A Deal Too Good to Pass Up

Garage Style Magazine, a magazine that knocks it out of the park when it comes to feature cars, art, car event coverage, garage's and garage collections, is very cool indeed! I've mentioned it in the past because they have featured some of my art, but here's the deal of the Century. Because of a new relationship with GSM, I've worked out a deal for all my friends and email followers to be eligible for a special discount subscription! I hope you take advantage of it, it's normally priced at one year for $20. Listen to this, you can get a two-year subscription for the same $20!( US Residents Only)  It's like one year for free! How can you say no!

Here's how to get the deal, click this link: https://garagestylemagazine.com/subscribe or call this number, 1-888-881-5861 and use the promotional code "Straub", click "Subscribe Now" then click the box for two years and enter the promotional code to get your discounted subscription going! Like I said, $20 for two years, this is too good to pass up! Did I mention, you'll love it?
You will!

PS: You know how all this computer stuff works, if you have a problem, contact me!

 Also, you can forward this post to your friends to hook them up on the deal!

"The Can-Am Killer"

Driven by Mark Donohue, the 1500bhp, turbocharged flat 12 powered 917-30 not only claimed the Ca-Am championship but achieved a closed-course speed record of 221.120mph at Talladega. Winning all but one race in the series, the car was nicknamed 'The Can-Am Killer'. Six were built, only three raced - 1974 rule changes saw to that.

The "1973 917/30 Can-Am Spyder" is framed and ready to hang for you enjoyment. The image size is 8"x 12" printed on metallic photo paper, matted in a 12"x 16" quality wood frame. Signed and called "Ultimate Weapon." I only have one of these ready to go, so don't miss out. It's $125.00 including shipping in the US. What a deal! Sold out in this frame.

It a great time of year!

It's that time of year that many of us say "Thank You" to the ones that are important to us. As a automotive art photographer with this blog, I'm well aware how busy our daily lives are and I would just like to say "Thank You" for staying in touch through my blog over the last 12 months. Many of you have reached out and purchased art pieces from me during that time and lots of you have stopped be a show and said hi. Again, if you only knew how grateful that makes me feel, you guys certainly do rock!

I have some very cool stuff coming up this next year that I'll be announcing here, so stay tuned! Until then, all of you have a safe and a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                          John

Standing in Line Markin' Time...

Some say, "Hey man, you can't make an image like that...it don't look like it should."

"Said, hey old man, how can you stand to think that way? Did you really think about it, before you made the rules? He said, sure. That's just the way it is, some things will never change, that's just the way it is. Haaa, but don't you believe them." - Bruce Hornsby and the Range...The Way It Is

Standin' in line to take on any fool...

To share a comment, this is the place to click.

Drivin' in a Fast Parade... Daytona 2013, 24 Hours

Daytona 1968 with three Porsche 907 Long-tails logging a 1,2,3 finish. Photo via Porsche AG Archives.

The past hangs in the air like a mist, it's the history of Daytona. Forty-five years almost to the day, a Porsche had its first overall victory in 24 hour racing with the 907 LH(long-tail) at Daytona. No less, with the winning car sporting 5 drivers. How did this happen? After Gerhard Mitter had a big crash with the #53 car caused by tire failure on the banking, his teammate Rolf Stommelen supported the nearly identical car #54 driven by Vic Elford/Jochen Neerpasch. When the #52 car of the longtime leaders Jo Siffert/Hans Herrmann dropped to second due to a technical problem, these two also drove car #54 in case there car broke down. Due to this, five drivers won the race, and two of them scored also second. Jo Schlesser/Joe Buzzetta with car #51 in third place were there to make Porsche's first 24 hours overall victory ever, an 1-2-3 victory with headlites blasin'!

The 907 cars were fitted with a 2195cc eight-cylinder air-cooled engines which developed 270bhp and it was reported along with drivers fitted with cooling vests to withstand the heat in the closed cockpits. Shorty after a 907 went on to win the 12 Hours at Sebring in short-tailed form with another eight-cylinder engine. But, this story is not about 1968. It's about the 2013 Daytona 24.

And He Said...Ho, Ho, Ho!

It's that time of year for me to say, a large "Thank You" to all subscribers to the blog.  In my mind, "Along For The Ride" is meant to be a place to come, relax and get away from everyday life, if only for a short time. A place to read about cool car stuff.

