David Tracy's latest blog and a rant

"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
05/28/2020 at 17:25 • Filed to: None

I commented there (and will probably be banished to the grays as a result), but holy fuck is this guy an idiot. Yeah, the first 40 or 50 columns about the beaters he buys and tries to fix were humorous, but now it’s just tedious. Then’s there’s his decision to flood the engine of his Willys AND leave it parked in freezing temps for a week without taking care of the problem he created. And any number of other dumb decisions that others have commented on in his posts.

But now he decided to drive his Jeep pickup 700 miles while knowing that it was leaking oil onto his pants and shoes, as well as the clutch, brake, and gas pedals. It’s been leaking oil onto the clutch, brake, and gas pedals since August of last year! He “figur[ed] that whatever oil was in the speedometer would eventually run out and [he’d] just pull the gauge and rebuild the clearly broken speedo later. But the oil never stopped gushing.” Despite that, and despite having had months to repair it, nah - let’s hop on the highway and drive the truck for 700 miles, where he then is going to use it to cart 800 lbs of Chinese car around NY, then drive 700 miles back. All it takes is one time where a quick stop is required, he goes to slam on the brakes and his foot slips off, and then someone else’s property gets damaged or, worst case, someone gets injured.

This guy should be fired just for being a moron. And yes, I am triggered by this stupidity. Sorry.

DISCUSSION (62)

facw > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 17:44

I like David, but yeah, that seems like something that should have been a higher priority to fix. Definite safety issue.

CB > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 17:47

You think that his times of being in a lot of trouble would’ve deterred him from doing it again. But “reckless guy nearly fucks it all up again” apparently nets you page views.

I’m shocked some form of law enforcement hasn’t gone to his door to tell him to cut his shit out. Or the DMV.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 17:53

As an avid listener of Car Talk I too was like “holy WTF how could you ignore that!?” but dude does seem to have an issue with imitative... or priorities... or both. I choose to believe the danger here was played up a bit but agree that a constant stream of oil for more than half a year does seem like something a normal person would look in to... if for no other reason than getting motor oil out of fabric is a pain.

I appreciate his shitboxes and everything they stand for, but the constant “David does a risky car journey in a shitbox and it doesn’t go well because of a foreseeable, preventable, or fixable problem” stories are a bit cringe. Sometimes great, like when his timing gear failed spectacularly, because that was a problem one could genuinely not foresee and it was super interesting to see the troubleshooting.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 17:57

I like David, but yeah...

First time doing something this potentially dangerous under Rory’s watch - maybe he’ll give him a suitable warning.

Chariotoflove > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:01

I don’t read his escapades anymore (his engineering explainers are fine), because I just can’t. At this point, I suspect it’s just part of his schtick to bring viewers. It’s like how Torch has moved more toward his quirky stunt persona (or been moved there by editorial nudging? who can say?). But I agree, this image of a reckless shit-box hoarder trying to turn his entire life into a Sanford & Son stage set is beyond ridiculous.

The Ghost of Oppo > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:09

Yeah honestly all these blogs about how he’s fucked up or neglected something have become extremely tiring and uninteresting. If I wanted to read about someone’s failures I’d read my diary

ranwhenparked > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:12

Did you ever see a car in a parking lot with both headlights completely faded to opaque white, the clear coat peeling off everywhere, giant pieces of paint totally missing with rust streaks running down, dents in every body panel, and multiple plastic trim pieces broken or missing, and think, damn, how does a car get that bad? All that damage didn’t happen at once, doesn’t the owner bother to fix anything? David Tracy is the kind of person who owns a car like that. As long as it starts and moves under its own power, every other issue is out of sight, out of mind, until something catastrophic forces him to pay attention to it.

Sovande > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:15

I'm in complete agreement and try to tell him he's going to kill someone with his bullshit "repairs." I lost all faith in that dude when he welded the frame of that shit heap Willys together with his Flux core HF welder. Didn't clean anything, didn't prep anything, just threw down some boogers and told himself and everyone else that he had welded it all together. The Postal jeep he had? Wtf?

Sovande > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/28/2020 at 18:16

What do the shit boxes he has stand for? It's a pathetic collection of value-less crap. There isn't a good car in that mix.

Sovande > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 18:16

I laughed. That was funny.

