Category Archives: Automotive Lifestyle

What does a car-enthused lifestyle look like?

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Matt Farah drives a 900hp Mitsubishi Evo in Panama

Leave a comment

This is the mythical “replacement for displacement” that muscle car folks always talk about, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 that has milked 900hp out of just a 2.0L four-banger. It does with 50psi of boost from a massive turbocharger, and my oh my, will it give the driver a right old kick up the rear.

What’s more, this car is located in Panama, not a country most people would think of first when a 900hp Evo is mentioned. The Drive Network team made it down there again to shoot more awesome films for their Tuned series, hosted by Matt Farah.

Great video, great car and a surprisingly great place. Enjoy the video.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Motor Trend Pits the Audi RS7 Against The Porsche Panamera Turbo

5 Comments

Motor Trend’s Jonny Lieberman instigates some in-fighting between members of the VW Group: Audi’s RS7 takes on Porsche’s Panamera Turbo. Both are all wheel drive, four door sedans, and both have turbocharged V8 engines. The similarities are numerous, but in the end, the differences do show.

PS: I absolutely love the Porsche’s purple paint job, which Johnny says he hates more than a few times throughout the video. It is a provocative color, and one that lends itself well to the relatively “sleeper” Turbo model.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Cord L-29 at St Michael’s Concours d’Elegance

1 Comment

Those of you who have been following the site for a while should know by now that I’m a sucker for the Cord L-29.  It’s an ahead-of-its-time, FWD luxury car that looks expensive and has a late-Twenties look that is timeless in my opinion.  Of course, I always love seeing them at Concours events, and at the St. Michael’s Concours last September, I saw another great-looking example, this time courtesy of the Hershey Museum, who brought theirs out to the Chesapeake Bay that weekend.  This one had its roof up for most of the show but the black-and-gray paintjob made the car look like a proper late-Twenties time capsule.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Cord L-29 at St Michael’s Concours d’Elegance →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Photographer surprises his dad with dream car for Christmas

7 Comments

This is a heartwarming video in the spirit of the holidays. The owner of Fstoppers.com surprises his dad with his ultimate dream car, a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, on Christmas morning.

Enjoy the video.

-Nick

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1957 Ford at the New Hope Car Show

1 Comment

This past August, I was busy taking pictures with Nick at the New Hope Car Show, an event which, although not billed as a Concours, has cars that would certainly look at home in one.  Day One, August 10, is reserved for American cars.  This year, during the awards, we were taking detail shots when my eardrums on both sides of my head got a big jolt.  I turned around, and there was this rather ordinary-looking 1957 Ford two-door sedan sitting in traffic idling behind me.  However, the dog-dish hubcaps and rather loud shade of red spoke to something sinister–if there’s one thing I learned over my years, it was that this Ford, with its fetching red paint and rumbling exhaust, was hiding something wicked under the hood.  After a quick chat with the owner, I was delighted to hear that this ’57 was packing some serious punch–in fact, this thing was running a supercharged 292 cubic inch V8 with 300 brake horsepower–a huge sum at that time, and even though I wasn’t sure if it was original, I certainly enjoyed the soundtrack and the straightness of the bodywork.  I had not seen a ’57 Ford as clean as this one until that point, and I haven’t seen one as good cosmetically since then.  Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 1957 Ford at the New Hope Car Show →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Trans-Am Mustangs and Camaros at Laguna Seca

2 Comments

Before seeing these classic American beasts roar their way around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Nick and I traipsed around the paddock and surveyed the potential field.  While we were walking around, I took some snaps of some of my favorite Trans-Am racers, unsure if I would be able to see them on the track later.  Luckily, I not only got these shots, but was able to see these beasts battle it out on the tarmac later in the afternoon in the blinding sun.  After hearing these old muscle cars run, I was deaf for a few glorious hours.  Searing color, searing sounds, and a thumping exhaust note–just about everything needed to enjoy an afternoon on the track.  Enjoy the photos, and Happy Holidays. Continue reading Trans-Am Mustangs and Camaros at Laguna Seca →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Because we need another Porsche 918 video, here is Chris Harris

2 Comments

Yes, I know that this is the third Porsche 918 video we’ve posted, but it is also the best one yet. Drive’s Chris Harris just has a special way of reviewing cars that sets him apart from other journalists….. maybe it’s the huge drifts in cars that cost more than a house? But, drifting aside, I think this is the best look yet into what the Porsche 918 Spyder is really like.

-Nick

Motorsport, Opinions

In truth, I find racing boring these days….

7 Comments
Sebastian Vettel in Formula One
Sebastian Vettel in Formula One. Image courtesy of http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/

I have been asked more than a few times why there isn’t more motorsport coverage on Mind Over Motor. The title says it all. I think racing in our modern era pales in comparison to racing of old. Every single genre of auto racing, from Formula One to LeMans to Rally to NASCAR has been totally watered down over the years, and it has gotten to the point where it has not only lost the excitement, but also any semblance of relevancy to people in the real world.

Continue reading In truth, I find racing boring these days…. →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Fiat Dino Spider by Petrolicious

3 Comments

I swear that the folks at Petrolicious could inspire a deep sense of passion about the most boring, inconsequential car imaginable. The Fiat Dino Spider, of course, is about as far from boring or inconsequential as can be, so naturally I found myself with a warm fuzzy feeling after watching this video about the car.

Basically this is one of just a handful of Fiat Spiders made with Dino Ferrari’s epic Formula 2 V6 in them. In the video the owner says that there are twenty Ferrari Dinos for every Fiat Dino that was built, so a very special car this is indeed.

Enjoy, and prepare to want a Fiat Dino Spider of your own more than you want to take your next breath.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

EVO tests the new Porsche 918 Spyder

5 Comments

Evo Magazine’s take on the new Porsche 918 Spyder from the race track press launch. This video does a great job of highlighting the different modes of the 918 Spyder, and how much technology really does play a part in the whole package. Enjoy.

-Nick

Car Shows, Motorsport

Alfa Romeos from the paddock at Laguna Seca

2 Comments

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 Race Car

There were a number of truly righteous Alfa Romeos occupying the paddock at Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year. When it comes to vintage cars, Alfas are definitely among my personal favorite. They are some of the sexiest machines around, and back in the day, Alfa Romeo was a serious racing contender… before all of this Fiat Group hierarchy, everyone bow down to Ferrari, nonsense.

The Alfas in the pit lane were among the creme-de-la-creme of Alfa Romeos. We saw a Tipo 33/2 Race Car (pictured above), a TZ, a TZ2, and a very race-prepped Giulia Spider. For context, Alfa Romeo made just 112 TZs, and a scant 12 TZ2s. I’m not sure on the number of Tipo 33/2s that Alfa produced, but I’d bet it’s within the range of the TZ models.

Italian cars are able to make any setting look good. Enjoy the photos.

Continue reading Alfa Romeos from the paddock at Laguna Seca →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Chris Harris takes a Porsche 911 Turbo S to fight against a McLaren 12C

2 Comments

In this installment of Chris Harris on Cars, Chris Harris takes it upon himself to find out how good the Porsche 911 Turbo S is when pitted against a McLaren 12C.  Watch to find out which one takes the win.  Will the Porsche top the McLaren? Or will the McLaren prove its supercar pedigree and knock the Porsche out?  Turn up your speakers (or put in headphones).  This one’s a treat for the eyes, and it’s also a treat for the ears.

-Albert S. Davis