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Racing! April 5 Honda Cars, Bikes & Coffee Show

by | Mar 13, 2025 | 0 comments

Racing! April 5 Honda Cars, Bikes & Coffee Show

 Bimonthly Cars, Bikes & Coffee Shows are an enthusiasts’ open house at the American Honda Collection Hall in Torrance, Calif.

Enthusiasts at The entrance to the American Honda Collection Hall in Torrance, Calif.

The entrance to the American Honda Collection Hall in Torrance, Calif. (Photos courtesy of American Honda)

BY MARK MAYNARD

Honda is powered up for its April 5 Cars, Coffee & Bikes show at American Honda headquarters, 1919 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90501. The show is themed “Racing” and will be a celebration of all forms of auto and powersports racing. It is also the kick-off party for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach — held the following weekend — which American Honda sponsors.

“We’ll have the biggest display of Honda and Acura auto and Honda motorcycle race vehicles yet,” said Carl C. Pulley, Honda Heritage Public Relations. Six HRC Supercross and Motocross championship bikes will be on view.

Participants can drive their own race car, bike, or other performance vehicle in the Parade of Performance.

A Racing Showcase

The April 5 bimonthly gathering of enthusiasts — Honda and non-Honda — will showcase a significant collection of race vehicles. The event honors the 75th year of Formula One, the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first F1 race win, and the 50th running of the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Among the special exhibits and activities will be:

  • Ayrton Senna’s 1992 McLaren MP4/7 F1 racecar
  • Current Red Bull Racing F1 display racecar
  • Current Honda IndyCar display racecar
  • Acura ARX-05 IMSA racecar
  • Acura NSX GT3 racecar
  • Honda Baja Ridgeline race truck
  • Ricky Carmichael’s 2004 450 MX Champ (First CRF450R championship)
  • Jett Lawrence’s 2021 250 MX champ
  • Hunter Lawrence’s 2023 250 SX east/MX champ
  • Chase Sexton’s 2023 450 SX champ
  • Jett Lawrence’s 2023 450 MX champ (Perfect Season)
  • Jett Lawrence’s 2024 450 SX champ

There will also be an IndyCar photo-op where attendees can get behind the wheel of a vintage Lola racecar to take photos. A racing simulator will show the Long Beach Grand Prix circuit.

Honda 0 Series Prototypes On View

Also featured will be the first public showing of the Honda 0 Series Saloon and SUV Prototypes. Production versions of the new 0 Series line of battery electric vehicles are expected to launch in North America in 2026, followed by global markets. Both midsize models will be built at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio.

The interior of the SUV prototype illustrates the company’s direction to offer a new value for its future Honda 0 Series EVs as a “space” for people. Both sedan and SUV will debut automated driving technologies backed by Honda’s Level 3 automated driving technology. Honda says the technology is “highly reliable.”

A nose to nose image of the futuristic looking Honda 0 prototype SUV and sedan

Honda 0 Saloon & Honda 0 SUV prototypes.

Honda C&C

The themed bimonthly shows get an average of 2,500 attendees, including entrance to the Honda museum, a live DJ, food trucks, free coffee, and special exhibits.

“The Feb. 15 show broke a record with 3,900 people showing up,” Pulley said. “The addition was most likely due to the Trailsport Adventure off-road ride-along experience in the new 2026 Passport Trailsport.”

Those attending also get free admittance to the American Honda Collection Hall.

The 20,000-square-foot museum space presents a timeline of American Honda vehicles and corporate growth since its U.S. start in 1959. More than 60 vehicles from Honda and Acura are on view, including motorcycles, power products, engines, and racing machines. The Collection Hall displays will be updated several times a year to highlight different products and themes.

The collection hall is in Honda’s U.S. headquarters lobby, 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501.

the Acura ARX-05 IMSA racecar at speed on a track.

#6 Acura Team Penske Acura DPi, DPi: Juan Pablo Montoya, Dane Cameron

Upcoming 2025 Cars, Bikes & Coffee Shows

June 21: “Summer’s Here” car and bike fun in the sun

Aug. 16: “Heritage & Museums” old-school cool

Oct. 18: “Customizing” Halloween/Día de los Muertos special

Dec. 13: “Clubs & Community” holiday event with toy drive

IF YOU GO

The American Honda Collection Hall is at 1919 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90501. Gates to the American Honda parking lot open at 7:30 a.m., with activities beginning at 9 a.m.

Learn more about the shows and the collection hall here.

