"Alexander LaRocca" (alexjlarocca)
09/27/2015 at 21:25 • Filed to: None
48
62|
"Alexander LaRocca" (alexjlarocca)
09/27/2015 at 21:25 • Filed to: None | 48
| 62 |
I wanted to get into a new hobby. One condition: it had to have a motor involved. Well I couldn’t just choose one, so I’m going to try as many as I can. I’m starting this NewGuy series of articles to document my sampling of all sorts of motorsports and car cultures. It will be all things I have virtually no experience with, and I’ll show you all my adventures!
* Disclaimer: This article requires a decent knowledge of the Roadkill YouTube show to know everything I’m talking about.
Day 1: Auburn Hills, Michigan
In not-so-true Roadkill fashion, my brother and I showed up to the send off event for the Roadkill Takes America tour an hour and a half early. We had only intended to drive with the rally for a few miles...little did we know. Needless to say, we beat everyone there...including the Roadkill crew. So I took this picture:
It was soon after that I was sitting on the dune buggy’s roof rack, wondering if I was in the right place, when a Roadkill van came cruisin’ in with someone shouting “Want to help setup?!” out the window. I of course responded, “Absolutely!”
Well that someone turned out to be the producer of Roadkill, and after demonstrating my next level van unloading skills, we got to talking about the upcoming week of Roadkill Takes America. She asked us if we were going on the trip, and I explained that we wanted to but couldn’t afford the cost of hotels. She became reserved for a bit, obviously thinking, and came back to me with an offer to pay “some of our hotel costs in exchange for grunt work.”
I was sold. My brother was sold. We called our dad (also our boss) to see if we could get the week off work to road trip the dune buggy to Texas with Roadkill...he was not sold. He eventually and grudgingly gave us permission and told us (Jalops, cover your ears), “Fine, you can go...but you’re not taking the buggy. Take that piece of shit Miata.”
...and with that lovely introduction, here is my chariot:
By the time we swapped cars and said our goodbyes, the Roadkill caravan had already taken off down the road. So now we’re barreling down I-75, trying to catch up in a questionably reliable car with half the interior taken apart repeating our new motto for the week, “We’re only 50% sure this is a good idea, but we’re 100% sure we’re going.”
Day 2: Bowling Green, Kentucky
As promised, we were put up in a hotel for night (thanks Dodge) and we were now part of the Roadkill crew. I’m now eating breakfast at the same table as Freiburger and Finnegan, two of my automotive internet heroes. I wasn’t used to this yet, so I kept pretty quiet.
My brother and I, along with the producer’s assistant and Finnegan, were sent off to Holley’s headquarters to pick up Blasphemi and set up for the factory tours that would be held there in a few hours. Things got set up quite quickly, so I actually got a tour from a guy named Blane who works in marketing at Holley. He later showed me his LS-swapped 240SX and gave me his card...he must have seen my “Roadkill Crew” shirt and mistaken me for someone important.
I was later sent off to Beech Bend Raceway to deliver some papers to the producer, and I spent the rest of the day selling merch and running tools back and forth while Finnegan tested and tuned Blasphemi. The car was having trouble making a clean pass and seemed to be running wrong...it was later realized that the car was out of gas. Because Roadkill.
I got to mount some wheels on the Roadkill Atomic Van. I worked on a Roadkill car!
Day 3: Memphis, Tennessee
Day three’s activities started with Comp Cams tours (didn’t get to go on these) and ended with a [burnout]. I sold a lot of merch and gave away a lot of stickers...are you beginning to see a trend?
Day 4: Tulsa, Oklahoma
This was a BIG day. We started at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit and after selling a shirt to basically everyone who showed up, I got to watch Freiburger and Finnegan tear up the track with the Vette-kart and General Maintenance. My brother got to swap drag slicks on General Mayhem at the track’s shop. I had never been to a track before, but now let’s just say the Miata are eagerly looking to do our first !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
After Hallett, we were off to Tulsa Raceway Park for midnight drag racing. Let me tell you, people in Oklahoma (Oklahomans?) take their drag racing very seriously. Hundreds of cars and what seemed like thousands of people flocked to this drag strip for some of the fastest paced racing I’ve ever seen. Cars were making a pass nearly every 30 minutes. I sold Roadkill shirts and hats like a madman, and eventually another crew member offered to take over for me because I “just had to watch the races from the media room.” What’s a media room? ...only the coolest place to watch drag racing.
