Archive for the ‘Fifth Gear’ Category

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MOTOR CLUB NEWS… Late-Summer Edition

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

We wanted to connect with our members and friends with this seasonal e-update to let you know what’s happening at Portland Motor Club these days…

Don’t miss our LABOR DAY CAR SHOW: Portland Motor Club will happily host the Labor Day TOYS-FOR-TOTS Car Cruise-in again this year. Cruise on in anytime after 9 that morning for a 10am to 2pm event on Monday, Labor Day, September 6, 2010 — our main lot was almost full by starting time last year (our first year hosting it)! There was a truly extraordinary assortment of quality cars. See photos from last year at . Any and all types of vehicles are welcome to come by for some fun, some food, some great live music by Monday Night Posse , prizes and, of course, a lot of awesome cars. The U.S. Marine Corps will be on hand to handle the onslaught of toys for kids. Entrance “fee” is a new unwrapped present for a deserving child. Portland Motor Club will also be opened up that day for visitors to see the facility (from a safe and untouchable distance). Members are encouraged to be on hand to meet some of the other members and to help to share the excitement about Portland Motor Club.
* all Maine car clubs are encouraged to participate

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WINTER STORAGE RESERVATIONS: You really don’t have to get your car off the road until the very last minute if you don’t want to, but you might want to make sure it has a good winter home waiting for it. After all, we pretty much filled up last winter! You can store your car at Portland Motor Club anytime from October 15 through Memorial Day weekend for one flat fee. Please call Membership Director Kal Rogers at 207-233-9970 to work out the details and to save some space for your vehicle. You can read more on our blog at .

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VIDEO TOUR: If you haven’t seen our video tour/interview online on our homepage , you really ought to take a few minutes and watch (if we say so ourselves). It gives anyone interested in professional car storage or just curious about what goes on here a really good idea of what Portland Motor Club is all about. Just click to go to the homepage… www.PortlandMotorClub.com

CALENDAR of EVENTS: There’s still lots going on with the car show circuit and weekly cruise-ins — don’t miss the fun! And, of course, you’ll want to get out for some foliage hunting later in the fall (if it ever comes — what a summer, eh?). Why not make it a cruise event of your own and invite a couple other cars to make a day of it? Visit the CALENDAR & EVENTS section of our website to find out what’s going on where and when, including regular cruise-ins taking place all over the state. If you know of an event taking place that you don’t see on our calendar, please forward that information on to us so that we can update our site. We want our calendar listings to be as complete and accurate as possible. Here’s the list… www.portlandmotorclub.com/blog/?page_id=183

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Posted in Calendar And Events, Charity Events, Classic Cars, Fifth Gear, Muscle Cars, Photos, Supercars | No Comments »

Owls Head Transportation Museum 33rd New England Auto Auction on August 21

Monday, July 19th, 2010

The 2010 edition of the New England Auto Auction will feature a new extended preview period running for three-plus days from August 18 through the morning of the sale. This means that anyone selling a vehicle through the auction will need to get their car up to Owls Head earlier than usual — not great for the last-minuters out there but great for those who want to spend some time selling themselves on buying someone else’s car!

As usual, there will be 200+ cars for sale on August 21 covering a lot of automotive ground. The museum will have some of its own stock on hand for sale, as it always does, to help to fund its expansive operation which spans the history of mechanical personal transportation. Many vehicles get donated to the Museum for this purpose which serves as a write-off for the donor and a boon for the organization. Plus there is the fantastic “Barn Fresh” program which assists individuals in selling vehicles directly to the museum’s visitors as well as the auction crowd. Of course, Owls Head gets a slice of the proceeds, but it’s a great way to move a worthy vehicle. You can see the vehicles in the Barn Fresh program which, I believe, go into the auction automatically if they haven’t sold directly through this program by Auction season. Here’s that link: <http://www.ohtm.org/gallery/album683>.

Once again, Portland Motor Club will serve as a major sponsor of the auction. It’s our kind of crowd — serious car enthusiasts who know that cars only maintain their value and their condition through proper storage and care. In fact, Motor Club owner Bill Waldron is on the board of the Owls Head Transportation Museum, so it’s a very good fit for both organizations. There is plenty of good information on the Owls Head Auction website including the results from the past ten years! And, of course, the catalog of vehicles going on the block this year is online as well… <http://www.ohtm.org/*NEauction10.html>.

The New England Auto Auction is pretty much the highpoint of the classic and vintage car calendar here in Maine. Why not plan to stop by and see what happens — you never know what vehicle might call out to you!?! Even if you just want to watch and see how it’s done, there is room for spectators, as well. By the way, that’s an especially good start to a story about how you bought your new special vehicle… “I only went there to watch, but…”

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Posted in Auto Advice, Calendar And Events, Classic Cars, Fifth Gear, Muscle Cars, Photos | No Comments »

Merriconeag High School Car Mechanics Class at Portland Motor Club

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010


A group of students from the Merriconeag Waldorf High School (www.merriconeag.org/highschool/index.cfm) in Freeport, Maine chose what must have been one of the coolest electives ever at a Waldorf school  — “Introduction to Auto Mechanics” taught by Portland Motor Club owner and muscle car enthusiast (and Merriconeag parent) Bill Waldron.

