Explore the Jersey Shore in Your Hoopty

W Christian Mental Ward
by W Christian Mental Ward

Look closely, and you can see your humble author spewing the coolant that forced us into a head gasket swap that night

Remember that guy who built a Subaru powered race car from a VW floor plan and a Wartburg? Sure you do. He won the car with an essay, beating a future TTAC contributor in the process. Still no? Well too bad, his name is Jim Thwaite and you should get to know him. He knows a thing or two about having fun with beaters, and he wants you to join him.

Jim is a veteran of multiple Big Apple to Big Easy banger events, a LeMons builder, GRM $2KX Challenger and general mad scientist who built his wife her own beach hammock from junk golf carts.

The steering wheel comes up through the hammock, and it all breaks down small enough to fit in the rear of a 1978 Mercury Colony Park wagon

Still not convinced? He rescues dogs in his spare time. Yeah, he’s that cool.

Between all of this and his day job, Jim is also the President of Asphault Adventures; and on September 28th of this month they will be running a one day banger rally along the Jersey Shore.

Perhaps you have a crappy old car, a few C-notes burning hole in your pocket, or maybe you just decided to see how far you can push your spouse. Then this is the event for you. It is not racing, or even a rally in the sense one might expect. Think of it as a quaint, oddball scavenger hunt. You can even bring your nice car and have a great day exploring the New Jersey Shore and meeting other gearheads, or at least interesting people.

If you are near the east coast and are looking for a fun time, head over to Asphault Adventures and sign up. If you don’t live on the east coast, fear not. There is a RT 66 Run in the planning stages and should open up next year. It’s the most fun you can have in a beater without electrical tape over your nipples

Black Rock Nevada or the Barefoot Bar at the Oceanic Hotel in New Jersey?

W Christian Mental Ward
W Christian Mental Ward

School teacher, amateur racer, occasional story teller.

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  • JThw8 JThw8 on Sep 04, 2013

    The RT 66 Run called Saints 2 Sinners or S2S will run from St Louis to Las Vegas over 5 days next July. We're just finalizing some of the big picture stuff and then we will be opening up registration. Keep an eye on the website or the facebook page for info (and I'll try to pester the good Mr Ward to update y'all here as well)

  • Roberto Esponja Roberto Esponja on Sep 05, 2013

    WOW, a 1969 Ford Fairlane! Learned how to drive at eleven years of age in one of those, a light blue one with blue Naugahyde interior. Loved that car! They must be rare as hen's teeth, as there weren't many around when I was young and I've never seen one at an old car show, and I've gone to plenty. Would love to get my hands on one in good shape...

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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