Driven by obsession. Fueled by passion.
Home
Hello and welcome to the Motoring Enthusiast Journal. My name is James and I have been an auto enthusiast for as long as I can remember. I have spent my life learning about and working within the automotive industry. This site allows me to share my stories, experiences and knowledge as well as perhaps even educate more people of the mysteries about vehicles and the industry. I hope that you find your visit not only educational but entertaining as well!
Read more about me here...
Enthusiast's Corner | Waiting Out Winter
"A homage to all crafts people who spend their winters tucked inside their workshops waiting for better weather..." See the video and read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Jack Olsen’s 12-Gauge Garage: A glorious mix of 60’s retro style and ingenious practicality
At first glance inside Jack Olsen’s 12-Gauge Garage in suburban Los Angeles you may get the feeling that somehow you have been magically transported back in time to the 1960’s. The 20’ x 22’ two car garage certainly has a retro vibe with the light tan paint on the walls and a soothing shade of green adorning the cabinetry...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | The World’s Greatest SUV’s - 1978-1996 Ford Bronco: The big brash Bronco’s
The early 1970’s was a rough time in the auto industry. New emissions and safety regulations were quickly coming into effect. The economy wasn’t all that great and that meant slow sales for the Big Three automakers in Detroit...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | The World’s Greatest SUV’s
Sport Utility Vehicle – is a contradiction in my opinion. Generally SUV’s aren’t very sporty at all...Read more...
Photo Gallery | British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery IV
Click here to see the pictures...
Photo Gallery | British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery III
Click here to see the pictures...
Photo Gallery | British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery II
Click here to see the pictures...
Photo Gallery | British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery I
Click here to see the pictures...
Events | British Car Day 2012: It never seems to rain on British Car Day
After the Labour Day long weekend the days progressively get shorter and there is a chill in the morning air. Most people’s thoughts start turning to fall with its cool crisp days and the leaves on the trees exploding in colours of red, yellow and brown. My thoughts on the other hand turn towards British Car Day, an annual event held in Oakville, Ontario on the third Sunday of September...Read more...
Vehicles | 1993 Toyota Camry LE: Better to be boring than broken!
Yes it’s true, I own a Camry and there is something else I’ll admit, I like it. My feelings for this car are something that I have wanted to get off my chest for a while now. It feels good to come out of the closet so to speak and tell the world that I like a “boring Camry”...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Five Sport Sedan's I'd Love to Own
Sometimes a good road trip is good for the soul. It’s an opportunity to get away and clear one’s mind of the stresses of everyday life, explore places you have never been and experience new adventures...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Internet Find: Obama’s Old 300C on eBay
How much is a used low mileage 2005 Chrysler 300C worth? Perhaps ten grand? Ok maybe fifteen grand at the most. Now suppose someone famous drove it, not owned it, but leased it...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Sweet Internet Find: 1989 Ruf CTR Yellowbird
This sweet internet find is the sweetest of them all thus far. It seems as if the Ruf gods have been smiling down upon us at The Motoring Enthusiast Journal. Earlier this week we posted a seat of your pants YouTube video of a Ruf CTR careening around the Nürburgring in Germany at seemingly suicidal speeds....Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | A History of Ruf Automobile
This four part YouTube gem is the history of Ruf Automobiles told by Alois Ruf Jr. Ruf Automobiles is a German automobile manufacturer, world renowned tuner, service and repair facility and specialist in the restoration of vintage Porsche automobiles...See the video...
Enthusiast's Corner | Ruf CTR on the Nürburgring: A Thrilling Ride on YouTube!
My passion for the Porsche 911 is no secret; I would probably sell a body part or two to own one. When I was a young impressionable auto enthusiast one particular version of the 911 left a permanent imprint on my automotive soul...See the video...
Enthusiast's Corner | 2013 Ford Fusion: Ford’s back in the Sedan Business
Finally it appears that Ford has gone back to its roots and has become serious about making desirable cars once again. This week Ford introduced the all new redesigned 2013 Fusion. If this car is assembled and drives as good as it looks, Ford just might have a winner on its hands...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff: Beauty Found In An Unlikely Place
Never had I imagined that I would be up close and personal with classic Bugatti. Well perhaps I would see one at a major car show, but not here in rural Eastern Ontario. And most certainly not in the simple town where I grew up, the proverbial town where a 1980’s Cutlass Supreme is considered a status symbol by some people...Read more...
Car Care & Tips | Winter Hibernation: My Personal Preparations for Vehicle Storage
A couple weekends ago I was in my garage doing a fall clean up preparing for the inevitable snow that winter brings us in Canada. Every spring and fall it seems as if the items in my garage slowly migrate away from where they are usually stored and end up on my work bench or on top of winter or summer tires I have stored...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Sweet Internet Find: 1970 VW Karmann Ghia Coupe
This internet find is a 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe I spotted when a friend of mine posted the link to its Kijiji ad on his Facebook page. Air cooled Volkswagens have had a place in my car lovers hart since I was a boy. Perhaps my love for these old German cars is genetic since my sister is obsessed with just about any air-cooled VW ever made...Read more...
