It’s a work weekend, but allow me to take ten seconds and share the most recent object of my desire. Ladies and gentlemen, a 2011 Lotus Elise SC (“SC” means supercharged). Now available at Lotus of Austin. Sigh. This beaut is practically attainable for me, i.e. it’s only out of reach by a factor of […]
Author Archives: Motorista
September
04
My New Twitter Friend, Mario Andretti
posted by Motorista
Today dawned like any other day – other than the fact that it is my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. That is a story in itself! Happy anniversary, MotoMom and MotoDad! Anyway, back to my normal day. I refuse to watch TV and typically get my news through Twitter, so I scan my Twitter timeline in […]
September
02
GM Recall: the Ignition Switch
posted by Motorista
Ignition switch. The two words that cause heart palpitations and cold sweats among GM management, engineers and lawyers. The one small part that will ultimately cost GM over $9 billion. What is it, and what went wrong? The Valukas Report begins with the following sentence: “In the fall of 2002, General Motors personnel made a […]
September
01
That’s a Negative, Ghost Rider
posted by Motorista
No. Toyota, let’s talk after you fire your ad agency. This is just stupid. Love, Motorista
August
31
The Fashionable IndyCar Watch Party – Sayonara 2014
posted by Motorista
Paraphrasing – greater love hath no woman than she who invites a friend over to watch IndyCar on a Saturday evening. I speak of Thea Wood, my good friend and style guru, who answered my Facebook plea for a watch party venue for the IndyCar race last night. Normally, I go to a neighborhood watering […]
August
30
GM Recall: My Article in Texas Lawyer
posted by Motorista
Excited to have been published in the most recent issue of Texas Lawyer, a weekly legal newspaper, on the topic of the General Motors recall and the Valukas report. My article is geared to an attorney audience and has some legalese, but it is mostly an overview of the findings in the Valukas report, so […]
August
24
GM Recall: the Valukas Report – What It Is (and What It Isn’t)
posted by Motorista
The “Valukas Report,” otherwise known as “Report to Board of Directors of General Motors Company Regarding Ignition Switch Recalls,” is a 325-page document (including the Table of Contents), with 1,356 footnotes and seven appendices. It has been mentioned fairly frequently on the news and in Congressional hearings. As I wrote previously, I have read the […]
August
22
My Rogue Protege
posted by Motorista
Ah, Auto Buddy – up to no good. My littlest reader challenged me to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. What could I do but accept?? This young man’s already out of my hands… And there’s a little tease of the Red MINI, for those of you who have not met her yet. What say […]
August
20
The Prius and the Python
posted by Motorista
Reason #1,000,002 why the Prius is a hateful, hateful vehicle: it will cause you to crash into a firehouse with a python wrapped around your neck. And ultimately result in DWI and theft charges. All the Prius’ fault, of course. Think I’m on a bender? Read further. These are the things that make life worth […]
August
18
GM Recall: Cast of Characters
posted by Motorista
As promised, I am kicking off a series of posts on the General Motors ignition switch recall. You may have heard about that little recall – it’s been in the news just a bit. I’m skeptical of the news, myself, so when I heard GM had hired an outside attorney to conduct an internal investigation […]
August
13
New Gigs
posted by Motorista
Hey, race fans! I’m still here – really. Life stays busy, and then gets busier, so it’s hard to blog every day or every other day, like I have always tried to do. I’m not complaining – it’s good to be busy. But I didn’t forget about you! Other than real-life work, I’m up to […]
August
10
Cars and Coffee Austin – August 10, 2014
posted by Motorista
Ah, Cars and Coffee. The only Sunday of the month where I cheerfully rise “early.” Sunday mornings have been scorchers around here lately, but that’s nothing to a true car fan. Just add a little strategic hydration, and you are good to go. I must say, I get a kick out of all the 20-something […]
August
06
Dubious Colors: Edition One
posted by Motorista
Ever since I was visually violated by a purple Lamborghini, a deepening dread has lingered in the back of my mind: there are many, many cars out there in horribly fugly colors. I had no intention of going out to look for them, because dubious. I exist in a righteously indignant state most of the […]
August
02