LintZapper for my detailing go-bag

by | Feb 27, 2025 | 0 comments

LintZapper for my detailing go-bag

 Booklets of disposable 4-by-3-inch lint sheets are sold in a three-pack for $8.97, not including shipping

BY MARK MAYNARD

An open booklet of 40 LIntZapper sheets

LintZapper 4-by-3-inch sticky sheets.

When I head out to photograph a vehicle for a review on MaynardsGarage.com, I grab my detailing go-bag. In it, I keep several microfiber towels, spritz bottles of quick detailer and glass cleaner, a tape measure, and a multi-tool. I also carried a lint roller until I sampled LintZapper.

It irks me to photograph an interior and see bits of dirt, gravel, and whatever else gets dragged onto the floor mats. A lint roller is good at picking up the big stuff but not so much for getting into crevices. That’s where a sheet of 4-by-3-inch LintZapper excels. I can press it firmly on the stubborn bits and slide it into areas where the roller can’t go.

My car detailing go-bag with a pack of LintZappers, microfiber towels, and cleaners.

My detailing go-bag (Mark Maynard photo)

Car enthusiasts who display their rides at a show can tidy up the interior for the “Clean Car” award.

A pack of LintZapper is lightweight, compact, and much more effective than those tiny travel lint rollers.

LintZapper sheets are sold in a slim booklet of 40 sheets. A three-pack costs $8.97, not including shipping from FurZapper.com.

FurZapper for Home Bliss

The palm-size FurZapper

Use FurZapper in the washer and dryer.

I know many of my car enthusiast friends have furry friends, too. While we seldom complain about picking hairs from clothing, a lint roller is just a part of life. However, the company that makes LintZapper also makes the FurZapper.

This simple disc-like device could smooth uncomfortable relationship discussions about too damn much fur on clothing and bedding.

The FurZapper is made of a flubber-like tacky material. It temporarily grabs onto pet fur or human hair in the washing machine. The palm-size FurZapper is about an inch thick with open dog-paw cutouts.

Toss one into the wash cycle, and FurZapper will gather loose fur and hair. In the rinse cycle, it sends the accumulated fur down the drain. Then, use it again in the dryer cycle, which sends fur to the lint trap.

The company says that FurZapper is small enough to fit between clothing as it tumbles and oscillates. What the FurZapper doesn’t remove, follow-up with a LintZapper.

The FurZapper two-pack for removing pet hair during the washing and drying cycles

The FurZapper two-pack.

The company says the specialized material does not allow any material to stick to it permanently. Nor will FurZapper stick to clothing or the sides of machines. Wipe it off after use; it could last hundreds of washer and dryer cycles.

A two-pack is $15. The company recommends using both when the pet owner has multiple shedders in the household.

Shipping is free over $35, and to help you get to that level, the company sells other fur-grabbing inventions. For example, there is the FurZapper Pet Grooming Glove, $12.99. Or opt for the Ultimate Pet Owner Bundle, $29.99, which includes two FurZappers, one Grooming Glove, and three LintZapper packs.

Learn more about the LintZapper and FurZapper here.

National Corvette Museum debuts ‘Pop Culture and Corvette’

by | Nov 21, 2024 | 0 comments

National Corvette Museum debuts ‘Pop Culture and Corvette’

 Special exhibition charts 71 years of Corvettes with connections to film, TV, music, games, celebrities, and the American lifestyle

The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky., has broadened its “American Love Affair” exhibit with “Pop Culture and Corvette.” The elevated exhibit is a road trip through Corvette’s impact on entertainment and popular culture. More than a dozen Corvettes are on display with the pop culture stories that made them famous.

The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky., has broadened its “American Love Affair” exhibit with “Pop Culture and Corvette.” The exhibit elevated exhibit is a road trip through Corvette’s impact on entertainment and popular culture. It will be displayed through 2025. (Photos courtesy of the museum or as credited)

BY MARK MAYNARD

The National Corvette Museum has debuted a new exhibit around the Chevrolet Corvette and pop culture. Whether in film, music, TV, literature, sports, or video games, the Corvette is a powerhouse of pop culture relevance.

In tribute, the National Corvette Museum has broadened its “American Love Affair” exhibit with “Pop Culture and Corvette.” The elevated exhibit is a road trip through Corvette’s impact on entertainment and popular culture. More than a dozen Corvettes are on display with the pop culture stories that made them famous.

Opened in mid-October, the exhibit focuses on Corvettes with connections to media and the American lifestyle. Corvettes from every generation illustrate how America’s Sports Car has evolved over 71 years.

“Pop Culture and Corvette” explores how the Corvette has made its mark on everything from Hollywood blockbusters to music videos. Display elements span Elvis Presley’s 1959 Stingray Racer in “Clambake” to the Corvette-inspired characters in the “Transformers” franchise.

