Cruisin’ With CSD: It’s Torque Tuesday!
Mustang
Cruisin’ With CSD On Woodward Ave – 2015…Mustang Crew In The House
It’s Friday Night and “We Ready”!
Changing names to protect the quick and dirty…we have:
From the left: Godfather of the bunch – Cobra J with his concrete-shedding Shelby that always turns heads standing still and wherever he rolls up. For those Bow-Ties and Exotics that think, “Oh, it’s just a Shelby Mustang…”. I say, “Good look with that.”
CSD – with the ’95 GT.
Brother X with some ’86 Four-Eyed Pride – He travels over 4 states each year for just this event! Each year I’ve seen him, I think he’s had a different Stang. May I add, Brother X is a good bro that we’ve got to know through the Dream Cruise. As I get older, I realize that you don’t meet many genuine folks in this life, and it’s been fun getting to know X each year.
Son of a CSD and CSD himself – My Son! Representing in his own ’88 Fox GT…and no, there’s not an AT in the group.
But because we do believe in diversity among the Brothers, my cuz even found us with his convertible SS over to the far left! So just to give him some love, below is an even better show of his ride…(but let it be known that he a BAD and heavily modded notchback a few years ago). Cuz always has a way of doing the Paula Abdul and “making a ride his own”, so stay-tuned as I’m sure this will turn out to be a pretty unique S/S in the months to come. He purchased it recently and it already looks different!
Cruisin’ With CSD On Woodward Ave – 2015
Get ready CSDs that have love for all things cars!
The single greatest car event in the WORLD (as far as I know and you all know me, I’m not an “arrogant American”) takes place in Michigan every August.
For the last couple of years, I’ve taken Black Thunder down to Mustang Alley in Ferndale, Michigan. Since I had a wedding to attend Saturday night, I didn’t get a chance to cruise too much on the main day, but I got more than enough in on Friday night.
So more pics are coming, but for now…
Here was Black Thunder getting shined up one final time Saturday morning (after only 4 hours of sleep from the night before) as I headed out with the girls.
Oh, and on that note, the plan was to take the girls Saturday morning as I took the boys Friday night. I woke my girls up Saturday at 5 am and I knew they were tired. I tried to give them an out, and said, “If it’s too early, you don’t have to go.” But what did they say? “That’s okay, we want to go!”
Ah kid…that’s a tear-jerking moment right there. After spending 7 hours in the hot and humid weather and another 3 in the car…in traffic…with only the windows down (you really didn’t think I’d use the A/C did ya?)…that night I received a good night kiss and a “thanks for taking us to Woodward”.
World’s Greatest Drag Race 4 – What Car You Should and Should Not Mess With At A Stoplight!
Well, at least I can say that I’ve driven a few of the models in the race, and the GT-R was one of them (along with Camaro and 4C)!
Put the kids on the lap and turn the speakers up.
Come on man!!!
Let me disregard the hype and come strictly with the real…
– No Mustang, but a Fiesta ST?
– No Tesla Model S, but a GTI?
– The BMW i8 represented hard!
– My favorite new ride might just be that F-Type. Yes, Aston’s still hold a special place in my heart, but that F-Type represented!
Alright, what say you?
What ride would you rather have seen, what’s your favorite and any surprises or disappointments?
CSD
Cruising With CornerstoneDad: KEN BLOCK’S GYMKHANA FIVE: ULTIMATE URBAN PLAYGROUND; SAN FRANCISCO
There are a few “moment of silence” times in my house growing up that we all knew about. One was the chase scene from the movie, Bullitt with Steve McQueen. To this day, there is just no other chase scene that has all all the 5 W’s and 1 H down (my Journalism 101 folks know what I’m talking about).
Now I’ve never seen the entire movie, but whenever my dad would be watching it and that scene would come on, we would be glued to the TV with maximum volume. Hearing those guys banging gears in the ’68 390 ci. Mustang and the ’68 440 ci. Charger was melody to my young ears and why I love banging gears myself to this day.
My inner Steve McQueen comes out when I have my hand on the shiftball…and I have Bullitt wheels on my Stang as well!
