I had a chance to head up to San Francisco and shoot these amazing cars for Petrolicious.com. It was a bit of a challenge with the rain but I feel it worked well for the overall mood.
San Francisco Skyline from Petrolicious on Vimeo.
New Depth of Speed episodes are coming. I have been working on the MR2 video which will be out this month!
Sorry for the lack of posts on the site. I have been staying busy in working with Petrolicious.com. If you haven’t checked it out you should head over to the site which has new content daily. Here are a few videos that I have done recently.
Mercedes 220SE: Family History from Petrolicious on Vimeo.
Land of Lancia from Petrolicious on Vimeo.
And this last one which I did the edit and was shot by Saam Gabbay.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ from Petrolicious on Vimeo.
Riding in one of these is an experience I will never forgot. I need to see if I still have that old poster from my childhood…
You may have noticed that it has been a little quiet around here the past few weeks. It isn’t for lack of working as I have been helping out with a new project that has gone live today. I have been helping out with the site Petrolicious.com that focuses on high quality content for vintage cars. It has been amazing and there is some great stuff coming down the line. There will be a new video airing once a week.
Don’t fear as Depth of Speed will continue on and I have new episodes waiting in the wings!
For now here are some screenshots of some of the videos I have been working on in conjunction with Petrolicious. Check out their sites as it is updated daily and you can see what I have been up to.
When Joel reached out to me a few months ago with photos of his 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit, I became even more excited to visit the Twin Cities than I already was. The Rabbit was unique with an interesting theme and details, like the leather hood straps made from belts, the leather-wrapped steering wheel, the hand-painted emblems, and the fact that Joel upholstered the seats himself from some old leather jackets. It was impressive for being the first car Joel had ever built, and it was something I’d never shot before.
My favorite part of the shoot, was when we found a closed-off road and started shooting underneath and around an old bridge. What made that location even better was when a train began clanging past on the bridge overhead.
Depth of Speed: Back To Life from Josh Clason on Vimeo.
I had the opportunity to swing by TBC Hot Rods and Bikes in Fayetteville, NC and check out the shop. Every month the guys at the shop pool their funds together to bring in a band, food, and drinks for “Garage Night”. It is something that really gives back to the automotive community in Fayetteville which is what it is all about. Tim Bradham is one of the nicest people you will meet and is a master fabricator. He creates a lot of things out of raw materials and it is amazing to see something start from nothing.
Depth of Speed: Something From Nothing from Josh Clason on Vimeo.
One of the numerous benefits of traveling around the country is that you get to meet some great people. You also get to see some of the incredible talent that exists here in our great country. When you pair the two together you get to meet someone like John Jackson of NotStock Photography. If you haven’t checked out any of his fantastic work you should head immediately over to his Facebook page and look at the work he produces as he, like ourselves, travels the country in search of hot rods and bikes to shoot. Not only does he travel upwards of 60,000 miles a year, he does it in a Corvair van.
We had a chance to meet up in Phoenix, AZ. in 108 degree weather and that is when I learned that it had no A/C and topped out at 60mph. Talk about some serious dedication to the passion of what you do. The van is bagged with a custom paint job and a seriously cool interior that also doubles as a bit of a rolling art gallery for his photography. I caught him at around 7,000 miles into his current road trip which he generally does about 4 times a year. John is mostly interested in finding those unique rides that don’t get a lot of press but are equally as cool and important as the stuff rolling out of bigger shops. This requires traversing the entire country in search of great people, cool cars, and great backgrounds. Now if I can only catch him on his next trip through Utah for a certain BMW 2002…..
There is just nothing else that really grabs my attention like a wagon. Gone are the days of the mighty station wagon rumbling across the country National Lampoon style. For a long time there has been a dearth of wagons across the American landscape and it is great to finally see a revival happening along the likes of the CTS-V, TSX, and the upcoming 3-Series wagon.
For myself, there has always been a love of wagons. There is nothing that matches their versatility, especially when it comes to hauling around video equipment. For a long while I was a bit of a Honda Civic Wagon baron and at one point owned 5 of them. In my head also dances the visions of a Swedish turbo brick gracing a garage when I finally have one. So when I came across Duane Schaffer’s Datsun wagon I was in love. Stanced out to a nice level, it is great to see this wagon running down the road in all its glory. Cruising around town with the rag-top open is a great experience and is a fun way to enjoy any car let alone a wagon. Pair that with a bagged Toyota Hilux and Duane’s garage is one that brings me a tinge of envy.
Duane, like many of us, is a family man and loves to learn and do things on his own with the resources that are available to him. Both the wagon and the Hilux aren’t show quality cars and they don’t need to be to gain maximum enjoyment. It is the pleasure of getting an old car back on the road to ones styling and taste and having fun, and believe me, they are both a ton of fun to cruise around. Duane is passing this all down to his son who is very much into cars and is training up another unbelievable generation of car guys.
It is not often that I get to spend so much time with one amazing car. During this trip I have been fortunate enough to spend some time with the new owner of this Skyline, Eric Bauer. Going back to where we left off testing at Miller Motorsports Park, Eric flew to the JDM Legends shop in Salt Lake City and drove his car back to Southern California. This special car couldn’t be in better hands. Not only does Eric do 3D modeling for most of the various automakers around the world, he also teaches at the Art Center College of Design and helps prepare the future generations of auto designers. It is nice to know that such a special car has landed in special hands.
In filming this episode we were able to use the Art Center building as a backdrop which seemed equally fitting for shooting this Skyline. Also we were able to take the car up the magnificent Angeles Crest Highway for some spirited driving. Hearing the sound echo off the mountain walls is a sound to behold. Eric has a lot of love for this car and is a twelve year story in the making. Eric is all about driving the Skyline as often as he can and I can see why. Every ride consists of waves, honks, pictures, smiles, and conversation. This Skyline is the ultimate magnet and even those who aren’t into cars can tell that it is something special. The joy that it brings to Eric is infectious and you can’t help but smile in watching. Here is to many years of this car cruising around SoCal and to the glorious sound that follows.
A few weeks ago I had the chance to drive a car that I only have ever seen sitting behind ropes or rolling across a prime time spot in a high profile auction. That car was a grey 1957 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. I was in disbelief when the owner asked if I wanted to pilot it down the open runway with my wife. Knowing this was a one in a lifetime chance, I didn’t hesitate to open up the door and maneuver in. For the owner of this beautiful machine this is the way to fully enjoy this masterpiece of a car. Keeping the car driving on the road is the way it is meant to be enjoyed and not stuck in a museum or private collection.
This 300SL Gullwing is the culmination of a thirty year dream. This car doesn’t represent one piece in a collection, it is the entire collection. This is a dream that has come to fruition after 30 years of hard work and getting oneself into a position to own the car that has been yearned for for thirty years. For myself, the idea of dreaming for one car and working hard for years and years is truly inspirational. It helps me keep the dream alive for the cars that I desire to own in the years to come.
When I first came across this story I was in disbelief that there was someone who drives a car of this magnitude often and all across the country in various states of weather. Knowing there was someone who was doing so brought a smile to my face and made me happy that this car was being enjoyed in a way it was meant to be. Other Gullwings in museums and private collections have their place in preserving their place in history but there is just something about knowing that you can come across one of these on the open road or on your favorite drive is mind blowing.
A special thanks to Tom of 02again.com for all of the help he has given in setting things up and subsequent videos. If you need some great parts for your BMW 2002, check out his site.
Did you know this car requires 4 gallons of oil? Yes, gallons. The oil change interval is every thousand miles due to the direct injection. Crazy.