The Unofficial Road to SEMA: Riding a Honda Ruckus from Michigan to Las Vegas
I met Greg Henderson of Unofficial Use Only years ago at the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab. He is a builder, manufacturer, a Jeeper, and a vehicle recovery expert.…
Rally Racing in America Goes Big Time; Hopes To Advance The Sport In North America
We’re huge fans of rally racing. From stage rally to time-speed-distance rally, we love everything about this form of motorsports competition. However, in the U.S., rally has never been as…
Crankshaft Culture Classifieds: 2005 Subaru Forester XT (5-Speed)
It’s time to sell our 2005 Subaru Forester XT, which is complete with the sought-after 5-speed manual transmission. We’re asking $11,800 and it’s got a clear Oregon title in hand.…
The Zukiworld Fall Classic: An Epic Adventure and a Reminder to Be Prepared For Anything
Off-roading, remote camping, overlanding: All these activities have calculated risks, and if unprepared, things can go sideways. However, you can mitigate the risk by ensuring you’re fully prepared. A recent…
How To Polish Headlights
When we bought our 2005 Subaru Forester XT, it came with a bunch of go-fast parts, coilover suspension, and a host of maintenance already done. However, as with many older…
I Have Sold Multiple Fast Cars for Slow Cars. Why?
Most of my cars have been slow, reliable, fuel-efficient, and practical. Yet, every so often, I get a hankering for something fast, or at least quick and sporty. Despite having…
Do Car Buyers Want Inexpensive Cars Again?
It’s the beginning of October, and that means the auto manufacturers are releasing their third-quarter sales figures. Of particular note for me is Mitsubishi. For Q3 of 2024, its sales…
Eight Years Ago I Fell In Love With the Mitsubishi Delica
Eight years ago, I drove a Mitsubishi Delica for the first time. (I even wrote a post about what it’s like to drive a Mitsubishi Delica.) My wife, Mercedes, and…
Volkswagen of America Giving Away its Free Iconic Gewürz Ketchup
Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that VW part number 00010 ZDK-259-101, VW Gewürz Ketchup Brand, a condiment used to dress VW currywurst, will be available in the U.S. for…
Our 2024 Alcan 5000 Adventure Video
We’ve done the Alcan 5000 Rally three times now and written about it extensively. While on the 2024 winter rally, in which we partnered with INEOS Automotive, we took quite…
Guest Posts
VIN Secrets: What a Transmission Lookup Can Tell You About Your Vehicle
A used car can smile with fresh paint while hiding an expensive transmission story. One quiet VIN check can change the whole deal. The VIN is more than a label. It is a 17-character code that links a car to factory build data, records, recalls, specification notes, and ownership clues.…
The Most Overlooked Way to Lower the Cost of Car Ownership: Auto Loan Refinancing
Most drivers focus on fuel costs, maintenance, and insurance when thinking about what a car actually costs to own. The monthly loan payment often gets treated as a fixed number, something set at the dealership and left untouched for years. That assumption, however, is where a significant amount of money…
Why Precision Matters In Every Automotive Fabrication Project
Automotive fabrication is where creativity meets engineering. Whether building a custom hot rod, restoring a classic muscle car, or modifying an off-road vehicle, fabrication work demands attention to detail at every stage. The difference between a project that performs flawlessly and one that develops ongoing issues often comes down to…