Chariotoflove > CB
05/28/2020 at 18:17

I think maybe they already did. I seem to remember his neighbors and the HOA had it up to here with him a couple years back.

My bird IS the word > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:19

I mean, he never touched the brake lines on half of the junk he has driven. I find that greatly more concerning.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > My bird IS the word
05/28/2020 at 18:24

I agree what the one thing they always do with the real shitboxes on Roadkill? Rebuild the brakes with New Lines, new Master Cylinder and Wheel Cylinders.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:25

If things ever go really sideways for him he’d probably be best off pleading insanity. Someone who self-identifies as an automotive engineer and not only does the stuff he does but documents it for profit is probably not going to be looked upon fondly by whomever is judging him, should the worst occur.

...and with that new executive order the Kinja Legal department might have their work cut out for them already.

Sovande > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/28/2020 at 18:25

Sorry, my original question wasn't meant to sound so dicky. I think this guy triggers me too.

CB > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 18:28

It’s one thing for an HOA to show up at your door.

It’s another thing for law enforcement to show up with an inspection ticket (which unfortunately probably doesn’t exist where he’s at). In Saskatchewan, police can order a vehicle to be repaired for deficiencies and if it isn’t dealt with, the province can suspend your license.

Just Jeepin' > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 18:29

There’s no way he’s in a neighborhood with an HOA.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:32

Same problem I had with the Roadkill guys, but just in a different package. Disrespect for the car, its parts, for the people watching/reading and for other traffic. At this point I would just label it ignorance. Someone might get killed because of his rash decisions.

God knows that I’m not that mechanically savvy, but even I can see how dangerous some of that stuff is.

And I mean ok it’s dangerous, but from a content-consumer-centered perspective - it’s very predictable, cluttered and unrelatable content, and a pointless escapade alltogether . I mean I hear a weird squeak from my car and I’m under it 2 days later with my friend who knows better, trying to see what the problem is.

FIX YOUR SHIT, DUDE.
Lol you got me ranting, too.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > ranwhenparked
05/28/2020 at 18:34

I’m always dumbfounded how some people have zero mechanical sympathy.
One of my mom’s friends drives her cars in second gear all the time. Engine is SCREAMING for help, but nope. She totaled 5 cars in 5 years... For one of them she said she had no idea you had to change the oil. It’s just negligence.

Wacko > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:35

Not surprised that he used to work for FCA.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CB
05/28/2020 at 18:36

He’s in the Detroit Metro area. THere are zero vehicle inspections, and even having valid license plate tags is not a necessity for most people.

CB > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/28/2020 at 18:37

That’s disappointing.

And disturbing.

Chariotoflove > Just Jeepin'
05/28/2020 at 18:37

I’m just remembering an article a couple years back where he was in trouble with the neighbors. I’m not looking it up, so grain of salt and all that.

Chariotoflove > CB
05/28/2020 at 18:39

Fair enough. And it’s state-dependent here, too. But even in Texas, they can sto p you on the road and impound your car if it’s a danger. Not saying it happens as often as it probably should, but it can.

Wacko > My bird IS the word
05/28/2020 at 18:41

Not true, he did a very shitty job on one when he first started at jalopnik. I guess the public shaming we gave him for doing such a shitty job he just didn’t do more. Here it is, he claims it a how to article.

https://jalopnik.com/heres-how-you-can-replace-your-rusty-brake-lines-1763227864

I say it’s a what not to do.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Sovande
05/28/2020 at 18:42

Haha thank you for the clarification. Honestly I was just using an over-used phrase but if pressed to make up a justification I’d say I like the idea that old, crappy cars (A) can be saved (even if they shouldn’t be like... most of his projects) and (B) can do anything.

I don’t actually think he expresses either of these values well. His “saving” of the cars is usually either short lived, janky, or both... but I guess I just appreciate the idea while glossing over the bulk of the execution. His demonstrating of the “do anythingness” of old cars is mixed but more successful than the former haha.

CB > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 18:43

Yep, same here.

Nom De Plume > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 18:45

The gag proved not to be a gag when he brazenly stated he was going to hop in a vehicle with no brakes and tow another vehicle on a trailer all the way out to UT over Easter weekend.

PG, and the ever present lawyer in those days, took good notice a string of comments I set off the day before he was slated to leave. To their eternal merit. I just don’t know. Not going to trash talk him, but that was so blindly irresponsible it casts a lot of doubts to this day.