Of interest, the number of viewers keeps growing, well over what I thought it would hit at this point, at last count, 177,000. So, even though not every post may trip everyones trigger, there does seem to be something that keeps you guys coming back. Good! Don't forget, there is always a place to comment on each post when you have time. It's always interesting to look over what readers have to say.

For this post, did you expect me to put some ol' car photo with a Christmas Tree strapped to the top like every other car blog does? I say...#%@* no! Notice I cleaned up my writing because of the Holiday. So, here's one on how the kids got into the Christmas spirit in Los Angeles, years ago before it became politically incorrect.

The Bookmobiles were used in communities to spread the word of healthy reading before libraries could be built or to supplement schools. I can remember the thrill of climbing up into one of them to look for something automotive. Almost as much of a thrill as when the "Good Humor" or "Helms Bakery" trucks rolled into my hood.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!

Don't Make Me Smile...

"Cheese," "Whiskey," "Smile," and other mouthy encouragements are calls from photographers, except in the case of rock musicians, where it's important for onlookers to think rock is a serious business. As Magnus remarked, "I'm smilin' on the inside," just before I snap the shutter...indeed he is.

Los Angeles Auto Show 2012 hits the Road...

On the West Coast, the auto affair not to miss is the L.A. Auto Show.  "Press days" presented a perfect time to grab photos without hoards of onlookers.

The show is the first North American show of the season leading into 2013, and hosts some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts, nearly 50 in all. One of those was the BMW i8 Spyder hybrid roadster and the Jaguar F-TYPE convertible, as well as the SLS AMG Black Series Mercedes-Benz. Porsche had the new 911 Carrera 4 which was first shown at the Paris International Motor Show in September, distinguished by its prominent broad rear section and a red light strip between the rear lights, with its typical all-wheel drive layout. The big debut however, for Porsches ultra-stark and all white display, was the next generation Cayman covered in the last post.

The green categories were also well represented with Fiat's first electric 500e vehicle, Chevrolet's Spark EV, Ford's C-MAX, Focus Electric and Honda's Accord plug-in hybrid.  The show also included  debuts of compact performance, with unveiling's such as the North American debut of the cool Mini Paceman and Clubvan, as well as the sweet 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible in their  retro "Go-Go" display.

 It may be no surprise, but I'm more interested in the performance side of the market rather than grocery getter's when the new models go public...cars like the Viper, Shelby 500, and Dodge's. So, needless to say my camera was leaning to the "Put you back in the seat type of rides." Check out the photos...



A sweet SRT Viper...

Porsche Cayman World Premiere ... L.A. Auto Show 2012 ...

"Along For The Ride" went to the Los Angeles Auto Show for Press Days, the first of three posts will be on what Porsche has to offer. Then another post on other Manufacturers and a final one on a cool after hours gathering of enthusiasts.

But first, what the show had to offer. Nearly 50 vehicle debuts on Nov. 28-29 when it opened for Press Days. The show hosted world debuts ranging from electric vehicles to performance and luxury designs from a global array of the world's top automakers. The number of debuts and strong representation from the world's key auto manufacturing regions underscore both the rebounding strength of the industry as well as the importance of the Show as a launch venue. Coverage of the unveiling's promised to be extensive thanks to 25 press conferences and registered media from over 50 countries. There was no disappointment there. Never the less, now on to Porsche.

L.A. Auto Show Burns to the Ground...

Look forward to three upcoming posst on the L.A. Auto Show. I was there soaking up with discriminating gusto what was truly badass. Cool cars, road rockets, not the grocery getter's. But first, as I spend time working on the photos taken for the posts, a little history.

The 1929 L.A. Auto Show before openning (March 3rd). Image via Los Angeles Times.

It's hard to see in the image (March 6th), but there is a balloon flying overhead in the upper left corner with a banner that reads, "See the new Oldsmobile now on display." Image via Los Angeles Times.

In 1929, a fire destroyed the L.A. Auto Show that was being held in large tents at the corner of Washington and Hill streets. The twelve-story building at the back of the second image, still stands today.

To share a comment, this is the place to click.

La Carrera Panamericana 2012 ... Scorching Mexico

One of our intrepid blog followers, Carson Scheller and his daughter Lauren recently returned from competing in the La Carrera Panamericana and wanted to share some photos and thoughts from Lauren's blog along the way.

