Garage Humble - Presenting Life In Racing Spirit!

The Whale

2011-04-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Around three months ago what some would consider the impossible happen. I sold my beloved STi project. It was a truly great time spent modifying and researching that car and the end result was just an impeccable pice of automotive art. However there was one thing missing, the fact that sustainability, ease of use, and consistency are all equally important values in the equation of building a car that satisfies the beauty of driving, the art of design, and the purpose of logical refinement filtered through a great platform to make what's good ever personally better. Retrospectively the STi became everything I wanted it to be, a gorgeous, reliable, usable, and faster version of what Subaru already gave us, and with that accomplished it was time for it to go to a new home and fulfill its use. I guess I just see the issue like this; I was given the ability and means and connections to build it but not the means to use it. So why be trite and feel entitled to race it or tear down a great car when a deeper look can show you that all a car is really good for is the experience of beauty and the people you meet. So I was able to reconnect with a friend and intentionally bless him with my art and given ability. Hopefully he'll experience just as much and more while he owns it. So now all I needed was something to drive.

Moving into the major narrative; how does one fight automotive monomania? WIth a shining white whale. If ever their was such a ghostly representation of the pale behemoth, that muscular ghost of bone and sinew it would live in the slinging echo of the boxer motivating my white wagon in wakes of wallowing traffic. I dare say it may be the best car I've ever driven, and I didn't even build it, loe my pride. Authorities turn their eyes, Porsches can't catch it, my family is ever safe in it, and it's interior consumes antiques large enough to make even, well, a whale proud. Yes I do indeed love the 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon that now lives in our drive and for once I own a vehicle that has no agenda of modification. To produce one has just been a slap at how good it is. Overtime it will receive a subtle mixture of refinement and personalization but I'm striving to make this one a permanent horse in the stable, maybe even one for the kids down the line. For now in prayer and petition I hope to use the wagon to connect with as many people as possible, build those relationships, and hopefully even help out in our community; all the while braving the traffic with my lovely wife Ashley and our coming daughter Zoey.

It's Just A House Burning, But It's Not Haunted

2011-02-05T19:14:00.000-08:00

Whenever I feel a bit restless I find the best cure to the heart to be automotive wanderings into the city. Taking these on occasion I have more less unintentionally developed a mental catalogue of moving architecture; for nothing else can snap the wandering mind into alertness as the beauty of a home graceful and well designed. Favoring the desolate, I love to pass by the abandoned homes of prestige that the city has left, perhaps for no other reason than the chance one might have taken up the unlikely task of restoring one. Finding quite the opposite, one such house that had truly impressed me before I found hulking about after being set afire. In such situations a kind of parallel state is created; with the house essentially segmented between the realities of its creation and grandeur, present misery, and eminent destruction, and obviously all that can be done is to capture the flickering remainder before its falls back to the earth. This then is my business; a photographer, a dealer of the vanishing. For what further action can one take but capture existence of creation for the enrichment of the created and celebration of the grace of living?

Updates on beauty

2010-11-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

One of the wonderful aspects of being involved in this church plant downtown is that it really forces your mind to be awake. I have never spent so much time in sheer thought on life, art, purpose, and the overlap through relationship while too thinking of being relational in these aspects. And at this point some standards have really evolved in the structure of my thoughts, notably the fact that as we know Christ and relate through grace, which dominates our response to Him, so should we echo this with acknowledgement that life and its aspects too are an assembly of grace driven actions that should encourage us to truly strive and serve and create to honor our Lord. And I'm bothered by the extent I have lived and will continue living in some aspects, though hopefully ever diminishing, in an unawakened and automatic collection of response and ideology based more by interpretation and presentation of culture than routed in this truth. But nonetheless I rejoice to have been given the knowledge and accordingly I wish to alter and craft a life of both subserviences and beauty.

So let's break this down practically on what I do and want to do better. I am married to the love of my life Ashley, who caries our first child to be born in the end of April. And I simply can't wait. But I've been horrible to make consistent time to date her and shower her with seamless and uninterrupted attention to learn and know and lead her. And gracefully I will grow better, and ever more thankful that my love is tied to me with the enthusiasm I'm tied to her. So despite being poor I'm planning to make an indispensable habit of creating purposeful time and conversation to her, especially once we have our child.

Our home is coming along well and stands hopefully to the merit of God's Providence and my dedication to create both a beautiful and inviting place for our expanding family and friends and neighbors. I rejoice in the time and energy, and even the frustration in light that the work I do is not only for the Lord but also for the daily beauty and appreciation of my family.

My work is satisfying and I'm thankful to have a way to make income through generating creativity and the work of my hands.

So now let's get around to art, or in my case, the presentation of art in motion through the medium of the automobile mixed with culture. The Subaru is getting sold, in fact as we speak I've hopefully found someone to follow through with the purchase. So the big topic for debate is the replacement, which is a really open ended question. Initially I was truly planning on going vintage and still may but I'm just not sure it's the best use of money. One of the most surprising developments has been my complete lack of interest in automotive culture on large, so I guess I really am getting boring. Of course I'm not buying into that as an excuse to drive and build something that isn't beautiful in aesthetics and function, but rather I've made those my priorities over some external definition of what's impressive.