“Corvette has always been a pop culture icon,” Robert Maxhimer, director of curatorial affairs, said in a release. “Pop Culture and Corvette” shows how the sports car starred in moments that defined generations.

Gemini and Apollo mission astronaut Jim Lovell’s 1968 Silverstone Silver Corvette.

Gemini and Apollo mission astronaut Jim Lovell’s 1968 Silverstone Silver Corvette.

Exhibition Highlights

  • Screen Legends: A Medium Blue Metallic 1973 Corvette is featured in the reboot of “Hawaii Five-0” (2010-2020). And the “Transformers” film series introduced the Corvette-based concepts of “Crosshairs” and “Sideswipe.”
  • Gaming Great: A concept version of the C7 Corvette was brought to life in the virtual racing world of “Gran Turismo 6.” The gaming influence highlights how Corvette has reached new audiences.
  • Famous Owners: Aficionados of the nameplate might be surprised and pleased by some of the celeb’s Corvettes on view and their stories. Among them are country music icon Brad Paisley, Major League Baseball star Reggie Jackson, and rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis.
  • Six Strings for the Z06 and 1960: A Z06-themed Paul Reed Smith guitar is signed by Corvette Hall of Famer Ron Fellows (2011). The six-string features the Corvette emblem and other flourishes. Also on display is a Les Paul guitar with styling cues from the 1960 Corvette signed by Zora Arkus-Duntov.
  • To the Moon: Astronaut Jim Lovell has shared his 1968 Silverstone Silver Corvette and artifacts from flight. Included are Lovell’s astronaut gloves and an autographed lunar navigational chart; it is on loan from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.
Roy Orbison’s Rally Red 1967 Sting Ray L68, with a 427cubic inch, 400-horsepower V-8.

Roy Orbison’s Rally Red 1967 Sting Ray L68, with a 427 cubic inch, 400-horsepower V-8.

Immersive Display

More than a display of cars, the exhibition is an immersion into Corvette’s cultural legacy. The exhibit includes a multimedia presentation of iconic Corvette moments in film, television, and music. The presentation shows how this automotive icon has shaped — and been influenced by — American pop culture.

The museum’s exhibits are regularly updated, deepening the storytelling that connects Corvette to American history. Exploring the intersection of Corvette and pop culture was a natural progression,” said Kaye Wagner, Chair of the National Corvette Museum Board. “With ‘Pop Culture and Corvette,’ we celebrate how Corvette has transcended the road to become a true cultural icon.”

Reggie Jackson’s 1978 Corvette Pace Car replica (center).

Reggie Jackson’s 1978 Corvette Pace Car replica (center).

 Take a Pop Quiz

This quiz might win you a couple of bar bets from those less informed.

  • In the 1967 American beach party musical “Clambake,” this actor-singer starred as Scott Hayward. An heir to an oil fortune, Hayward trades places with a water ski instructor at a Florida hotel. In the movie, Hayward drove a 1959 Stingray Racer.
  • This film franchise features two Corvette-inspired Autobot characters,  Sideswipe and Crosshairs. Sideswipe’s design is based on the 2009 Corvette Stingray concept. Crosshairs started as a deep green and black 2014 Corvette with a distinctive rear spoiler. It was updated to a 2016 Corvette with a slightly different livery.
  • This video game helped introduce the Corvette to a new generation. Released in 2013, this driving simulator featured a concept version of the C7. The game provided auto racing fans a digital “drive” of the then-brand-new Corvette.
  • Who was the Major League Baseball Hall of Famer nicknamed “Mr. October”? This slugger is known for his postseason clutch hitting with the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees. He was one of the lucky few to own a 1978 “Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500” Corvette.
  • Who was the pioneer of rockabilly music nicknamed “The Killer.” His 1954 Corvette roadster was repossessed by the IRS in 1980 to cover his back taxes.
  • Based in Nashville, rock stars such as Jimmy Page and Slash highly regard this renowned guitar maker. This custom guitar features styling details borrowed from the 1960 Corvette and signed by Zora Arkus-Duntov. The body is Tuxedo Black with an ivory scoop similar to the car’s side “scoop” design.
The 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Racer in concept form.

The 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Racer in concept form. (Photo courtesy of Chevrolet)

IF YOU GO

“Pop Culture and Corvette: An American Love Affair”  will be displayed through 2025. For more information or to plan your visit, go to corvettemuseum.org. And follow the museum on Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and X.

About the National Corvette Museum

The National Corvette Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation. The museum is an educational and research institution. It is located a mile from General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where the Corvette has been built since 1981. The Museum Campus has 115,000 square feet of exhibition and event space. The exhibits showcase more than 100 historically significant Corvettes, 50,000 Corvette artifacts, and the NCM Motorsports Park.

