Blog

Two-Wheeled Tragedies are Preventable

Bike share the roadTwo-Wheeled Tragedies are Preventable

The weather in our region has been unseasonably comfortable in these winter months. Although many of us love the warmer days of winter, for our drought the feelings are not exactly positive. In these winter days with the temperatures above normal, more people are out there on the roadways bicycling for exercise, for recreation, to run errands, to commute to work or to just plain conserve energy.

The U. S. Census Bureau showed that from 2000-2012 the number of Americans traveling to work by bicycle increased from 488,000 to approximately 786,000. Riding a bicycle is not just for kids anymore. Riding your bike offers health, financial and environmental benefits.

Unfortunately, cyclists and drivers make many mistakes that cause crashes. When a crash happens involving a motorist and cyclist, who is more likely to be injured or killed?

Let’s look at statistics: in 2012, bicyclists accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities and 2 percent of all crash related injuries. The U. S. Census Bureau states that these types of crashes occur between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight, with 48% in rural areas, and 69% in urban environments. Nine out of ten of those killed are male riders. Here is a sobering number: one in four bicyclists (24%) that died in these crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher, which is the illegal alcohol level in all states.

A total of 677 pedalcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2011. The 14-and-younger age group accounted for 9% of those fatalities, and males accounted for 69% of the fatalities among pedalcyclists age 14 and younger.
All crashes and deaths involving vehicular traffic sharing the road with bicyclists can be prevented by simply following the rules of the road.

• In Nevada motorists must maintain a 3 foot distance from a bicyclist on the roadway.
• Avoid drinking and driving or riding. It is against the law for bicyclists in many states.

Safety on our roadways is everyone’s responsibility, so please know the laws and share the road safely. It could be a matter of life and death.bike safety

 

Every Boy’s Dream; A Classic Restoration

Tom's 56 chevyEvery boy’s dream is to one day own the coolest car among all his friends showing it off proudly as he cruises the boulevard in hopes of finding that one special girl to ride next to him. The second coolest thing is to have performed all the repairs yourself. Tom Drake found himself doing just that, not in hopes of finding the girl, but learning how to work on cars for restoration and then resell them to the highest bidder.

In 1967, when Tom was 17, he first laid eyes on a 1951 Pontiac, only because he was in dire need of transportation. This Pontiac was unrestored, all original, and the perfect car for Tom’s needs. After Tom entered High School his love for cars grew, so he enrolled in the school’s auto shop class and there he really started to become consumed with the love of fixing and restoring cars. During his years between High School and Junior College, Tom owned some pretty impressive classics by today’s standards. He had a 1951 Woody, (look out Beach Boys), a 1956 Chevy two door, (who doesn’t love a 55, 56 or 57 Chevy these days?), and a 1959 Chevy. Tom would spend hours tinkering with these cars, get them in great operating condition, and then offer them for sale, making a small profit for all his efforts.

The last vehicle Tom would own before being drafted and heading off to Vietnam in 1968, was a 1965 Ford Mustang. The Vietnam War was not one which those who proudly fought for this Country would come back in the same frame of mind. Tom Drake was one of the fortunate ones who managed to survive and return to the States, serving out the rest of his duty until he left the Service in 1979. During that time in the Service, Tom developed a love for motorcycles. He began purchasing bikes, restoring them, and then selling them at a profit. Even though this passion only lasted a few years, he did manage to even build a chopper to add to his list of accomplishments.

In 1983 Tom purchased a 1964 or 65 T-Bird, but it was only in his garage a short time after he fell in love with a 1954 Willy’s Aeroace. Again, not keeping it for long, he sold the Willy’s to the first eager buyer.
Tom did manage to marry the love of his life, Sherry Jacknowitz, who was a very close friend of mine in High School in Petaluma, California. They have been married since 1984 and together they make a great team. Sherry often helps Tom work on his “projects,” as Sherry calls them, when he is in need of a third hand or for someone to help lift or hold something in place. Sherry doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty, but she knows that Tom prefers to work alone in his own little world of restorations.photo2

Tom does encourage Sherry to learn how to do preventative maintenance on her own vehicle, which is a must for all women or young girls who need to take charge of their vehicles repairs.

After settling in with a new wife and starting a life together, it took Tom a little while to jump back in to restorations. In 1990 he purchased a 1953 Ford and a partially restored 1965 Ranchero. By now Tom was also into building homes for his family to own and occupy, only to sell and start again. This became a full time job for Tom building and selling homes and each home was more beautiful than the last. Since Tom’s love for restoration of automobiles was more than a side hobby, a shop for all his projects was a necessity so that was added to the build. Every mechanic needs his or her own shop.