A Saturday As It Should Be

2010-10-02T18:01:00.001-07:00

And how should it be, free from work. Took a spontaneous trip to a thrift store called Helping Hands with the Mrs. and our friends Katie and TJ. Turned out to be an amazing trip ending with the purchase of a 1940s Royal Quiet Deluxe Typewriter and a Philco Am Radio/ Record player that is tube powered! I need to find a place to get a good overhaul for the radio but despite a nasty hum from some bad condensers and that Montgomery seemingly only has AM gospel stations, the radio sounds incredible. The typewriter is even more shocking, I think it just needs a ribbon. I love finding beautiful objects for the house that are period correct and just what we were looking for

The Suburbs

2010-09-19T19:44:00.001-07:00

Thank you, my darling wife for buying a record so beautiful for a husband so desperately wanting to know that someone else can feel this way.

In the suburbs I, I learned to drive
And you told me we'd never survive
Grab your mother's keys we're leaving

You always seemed so sure
That one day we'd be fighting
In a suburban war
Your part of town against mine
I saw you standing on the opposite shore
But by the time the first bombs fell
We were already bored
We were already, already bored

Sometimes I can't believe it
I'm moving past the feeling
Sometimes I can't believe it
I'm moving past the feeling again

The kids wanna be so hard
But in my dreams we're still screaming
And running through the yard
When all of the walls that they built in the 70's finally fall,
And all of the houses they build in the 70's finally fall--
Meant nothin' at all?
Meant nothin' at all,
It meant nothing

Sometimes I can't believe it
I'm moving past the feeling
Sometimes I can't believe it
I'm moving past the feeling
And into the night

So can you understand?
Why I want a daughter while I'm still young
I want to hold her hand,
And show her some beauty,
Before all this damage is done
But if it's too much to ask
If it's too much to ask
Then send me a son

Under the overpass
In the parking lot we're still waiting
It's already passed
So move your feet from hot pavement
And into the grass
'Cause it's already passed
It's already, already passed

Sometimes I can't believe it
I'm movin' past the feeling
Sometimes I can't believe it
I'm moving past the feeling again
I'm moving past the feeling
I'm moving past the feeling

In my dreams we're still screaming
We're still screaming
We're still screaming

-The Arcade Fire

This House Screams Like A Ghost

2010-09-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you never know what you love until you you love it. But I should have known that old houses are in my blood, my parents flipped seven the first seven years of their marriage. And I can't even imagine living somewhere that isn't beautiful. At the core I think it always comes back to that gospel transition, that out of restoration is the desire to reclaim what's around you, driven as an aspect of appreciation for that love given you. Anyway I see love in the abandoned, and I make beautifying ghosts an art.

Set Two

2010-09-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

Last set of photos from our anniversary trip, this time with a bit more variety. So much small detail everywhere in this city to catch. Even happened up on an old school Volvo. Also grabbed a few pictures of the Urban Outfitters up there which I found to be a fantastic execution of reusing what you have. It was housed in an independent play theatre built in 1937 that was shockingly well kept. Apparently it had been empty for around 20 years before their store opened. Beautiful molding all through it, all well preserved plaster. And as all trips should end, we stopped at Cupcake for some treats on the ride home.

Set One

2010-09-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

First half of our beautifully hot anniversary trip to Charleston in June. Such a lovely city to walk around for hours and hours, everything is gorgeous and conveys such an attitude of care. A city with an unforgotten downtown, unforgotten beauty, it's hopeful. I'm anxious to see what becomes of our own Dexter Ave. and surrounded streets as they continue to develop and hopefully reuse, but places like this just refocus the potential we have here.

There's Always A Story To Tell

2010-09-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Weight Of Whats To Come

2010-08-25T15:04:00.001-07:00

Again life has changed a lot since my last post. At the forefront of these changes are lies the incredible blessing that my darling wife Ashley is pregnant and well that of course changes everything. I couldn't be happier. We are going to be parents, I"m gonna be a dad. It's all so surreal. It's all so full of grace. I suppose our general plan right now is to chug along with the house, find a new builder, and see if we can add a second story without too much disdain from the architectural review board. Or there is another house lurking around this neighborhood thats a bit charming. But thats getting a little far down the line for right now. Of course this has a pretty sizable impact on what I want to with my car, and what I should do with the car. But for the best it has really helped me be more objective. I figure I have three options right now. First, I can keep the Subaru and make it a little friendlier daily driver. The Cusco coilovers will go, maybe even the exhaust for something quitter. I'm cool with this plan, I see it as a chance to add a little reason and sustainability to the project. The second option would be downsizing to a less expensive platform. Sell or trade the STi, pick up an s13 240, an ae86, dc2, something fun thats cheap, reliable, has rear seating, and lower taxes and upkeep than the Subaru which wouldn't be hard. Plus I would have money to add to savings. Then there is the third plan, the dual car route. I could sell the STi, buy an honest commuter car, something with amazing reliability, low cost, and a solid manual transmission. Put a chunk of money in savings and use the rest to buy a project, almost certainly a Datsun Z or 510. I've never really opened up to the dual car life, but I see the practicality there, the ease of not worrying your project is going to get hit in the parking lot or something stupid, not having to pay for nice gas and tires on something you are driving everyday, etc. And the Datsun would be justifiable to own, lets just talk about registration and tag for around 8 dollars, yeah take that to the 100 I just paid. All good food for thought but I still have a lot of prayer to wade through it.

