Tube by Casper


Fast Tube by Casper

Went down to Tucson to look at this one.


Fast Tube by Casper

After a week we found nothing to our price/condition satisfaction and had no flights booked for our return trip, expecting to drive home from Phoenix to St Louis in whatever we purchased. Instead of wasting $600 on two last minute tickets home, I proposed we buy a car for roughly the same price, drive it all the way home, and sell it. Top Gear style!

Of course, anything could go wrong. Once you get below $1000 used cars come with mysterious issues from a dozen previous owners — aging cooling systems, dry rotted tires and brake lines, and belts and pulleys on their last leg not to mention biological hazards. Anyone who drives a car worth a grand likely spends the smallest amount of money possible to use it locally. Sometimes you find used pipes, pills, strip club ads, bitter love letters, or any evidence of hard living.

Ian was skeptical. If the car broke down we’d be out the money spent and still have to book Amtrak or a plane ticket home. My solution? I’ll pay out of pocket instead of drawing from the business. Risk assumed, problem solved! And the profit was mine to keep.

The first car I found on Craigslist was a decent looking 1979 Ford LTD. For $900 it looked promising, drenched inside and out in a hideous shade of pale seafoam green, magnificent in the worst possible way. It started up immediately but couldn’t maintain an idle, misfiring and shutting down after I took my foot off the throttle. Today, with the growing popularity of mundane Carter-era malaise cars, it would have sold for $2000 as-is. Back then it was just another used, inches-from-the-crusher junk car.

They also had a gold C-body Cadillac Deville in nice shape but it was triple what I wanted to spend and I probably would have kept it, negating the flip-for-profit challenge.

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Fast Tube by Casper

I was holding out for dependable, comfortable transportation under $1000 that I could trust through desolate parts of the American desert with no wireless signal, no people, and limited services. While asking for the impossible, I also wanted to find something with a trunk full of gold bars and ribeye steaks.

Later that night I called about a ’92 Buick Riviera with 119,000 miles asking $1000. It was even better in person with shiny paint, functional digital gauges, a silky smooth four-speed automatic, and clean upholstery. The headliner was gone, wheel covers were missing, and the air conditioning didn’t work, but it drove like buttered bread. I got him down to $800.

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I learned that some of Arizona’s check cashing shops, open 24 hours a day, double as title services. I was able to register the car in my name, pay all fees, and get rolling with a temp tag the same night. Wonderfully convenient. I added the Buick to my Geico policy and we hit the road, turning in our Ford Fusion rental car and rolling east on I-10. Too late to turn back! This was happening.

The first thing I did was pick up some wheel covers. An early 90s pseudo-lux coupe deserves something shiny so we stopped at a Wal-Mart and found a set of plastichrome covers for $15 each. From the outside this was already looking like a $2500 car.

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In the daylight I expected disappointment. Instead, the paint proved to be resilient with decent clear coat and all badges and trim in tact. The windshield had a large crack, a side mirror was cracked, and a rocker area was discolored. Otherwise the interior was clean and presentable except for the headliner.

GM headliner is notoriously terrible and someone decided to rip it out, leaving behind the fibrous backing material. Over every bump the roof rained orange dust on our heads and shoulders, like nuclear fallout at Chernobyl. Thankfully, Buick’s pillowy Dynaride suspension kept the pavement impacts to a minimum. At every fuel stop we patted down our heads and shoulders like we’d just walked out of a coal mine.

We checked into a motel somewhere in the desert in a town I can’t recall. It was clean, free of bugs, and only $40 a night. That was good enough for me.

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At the next fuel stop I calculated our fuel economy: 23.5mpg at 75-85mph. Not bad!

The desert was scenic but empty, peaceful in its geographic abundance and lack of congestion. Outside of Phoenix and Vegas you feel like you’ve stepped on to another planet. You really are alone out there, for better or worse. It’s both lonely and refreshing.

