27 May 09 First Annual Kevin Duckworth Scholarship Car Show

 

June 27th 2009

12P.M. - 6P.M.

We'd like to welcome one and all to the first annual Kevin Duckworth Scholarship Car Show, a part of Kingpin Car Audio and Motoring's 3rd annual Summer Bash Sale! Not only will almost 60 trophies be awarded. But there will be many chances throughout the day to win some of the best raffle items EVER to be given out at a car show! Meanwhile, you will be able to purchase some of the best audio equipment around, for the best deals around. Because of Kingpin Car Audio and Motoring's 3rd Summer Bash Sale. Providing outstanding prices on anything you could possibly need for your car. So mark your calenders for June 27th 2009, but register today!

SPECIAL AWARDS
- Kevin Duckworth Award (Best of Show)
- SiKKreations Choice
- KingPins Choice - Audio

BEST OF CLASS
- Best Engine Compartment
- Best Paint
- Best Interior
- Best Custom - Import
- Best Custom - Domestic
- Best Muscle Car - Modern
- Best Muscle Car - Classic

IMPORT CLASSES
- Best Honda/Acura (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best VW/Audi (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Subaru (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Scion (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Toyota/Lexus (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Mazda (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Mitsubishi (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Nissan/Infinity (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

DOMESTIC CLASSES
- Best Classic Ford (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Modern Ford (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Classic GM (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Modern GM (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Classic Dodge/Chrysler (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Best Modern Dodge/Chrysler (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

MISC CLASSES
- Best Truck
- Best Motorcycle/ATV
- Best Other
- Best Luxury/European
- Loudest DB Award (Audio Contest)
- Club Participation Award

GUITAR HERO COMPETITION
Just one more bonus in there for you guys, there will be a Guitar Hero competition going on throughout the day at the Kevin Duckworth Scholarship Car Show! Stop by day of, you don't even need to be showing your car to partake! The winner of the bracketed contest will walk away with some serious prizes!

More information and registration can be found by clicking here!

Tags: auto, cars, racing

14 Jan 09 The psychology of parking.

I have a quite serious question for anyone reading out there. I'm far from a psychologist, and despite my many theories on social behavior, I have a hard time reasoning this one out.

Today, I took a trip to the parts store after work. I had a broken door handle on my car, and it was getting pretty annoying opening it up from the inside. So I strolled down to the NAPA in Hillsboro to get some bolts, and decided I would bolt on my door handle in the parking lot, where i had plenty of light.

I thought ahead, and I anticipated a possible annoyance: people parking next to me.  So I figured to make this process less annoying, I'd buy a couple extra washers, for the ones I would inevitably drop down the door (I did) and I figured I would park away from the front door, where there were no cars around. Granted, there were only a couple cars in the lot, but I figured I'd be better off staying out of the way.

I parked across the way in my own little spot, and walked in and got the neccessary hardware walked out and started pulling my door panels off. And sure enough, someone pulls up. Right next to me. I pulled the door closer, and thought to myself "what a retard!" this wide open lot, and he chooses a far away spot right next to me. I continued on.

Needless to say, it takes a while to remove a door panel, handle, and all the hardware. The person left, and a few minutes later someone pulled up again. Same spot, right next to me. I pulled the door in, and really started to wonder.

Before I was done, three people had gone completely out of their way to park right next to me. I kid you not, this was really strange. I thought to myself, I must be going crazy. I could understand if it were a crowded lot, and I was right by the front door. Mix that with a little Murphy's law, and it would only be natural that people would pull in next to me.  But The parking lot only had a couple spaces taken, and all the spaces in front of the store were empty. Why?

In a world where people fistfight over good parking spots these people were not only parking farther away than they had to, they were parking right in the spot that would be the most inconvienent for me. There are only three possibilities here.

