Friday 24 June 2016

Picking a Project Car: A Guide for Beginners

Picking the perfect project car is the most exciting part of a restoration project.  It is also an important decision that must be given much thought and consideration.  Here a few tips for picking your first project car:

Do your research.
Choosing a car may be overwhelming given the several different types to choose from. Doing your research will greatly help in narrowing down your choices and will definitely make the selection process easier and less stressful. When choosing a car, consider if the replacement parts are readily available. Take note of the car's year and model as well.

Image source: gawlercarclub.com
  
Know where to look and what to look for.
If you are lost on where to look for a project car, searching online is a good place to start. Websites such as Craigslist and EBay are some good online sources for project cars. Attending car shows and automotive swap meets is also another way to find great project car prospects.

Aside from knowing where to look, it is also important to know what to look for. A project car, while mostly old and dilapidated, should at least be solid and useful. When choosing a car, make sure its frame is compact and not rusted. Check the trunk floor, carpets, and seats keeping in mind that repairing automotive bodywork can be costly and laborious.

Image source: philip.greenspun.com

Bring a friend.
Bringing a trusted friend or a fellow car enthusiast will help keep you from being distracted or overwhelmed when picking a project car. A friend can give you sound advice when needed and can make sure that you did not miss anything when selecting a car or dealing with the seller. Plus, it’s just more fun to be with a friend!

Hello, I’m Alexander Potoczak! Subscribe to my blog for more on cars and restoration projects.

Wednesday 1 June 2016

Burn Rubber,Not Money: The Inexpensive Side Of Car Racing

Buying a car, regardless of purpose, is one of the more expensive luxuries that man indulges in. Not surprisingly, those who aim for a car racing slot spend the highest fees. Apart from buying the car itself (unless there are sponsors), the owner has to spend a ton of money for machine parts, maintenance, and licenses.

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201003/risk-vs-reward-at-th-1_600x0w.jpg
 Image source: topspeed.com

In many cases, car parts have to be customized to make the automobile run faster and more efficient on the tracks. If the racer doesn’t know how to tweak his own car, then he has to spend even more for professionals. The costs alone would hinder any interested beginners in participating in the sport. However, there are ways for aspiring race car drivers to experience the thrill of the tracks without burning a hole in their pockets.

One of the crucial thing that the driver must do is identify what he is looking for in terms of racing experience. A multitude of choices are available for racing and car types.

https://thinkingdrivernews.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/race-car-driver.jpg
 Image source: thinkingdrivernews.com

One type of cost-efficient but still thrilling racing is hill climbing. In hill climbing, racers use the slope of the hill to accelerate while traveling downwards, thereby negating the necessity for an expensive high-end car. As for cars, participants can opt for a ready-built spec car so that they won’t get overwhelmed with all the costs of maintenance and tuning necessary.

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