How did this get to be part of the Merriconeag curriculum? Waldron answers, “After a development meeting where the conversation turned to high school age kids and driving and cars, I was approached about the idea of doing a practical hands-on class about cars for the high school. I figured that some of the kids were probably like me when I was their age and might like working with engines and machines and getting their hands dirty. For me, it was the beginning of a lifelong passion. Hopefully this class really made a connection for some of them.”

The class ran eight weeks and the eight students were transported weekly back and forth from the New Gloucester, Maine high school campus to state-of-the-art Portland Motor Club facility on Presumpscot Street in Portland (www.PortlandMotorClub.com). The curriculum covered a lot of ground from the engine components and basic workings of the motor including the fuel system and spark plugs to wheel, tire and brake care. Students got practical experience with changing the oil, working on the brakes and even learning how to detail (professionally clean) a car’s exterior and interior. Topics related to safety and roadside emergency were also covered.

When the students are saying things like, “class was too short” and “it’s fun to participate”, you know you’re on the right, well, road. They liked the hands-on aspect of the class, taking things apart and putting them back together, and learning useful things that will come in handy some day (on the side of the road).

If anything students would like to have had more time in class and even suggested that they’d like to “take an engine apart and put it together”. That may be a whole curriculum unto itself!

One of the most practical items learned in class? “Don’t stand under the oil filter while you unscrew it!” Good advice for us all — literally and metaphorically.

Portland Motor Club was very pleased to be able to produce this pilot program for the Merriconeag High School.

Special thanks to Yearbook Photographer Margie Ciolfi, a 9th grader in the class of 2013, who took these (and more) great photos.

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Posted in Auto Advice, Classic Cars, Fifth Gear, Muscle Cars, Photos | No Comments »

CAR PODCASTS GALORE! A comprehensive list of car-related podcasts

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Gentlemen and Ladies, gentle and otherwise… start your iPods!

You won’t find another list like this anywhere on the internets — at least where we and Professor Google have looked. These links will take you right to the page were you can subscribe (for free) to these podcasts and almost all of them are current. There were some real beauts out there but they stopped podcasting a year or more ago — so they didn’t make it over the finish line.

Below you’ll find podcast programs about classic cars, sports cars & exotics, NASCAR, F1 and any other type of racing you can think of, new models, concept cars, restorations, auctions and even the comedic/mechanical stylings of Click and Clack.

Do you have a favorite car podcast that’s not listed below? Please send us an email at <info@portlandmotorclub.com> and send us a link — and tell us what you like about it.

Car Talk

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/npr-car-talk-podcast/id253191823

America’s funniest auto mechanics take calls from weary car owners all over the country, and crack wise while they diagnose Dodges and dismiss Diahatsus. You don’t have to know anything about cars to love this one hour weekly laugh fest.

The Classic Car Show

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-classic-car-show/id307258969

Listen to the Classic Car show with Steve Rinaldo every week.

The Muscle Car Place

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-musclecar-place/id317763837

The weekly podcast dedicated to fans of American muscle cars! Join us each week to discuss muscle cars news and trends, get your questions answered, and share YOUR personal story! Hosted by Rob Kibbe of The MuscleCar Place: http://www.themusclecarplace.com

Mo-Pod.com: Raw Footage of the Mopar Nation

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mo-pod-com-raw-footage-mopar/id154588017

At Mo-Pod.com, you’ll find videos that lead you anywhere, from intense drift showdowns and racing champions, to the local garage and enthusiast car shows. You’ll witness Hemi-powered muscle machines and awesome curbside burnouts, old s’kool legends and tricked-out DUB rides. Download a video or subscribe to our podcast to automatically receive the latest Mopar clips — it’s all MoPowered! Send us your Mopar videos to make your debut on Mo-Pod.com! Check out our Web site for more details.

The Final Lap Talk Show Weekly

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-final-lap-talk-show-weekly/id82775064

The Final Lap Chat – Our weekly, long form, talk show format, where a couple of guys just talk some racin’. Lively discussions from everything in the world of motorsports. Weekly headlines, rumors, race recaps, previews, interviews and more. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop –Thanks for listening!

Road Racers Podcast

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/road-racers-podcast/id250127266

The Online Auto Racing Show about Road Racing from the RaceRemotetrade; Motorsports Network – www.RoadRacersPodcast.com

VOD Cars: Fast Cars. Hot Cars. Cool Cars.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vod-cars-fast-cars-hot-cars/id80897643

Car Videos. On Demand. For Free. – The #1 Broadband Car Network. Send your videos to speedracer@vodcars.com

Sidepodcast: All for F1 and F1 for All with Christine Blachford

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sidepodcast-all-for-f1-f1/id220438521

Join the first lady of F1 podcasting as she guides you through all the happenings in the fast-paced world of Formula 1. Aided by her technically-minded friend, she’ll bring you information, gossip, statistics and humour, with the odd race report thrown in as well. But don’t think this is news churned out the normal way – she’ll tell it like it is. Conspiracy theories, honest opinions and irreverent musings all add up to a refreshing listen.