Huntsville Time

2010-08-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm just amazed at what they will actually play on the news:

And the song:

I'm Not In Love With The Modern World

2010-08-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

Lately I have had a few people say something along the following lines to me: "Why don't you have an e-reader? / You need an e-reader! / Don't you read a lot? you should get an e-reader!" to which I usually respond with a simple and brief, "I really don't care for those". But apparently that has been insufficient so I'm preparing this overview of why I won't support them.

First off, let's just look at the practical issues involved with these. With a book, you throw it in your car/bag/purse/luggage/etc. and enjoy it when you are able. You don't have to stop reading it because the battery died. When I go to a coffee shop I can leave it on the table without wondering if someone is going to steal it. If it stays in the car the pages won't burn out from the heat they have been exposed to. Books are wonderful; they can get dirty, wet, bent, dropped, and even lost. An e-reader cannot. E-readers are also extremely expensive. For comparison, I'm going to use the Barnes & Noble Nook since I feel it is the best of the lot. To own a Nook, I must shell out $150. Now most classics are public domain so I could get them for free but when I want to buy a book I have to pay at least $9 for it. That seems absurd. Actually, let's not get ahead of ourselves because after my $9 is gone, I don't have a book. I have not exchanged my money for a tangible object of value, I have a packet of data. And that really isn't worth hardly anything despite how cleverly they assure you it is. Yes, I realize a new paper back is around the $15, but why are readers not taking advantage of the tremendous used book market? In fact, these devices attempt to eliminate it entirely. By and large I can pick up anything I'm interested in reading for under $5 and have it shipped to my house. Finally, have we as a culture completely forgotten that through our history the eminent importance of reading had obtained such a height that they created these big public buildings called libraries where you could even get books for free?

Now on to my feelings on the e-readers themselves. The creation of these devices completely destroys the act of reading. No longer can you enjoy the lightness of a book of poems or the heft of a Russian classic. Individual intricacies are annihilated. I qualify this next statement with "to my knowledge", but accordingly all books are now even in the same typeset? It seems tragic this would be the case but I can't find any info either way. But what is innately true to the device is the slaughter of the senses involved in reading. Reading is such a pleasurable activity because it engages three of your senses with a fair degree of unison. You feel the book, the pages, the wear, the binding; you smell the book, its age, even the house of a friend; and of course you see the book, and too are involved with its size, condition, and identity. For any fans of Orwell that may be reading, having your text stored in an online format opens the door for defilement as well. With printed to text you have at least a heavy degree of textual accuracy, give online storage a few years and see what passages are rewritten. But the most heartbreaking part to me is the death of the literary experience. When I travel, I take a few books to read and what if I read them all? I find a local used book store. I experience the city. I experience the coffee shop on the way. I experience the afternoon kiss with my wife when we find a park and rest. And I experience the individuality of the store, the person working and their conversation. And finally, one of the best aspects of being a book lover is the discovery of a book I would have never found if it hadn't caught my eye on the shelf or the gotten recommendation of the cashier.

And thus the e-reader takes a marvelous and lucid activity, the sheer hobby of reading and replaces it with an LCD screen and a charging cord. And when I could have talked to someone about the book I am reading while I'm out, that conversation is replaced with techno-savvy jargon about my device, how new it is, what model, how I like it or any other question that has no relevance to what I should be doing with it. And finally the book itself, an object of near perfect design, is replaced with an expensive piece of software pending demise from obsolesce. But at least it's trendy.

Shooting the Warmth of History

2010-08-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

Recently Ashley and I took a trip with our friend Jenni to a local antique mall. Amidst the treasures, horrors, and mindless items we managed to find a gorgeous bistro set for our porch but more interestingly an entire alcove devoted to cameras. Now when I say dedicated to cameras I mean that in the purist sense, while there were some digital offerings film based machines exceeded them 30-fold. Why does that matter, well because out of that alcove I snagged this:
That's rights a Minolta SR-T 202. Though a had been trying to find a Pentax, which he also had, you just cant beat this camera for build quality and usability. Plus its virtually indistinguishable from the more expensive Pentax film to film. So wait, I have an amazing digital slr and I just bought a 40 year old film camera with a fixed lens out of a flea market and antique store? Yes I did, and its been amazing. Ever since I started practicing photography I have been enamored with light and try to fill my images with as much of it and its subtle coloring as I can. And frankly the best efforts with my Nikon pail in comparison to just the first round out of the Minolta. Plus it appeals to my love of bokeh [the aesthetic quality of out of focus light] like nobody's business. And with that said, on to round one.

3/3

2010-07-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Took off early from work today and headed with the Mrs.to rural Birmingham to get our Schnauzer puppy, Rigby. I'm amazed at how awesome and chill he is, hopefully he will maintain this personality into adulthood. In the meantime when I wasn't totally engrossed with how cute Rigby is, I continued to play with new settings, etc to capture the best feel for my images.

When did my life explode?

