Personal Cars

Be sure to check out the cars that make me drool. Just follow the links at the bottom of this page...

1988 Toyota Corolla GT-S

Click on the pic for more...

Engine: 4A-GE;1.6L (98 cu)
120 hp @ 6,600 rpm
106 lbs/ft @ 4,800 rpm
0-60: 8.2 sec (post-mods)
1/4-mile: 16.4 sec @ 86.5 mph (post-mods)
Indicated Top Speed: 128 mph (slight uphill and some headwind)
2,400 lbs.

Odometer: 258,000 miles (09/04)

1999 Yamaha YZF600R

Engine: I4, 600cc, 12:1 C/R
88.5 hp @ 12,000 rpm
45.7 lb-ft @ 9,500 rpm
13,200 rpm redline
0-60: 3.3 sec
1/4-mile: 11.21 sec @ 123.02 mph
482 lbs. (net weight)

Odometer: 12,800 miles (as of 09/08/04)

1978 Corvette Silver Anniversary
"Boogie Nights"

Engine: L48; 5.7L (350 cu)

Odometer: 49,750 miles (don't expect this to go up much...)

1974 Volvo 164E

Engine: B30F; 3.0L (184 cu)
140 hp @ 5,500 rpm
154 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
0-60: 9.1 sec (from a test program)
1/4-mile: 16.8 sec @ 80.8mph (from a test program)
3,200 lbs.

Odometer: around 135,000 miles (the speedo's odometer worm gear broke...)

This car's been in the family since it was bought new off of the showroom floor in October of 1974! Since then, my mom's been using it as the daily driver. But, every once in a while, I like to borrow her (the Volvo) for a change of pace. My dad and I have been maintaining her since I was a kid--in fact, my dad taught me how to wrench with this car. So far, everything in and on the car is original, save the fuel pump. The exterior and interior are in excellent condition. The biggest modifications on her are Koni Special shocks (the red ones) and the addition of Cibie 7" E-code lamps with city lights (I wired them to the park lights and they look like the contemporary DRL's). Some time ago, my dad and I were interested in upgrading the suspension system with a kit from Steffanson's in Sweden. The kit only cost $400 or so which is a bargain considering it came with new lowering springs, a thicker front anti-roll bar, an add-on rear anti-roll bar, rubber bushings, and specially valved Bilstein shocks.

I'll bet you've never seen any car do this before! During the infamous Loma Prieta Earthquake in the Bay Area, the Cypress double-deck freeway structure collapsed and crushed the vehicles on the lower deck. Amazingly enough, a Volvo 164 on the lower deck supported the weight of an upper deck section and prevented the deaths of people in surrounding cars! Volvo of Sweden was so impressed when they heard about this (along with the disbelief of rescuers on scene) that they had the entire car shipped back to Sweden where, to this day, it takes its place at the Volvo Museum. It's rumored that the front and rear windshield pillars buckled just the slightest bit! If that doesn't convince you that Volvo's are safe cars, then you must be outta your mind!

Ever seen a Volvo 164E on a banked track?! Check this out!!!

Another pic of our 164E parked in front of the Supra.

Why'd I stick the ambulance in here? Hell, I put in a decent amount of hours at work in it, so why not?! Did you catch the weight? Over nine-thousand pounds or 4.7 tons of tarmac-crushing (and anything else it happens upon) mass. So, the next time you hear the sirens and see the emergency lights, I'd seriously think twice about pulling some dumb-ass maneuver to get around it. It takes all of the 7.3L motor's grunt to accelerate; imagine what the brakes have to put up with to do an emergency stop! On a long downhill stretch of road, it's not uncommon to smell the brake pads get fried or, in extreme cases, set them on fire.

We were posted at my house in this pic. Check out more pics at work...

My biggest complaint about running with the lights and sirens?... Dumb-ass drivers who stop right in front of you. Show some semblance of intelligence and pull over to the far right and STOP!!! Don't make me come over there and slap you...