1. This is perfectly random. Three people park randomly chose the spot next to mine. Unlikely, but possible.

2. Basic Herd Theory - A decent explanation. Others saw me park there and just naturally decided to follow. Also, number 2 and 3 were concurrent, so maybe #3 saw #2 pulling out, and thought they'd see what the fuss was all about. We all know there are people in this world who follow the crowd, no matter what.

3. Some people  are intentionally annoying. I call these people "disruptors". We all know someone like this. They are the people you who subconciously or even conciously do what others do not want them to. These people are loud, obnoxious, and they know it. You always know when they are in a room, and they always know the most annoying thing to do. If you're watching something interesting on television, at the most important point they position themselves in front of it, and /or talk so loud you cannot comprehend it.

It's a good possibility that I found 3 people with this mindset on the same day. They thought "Hey, that guy has his door open. Looks like he's fixing something. I bet it would be really annoying if I pulled up and parked there". And by god it worked. I was annoyed, watching these people park next to me, crunching me in my spot, while they walked across the lot to the store.

I am really curious, if you're reading this and have a possible explanation, shoot me an email. I'm curious what others think about this.

People are strange.

Tags: blogging, journal, people., rambling

29 Dec 08 Barn Collapse in Gaston

For 40 or more years this barn has stood up to everything from the Columbus Day storm to Mt. St. Helens eruption, but last week's snowfall proved to be too much weight for the old barn. Luckily, there were no people or animals nearby, just some old farm equipment and hay.

Pictures from Irish Glyn Rat Terriers

I have a lot of memories from this old barn, mostly loading hay in and out of it, and building hay forts with my brother back in day. It's been long standing for quite a while, and we were planning on clearing part of it out to build a small shop for my mustang.. looks like that wont be happening. I haven't seen it in person yet, but just the pictures shocked me.

It seemed like a sturdy old barn, and I never expected it to fall, but apparently a couple of structures out in Gaston collapsed under the wieght of the snow. While the snow has melted off pretty quick in the Portland area, there was still about 6 inches out there when I left yesterday. 

Luckily no animals or kids were out there, I know my daughter and neices and nephew like to run around that place crazy, so glad none of them were near the barn when it went down. Crazy stuff!!

29 Dec 08 Gasoline Truck Driver Dies in Fiery Crash Near Wilsonville

From Salem-News.com:

(WILSONVILLE, Ore.) - Police responded to an explosion near Interstate 5 in the south Wilsonville area early this morning at 2:45 AM, involving a fuel laden semi truck. They say the driver, 56-year old William Neil Adams of Scappoose, Oregon, died in the crash and ensuing fire.

Fire personnel from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responding to the scene found a commercial tanker truck and trailer fully engulfed in flames, about 70 feet west of the southbound lanes near trees.

A TVF&R spokesperson says crews pulled back from the blazing truck and fuel and let it burn until it was safe to approach and extinguish it. Some trees in the area reportedly caught fire.

Oregon State Police, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and ODOT personnel responded and closed freeway traffic in both directions with a detour established for approximately 5 1/2 hours.

For all those people who were whining and complaining about the gas shortages in the Portland area, this should be a bit of a wake up call. 

I was stranded at a Gas station in Beaverton, Oregon on Christmas Eve when the starter in my truck went out. The gas station had run out of regular fuel because the gas truck wasn't able to make it in the snow. I overheard quite a few complaints, and in the following days I heard more and more from people upset that many fuel tanker drivers wouldn't drive in the weather we've been having. 

This incident should be a reminder of exactly why those companies were being cautious. Driving any vehicle in the ice and snow is quite risky, but one full of gasoline is especially dangerous. While we don't yet know for sure the ice on the road was the cause of this accident, it's pretty likely, and it's a reminder to those who complained about the lack of deliveries: quit your whining.  This rough Oregon storm was quite unexpected, and we can learn to live without a few things for a while, it's better we keep people safe than try to truck fuel on roads covered with snow. 

Just my thoughts. It's a tragic accident, and this is the first thing that came to mind.