Five Racing Technologies You Might Find in Your Passenger Car

Timeline showing racing technology milestones

There’s an old joke that auto racing was invented at the same time as the second car. Racing has always been popular with enthusiasts and engineers alike. And not just because it’s exciting, but because it’s been the proving ground for new technologies. The racetrack has spawned many ideas in automotive history that performance and sometimes even passenger cars have adopted. There are many examples, but here are six of the best:

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1A Auto Repair Blooper Video — Even the Pros Have Bumps in the Road

When it comes to fixing your car, sometimes nothing seems to go your way.

We’ll admit it. We’re not perfect. Our mechanics drop tools, spill fluids, lose nuts and bolts, and sometimes break things they shouldn’t.

Turns out, not every repair is gold.

So without much further ado, here’s some of our outtakes (and yes, if you’re wondering, we have way more than 2 minutes worth).

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Don’t Leave Home Without These Emergency Car Kit Essentials

You’ve probably found yourself on the side of the road at some point, unless you’re extraordinarily lucky. It always pays to be prepared. Keeping a few basics in your trunk can help you get out of most of these automotive problems, including 1A Auto’s emergency car kit. If you can fix the simple problems yourself, you won’t have to waste time waiting for roadside assistance.

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Things To Consider Before Buying A New Car

Kia

My wife and I both commute about 50 miles each day round trip, in opposite directions. We own two SUVs, but found ourselves spending so much money on gas and repairs each month. It only made sense to find a vehicle that was better on gas and newer than ten years old.

I couldn’t help but think, “What is it that we’re trying to accomplish and what do we own?” These are the questions to ask yourself. After all, buying a new vehicle is a huge investment, but do it right and the process will be a lot easier.

When you’re shopping for a new vehicle, keep in mind what your needs are and what it is you’re trying to accomplish.

Before the hunt, ask yourself:

What’s your current situation?

We own a two SUVS. They’re both very good in inclement weather. They just tend to gobble up parts once in a while, and use a ton of gas. We had to have a vehicle that was low-cost and four-wheel-drive because we had to sell one of the SUVs that we own, or at least, so we thought.

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Top 10 Tips and Tricks For Winter Car Wrenching

 

auto repair in the winter

Being a gearhead in a cold and wintery environment is the absolute worst!  Without some kind of heat source in your garage, you won’t even know that half of your knuckles are missing. You say you don’t have a garage at all? I know that lifestyle all too well. In that case, you might as well forget that the outdoors even exists until March 11th. That’s when the 2018 daylight savings finally rescues us from never ending darkness and unproductive evenings.  Now, I’m not trying to be Debbie Downer here. I’m just writing what every single sub-30-degree-living car enthusiast is thinking. Being a Massachu…setts…ite(?) and hardcore wrench spinner for my entire life, I’ve learned a few things that may (or may not) help you survive another depressing winter.

Here is my top 10 list of things that all gearheads need to survive winter:

#1 Carhartt Jacket

I don’t know how people survived before these existed. I prefer the heaviest one that they make, with the hood, and all black in color. That way you can go straight from the junkyard to the class reunion and nobody will have a clue (other than the smell) that you’re covered in oil stains and gasoline. Most importantly though, these jackets keep the wind and cold out. In late January, when everybody else around me is crying about the cold temperatures, my jacket allows me to feel like I am on a beautiful Caribbean island.

#2 Carhartt Overalls

No, I am not getting paid to brag about this stuff, I promise you. Same deal as above, but I do recommend trying these on in a local store before buying them. You want a size that will slide over your jeans easily, and not bunch up, and not show off your ankles to old man winter.  Obviously, I also prefer a dark color for its filth-hiding properties. Combined with the jacket, these basically make you unstoppable in a winter environment.

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11 Common Jeep Problems & Complaints You Need to Know

Exasperated owners may say “it’s a Jeep thing,” but the truth is, every car or truck you can think of has its own unique quirks and issues and Jeeps are no exception.  That being said, Jeepers are known to run into certain problems time and again. In fact, the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee have been singled out by Consumer Reports as the least reliable vehicles in their respective classes, and the Renegade made their top 10 Least Reliable Cars list.

Of course, I don’t want to discourage anyone from driving a Jeep. When you want a Jeep, there really is no substitute. But knowing what pitfalls might lie ahead can help you be ready to deal with problems as they arise. So, to help you out, here are some common issues that affect Jeeps and some tips on how to fix or even prevent them.

1. The Death Wobble

Death Wobble is probably the most infamous problem in the Jeep community. At high speeds, especially after hitting a bump, the steering wheel may start the shake and vibrate violently, to the point that some drivers report that the Jeep becomes hard to handle. Usually, if you slow down or stop, the wobble will go away. Despite the scary name, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that there have been no fatal accidents associated with the condition. You can see a close up example of what death wobble looks like, in this video:

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Celebrity Car Collectors & Their Famous Collections

When you’re one of many celebrity car collectors, bringing all the cars you wish you had as a kid to life is an actual possibility. Who wouldn’t take their Testarossa out to lunch and then switch over to the 442 for groceries just because they can?

These celebrities have made that dream a reality. Some of them you may know, others you may have forgotten about, but their collections are cool, big, and treasured by their owners.

Jay Leno

The most obvious of many celebrity car collectors on the list, Leno’s garage holds cars and bikes alike, and his collection is so big he stores it in a hanger known as his “Big Dog Garage.” He even has his own show, Jay Leno’s Garage, on CNBC where he gets to show them off, review others, and have guests show theirs.

His collection include a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Coupe, 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Coupe, 1994 McLaren F1, 1955 Buick Roadster, 1986 Lamborghini Countach, and a steam-driven 1906 Stanley Steamer.

Also, he got to drive Batman’s Tumbler.

Ralph Lauren

This fashion mogul also has a strong passion for vintage cars and their designs. And can you blame him? Lauren’s cars have the beautiful, classic and curvy look absent from most cars today, and he’s featured them beside the runway in a recent fashion show and has exhibited parts of his collection in museums throughout the years.

Lauren prefers European cars, as seen in his D.A.D. Garage. Some of the rarer models he has includes a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe, a 1950 Jaguar XK120, and a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Volante Drophead Coupe.

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