Slow Car Fast takes Radwood LA
Our appearance at the biggest Millennial-themed car show and more.
A weekly newsletter by Ryan K. ZumMallen | @zoomy575m
Happy Race Day, especially to a tale of true love between a white Silverado with a yellow hood and a yellow Silverado with a white hood.
What a whirlwind couple of weeks. This has been an inspiring time, filled with lots of laughter, new friends and awesome experiences that have only strengthened my belief that we’re living through a golden age of car culture.
First, we held a joint book signing and Q&A with Ed Niedermeyer, author of ‘Ludicrous’ and a foremost authority on Tesla, that packed 50+ people into the L.A. Ale Works brewery to watch a livestream of the new Cybertruck reveal.
Needless to say, it was a night to remember. From shattered windows to jaw-dropping reactions, I felt honored to share the evening with everyone in attendance. Hanging out in the parking lot afterward with people I find truly inspiring meant just as much as the event itself. And with great beer on top of all that!
Second, we were honored to share in the joy at Radwood, the cultural epicenter of this moment in our automotive zeitgeist. Sean Morris of Top Rank Imports graciously displayed their ’94 Holden Ute beside the Carrara Media table.
It was a blast seeing old pals, chatting with fellow ute nuts and meeting new customers and friends. Thank you to everyone who stopped to say hello, especially to Radwood organizers Art, Lane and Warren for their overwhelming hospitality and kindness. They put on a hell of a show, but have even bigger hearts.
The holiday season is in full swing, and you’ve all been responding with Slow Car Fast orders. The books have been flying out of my spare bedroom lately. So we ordered more! New paperbacks are in stock, and of course, every copy ordered through CarraraBooks.com is personally signed.
Get your order in by Dec. 15 and delivery is guaranteed by Christmas Day. Of course I’m happy to sell books all year long, but the idea that Slow Car Fast is on someone’s wish list or making someone’s day, I can’t tell you what that means. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible every day. And Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Culture
Radwood L.A. did not mess around. Despite the rain, SoCal enthusiasts turned out in droves with incredible machinery and — maybe most importantly — amazing costumes from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Matt Farah drove down in a priceless Konig-bodied Porsche 962 that nearly killed him.
Raddest in Show went to a mid-engined Corvette/300ZX/Firebird/Lotus hand built in a nearby Lakewood garage.
The latest Radwood event to be announced is in Austin this coming February.
Video Reel
The Forza Racing Championship held its annual Invitational Series championship, with top driver Laige taking all four races and sweeping the weekend for his Red Bull team. The series had an interesting year and appears geared up for a strong 2020.
Gran Turismo also held its Sport Nations Cup final in a massive event at Monaco. No one was touching Mikail Hizal, who went from runner-up to world champ this season.
GT seems committed to cranking up the intensity in this growing sport. The event also featured the live unveiling of a dramatic Lamborghini concept car and a visit from mega-star Lewis Hamilton to announce a new game addition.
In case you needed a reminder of the ridiculous talent of rally legend Colin McRae.
The newest iteration of Top Gear America will feature host Jethro Bovingdon and actors Dax Shepard and Rob Corddry. Does it deserve a chance? Yes. Is it disappointing that three white guys were chosen? Both things can be true.
Race Results
Not much racing going on, but NASCAR sure made news this week. Cole Pearn, generally regarded as the best crew chief in the series, abruptly broke his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing and left the sport.
So far, the reasoning is vague. But Pearn, a Canadian, made no secret of his distaste for living in North Carolina. In the age of polarized Trump politics, it’s impossible to separate the fantasy world of motorsports with that reality.
Some day, NASCAR and the South will have to reckon with alienating talented, even beloved, people whether they intend to or not. Maybe that process has already begun.
Jaguar took research from its all-electric racing series and used it to implement an over-the-air update that gives its I-Pace EV road car more horsepower.
Video Games are Racing, Part 347: The motorsports sim game iRacing is mapping a long-retired racetrack to keep its spirit alive in the game.
And Finally…
Bravo to Amna Al Qubaisi, the first Arab woman to win a single-seater race, for her outright victory in Formula 4. Her sister finished fourth. Hell yeah.
Drive hard and be safe.
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Want your event included? Shoot me a note with subject line “Race Day” at ryan@carrarabooks.com.
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