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May
11
Found this a couple of years ago in Berlin, in front of the MeilenWerk. The place is now called Classic Remise. The BMW K100 motorcycle sculpture itself is worth taking a closer look. Just by chance, a matching Ford 20M Coupé was parked right next to it. Speaking of interesting contrasts…
Mar
13
A hot Sunday in early summer 2010 with a thunderstorm looming at the horizon. I was craving a sundae while driving on the speed limited part of the A6 in my 190E. I stopped at the McDonald’s in Sinsheim, right across the famous Museum. Seems like it was a good idea to stop just there, because upon entering the parking lot I discovered something unique: A pair of Škoda S100L – lowered to the ground, done up nicely in the (then new) rat style, complete with roof racks and odd luggage. Owned and driven by a group of friendly Czech guys. I inquired about their whereabouts… and they told me they are on the way back from a Škoda meeting in the Netherlands! Four people in each car – but to my huge amazement, they didn’t send sparks flying when they rejoind the Autobahn. I drove in convoy with them for a while and had a huge smile on my face. Seeing other peoples reactions was hilarious 🙂
Mar
09
Putting up a tent in the paddock at the Nürburgring at a VLN racing weekend isn’t really an option. Instead, you might want to have something more solid. Rain is a common weather occurrence at the ‘ring, after all. And while driving in the Eifel mountains isn’t really much fun in an asthmatic vehicle, you might as well bolt a few extra ponies into the engine bay – just as this gentlemen did. Having fun on the way to the track, enjoy the weekend there and have fun on the run home. That’s not only double the fun, but triple. Volkswagen T3 + Porsche 911 engine + proper brakes and suspension = 🙂
Mar
01
Hans Christian Andersen wrote a fairy tale called ‘The Ugly Duckling’. The story revolves around a little bird that suffers abuse from the other birds, until eventually maturing into a beautiful swan. Looking at the Volkswagen 412 Variant I found in Karlsruhe a couple of years ago, you can see a similar story. A vehicle that was considered ugly by most people and received a lot of bad comments right from the start.
However, the end of the story differs dramatically from the fairy tale version. In real life the story doesn’t have a happy end. Even now, almost 40 years later, nobody would ever confuse it with a beautiful swan. But hey… it does have a brightly colored 76 sticker. 😉
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Feb
24
2009 wasn’t such a good year for funfairs. With the financial crisis hitting the economy hard in 2008, many people didn’t have a lot of money to spend on rides, hot dogs, popcorn, etc. This and the chilly bloody cold temperatures during the Karlsruher Mess’ gave us the rare opportunity of taking some nighttime funfair pictures, without having to worry about a crowd. Most of the pictures turned out to be awesome – but lonely and sad at the same time. Proof, that an economic crisis takes the fun out of a funfair.
This post is dedicated to the beautifully lit Vita Popcorn® themed stall. A homely, warm glow that really stood out from the more colorful neon lights surrounding it.
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Feb
15
First seen from a distance across the road. Later on up close in the paddock area. Did I like the Ford GT? You bet! Would have never thought it could look great in silver with grey stripes…
Feb
12
Advertising is sometimes… weird. Create a new version version of a Renault 16 called TS, add a Le Mans racecar sticker to the rear window and a set of extra headlights. Et voilá – you have a sporty version of a rather sedate family car with plenty of roll in corners. Don’t forget to add elf oil and wear fancy sneakers – for that extra sporty pedal feel 😉
Jan
27
While browsing the MeilenWerk in Düsseldorf with a friend in 2010, we found this pristine shark nose BMW 635 CSI.
Jan
26
On the way home yesterday, I drove past an industrial estate near Würzburg and found a beautifully restored Porsche 911 SC Targa with the roof open. Outside. Mind you, it was just barely over 0° Celsius and cloudy…
Jan
15
Nürburgring, April 26 2013. It rains and the strong wind is bloody cold. Time for a hot shower! But wait… the local weather provides one of the natural photo effect filters it is so well known for: fog. Fortunately there is a nice opportunity for a couple of pictures. The BMW Z4 VLN racecar sits in the fading light, sporting a nice reflection on the wet ground. All it needs now is a bumper sticker… I’d rather be racing.
Jan
11
RRROOAARRR! That sort of mean V8 growl is not what you usually expect to hear when seeing a classic Berlin double-decker bus. There is a mean beast rare car hiding behind the bus, scaring the cyclists. The light turns green, the cyclists make a run for cover and the beast… spins the tires due to lack of grip caused by the summer rain in July 2012. Finding a suitable parking spot might not be easy with a vehicle that has such a long name: 1972 Chrysler Newport Royal 2-Door Hardtop Coupé.
Jan
10
The first week after a long winter treated us to sunshine and quite agreeable temperatures in April 2010. While driving home, I found this yellow Nissan Skyline R34 drifter parked on a side road with a for sale sign on the dashboard. When I downloaded the files weeks later, I discovered something I never noticed when taking the pictures. The McDonalds billboard in the background says: We bring enjoyment to roll. Quite fitting, I suppose 😉
Jan
09
One day in February 2011 I drove through an unfamiliar town in the Rhön mountains. I spotted the familiar shape of an Alpine A610 and immediately thought I should make a U-turn and stop quickly to check it out. To my surprise I found even more Alpine goodness that made me drool. It seems like the proprietor, Axel Reß, knows a thing or two about the beautiful French sports cars. There have been quite a few awesome cars and engines in the showroom. Unfortunately the shop was closed that day and there was nobody around to answer a few questions. I should actually go back there some day…
Jan
08
Offenburg. A hot day in August 2010. Heading for the car wash after a long day on the Autobahn. Turning around a corner, minding my own busine… what?!? Wait a second! What the hell is that? A Clan Crusader. Excuse me, a what? With an Irish license plate?
Sometimes I stumble upon vehicles I have never even heard of before. The Clan Crusader is a lightweight monocoque car that is based on Hillman Imp Sport running gear and a rear-mounted 875 cc engine. It was designed and built in the 1970’s by ex-Lotus engineers. Guess it’s a true saying that you learn something new every day 🙂
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Jan
03
October 3rd is a public holiday in Germany. The weather in 2011 was perfect to go for a ride in my trusty convertible. Taking a detour on my home way from Bamberg was well worth it, again. Not only did I discover a twisty road that is fun to drive, but I also found something extremely rare at a roundabout somewhere along the way: a Piaggio Ape Calessino 200. These little vehicles have been around since 1949 and are usually found in Italy, providing transportation for goods and passengers in the narrow streets of old cities.