Oppo is the freewheeling place choosing to only employ the highest caliber of nuts that Jalopnik should be

ranwhenparked > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/28/2020 at 18:48

I have a brother like that - buys cars, and just runs them into the ground, doing nothing but putting gas in. Little problems that might only cost a few hundred dollars to fix never get addressed, until they end up needing many thousands of dollars to set right, at which point he dumps them and buys something else. And he doesn't get totally junk cars, either, C-Classes, 3-Series, Genesis sedans, Equus, etc. They start off great and go down hill fast.

facw > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 18:54

I think it was the noise David and Torch made trying to free the Kia from the mud that was chief complaint, but it was just the neighbor, no HOA. David does have a landlord, but my longstanding opinion is that he considers it a lost cause, and is just waiting for the inevitable accidental fire to burn down the house so he can collect the insurance money.

His next door neighbor do have a shit ton of cars themselves , so they might not have much room to complain about the cars being eyesores (though almost by default, I’m sure there’s are in better shape than David’s fleet):

Kinja'd!!!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 18:57

Being a moron is a *feature*. And the fact that his antics gets people like you worked up and posting responses means more clicks... which is good!

I believe it’s part of his deliberate plan to provide us all with not just a journey, but a journey will with a comedy of errors!

facw > My bird IS the word
05/28/2020 at 19:01

My impression is that he usually gives the brakes a pretty decent going over. I mean the thing that stranded the postal Jeep was a defective new brake component (I wouldn’t trust the old one either though). I don’t think he’s ever said as much, but I do get the feeling that he cares about certain things (like brake components) because they’ve personally bitten him in the ass before.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 19:04

Funny you should mention Sanford & Son... I just started watching it for the first time recently. I always liked Redd Foxx... but I never knew about that show.

DipodomysDeserti > CB
05/28/2020 at 19:11

“ I’m shocked some form of law enforcement hasn’t gone to his door to tell him to cut his shit out.”

Silly Canadians , being shocked by cops not bothering a white guy . Now if he’s been jogging, or selling cigarettes, or maybe using a fake $20, and black, we might not have to worry about reading David Tracy articles anymore.

Chariotoflove > facw
05/28/2020 at 19:19

You put a lot more effort into researching that than I would have. Thanks.

Chariotoflove > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/28/2020 at 19:21

Really? I always considered that series his magnum opus. It was a multi-season long showcase for his best standup.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CB
05/28/2020 at 19:26

We don’t have inspections here in MI of any kind. I live about 15-20 minutes from David.

Wacko > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 19:28

He rents, and he’s almost a tenante from hell. I wouldn’t want the guy near anything I own

Chariotoflove > Wacko
05/28/2020 at 19:31

There is no security deposit large enough.

Wacko > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 19:37

I remember when he fucked up the lawn with a pickup. What a fucken moron. Also the washing machine/oil crap....

Oily car parts on the counter. He’s the real life 40 year old virgin. Or in his case the forever virgin.

Jim Spanfeller > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/28/2020 at 19:38

That seems to be it... He’s under the impression that the jankyness of his vehicles and their ongoing problems are entertaining. And to a certain point, they are. But when those problems mess with the vehicle’s safety concerning David and the people around him, that’s when it becomes an issue. At least in Roadkill they make sure the brakes and whatnot are okay so the vehicle isn’t endangering others. David should do the same.

Chariotoflove > Wacko
05/28/2020 at 19:39

On the other hand, scores of YouTubers have used stunts like those to get rich. Which says something about their viewers.

Wacko > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 19:41

history c lasses in the future will show the movie Idiocracy as a documentary.

promoted by the color red > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 19:43

David actually responded to a comment of mine on another site (Reddit) that suggested that he’s taken steps to fix some of these issues, but it’s still pretty concerning to me as well when stuff like that still makes it to the front page. It also reflects poorly on the hobby when such a public face doesn’t seem bothered all these toxic fluids on the ground have to end up somewhere and some locality’s going to get it in their watershed or somebody’s parking lot.

I took my Volvo off the road to deal with the fuel leak (busted accumulator). I didn’t think “it’s leaking fuel, let’s just keep driving it until it catches fire because it’s funny and fuck the Karen/HOA/status quo!”