Driver's Seat | Triumph TR-6: Music to Anyone’s Ears
There two things that are imbedded into my family genes. One is the love of music and the other is the love for automobiles. Some family members have one gene that is more pronounced than the other. Take my cousin Colin for example...Read more...
News & Events | The Ford Crown Victoria: Good-bye to an Old Friend
For the last year and a half I knew this day was coming. The last Ford Crown Victoria rolled off the assembly line last month with little fanfare. This old Ford deserved a much more dignified send off...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Sweet Internet Find: 1973 Toyota Celica
This is yet another Toyota internet find, but this Celica is far from a stock survivor and although it has been tweaked and modified, all of the changes are very tasteful and period correct and I would even argue a benefit to the vehicle...Read more...
News & Events | The RX-8: End of the Road for the Rotary Engine
There was some sad news last week when Mazda announced that it has ceased production of the RX-8. The passing of the RX-8 into automotive history doesn’t put a lump in my throat so much as the end of production of the Rotary Engine that powers it...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Sweet Internet Find: Unmolested Toyota Corolla GTS Survivor
Searching for a vintage hot hatchback? If you are you probably already know that finding one in good condition is a challenge. Finding an original, unmolested survivor is almost next to impossible, especially when it’s a mid 80’s AE86 Corolla GT-S...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Ford E-Series Quigley 4x4 – So Hip to be Square
So you have a dilemma. You have mountains of crap to haul around or a village of people to transport or a trailer to haul or a combination of all three. The solution is simple; you need a full size van. But here is the catch, because of where you live or where you want to go you need a 4x4 vehicle...Read more...
Photo Gallery | 14th Annual Car Show at Upper Canada Village
The 14th annual Antique Car Show presented by Upper Canada Village and the Cornwall Olde Car Club was held from August 14th, 2011 on the grounds of Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario. Click here to see the pictures...
Enthusiast's Corner | Hot Hatchbacks From The 1980’s: Up high where the air is crisp
Hot hatchbacks were the best automotive development ever. That’s a heady statement considering all the vehicle developments in the auto industry over the past hundred plus years. The mini van, the hybrid power train, and the sumptuous exotic can’t hold a candle to the hot hatch. For me driving a hot hatchback is a driving experience so exceptional that in most situations I’d rather drive one of these gems than something more exotic like a Porsche or Ferrari...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Japanese Nostalgic Vehicles: The next trend in classic cars
Lately I have become obsessed with older Japanese vehicles otherwise know as Japanese nostalgic cars. And not because I own one, it just sort of happened for me since I have owned my RX-7 seemingly forever now. If you have read my story about Ten Cars I’d love to own, you would know that I have a passion for cars from all over the world including Japan...Read more...
Events | British Car Day 2010: The Confessions of a Closet British Car Nut
Don’t tell anyone but I secretly love British cars, old British sports cars. I adore the smells, the lines of their bodies and the symphony of sounds trumpeting from their tail pipes. Yet I keep this particular passion a secret...Read more...
Events | AutoMotion 2010: Brockville Riverfront Car Show
One of the highlights in the city of Brockville every summer is the AutoMotion car show that takes place on picturesque Blockhouse Island along the St. Lawrence River. This year marks the 24th year of this show that attracts all kinds of vehicles from Hot Rods and American Muscle Cars to Antiques, European exotics even some Japanese vehicles are thrown in for good measure. Whatever your tastes in vehicles you are sure to find something to your liking at this show...Read more...
Driver's Seat | Volvo 200 Series: An Unappreciated Classic
The Volvo 240 a classic? Well this Swedish brick has all the makings of a classic. For one thing the 200 series of automobiles were hugely popular cars for Volvo with approximately 2.8 million coupes, sedans, wagons and special editions produced from 1974 to 1993. Yes you read that correctly 19 years in production! The production run was so long that the 200 outlasted its supposed replacement, the 700 series that was in production from 1982 to 1992...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Ten Vehicles I’d Love to Own
Making a list of the ten cars that I would love to own was surprisingly difficult. It wasn’t so much an issue of having too many vehicles to choose from. Just the opposite, it was hard for me to come up with ten. How can that be? With thousands of makes and models over the last 100 years you would think it would be easy. Well it would be very easy to come up with an Everest sized list of unattainable exotica and just blindly choose from that. However I wanted to have a list of vehicles that are reasonably obtainable, both on price and availability...Read more...
Enthusiast's Corner | Going from Pimp to Swift in a CTS-V
Buying a new car can be an exciting experience. But in my opinion, and the opinion of the owner of this 2004 Cadillac CTS-V, purchasing a previously enjoyed performance car is even more exciting and rewarding. In the last few weeks my friend Stacey bought a 2004 CTS-V and the whole purchase experience was both unconventional and an adventure...Read more...