Race 2 Win Radio: NASCAR Radio at the Speed of Sound

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sidepodcast-all-for-f1-f1/id220438521

Every Thursday afternoon from 1:00 – 3:00 pm ET, NASCAR veteran Jeff Holtzclaw, Heather Meyer of the Stock Car Gazette, RCR Development driver Tim George Jr. and Camping World Truck Series competitor Caitlin Shaw discuss the latest happenings in the world of NASCAR and welcome some of the top names in the sport as special guests. Recent guests include Brian Vickers, David Reutimann, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, AJ Allmendinger, David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, Reed Sorenson, Regan Smith, David Stremme, Scott Speed, David Gilliland, Joe Nemechek, Sterling Marlin, Ron Hornaday, Mike Skinner, Kyle Petty, John Roberts, Kenny Wallace and many more. Race 2 Win Radio features the “Keys to Winning” segment with Mike Calinoff, spotter for NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth. Award-winning journalists Kenny Bruce of NASCAR Scene, Rick Minter of Racin’ Today and Jeff Gluck of SBNation.com are featured in a weekly segment called the “Writer’s Block.” Listeners are always welcome to join in on the show. To comment on any topic or to ask a question to any of our guests, send an email to radio@race2win.net or call 646-200-4485.

Motor Mouths with Godwin Kelly & Ken Willis

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/motor-mouths/id311801905

Motor Mouths is all about racing, from the cars on the track to the people that put ‘em together to the people that watch ‘em go. Every Wednesday, from Daytona Beach News-Journal Motorsports editor Godwin Kelly and sports columnist Ken Willis.

SPEED Last Laps

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/speed-last-laps/id276059715

Get all the Last Laps racing action they’ll allow us to publish, right here! Featuring races from American Lemans, ALMS, Rolex Grand Am, SCCA, Rally racing, World of Outlaws, auto racing, dirt racing, ARCA, motorsports, sports cars racing, MotoGP, World Super Bike, WSBK, AMA, Superbike, Supercross, Supermoto, Motocross, Motorcross, dirt track, flat track, motorcycle racing and more!

SPEED Engine Block

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/speed-engine-block/id268614231

SPEED’s Engine Block delivers the finest muscle machines in all their glory – featuring best of clips from SPEED Originals including Alonso Boden’s 101 Car’s You Must Drive, SuperCars Exposed, Chop Cut Rebuild, American Muscle Car, Unique Whips, Victory by Design, Pass Time, Livin’ the Low Life, Barrett Jackson, Pass Time, Gearz, Wrecked, Hot Rod TV, SPEED Test Drives and more! Check back a couple times per week and load up your iPod with the best of SPEED! SPEEDtv.com the motorsports authority for NASCAR, Formula 1, auto racing, moto racing, cars, bikes, automotive, motorcycles, Pinks & more: Automotive, Cars, Muscle Cars, Big Block, Racing, Acura, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Camaro, Corvette, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes, Mustang, Porsche, Shelby, Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Pontiac, Thunderbird, Lincoln, Buick, Rolls Royce, classic cars, cool cars, collector cars, convertibles.

PINKS All Out

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pinks-all-out/id263466965

PINKS – Lose the Race, Lose your ride! & PINKS ALL OUT – heads-up racing with no negotiations and no tomorrows! Hosted by Rich Christensen, PINKS used the setting of a classic 1950s drag race. PINKS pits contestants in a best three-out-of-five format, with the loser handing over the title (pink slip) to their vehicle. Called the “hottest car show on television” by Hot Rod Magazine. PINKS ALL OUT pits hundreds of the best drag racers in the country bring their game to the track in search of glory and their share of $18,000 in cold, hard cash in PINKS All Out. Host Rich Christensen hosts the all-day shootout that pits egos and cars against one another on the quarter mile. It’s pedal-to-the-metal action from the start line until the last car crosses the finish line. Every driver thinks they’ve got the stuff it takes to win, but only the top 16 make it to the finals where it’s heads-up racing with no negotiations and no tomorrows. SPEEDtv.com the motorsports authority for auto, moto and drag racing, cars, bikes, automotive, motorcycles and more! Featuring hot rods and dragsters, muscle cars, big blocks, racing, Camaro, Corvette, Mustang, Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Pontiac, Mopar, Cuda’s, classic cars, jet cars, cool cars and more!

Serious Wheels

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/serious-wheels/id206892605

Serious Wheels, the Internet source for high-quality classic car pictures, wallpapers, and information. From vintage vehicles to muscle cars to modern sports cars, this video feed is the official video source created for Serious Wheels’s 2.8 million regularly visiting auto enthusiasts.

