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”
Author Archives: Rubens Junior
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.”
1978 VW Beetle
It is not easy to summarize the importance of the VW Beetle in Brazil, my home country. The car helped us to become a motorized nation, with the Beetle we learned not only how to drive, but also how to fix it, how to take care of it, and, naturally, to love it with allContinue reading “1978 VW Beetle”
Ray-Ban, The Icon Factory
-“When the Americans came here in 1943, they brought things we never saw before, like Coca-Cola, bubblegum, and Ray-Ban sunglasses”. – Recollections of one of the local residents of the Parnamirim Air Base, in Brazil, used by Allies during WWII. Necessity is the mother of invention, this is a very wise proverb that fits perfectlyContinue reading “Ray-Ban, The Icon Factory”
Argentina, the world champion
December 13th, 2022; quite a few of us have abandoned our “battle stations” at the dealership to spend a few minutes in front of the TV, watching the final moments of Croatia vs Argentina. We are a bunch of immigrants from all corners of the world, cheering, commenting, and sometimes cursing; after all, that isContinue reading “Argentina, the world champion”
1964 Simca Rallye
In the late 1950s, Brazil started a very ambitious plan that would change the whole country forever. The idea was to shift a good portion of the economy from agriculture to manufacturing, opening the doors to foreign industry and technology. The motor of this revolution was the automotive industry, and the logic behind it isContinue reading “1964 Simca Rallye”
The Best Job of My Life.
No doubt we are very proud to be “Gearheads”, the kind of people who are so in love with machines that most of our family members and friends don’t quite understand us. After all, we can easily forget important stuff but still have fresh in our memory the firing order of the piece of junk weContinue reading “The Best Job of My Life.”
Classic Rock – Stairway to Heaven
It has been a while since the idea of diversifying this blog crossed my mind; perhaps it would be a good idea to write about something other than machines. Following this idea, I decided to talk about another passion of mine, Classic Rock, but instead of telling the history of the bands, I will tellContinue reading “Classic Rock – Stairway to Heaven”
The Classic Machines 