22 Mar Guest Blogger: Michael Lenoch
Today, we’re having our first-ever featured guest blogger!
Michael, our guest blogger for the day, is the owner of the red E30 coupe that’s receiving the S54 transplant. But let’s let him introduce himself, we think he does it a little better than we do:
My name is Michael Lenoch, I am currently a freshman at Marquette University studying journalism and German language. “Car” was my first word, and I have been just as obsessed with the invention ever since the day I uttered it. Top Gear is my favorite TV show and I watch nothing but Speed Channel. ALMS, Grand-Am and F1 are my favorites!
My first car was a 1998 BMW 328i, and have been loyal to the brand from the first day I sat behind the wheel. I am a member of the BMWCCA and the SCCA, although I have only participated in three events for the BMWCCA.
Now, I’m having my 1985 BMW 323i get its S54 engine and E36 M3 transmission installed at Fluid. The car is intended to be street legal so that I can drive to and from driving events, but at the same time, is meant to be purpose-built. Meaning, I will not have any creature comforts such as heating, air conditioning, traction control, anti-lock brakes nor power steering. When I purchased the car from Boston in May of 2011, it came equipped with a six-point cage, two Sparco Evo racing seats, a harness and some Hartge goodies like wheels and side-skirts. The only real work I’ve done on the car myself was panting the cage.
Before my car’s finished, I hope to hit the ground running and get more seat time this spring with the SCCA to improve my skills. Ultimately, I hope to get involved in either NASA or SCCA club racing somewhere down the line. Right now, however, I’m trying to get experience as quickly as possible, and get my car done for as inexpensively as possible.
With that being said, here’s Michael’s guest blog post, “The Cars of L.A.” Enjoy!
While I was away this past week in Los Angeles, (or more specifically, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica) I saw a slew of amazing cars. Ranging from exotics to classics, Porsches, Bentleys and Maseratis became a every-day sight. High performance cars are so commonplace in fact that the average person doesn’t think twice when they see an Audi R8 rolling through a town center.
Unlike our respective Chicagoland hometowns, California isn’t burdened by metric tons of salt poured on its streets each winter. This allows cars to have a far longer lifespan and makes the state’s streets a virtual car show each day, rendering it a haven for car enthusiasts.
Cars like these became ordinary.
Hertz rental was even in on it!
One Porsche, two Porsche, three Porsche…
I stood out on the side of this street in Beverly Hills, scoping out sweet rides, all the while trying not to look creepy. Go figure.
The perfect cross-section of California cars; high-end luxury, SUV, work trucks and hippie-driven hybrids or full electrics. (You’d be surprised the number of Nissan Leafs!)
Then, I saw the most amazing parking garage in my entire life!
Dubbed-out Venza. Aww yeah!
Smoochin’ time!
It takes a lot of guts to drive around town in something that doesn’t cost six figures.
A private residential parking solution serves as an example when it truly would “suck to roll hard.”
S4. On a street. NBD.
You see a BMW X3 and a Mercedes C-Class parked outside, but you notice the houses aren’t that large. Real estate is expensive in LA!
One of the more embarrassing photo-taking sessions as a resident of this complex caught me taking this. Thankfully I wasn’t confronted.
Stereotypical Cali…
Wrong parking spot. (Hint: window.)
Hello, hello. One of the many spectacular cars on display at the McLaren dealership. (I’m just guessing, but they wouldn’t exist without the release of the MP4-12C. Hmm…)[Editor’s note: McLaren’s been around for a very long time, but yes, no MP4, no dealerships]
Guys, because racecar.
Cleaning lady and all.
More McLaren dealership unbelievable-ness.
Just some R8s chilling at Audi of Beverly Hills, y’know, the usual.
I about fainted at the sight of this Lamborghini-Aston Martin dealership.
Waiting to be driven like it was stolen.
The Astons, fast asleep.
A number of colorful classics.
Oh, y’know, just a million-dollar car on display at the Bentley-Bugatti dealership.
Fluid in the ‘50s?
C-H-R-O-M-E at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles.
Kicking it old-school.
Popping like the ‘60s!
An eerily realistic wax model of Harry Stutz.
One of 500 Alfa Romeo 8C Competiziones, each sensibly priced at a quarter of a million dollars.
Another big roller, only this Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa spyder, should it be real, could fetch over 16 million dollars.
You think your grill is imposing?
Hot Wheels heaven.
Understatement much?
Gold, anyone?
As far as wacky designs go, this Lancia makes me want to projectile vomit.
Steve McQueen’s own Jaguar XK55. He sold it because he got so many speeding tickets driving it.
Bond, Jame- oh forget it.
Amazing example of an MG, just sitting in the parking garage of the museum.
For snobs near you!
On our last two days, we stayed in a slummier area, but despite this, we got to see countless “sweet whips,” yo.
Out of the blue, we see a building with a Lamborghini Murcielago in front, a matte green Silvia and a mean-looking Mercedes.
And I happened to see a StanceWorks E46 M3 moments later!
“I know I bring my Porsche every time I go to the beach!”
“And while I’m at it, why not my Maserati too!”
A glimpse out the window treats me with two souped-up E92 M3s.
People who drive Porsches in California may as well be on welfare.
Then some delicious strawberry-mint lemonade to wash this vacation down…
And there you have it! We’d like to thank Michael for giving our blogger the day off, and hopefully this will put Michael one step closer to that sweet unpaid internship that all journalism majors strive to achieve! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s exciting conclusion of Bob’s 550ix GT exhaust!
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