So the video of the day is post-worthy, as Ken Block does it again, but this time in the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen, San Francisco. Seriously, I can’t even pull this stuff off in Forza, Gran Turismo, or Need For Speed without tearing up my car!
I got Bullitt flashbacks watching this one…but a Fiesta is no where nearly as cool…
So put the kids on you lap, enlarge the screen, and as always, turn those speakers up!
CornerstoneDad Covers the Detroit Auto Show – Day 2
Media days are finally over and the theme definitely was green, sporty and small. In other words, if you’re looking for that next minivan for the family or pick’m-up-truck, this show was not for you. This one was all about the kids. Likely your kids, as manufacturers try to get them back into their brands and build some brand loyalty. So fuel efficiency, coupes and connectivity for all those devices was the flavor of the show.
So for you CornerstoneDad’s out there with teenagers that are car shopping, this show is for you.
Can you find which car may be the next-gen Camaro?
Can you find which car may be the next-gen Corvette?
What do you think about the Blake Griffin Kia?
What do you think of the new Fusion?
Gotta at least give it up to Dodge for keeping us Muscle Car era fans happy.
Sound off!
CornerstoneDad Covers the Detroit Auto Show – Day One Highlights
Well folks, see anything you like?
What’s your favorite?
Look for more tomorrow!
CornerstoneDad Podcast Episode #6 – Preparing for A Family? Sorry, You’ll Never Be Prepared
At the beach enjoying the children, but it hasn’t always been this easy! In this episode, I have the most beautiful co-host in the world, my wife. We tell a little bit about us and how our lives have changed with every child that we have been blessed with. We didn’t always see it as a blessing, but thank God he knows better than we do.
Click to listen: CornerstoneDad Podcast Episode #6 – Preparing for A Family? Sorry, You’ll Never Be Prepared
Feel free to email me at: cornerstonedadpodcast@gmail.com and leave your comments about the show or tell us how your life has changed with your children. Have things gone exactly the way you’ve expected them to go? Let us know!
Cruising with CornerstoneDad: Street Cruise – June 2011
The only really time I enjoy the area we live in is, you guessed it, summer time! There’s a cruise nearly every weekend and the Tribe knows the routine: Grab the food, folding chairs, and camera.
Right now, it’s the only way I survive the minivan years…by hoping that one day, I can pile the Tribe (or at least some of them) in my muscle car (defined by the era, not the category) or Stang and cruise down the street as well.
But until then, here are some photos of some of the better rides from the sidelines, as CornerstoneDad’s lens saw them:
CornerstoneDad Car Throwdown Video of the Day: Future Drift Champion
I always wanted one of these when I was a kid, but unfortunately they were a bit out of my family’s price range. Plus, they never seemed to run for the relatives and friends that I knew that did have them.
However, this little guy here, is one happy kid and is living my dream!
Are Cars from the Good Ole Days Better Than Those Today?
Sometimes us CornerstoneDads have a way of making the past sound much more glorious than it actually was. Or is it just that when we are young, we tend to make myths out of the stories our dads told us as a child.
I’m not sure which it was for me, I just know that I have always considered muscle cars to be the baddest beasts on the street. Only recently did I have to concede that cars these days do almost everything better than the cars of yesteryear. Now before you send me hate mail, notice that I ALMOST!
So CornerstoneDads, what do you think? Is there a particular car that you just idolize because your pops had one and that was the first car you remember going fast in? How does it compare to what’s in your driveway today?
Because my dad raised us to hold Mopar muscle in the highest regard, the video below (check out the link) absolutely breaks my heart. Edmunds InsideLine tested the ’69 General Lee against the 2011 Charger R/T.
I am surely not a Mopar Fiat fan today, but I think we all have to admit that the cars of our youth and our parents youth, just can’t hang with the pavement peelers (if you turn off the traction control) out now. No offense to my dad’s ’68 383ci. Plymouth Road Runner and ’74 318ci Dodge Charger. Give me $30, 000 to lay down (must remain debt-free of course), and I’d still choose one of the cars he used to own before I’d even attempt to recapture my youth with a ’88 Ford Mustang LX 5.0L.