2010-06-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

While I certainly haven't been a beacon of consistency with updates to this blog, I like to imagine I get around to it on semi-regular basis until the past month-ish hit. I sincerely feel like my life has exploded into an overwhelming amount of detail necessitating micro events, activities, and occasional disasters. So lets take things one at time.

For those who don't know, I started a new job as a barista / bartender at X. Legally I do believe I can't say where in the social media sphere, interesting huh? In short I love the people, while the job is frankly dismal. But thats okay, I have a distinct job possible looming out there, one so good that it just reminds you that the Lord will answer prayer and often times make his work way more obvious than we deserve.

For the house, we are somewhere in the process of a kitchen remodel. It's certainly not the most inconvenient thing in the world but having the bathroom be your primary source of water is taxing, especially under the excitement to see this completed. The larger question, when will that be, is a sea of vagaries. Evidently we could be held up over a week just waiting on countertops. I'm reassuring myself now again that we will take it a step at a time, we will have the joy of our kitchen far longer than an unexpected week delay.

In other parts of the house, I've mostly finished the living room, and the bulk of the dining room painting. We unpack slowly. I come home with this profound joy at the beauty and skill with which Ashley puts together our rooms. Her work to make our home a beautiful and warm response to the Lord is distinguished, it's moving. She constantly reminds me of how wonderful it is to have a home and how inseparable the desire to open it to those around us. She's ever more lovely.

At night we either organize and work on the house or we are planning with others in the 2cities Church plant. Throw in a night to cook for her grandmother, a new found night of music practice in preparation for the church starting its worship service, and a miscellaneous event and it starts to add up. And honestly it adds up against me, because I know since my morning starts at 4 I probably shouldn't still be up doing things at 11 that evening. And the fact that I caught a virus no one else caught and have stayed sick with it longer than I should have reenforces this. So now its just a matter of separating out what can go and what can't. I'll get there, but it's gonna take some patience.

And finally, there's the Subaru. I feel like I've hit this wall of project apathy for a bit. Partly due to just how much has been going that has been more important, partly due to indecision about where it's going. I've come to the conclusion that despite my love for vintages to sell it in hopes of really making money off switching to an older car is unrealistic. A Datsun is going to be an expensive and involved project and while I would be gaining a lot in terms of beauty and mechanics I will be literally paying for it. This comes against the inscrutable reliability of the STi, a constant pleasure to work on and modify as I wish too, not as I have to. So that changes my perspective a little, or rather a lot actually. Essentially my mind is two-fold on the issue. On the one hand, I would like to keep the Subaru, enjoy it, reassess my path of modification and build what would amount to the best daily driven STi possible. Think something a long the lines of a Panamer from Subaru, a sedan with bench mark performance, reliability, and comfort; yet a good deal better looking than what Porsche offers. Irony. If I do sell it, I'm really leaning towards neither a Z nor 510, but rather a Hakosuka. I think I can buy one in better shape for a justifiable amount of money, and as for my plans for it well let it suffice to say that they would be intriguing.

Lurking In The Darkness

2010-05-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

To The Sea

2010-05-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

Took the love of my life to the sea this past weekend. It was a wonderful break from the anxiety of work / work / remodel planing / needing to unpack / work that had drained us so. About ten minutes into the trip we realized our fm broadcast/charger for the ipod was broken necessitating a stop at an incredibly country Wal-Mart [yes more than usual] to buy a new one. Lots of interesting looks ensue. For some reason we gather the most curious attention in rural Alabama. Alongside that detour was a first for both of us, a stop at good ole McDonald's. Being our only choice for coffee until arrival near the shore, we decided to bite the bullet. All in all it wasn't bad, just creamy, but you gotta have some fat to absorb that vitamin D right? The drive was super nice, the Versa more than proving itself over the three hours and we managed to get to the beach in Alabama, from Alabama, through Florida; but also we found the most winding, varied elevation beach road I have ever seen while electric Dylan filled the ears. Once we arrived at the condo we had a fairly marvelous pod coffee maker and heaps of Nantucket blend [I don't know either] to keep us active. I'm a bit burned but I do love a nice day resting alongside the Mrs. lost looking at the rolling ocean. I'm looking so forward to Charleston for our two year anniversary, and seem to find myself more and more enamored with the atmosphere of "the road trip." I love the feeling, hurled over pavement in density of love, the thickness of connection with the passing creation, the mechanical providence and reliance, and the overarching love bridging the few feet between myself and my best friend.

Unscripted

2010-05-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Found a half hour free before meeting Tim for coffee last week. Despite wanting to do a shoot of the "completed" car I just couldn't resist the tempting combination of the car being fairly clean, a pleasant day, and a beautiful secluded road. A much more thoughtful shoot is still coming but for now the heart called for a little carpe diem.

Homecoming

2010-05-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

Picked up the STi this afternoon after a long week of being too busy to fix a punctured tire. Unspeakably good to have this back at home, the car turned out so much more beautiful than I thought it would. Still have a little to go before its done, I need to have the rear glass tinted after being replaced as well as a few pieces of trim swapped out for fresh ones. One day a new set of rain guards will make their way over the sea to replace my damaged ones. As soon as everything is together I will get a full and detailed shoot up, but in the meantime here are a few pictures out of the driveway. Sorry for the nasty lighting, outside is just a sea of grey before the storm.

