The Breakfast Club: An Exotic Car Feast!
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Well, the same goes for your car. 🙂
Cars need proper warming-up before being driven hard, so what better way to get them warmed up than by filling them up with the proper fuel and nutrition! Well, here’s a gathering of exotic sports cars meeting for a morning feast…ignore the calorie counters for now, as these cars are like well-trained athletes: they burn the calories off pretty quickly. 😉
Included in the video: Lineup of hungry cars, breakfast feast menu, and the cozy/comfy interior of the bistro…
Thanks to the owner of Brix American Bistro, the cars were fortified for the rest of the day!
See more pictures here: Breakfast Meet at Brix: An Exotic Car Feast!
Keeping Your Car Healthy: Scheduled Maintenance
As a physician, you understand the importance of routine health maintenance. Well, the same principle applies to keeping your favorite car healthy. Adhering to the proper maintenance intervals for your car helps ensure miles of smiles for your vehicle, whether it’s your daily driver, your family cruiser, your heavy-duty hauler, or your weekend toy(s). 🙂
Cars are like humans in many respects: They need to be examined periodically, cleaned and flushed from time to time, and they need the proper nutrients to keep them running strong. We recommend you keep abreast of your car’s recommended maintenance intervals and bring your vehicle in when it’s due for routine service…because missing these important services is like missing important follow-ups with a physician.
All cars need oil changes, brake inspections, tire inspections, filter changes, fluid flushes, and yes, even new windshield wipers. 😉
For example, here’s a BMW 335i making a visit to the BMW dealership for a scheduled “physical”… 😛
Keeping your car healthy will make it happy…and in return, will make YOU happy as well. 🙂
How to wash your exotic car: Let the pros do it!
All car fanatics can relate to this: Washing your favorite car is a serious ritual. It has to be done right, no? Taking the time to clean the car and maintain its beautiful appearance is hard work. It takes time and effort, but is well worth it. And as all car enthusiasts can attest to, it helps one bond with the car as well.
But what if you simply don’t have the time? If you are a busy doctor, your free time may be few and far between. So if you don’t have the time, what do you do? Well, you take the car to someone you trust…your trusty professional detailer, that is.
Professional detailers make it look easy, even though we know it’s not really that simple, is it? Well, maybe it is…if you know what you’re doing, of course. 😉
Here’s an example of someone who knows what they’re doing…the gurus at Odds and Ends Detailing demonstrate how it’s done with this matte gray Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 coupe. So sit back, relax, and watch how the pros do it: 🙂
So in summary, just like having a good doctor who tends to your health needs, we recommend you find a trusty detailer who can tend to your car’s beauty needs as well…it’s well worth the peace of mind.
Spotted: 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio!
As we mentioned earlier, the Fiat 500 is here. These little critters are being seen out and about in all kinds of weather conditions. Stylish and economical, these cars make great commuter cars and are also great for running errands.
Here’s a scenario: Imagine coming across the new 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio out in the wild! On a rainy day to boot! Imagine a Lamborghini Gallardo chasing it down…or at least TRYING to chase down this elusive little creature. Can this mythical beast be caught? We’ll let YOU make the call!… 😉
Challenge Question: The white Fiat 500 Cabrio in this video is similar to the one in the Fiat 500 commercial which features what famous female pop star?
A True Exotic Hypercar: Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
There are certain cars that boggle the mind. When you see one, you know it. True supercars are a rare sighting when spotted. Well, imagine our surprise when we came across one of the rarest supercars right in the middle of a high-end shopping mall! How often does THAT happen?
Enter this rare and special 2003 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo. When we saw this gleaming red beauty, it stopped us in our tracks. One of only 50 ever produced, this car has been owned by Steve Saleen himself (American businessman, former racing driver, and founder of Saleen, Inc.). We were fortunate to meet the current owner of this car, Chris Berry, owner of Black Wolf Automotive Specialties. He gave us a quick rundown of the car’s provenance and its unique history. Mr. Berry purchased this car directly from Steve Saleen himself. This is a special Saleen S7, and according to Mr. Berry, this was Steve Saleen’s own personal car that was used in the research and development of the twin-turbocharged versions of the S7 that were eventually produced from 2005-2009 (the earlier S7s produced from 2000-2004 were naturally-aspirated Ford 427 big block V8s making 550 hp).
Remember, this red gem is a 2003 model that was developed before the 2005 Twin Turbo versions came into production. The body is made entirely of carbon fiber and the chassis is a composite, lightweight aluminum/steel space-frame – this results in a curb weight of only 2,950 pounds. This mid-engine, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive, twin-turbo supercar utilizes 2 Garrett turbochargers making 5.5 psi of boost, upping the power to a whopping 750 hp and 700 lb-feet of ripping torque! The Saleen S7 Twin Turbo sprints from 0-60 mph in a scant 2.8 seconds, rips through the 1/4 mile in 10.5 seconds, and accelerates into the stratosphere at a top speed of 248 mph! Did we mention this car is fast?