American Honda Collection Honors Car Clubs, Community at Dec. 14 Event

by | Nov 19, 2024 | 0 comments

American Honda Collection Honors Car Clubs, Community at Dec. 14 Event

Bimonthly Cars, Bikes & Coffee Show at the American Honda Collection Hall in Torrance, Calif., is an enthusiasts’ open house 

Car enthusiasts stroll the lobby of American Honda in Torrance California

Shop for Honda-Acura merch in the American Honda lobby in Torrance, Calif. (Photos courtesy of American Honda)

BY MARK MAYNARD

American Honda is in the holiday spirit for its Dec. 14 Cars, Bikes & Coffee Show. This gathering of the third Saturday events honors Clubs & Community and features a Toy Drive. Clubs will get special entry and space to display vehicles and promote their work. The toy drive is in collaboration with the City of Torrance. Those who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive a special thank you commemorative item.

The Cars, Bikes & Coffee Show is a free enthusiast event held every other month. Fans of all models, makes, and eras of automobiles and motorcycles are welcome. Each show includes free admittance to the museum and the Power of Dreams boutique of Honda-Acura merch.

The gatherings also feature:

  • DJ Music
  • Vendors
  • Starbucks and food trucks
  • Giveaways
  • Special exhibitors
a formula style race car on view in the Honda American Collection Hall

Honda Racing has a big presence in the museum.

The 20,000-square-foot Collection Hall museum opened in mid-September 2024. More than 60 vehicles are displayed from Honda and Acura, including motorcycles, power products, engines, and racing machines.

Each cars and coffee show attracts a consistent 1,200 vehicles and 2,500 enthusiasts, Carl Pulley, American Honda Heritage, said in a release. The grand opening of the Collection Hall was last September.

2025 CARS, BIKES & COFFEE SHOWS

Feb. 15; April 5; June 21; Aug. 16; Oct. 18; Dec. 13.

IF YOU GO

The American Honda Collection Hall is at 1919 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90501. Gates to the American Honda parking lot open at 7:30 a.m., with showtime from 9 a.m. to noon.

Learn more about American Honda Heritage here.

2014 Corvette Museum Sinkhole 10 Years Later

by | Jun 26, 2024 | 0 comments

2014 Corvette Museum Sinkhole 10 Years Later

“Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined” will run through Sept. 15 in the National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Ky.

The main show space of the display “Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined”

Corvettes retrieved from the sinkhole and brought out of storage include the ZR-1 Spyder, 1962 Corvette, and the 2009 1.5 millionth Corvette. (Photos courtesy of the National Corvette Museum)

REWRITE BY MARK MAYNARD

The National Corvette Museum has opened a limited engagement exhibit that chronicles the 2014 sinkhole that captured worldwide attention.

“Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined” tells a story of resilience encapsulating a decade of progress since the cave-in. Visitors will be able to reflect on the recovery of one of the most shocking automotive stories of all time.

On Feb. 12, 2014, car enthusiasts worldwide tuned in to a captivating but cringeworthy story.  Eight iconic Corvettes had fallen 30 feet in a massive sinkhole through the museum’s show floor in Bowling Green, Ky. In the days, weeks, and years that would follow, the National Corvette Museum would recover all eight cars.

A milestone chart from 2014 to 2024

The decade’s long milestones of restoring the sinkhole damage.

Now, a decade later, the museum is telling the story of recovery and rebuilding. The three-month, limited-engagement exhibit opened June 14 and will run through Sept. 15, 2024. Among the special features are:

Recovered Sinkhole Corvettes: Corvettes retrieved from the sinkhole and brought out of storage include the ZR-1 Spyder, 1962 Corvette, and the 1.5 Millionth Corvette. These icons will be displayed alongside the 2009 ZR-1 Blue Devil and 1 Millionth Corvette.

Personal Interviews: Museum staff members give firsthand accounts of the sinkhole’s discovery, recovery, and current progress.

Museum Chronology: Reflect on the museum’s transformative journey over the past decade. Highlights include the repair of the sinkhole, two dozen new exhibits, and capital improvements to the McMichael Education Gallery.

The Ground to Sky display area

The “Road to Sky” exhibit will run through Sept. 15, 2024, in the National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Ky.

PLAN A VISIT

“Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined” opened June 14 and will run through Sept. 15. Plan a visit at this link.

Museum admission includes access to the Skydome, which features a viewing platform for the 40-foot sinkhole. Visitors can also see the boulder that impacted the 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06, the last Corvette pulled out of the sinkhole. It is now outside the Stingray Grill.