Home-Life

2010-05-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the complete absence of updates, the process of buying a house, working on said house, starting a new job, and realizing that I need to purchase an unending list of things for the house has rather overwhelmed even the normal consistency of busy-life. I can't wait for things to stabilize, and hopefully they will over the coming week. Aside from doing lots of interior painting that I have no pictures of, I spent Saturday taking care of the yard. Being a home owner has been such a blessing so far, I love owning an actual space that needs and reflects the care and ability you put into it.

Lately I Ashley and I have been talking a lot about the concept of the home in America. I hate the idea of a "starter home." When did we become so insatiable that even the goal of home ownership wasn't enough, just a gateway to reaching further and further over your means until you acquire the conspicuous, and almost by standard unattractive, modern dwelling in an upscale neighborhood full of people you don't know. I can't say for certain but we feel strongly that if possible we would like to be here for the long haul. I want to have children and have them grow up in an area that cultivates an understanding and embracement of multi economic and multiracial living, as well as a true appreciation and acknowledgment for aesthetic quality. Below are a few pictures of our place, just a scavenging of our yard bathed in that evening sun.

Back Under The Setting Sun

2010-04-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

Last Call; Teaser

2010-04-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

Cut / Buff/ Repeat. Few pictures from Thursday, car was finished today, heading to pick her up sometime tomorrow.

First Draft

2010-04-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Finally the car has some paint on it! The pictures are after just a spray, much more to come after it gets more paint, clear, and a lot of attention to the finish.

Deviations from the Plan

2010-04-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

After the car came back from prep we discovered that "prep' was more of an overview. After a two day delay all was made right. Another interesting note is that my drivers door handle was evidently replaced with one from a San Remo Red model at some point in its JDM life, you can clearly see the color coming through after sanding. Also, upon pulling out the gorgeous Spec C aluminum trunk we found that it was from an 06-07 model, all fine and good aside from the massive holes in it to attach the stars of Pleiades emblem found on those years. Live, learn, weld it up.

Expanses of Ghosts

2010-04-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

In high school I became familiar with a gorgeous property full of haunt that lay near desolation atop Montgomery's downtown. As life and city shifted about the house stayed a constant in my memory, a wrinkle that never ironed out despite so many ideas and plans to document the home in various fashions. And as all ideas come and go I too returned to the house, even putting it off, shooting other areas all the while knowing that I would end up here to take these photos. For a brief history, Winter Place was built in 1855, plausibly by Samuel Sloan for Joseph Samual Winter and his wife Mary Elizabeth Winter. The property has remained in the hands of the family for its entire lifespan, aside from a 5 year period in which the North House was outside the ownership of bloodline. Evidently in my two year absence Major Craig Drescher purchased the house and it is undergoing redemption. Of course one condition in all this is that the current Winter stay and live as long as he choose. It is encouraging and rather beautiful to me to find those who wish to see this city healed and as well as it can be, and much in line with the vision of just how much Montgomery needs the gospel. For as a broken and fragile people we must also find that our only repair lies in His grace.

Scars

2010-04-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Destruction for beauty: straightened, pulled, and proper.

Deconstruction

2010-04-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

Home Sweet Home

2010-04-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

Well Ashley and I finally have our own home, here are just a few pics. More to come as we get closed and start the move in!

Asleep in the Chapel

2010-04-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

Final Thoughts

2010-04-05T07:48:00.001-07:00

The last poses of my Subaru in semi-stock form. I thought I would be worried about the change at this point but I'm extremely excited. Progress photos are forthcoming.

The Ultimate Mod

2010-03-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

So things are changing big time for Ashley and I and as such I have been disparagingly slow with updates. In an attempt to re-capsulate life, I'll start with the core and revolve out from there. I honestly never intended to ever sell the STi, I just couldn't imagine I would find something to break that connection and move on. I was wrong. We have been house shopping and lately have found a home that we simply love. While the jury is somewhat out on what will happen to the car, I have found in the talks, plans, and goals just how much more fulfilling and important this project will be. And standing on the other side of this choice the objective distance I have gained from my STi project is essentially proper and rewarding. We will be taking a long look at the home tomorrow and hopefully we will have more solid news on this aspect very soon.

Now since this is an automotive-priority blog, I'll get to where I stand on that issue. There is always a chance that the car will stay on with me, continue its road, and that's that, but I think that once she comes out of paint I would be passing up a fantastic opportunity to send her to a new home. For a replacement I've tiered my considerations:

I.
-BMW E46 M3
-Datsun Z
-Datsun 510
-Nissan 300zx 2+2

II.
-BMW E34 5 series
-Honda DA Integra
-Honda DC2 Integra
-Honda EG Civic Hatch
-Honda EK Civic Hatch
-Toyota Corolla GT-S

Obviously the first tier cars are my key interests but the second tier vehicles represent options that I think present too much quality to be completely disregarded. Whatever this car may be, this project will be rather different from my current one; namely that this car will be modified in a way to increase daily enjoyment over track performance. A diametrical shift from where I am. Feel free to weigh in on any preferences you may have, and I will do my best to document these changes as they occur.

Advertising Dreams

2010-03-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

Anyone else notice the shameful amount of car commercials airing for "sports cars" with no regard for A. The car being a sports car, or B. Making any attempt to connect the commercial with a concrete performance achievement? I have, but I can't say that about Zonda.