Which is your favorite?
http://www.insideline.com/dodge/charger/2011/2011-dodge-charger-rt-vs-the-general-lee.html
Cruising with CornerstoneDad: Chicago Auto Show Wrap-Up
What was hot?
What was cold?
You decide and let me know as below are all of the vehicles that were so special, the manufacturers held press conferences to tell us all about them…or at least about themselves.
Launch: Camaro ZL1 version
Specs:
– LSA supercharged 6.2L V8 engine
– estimated 550 hp / 550 lb-ft. of torque
– high-strength hypereutectic pistons
– Eaton supercharger
– six-speed Tremec TR6060 manual transmission
– new exhaust (first used on the Vette)
– fastest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet and most technically advanced Camaro ever
– planned launch: beginning of 2012
– Key competitor: Ford’s Shelby GT500
Launch: Limited edition Camaro SS Convertible
– Replica of 1969 pace model
– Only making 500.
Launch: Genesis Sedan 5.0 R-Spec
Wait, is this the same company that made some of the cheapest looking cars just a few years ago?
– 5.0L Tau V8 with DI
– Most powerful Hyundai engine yet at 429hp, 11.5:1 compression
– D-CVVT variable valve timing
– Estimated fuel economy is 16 city and 25 highway
– “unique R-Spec transmission”…Hyundai’s own 8-speed
– DI added to Lambda 3.8L bumping HP up to 333 (this should really help the Coupe!)
– 3 engines now available for the sedan: 5.0L V8, 4.6L V8, and 3.8L V6
– 5.0L / 8 spd. powertrain will also be standard in the Equus
Launch: Veloster Rally Car
Why do I feel like I need a video game controller in my hand when I look at this car?
– The only news here is that Hyundai appears to be using this vehicle to go up against Mitsubishi’s Lancer and Subaru’s Impreza. In other words, this is the “boy-racer” model in the line-up. While the company is commercially touting the fuel efficiency of its vehicles, there is obviously money in the budget to focus on vehicle performance as well.
Launch: New 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
– 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine
– 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,700 rpm
– Expected to deliver 31 mpg highway with the manual and 32 mpg highway with the DSG® automatic.
It was interesting that VW spent more time talking about social networking and the popularity of its recent Darth Vader Super Bowl ad than it did the vehicle.
Launch: 2012 TL
I had the same look on my face that I have when my wife comes home after getting her hair done. Do I say I see the difference when I really don't?
– “newly refined”
– received 6-speed automatic transmission.
Launch: “Man Van” Grand Caravan
I think most CornerstoneDads would add a little more flare to their minivan if it's going to be considered their "man van"
– 3.6L Pentastar V6 and 6-speed transmission
– 283 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque.
The outside of the van did not look much different, but the interior is supposed to be a “man cave” with its all black color. What do you call a minivan with the most horsepower and torque in its class and an R/T badge? A minivan.
Launch: Durango R/T
– 5.7L HEMI producing 360 hp / 390 lb.-ft. of torque
– Best in class 7,400 lb. towing capability
Launch: Charger SRT8
Whether 2012, or 1972, the new Charger SRT8 fits in with no problem with its size and power
– 6.4L HEMI with 468hp and 465 lb.-ft. or torque
– Improvement of 15% for the city and 25% for the highway compared to the 6.1L in the 2010 model
Launch: Tradesman 1500
– Standard 5.7L HEMI (390hp/407lb.-ft.)
– Five-speed transmission
– Highway fuel economy rated at 20 mpg
– Pricing starting at $22,780
Launch: 3500 HD
– turbo diesel engine and emits no diesel exhaust fluid, reducing cleaning time; 800 lb.-ft. of torque
– Maximum tow rating of 22,700 pounds
Since Ford decided to talk about nothing but using social media to launch the new Explorer and other vehicles in the future, I just decided to post the shot of their best vehicle at the show. Like any good reporter, if there’s no news, you just make some up.
Oh how I can't wait for the drag strips to re-open!
A friend of mine with a Fox body Mustang once told me before a race, I'd hose my grandmother!
Furious Fathering 