In the year 2000, Tom had the urge for a 1970 Mustang; working his talent and turning it into a beauty. Then once again, Tom’s passion for restoring motorcycles resurfaced and he spent the next 10 years bringing some of these beauties back to life, but also enjoying them on trips to places like the Sturgis motorcycle rally. This gave Tom and Sherry time to enjoy the sights and each other.

Tom at present has 7 autos, 2 motorcycles and 3 trailers. Two of the seven vehicles are still being worked on. When asked why he loves to spend so much time working on these babies, Tom answered, “I like to see the old cars back on the road again. I don’t keep them long, I just get them up and running so that I can sell them to others who have always wanted one. I used the profit to help move on to the next project.” Tom prides himself on mastering just about every detail and repair that goes into restoring a classic, from paint, to upholstery, and fabrication. He loves the challenge and is not afraid to ask for help from other backyard mechanics or professionals in the trade.

So, if you feel the need to dive in and give restorations a try, go for it, because the only one that can stop you is you yourself. After all Every Boy’s Dream is A classic restoration.

SaferRide Mobile App To Help Keep You Safe

safer Ride photo phone“SaferRider” Mobile App Help Driver’s Make It Home Safely.

The data is out on the number of deaths due to DUI crashes involving a drunk driver in 2013. A total of 10,076 deaths were reported, which is a decline of 2.5 percent from the previous year. This equals out to one person every 52 minutes.  In 2013, December was the lowest month for deaths, totaling 733. If these statistics don’t sober you up, what will?

I am a firm believer that party goers do not set out to harm others as they plan the night on the town, but once alcohol enters your blood stream, all sense of responsibility goes down the drain. We all must “think before you drink.”

Secretary Anthony Foxx of the National Traffic Highway Safety Association had this to say, “We will continue to be relentless in our effort to curb drunk driving because each life is precious. Too many lives are still being cut far too short because of drunk driving. We can stop these tragedies by making the decision not to allow ourselves, or our loved ones, to get behind the wheel after drinking.”

Fortunately there is now a tool that can help you make it safely home.

The National Traffic Highway Safety Association (NTHSA) has developed an App called SaferRide for Android and Apple devices, which is available on Android devices on Google Play and the Apple devices in the iTunes Store, respectively.

So how does the SaferRide App work? First of all, if you are too drunk to drive, that is not the time for complicated apps. SaferRide is the simplest possible way to get home safe and only has three self-explanatory buttons on the Home screen.

  • Choose from a list of available taxi services in your area, and with the tap of a button,call them.
  • Call a pre-programmed contact.
  • If you just need to know where you are, you can bring up a map of your current location.

“We’re making progress in the fight against drunk driving by working with law enforcement and our safety partners, and by arming people with useful tools, such as our new SaferRide app,” said Deputy Administrator Friedman. “This holiday season, don’t make the selfish and deadly choice to drink and drive.”

There is a campaign underway from December 2014 through January 2015 among 10,000 participating Law Enforcement Agencies across the country which will be out in force to protect the public by getting drunk drivers off the roads. This is sponsored by an 8 million dollar U.S. DOT campaign, “NTHSA drive sober, or get pulled over.”

It is against the law in all 50 states to drive with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 % or higher. All states also prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from drinking and driving with any BAC in their system. In Nevada, statistics show that every 4 out of 10 drivers are driving drunk. Although our numbers are down to 77 deaths due to DUI crashes in 2014, this number is still way too high. Driving is a privilege not a right. Save a life, Think Before You Drink. Download the App today and be prepared for your next party.

Reference: NHTSA

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhtsa.SaferRide

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saferride/id950774008?mt=8 

Teresa’s Garage Getting Started; With the Basics

Teresa's GarageHere is a video Produced by Teresa’s Garage to help educate Women on basic things they should know about their cars. Why wait until something breaks or causes you to to become stuck on the side of the road. Learn the “How To’s” in this video which was produced before Computers and before Youtube.

Teresa from Teresa’s Garage teaches seminars based on this video for Women or frankly anyone who is interested in learning more about their automobile.  Teresa’s Garage hosts a numerous seminars on topics from the Basic’s to how to give your vehicle a tune-up and change your engines oil. Learning the simple basics can really help save dollars in the long run. You do not need to be a mechanic to perform these steps.  Who knows, you just might learn something.