View more pictures here: Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
This car looks fast just standing still. We think you’ll agree… 🙂
We’d like to thank Mr. Berry for taking the time to tell us more about this rare and unique exotic supercar. The car is currently listed for sale…when brand-new, the original MSRP of the S7 Twin Turbo was $585,000, but due to the ultra-rarity of these cars, Mr. Berry stated they were being sold at a premium of around $750,000 at the time. This particular red example of automotive art can be yours for around $400,000, a relative bargain considering the provenance/history of this car. If you are looking for an ultra-rare supercar (made in America, no less) that will outrun even the latest Italian exotics, this is the car for you. (Hint: For all the ***cough***plastic surgeons***cough*** out there!) 😛
Baltimore Grand Prix (Part 3): The Event, the Race Cars, the Races
As we discussed in previous posts, the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix was held in the heart of downtown Baltimore, MD. For racing fans and car fans alike, this was a unique event for the East Coast and crowds were enthralled by the gathering of race cars that seemed out of place on the streets of a major U.S. city. After all, how often does one see and HEAR cars flying down city streets doing triple-digit speeds, the exhausts echoing and bellowing throughout an entire city! Not very often, eh?
Baltimore Grand Prix Circuit
Featuring a 2.04 mile street circuit near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the Baltimore Grand Prix was a 3-day extravaganza of cars, cars, and more cars. Staged over the Labor Day weekend, things ramped up right away on Day 1 (Friday), with the practice/qualifying sessions. Filling the 32,000+ grandstand seats were fans of all types, from the serious race aficionados to the casual, first-time observers. The race cars were a mixture of those from the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the Indy Lights series, and the granddaddy IndyCar series (featuring such stars as Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick, Will Power, et al.).
The atmosphere was electric from Day 1 and here’s a sample of some of the action in the middle of the city:
On Day 2 (Saturday), the American Le Mans Series race brought huge crowds, and it was fun to watch the action from the grandstands, the TVs in the club tents, and even from the sidewalks/venues lining the streets. In our opinion, we felt that the best-sounding cars were the ALMS BMW E92 M3s and the Ferrari 458s, but we’ll let you decide on your favorites:
Day 3 (Sunday) was capped by the marquee event, the IZOD IndyCar Series race, featuring the ultimately-fast IndyCars. We can say that these cars are a blur when they go by and the sounds they make are astounding! Here’s some footage from the race. The video includes mid-race and end-race footage on the straightaway between Turns 9 and 10 (Russell Street). The race was won by Will Power in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car…starting around the 1:48 mark, the video captures Will Power’s car on the final lap as he heads to victory:
Challenge Question #1: Can you identify the color combination of Will Power’s winning IndyCar?
Challenge Question #2: Who is driving the lime green colored car?
In summary, while there were some glitches that need to be improved for next year (parking, security, crowd management), the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix was an overall success and seemed to attract rave reviews from the drivers, media, and racing community. With its 5-year contract in place, hopefully, it can only get even better.
You can view more pictures here: 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix
Baltimore Grand Prix (Part 2): Exotic Car Corral
As we discussed in a previous post, the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix was held in the heart of downtown Baltimore, MD. If you’re a car fan, this was an event for all car fanatics, doctors or not. 😉
As part of the 3-day event, various car clubs were allotted reserved parking in a large car corral. Hundreds of cars showed up from various enthusiast clubs, including those from Corvette, Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Lamborghini.
As one can imagine, there is something about exotic cars that captures the hearts and minds of car fans and even non-car fans! So how many exotics can you park in one parking lot? We’re not sure, but you can start your counting now… 😉
We were thinking this would make an interesting doctors’ parking lot…that is, if it was a ***cough***plastic surgeon’s***cough*** office, of course! 😛
Editor’s Addendum: A bonus of the reserved car corrals was that the entry point into the race track was adjacent to the corrals, so the race cars would enter/leave the track through the corral parking lot, often lining up single-file one after the other. What a sight to see!…and HEAR!
Baltimore Grand Prix (Part 1): Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 revealed
We recently had the opportunity to attend the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, which was held in the heart of downtown Baltimore, MD. This was a grand event for the city and crowds gathered by the thousands to partake in this downtown festival of racing – and of course, it was all about the cars…yes, the CARS.
Well, what better place to reveal the latest Lamborghini to the general public than at the Baltimore Grand Prix!
