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The Car Exam goes to the 2010 Coronado Speed Festival’s Media Day
This past Friday was the Media Day for the 13th annual Coronado Speed Festival held at N.A.S. North Island in Coronado, CA. The event is a part of San Diego’s annual “Fleet Week” events, which pays homage to San Diego’s military community. During the time The Car Exam was at the event, racers were prepping their cars for the weekend’s races, and well as making practice runs on the track in their vehicles. From classic Ford Mustangs, classic BMW racers, to newer cars like the Mini, there were lots of cars to be seen.
The fun real fun of it was watching the cars and the drivers go through their paces on the track. Loud, gurgling V8 engines and their exhaust systems filled the air with their intensity and sheer power. But as this event proves, you don’t need a V8 engine or larger to cause a ruckus on the track. There were a variety of four and six-cylinder-powered cars on hand, and they were showing their speed and finesse during the practice drifting runs on the track.
This journalist has not smelled so much scorching tire smoke and rubber in his entire life! And whatever your point of view was, the smell could have been considered either toxic by the general spectator—or absolutely intoxicating by a racing connoisseur or an all-out racing fanatic. Some of the drifts were well-controlled masterpieces, while others were desperate attempts to save face and hopefully avoid an unintentional (and probably costly) collision with one of the barriers on the track. Simply put, it was a grand experience to take in.
Various military service men and women, press members (television, print,internet bloggers and journalists) and other V.I.P.’s were on hand to take in or participate in the event (there was a line for people to sign up to go along for the ride, as well). Numerous vendors and other displays were at the Speed Festival, including Edelbrock and Russo and Steele Auctions. A Ford Motor Company trailer had also pulled up at the event just before I left.
There were two lasting memories for me at the 2010 Speed Festival Media Day: first, I encountered Joe Harding, a native Englander who was filling the radiator of his red 1939 Lagonda race car he was going to race at the event. He told me he had been racing his car for the past 22 years. I asked him if it was difficult to maintain, and he replied, with a smile, that it required “Lots of maintenance.” He also told me he wasn’t looking forward to setup of the track, because the Lagonda was not made for taking corners well. It didn’t matter, though—Joe looked happy to be there and to be racing his beloved 1939 Lagonda.
Next, there was an older gentleman riding a scooter who saw me taking photos of two 1960’s Ford Mustang racing cars parked in front of a trailer. He pulled up to me and offered to take some photos of me standing next the two cars, and I happily obliged. When he finished, he said seriously yet jokingly, “It’s no problem—that’s why we do this (Bleep!).” My interpretation of his comment: People attend the Speed Festival (and all other car events like it)—whether they are five or fifty-years old, men or women, car buffs or media members, because they enjoy seeing the automobiles and relish the lasting memories they can bring.
Story and Photos by P. Scott ©2010 (9/26/10)
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is recalled
Bloomberg is reporting that Hyundai is recalling over 139,000 2011 Sonatas (built between 12/11/09 and 9/10/10 due to a steering issue. Drivers could potentially face a total loss or reduction of maneuvering control. Hyundai clams that less than 10 Sonatas have been reported with the steering problems, but it’s taking no chances just in case there is a larger problem.
Source: Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-26/hyundai-to-recall-sonata-sedans-in-u-s-to-make-checks-on-steering-issues.html) 9/27/10
Ford may reduce its vehicle lineup
Ford may be taking downsizing to another level: Ford will eliminate its Mercury brand by the end of the year, and now the Automotive News is reporting that Ford may reduce it vehicle lineup to “as few as 20 models.” The report also notes Ford had 97 models when Ford CEO Alan Mulally took over Ford leadership in 2006, and that he stated, “Fewer brands means you can put more focus into improving the quality of engineering.” We’ll see if that proves to be the case, especially since Ford has already made impressive strides improving the quality of its vehicles.
Source: Automotive News (http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100927/OEM04/100929868/1257) 9/27/10
P. Scott
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