Teresa’s Garage Radio Show Archives

You can now hear all past Radio Shows of Teresa’s Garage on Americamatters Media station 101.3 FM every Tuesday from 2-3 PM live or previously recorded on 1060 AM every Tuesday from 4:00-5:00 PM or Friday’s at 10:00 AM and 99.1 Fox Radio on Sunday’s at 6:00 PM. Be sure to click the links below, then scroll down to Teresa’s Garage, click it on and all recorded shows will be available. Teresa’s Garage is a production of Americamatters Media.  You can also listen live by going to Americamatters.us  and click on the listen live button for Podcast. Enjoy.

Windy Radio show

Teresa’s Garage Radio show offers Guests, Automotive adive and information. You can participate by calling locally 775-829-8900 or Worldwide at 855-790-8255 (talk). Teresa’s Garage Radio show offers everything Automotive. Learn how a car engine works, call in and be apart of the show by participating with current topics. Or email Teresa Aquila at teresa@teresasgarage.com. Who knows, you might just learn something.

 

Radio show photo

Radio Show Scheduling

99.1 FOX News Radio

Sunday, January 25
3:00am
Conversations From The Capitol
5:00pm
Gastro Gab
5:30pm
Teresa’s Garage
6:00pm
Business Matters
6:30pm
Nevada Matters Special
7:00pm
Health Matters
7:30pm
Animal Life
8:00pm
Book Hound
8:30pm
Flying For Liberty
9:00pm
Ken’s Bulls & Bears
9:30pm
Just The Facts

Renegade Radio 101.3 FM

Teresa’s Garage Tuesday’s 2:00-3:00 PM
Teresa’s Garage Encore Friday’s 10:00 AM

NBC SPORTS TALK RADIO 1060 AM

Teresa’s Garage Encore Tuesday’s 4:00-5:00 PM

 

Remove the Crime of Opportunity and Don’t Become A Victim

Remove the Crime of Opportunity

Personal safety is a concern that everyone should have on their minds. As we go through our busy lives how often do we really consider all the situations we could actually be involved in if the opportunity would arise? Remove the Crime Of Opportunity and don’t become a victim.take a bit out of crime

For most of us, the automobile is not only a vehicle that can take us from point A to point B, but it is also our means of independence. Without it, where would you be? Do you really think about “what ifs?” You are probably asking yourself, what does she mean by this? Well, let’s think about things for a moment. What if your car broke down? What if your cell phone died out in the middle of nowhere? What if you were stuck in a bad storm in your car? What if you ran out of gas? What if you had a flat tire? What if you were in an accident? What if your car was burglarized? And the list goes on.
If any one of these situations happens to you, would you know what to do? Yes, these are all “what ifs,” but reading the paper each day tells you that these “what ifs,” really do come true, and without warning. So preparing yourself is your key to survival or personal safety. So how do you prepare for these types of situations?

Situations

Have a plan, be prepared, and many of these situations can be avoided. How you ask? Let’s take gasoline for instance. When your gas gauge reaches a half a tank, fill up. You can look at it as either half empty or half full. This way if anything unexpected ever happens, you have fuel to get you to your destination.

If your car breaks down, do you know the phone number for a tow company? Do you know the number for Law Enforcement? Could you call for help if you feel afraid? Have you had your vehicle maintenance done regularly? Most vehicle problems can be detected early if you keep on a schedule.
While on a trip you can get stuck in bad weather in cold climates. Having the essentials is your key to survival: a blanket, radio, charged up cell phone, flashlight, extra snacks, hand or feet warmers, and extra, dry clothing can make all the difference. Plus, always remember to tell others your destination, direction of travel and the time you should arrive. This way if you are late, they have an idea where to come looking for you.

Ok, now to a flat tire. Do you really know how to change your tire? Have you ever even looked at where the spare is located? Is it inflated? Are the proper tools in the vehicle and do you know how to use them? If the answer is NO, then I would suggest you take a class to learn how. There are many tools out there that can be used just in case you think being strong is the only way to accomplish changing your tire. Not so.

Ladies, if you wear high heels and office attire to work, then I would suggest keeping a spare set of work shoes or boots in the vehicle, with a pair of coveralls to protect your clothing. Otherwise, you will want to wait for a passerby to come to the rescue. In my book, I would rather fend for myself, because you just never know who’ll be stopping by in the time of need. How strange will the stranger be? I am not willing to play Russian roulette with my life. You can also call for Law Enforcement to come to your aid.