The Riviera’s digital gauges, also found in Oldsmobiles and other GM vehicles of the era, are a bit excessive at night. They’re clean and readable but even with the brightness turned down they seem to pierce your eyeballs. And if they’re going to be digital, why bother emulating the shape of traditional round instruments? It was a missed opportunity to do something more creative. I feel the same way about modern LCD gauges.

Other electronics were fully in tact. Power windows, mirrors, and locks worked perfectly. The Delco radio sounded fine but it refused to work with our cassette adapter. We didn’t have an FM modulator handy so for hours we roamed in silence, forced to talk to each other like friends. Ugh.


Fast Tube by Casper

Expectedly, the air conditioning didn’t work. I didn’t bother charging it or doing any troubleshooting since it was October and outdoor temperatures were perfectly comfortable, plus by the time we got home we’d be back below the 60s.

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After a couple nights we made it to Texas and stopped at Cooper’s for barbecue. Try the sausage! Their cole slaw is finely shopped with sweet dressing and service was excellent.

In Oklahoma City we stopped to see my friends, Terry and Jessica, where I sampled a bacon soda. Imagine bacon, liquified and bubbly, but sweet instead of savory. Sounds terrible? That’s because it is.

We finally joined I-44 and made it back to St Louis. Absolutely nothing went wrong. The dumpster Riviera was pleasant, comfortable, and entirely uneventful. I never had to top off any fluids, the ride and handling were smooth as silk, and we both traveled in complete comfort. After replacing a harmonic balancer bushing, a passenger side mirror (just the glass piece), and two rubber brake lanes I passed the state inspection and listed it for sale. A nice fellow in south city purchased it for $1200.

Later that year I ran into him at a stoplight. He said he loved the car and I continued to see it roaming around the city or parked outside his place. I haven’t checked on it since I moved to Michigan in 2015 but I suspect someone out there is still enjoying it.

These are incredibly resilient cars with bulletproof powertrains and excellent exterior build quality. Aside from the plasticky but comfortable interiors they make for excellent daily drivers. GM’s 3.8L V6 isn’t much for character nor does it make any interesting sounds from the intake or exhaust, but torque peaks right in the middle of the power band, perfect for highway cruising and darting through city traffic.

I wanted to have a more dramatic story involving belching radiators, tow trucks, check engine lights, weird noises, or engine fires, but this is the best I could do with the most reliable coupe on the planet. If you’re looking for a cheap and comfortable way to travel and don’t mind replacing headliners or interior trim, look for a Riviera or Toronado.

2018 Detroit Auto Show – Media Access – Day 2

Tuesday

I had to be at work at noon so through some miracle of Red Bull and brute force I managed to wake up at 6am to catch the rest of the auto show.

Even my dog thought it was too early.

Lyft rides downtown were on the costly side so despite the falling snow, I took my BMW downtown, parked at GM headquarters, and rode the People Mover to Cobo Hall.

Mercedes Benz was front and center with a G-wagon receiving the Jeep soft top aesthetic.

I then spent a considerable time getting in and out of the BMW i8. The doors, opening in a sideways upward scissor movement, compensate for the ingress challenges posed by the massive structural hump between the seat and the pavement. If you buy one, reconsider wearing a short skirt.

Taking a cute from Mazda’s Miata display, Volkswagen brought a mint classic to draw eyes to the new Jetta.

Infiniti reminds us that it still exists. Why? Who knows. Apparently someone is buying them.

The press get a free beer. If I didn’t have to go to the office immediately after I’d indulge.

Fiat’s Sergio Marchionne! Dressed in his trademark merino wool sweater.

FCA put out a nice spread for us journalists and Youtubers.

It’s a Silverado on rocks. I would have appreciated a more realistic display with a Silverado taking up two spaces in a parking garage.

Chinese stuff we can’t buy here.