SPEED Report

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/speed-report-full-audio/id281190463

The SPEED Report is motor sports news and insightful storytelling, reaching fans through multiple SPEED delivery platforms. Serving the lifelong fan and the curious newcomer alike, The SPEED Report will connect the world of motor sports in a truly distinctive fashion. From breaking news and press conferences to tales of courage and the will to win, The SPEED Report will keep viewers up to date and wondering what’s next in a style unique to SPEED. Full audio podcasts every Monday morning. SPEED Radio, SPEED Podcasts & SPEEDtv.com the motorsports authority for NASCAR, Formula One, F1, Indy Car, Indy 500, American Lemans, ALMS, Rolex Grand Am, NHRA, SCCA, Rally racing, World of Outlaws, auto racing, dirt racing, ARCA, Karting, motorsports, sports cars racing, MotoGP, World Super Bike, WSBK, AMA, Superbike, Supercross, Supermoto, Motocross, Motorcross, dirt track, flat track, motorcycle racing.

SPEED Radio Weekend Preview

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/speed-radio-weekend-preview/id291205318

Host Rob D’Amico (Race Day on Fox Sports Radio) covers all the weekends’ motorsports events. SPEED Radio, SPEED Podcasts & SPEEDtv.com the motorsports authority for NASCAR, Sprint Cup, Formula One, F1, Indy Car, Indy 500, American Lemans, ALMS, Rolex Grand Am, NHRA, SCCA, Rally racing, World of Outlaws, auto racing, dirt racing, ARCA, Karting, motorsports, sports cars racing, road racing, MotoGP, World Super Bike, WSBK, AMA, Superbike, Supercross, Supermoto, Motocross, Motorcross, dirt track, flat track, motorcycle racing and more!

Road and Track Speed Radio

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/road-track-speed-radio/id128863695

Join host Ed Justice, Jr. as he brings you the inside track on everything pertaining to the Auto & Racing world. Ed’s longtime connections and friendships within the automotive & motorsports industries enables him to have the top leaders and legends for “one-of-a-kind” interviews, only heard on ROAD & TRACK SPEED radio. Every week. . .two hours. . .all you need to know. . . ROAD & TRACK SPEED radio!

Gareth Jones On Speed

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gareth-jones-on-speed/id77817580

THE podcast for petrol-heads, by Gareth Jones (of ITV1’s Speed Sunday & How2, and A1GP pit lane reporter) and his F1 and car-mad mate Zog. With satire from Richard Porter (Sniff Petrol, and BBC Top Gear) and car games from Violet Berlin (GamePad). GJOS covers everything on 4 wheels — from Audi to BMW; Ferrari to Williams; Renault to Mclaren; Ford to Porsche; Alfa to Mercedes; VW to Jaguar; classic cars to concept cars; road cars to racing cars. There’s every kind of motorsport — Formula One, WRC, Le Mans, A1 Grand Prix, GP2, Indy Car, IRL, Champ Car… And drivers, from Damon Hill and Ayrton Senna to Schumacher, Alonso, Raikkonen and Jenson Button. Where else can you find auto racing, motors, F1, rally, motor sport, road cars, comedy, news comment, Formula 1, songs and games all in the same place, served up with a wry grin?

Marty’s Garage

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/martys-garage/id348666934

Follow along with Marty as he restores a 1973 MG B and takes on a variety of other projects.

FormulaPod

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/formulapod-formula-1-podcast/id73329981

The original Formula One podcast: Outside the lines of F1 racing this F1 podcast takes a no holds barred approach to the sport of Formula One. The F1 Podcast for serious F1 fans

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction Highlight Clips

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/barrett-jackson-collector/id289640349

For nearly four decades, Barrett-Jackson auctions have captured the very essence of what defines the worldwide obsession with cars. Millions of TV viewers on SPEED. Thousands of collector cars. The legend is unsurpassed in every way. Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Las Vegas. Barrett-Jackson is The World’s Greatest Collector Car Events only on SPEED. Going once…Going twice…SOLD! SPEED is your exclusive home for highlights of the Barrett-Jackson classic car auctions from Scottsdale, AZ, West Palm Beach, FL and Las Vegas, NV. SPEEDtv.com the motorsports authority for NASCAR, Formula 1, auto racing, moto racing, cars, bikes, automotive, motorcycles, Pinks & more: Automotive, Cars, Muscle Cars, Big Block, Racing, Acura, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Camaro, Corvette, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes, Mustang, Porsche, Shelby, Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Pontiac, classic cars, cool cars, collector cars, convertibles and more!

Garage 419

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/garage419-car-guys-love-to/id269309179

Let the debate rage and the flaming begin. Garage 419. The ultimate automotive show that brings you the details you want about the cars, shops, racers, and experts you want to see.

