Our shuttle driver stopped at the outermost of Ford’s test tracks and radioed for clearance to cross from a flight traffic control tower overlooking the entire lot. Several Mustangs whizzed past us on the straightaway and we were given the go-ahead to continue to the…
Now seriously woozy with jet lag, the virtual grand finale of the day was enough excitement to remain conscious. The shuttle dropped us in the parking lot of the building that housed Ford’s Virtual Test Track Experiment (VIRTTEX); a 2011 Mustang came into focus. It…
The morning coffee was losing a slow battle to the jet lag. Luckily Ford was about to stick us in a series of virtual environments where you’d be more likely to puke than fall asleep. Team Blue arrived at the first of which shortly after…
On a recent trip to Ford’s Virtual Reality Tour in Dearborn, Michigan, MotorSpaceNW was given access to areas within Ford’s headquarters kept more secret than the original Wonka factory, not to mention Ford’s historic test track where this guy got to race around like a…
Seattle’s Greenwood Car Show packs close to one thousand beautiful vehicles, live music and food vendors along a mile stretch of Greenwood Avenue already bustling with restaurants, bars, shops and pedestrians. I attended the popular event to cover the cars, but found myself more absorbed,…
My roommate, Steve has a nasty attitude problem, and a 1996 Buick Regal. Recently he informed me over Hot Pockets that my 1991 Dodge Dynasty runs, “kinda rough.” We’re going to settle this Beater Diaries style, with an interview in our basement lit only by…
For some reason the sun was painfully bright for certain members of the press the morning after the Ford Fiesta Gymkhana reveal. The Pirate stood outside the Hotel and sucked down a cigarette like it was breathing life back into him. Shortly thereafter our caravan…
Be sure to check out the ultra low-grade video I took of my Hotel Room in “New Videos.” It’s the end product of putting a bracelet on my hand that gets me free drinks at a bar where Ken Block is about to reveal his…
The 2011 Ford Fiesta makes a noise like an old woman hawking up a loogie when you grind its gears. In my defense, I got all the way through first gear before discovering this. The Pro’s camera stared back at me blankly while I swore…
It was only a matter of time before I screwed this up. The Pro as he will now be referred to, expected me to act as his co-driver. In our TSD rally, the title came with three main responsibilities: 1. Give directions 2. Inform driver…
Just outside baggage claim, a lovely blonde haired lady holding a sign with the Ford emblem greeted me with a Southern drawl. Moments later I was helped into a well-appointed Lincoln Navigator with two other press people; one my age, one of the normal press…
Before we get into this amazing adventure, my editors asked I make explicitly clear everything Ford paid for on my trip to the U.S. launch of the Ford Fiesta, per FTC guidelines governing endorsements and testimonials. Here’s the list: 1. Air Fare to San Francisco…
For their second mission, Ford asked State of the Artist to showcase a local artist. The result was a double dose of appropriateness. Firstly, SOTA is comprised of artists. Secondly, they showcased themselves by throwing an album listening party for their new album, SeattleCaliFragilisticExtraHellaDopeness. Fiesta…
Enumclaw. Already this Civic had to be bad news. But the ad on Autotrader really spoke to my plight: “If you don’t buy this one, you’ll never buy one!” The horse lovers had my number, and a red 1995 Civic LX sedan that looked to…
Mama’s Mexican Kitchen has a mural painted on the side of the building that wasn’t there last month, a bright colorful display that looks as if it could have been there all along. Tucked into the lower left corner is Ford’s iconic blue oval, just…
Parker’s driving, Nate’s riding shotgun, I’m in the back with a voice recorder that isn’t recording anything. We’re on a tour of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in State of the Artist’s Ford Fiesta. Soon it’s obvious we’re really just cruising around the guys’ neighborhood listening…
What am I doing eating apple slices in a coffee shop with Parker Reddington and Nate Fihn of the hip-hop group State of the Artist? There’s at least four stories here I could be covering: 1. The Ford Fiesta 2. The Fiesta Movement 3. State…
Everyman feels the urge to punch a woman at some point in his life, but few will avoid the situation by throwing themselves from a moving car. A 25-year-old Australian man did just that while having an intense argument with his ex-girlfriend. From Sympatico.ca: “Police…
Swindles happen everywhere. It just so happens this story takes place in Marysville, WA. I had been keeping my eye on a white 1992 Civic sedan at a dealership there for close to a month on Craigslist. It was listed for $2,499 and looked good…
Marketing can be a dirty word. Word's to describe Ford’s grass roots fabulous Fiesta Movement include 'Fun' and 'Wholesome'. Here’s the skinny: THE FIESTA MOVEMENT Revolves around the Ford Fiesta, a sexy if not cute subcompact that’s finally coming stateside this summer from Europe, where…
Car salesmen are an eclectic bunch. In Lynwood, along a main drag of dealerships, one of the more deplorable types told me it would cost only $200 to install air conditioning in his questionably priced civic coupe. I reminded him that he was being misleading.…
A red two door coupe, drenched in the heavenly glow of a single street lamp. It brings my late night jog to a stop. I peer in the window. My eyes set to work clicking over the little specimen’s points of interest with the cold…
This week’s entry into the Beater Diaries reveals a secret I’ve been hiding for quite some time now, mainly because I interviewed myself. Buckle up then MotorSpacians; stuff’s about to get weird. NAME: Brandon CAR: 1991 Dodge Dynasty (White) *B=Brandon, B2= Brandon the Blogger PART…
After rolling his Peterbilt 18-wheeler, Jim Harris found the 14.0L Cummins turbo diesel still ran just fine… So he mounted it in the bed of his son’s ’95 F-150. Cha-Ching! The 3,600 pound engine (500hp/1,450 lb-ft of torque at 1,600rpm) was a bit much for…
Talon is my brother, and as such he drives a 1994 Ford Escort named Otis. Before that he drove a 1977 Volkswagen Beetle named Sunny that was powder blue. Talon currently haunts the streets of Pullman, Washington where he attends Washington State University. He took…
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