No one believes me when I say this but the Genesis G80 and G90 sedans are much, MUCH nicer than their prices suggest, on par with or in some ways superior to the Mercedes S-class. You have to order from a Hyundai dealer but services are handled by someone coming to your location and fetching your vehicle. No worries about sharing a waiting room with Accent owners.

I got stuck in the back of this Alfa Romeo and had to wave at the models to rescue me. Apparently the child locks are on and I am 6 years old.

It has a Race mode for Asian drivers. They thought of me!

Aside from the Rolls Royce Dawn I spent the most time in the Lincoln Continental and Navigator. Exquisite.

Cadillac’s CT6, even in top trim, cheaps out on a couple spots.

I didn’t want to walk around with my gloves and beanie so I found the least interesting vehicle to store them. Thank you, Honda HRV!

That concludes two brutally cold days at NAIAS. Future shows promise a summer outdoor setting along the Detroit River with food, games, and family-friendly activities to get people (and brands) to return. Aside from media access privileges — getting to see executives, product launches, media personalities, and full access to exotics — it was a spartan display catering mostly to industry insiders.

Additional photos are below.

Click for day one.

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2018 Detroit Auto Show – Media Access – Day 1

Every winter, before moving to Michigan, our Cadillac owners club flew or drove in from all over the country to attend the auto show in Chicago or Detroit. Unlike the Chicago show, the crowds at NAIAS are smaller, traffic is light, parking is cheap, food is equally superb, and the show floor is easy to walk.

Unfortunately LA, Chicago, New York, and CES have become more significant as Detroit’s population declined during the recession. Yes, it remains a major event for the auto industry, a place where top executives, designers, and engineers convene to reveal a few the world’s most important automobiles and technologies, but it no longer matters to consumers.

If you’re a journalist or have any involvement in the business, NAIAS is practically mandatory. Otherwise, with the noteworthy absence of Jaguar, Mazda, Mini, Land Rover, and Tesla, the show has lost its luster among consumers. Volvo and Mitsubishi (Mitsu arguably doesn’t matter) were only passively present with a couple cars parked in the hallway, nothing on the main floor.

The internet also diminishes the impact of big, organized events as products are revealed sooner in more exclusive venues. Chevrolet unveiled the Silverado at a media event in Fort Worth, dramatically air dropping its new pickup from a helicopter.


Fast Tube by Casper

This seems to coincide with the way we now watch television, absorbing content through binge watching sessions at our own convenience rather than collectively gathering in front of our screens at scheduled times to catch new episodes.

We’re unlikely to ever again see an event as masterfully orchestrated as the reveal of the Grand Cherokee in 1992. UAW Local 7 president Aaron Taylor drove the red Laredo directly off the assembly line, climbed up the steps of Cobo Hall, and smashed through the glass entrance.


Fast Tube by Casper

This year, through my involvement with BetterThanStock.com, I received a media pass. With the exception of Sunday, which only allowed access to Ford, some Porsches, and various exotics (brought in by local collectors and dealers), we were given complete and unhindered access throughout the week to every car, truck, and SUV on display.

For journalists, only a few vehicles were locked. I indulged in a Rolls Royce Phantom with my friend Bryce, running our hands over the leather and plush carpeting, fiddling with knobs and switches while exploring the infotainment system in depth. Without a line of people waiting to sit inside, we had a chance to sample everything in detail without interruption from models, presenters, or the unwashed masses. Rotating platforms were mostly turned off so journalists could climb up and capture photos up close.

We parked ourselves in the topless Rolls Royce Dawn, the Rolls Phantom, several Jaguars, a Ferrari 318, a Ferrari FF, several Lamborghinis, and got up close with a Bugatti Chiron. I practiced climbing in and out of the BMW i8, a car for people with long legs, apparently.


Fast Tube by Casper

We quickly discovered that manufacturers talk to journalists in greater depth and detail about powertrains, new features, and new technologies. Instead of boring us with marketing blather reserved for the general public, brand representatives tried winning us over with performance data, technical achievements, and production details.