Automobile Accidents

Have you ever thought of what you might need to do in a vehicle accident or crash? What things do you need to know or need to have with you? After an accident occurs, most all drivers are in a fog, because your mind puts you in safety mode. Events begin to go in slow motion; you go into shock and things just do not seem clear. Prepare your subconscious for situations such as this. So how would you do this? You can constantly go over, what ifs. Make sure you know that your registration, proof of insurance and driver’s license are with you at all times. Your cell phone is a great way to snap photos of the scene. If the accident occurs on surface streets or the highway, Law Enforcement needs to remove those vehicles off the roadway as soon as possible and will move them, if they can be moved, in order to keep the traffic flowing, to ensure another accident does not occur.

Unfortunately, the police cannot keep onlookers from being distracted and causing yet another accident at the scene of the first. Check for injuries, call 911, keep yourself safe from oncoming traffic that may be distracted and not see your accident. There are so many variables that could be present in these types of situations. Just prepare your mind and it will be there when you need it.

Vehicle Burglaries

Vehicle burglaries are on the uptick all across the country and burglars are out in force. Giving them the opportunities are the driving force to their success of depriving you of your belongings. We all work hard for the things we desire in life, and, in my book, for someone to think they have a right to them because they want it without working for it is just wrong. I am lucky enough to have the option of being able to park my vehicles in a garage, but many drivers do not have that luxury. So what do you do? First, make sure there is nothing of value in plain sight. Remove cell phone charge cables, backpacks, books, DVD’s, extra change, firearms, tools, you name it. If they can see it, they want it.

Criminals hock or sell these stolen items for cash. By not giving them the opportunity, they will move on to another vehicle that offers one. If you think by setting your car alarm that will protect you, think again. These professional criminals are savvy to this, so instead of opening the doors, they break the windows, and do “smash and grabs.” They will test to see if the door is unlocked, and believe me, there are many who still forget to do so, allowing this to happen. So keep expensive items out of sight. Another thing to remember, if you lock your vehicle with the door lock and not the key fob, then your alarm does not activate. But if you do set it with the key fob, remember to open it the same way or the alarm will go off. By opening it with the key, the alarm is not disarmed causing it to activate making you scramble to turn it off.

ATM transactionsdon't.JPG

ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) are another area of potentially unsafe conditions. Thieves see them as an excellent opportunity for some extra cash in their pockets. Using an ATM your attention is on sliding in your card and punching in the numbers. The thieves know this, so that is when they strike. Never give them these options. Find an ATM in a well lit, high traffic area. Avoid going to them late at night. Plan ahead, if you can, by going to your bank during banking hours. Keep your doors locked and be observant as to who is hanging around when you approach. Leave if it feels unsafe. One way to cause attention to yourself, start honking your horn if you see someone suspicious approaching your vehicle. The most important factor here is to be safe and no money or things are worth losing your life over. Just do your best and plan ahead; distractions and being unaware of your surroundings work against you. Don’t Become a Victim. Stay Safe.

Your Engine’s Cooling System

IMG_1595YOUR ENGINE’S COOLING SYSTEM

The purpose of the cooling system in your car’s engine is to keep the engine at its most efficient operating temperature, at all speeds and under all operating conditions.

During the combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the engine cylinders, temperatures of 4000 degrees or higher may be reached by the burning of gases. Some of this heat is absorbed by the cylinder walls, cylinder head, and pistons. They, in turn, must be provided with some means of cooling so that they will not get too hot. Cylinder-wall temperatures must not go higher than about 400-500 degrees. Temperatures higher than this cause the lubricating-oil film to break down and lose the lubricating properties. However, the engine operates best at temperatures as close as possible to the limits imposed by oil properties.

Cooling systems are designed to remove about one-third of the heat produced in the combustion chambers by the burning of the air-fuel mixture. One-third of the heat leaves the engine as exhaust gas through the exhaust system. Generally, only about one-third of the heat of combustion is used by the engine to produce power.

The engine is even more inefficient while cold. Therefore the cooling system includes devices that prevent normal cooling action during engine warm-up. These devices (thermostat, engine fan, heater core, sensors, etc) allow the engine parts to reach their normal operating temperature more quickly. This shortens the inefficient cold operating time. When the engine reaches normal operating temperature, the cooling system begins to function. The cooling system cools the engine rapidly when it is hot, and not at all, or slowly, when the engine is cold or warming up.

There are two types of cooling systems used on automobile engines,. They are air cooling and liquid. Today most automobile engines are liquid cooled. Most engines in airplanes, snowmobiles, motorcycles, power lawnmowers and chain saws are air cooled. In air-cooled engines, the cylinders are semi-independent. There are metal fins on the heads and cylinders to help dissipate the heat from the engine.

Liquid cooling systems usually have a water pump to maintain circulation in the system. This pump circulates the cooling liquid, called the coolant, or anti freeze, between the radiator and the engine water jackets. The coolant is water to which antifreeze is added. Just as we would put on a jacket to keep warm on a cold day, so water jackets are placed around the engine cylinders of a liquid-cooled engine.