When Toyota Knew How To Stop

2010-03-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

If only Toyota could go back to the late 80s early 90s. Do they even realize they make nothing interesting now? While I can't do anything about that, I can sit back and enjoy this F powered Starlet.

Z32

2010-03-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

Oh Nissan, how consistently far ahead you are in z styling.

Mpressive

2010-03-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

Of all the M models to come from BMW, I am such a softie for the E32 M5. It has such a spectacular feel to it with just the right mix of classic and modern styling. As BMW continues to de-evolve stylistically I am interested to see how the car continues to age. Regardless, it is certainly an unquestionable accomplishment for the company's history.

Nom-Nom

2010-03-09T07:15:00.001-08:00

One super wide body STi devouring an apex.

Epic

2010-03-05T15:17:00.001-08:00

Star Road

2010-03-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

Love these guys, what a beautiful restoration.

The Brutality Of Purpose

2010-03-01T14:01:00.001-08:00

If I could build a vehicle that allowed for zero acceptance of anything aside from the capacity for speed, handling, and my pleasure this porsche would spring from my head.

Princeton's Flame spitting Porsche! from MayDay DavidD on Vimeo.

Direction Ahead

2010-02-25T08:38:00.000-08:00

Decisions are essentially made, this is just icing on the [cup]cake.

New Zealand Does It Best

2010-02-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

More style than should be had in one country.

Car Pool Lane

2010-02-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

Miley Cyrus always makes commuting a little less lonely.

Tuning Past Vol 2

2010-02-22T12:18:00.000-08:00

When you have reached the point as a tuning house that you are given an award by NISMO for your work on a model, you have truly accomplished an impeccable build. This car was super-legit in the first years of the 00s and eventually claimed such an award in 03, but even today it stands alone [wherever it is] as an almost definitive Japanese build. This car just oozes the simple complexity the country is famous for, never afraid to completely reengineer and never afraid to leave something stock.

Thoughts Of The Past

2010-02-19T19:13:00.000-08:00

I came across these pictures of the JUN Hyper Lemon Impreza a few weeks ago, what happens to cars like this? This machine was near perfection incorporating ITBs as well as a trick turbo setup. I believe it lapped in the 59s at Tsukuba. I wish there were more tuning shops that really took on projects like this. Aero to motor the brilliant folks at JUN Auto Mechanic reworked, reimagined, and redefined the GD platform.

The Art Of Flare

2010-02-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

Stumbled across the vintage RX7 build the other day, essentially a reconstruction of the old era circuit builds but just look at that body work! Wish I could find real info on the engine and suspension build but the flow of their aero design and their wheel setup is simply top notch.

Boxer Livery

2010-02-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

Borrowing the dress from a slightly more attention grabbing boxer-motivated auto, I think the STi pulls of the orange with comfortable flamboyance.

Auto-Reflection-Life

2010-02-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

This car would be pointless without the element of servility; tough work to pull off but character is everything.

Hard Miata

2010-02-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

It's not just the fender, or the wheel, or the fitment, but the blending of all those things that make me like this photo so much.

In The Cage

2010-02-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

In high school, my friend Kyle and I shot some pictures at this apartment complex. I have not forgotten it, ever. At the time it was still inhabited, and mostly it has not changed. It has been condemned but the aspect of life is barely altered. This is the most haunting place I have been, it is bathed in sorrow and thick with the element of air. I would love to do a documentary of this building and capture each room, who wants to accompany me?

Montgomery City II

2010-02-11T13:45:00.001-08:00

Met up with Brian for another Wednesday coffee / bible study / photo session. The weather was just brutal so everything was rushed and cut short but there were some quality results. I'm really enjoying doing at least a weekly photo-walk, it has done wonders for my creativity, perspective, and attention for detail.

Carisma

2010-02-09T15:08:00.000-08:00

This car has heaps of it, but its so hard to define. The only lacking element to this 510 are some nice wheels to fill out those flares. Aside from that Datsun orange is love on this coupe and that styling just leaves me longing.

Revise . Rebuild

2010-02-08T12:47:00.000-08:00

TimeAtk has been demonstrating the boundaries of the GD fenders for a while now but his latest wheel and tire fitment is pretty close to perfect. 18x10, 275/35/18 IIRC.

Garage Dream

2010-02-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

This guy deserves a lifetime achievement award for 1. Owning a 22B, 2. Having the most proper garage, and 3. Living beside another 22B owner. That's just awesome.

Montgomery City

2010-02-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

Changing things up a bit, met Brian for coffee and went for a photowalk downtown. It's great to broaden out from being strictly automotive and take some pictures of the city I grew up in, against, and passionate for.

Dino-Saurus

2010-02-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

So what do you do when you are taking a break from building some of the nicest GT-Rs in Japan? Well if you are Garage Saurus you tweak the finer aspects of Italy. There is nothing as intensely beautiful to me as a dry carbon Voltex wing on the back of a 550.

Ghosts

2010-01-31T12:47:00.001-08:00

Saw this set from Strictly German over in Georgia. Salvage yards are so hauntingly beautiful.