Seen in San Antonio: ’88 Lotus Caterham Super Seven
posted by Motorista
Spending some time with friends in San Antonio this weekend (quick aside – isn’t it awesome to have good friends of many years, the kind where, when you’re with them, you feel like you’re home?). In true Motorista style, while being kidnapped by my mom/teacher girlfriends for a scintillating trip to the teacher-supply store and […]
July
30
Your Ride is Here
posted by Motorista
I had a very cool and unexpected experience today (aren’t those the best kind?). My friends over at John Eagle European hosted an event put on by Austin non-profit RecognizeGood, an organization that “[illuminates] selfless volunteers, charitable acts and community service” in the greater Austin area. Every month, RecognizeGood honors a “Legend,” someone who, to […]
July
29
MotoristaVille
posted by Motorista
I have found the perfect Motorista abode and, as luck would have it, it’s in Detroit! Well, Hamtramck, anyway. Behold, a vintage service station, the Portage Garage, with attached duplex. All for the fine low price of $99,000. If those rusty old cars convey with the property, you’ve automatically got three restoration projects at your […]
July
27
The Roomba as Transportation Device
posted by Motorista
Met Max-Arthur, possibly the coolest cat in existence, and certainly cooler than the Poet and Felix. Max-Arthur rides a Roomba. In costume. Yes, this really has nothing to do with cars. I am hereby making it relevant by pointing out that Max-Arthur has cleverly adapted the Roomba for personal transportation. Thereby tying this all together. […]
July
26
Retail Therapy
posted by Motorista
Sooo…it’s been a long week, as my lack of recent posts attests. And when a girl’s had a long week, she needs a little retail therapy on the weekend. Now, when your passion is cars, retail therapy is a tad bit expensive. (Hell, when you have my taste in fashion, retail shoe therapy is prohibitively […]
July
22
Cadillac Becomes Electric
posted by Motorista
The Cadillac ELR. The coupe the Cadillac CTS coupe should have been. The packaging the Chevrolet Volt should have had. It was my favorite debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and I paid special attention to the production version displayed at the show this year. The ELR is beautiful, and I have been excited […]
July
19
When Dogs Drive…
posted by Motorista
Check out this very cool thing an SPCA group in New Zealand did with a few of their rescue dogs – they taught them to drive a MINI Countryman! Please do not ever show these videos to Thing 1 and Sasquatch. Especially since there is a MINI in their driveway. (Although I’d like to see […]
July
18
Early Christmas?
posted by Motorista
If anyone would like to donate to a fabulous cause AND make one little Motorista very happy, consider this: The special pink Susan G. Komen helmet Pippa Mann wore in the Indy 500 is being auctioned on eBay, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Susan G. Komen Central Indiana. This is the actual race-worn […]
July
15
Cars and Coffee Austin – July 13, 2014
posted by Motorista
It was a hot morning in Austin, Texas, but Thing 1 and I headed over to the Oasis for some gratuitous car-spotting. Here’s what we saw… A little Ford GT40 action. I got a kick out of this Ford DeLuxe. Oh, ok. I’ll take a little Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Aston Martin Vantage action on […]
July
12
I Love This Guy
posted by Motorista
Congratulations to my favorite IndyCar driver, Josef Newgarden, on his podium finish tonight at the Iowa Corn Indy 300! Josef is a young up-and-comer who has had mixed luck this season, but he is a mature and intelligent driver and, by all accounts, a wacky and fun-loving part of the IndyCar paddock. Take a look […]
July
11
General Motors, the Fortress
posted by Motorista
Here is an interesting Part Two to my Alternate Mary Barra Interview. I merely intended to ask the questions. My dear friend, the brave, barnstorming Ashleigh Burroughs (my collaborator on Project Keychain), decided to actively try to get answers to my questions. So she tried to track down Mary Barra. Head over to her blog, the […]
July
08
The Alternate Mary Barra Interview
posted by Motorista
You may recall my recent annoyance with Matt Lauer’s sorry excuse for an “exclusive” interview with General Motors CEO Mary Barra. Barra doesn’t give many interviews, even to the local Detroit press, and Lauer completely muffed his opportunity to ask relevant, meaningful questions of one of the world’s most powerful women, at a crucial time […]
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