One of the first things I saw Saturday morning as I arrived at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch was this Factory Five built, black 1933 Ford Coupe. I was worried it would be all about Camaro's and other muscle cars during the Optima Invitational Ultimate Street Car Challenge - but seeing this smooth coupe roll across the pit assured me I'd have someone to cheer for this race day. I can't tell ya all about the long list of goodies it had - but let me assure you it was long. And being built by Factory Five means its some serious business. After the few laps around the Road Course that all of the cars took, Lucky #13 was just the second car for its chance to prove its stuff in this segment of the race. To the dismay of everyone watching, as it began its second lap of the track, pulling past the first curve we saw a big cloud of dust. What we're all asking now is what came first, the break or the accident? I guess Lucky #13 was not so lucky, it's front suspension snapped right...

[youtube width="320" height="265"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waYyhfRUosM[/youtube] Today I left the hub-bub of Las Vegas and SEMA to head out to Spring Mountain Ranch racecourse. In preparation for Saturday's Optima Invitational, myself and the others from the auto-blogging crew got a chance to get behind the wheel ourselves. Spring Mountain Ranch is almost like a country-club for speed seekers. People who are members get use of the track. In addition, they have certified race-driver training programs. While we didn't get the whole training program in one day, we did get the opportunity to go very fast in a few different situations. The day started out with the road course. If you're not familiar with racing (like me) think of the video game "Grand Prix". After a short orientation we headed out to driving machine #1: the Lotus. Although I may have been a little jittery that I would do something wrong - it was surprisingly easy! As we followed our guide, Rick, around the racetrack things got faster and faster. After the first few 1.5 mile laps I began feeling comfortable with the car and trusting of the squealing tires as I rounded a turn between 40 and 60...

As promised, we want to keep you guys in the loop of what we're seeing at SEMA. Scroll down for a view of the SEMA 2009 convention experience as well as a few videos I was able to shoot! This post will be brief, expect much more content and explanation to come later!! Check out the engine compartment of this Factory 5 + Amp=D 1933 Roadster...!?! I think maybe this car goes fast, what do you think? Me learning all about the unique design of Optima Batteries. After 5+ years stretching out the life of my old converse, I knew I finally needed to break down for a new pair. How weird it is putting on brite whites! The "most expensive rims in the world" That's right, for just $2 million dollars you can be rolling on these ruby encrusted beauties. And for more bling action, minus the gigantic cost, check out the next video... One advantage of being one of the only "girls" around...for once in my life the men's toilet had a line and the women's did NOT! Cool product...this company runs a line of metal-flake like...

Most everyone in the auto world has heard of SEMA. For those who don't know, SEMA is a yearly convention for the auto industry...and its massive, completely filling up the Las Vegas Convention Center. Basically everything you can imagine having to do with a car is here - from new concept cars on down to aftermarket parts of every sort imaginable.  As many car lovers never get to make it to SEMA, Craig and I are on the scene to bring you all the most interesting car stuff and stories! Thanks to Optima Batteries, we'll be spending the rest of the week here at the show as well as attending the Optima Invitational race out in Pahrump, NV on Saturday. (And as I hear it, I may even be able to learn a little race-car driving on Friday!) It's my first time here, and although I'm a little overwhelmed I'm beyond excited to learn a ton! Right now I'm headed down to the main floor to hit up some car specialists and have them download on me some of their vast knowledge. To start off, here's a few pictures to give ya an idea...

Once I'd decided to start gettin’ my hands greasy – the first thing I went for was the tire. It couldn’t be too hard to take a tire on and off, right? Right! Changing a tire is as easy as 1-2-3! 1. Gather all your tools and jack your car up. Most modern cars come with a spare tire, a lug wrench, and a jack of some sort. Look in all of the nooks in your trunk – they’ll probably be there. My Studebaker certainly didn’t come with these, but I’ve got them back there now (along with a pair of jumper cables!) A note about jacks. A jack is a metal contraption that when worked correctly lifts part of your car off the ground. There are a number of varieties of jacks and they all work slightly differently. Most cars are equipped with small scissor jacks. I carry a small floor jack with me in my Stude though. You need to find out what sort of jack you’ve got and read the instructions on how its safely operated. Do this now…don’t wait for an emergency! Before operating the...

Not all of you ladies and gents can imagine a car being raised to the status of an icon or art form. In fact I haven’t always myself. However, the more I get to work on and see cars, the more enamored I’m becoming. After attending RM Auctions “Icons of Speed and Style” my car love-o-meter has just shot through the roof! An auction doesn’t sound that exciting you say? What if I told you that all of the 80 iconic cars being sold in this no-reserve auction were available to peruse up close and personal? Yep... you could even touch em'! At most car shows, the best cars are roped off to keep you admiring from a distance. There were no ropes at the Friday preview before RM's "Icons of Speed and Style" auction at The Peterson Museum in Los Angeles, California. With nearly seven million dollars being drawn in by the auction, people putting out the money needed to really see what they were paying for. So when I arrived during preview day, I was able to get as close as I wanted to each car. With...