Infiniti flew in chefs from California while FCA handed out pastries and coffee. Amazon made an appearance promoting The Grand Tour, serving beer and snacks from an indoor bar. A few other brands passed out chocolates and hors d’oeuvres while Nissan’s Leaf booth gave away adorable mini-frappuccinos. And of course I grabbed a free pen, tote bag, or fidget spinner anywhere that I could.

Here’s my take on the most noteworthy bits of NAIAS 2018.

Sunday

We got there on a cold Sunday morning, January 14. After parking under Cobo Hall we gathered our tripods, stands, cameras, batteries, lights, and other gear and made the cold march to elevator. At a booth we handed over our ID and picked up media passes, granting us access to everything but the main show floor.

Apparently there was some confusion over what our pink passes would allow access to. Others who traveled from abroad were vocally upset upon discovering that they were only permitted to enter the media lounge, the small collection of exotics, the Automobili-D automation/electrification booths downstairs, and the Ford section later in the afternoon. The rest of the floor would be closed until Monday morning.

Great. And of course the carelessly slapped together web site didn’t make any of this clear. It’s no wonder NAIAS is losing its status as a top-tier event.

We made plans to come back later in the week but since we were there we took the opportunity to explore a bit, starting with a room full of spectacular exotics.

A representative from Porsche drove his personal Panamera hybrid up from Georgia and parked it in the display area. He gave a speech I mostly ignored as I ran my eyes across over the Panamera’s clean, humpless styling. What was once the ugliest thing you could buy for six figures became a design masterpiece with only a few minor changes. It makes you wonder how the original Panamera made it out the door.

I finally got a chance to see a Bugatti Chiron in person. I thought for a moment it may have been a model or replica because it was much smaller than expected. With sixteen cylinders, a dozen or so radiators, and bulbous Airbus styling it seemed, after seeing it on television and in videos, that it should have been about the size of a Buick Park Avenue.

But no, it’s actually four inches shorter than a Corolla.

We spent the majority of our time in the display area sitting inside the Rolls Royce Phantom. Every knob, lever, or switch felt hefty and important, as if opening and closing the air vents was as momentous and as significant as declaring war on a foreign country. I suppose if you’re directing the air flow of a $420,000 car, your decisions likely carry that kind of weight.

My fingers disappeared into the plush carpets while overhead lights were elegantly frosted. The Phantom logo on the passenger side dashboard features floating letters protected by a glass case, similar to a display at a jewelery store.

The Starlight Headliner option ($15000) places fiber optic strands in the headliner to simulate twinkling stars at night. Buyers can request astronomically accurate constellations or the design of their choosing, done by hand in a process that takes a minimum of nine hours to complete. Insane.

The Jaguar F-type convertible was more practical than expected with reasonably useful trunk space and supportive but comfortable touring seats. We also sampled the roomy Ferrari FF, the 812 Superfast, a few Lamborghinis, and I finally saw the homely Bentley Bentayga in person. The Bentayga is hideous.

Oddly, after climbing into several half million dollar cars, it wasn’t until we sat in a Cadillac CTS-V that we were asked to step out.

In the hallway we had a chat with the folks from Karma, the new Chinese-owned company that builds the Revero, formerly known as the Fisker Karma. Build quality is a noteworthy improvement with more even panel gaps, a much improved interior with nicer materials and more consistent stitching, vastly improved infotainment, and more range and output from the plug-in hybrid GM powertrain. They say the performance improvements were mostly through software. The car retains the jeweled glass case in the center console, a strange exhaust that comes out the bottom of the front fender, and Henrik Fisker’s dramatic styling.

I asked about distribution and production; they claim that because the company is owned by a billionaire unconcerned with volume, they’re mostly building them to order. Interesting.

