Cup of Snarky

For the general motorcycle enthusiast, a little bit of knowledge can go a long way. In terms of any discussion of the cafe racers of the 60s, one of the best ways to fake one’s way into some pretty interesting conversations is to remember that the old bikes leaked oil. This isn’t necessarily true for all makes and all models, but it’s true enough that by mentioning the oil, most older bikers will be off and running with long stories about the best bike they ever had, the scariest moment on the road, and a lot of enigmatic smiles.

It was a different time, perhaps. Although there are still serious riders with mechanical interests, the ones who will start with a book on auto repair and work their way up to replacing heads on the engine, they are few and far between. The new bikes, including the modern classics , are generally easier to maintain, for the rider as well as for the mechanic. That’s not to say there are no problems, of course. Every motorcycle will have issues if ridden long enough because, even if it doesn’t go down (knock on the shiny side and keep it up), things eventually get loose or wear down. Tightening and replacing are always part of the deal, and fine adjustments will keep the bike alive for a very long time.

No matter how new or how old the motorcycle, then, a solid motorcycle manual is going to come in handy for everyone who rides. Those who are riding the new classics probably are well aware that the oil leaking is no longer a problem, but there is another very significant change in the last few years. The old school carburetors that give these bikes some of their most distinctively gorgeous features are now decorative features only. They’ve kept the covers so that the profile is very much the same as it was in the early 60s, but they are now fuel injected. It’s a very important distinction. While the benefits are obvious, with increased fuel efficiency, and a more dependable engine for cold weather, there are some things that are lost. The most nostalgic biker will likely have a profound sense of pride for the hours spent learning how to fix their own carburetors, and new riders will find that a little bit of information on repair will come in very handy. It may never come to good practical use, but it will certainly pay off in more than one conversation with veteran bikers, going over how things were “way back when,” to discover that it’s not very far away at all.

Everyone loves their car, truck or other automobile. Okay, so we’ll back that up a bit and not make it a blanket statement in absolutes. Many, if not most, people love their automobiles. And with that, another obsession for a lot of people is the type of cars that their favorite celebrities drive. Jesse James is well known for his costume made motorcycles and has enjoyed success with realty television. His West Coast Choppers is now internationally known, though he actually started the company in his mother’s garage in 1992. Meanwhile, he has managed to garner as much notoriety for his relationship, and lack of fidelity, with Sandra Bullock as he has for his work. Most recently, James’ reputation has suffered severely for his lack of fidelity, as well as discretion. However, his career with bikes, cars and trucks is what many people recognize and respect him for, and if he stays out of trouble, it is his work that is likely going to remain with him as his career continues.

by Mike Baird

Chrome wheels are just one of the features that specialized cars, trucks and motorcycles are known for. What many people seem to overlook is the absolute detail needs of cars, which is one of the things James is known for. It’s much like putting together a fashion model, every little detail counts, and the wheels, which might compare to shoes, are an essential aspect of any well designed vehicle. And as every professional knows, if you’re going to detail your auto, you must go all the way.

Of course for the pros like Jesse James, they take their vehicle passion and incorporate it into their lifestyle. No one is likely to forget the image of James pulling up in a pick up truck to his wedding with Bullock, and while the truck tires might be overlooked or even completely forgotten, you can be sure the truck was customized, down to the last detail. Not everyone has to go to such extremes, or turn their passion for their vehicle into a lifestyle, but many people do put an exorbitant amount of effort and money into the look of their car. And for those few of us who consider their vehicle for its functional element only, it makes little to no sense why some people would put as much money into the appearance and exterior of their auto as what they do to its maintenance. But then, to those that do, we don’t really even exist, except maybe as a potential fix up project or diamond in the rough.

