Me and My Mach-E

It rhymes, I guess I like cars that rhyme with me... and while I won't post much about the Mach-E here, I thought the introduction of my new car would best go on my car-related blog. 

I’ve always had a thing for electric cars. It started in high school when Chevy rolled out the Impact—the first real electric concept car. Everyone else was obsessing over engine noise and aftermarket exhausts; I was the kid reading about battery packs and range estimates like it was sci-fi made real. I remember seeing the concept at the Detroit Auto Show and thought... "some day". I was in my high school electric vehicle club (yeah in the late 90s!) and when I went to college joined the solar car team. 

From Detroit Autoshow

I wanted an electric car back then, and I never stopped wanting one. So yes, it’s ridiculous that it took this long to finally end up in an EV. 

But here we are. Me and My Mach-E

The Bridge Car:
My Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Also, Me and My MKZ fits the blog title...ha. 

Before the Mach-E, I had my Lincoln MKZ Hybrid—a car I honestly didn’t expect to appreciate as much as I did. It was navy blue, which was already pushing my comfort zone on dark colors, but I managed to keep it clean. More importantly, that hybrid system was the perfect transition. Quiet launches, electric torque off the line, electric assist when needed—it taught me exactly what I liked about electric driving.

It wasn’t a full EV, wasn't even the plug in version, but it was close enough to make me realize I’d never go back once I made the jump.

I also realized I am kinda a Ford Guy. My first was in High School I bought my brothers Escort off of him when it had problems (I fixed it and drove it). I had a Ford Probe that I drove to Kalamazoo as my first college car. My first brand new car was in college I got a 99 Ford Escort my dad helped me buy. I have since owned a few Ford Fiestas recently and of course my Lincoln MKZ is made by Ford and a car I kept maybe the longest of all my cars (except the Z). 

Mach-E in the Shadow

Worth the Wait

The kid who fell in love with the Chevy Impact finally has his electric car. The hybrid Lincoln warmed me up for it. And the Mach-E delivered exactly what I hoped for all those years. I spent a long time shopping for one, nearly drove hours and hours to get one in Illinois, almost had one shipped to me, nearly got one local but it was red... and I didn't want it to look to "mustangy" and sportscar-like. I wanted to be fast, not look fast, be efficient, but also hella fun. 

I’m glad this is the one that showed up, and within driving distance so I could snag her and have a fun drive home. 

(future personal blog coming up about buying my first black car...)

Fairlady Z Quinceañera

Today, my Fairlady turns 15... and while Quince's are not much of a tradition for cars I thought at least a little blog and car wash to celebrate would be nice. 

My Z in dealer lobby

On March 15, 2010 while I was in Chicago for a consulting gig we met. I wrote a BLOG about the day and circumstances that lead me to my Z. I still remember walking into the dealership hoping I could work a good deal (never fall in love before you negotiate a price). 

I wish I was able to do more for her today, on what is her 15th birthday with me, and this Fairlady turns 50 this year! She rolled out the factory in September of 1975, so maybe I'll have her running better for her 50th... but today I had to be careful with her... she is leaking gas from the fuel injector seals, I noticed in when getting her wrapped up from her last race in 2024... and I didn't get around to working on her all winter. I know, I know, she deserves better. 

Like a Quince... I thought I would give a father speech and thank all the people who helped my little Fairlady grow up. 

First off, my family for the patience... she often smells, sometimes the smell gets in the house, I smell after driving her, and she has used a spot in the garage for 15 years, well except those couple years when she was stored at Eurasia while getting the fuel injection system redone or when with me at Ivy Tech. (Blog: There Goes My Z). 

The motivation to sell my SpecV, which I loved... happened when I moved to South Bend (2008) my SpecV was in a class against Bill Loring (now two time national champ). I was usually top 10 in Grand Rapids/Lansing/Detroit Regions in her, was FTD once, but in South Bend she would never win, I made cracked top 10 once, I was not a good enough driver to come close to Bill in our class... so I was like I need a car that I'll worry less about winning and more about fun... the hunt for a fun RWD car was on... 

My first year with her I won 1st in my class in STR which was not the goal, mostly I won cause I ran the most races but I got a trophy (Blog: #1 Trophy). She then wouldn't start the following year... and she was down for the count for about 5 years. I remember reflecting once, when the Z was down for the count, how much I missed being out there, and missed feeling like a "Car Guy". Shout out to Bill, Dick, Fred M, Duane, and all the others who let me race their cars during the years with no Z. (Blog: You Used to Race There)

Big thanks to Eurasia, but mostly to Jim and sad he retired from there... but I did bug him this week to maybe help me get this leak stopped. I remember picking her up from getting new fuel tank, new injectors... and finally driving her after so many years. (Blog: Here Comes My Z)

Huge thanks to Ivy Tech and Ed Herendeen for all the time teaching me, and helping me work on the Z while getting my certificates. If you are bored you can read a few blogs about the work on the Z there, but here is me pridefully holding my two certificates my Z helped me earn (Blog: Ivy Tech Grad x2)

Shout out to all my friends that have joined me in autocross with her... to Juan who I drug up to Gingerman to the real race track to run his Z. To Jenn for the help getting me to events, packing lunch, and helping the kids and family enjoy the Z. To Hermen, Heather, and Erin the original Parking Lot Performance crew... Herm you still gotta come drive this one! The Fairlady has done a lot of people's first time laps around the Tire Rack Track. 

Today she got a car wash... I tried to take similar pictures for a before (dealership) and today pictures of my Fairlady Z. She is still wearing her racing shoes, maybe next time I pull her out we get her fancy shoes on (Blog: New Shoes)

I have written lots of blogs, learned a lot of lessons, enjoyed lots of cars and coffee, busted my knuckles, spent more than I planned, lost a lot of races, and loved every minute of it.  

Raising the Z has taught me a lot. (Blog: Garage Lessons) I learned to be patient, to ask for help when I need it, to do things right the first time, sometimes its the simplest solution, sometimes people you would never guess are smarter than you, and sometimes the simple act of turning the car on, sitting in her, reving her up a little... can make your day. 

Cheers to watching my Fairlady grow up even more.