Since sometimes its easier to "show" then "tell" I've decided to make some videos on tech issues when they come up with my 1955 Studebaker Champion. So without further adieu...here's my first in the "Wrench Like A Girl" series...let me know whatcha think! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLRDfy7K4VM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999] Topic: I'll be changing out the distributor wires (aka ignition wires, spark wires). Diagnosis: This problem was first brought to my attention by a friend who pointed out the gaping hole in the wire casing. And only then did it really register how uneven my idle was and how much power I'd lost in my engine! Keep in mind that these wires are carrying the electricity into the engine. Without these babies there would be no spark to ignite the gas within your engine chamber! Due to my damaged wire, my engine was not firing on all 8 cylinders - no bueno! Parts: I picked up a new set of ACDelco wires from C&C Automotive Distributors in Long Beach. Cost: $40.68 Tools: Really just the new parts and your hands. I also needed an Allen wrench to undo the hex bolts on the part that...

I've been havin' a hard time getting any grease on my hands lately as there's just too many cool things to do during summer! I got wind of the 8th Annual Main Street El Segundo Car Show just the day before while at Loyola Auto Interiors (thanks Luis for helping me out with fixing my side panels!) Lucky for me I heard about it because I sure enjoyed strolling along Main Street on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with about 125 cars to gaze at of all different shapes, sizes, and styles. The atmosphere was just how a So-Cal beach town should be - laid back with a variety of cool people.. While I enjoyed the whole event, below you'll find my choice picks...enjoy! Let me know if ya happened to be there and which picks you like too! 1. Most Artistic Hot Rod. This 1930 Ford was customized in Ngoya, Japan and now calls Carson its home. It was a treat to see it on the street! 2. Best Summer Cruiser. Gee it'd be nice to cruise down the coast in this beauty wagon/tear-drop trailer combo wouldn't it? Surf,...

Salt Flat Recap: Story by my Dad, Greg Martin, who I was lucky enough to spend speed week with! I’ve never seen such a group as these speed freak, salt flat hot rodders. I do believe they would all agree with Mark Twain’s adage, “Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” My first impression after riding my bicycle down the three-mile-long pits was that maybe I had stumbled upon a movie set for yet another Mad Max movie. I fully expected to see Mel (Max Rockatansky) Gibson or Tina (Aunty Entity) Turner come screaming down the pits followed by a cackle of hyenaish groupies. Oh, well it must have been the immediate effects of the blazing reflections off the salt – the old timers told me to make sure you put plenty of sunblock on the bottom of my chin and nose. I was amazed by the diversity of cars and syckles that ranged from the do it yourself bring what ya got to the high-tech, hyper-slick long blown fuel streamliners with a million secrets beneath their perfect skin. The...

Bonneville Salt Flat Pictures: One great thing about attending Speedweek at Bonneville Salt Flats is that there's something for everyone. You get to watch all sorts of vehicles leaving from the same starting line, all seeking to break the record of whatever class they're in. And just like in the "good ol' days" of hot rodding - the only thing anyone really cares about is going fast! But until I get to sit behind the wheel and drive down the salt at record breaking speeds, I've gotta pay attention to some of the other details that just might not have anything to do with speed! So here it is...Grease Girl's picks for Salt Flat Favorites 2009. Best Way to Get Around. This isn't a mini-sized hotwheel! This is a monster-truck sized red wagon! Best Body Type. Call me partial, but I can't help but have a little pride when the most common body type ya see at Bonneville is nearly as old as Speedweek and happens to be almost identical to my own daily driver! That's right, Studebaker Coupe's were aerodynamic when first made and they just keep on...

Bonneville Salt Flats - Our First Trip For over 61 years the Bonneville Salt Flats have been giving people "salt fever" during its annual Speed Week each August. This year Pikesan, Hetchspeed, and GreaseGirl met up at the flats to bring everyone at MyRideisMe.com a little taste of the salty stuff! And are you guys in for a treat!!! Not only is Speedweek home to land speed racings biggest event but its also one of the most amazing mix of cool people and cars you'll ever experience. So check back into MyRideisMe.com soon to catch a glimpse of some of the nearly 1000 pictures we took, coverage of build stories, records broken, life on the salt, and the people that make it all happen. We had the time of our lives out on the white stuff and we can't wait to share it with...

It was an early morning wandering around the quaint streets of Stevensville, Montana. The last thing I expected to see was a slammin' 1934 Ford Hot Rod Pickup. If it wasn't for my own pre-morning-coffee-haze I would've gone into the Full Moon Saloon and inquired who the owner was. Lucky for me (and you) that I ran into this pretty truck along with its owner Ken Scobie, once more that evening at the Stevensville Summer Picnic & Car Show. With 2 trophies under its belt in a mere 4 weeks since being completed, this truck is worth giving a peek. Its been built from the frame up by Ken Scobie, a San Diego native that migrated on up to Montana 35 years ago while still working as mechanic. He's since retired, and at the age of 69 says "For a poor kid growing up in the days of cool rods it has always been a dream of mine to build a rod in the old school style." Build a rod he did! "Finding this beauty was the real treat. She was in Helena, Montana behind a house out in...