As previously discussed in prior posts regarding the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, this is a car of which we just can’t get enough! Fortunately, we got our wish for more, as we had the opportunity to see the Aventador up close at the Baltimore Grand Prix. This particular Aventador had a gloss black exterior with a black interior, black wheels, and orange brake calipers. All we could say was “Wow!”. It looked like something straight out of a movie, something The Batman himself would drive in the darkest of nights in the great city of Gotham. In fact, we’ve already heard rumors that in the latest movie in the Batman series (which is currently being filmed), the Aventador will be a featured car…and why wouldn’t it!
Keeping in line with the philosophy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., this car is definitely Italian. It is certainly uncompromising. And it is without a doubt extreme.
The characteristic angular/edgy Lamborghini lines are there. The signature scissor doors are there. The heart of the car – the beastly V12 engine – is definitely there. And the crowd-gathering ability of this car is undeniably there!
Sitting in the driver’s seat, one can’t help but feel like a fighter pilot readying for the next clandestine flight. The interior cabin feels comfortable, yet purposeful…just as The Batman would design it!
An interesting observation we had: While the Aventador is larger than its predecessor, the Murcielago/LP640, for some reason it does not seem as bulky. It does have lines reminiscent of the smaller Gallardo…maybe that has something to do with it?…or maybe it is so advanced, it has the ability to play tricks on your mind? 😉
We think black is one of the best colors for this car, but we’ll let you decide:
In summary, the Aventador is a great-looking and great-sounding car. A car truly fit for the caped crusader in all of us. 😉
Cellos and Cellists: A compilation of sweet sounds!
Ok, we know what you’re thinking…
At first glance, a post about music may seem off-topic on a car enthusiast website for doctors, you say? Then again, maybe not? After all, many physicians (including us!) enjoy the musical arts, in addition to the automotive arts, no? 😉
Actually, there are many similarities between cars and music. As we mentioned in a previous post, the sound is what gets you hooked on a particular automobile, and the sweet symphony emanating from the car’s engine is comparable to that emanating throughout the concert theater. A beautiful-sounding engine is a true work of art…just as a great musical performance is also a true work of art.
Recently, we had a chance to enjoy a very entertaining performance by a group of extremely talented cellists. It reminded us that we should all take time to stop and smell the roses, see the beauty that surrounds our lives, and LISTEN to the world around us, including the “sound of music”, whether it be from your favorite string instrument…or that of your favorite V12 engine. 😉
Enjoy!… 🙂
Editor’s Addendum: The above cello recital was organized by Aisha (one of the cellists) to benefit ArtStream, Inc., an organization whose mission is to create artistic opportunities for individuals in communities traditionally under-served by the arts. Their goal is to reach out to members in various groups, such as persons with disabilities; seniors; people with short- or long-term illnesses and their families or caregivers; immigrants; veterans; people who are grieving; and students and teachers. Kudos to Aisha for her excellent work! 🙂
Dinner and a movie?…scratch that. How about a drive, dinner, and some belly dancing!
As a busy physician, you need time to “unwind” from the stress, right? Well, on those rare occasions when you have some time to enjoy life, what better way to relieve stress than by sharing a drive with other car enthusiasts, combined with some dinner and dancing? 😉
Imagine a gathering of 35 or so car enthusiasts meeting up for a night of camaraderie, sharing their enthusiasm of cars, and enjoying a feast fit for a king. Not enough? Ok, then how about a little belly dancing entertainment thrown into the mix? Sounds fun now, doesn’t it? 🙂
After meeting up at a location outside the city, the gathering of car enthusiasts chatted, said their hellos and introduced themselves. Many of them already knew each other, but many of them were meeting each other for the first time as well. After a brief period of socializing and meeting/greeting, the cars fired up their engines and enjoyed a leisurely cruise into the city.
Upon arrival into the city, they were greeted by a welcoming crew at the restaurant and were guided into the parking lot one by one. It was certainly an entertaining scene, seeing and hearing these fine automobiles as they rolled into the city…as the saying goes, there was a “buzz” in the air and the energy was definitely palpable.
After more socializing and fun conversation, the enthusiastic group was ushered into the restaurant and they were treated to an amazing, delightful, multiple-course Moroccan feast — we can guarantee nobody left feeling hungry!
And to top off the fine evening, the group was treated with a traditional Moroccan belly-dancing performance by a highly-skilled and talented dancer, who was very engaging and entertaining. She even pulled several of the group members (both the shy and un-shy!) into the “circle” to join her for a dance!
Here are a couple of brief videos from the event:
You can also view more pictures here.
In summary, a great time was had by all. Special kudos and congratulations go to the fine folks at DC Metro Media, Marrakesh Restaurant, and Exotic Car Specialties for executing such a first-class event. 🙂