Even if you are not a movie aficionado, chances are that you have already heard the name Paul Newman. Paul Leonard Newman was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, on January 26, 1925. According to his family, he showed talent for the stage as early as 10 years old. The actor During WWII, Newman served inContinue reading “Paul Newman”
Author Archives: Rubens Junior
The Ghost Camaro
This passion that we, gearheads, nurture for cars and motorcycles is, in most cases, a shallow one. Besides the cheap thrills of speed and the idea that by saving old cars from the junkyard we are preserving history, there are not a lot of good deeds in this hobby. But every once in a whileContinue reading “The Ghost Camaro”
Space Shuttle – Chapter 3 – The Challenger Disaster
It was unusually cold on the morning of January 28, 1986, and orbiter Challenger had spent the overnight on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The first thing the engineers noticed that morning was ice crystals around the ship and the equipment. That was not a good sign. The ship was (supposedly)Continue reading “Space Shuttle – Chapter 3 – The Challenger Disaster”
Vintage Wheels and Wings
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, in Mount Hope, Ontario, is one of my favorite places in Canada. They have an impressive collection of vintage warbids, and one of the only two flyworthy WWII Avro Lancaster in the world. Every summer the museum hosts the Vintage Wheels and Wings, an amazing show where the visitors canContinue reading “Vintage Wheels and Wings”
Space Shuttle – Chapter 2- The Challenger Close Call
On the 12th of July, 1985, on the launch pad of the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the orbiter Challenger was getting ready for STS-51-F, the 19th mission of the program. Besides the constant flight delays and cancelations, NASA had secured government funding and it seemed like Americans were back in love with space exploration. ChallengerContinue reading “Space Shuttle – Chapter 2- The Challenger Close Call”
IMSA in Canada
From July 06 to 09, the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park hosted the sixth round of the 2023 IMSA/Weathertech season, the Chevrolet Grand Prix. The iconic Canadian circuit has the honor to be the only track to host an IMSA race outside the USA. It is the most important event in the Mosport’s calendar and IContinue reading “IMSA in Canada”
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle, or as it was officially named, Space Transportation System (STS), was one of the most emblematic chapters in NASA’S history and also the most catastrophic. In this series of 5 articles, we will go through the concept, execution, flaws, and tragedies that haunted the program. July 21, 1969, at 02:56 UTC, theContinue reading “Space Shuttle”
Justice for Felipe Massa
The 2008 Formula-One season will always be remembered by the crashgate scandal when the Brazilian race driver Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed his car during the Singapore Grand Prix, helping his Renault teammate Fernando Alonso. But for me, what I remember the most is how heartbreaking it was to watch another Brazilian driver, Felipe Massa,Continue reading “Justice for Felipe Massa”
Military Common Sense
Those who follow this blog know that every now and then I post an article that is related to militarism. I am not an expert in this subject, I just enjoy reading as much as I can about it. This passion also led me to join the Brazilian Air Force, back in 1988. In theContinue reading “Military Common Sense”
The Centennial 24 Hours of Le Mans
On Jun 11, 2023, at 4 PM (local time), the Ferrari Hipercar #51 driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi receives the checkered flag, winning the 100th anniversary edition of the most iconic auto race on the planet, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This achievement also marks the Ferrari’s first overall victory in the Circuit deContinue reading “The Centennial 24 Hours of Le Mans”
A Very Special Race Car
The very first time my dad took me to an auto race I was no older than 12 years, it was way back in the early 1980s. It was the beginning of the Lost Decade, in Brazil; a time when the country dived into hyperinflation and economic recession. Naturally, a very expensive hobby like motorsportsContinue reading “A Very Special Race Car”
Last Hemi V8 Howls with 1,025 HP of Alcohol-Fueled Fury in the SRT Demon 170
For better or worse, we are witnessing a major shift in the auto industry since… well, since the creation of the automobile; whether we like it or not, the automakers are going electric. I consider myself the most liberal car guy I’ve ever met, I have no problem with the EV, I just don’t likeContinue reading “Last Hemi V8 Howls with 1,025 HP of Alcohol-Fueled Fury in the SRT Demon 170”
EURO NASCAR
Last Sunday, May 07 something unusual happened, while comfortably sitting on my sofa, wearing my beloved plaid shirt, and holding a beer, I watched a NASCAR race from the very beginning to the end… and I loved it. But there is a catch, the race was in Europe. What I watched was the 2023 NASCARContinue reading “EURO NASCAR”
Evel Knievel
As a kid, I had my heroes, just like any other kid in the world who grew up in front of a TV set. I have some vivid memories of Batman, Captain James Kirk, and obviously, Bugs Bunny. In my list of heroes, one is special, because he was a real guy, doing real stuntsContinue reading “Evel Knievel”
Classic Rock – I Wish You Were Here
Back in the early 2000s, my wife and I were working as delivery drivers for a Pizza Hut store, in Kennesaw GA. We and our manager, Robert, shared the same passion for rock’n roll, and one day, to our surprise, he trusted us with his most beloved possession, his Pink Floyd CD collection. Later thatContinue reading “Classic Rock – I Wish You Were Here”
Ferrari Hypercar
The 2023 season of WEC (World Endurance Championship) is upon us. The series kicks off with the iconic 1000 Miles of Sebring, on March 17 and finishes on November 4th, in Bahrain. This will be a very special year indeed. The cornerstone of endurance racing, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will celebrate its 100thContinue reading “Ferrari Hypercar”
Bombs Away – When America Almost Nuked Itself.
The year was 1961, Elvis Presley, still enjoying his status as “The King of Rock’n Roll”, had just released the song Little Sister. In the same year, Jaguar launched the legendary E-type, celebrated ever since as one of the world’s most beautiful cars. Also in 1961, people around the world were thrilled watching Gregory PeckContinue reading “Bombs Away – When America Almost Nuked Itself.”
The Classic Machines 