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/28/2020 at 19:59

I’ve only been an occasional roadkill viewer, I got the impression their stuff is unreliable, but this hacked together?

jimz > Chariotoflove
05/28/2020 at 20:01

I’m in my 40s and I never really watched Sanford & Son. I’ve heard far, far more of Redd Foxx’s stand-up on satellite radio.

Chariotoflove > jimz
05/28/2020 at 20:09

I guess it just depends on when you grew up and how you were exposed. The 70s series was already in reruns when I was watching as a kid. I think it’s still on MeTV a lot.

MM54 > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 20:20

He is one of the few that has a >10% chance I’ll read an article by. What gets me is that he’s getting worse - it’d be one thing if in the years gone by he started how he was but over time was someone we could watch (slowly...) becoming a competent mechanic.

As it stands though, it really comes across like he needs help (or it’s a hell of a good act) - both in a literal “someone to help him fix stuff and not do exceedingly stupid things” and, if it’s not an act for having Content(tm), possibly a little therapy to figure out how to get his life priorities sorted out instead of constantly bouncing from one half-way-done, half-ass fix/project to the next.

diplodicus forgot his password > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/28/2020 at 20:22

There are far worse vehicles being driven on metro Detroit highways too.

Captain of the Enterprise > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 20:58

He was aware of the problem for months. Was aware it was dangerous and the possible effects on vehicle control which he said could lead to an accident. Even without the road trip he is a danger to himself and more importantly everyone else on or near the road.

This is far from the only time something like this has happened with him. Honestly, I think he needs his license taken away. What he does is basically premeditated and his luck will run out at some point.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/28/2020 at 21:12

Yeah there stuff is (almost) always as safe as is legally required. They don’t mess around when it comes to brakes or dumping oil or fluids. I think the closest thing they did to anything really dangerous was running the circle track car on the street, but I got the feeling after that (relatively early) episode they realized they had played that one a bit on the edge.

David Tracy is only Roadkill on the worst, shittiest timeline.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 21:15

He and Torch are both so wildly guilty of having leaned into their own schtick so hard that neither of them knows which way is up now.

The difference is Torch’s schtick is just unfunny, dumb, and annoying, while David’s schtick is all of the above and dangerous and generally bad for car enthusiasm. Torch’s schtick is why people think they don’t like car people; David’s schtick is why people know they * hate* car people.

Orlove, to his credit, has basically just decided to fade into the background, collecting a check to write the bare minimum of articles, and I respect him for it.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
05/28/2020 at 21:57

Its a dumb thing even in a situation hes in the clear. Man famous for dilapidated shit, involved in crash. Off the bat, in an investigation the question gets raise d is his vehicle dilapidated?

Also that EO is meaningless .

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
05/28/2020 at 21:59

Thats what I thought. I got the top gear unreliable crap, but not this is super janky.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CB
05/28/2020 at 22:55

You have no idea. I routinely see vehicles with no working brake lights. I have actually seen MULTIPLE vehicles where the brake lights are on ALL. THE. TIME. Once I saw a car where the lights turned *off* when they were braking. I found that out at night. It was not a good night.

Oh, and if you have the audacity to tell these people that their car is broken, they tell you to pay for the repair or just threaten to shoot you.

I fucking hate this state sometimes.....

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > diplodicus forgot his password
05/28/2020 at 22:56

The number of T-boned cars I see regularly held up with little more than duct tape and garbage bags is just sad.....

sn4cktimes > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/28/2020 at 23:37

Yeah, I commend his love of old vehicles. I’m appalled by how irresponsible he is.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > haveacarortwoorthree2
05/29/2020 at 00:31

It’s moments like these where I say I’d wanna take a crack at writing for Jalopnik. And I’m saying it now.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/29/2020 at 02:13

Well i don’t mean that they hack it this much, but just the general attitude of disrespect and carelessness.

arl > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/29/2020 at 08:14

I’m old. I grew up watching that show.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > arl
05/29/2020 at 10:41

I’m slightly less old. I was technically around when this show was on, but I was very young and was watching Thundercats, Hammy Hamster, Sesame Street, Romper Room, Scooby Doo, The Bugs Bunny and Road Runner show and The Flinstones instead.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/31/2020 at 13:13

It works up until it doesn’t. My June resolution is to never click on an article of his again. The FP probably isn’t far behind at this point.