Make: Plymouth

Model: NASCAR race car

As we all know, Orange County is home to some pretty amazing automobiles. Every now and then however, something really interesting “pops” up and this car is no exception.

This restored race car is the “kings” ride. Yes, that King; Richard Petty. Restored to its original color and livery, this NASCAR race car was driven to victory at Richmond and Riverside Raceway in 1972. The restoration was completely documented and overseen by Petty Enterprises. The engine is the correct dry sump 426 Hemi. The differential cooler is mounted to the rear floor and helped keep the rear end cool during those long, hot races.

The car was recently acquired by a local Orange County resident.

This car is a terrific piece of racing history and can be seen, along with a host of other great automobiles, at Crevier Classic Car Co. in Costa Mesa Ca.

Give the guys at Crevier Classic Cars a call and make an appointment to view this car; the doors are always open to Orange County car enthusiasts!

 O.C.C.E

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Dettaglio Tours If you are a real car guy and are looking to do something extraordinary this year, THIS IS IT!!!! Our good friend Nick Smith with Dettaglio Tours has arranged for a few of our good customers to join the members of Goodwood for a driving tour of Europe which embraces the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio routes staring May 31^st through June 8.   If you have ever wanted to drive the greatest racing routes of Italy in the footsteps of Moss,  Nuvolari , Ascari , Von Trips, Elford and Siffert, now is the time!  This is an event that you will remember the rest of your life and tell stories about for years to come.                          Space is limited.  Virtually any car can be sourced for hire for this event up to and including a Bugatti Veyron…..though at a substantial  rental fee. Please contact Nick Smith at Dettaglio Tours Nick@dettaglio.co.uk or visit the web site www.dettaglio.co.uk This just very well may be the best vacation you have ever taken!

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Proper mirror positioning in a car can save your life and the lives of others, but most drivers have not been taught how to adjust them correctly. Forget what your ol’ driving instructor from high school ( if you are old enough for that) taught you.

It would seem to reason that the back of the car will follow the direction of the front, right?  Since we already know that the back of the car is there, why the need to look at it? Most drivers have their outside rear view mirrors positioned so that when they look in the mirrors they can see the back of their own car. WHY? It is not going anywhere! Adjust the mirrors out, further than you think, so that you can see the lane next to you. This allows you to see if there is another car there. Yes, it sounds simple but you would be surprised how many drivers don’t do this or have never been taught how or why they should.

 Another problem occurs when mirrors are improperly adjusted, a driver must turn his or her head to see if the lane next to them is clear. The BIG problem here is that as a driver, your hands go where your eyes look. If while driving,  you look over your left shoulder for example, you will also have the tendency to turn left while you are looking. The car turns left BEFORE you can determine if the lane next to you is clear; too late!

 If you properly adjust your mirrors so that you can clearly see the lane next to your car AND if you are constantly  aware of everything that is happening around you, you will not have to turn your head to make a lane change. The key word here is awareness! The ONLY thing that we should be doing while driving is; DRIVING! If your mirrors are properly adjusted, you can sweep them with your eyes about every 8-10 seconds.  You will ALWAYS  know what is happening around you.  An added benefit is that no matter what you are driving, there will not be a blind spot.  Really, you say? Yup, no blind spot. Try this: Move both outside rear view mirrors out far enough so that if there were a car in the lane next to yours but just behind, you would see it; all of it.  Adjust the center rear view mirror for maximum rearward vision. Now….without moving your head but moving only your eyes, can you see 180 degrees around your car? If so, perfect! If not, make the needed adjustments so that you can. Again, you may need to move the outside rear view mirrors out further than you had originally thought.

Traveling at 70mph your car is covering 100 feet every second, knowing what is going on around you is pretty darn good information! Not being able to see what is happening around you at all times, limits that information and dangerously so.

Since most have us have not ever driven with our mirrors in the proper position, changing them to where they should have been all along will take some time getting used to. Bad habits are easily learned but hard to change. Here is the kicker though…just because you have finally  set your mirrors properly do not assume that anyone else has,  in fact,  most drivers mirrors are poorly adjusted at best. They cannot see you…just like you could not see them up until now…… 

Properly positioned, your rear view mirrors will allow you to see what you may have been missing, rather, almost hitting!

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