After the racing was over and the track closed, I got to talking with the owner of the track, who is a Miata and Grom enthusiast. Yeah, we got along.
Day 5: Ames, Oklahoma
This day was what made this rally so unique. It was spent at Hajek Motorsports Museum, which is an old school in the middle of nowhere Ames, Oklahoma that housed and impressive collection of early funny cars, 10 late model Cobra Jets, wrecked salt-flat cars, and basically anything the owner was into.
Oh yeah, and he took us next door and showed us
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
I know you Jalopponauts love this car. He even started it for us.
I touched it.
...and when I say this was in the middle of nowhere, I mean the Ford GT90 is on a lift in a building that looks like this:
...in a town that looks like this:
Day 6: Fort Worth, Texas
The final day. I’m getting tired at this point. HA! Yeah right, I’m kickin’ it every day with my internet heroes. By now, Finnegan had heard that my dad called my Miata a piece of shit and has been calling it the same ever since. We struck a deal a few days earlier that if the car made it to Texas, he’d have to say it !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Well we’re in Texas!
Day six started with tours of Painless Performance’s factory, and we took a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! before leaving for the drive-in movie theater where we’d watch a few episodes of Roadkill!
The crew finally got to kick back and enjoy the fact that the whole rally went so well, and I spent a little time handing out gift cards to the concession stand where people were elated to get free beer, courtesy of Dodge. The final episode ended, we packed up the cars and said our goodbyes. The guys even signed my car.
Day 7: Non-Stop Service from Texas to Michigan
I threw in a day 7 because while the rest of the crew got to fly home to California, my brother and I had 18 hours of driving in a old, loud, and cramped Japanese roadster ahead of us. I took this time to reflect on the previous week, and how lucky I was to find myself eating and joking across from Finnegan at dinner a few days earlier, and realizing that these YouTube stars I idolized were simply people. Roadkill may be the only real reality car show, it is simply a small camera crew documenting two car nuts and their shenanigans. Nothing’s fake, staged, or scripted. I’m thankful for the experience and hope to see my Roadkill friends again.
Here’s what the car looked like when I got home!
* Special thanks goes out to my dad, my family for packing the car for this spontaneous trip, my brother, the guys at Roadkill and all the friends I made along the way.
So what’s next for the NewGuy series? I have a list of things I want to try that include driving the Miata through a Michigan winter, finally driving the buggy at Silver Lake sand dunes, and even something as simple as showing a car at a car show. But maybe you have a better idea, let me know!
DrJohannVegas
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 21:43 |
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I can totally hear Freiburger saying that as he signed the car. I’m sure Finnegan really just wanted to steal the Miata, though.
E92M3
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 21:44 |
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Sounds like a good time, looking forward to hearing about your next adventure!
Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 21:45 |
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Michigan winter is easy. I put winterforces on my FR-S and just drifted everywhere. Blizzaks could work too
Firewrx234
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 21:48 |
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Very cool! I’m pretty jealous of your week long trip and look forward to some of your future escapades!
Edit: I forgot to mention how extremely jealous I am of your encounter with the GT90!!!! I had a small model of that from when I was little and always thought it was amazing.
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Alexander LaRocca
> DrJohannVegas
09/27/2015 at 21:51 |
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Finnegan is actually not a fan of the cars. But when it came down to it, he told me at dinner that he has a lot of friends who autocross them and he does have respect for them. A true car guy!
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Alexander LaRocca
> E92M3
09/27/2015 at 21:54 |
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Thanks for reading, and it was a very good time!
bob and john
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 21:57 |
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holy tits. that is FUCKING SWEET
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Alexander LaRocca
> bob and john
09/27/2015 at 22:00 |
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I appreciate your enthusiasm!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
09/27/2015 at 22:01 |
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I picked up some used X-Ices, a nice and skinny 175 tire. If I get stuck too often, I have no problem mounting a winch to the front!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Firewrx234
09/27/2015 at 22:03 |
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The GT90 was truly one of the highlights. It’s actually a bit before my time, so I was completely unaware of the car before I experienced it in Oklahoma!
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Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 22:19 |
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In that case just more throttle.
