Rain ... er ... Race 61

Although we got warned in the forefront that it would pouring rain, we hit the road to Finowfurt in our 1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II. Usually we came back with heavy sunburns from the Roadrunner's Race 61 – not so this year. What a bummer.

We snapped some photos with our cellphones. For some more photos just click on one of the images – or follow this link.

Social media is not "cool." MAKING MONEY IS COOL.

If you are making your money in the publishing-/marketing- or agency business, you've got to have an idea regarding "Social Media". There's no getting round it, Social Media is the big hype these days. And as there are no instruction manuals how to use Social Media, it is just a big trial and error. So do we, by the way. I post regularly about our defeats and successes.

Today I came across an article from Peter Shankman (Business Insider), which is perfect for all of those, who are just thinking about hiring a so called "Social Media Expert". Read it. And think again.

My favorite quotes (except the borrowed statement which I used as headline):

[...] Being an expert in social media is like being an expert at taking the bread out of the refrigerator. [...]

[...] Social media is just another facet of marketing and customer service. Say it with me. Repeat it until you know it by heart. Bind it as a sign upon your hands and upon thy gates. Social media, by itself, will not help you. [...]

[...] "It’s not about building a website anymore! It’s so much cooler! It’s about Facebook, and fans, and followers, and engagement, and influence, and…" Will you please shut up before you make me vomit on your shoes? [...]

Sure, some statements in Peter Shankman's article may sound radical. But there's some truth in it.

Beautiful Beast

During our Chromjuwelen En Route video shoot last weekend — see sneak previews above — I had the opportunity to race my Nippon Pontiac for a few meters. Damn, that Poncho kicks *ss. Maybe this is due to the fact the "Kustom City family" worked a little on the setup of my 7M-GTE? 

At the moment the LeSupra waits to get customized at Style Deluxe Hamburg, but I must admit I start loving the Millenium Falcon "Piece of Junk" style ... 

Auto Buch: I love 'em

"Auto Buch" – A Rat Fink is catching flies with his tongue while he is doing a wheelie

Concept cars

"Renn Autos" – Plymouth Superbird aka King (Cars)

Three Window Coupé Hot Rod

Wheelstander Burnout with flames

Yesterday my eldest son (7) presented me his second "Auto Buch". I guess this is what your offspring is sketching when they have to grow up with a car nerd among a ton of car literature and hot rod movies.

Of course. I am hefty proud. And I think I've done everything right.

Techno Classica Essen 2011

1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II

Needs some tlc. Opel Rekord Limousine

1955 Flajole Forerunner

"I cruised the Reeperbahn" - Peter "Monsti" Theobold (Fusseltuning)

1928 Opel Raketen-Motorrad

Mercedes: Bertha's Benz (Motorwagen)

Bitter SC

Quote: "If the raver's dream is the Loveparade, the petrol head's dream is the Techno Classica."

Word. We just have brought our 1972 General Tire International Harveseter Scout II to the booth of our colleagues from Street Magazine and took some pictures. Hit one of the images above to see them all. 

General Tire Ad

Wow. It still works. We just found out we are still able to work for dead tree media. Although we hang on the interwebs 24/7.

This is our latest ad we did for General Tire Germany. The ad—photo taken by Dirk "Pixeleye" Behlau during our trip to the General Tire Mint 400 2010—will be published in the german Street Magazine. It promotes our 1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II as well, which we will bring to the Baja 300 Powerdays. Meet us there!

New York Times: Chromjuwelen Interview

It's happening. We are getting famous. Tamara Warren just published an article for the New York Times about American Muscles in Germany: "In Germany, a Growing Flirtation With Classic American Muscle". 

Tamara, it has been a pleasure working with you! And we are glad we could bring you together with some members of our Chromjuwelen family: Helge Thomsen, Oliver Kaps and Dirk Behlau.

Oh, here is an easteregg: Hit the image to watch some wacky Chromjuwelen Mopar Muscle videos from 2006 ...

Chromjuwelen Road Movie: 44 minutes and 44 seconds

Ever since we are doing Chromjuwelen.com, we are dreaming of "Chromjuwelen Road Movies". To capture outtakes, "behind the scene" material and shaky cell phone videos. Here it is—our first movie. Enjoy!

Please check out Chromjuwelen.com for more details.

Sneak Preview: NASCAR Hall of Fame

On our way to the Continental Tire Challenge and Rolex 24 at Daytona (GRAND-AM) we stopped at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte to meet Buz McKim. Buz gives us a brief overview on the NASCAR history. For a "NASCAR Hall of Fame"-gallery hit on of the images above. Or just use this link. 

This is a sneak preview—we will publish a full coverage of our latest trip soon. 

MotoClub Hamburg: Finest Motorkultur since 2006, every Sunday.

Good to see the MotoClub Hamburg, which we brought into being 2006 with our soulmates from Motoraver, is still the place to be. Too bad I don't find the time to pay the Hafenbahnhof a visit more often. It is probably not the biggest weekly gahthering in Northern Germany. But it is the one with the best cars. To get an idea of it—here are some more photos.

If you'll ever be in Hamburg for a weekend, make sure you pop in.