Driver's Seat | 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel
"Engineered like no other car in the world" was the marketing slogan Mercedes used for the S-Class though most of the 80’s. However unlike most marketing spins that greatly exaggerate products abilities, this slogan was actually speaking the truth...Read more...
Photo Gallery | 2010 Canadian International Auto Show
The 2010 edition of the Canadian International Auto Show was held from February 12-21, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario. Click here to see the pictures...
Photo Gallery | Shelby's at the 2010 Canadian International Auto Show Photo Gallery
The 2010 edition of the Canadian International Auto Show was held from February 12-21, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario. Click here to see the pictures...
Vehicles | 2003 Mazda Protege LX 2.0
I must say that I am quite proud of the deal that I got on this 2003 Mazda. Honestly I needed another vehicle just as much as a serious case of scabies or gout, but since two of our three cars are useless in the winter months and I no longer have a company vehicle to use a vehicle purchase was necessary. Having a budget of zero dollars necessitated the need to find one of my famous “Deals of the decade”...Read more...
Events | 2009 British Car Day
Growing up I lived in a household with parents who had a love for British vehicles. Even my mother who really doesn’t admit to being a car enthusiast always wanted a British Racing Green late 60’s early 70’s MGB with wire wheels. We never owned a British vehicle as they are way too unreliable, I was told by my father. We all had an appreciation for them...Read more...
Events | 2009 Redline Rendezvous
The Redline Rendezvous is an annual Canadian Regional on track driver education event hosted by the SVTOA Toronto chapter. The event is run by Track Guys Performance Driving Events and focuses on developing performance driving techniques with professional instructors in a safe, controlled environment...Read more...
Driver's Seat | 1993 Nissan Skyline GT-S and GT-R Coupe
Before anyone in North America even had a clue that the Nissan Skyline even existed I was fortunate enough to have had some seat time behind the wheel of a GT-R model in 1995...Read more...
Driver's Seat | 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera C4S
All my life I have had a passion for the Porsche brand and the 911 in particular. There is just something about the 911 that I love. Perhaps it is the classic lines of the car. Or it could be its long history in motor sports...Read more...
Car Care & Tips | Polishing & Waxing
There is plenty of confusion about the differences between a polish and a wax. Often the two are used interchangeably and that is incorrect. This confusion is most likely due to the fact that there are plenty of store-bought products that both polish and protect the vehicle's finish at the same time...Read more...
Car Care & Tips | Vehicle Washing
A weekly wash of your vehicle's exterior is as important as changing the oil in your engine on a timely basis. Everyone likes a clean car but many people don’t take the time since they think that it is not all that important. Washing your vehicle is important because it will delay the onset of corrosion...Read more...
Vehicles | 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
It was a hot summer day in 2002; I had just received the latest issue of Road&Track magazine when I saw a road test for the 2003 Cobra. Immediately I was taken by the beauty of this 390 horsepower supercharged snake...Read more...
Vehicles | 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL
In the summer of 1991 when my parents surprised me by allowing me to buy my own car, I immediately bought the weekly Auto Trader magazine to start my car search. There was a list of vehicles that I had in the back of my mind that I wanted and thought would be in my price range. On the list was a VW Rabbit GTI, VW Scirocco, Mustang, MGB, Fiero, among others. The RX-7 was not on my list...Read more...
Vehicles | 2003 Toyota Corolla CE
The Corolla actually belongs to my better half, Heather. This is the first vehicle that Heather and I bought together and our first major purchase as a couple. At the time we bought the Corolla, Heather was leasing a 2004 Mazda 3 GT. We both loved driving the Mazda 3 and we did consider buying the car out at the end of the lease but it just wasn’t worth the buyout once we did our homework. Besides we had some serious concerns about the long term durability of the Mazda 3...Read more...
What's New
- Waiting Out Winter
Continue to Enthusiast's Corner... - Jack Olsen’s 12-Gauge Garage: A glorious mix of 60’s retro style and ingenious practicality
Continue to Enthusiast's Corner... - The World’s Greatest SUV’s: 1978-1996 Ford Bronco
Continue to Enthusiast's Corner... - The World’s Greatest SUV’s
Continue to Enthusiast's Corner... - British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery IV
Continue to Photo Gallery... - British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery III
Continue to Photo Gallery... - British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery II
Continue to Photo Gallery... - British Car Day 2012 Photo Gallery I
Continue to Photo Gallery... - British Car Day 2012: It never seems to rain on British Car Day
Continue to Events... - 1993 Toyota Camry LE: Better to be boring than broken!
Continue to My Vehicles... - Five Sport Sedan's I'd Love to Own
Continue to Enthusiast's Corner...
Favorite Sites
- Petrolicious
- The 12-Gauge Garage
- Bring a Trailer
- Depth of Speed
- Automotivation Automotive Services
- Nytko Motorsport
- The Garage Journal
- Pelican Parts Porsche Forum
- Japanese Nostalgic Car Magazine
- Excellence Magazine
- Second Ferment