The display will have special braille labels for all five Corvettes. The project was created with the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Ky.

A crushed corvette that fell into the musem

The 2009 1.5 millionth Corvette.

IF YOU GO

National Corvette Museum is at 350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, Ky 42101.

CONTACT: (270) 781-7973

MUSEUM HOURS:

Sunday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST

COST:

General admission is $25 for ages 13-61; $14 for youth 5-12; $23 ages 62 years and older. See ticket pricing and packages here.

UPCOMING HOURS

Nov. 1-Dec. 31 – Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 pm. CST; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST

Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2025 – Monday -Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays in January and February

*The last admission tickets are sold by 4:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online. The museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Marvelous Motorama Exhibit of GM Dream Cars

by | Mar 1, 2024 | 0 comments

Marvelous Motorama Exhibit of GM Dream Cars

A special display of six GM Motorama concept cars will be on view through March 2026 in the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles

A black and white image of a crowd to see the 1953 GM Motorama dream cars

The 1953 GM Motorama display in the Waldorf Astoria New York. (Petersen Museum/GM)

BY MARK MAYNARD

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles will celebrate “Dream Cars” from the 1950s with its newest exhibit, “GM’s Marvelous Motorama: Dream Cars From the Joe Bortz Collection.” The unique display will open on March 16 and run through March 2026. The exhibit will feature six concept cars, displayed initially at GM Motorama shows in 1953, 1954, and 1955.

Staged in the Audrey and Martin Gruss Foundation Gallery, the exhibit will explore the history of General Motors’ traveling Motorama shows. Legendary GM stylist Harley Earl used the shows to present experimental non-production cars that featured design and technological concepts. Some of his creations were put into production, including the 1953 Corvette.

A mid 1980s photo of Joe Bortz in the Warhoops scrap yard leaning on a GM Motorama dream car in complete disrepair.

In the mid-1980s, collector Joe Bortz purchased the four cars from the Warhoops scrapyard in Sterling Heights, Mich. Here, he rescues the 1955 Chevy Biscayne. (Photo courtesy of Joe Bortz)

“These cars are the Picassos and Rembrandts of this automotive generation. To see six of them together, all from the ’50s, and all the real deal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” — Joe Bortz, collection owner

The Marvelous Motorama exhibit will feature six cars, including three rescued from near destruction at Warhoops Auto and Truck Parts in Sterling Heights, Mich. After their time in the spotlight, most “Dream Cars” were sent to scrap yards to be cut apart and crushed. Four cars were saved by Warhoops employees and squirreled away among junked car bodies. After hearing rumors about the saved “Dream Cars” in the mid-1980s, collector Joe Bortz purchased the four cars from the scrapyard.

The two tone blue and white 1955 LaSalle II Roadster concept.

The 1955 LaSalle II Roadster concept. (Petersen Automotive Museum/GM)

6 Motorama Cars On View

Museum visitors to the Marvelous Motorama display will see the 1955 LaSalle II Roadster and 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne, which Bortz painstakingly restored after both were cut in half in preparation for the crusher, as well as a 1955 LaSalle Sedan in its “junkyard fresh” condition. Additional cars featured in the exhibit are the 1953 Pontiac Parisienne, 1953 Buick Wildcat, and a wholly original and unrestored 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special.

“These cars are the Picassos and Rembrandts of this automotive generation,” said Bortz. “To see six of them together, all from the ’50s, and all the real deal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

An artist’s rendering of the 1954 Bonneville Special bubble top.

An artist’s rendering of the 1954 Bonneville Special bubble top. (Petersen Automotive Museum/GM)

“Joe Bortz has an incredibly unique collection of historic cars, the likes of which have never been displayed at the museum,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “The Motoramas were an important part of automotive history, and we are excited to share these ‘Dream Cars’ with enthusiasts from around the world.”

“GM’s Marvelous Motorama: Dream Cars From the Joe Bortz Collection” will run through March 2026. To purchase tickets or for more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit Petersen.org/exhibits.

A 1955 color image shows two La Salle concepts cars and a Cadillac, all on turntables for the GM Motorama

The 1955 GM Motorama display in the Waldorf Astoria shows La Salle II concept cars. (Petersen Museum/GM)

About the Petersen

The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity. The museum is at 6060 Wilshire Blvd. (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles, 90036.

Admission prices: $21 for general admission adults, $19 for 62+, $13 for youth (12-17), and $13 for children ages 4 to 11. Active military with ID, personal care attendants, and children under age 4 are admitted free.

Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

For general information: (323) 930-CARS or visit Petersen.org.