We headed downstairs to take a look at Automobili-D, a showcase for electrification and automation technologies. We met a rep from a Swedish company building fully automated, fully electric delivery trucks. That was neat.

We also spoke with reps from Urb-E, manufacturers of folding electric bicycles small enough to store in the trunk of a Miata or carry with you on the bus or train. Clever solution for urban dwellers reliant on mass transit but tired of walking. It even doubles as a shopping cart.

Out in the atrium, the US Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, gave a speech on the DOT’s commitment to automotive technology with safety as its highest priority.

Nearby, Nissan showcased its only noteworthy product: adorably sized frappuccinos.

Although Volvo won North American Utility of the Year with its beautiful XC60, it had no official presence at the show. Alongside Mitsubishi, Volvo parked a couple locked cars in the hallway with no presenters or special displays.

Starving and thirsty, the three of us reconvened in the afternoon, putting our gear back in the truck and boarding the People Mover to head to Greektown.

The staircase from the People Mover to Greektown smelled like piss, but what else would you expect from mass transit in Detroit?

If you’ve never been to Wahlburgers, I strongly recommend it. Service is excellent, the burgers are tall and juicy, fries and tots are crisp and salty, and the house beer is pleasingly smooth.

We returned to Cobo Hall in time for Ford to reveal the new Ranger, a [rather large] midsize pickup powered by the 2.3L Ecoboost I4, competing directly with the Chevy Colorado and the aging Toyota Tacoma. A high-powered beefed up Raptor version is expected to debut.

Much of the attention at Ford surrounded Bullitt, the Mustang from the 1968 film of the same name that was recently found in Mexico. Ford brought the car to the show in its well worn, mostly unrestored form. If you’ve never seen the movie, the legendary Steve McQueen pilots the Mustang in a chase through the streets of San Francisco, taking flight, drifting through corners, and evading traffic. Of course, a stunt driver did most of the work, but some of it was by McQueen himself.

Debuting for 2019, the 50th anniversary Bullitt is a green (or black) 475-hp beast powered by the Coyote 5.0, a six-speed cue ball shifter, and the GT350’s intake manifold. As Hyundai proved with the Genesis coupe, just about anyone can make a sporty car, but few have the legendary history of the Mustang.

Oh hey, it’s Bill Ford.

This simulator for the Ford Ranger allows you to drive off-road, virtually.

I picked up a souvenir and headed out. That concludes day one.

Click for day two.

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I’ve been away. I’m back!

Over a year has gone by since my last update. Falling a couple weeks behind quickly devolves into months, then years. Drafts for stories have piled up, folders with travel pictures and videos have accumulated, but none of them have been published.

Here’s a brief overview of what’s happened.

Places:

  1. Italy
  2. Canada
  3. Maine
  4. San Francisco
  5. New Hampshire
  6. Yellowstone
  7. The Oregon and California coasts
  8. Montana
  9. Grand Tetons
  10. Los Angeles Crest Highway
  11. Texas
  12. The Nachez Trace Parkway
  13. Nashville
  14. New York City
  15. Old Route 66
  16. The Berkshires, Massachussetts
  17. Tail of the Dragon and Smoky Mountains
  18. Washington DC
  19. Mulholland Drive
  20. Indianapolis
  21. Tucson
  22. Phoenix / Winslow / Pine

Things driven:

  1. Fiat 500XL
  2. 2019 Chrysler Pacifica
  3. 2018 Honda Accord
  4. 2014 Jaguar F-type Convertible

Events:

  1. Detroit Auto Show – Media Access
  2. Dog died
  3. Moved to Canada
  4. Went to Italy, disrupted by the lockdown
  5. The pandemic came to America
  6. Job furloughed
  7. Moved to Missouri
  8. Rehired
  9. Worked remote
  10. Hit the road

I’ve stepped foot in five countries, driven through over forty states, and there’s plenty more to go. The Youtube channel is finally getting some attention too.

Stay tuned!