Scrape, shiver....mutter...

Upper Kingsburg, NS

Nov. 15, 2013

I haven't been taking many pictures lately, here's a typical winter morning scene.  I'm one of the few maniacs looking forward to the snow on Sunday.  Now where did I put my ski boots?........

Burnouts in reverse, why didn't I think of this?!?

It's a lazy, rainy Monday...time to re-post a neat video showing 
backwards burnouts slowed down...sure wish I had thought of it first!
Found via Jalopnik.

Big Ex Demo Derby: Mean Machine

The Big Ex

Demolition Derby

July 29, 2012

If I remember correctly, this was a '72 Chevy Malibu.  All that really matters is that this car is one mean mother effer.  

The driver was a 'seasoned pro', as you can see by how little damage was incurred after multiple sessions of 'smash and crash'.

If you get a chance to check out a demolition derby, DO IT!

Best use of a smart car ever?

Every now and then on my morning commute, I get stuck behind a human speed bump.  A smart car owner who insists on driving a solid 20-30 km/h below the posted speed limit.  

Recently, I got stuck behind said smart car owner on snow covered roads. I noticed every time it drove over some snow, two rooster tails of snow would spit out from its rear tires.  At first I thought the tires were very grippy and this was how tire tread cleans itself.  Then I observed other cars driving by and noticed that none of those cars (nor my own) were producing snowy fountains of snow out the rear end.  I then realized this human speed bump is either: A) not using winter tires, or B) using winter tires but the car is so light it cannot create any traction.

At any rate, I hope the human speed bump isn't surprised when I pass him on a double line.  Sorry buddy, my kite buggy can move faster than you.

I leave you with this ridiculous video of a smart car fitted with the engine from one of the world's fastest production motorcyles.  Awesome.

The Big Ex: Demolition Derby

The Big Ex: Demolition Derby

Bridgewater, NS

July 29, 2012

You are looking at the aftermath of the 6 cylinder class at this year's demo derby at The Big Ex.  This car won the 'most crushed' award...or was it 'best crush'?  

Believe it or not, the car in the ring is not a Smart Car or a hatchback. It is actually a Pontiac Grand Am!  Take a peek at a 'before' shot from an earlier post to compare.

As per usual, the local boys are keeping the Dukes of Hazzard alive with their tribute to the General Lee in the foreground.  (._.)

This car is gooood, but it could use more crowbar....

The Big Ex:  Demolition Derby

Bridgewater, NS

This team spent quite a while trying to pry off that bumper.  I'm not sure how it was attached, it seemed pretty resistant to crowbars and pry bars, that's for sure!

This car eventually won the title of 'most crushed'.  It's a Pontiac Grand Am, remember what it looks like because the 'after' photo does not look like a Grand Am.  Stay tuned!

The Big Ex: Demolition Derby

After a year of regretting that I missed last year's demo derby, I finally got a chance to check out the spectacle that is The Big Ex demolition derby.  

What___a__shit__show.

I'm sure somewhere, J.G. Ballard was smiling down on Bridgewater that drizzly Sunday.  

This was the scene that greeted upon arrival.  Sweaty men with beer guts, sparks, big pieces of metal, grease, etc..  All signs pointed to awesomeness.  This crew was.....welding something to.....something.  

The stands were packed full of excited derby watchers like myself.  We were not disappointed!  Round after round of gasoline charged mayhem ensued all afternoon.  Stay tuned for more pics in the days and weeks to come.

If you are kicking yourself for missing out on all the shenanigans, fear not faithful readers.  The Coldbrook Lions have an event at the end of August which looks even MOAR ridiculous!

Billed as the 'Bash for Cash', it will feature 80-100 cars registered to get destroyed.  Heck, there's even a mini van class, what's not to love?!?  

August 26th.  In a gravel pit.  Be there.  I know I will.

Big Ex demolition derby - V8 class

I'm gutted that I missed this on Sunday, what a ruckus!!!

When the rubber burns, sometimes tires attack!

It's a scrapin' kind of Monday

For your viewing pleasure, one crazy burnout! Keep watchin', the action gets 'hot':

SSIM burnout competition: last of the shots

Wow, one night of shooting turned into over a week of posts! Hope you enjoyed 'em...


A typical scene throughout the night, crowd enveloped by an acrid cloud of burnt rubber....I thought it smelled pretty gross, though a lot of the folks in the crowd seemed to like it. Different strokes...


This guy was responsible for that cloud of smoke, here he tries to pump up the crowd for cheers..Note his blown left rear wheel, good stuff!




I liked the light that was being cast on these guys hanging out....not the shot I was looking for, but close...


I like the way her arms lead your eye into the shot...

That's it, folks, next batch of shots will be from The Big Ex!

SSIM burnout competition, Free For All!

Too bad a lot of crowd had thinned out by this point...because the Free For All portion of the burnout competition was where it was at.

Basically, burn rubber 'till the tire(s) explode.

Ah___yeiah.






This guy could not contain his excitement...I mean, look at the cloud of burnt rubber surrounding him...what's not to love?!?

SSIM burnout competition: Rear Wheel Drive Class...more, more!

Did someone steal Magnum's whip? Call the po-po, yo!


Good thing the horses weren't in that barn...pee-yoo! Now you see the truck...


Now...nottasomuch.

SSIM burnout competition: Rear Wheel Drive Class

This guy was happy to roll around in the wet, burnt rubber on the pad...actually, all the guys in the 'crew' seemed to have big grins on their faces, they must like burnouts or something..^_^


Even though it turned out blurry, I like this pic...hands on hips seemed to be the posture of the day...


The crowd wanted more growl and less 'whine', and they got it, first with this sweet burnout from a Chevy Nova Rally.


Ah___yeiah.

Still more SSIM burnout competition pics...

Something epic must've just happened, judging from the hands on mouths...


The old guard coaches the yung'uns...


'nuff said.

More burnout comp. pics from SSIM

More pics from last Saturday's burnout competition:




Love the name of this guy's car ^_^


The string hanging out of the driver's window is attached to the driver's arm. It's so the time keeper can let them know when their 25 seconds of glory is up, since they can't hear or see anything inside a cloud of burnt rubber.




This guy let a grin slip, he did one of the better burnouts in the front wheel drive class


Sweeping away the remains of the day, still smokin'....

South Shore in Motion: Burnout Competition pics

Man, so many pictures to upload, so little time...what to do, what to do...well, let's start 'er off with a few pics from last weekend's SSIM burnout competition...


Good turnout, both bleachers were pretty much packed when I got there ~7 pm


The crowd knew what they wanted...hot dawgs and burnt rubber.


Some random front wheel drive burnout..meh. Hardly as impressive as the muscle cars to come...




Ready to make some noise...

Burning, frickin'....rubber.

I attended the pre-release screening of Burning Rubber last night in Terence Bay. What a hoot!

I was very nervous about my 'part' in the doc., but it all turned out well in the end.

My one comment in the doc. (about how in high school I thought brake burns were just made by "...dumb rednecks...") didn't seem to go over very well with the crowd. Understandable. Hopefully they heard the last part of my quote over the murmurs, which had me explain how I've gained a new appreciation for brake burns....Stop ya' hatin', ya'll don't know me! (o_0)

The doc. was much funnier than I anticipated, in a good way! I was grinning ear to ear for most of it.

Keep your eyes peeled for Burning Rubber airing on Bravo! in December and hopefully at the Atlantic Film Festival later this summer.

This shot I scraped online sums up how I feel about Ariella's documentary, I love's it!

SSIM video, more burnouts

I wish I had captured more lawn tractor racing, you can 'just' see one at the beginning of the clip.