Burnt Norton

2010-01-29T07:08:00.000-08:00

I wanted to do a shoot of the STi, a kind of "end of an era" feel has really been weighing on me. The car is shot in the country where I first drove alone, where all the light and openness gives this really great duality between warmth and high contrast. The title is borrowed from a poem by T.S. Eliot, and best captures the surreal feeling of possible reality I have been under. In a sense, this is to celebrate the car that ends and begins with the coming restructure.

Gallery Worth

2010-01-27T10:28:00.000-08:00

I featured this car a long time ago, but recently came across the actual photo set from his shoot. It's so clean I just can't dislike it.

Home Grown

2010-01-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

So much love for Chicago style. This garage built widebody STi made all the right sacrifices with all the deserved gain.

Dorifto!

2010-01-26T11:00:00.001-08:00

Oh Captain!

2010-01-25T15:36:00.000-08:00

Doesn't the half burned afternoon sun just make you want to drive?

Violent Running Street Tribe

2010-01-25T15:32:00.001-08:00

Harman Motive Tuned

2010-01-25T11:24:00.001-08:00

When you can't have it all, I am always a fan of the it isn't pretty but it does work crowd and taking that cue is this fantastic build from Harman Motive. Despite it's conglomeration of aero forms, this car has been breaking records all over the country in the time attack scene. One cue I do like however are those fender flares borrowed from the 240 crowd, an aggresive statement that underscores both racing heritage and function as basic values.

EF Sedan Revisit

2010-01-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

New set of this sedan, so tasty and clean. Tim the bunny would drop some jaws.

The Joy Of Snow

2010-01-22T08:24:00.000-08:00

When trouble shows up, you better call a Subaru.

Pure Cleanliness

2010-01-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Wish I could find more pics of this DA Integra, such an underrated generation.

Turtle Power

2010-01-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

Awesome EK with a great use of non-Honda aero bits. If you love it, make it fit!

Waiting Without Thinking

2010-01-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

It's something I just can't do. The trunk should arrive in around a month and in the meantime I'm going crazy as to whether or not I should stick to grey or go with white instead. Eye candy for thought, this white S203 though I wish he hadn't painted the plastic bumper trim. On the bright side, I love the spoiler and am rather pleased to have one coming.

Classic Life

2010-01-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

When a car becomes a cult followed as the AE86, its surreal to see it used as transportation. This guy earns major respect for having such a clean corolla, putting it to work in the daily grind, and finally for embracing an icon as a competent family vehicle

Loved To Dirty

2010-01-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

Winter has been a test of endurance for the STi. A good clean is right around the corner, but I love a nice car that isn't too nice to get filthy.

Dunson-vation

2010-01-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

Racing as art; Racing is art.

Great Things, Unexpected Packages

2010-01-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

Blacktop 20V swapped Corolla? How about some TOM"s aero-dish wheels on top of that? Yes please. This is just a reminder that there is no excuse for a bad project.

The Beat Of Excitement

2010-01-18T17:07:00.001-08:00

Awesome shot of the S14 doing just what it should.

The Motion Of Revival

2010-01-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

It's brand new year, and better still a new decade. Sorry for the lack of updates amidst the holiday season, but now things are better than ever before and yes that includes actually having internet at home. Look forward to more quality post and more frequent updates. Better still, look forward to some real coverage on a local scale.

The past few months have brought some huge changes notably the purchase of a new car for my wife Ashley. Now the proud owner of an 07 Nissan Versa with the obligatory six speed gear box, the bulk of my time has been spent between work and instruction on the engagement point. It's really rather unfair how excellently she has taken up the manual, I wish my learning had been half as smooth. A proper photo shoot is forthcoming as well as modification? That's right I'm no longer the sole enthusiast.

In other news, parts have been ordered for the STi, including a replacement carbon Chargespeed lip, new JDM rain guards, and after much debate the car will be receiving an aluminum Spec C trunk lid as well as an S203 spoiler. Everything should arrive mid February then it's into the body shop for a complete exterior overhaul and respray.

Finally, Ashley and I have decided to stay in Montgomery for the time being after much prayer and consideration. We look forward to being a part of City Church, a forthcoming church plant to the Montgomery downtown area, as well as building relationships with new people here in the city, and strengthening those already formed. God bless, and thanks for reading.

Backyard Special: Classic EG

2010-01-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

Magnesium blue under gold is so loudly awesome.

Daily Driven For Life

2009-12-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

Stumbed across the clean red EK Hatch the other day, it just nails that coveted daily driver balance of tuned without being over tuned. An excellent job and of course, quality parts go a long way.

The Force Of Purpose

2009-12-18T10:04:00.001-08:00

There is just something breathtaking about a car that makes no attempt to do anything but be as fast as possible. The aggressiveness of effective aero is a beautiful contradiction to the uniformity of production cars.

Nismo Festival 2009

2009-12-16T13:36:00.001-08:00

Though my automotive loyalties lie with Subaru, no company maintains motorsport enthusiasm like Nissan. Every year Fuji International Raceway is host to the Nismo Festival; a potpourri of stock cars, Nismo tuning beasts, JGTC terrors, and all out GT art. Unmistakably unique, top end driving talent mixes with fans in a completely open setting, somewhere between a show and a meet. Also unmistakable are the market areas, where individuals can buy not just their favorite magazines, but actual parts from various race cars. These range from the absurd aero of JGTC, to center lock wheels, to one-off titanium hard parts and turbos. Even more surprising are the more than reasonable prices these parts are offered at. Below is a fairly extensive gallery of the event from Speedhunters.