My Classic Car with Dennis Gage

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/my-classic-car-season-7/id352087616

My Classic Car, with host Dennis Gage, visits some of the most prestigious car shows and events in North America. With muscle cars, hot rods, local cruise-ins, museums, and more My Classic Car has something for everyone.

Cruise Control Radio

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cruise-control-radio/id76291273

Cruise Control Radio – America’s truly unique automotive talk radio show. What makes Cruise Control different from every car-related show is its wide-ranging coverage of everything automotive. It includes new car product information, automotive industry news, reviews of vehicles driven by the show’s on-air team, motorsports updates and collector car information. To find out more go to www.cruisecontrolradio.com

Concept Cars. Driver27

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/concept-cars-driver27/id329199177

CONCEPT CARS. DRIVER27 is a broadband video magazine bringing cinematic displays of concept machines of the past, present and future, short documentaries and short automotive glamour videos. Composed and edited by the team from 29HD Network, CONCEPT CARS is part of a group of over 300 broadband2.0 editorial spaces that make up one of the largest collection of automotive editorial spaces online.

Sports Cars. Driver27

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-cars-driver27/id326697853

SPORTS CARS. DRIVER27 is a broadband video magazine bringing cinematic displays inspired by the fast road machines of the past, present and concepts of the future, short documentaries, short automotive glamour videos and great photographs of the modern day chariots that roam the roads in every corner of this globe. Composed and edited by the team from 29HD Network, this daily is a compendium of the over 300 broadband2.0 editorial spaces that make up one of the largest collection of automotive spaces online.

Racing Cars. Driver27

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/racing-cars-driver27/id326697852

RACING CARS. DRIVER27 is a broadband video magazine bringing cinematic displays inspired by the racing machines of the past, present and concepts of the future, short documentaries, short automotive glamour videos and great photographs of the modern day chariots that roam the roads in every corner of this globe. Composed and edited by the team from 29HD Network, this daily is a compendium of the over 300 broadband2.0 editorial spaces that make up one of the largest collection of automotive spaces online.

Super Cars. The Daily Motor

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/super-cars-the-daily-motor/id333643717

SUPER CARS. THE DAILY MOTOR is a broadband video magazine that showcases the super fast machines that ply the black tar roads and tracks around the world. The Daily Motor editorial, a broadband daily filtering breaking news, along with bringing original stories, short documentaries, short automotive glamour videos and great photographs of the modern day chariots that roam the roads in every corner of this globe. Composed and edited by the team from 29GPS/29HDN, this daily is a compendium of the over 300 broadband2.0 editorial spaces that make up one of the largest collection of automotive spaces online.

Car and Driver Radio

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/car-and-driver-radio/id124784786

From the pages of the world’s largest automotive magazine, Car and Driver radio brings you all the latest automotive news, product reviews, celebrity guests and more. Hosted by award-winning automotive expert and Car and Driver contributing editor Alan Taylor. For many years, Alan’s expertise and quick with has entertained millions on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, FOX, and the Speed Channel. Listen to our Webcast live each Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. at www.radioamerica.org

TK Wheels TV

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tk-wheels-tv/id364877524

Thanks for checking out TKWheels TV. www.TKWHEELS.com You can also catch some of our recent shows on Time Warner Cable on Demand in NE Wisconsin. Channel 411 in the Appleton area. Otherwise watch them here from start to finish. We are working hard to upload all the episodes, check back often for more! You can look at the archive link on the website to see all the episodes or click on the Episode Guide link on the site. If you have an iPod Touch, iPhone or use iTunes, click on the Subscribe button to download the episodes you want to watch.

Motor Trend Radio 2010

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/motor-trend-radio-2010-enhanced/id272422403

Motor Trend Magazine,airs on Saturday mornings and features interviews with Motor Trend editors, industry leaders, celebrity drivers, and other prominent automotive experts. The program offers segments on car buying tips, new auto releases, information on auto shows, races and other events. The show is packed full of news and features not heard anywhere else. Motor Trend Weekend is a real road show airing on Sunday mornings. It features broadcasts from auto venues throughout the country and the world. Bob Long promises to put the pedal to the metal and offers the comments of the industry professionals and interviews on-site at the most important auto events of the year. Listeners hear about cars and how to enjoy them directly from the experts and celebrities alike. There are many ways to listen to Motor Trend Radio. You can listen live on your local radio station, Sirius, XM or on right here on iTunes where dozens of past shows and our free podcast is available.

Car Tech Live

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/car-tech-live-mp3/id81541696

Every Friday, car nut and tech aficionado Brian Cooley runs down the latest news in the ever-evolving integration between cars and technology. Meanwhile, Wayne Cunningham and Antuan Goodwin drive the newest car in the CNET barn, going over its cabin tech with a fine-toothed comb, checking out off-the-line acceleration, and trying not to crash. Visit the blog at http://cartech.cnet.com.

