James Raia is a journalist who for more than 30 years has contributed to numerous publications on a variety of subjects — golf to cycling, travel to business. He's also publisher of the websites: <a href="http://www.ByJamesRaia.com">ByJamesRaia.com</a> <a href="http://www.GolfTribune.com">GolfTribune.com</a> <a href="http://www.MontereyPeninsula.org">MontereyPeninsula.org</a> <a href="http://www.TheWeeklyDriver.com">TheWeeklyDriver.com</a>
Its
name connotes royalty, but who would have known 40 years ago when it
was first sold in the United States that the Toyota Corolla actually
deserved such a lofty title?
Corolla
means “little crown,” and now in its fifth decade
and with more than 33 million sold, there’s no reason to deny
it. The Toyota Corolla, a little engine that could, continues to be
royalty.
A decade into his professional career, David Clinger is riding for his eighth team. It's a squad that seems like a perfect fit for a cyclist who, like his new squad, has attracted as much attention off the bike as he has while pedaling.
A former teammate of Lance Armstrong, Clinger of Tarzana, Calif., returned from a unique off-season January, 2005 trip to Argentina. Enamored with the lifestyle and philosophy of the Polynesian culture, he had his face and scalp emblazoned with a Maori warrior-like tattoo that took 12 hours to complete.
Now
ending its first decade in production, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a
strong contender in the compact sport utility vehicle category. Its
value pricing, strong warranty, good cabin and cargo space and
satisfactory overall driving have prompted more potential buyers to
give it appropriate consideration.
One friend took
out the rear-seat head rest while driving so he could get a better view out the
rear window. Another friend ripped through the gears of the automatic
transmission to test the car’s sportiness. And a lot of other friends
still didn’t recognize The Fit. The subcompact is in its second
year in the United States and eighth worldwide since its debut in 2001
in Asia. By either name, Honda’s
entry-level
vehicle in 2008 is much the same as it was last year. Which is to say:
For about half the average price of the “average”
new
car in this country, Fit owners benefit from one of the most
economical, efficiently constructed and versatile vehicles available.
The most unique moment I’ve ever seen in a golf tournament wasn’t a monster Tiger Woods’ shot or a missed short putt prohibiting a win.
The most unique thing I’ve ever seen was also viewed by millions of others on national television, and it was something you may not want to see again. I know I don’t.
Since
its debut a decade and a half ago, the Audi A4 has built a reputation
as a versatile entry-level luxury car. It’s strong on design,
with superb handling and personality.
The
Audi 4 offers a lot to different car buyers. Not many vehicles in the
same class are offered as a sedan, convertible and wagon, and
that’s another strong trait for the vehicle often credited
with jettisoning Audi out of its sales slump and image problems in the
late 1980s and early 1990s.
I’m
driving past gas stations in a 2008 Acura MDX, and as comfortable and
secure as I am in one of the nicest sport utility vehicles around, I
can’t help but think: Why should anyone buy this car?
And
as contradictory as it may sound, it’s not a knock on the
MDX. After its redesign last year, Acura improved what was already a
shining example of the best of the mid-sized SUVs.
Daily summer life begins early in Las Vegas. Just after dawn, construction workers fill industrial size jugs at convenience store water vending machines, and sprinkler systems gushing like high-pressure fire hoses flood city parks.
Shadows quickly move across the backdrop of the red-tinted mountains that surround the valley. Blinding daggers of light reflect off the mirrored-glass windows of hotel-casinos along the gambling strip.
It is 6 a.m. and the city is hot before it is hot. Like other runners, cyclists, mothers pushing baby strollers and retirees on their daily constitutionals, morning is also Anthony Crudale's best time. Most days, he awakens at 4 a.m. and begins his day as his stepfather also prepares for work.
Crudale is not employed. But in recent times, his daily routine has consumed his time. Like others who suffer from the disorder of autism, Crudale is focused to near obsession. He wants to run fast marathons.