It was the 25th running of the modern "La Carrera Panamericana" thru main-land Mexico, seven days, 3000kms, unlimited speed sections on public roads. In Carson's words, "Hee Haa!"  Lauren was the co-piloto and navigator on the adventure. In what you ask? How about the ol' girl as Carson calls her, a 1954 4000lb. Ford Victoria running a "Y" block V8. They ran in the original Pan Am class which included cars from 1940-1954 that could have run in the early days of the race. There are, of course, other classes for cars such as Mustangs, Cadillacs, Vettes and later Porsche 356 models and even 911s, but nothing newer than 1970.

Carson and Lauren book-it around the corner in the 'ol girl.

The Urban Outlaw Film Release / Magnus Walker's Dream.....

It was gonna' happen, The Urban Outlaw hits the street after numerous film festivals...It's Magnus Walker's documentary film, and it takes us along riding shotgun in a first class seat.

My buddy Magnus set out on this adventure to do a film about Porsche through his eyes.  That he did in a creative, introspective, and arty kinda way. It could be one of the best commercials for Porsche, ever done, but done in a non-corporate world. Magnus along with his wife live in a renovated old warehouse in downtown LA before it became fashionable, and is not more than arms length away from the cars in his Porsche collection, most '64 to '72 long hood 911s. In a word, a hotrodder is the best way to describe his passion towards his cars.

He's been busy since the release of the trailer with interviews with TopGear, Autoweek, and others with about 50,000 views in the first 24 hours. And he's started a blog to document his cars with creative photos. The short film was submitted and shown at numerous film festivals, such as Sundance, Austin, London, Montreal and more. It was produced and directed by, Tamir Moscovici.

The Urban Outlaw hits the road. Image © Urban Outlaw and Tamir Moscovici.

Click here to see the film, then click on it to start, check it out, it's badass!

To share a comment, click here. And don't forget to pass the post on to a friend.

A Porsche Dragster 356 style...

For all my Porsche friends...how about a beautiful little 356 Dragster? Well, Doug Church ran a badass 356 powered rail back in the '60s. He tried out the rear engine idea way before it became a popular mainstream way of getting down that quarter mile strip.

There was no expense spared on this Porsche 356 powered dragster as evidenced by the use of chrome on the widened wheels, chassis, four megaphone stingers and valve covers.

Related post: 4-Cam Dragster

To share a comment, click here.

From Puppets to Speed Records / Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird

It's so cool to connect someones personal history with you, the blog readers. Here's how it went, the phone rang, Clint Campbell, of the Shafters Car Club on the other end. He goes on the tell me about one of their members that has a great story to be told, Milt Davies, whose dad was on the team of Sir Malcolm Campbell's record breaking run at Bonneville in 1935. Here's how it happened...through the memories eye of Milt.

Campbell poses for photos with his Bluebird in England before leaving for America, 1935. Getty Image

Goodguys Del Mar Nationals

The Goodguys show is an event that can't be missed. If you're a So-Cal guy here it comes this weekend, March 30-April 1 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This vintage poster was found from days of auto racing when people couldn't wait to get to their closest track to hear the sound of roaring engines. Well I guess it's still the same today, there are just fewer tracks around. Can you imagine the looks on the horse race crowd watching V-8s rumbling around Del Mar today?

So if you're around the area, head out to Del Mar where hot rod legends Ed Pink and Ed "Camfather" Iskenderian will be honored during the weekend. There will be a huge "Woodie" display and one of my favorites, the nitro-dragster display where they fire them badass babies up to vibrate your intestines. Just wonderful...pure power! Can't wait...

You can get more info: www.good-guys.com

Don't forget to forward this post to a friend...

To share a comment, click here.

On The Road...Peking To Paris

Blog follower Ahmet is hitting the road on the Peking to Paris Rally. He will be competing in the "2010 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge" trans-continental classic car endurance rally, which was first held in 1907.

His Anadol A1, the first volume produced Turkish car, prepared by Serdar Bostanci and his team, hit the road for China last week. Here is the web site to check out, http://www.pekindenparise.com/english.html

I started a post on this a few months when they were preparing the car for the "Peking to Paris" event with details of the car and Rally.

It seems that race car drivers always end up with the women.

The Anadol all dressed up and ready to go at the kick off reception.

You can follow them on the Internet by clicking on the links below.

During the Peking to Paris rally (http://www.pekindenparise.com/) his car will be equipped with a real-time GPS tracker from SkyTag. As of September 10th, you will be able to follow there progress on-line by clicking on the below link:
http://livetrack.skytag-gps.co.uk/login_action.html?user=pekingparis&passw=skytag&action=login&skip_auto=1&lang=en

To share a comment, link the post at: http://www.johnstraub.blogspot.com/