FCA Heritage Hub

H/t Ramon.

More info and photo here.

3 odd ads on American TV right now

1. Travel Oregon:

2. Miracle Spring Water:

3. US Army:

Walking the streets of Tokyo

It's a truly unique experience.

What is wrong with the 737 Max?

State of My Life address

Hello, everyone. As you have noticed, I have not been blogging as often or writing as much when I do blog. Between work and family, I simply don't have that much free time.

Our boy turned two last week. He's perfect and parenthood is amazing. As an added bonus, he loves cars and trucks.

View this post on Instagram

Second time he’s been at the zoo within a week, doing zoo things.

A post shared by @ tamerlaneblog on Apr 12, 2019 at 11:27am PDT

We are also getting ready for our baby girl, who is due in July. She's kicking and moving a lot in my wife's belly, and we are certain she has a fiery personality.'

On the travel front, I'm going to the Indy 500 next month to watch Alonso race. I will be joined by a special someone you all know and love. It will be a fun trip.

I have nothing else planned vacation-wise, but I still look for recent Darien Gap videos on YouTube. Here's a video documenting a crossing, but it's in Czech.

On the car front, things will be different within a year's time. My i3's lease expires in March 2020. I will likely buy a two or three year old Land Cruiser. We are going to see how long my wife can tolerate two kids in the TSX wagon. An Odyssey or Sienna is probably in her future. Or a Metris?

I have stopped listening to the radio in the car altogether. No more music and no more news. It's just podcasts, podcasts, podcasts. My favorites right now are the Omnibus Project (trivia), East Bay Yesterday (local history), and Huell's Gold (old California TV series).

As for TV shows, I just watched Guava Island on Amazon and it's quirky, imaginative, and beautifully shot. 

I kinda hate Jeremy Clarkson but I heard the Mongolian episode of The Grand Tour was worth watching. And it was.

One series I want to watch is survivalist Ed Stafford's Channel 4 show where he lives as a homeless person. It looks pretty intense.

Geopolitics-wise, I am fascinated/shocked by the fall of Omar al-Bashir. The civil war in Libya seems to be ignored by the Western press.

In terms of blog series, I'm going to try to find a few more cars for my World Leaders Cars series (I have 175 countries covered so far) tonight while I watch the China Grand Prix. As for my Eating the Globe series, I am stuck in the low 100s. There are a few more Bay Area restaurants I have yet to explore and I should cook more exotic meals at home.

If you want to see what I am up to, Twitter is a good place. I spotted the replacement of the Ferrari FF this afternoon.

Craziest car I’ve spotted in front of this market in nine years (I saw a Morgan here last week). Is this an FF? I thought they stopped making them. pic.twitter.com/ucLaST8yGp

— Tamerlane's Thoughts (@TamerlaneBlog) April 13, 2019

JAL maintenance hangar

View this post on Instagram

Why yes, we also signed up for the JAL maintenance facility tour for the next day. Said thanks to the #B777 that runs regularly on SFO-HND and everyone that makes it possible. #b777300er

A post shared by Crazy Rich Chen (@rchen) on Apr 10, 2019 at 4:40pm PDT

ANA maintenance hangar

View this post on Instagram

My goodness. Friends, where do we begin? When @kumikonalani told me she'd booked the coveted ANA maintenance facility tour at Haneda Airport, I planned a whole trip around it. The huge, spotless, organized facility was incredible, these photos make me giddy just organizing them. Renewed appreciation for all the work that goes into getting us safely to far-away places at a reasonable price and convenience. #B787 #Trent1000

A post shared by Crazy Rich Chen (@rchen) on Apr 9, 2019 at 2:48pm PDT

Alonso IndyCar seat fitting

We got tickets to the Indy 500! Alonso better win.

Fiat's new museum

Opening day for Fiat’s new Heritage Hub museum in Turin.

Here’s the Ecobasic concept from 1999. More photos to come... pic.twitter.com/GCMQrvGYGI

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) April 2, 2019

Martini-liveried Lancias at the new FCA heritage hub.

Clockwise from top: Delta HF Integrale (the 1989 San Remo rally winner), ECV2 racing prototype, Delta S4 and 037. pic.twitter.com/U2p37of95S

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) April 2, 2019

And for those who prefer Alitalia livery: Group 4 rally examples of the Fiat 131 Abarth and Lancia Stratos. pic.twitter.com/JSSUnQ907J

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) April 2, 2019

Love this 1988 Delta HF Integrale Safari.

The front wing is still dented from when Miki Biasion collided with a zebra (the zebra survived). pic.twitter.com/39YRV87Uw2

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) April 2, 2019

1971 Fiat ESV 1500 concept.

A functional approach to impact bumpers. pic.twitter.com/H3d6l3Tq4U

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) April 2, 2019

A few oddball Lancias from the corners of the FCA Heritage Hub.

Clockwise from top: Dialogos concept, Delta HPE, Thema 8.32 and Prisma Integrale (didn’t know the latter existed). pic.twitter.com/mtqxVbn3bE

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) April 2, 2019

Last one from the FCA Heritage Hub: the Lancia Trevi Bimotore.

Designed as a rally car to replace the 037, it’s four-wheel drive - with one 150hp Volumex engine in the front and another in the back. pic.twitter.com/mDS04HM9P3

— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) April 2, 2019

At Fiat’s new Heritage Hub. It’s... quite impressive! @fcagroup @FIAT_UK pic.twitter.com/u0d0ZdB5Nq

— Chris Rees (@quillerrees) April 2, 2019

Some more delights from Fiat’s new Heritage Hub #panda #abarth #lancia @fcagroup @FIAT_UK pic.twitter.com/Swg5vRWBkw

— Chris Rees (@quillerrees) April 2, 2019

F1Outsider just drove from Belize to Guatemala

Go follow his adventures! Lots of videos!

View this post on Instagram

Sometimes you just gotta pull over and take in the views. As vezes você é obrigado a parar e apreciar.

A post shared by A life of adventures (@igooverland) on Apr 2, 2019 at 8:37am PDT