Do you have a hard top by chance? You could come rallycross it
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Alexander LaRocca
> Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
09/27/2015 at 22:24 |
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I do and I have a hardtop, I’ve been thinking of rallycrossing!
EDIT: Are you into the rallycross scene in southeast Michigan? We should talk!
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Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 22:53 |
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Not much, but I’m starting to be more involved. Next one is 10/24. http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.cfm/even…
daender
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 23:13 |
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Fucking clear-coat that piece of metal to hell and back, those signatures are worth saving forever. Nice!
shop-teacher
> Alexander LaRocca
09/27/2015 at 23:24 |
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Great story!!! I look forward to more!
GrindhouseJho
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:13 |
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I’ll give you my fantasy idea... Ice driving/Ice Rallying the Miata... lol
Justin Hughes
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:19 |
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I rallycrossed my last Miata once.
I not only won Modified / RWD, I was the fastest car in the entire RWD division. Definitely try it!
Oh, and as you can see, it was a winter rallycross. Snow tires + Miata (or FR-S/BRZ or other RWD car) = fun!
Also, awesome story! I freaking love Roadkill , and am glad you got to hang out, help, and go behind the scenes.
Xedicon
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:20 |
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Also from SE Mitten! Just wanted to say this was a sweet piece!
Mattbob
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:26 |
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you get all the stars? Are you still driving the miata around like that? I’ll have to keep a lookout if you are in my area.
Wotsac
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:31 |
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“We’re only 50% sure this is a good idea, but we’re 100% sure we’re going.”
That’s the Road Kill spirit!
Skamanda
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:32 |
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If you want info on the SE Michigan rallycross scene, check out www.dirtyimpreza.com - there’s lots of info there, and the guy that basically runs the events is one of their forum regulars (and he rallycrosses a 911). One of these days I’ll have another car with enough ground clearance to rallycross, and head out to play in the mud myself...
MonkeePuzzle
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:40 |
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re. ideas: I’d say in RoadKill fashion you would take the miata cross country, do a bunch of work (perhaps an engine swap) in a parking lot, and roadtrip home. Perhaps roadtripping home through a winter storm.
Kchrpm
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:46 |
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Did the tour stop at Tortilleria Garcia in Springdale, OH on your way down 75 from Auburn Hills to Bowling Green? I go there pretty regularly and just spotted a RoadKill sticker up above their door yesterday.
Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:47 |
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P71!
Needmoargarage
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:50 |
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Awesome story...thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the next NewGuy experience!
Side note: Miata in MI winter is too easy. Did it last winter thinking it would be adventurous but with some good snow tires winter is a joke. Good (very low speed) drift practice however!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Needmoargarage
09/29/2015 at 14:51 |
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Spoiler alert, man! Ha but thanks for the read. How’s that pain project coming?
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Alexander LaRocca
> MonkeePuzzle
09/29/2015 at 14:54 |
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If only I had the time (and skills)! College has started back up so my adventures will likely cover less distance, for the time being.
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Alexander LaRocca
> Mattbob
09/29/2015 at 14:55 |
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The sticker bombed fender is gone, but I do have one RK sticker on my roll bar still!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Xedicon
09/29/2015 at 14:56 |
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Thanks! Mitten represent!
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Alexander LaRocca
> GrindhouseJho
09/29/2015 at 14:58 |
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Oh that’s on the to-do list!!
this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 14:58 |
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Once again, the power of being the one guy who actually shows up and asks to help instead of hanging out at home thinking it’s impossible is demonstrated. Well fuckin done man!
Sincerely,
Guy on couch at home reading about someone else's adventure
Meatcoma
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 15:07 |
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Apparently you gave away a lot of stickers to.... yourself!
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Alexander LaRocca
> this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
09/29/2015 at 15:20 |
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Exactly! You gotta put yourself out there, talk to people, and be friendly! Do that and bing bang boom Roadkill pays your way to Texas.
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Alexander LaRocca
> Meatcoma
09/29/2015 at 15:23 |
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There were so many. We gave them out ten at a time all week!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Kchrpm
09/29/2015 at 15:28 |
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Yeah!! The owner actually fed us and there was a small car show/meet and greet. Amazing food and people, the guy had the coolest wagon.
Autohaus Derp
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 15:43 |
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Wooo Mitten crew!