When you’re the heiress of the Hilton hotels empire then you can afford the finer things in life; caviar, a gulfstream, a pink Bentley. Reality TV star Paris Hilton doesn’t just have a blue Bentley convertible but a pink 2007 Bentley Continental. Apparently when you are rich and famous Bentleys are like Pringles- you just can’t stop at one.  Though, seeing Paris Hilton with the newest sunglasses or jewelry might be wonderful free marketing for fashion companies its doubtful that her unofficial endorsements are helping the auto industry. In fact, it almost seems as though Paris’ Bentley ownership might hurt the brand.  Take note there is such a thing as bad press – it’s called Paris Hilton. It’s similar to the Lebron James Miami situation; before Lebron left the Cavaliers no one really hated the Miami Heat, but now it’s a much different story. I can’t say for sure if Bentley sales numbers have dropped since Paris became a proud owner, but I wouldn’t be buying one anytime soon. Although, It’s not like Bentley can exactly stop spoiled heiresses from buying their cars, heck, they are probably one of their largest demographics but this one girl they should’ve denied. Just look at her Bentley, the entire car is pink even the rims. I’ve heard of black rims on a car before but pink rims that’s certainly new.  Bentley, please go back to making racing cars. Sincerely, Cup of Snarky.

There are many diverse occupations that require a person to have a CDL (commercial driver’s license). The majority of these types of jobs will pay quite a bit more than the average occupation and for those who love to drive and travel, these positions are often a great fit. The training for a CDL is by no means easy, but with the right amount of determination and hard work, virtually anyone can obtain a CDL. The first step you need to take is to decide if you want to attend a college, private type of training facility or a technical school. Private training facilities will normally be more expensive than the traditional methods, but it is usually much shorter than the alternatives.

Technical schools will generally offer more than simple training instruction. There is a lot more practical advice, as well as mechanical training. Extra financial help is also sometimes an option for those who decide to attend a technical school for their CDL, but this varies location to location.

After you have decided what facility you would like to attend, you need to find out what documents are required in order to sign up. These typically include a photocopy of a driver’s license, birth certificate, and a driver’s record that has been clean for at least seven years. After this is accomplished, you will need to hit the books. There are many things that must be learned when it comes to driving tractor trailers safely and you will need time to study.

Once that is done, the very next step is to take what you have learned from the various books and put it into practice on the road. You will need to view and identify all of the different components of the truck and you will also need to be educated in the various safety features and how to make sure they are working properly. There is a surprisingly large check list when it comes to safety and it must be committed to memory since this check list must be completed before every single departure. After all of this work has been done, the actual driving begins.

Every day you will need to run through the required safety checklist and then you begin the important task of practicing behind the wheel. An instructor will ride with you in the event something goes wrong and can help answer and questions or concerns you may have. Parking lot training is the very first baby step and later practice on the actual road will begin. You will need to have a very specific amount of hours of driving on the road before you can effectively pass this course. The very last step is to pass a series of relevant tests. There is a written test required by the training facility, a test for the checklist regarding safety, live road tests, and the actual DMV test needed to finally acquire the CDL.

It may sound tedious but once you have taken the necessary steps, the payoff will be well worth the effort.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a truck driver, visit The Truckers Report at this link.

Restoring old cars is an invigorating hobby, but keeping cars running is a necessity. Some have a little more charm than others, however, and the big, old cars have a special place in the hearts of anyone who ever fell in love with the sound of a V8 engine. The sound suggests a bark that drivers know is every bit as big as its bite, and there’s still nothing like the feeling of being behind those particular wheels. Not everyone can afford to buy a new Buick every five years, but with a great repair manual , it’s possible to keep it running just like new for a very long time.

There’s a sturdiness to these that is still very attractive to buyers, and it speaks to a kind of solid craftsmanship that’s hard to find these days. They are definitely built to last, and there’s reasons why the old Buicks are such classics. For some people who love them, they have a direct memory, where their first or second car was a model very close if not the same as the restored versions. For others, it’s more of an image thing, where the sight of something solid and kept in perfect condition is a reminder of how sweet life can be.

With some makes, the new models still have the same power and weight that the older ones had, and that makes them particularly attractive to those who look into the future. The new models are classics in the making, and this makes it even more necessary to keep them running smooth. It’s not just a question of running well for the moment, but giving it a chance to have a life that might be passed down to another generation. A little bit of knowledge of auto repair can go a long way, and a good manual can certainly help. When Springsteen was singing about the big old buick , he wasn’t just singing about a car, but a way of life.