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Posted in Audio, Auto Advice, Classic Cars, Fifth Gear, Muscle Cars, Podcasts, Supercars, Videos | 1 Comment »

MAINE CAR SHOW & CRUISE-IN LISTINGS UPDATED for 2010!!!

Monday, April 12th, 2010

What an amazing car season we can look forward to in 2010! Thanks to our friends at CruiseMaine magazine and CruiseMaine.net sharing their listings and adding some of our own, we have (hopefully) the state’s most comprehensive listing of Maine Car Shows & Cruise-Ins throughout the state. Kind of like that joke about Maine weather — if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute… if you don’t see a car show or cruise-in you like, wait a minute or a day, anyway. There’s something going on every day of every week this summer for cars and their owners. So, get out there and show it off and have some fun. It’s almost too bad that there aren’t any this April because it’s been so beautiful — hopefully a good sign for the summer season.

Here’s the link to the Cruise-in schedule which is also on the website under CALENDAR & EVENTS on the sidebar: 2010 CRUISE-IN LIST

And here’s the link to the Car Show 2010 Season in Maine or go to the CALENDAR & EVENTS button on the sidebar on the Portland Motor Club website: 2010 CAR SHOW LIST

And, by the way, we will be hosting the Labor Day Toys-for-Tots Cruise-In at Portland Motor Club again this year on Monday, September 6 — hard to imagine topping last year’s event but we’re game! We expect we’ll see and hear from our friends at the Monday Night Posse again this year — there’s actually music footage from last year’s show online on their website www.MondayNightPosse.com.

If you have any additions or corrections, please be in touch right at at <info@portlandmotorclub.com> or call us at 207-775-1770. We want this list to be absolutely accurate and could really use your help if you know that something’s not right on it — and thanks!

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Posted in Calendar And Events, Classic Cars, Fifth Gear, Muscle Cars, Photos | No Comments »

Getting “Social” with Portland Motor Club… Facebook & Twitter & YouTube now up!

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Portland Motor Club was designed to be a fairly social place with a members’ lounge, meeting room, computers w/ WI-FI and HD-TV, but now we’re virtually social, too.

You can become a fan of our FACEBOOK by clicking on the FaceBook link just to your left below “Contact Us” on the navigation strip — it’s right there — go ahead… just click it!!! Or you can find it by searching under groups for “Portland Motor Club” while you’re on FaceBook another time.

You can quip clever and useful things to us via TWITTER (www.Twitter.com/mainecarstorage). We are using @mainecarstorage because using our name was too long and who is going to search for “mtr” instead of “motor” and we’re more about cars and storage than motors and clubs, on some level. Our business name is great for our business but different thinking needed to go into our Twitter strategy. Who ever thought we’d be discussing things such as “Twitter strategy” — but then, who ever thought we’d be discussing it on something called a “blog”?

Below is the link to our first (of many?) YouTube video. Why it’s our own Jason Michel demonstrating how easy it is to install and use both an easy on/off battery switch and trickle charger! Great solutions for short-term and/or long-term battery care when the car is off the road.

You can bookmark our very own YouTube “channel” here: www.YouTube.com/PortlandMotorClub

Easy Battery Care Solutions for Car Storage from Portland Motor Club

We would certainly appreciate your comments and links and sharing this information with your virtual friends and fellow car enthusiasts. We have more video coming including a walk-around the Labor Day Car Show last fall. And please put Monday, September 6, 2010 on your calendar for this year’s Toys-for-Tots Labor Day Car Cruise-In & Show at Portland Motor Club. We’re very pleased to be able to host it again at our amazing facility and can only hope that we would be granted another beautiful day on which to hold it.

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0 to 60 in Just a Few Months!

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Cars, that is. And that’s a rough number but early interior shots of Portland Motor Club certainly showed lots of room to grow (well, fill, actually). It totally makes sense, of course — we had just opened and we needed customers. Well, customers we have now! We’ve filled up the “Ground Floor” and soon will need to start using the “Mezzanine Level” (via heavy-duty lifts).

Seems that those that stop by pretty much fall in love with the place — the handsome amenities (hi-tech lounge & conference room), polished radiant-heated concrete floors, classic car gallery, onsite expert car detailing shop, professional staff and of course, state-of-the-art security system.

From Ferraris to Things, Mopars to Minis, we have a great random assortment of Classic cars, Muscle Cars, Sports Cars and even some everyday drivers that don’t need to be driven right now.

Thought you’d like to see the place with some color and some metal and rubber in it — enjoy!