472CID
> daender
09/29/2015 at 15:44 |
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It’s like the next best thing to having Jeremy Clarkson signing your car.
carzcarzcarz
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 16:04 |
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Looking forward to your story when you take this to the dunes. Great story, glad you shared and made us all jealous.
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Kchrpm
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 16:09 |
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Ha! The ONE day I don’t go.
I love that place, great prices and awesome food. Had my first (and only) tamales there.
icondonnied
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 16:34 |
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Try a 98 Mustang ragtop beater as your daily driver for your 90 mile daily round trip commute. I did it for 3 years. Only got really stuck once- Southbound I-75 on the River Raisin overpass in Monroe Co. It was a sheet of ice, and nothing was climbing it. After sitting for 3 hours, MDOT finally got some salt on the road and I was on my way again....
Fatherly Killbot
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 18:25 |
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Best read of today, wow that must've been something to hang out with that crew. Thanks for sharing!!!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Fatherly Killbot
09/29/2015 at 19:35 |
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Thank you, that means a lot! It was surreal at first, but once I realized they were just regular car guys it was more like hanging out with friends.
Daewoo10356
> daender
09/29/2015 at 21:51 |
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I agree but Freiburger calling it mint is not actually a ringing endorsement.
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Daewoo10356
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 21:53 |
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Man that is a cool ready glad to hear the roadkill guys are still real at least some of the time.
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Daewoo10356
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 21:58 |
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Let me tell you, people in Oklahoma (Oklahomans?)
That is correct and we will also accept Okie most of the time even though it started out as a derogatory term.
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Michael Kahler
> Alexander LaRocca
09/29/2015 at 22:40 |
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It was awesome seeing you there! Saw you selling shirts and hats the entire way, and your car was sweet! Hope to do it again in the future! -Team Ranchero (Michael Kahler)
Frank Grimes
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 00:48 |
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He used to be a mini trucker so I wouldn’t listen to his opinions much! Of course blasphemi is awesome so maybe he changed.
StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 09:03 |
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You lucky bastard!
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StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 09:06 |
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Awesome write up! Sad I missed the send off at the Chrysler Museum, but I was at RoadKill nights and met them at the Dodge display on Woodward. Great guys.
Did you make it to the Cadillac ranch in Texas? We went there on our own road trip and there were RoadKill stickers everywhere.
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StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 09:08 |
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Also from SE Mitten! If you get stuck this winter I have an XJ, I’ll pull you out.
Coincidentally, I live right down the street from Jalopnik’s own David Tracy and all his Jeeps. He doesn’t know I know yet. ;-)
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Alexander LaRocca
> StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
09/30/2015 at 09:13 |
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If he lives anywhere near the junkyard he went to, then he’s only a few miles from me as well! He must never know..
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Alexander LaRocca
> StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
09/30/2015 at 09:15 |
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Some of the long haulers continued road tripping after the rally was over and went there! Thanks for the read!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Michael Kahler
09/30/2015 at 09:23 |
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Hey! I remember you guys!! Long hauling that Ranchero was even braver than us!
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Alexander LaRocca
> Daewoo10356
09/30/2015 at 09:23 |
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Nailed it!
DAT-AS-SUN
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 09:53 |
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Fucking Mint Write up Brah
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StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 09:54 |
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Yes he does. I actually drove by his house, Jeep out front, and went “That looks familiar”. Pulled up an old video and Google Maps and yup, there it is. Google Maps even has a Jeep in the driveway lol. True Jeeper.
Also, I noticed you were asking about rally cross. There is a guy on here that lives by us that does this in his red FRS. He’s posted about it on here before and I saw his car at the Woodward Cars & Coffee, can’t remember his name though.
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Needmoargarage
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 11:07 |
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Finished that up awhile ago in a sleepless weekend...came out pretty good! Bought a new project last night so that should keep me busy for a while.
Coty
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 11:14 |
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Holy optical illusion batman.
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Boombayadda
> Alexander LaRocca
09/30/2015 at 20:54 |
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Killer week!
greenagain
> Alexander LaRocca
10/02/2015 at 22:45 |
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Did you find out how that car ended up there?
bmw325_num99
> Alexander LaRocca
10/03/2015 at 17:18 |
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Thanks for writing this up! I enjoyed it and its nice to know the show is indeed unscripted.
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Alexander LaRocca
> bmw325_num99
10/03/2015 at 20:17 |
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Thanks for reading!