It's
hard not to see Malibu advertisements. With its keen redesign for 2008,
Chevrolet has seemingly put everything it has into the marketing of the
car named after the southern California beach city.
The
promotion began in earnest during the 2007 World Series and it hasn't
waned. Chevrolet wants the Malibu to compete with the Honda Accord and
Toyota Camry, and that's a hefty task.
Friends
often ask the same question in different ways: “Why
don’t you just drive Ferraris or Maseratis all the
time?” Or, “If you’re going to drive to
Los Angeles and back, you might as well do it in a top-of-the-line BMW
or Lexus, right.”
They’re all good choices, likely fun to drive, and in some instances, impractical. Instead, my recent, round-trip trek from
Sacramento to Pasadena was accomplished just fine, thank you
— in a 2008 Suzuki SX4.
Movie critics around the globe are announcing their 10-top best movies of the year, and I can't believe what I'm reading.With rare exception, No Country For Old Men, the methodical tale of a psychopat...
Forget
about more horsepower, gadgetry, weird names and odd-colored paint. If
one of the automobile manufacturers wants to immediately catapult its
sales, hire Charlize Theron.The South-African bor...
The recent announcement of Scott Moninger's retirement at age 40 was handled superbly by race organizers at the Tour of Missouri. Moninger's career highlights were detailed and the veteran cyclist was...
I've just finished reporting on the Tour of Missouri, my last cycling event of the season.For the first time in a decade, I didn't attend the Tour de France this summer. But I still needed my cycling ...
For the first time in a decade, I won't be attending the Tour de France The race hasn't even begun and I miss it already. I don't miss the competition. It's everything else.I arrived at my first Tou...
For years, whenever I visited Monterey, I always stopped for at least one meal Koto on Tyler Street.The sushi was fresh and reasonably priced, and owner remembered me as "SacramentoGuy." There was no ...
I realized a few years ago that the main reason I volunteer at the Devil's Thumb aid station at the Western States 100 is that it feels good.It's nice to see friends and acquainstances (some of whom I...
Nice news this morning to read that Mike Sayers of Sacramento, the elderstatesman of the domestic pro peloton, won the Reno Criterium on Saturday night.Sayers, 37, nearly retired last season. But he w...
My friend Bruce Aldrich traveled with me last year to the Tour de France. I already knew he was an accomplishment athlete, but I also quickly realized he's an accomplished photographer and videographe...
I've been reviewing cars for about five years. And if I've learned anything after driving more than 200 vehicles, it's that every manufacturer has a terminology "spin" for what it believes is its revo...
Blogs by this Author
Its
name connotes royalty, but who would have known 40 years ago when it
was first sold in the United States that the Toyota Corolla actually
deserved such a lofty title?
Now
ending its first decade in production, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a
strong contender in the compact sport utility vehicle category. Its
value pricing, strong warranty, good cabin and cargo space and
satisfactory overall driving have prompted more potential buyers to
give it appropriate consideration.
The most unique moment I’ve ever seen in a golf tournament wasn’t a monster Tiger Woods’ shot or a missed short putt prohibiting a win.
Since
its debut a decade and a half ago, the Audi A4 has built a reputation
as a versatile entry-level luxury car.
I’m
driving past gas stations in a 2008 Acura MDX, and as comfortable and
secure as I am in one of the nicest sport utility vehicles around, I
can’t help but think: Why should anyone buy this car?
Daily summer life begins early in Las Vegas. Just after dawn, construction workers fill industrial size jugs at convenience store water vending machines, and sprinkler systems gushing like high-pressure fire hoses flood city parks. 
It's
hard not to see Malibu advertisements. With its keen redesign for 2008,
Chevrolet has seemingly put everything it has into the marketing of the
car named after the southern California beach city.
Friends
often ask the same question in different ways: “Why
don’t you just drive Ferraris or Maseratis all the
time?” Or, “If you’re going to drive to
Los Angeles and back, you might as well do it in a top-of-the-line BMW
or Lexus, right.”