[nggallery id=4]

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Crikey! Tornadoes Wallop Scottsdale, Arizona during Auction week

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

While getting my daily dose of professional car storage and classic car auction news from the Google machine, I came across these shockers — what horrible timing! Of course, good to keep this in perspective with the true horror of the earthquake disaster in Haiti, but within the car collector universe, this is certainly bad news for the likes of Russo and Steele and Barrett-Jackson and their many buyers and sellers. I do hope the car enthusiast community can think of some ways to make a difference by combining their special passion with a desire to help those in critical need in Haiti. It’s great to see how many folks are finding unique ways of doing something to help. My ten-year-old son’s Cub Scout troop is holding a yard sale next week to raise money (indoors, of course, it is Maine in winter, after all — supposed to below zero tonight).

from the folks at About. com (and see the next one from AZ Central. com)…

Scottsdale on Tornado Watch During Classic Car Auctions

Thursday January 21, 2010

Arizona has been hit hard by heavy storms causing havoc at the Scottsdale’s Annual Classic Car Auctions.  Earlier today, two tents at the Russo and Steele Car Auction collapsed due high winds and sent debris into the nearby Highway, the Loop 101, shutting down both direction for a time.

Barrette-Jackson staffers have been doing their best to dry off cars before coming up on the block in the main tent while concession stands outside are being blown down.

At 8:45pm, Barrett-Jackson’s President, Steve Davis asked that everyone leave the staging lanes and come inside to wait for a dangerous storm cell to pass.  The National Weather has issued a tornado watch for southwest Arizona, which includes the Phoenix metro area, to be in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday night.

Heavy rain and winds are expected to continue through Friday and then clear up for Saturday and Sunday.  We will be curious to see how much damage the storms do to the week’s auction total sales numbers.

And here’s the other one written by Peter Corbett from The Arizona Republic

Russo and Steele car auction estimates $1.5M in damage

Russo and Steele officials assessed damage Friday after an 800-foot-long auction tent blew onto the Loop 101, snarling traffic and leaving hundreds of valuable collector cars uncovered in a pounding rainstorm.

Heavy tent poles struck some cars and uncovered convertibles were pelted with rain in the ongoing storm that has blasted through the state this week. A collector-car insurance executive estimated damages to the vehicles could exceed $1.5 million.Russo and Steele announced late Friday morning that owners would not be allowed to inspect their cars until at least Saturday morning because the Scottsdale fire marshal has not declared the auction site safe.

Drew and Josephine Alcazar, Russo and Steele owners, hoped to resume the auction Saturday, but there was still a lot of cleanup to do.

“By no stretch of the imagination are we down for the count,” Drew Alcazar said Friday as tent crews worked to clear away the damaged tents.

Public safety officials cleared out people from Russo and Steele’s two display tents late Thursday when the high winds threatened the structures, and the auction continued in the main tent, Josephine Alcazar said.

High winds lifted the north tent high off the ground about 6:15 p.m. and it crashed down on the freeway east of Scottsdale Road, she said.

Russo and Steele shut down the auction and cleared the site. The south tent then blew over, but did not go onto the roadway.

Chuck Favour, Hagerty Insurance vice president of claims, said his company has insured about 125 of the cars at Russo and Steele.

After viewing the auction site from the Loop 101, he estimated that as many as half the 600 cars on the lot were damaged with dents and scratches from tent poles and debris.

Among the cars that were stranded on the site Friday was a 1948 Tucker convertible that could draw bids of more than $1 million.

A 1913 White Gentleman’s Roadster was struck by a pole and an uncovered 1916 Ford Model T Fire Chief car sat out in the rain after a flimsy tarp blew off of it.

Favour expected the claims would average about $5,000 per car.

That works out to claims approaching $1.5 million.

He said he would be surprised if Russo and Steele was able to resume the auction.

Favour said a previous auction in Carlisle, Pa., sustained damage when a much smaller tent collapsed a few years ago.

Other Valley auctions continued on Friday. Barrett-Jackson had to move everyone into its main auction tent as a precaution Thursday night, but otherwise the event continued without major disruption.

Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson chairman, said his staff circled the tents with tractor-trailers to deflect the high winds that were rattling the structures.

As a car guy, he said, it was very sad to see what had happened at the Russo and Steel auction site.

RM Auctions reported the highest sale of the week so far on Thursday night at the Arizona Biltmore. A 1963 Aston Martin DB4 sold for $1 million.

On Friday morning, the Arizona Department of Public Safety closed the eastbound on-ramp to the Loop 101 at Scottsdale Road because of the cleanup efforts at Russo and Steele.

The freeway was closed in both directions between Scottsdale and Hayden roads for several hours after the tent landed on the roadway.

Russo and Steele, a Valley-based company, is in its 10th year of holding car auctions in Scottsdale.