In this case, water jackets are designed to keep the cylinders relatively cool. The water jackets are open spaces between the outer wall of the cylinder and the inside of the cylinder block. Look at it in the perspective of humans: a body must maintain a certain operating temperature in order to prevent other organs from failing, somewhere around 97-98.2 degrees. The process is known as “thermoregulation.” Temperature control is critical to survival. An animal that can’t cool itself will overheat and suffer from heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition.

If the body temperature rises or falls, it is an indication that something is malfunctioning in the body. The human body cools itself in a few different ways.

Sweating

Sweating is your body’s main biological mechanism for cooling itself. As perspiration evaporates from your skin it absorbs a large amount of heat from your body. The process of turning from a liquid to a gas provides physical cooling.

Physical Cooling

Your body loses heat through the same physical mechanisms whereby any hot object dispels heat. You radiate body heat into a cooler environment in much the same way a hot oven radiates heat into the kitchen. Your body can increase radiation heat loss by increasing blood flow to the skin, or simply by moving to an area away from the heat source.

Your automobile’s engine, if overheated, can cause severe damage to the cooling system, engine block or both. That is why it is crucial to maintain the proper amount of antifreeze to water mixture.

Water pumps fail when bearings or seals wear allowing a small amount of coolant to leak. The leak is seen weeping from a small hole behind the water pump hub designed as an indicator that the pump seals are leaking and need replacing. It is also a good rule of thumb to have the water pump replaced at the same time you replace your engine’s timing belt. This is not only cheap insurance, but the cost of just replacing the water pump, is similar in cost to the replacement of the timing belt.

Engine fans and drive belts are other devices that also work diligently to prevent your car’s engine from overheating. A fan belt or serpentine belt uses friction, tension, and proper fit in the pulley grooves to turn the water pump and other accessories. Most vehicles today have electric fans operated by your vehicle’s

Is A Self Driven Car In Your Future?

Is A Self Driven Car In Your Future?

Back to the future may be 30 years old this year, but were the predictions in the movie close to reality? Well, yes and no. In 2014 automakers and auto parts supplies suppliers have introduced their advanced technology for cars of the future that will actually drive hands free!

Are you ready for this new chapter in automotive experiences? Let’s discuss what makes these cars tick? Or should I say take the wheel. Audi presented its “Next Chapter” from January 6 through January 9. Audi’s presentation is set to fittingly highlight piloted driving.

On Monday, January 5, 2015, Audi began its first road trip Silicon Valley, California to Las Vega, Nevada, with journalists behind the wheel of this so called “piloted “car with its automated systems. Audi wanted to demonstrate their leadership role in piloted cars.

Audi’s model A7 completely piloted driving car is not only capable of driving itself from zero to 70 mph but it can also change lanes and pass other vehicles. Audi states that the technology used on the concept are “close to production ready”. So what type of technology is installed to handle all these hands free twists, turns and lane changes?

Installed on the vehicle is everything from long-and mid-range radar sensors to a high-resolution 3D video camera, and laser scanners, to achieve a complete view of the vehicle’s surroundings in order to make sound decisions.

As the car reaches urban environments, it displays a warning signal to notify the driver to take control. The driver-free concept is simple enough, but the tech is cutting edge. These cars talk to other cars and the surrounding terrain with sensors, and also stay in touch with centralized command posts. Intersections will bristle with cameras, radar and sensors to control traffic flow and prevent collisions. Traffic lights will become a quaint memory.

The debate is not over on whether we are really ready for cars to drive themselves, but automotive technology is gaining ground. These cars are not on the market yet, but the momentum is building. Why you ask? Because  technology is moving fast paving a clear path to a lucrative new market. Plus kids today do not seem to be all that keen on driving anyway.

The prediction is that by 2040 the traffic stream in America and the world would be 75% of self-driven vehicles according to the IEEE, (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers). Let’s think about the cars on the market today.  You are using and accepting many components that are already heading you in this direction, such as built-in GPS systems backup Cameras, collision avoidance sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings and more. Conditioning is already underway. The question is not whether or not self driving cars will exist, but when. The race is on to see which country will be the first to introduce it.

Another good question is what your car insurance will cost if you own a self piloting automobile. I doubt my classic vehicles would be receptive to such big alterations.

As for me, I think I will stay with the old tradition, after all, where I am  the driver.  I doubt my classic vehicles would be receptive to such big alterations.

 

Photo reference: http://www.nydailynews.com/