Tsukuba Super Lab Battle 2009! Pt 2

2009-12-15T11:01:00.000-08:00

Tsukuba Super Lab Battle 2009!

2009-12-14T08:32:00.001-08:00

Here is a gorgeous photo gallery from what is in my estimation, the best event of the year; the Tsukuba Super Lab Battle. One winter I have got to find the ability to head over to Japan and see this and the Nismo festival. And the country in general of course.

Subtle Possibilities

2009-12-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

General thoughts on the Do-Luck trunk?

Drift Life

2009-12-11T12:52:00.001-08:00

I found these pictures from Formula D and thought they well represented the open mindedness of the drift scene. And I'm a sucker for gray silvias.

JDM Option Aero

2009-12-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

Most Japanese car manufacturers offer extremely clean OEM aero kits. I've always loved these pieces from Nismo and Mugen and with my car facing down time and a good refinish I am seriously considering switching my car to the jdm front lip. I'm not sure whether I would go wingless/trunk lip, wrx wing, or this spec c spoiler but the subtly is really growing on me. Any love for this setup? I think its rather beautiful. Benefit-wise, the lip is much more livable in terms of ride height, looks a touch cleaner, flows a little more classically, and really compliments smaller spoiler options.

STi Update

2009-12-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

Spoke with the body shop yesterday and everything seems to be going right along track. The car should be heading in on January first and picked up before or on February first. Excitement abounds. As of right now, the only definite change will be the color change, while the carbon roof is imminently likely. Further, I wanted to toss a few things on the table.

First, since I will be replacing the front lip, is there any love for the WRC bumper?

Second, is there still love for the Rocket Dancer Hood?

Third, thoughts on possibly going with an A-line trunk spoiler?

Or is the S203 still better? Or even stock?

Fanatically Proper

2009-12-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

In terms of automotive fashion, there is no group that dominates like the drift scene. To build a proper drift machine, you must mix equal parts performance, function, style, and absurd individuality. Better still is the feigned effortless attitude that most drifters have, always keeping an open mind to find one element that will totally establish the car as trend setting. As with my last post, this Silvia lives and breathes under the Texas sun, in fact I think I have enough quality cars from the lone star state to fill months of features. Amidst a reflective sea of vinyl almost every body arch has been augmented by fine japanese aero, much less a superb pull and roll performed to the rear fenders in order to cover one of the best fitting wheel sets I've seen. I really should stop looking at these kind of builds, they make me far too longing for my 240 and far to interested in building another.

Impractical Livability

2009-12-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

I can say that above any aspect of automotive modification I am a stance person. Proper ride height and wheel fitment are the two best and most rewarding ways to make a car look 100% better. While I am rather conservative with my setups I won't lie and say that I don't really like a nice slammed car. Hence this 350z, a car with a few parts and just the right amount of flair. Impressively this car is used on the streets of Texas by a man dedicated enough to plan his routes around his ground clearance. Caught in a tight spot? Not a problem when you carry 2x4s in the rear to lift the car out of trouble. The car will soon be converted over into a full state of drift destruction. And about that flair, I am a huge fan of the glitter flake finish applied to the roll cage, a nod to the ridiculousness of drift fashion and what is to come.

Space Maker

2009-11-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

I never ever get tired of mannslayer's GC8. Ingenuity through aggression.

Own It Like You Stole It

2009-11-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

There is one aspect of car life that I really envy and miss from the drift scene; the love and dedication poured into a project that is constantly pushed to and past its limits. In my opinion, there is nothing more breathtaking than the sight of a nice, well done project car being driven all out, the only remaining margin being the knowledge that you can rebuild it but you can't replace the joy of action.

One Glance

2009-11-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

That's right, this is a paint teaser.

Togue Factory S14

2009-11-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

Despite their production of off-brand aero, which I will tolerate in the name of drifting, Togue Factory builds some meticulously crafted track cars. I love the subtle widebody on this late model S14. Where has the attractive yet inexpensive, fun rear wheel drive car gone? I sorely miss its absence in the automotive world.

Cyber Reclamation

2009-11-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

Now that I have no internet keeping daily updates is becoming nearly impossible, some days I just can't get out and make a post. But that's okay it's quality over quantity right? Right. And today is certainly quality. This car has been captivating since the start for the one glorious aspect that can not be faked, fabrication. Anyone can buy parts, fewer can buy the right parts, and fewer still can do anything with the right parts; but only the most elite can make the right parts. WillieCoyote's Carbon Subaru project has attracted just as much attention as a build so eccentrically titled deserves. This car is built and lives on the race tracks of Singapore, well when it isn't taking him to work at Cyber Racing, his business and fabrication service. The entire car has more or less been re-imagined, widened, and restructured out of carbon. I always feel a little refreshed that this car is constantly evolving, becoming faster and more ridiculous to see in a road going setting. Also gratifying was to see this setup grab the cover of Hot Version, the Japanese panoply of awesome race constructions. Congrats and keep up the good work!