Author Archives: Rubens Junior

1983 Porsche 911 Targa – A Matter of Feeling

During the time I worked for two different restoration shops in Brazil, I had the opportunity to drive some interesting cars and bikes. A couple of days ago I was going through hundreds of digital pictures that I have scattered all over Google Drive and found a few shots of one of those cars, aContinue reading “1983 Porsche 911 Targa – A Matter of Feeling”

The World’s Fastest Ferrari

The 1980s was not a remarkable era for the auto industry, the decade will always be remembered by sluggish engines and questionable taste in design. But if we venture into the realms of Italian exotic cars we will certainly find a few exceptions. In my humble opinion, the Ferrari 288 GTO can easily sit onContinue reading “The World’s Fastest Ferrari”

Classic Motor: Assembling a 1300cc VW Engine

While I spend time putting together plastic model kits, my 75-year-old dad spends his time restoring vintage VW Beetles. Recently he sent me a few short videos showing himself masterfully assembling a rebuilt, air-cooled 1300cc-VW engine. This little mill replaced an old, tired 1300cc that came with the car when Dad bought his 1968 BeetleContinue reading “Classic Motor: Assembling a 1300cc VW Engine”

Classic Modeling – 1:72 Spad XIII

Once again it is wintertime in the Northern Hemisphere, and here in Canada, it means one thing: spending most of your free time indoors. If you are not willing to sit in front of the TV and spend hours watching Netflix’s “craparama”, you better find a hobby. Occasionally, I give a shot at an oldContinue reading “Classic Modeling – 1:72 Spad XIII”

Classic Rock – Bitter Sweet Symphony

During the 1990s, rock’n roll enjoyed what might have been its last breath of life as a mainstream musical genre. The Grunge Movement, which started in the mid-1980s, and exploded in the next decade, was a healthy departure from the (mostly) silly, glossy-looking bands from the 80s to a more hard-core, back-to-basics approach. Rock wasContinue reading “Classic Rock – Bitter Sweet Symphony”

The Brazilian Champions – Part Four : Gil de Ferran

Between the years 1972 and 2004, Brazilian drivers won 14 world championship titles: 8 in Formula One, 5 in Formula Indy/CART, and one in Sports Car Prototype. Those years became our golden age in motorsport. We are deeply proud of our drivers and we will shamelessly brag about them for decades to come. When IContinue reading “The Brazilian Champions – Part Four : Gil de Ferran”

Classic Poetry – A Pilot’s Prayer.

Somebody gave me this lithe-looking creature called Spitfire, and said: -There is a Spitfire, go and fly it.- The next thing I knew, it had leapt into the air. Sort of me hanging on to it, really… And off we went into the wild blue yonder. Oh, my goodness me. It is going to beContinue reading “Classic Poetry – A Pilot’s Prayer.”

Royal Enfield – Classic 350

The year 2023 was a remarkable one for the so-called musical physical format. Physical copies of music have been performing better than digital downloads for a while and the trend continued this year. To make it even more amazing, for the first time since 1987, the analog vinyl LP outsold its digital nemesis, the CD.Continue reading “Royal Enfield – Classic 350”

Classic Watch- Zenith Pilot Type 20

It is Christmas again, the time of the year when our hearts get flooded with love and compassion. Time to get together with family and friends, and that jazz, but it is also the time of the year when we dream about all the pretty things money can buy. I know, I should not mixContinue reading “Classic Watch- Zenith Pilot Type 20”

Classic Story – I Fought The Law And The Law Won.

Being a poor car guy can be very frustrating. I spent a lifetime dreaming about cars that I could not afford, and chances are I never will. Perhaps, writing about those machines helps to cope with the frustration. Instead of owning memorable cars, what I have are some memorable moments driving ordinary cars. In aContinue reading “Classic Story – I Fought The Law And The Law Won.”

More Than a Grocery Getter

Car guys can be a very opinionated bunch indeed, some of them will worship one brand and despise all the others, and some of them will prefer a certain category of cars and make fun of the others. But there is one thing that seems to bring all of us together, we all have aContinue reading “More Than a Grocery Getter”

Classic Poetry – The Old Army Officer

There were two flies fucking in mid-air. That requires wings, Alex thought. Most men never receive their wings—they never fly above things. Those who do learn to sleep in the wind— because they’re too afraid to touch back down again. Nursing home food reminded him of K-rations. There was nothing glamourous about dying in theContinue reading “Classic Poetry – The Old Army Officer”

Classic Books – Fighter

What book are you reading right now? This is my first attempt to create a post answering the Worldpress daily prompt. I just could not resist the endeavor. First of all, it has been a long while since the last time I bought a fiction book, I just decided if I am going to spendContinue reading “Classic Books – Fighter”

The Phony Chargers

When Dodge released the Charger, in the fall of 1965, the car was not a major hit. Despite the sleek design, and attractive selection of engines (the 426 HEMI being at the top of the list), the customers didn’t embrace the fastback design. Cadillac had tried it already in the 1950s with the Sedanette andContinue reading “The Phony Chargers”

A Daring Revenge

The amazing story of a rogue RAF pilot and his vendetta against the Gestapo. WWII was the bloodiest conflict in human history, it is impossible to be precise about how many lives were lost as a consequence of the hostilities but the number lies somewhere between 50 and 85 million. It was a time whenContinue reading “A Daring Revenge”

Demaras Racing Team sweeps the F-1200 Championship

Daniel Demaras finished the 2023 season of the Canadian F-1200 as the indisputable champion, after winning the race at the iconic Toronto Mosport, on Sunday, Oct/02. The F-1200 (or F-Vee in other countries), is one of the most competitive classes in motorsports. Claiming the title is no easy task, it requires not only a greatContinue reading “Demaras Racing Team sweeps the F-1200 Championship”