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2010 CLASSIC CAR AUCTION CALENDAR

Friday, January 15th, 2010

As an automobile enthusiast, you might like to keep an eye and ear on the upcoming classic and vintage car auction season. There’s practically a year’s worth in January alone! From most accounts, last year was a good one with auction sales records broken so it seems that car collecting has weathered the Great Recession pretty well. We’d like to keep you up-to-date on car auction-related info, so keep in touch. Happy to hear any of your reports on auctions you watch and/or participate in — just post a blog entry. Also, please let us know of any major auctions that are missing from this list and let us know of any corrections. Going, going…

Kruse 39th Annual Scottsdale Collector Car Auction
January 16-17, 2010
Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa, Glendale, Arizona
www.kruse.com

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2010
January 18-24, 2010
WestWorld of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona
www.barrett-jackson.com

RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona
January 21-22, 2010
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa Phoenix, Arizona
www.rmauctions.com

Kruse South Florida Collector Car Auction
January 22-24, 2010
Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center, Miami, Florida
www.kruse.com

Mecum Kissimmee, FL Auction
January 28-31, 2010
Osceola Heritage Park, 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, Florida
www.mecum.com

Leake Oklahoma City Car Auction
February 19-20, 2010
Oklahoma City Fairgrounds, Cox Pavilion, 3212 Wichita Walk, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
www.leakecarauction.com

Atlantic City Classic Car Show & Auction
Feburary 26-28, 2010
Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
www.acclassiccars.com

RM Auctions Automobiles of Amelia Island
March 13, 2010
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida
www.rmauctions.com

RM Auctions Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale
March 26-28, 2010
Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center Fort Lauderdale, Florida
www.rmauctions.com

Leake Auction in partnership with Dan Kruse Classics
March 27, 2010
Alamodome, 100 Montana St., San Antonio, Texas
www.leakecarauction.com

Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2010
April 1-3, 2010
The Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds, Palm Beach, Florida
www.barrett-jackson.com

Mecum Kansas City, MO
April 9-10, 2010
Auction Bartle Hall – Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Missouri
www.mecum.com

RM Auctions Classic Car Auction of Michigan
April 24-25, 2010
The Rock Financial ShowPlace, Novi, Michigan
www.rmauctions.com

RM Auctions Sporting Classics of Monaco
May 1, 2010
The Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
www.rmauctions.com

Dana Mecum’s Original Spring Classic Auction – 23rd Year
May 19-23, 2010
Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E 38th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana
www.mecum.com

Kruse Auburn Spring 2010 Collector Car Auction – 19th Annual Auburn Spring Motorfair
May 20-23, 2010
Kruse International Auction Park, Auburn, Indiana
www.kruse.com

Leake Tulsa 2010 Auction
June 11-13, 2010
Quik Trip Center at Expo Square / Tulsa Fairgrounds, Tulsa, Oklahoma
www.leakecarauction.com

Mecum St. Paul Auction / the MSRA 37th Back to the 50’s With the Minnesota Street Rod Association
June 18-19, 2010
Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota
www.mecum.com

Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction / Bloomington Gold Corvettes – USA Premier Corvette Auction at America’s Premier Corvette Show
June 25-26, 2010
Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 East Main Street St., Charles, Illinois

Barrett-Jackson Orange County 2010
June 25-27, 2010
OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, California
www.barrett-jackson.com

Mecum Des Moines, IA Auction
July 16-17, 2010
Iowa State Fairgrounds, East 30th & East University Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
www.mecum.com

RM Auctions Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook
July 24, 2010
Shotwell Gustafson Pavilion at Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester, Michigan
www.rmauctions.com

RM Auctions Sports & Classics of Monterey
August 13-14, 2010
Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, California
www.rmauctions.com

Mecum at Monterey
August 13-14, 2010
Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, 1 Old Golf Course Road Monterey, California
www.mecum.com

Kruse The Auburn Auction 2010
September 1-7, 2010
Kruse International Auction Park, Auburn, Indiana
www.kruse.com

Mecum St. Charles Auction
September 16-19, 2010
Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 East Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois
www.mecum.com

RM Auctions Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey
October 8, 2010
Hershey Lodge, Hershey, Pennsylvania
www.rmauctions.com

RM Auctions Automobiles of London
October 27, 2010
Battersea Evolution, London, United Kingdom
www.rmauctions.com

Mecum Kansas City Auction
December 3-4, 2010
Bartle Hall – Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Missouri
www.mecum.com

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SECURE HEATED WINTER STORAGE AVAILABLE

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Portland Motor Club was designed as a “good home for good cars”, a place where cars live most of the time unless they’re out for a drive or a season. However, while we search for all those vehicles to find their permanent homes (there are 140 spaces, afterall!), we can offer seasonal storage which, for the most part in Maine, means WINTER STORAGE. Although our winter storage plan does not come with the kind of access our members enjoy year-round, winter-stored cars do enjoy heated, climate- and humidity-controlled accommodations with advanced security and monitoring systems to protect them. Check around — a lot of winter storage is vastly inferior with crowded conditions (leading to dings and dents), free-range critters gnawing on wires (we hear it all the time), and condensation occurring from cold floors and warmer air (a death-sentence for the integrity of metal). You might save a few hundred dollars by storing your car in a chicken barn or jammed into the corner of a warehouse, but the risks and costs associated with cutting corners can often come back and bite you in the bumper! We’re just saying… we were built to take the very best care of your very best car. We are still accepting month-to-month or over-winter storage. Please call Portland Motor Club about securely storing your vehicle with us this winter. 207-775-1770.

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