Chevelle Finally Done!

I have started a new blog for car stuff. Check out www.automotivethinking.blogspot.com to read all about it!

Bimmerfest

This weekend, the 22nd of May, is Bimmerfest. Bimmerfest is the largest get together of BMW Automobiles in the world, and this is the first year that it is going to be in Los Angeles. Being that I am a BMW dealer (Largest in Los Angeles! haha...no seriously.) we are obviously going to be there. We had a few cars there this morning for the press release and got some great on air mentions by KTLA 5. Check out the video, and if you're in the area come see over 3,000 BMWs in the World Famous Rose Bowl. We/Nick Alexander BMW will have 2 tents with 5 cars tons of parts and give-a-ways. http://www.alexanderbmw.com/

Chevelle Update

We are almost there.....2 weeks until completion is what they are telling me.

Here are a few close ups....

March pulleys

This thing looks mean!

Were going to try to turn it over Monday. Hopefully I can get some video of that and post it on here. This is a 6 year project, so I can't wait to hear it run...hopefully!

Laird Playing

I saw this on Lairds Website, man he has great balance for being such a big guy.

New Standup Board!

I got my first SUP board a year ago, and have been wanting a new board for about 10 months. Not that the 10'3'' Lopez is a bad board, but it is a bit of a tank. I have been looking at a number of boards, but the Paddle Surf Hawaii (http://www.paddlesurfhawaii.com/) boards have been of particular interest to me for a while. Their boards are molded boards, which is not necessarily a good thing, but they are really well made and are pretty light. They are also tested and ridden on the North Shore of Oahu, so they are made to surf not just paddle on the flat.

Paddle Surf Hawaii only sells through their outlets, and for the West Coast we only have one! Blueline Paddle Surf in Santa Barbara (http://www.bluelinepaddlesurf.com/). I decided to drive up and get one, because once I decided to pull the trigger, I couldn't wait to ship it. My wife was busy, so I made my dog Kai come with.

As I posted a few weeks ago, I thought that I had my mind set on the 9'3'' ripper. I rented one while in Hawaii and really liked it while surfing, but didn't think that it paddled that well. One of my favorite things about SUP is the distance that you can travel. I usually paddle about 3 miles surfing along the coast in the morning, and was now not sure what board to get. I next tried the 9'6'' Wide All around (the only other PSH board they had that was not over 10ft) and it was REALLY stable, but I really wanted a board with a pulled in nose and the "all arounder" has a nose closer to what my Lopez has. This lead me to a board that I had not tried or thought of previously, the 9'6'' Wide Ripper. After talking to the guy at Blueline, I bought one and drove home as fast as I could!

I had to stop at Rincon and take a pic with the new board on the roof! By the way, it was flat...

When I got home it was really windy.....Damn! The next morning at 6am it was already howling! What to do? Take pictures of the new board!

I love the lines of this board. The pulled in nose is really important in the beach brakes that I surf 9 out of 10 times. The board is less than an inch thicker that the standard ripper, but is much more stable.

The underbelly:

This is the standard set up; a 2+1 with 3.5 in side bites and a 7in center fin. I may mess around with a real thruster set up later....

I surfed it for the first time this morning, and it is everything that I hoped it would be. Surfs like a real surfboard and paddles well. Caught a ton of waves, and three of them really stand out, felt like the next level. Thanks to Blane Chambers and Paddle Surf Hawaii for a great board.

Maui Bound!

I have been planning this trip to Maui for about 6 months, and am finally going tomorrow! I have also been wanting to get a smaller standup board and I am going to pull the trigger while I am there. My current board is still great, but I want something that I can turn harder, and make more critical drops with. I think I have found the answer! Hopefully there is some swell when I am there. The reports are calling for head high waves, so here's hoping!

Paddle Surf Hawaii's 9'3'' "Ripper"

This board is like a giant blown up short board. When I first started SUP surfing, I thought that it was kinda like long boarding, but this has changed for me. I really have the most fun with trying to really dig in and turn the thing like a shortboard. These "ripper" SUB's are starting gain in popularity. I have never ridden one, so I am thrilled that I will get to rent it first and make sure that I can still stand on it, one, and two that I do like the ride.

I'll make sure to take lots of pictures and give feedback ASAP!

Convinced the Wife to SUP!

It has been almost a year now that I have been Stand Up Paddle surfing. It is such a great sport. I mean anyone can SUP and even if you aren't going to attempt to catch any waves it is a great way to exercise and to involve your self with nature. I have been trying to get my wife to try it for a while now, and this last weekend I got her in the water! She is not super adventurous, so I was stoked that she was willing to try it.

I rented a 10'6'' wide Oxbow from Olympus Board Shop in Hermosa beach. On a side note, ET is a much better shop, but they have stopped renting boards and Olympus only charges $30 per day. The Oxbow was perfect for her, she's only 5'3'', so it was about the right dimensions for her fist time. The paddle they rented was a super cheap P.O.S., but again for the first time it does not really matter.

She started off a little grumpy, but I knew that it was sort of an act, so I ignored her grumblings and just kept explaining what we were about to do.

Is this a great before shot or what? Talk about 1000 words!

Paddling out was a little tougher than I expected, as there was a little shore break and these big, thick boards can be a lot to handle. I decided to leave my board on the shore and help her get outside. I had her lay down paddle with the paddle blade under her chest and handle out past the nose. This was the best way and she got out no problem. I went back to grab my board. I hustled out because she was floating out there alone, and I knew that she would freak soon! Luckily a pod of dolphins came by just then and swam right under her! She was thrilled and much of the initial fear was forgotten.

My bet is that women pick up Stand Up Paddling faster than men for two reasons. One: they listen and don't let ego get it the way of trying something new. Two: most of the balance once standing is in your hips and this is more natural for women than it is for men. She was up and paddled for about a mile and only fell three times! She made my first time out look like a disaster!

Finding her balance.

30 minutes later, a natural!

Look! Dolphins!!!

I like the after picture better! Enjoying the ocean....