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Most recently published stories in Wheel.
What Is Bosozoku?
Bosozoku, more properly bōsōzoku, most properly 暴走族, may not be a word you are particularly familiar with. In fact, you may not have even ever heard this term before now. Literally speaking, the Japanese word "bosozoku" translates as "running-out-of-control tribe" or "violent speed tribe." Beyond the literal meaning of the word, it can be hard to produce a definitive answer to the question "what is bosozoku?" Bosozoku refers to a Japanese youth subculture that is partly a loosely-knit motorcycle gang, partly an unorganized crime syndicate, partly an ideological counterculture movement, and partly a fashion style. Ultimately the best way to understand exactly what the bosozoku is, was, and will be is to trace its development from its post-WWII origins, through its peak in 1982, and finally to its declining status in the 21st century.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Wheel
How to Change Gears in an Automatic Car
If the title of this article made you do a double-take, don't worry. Generally speaking, it's not the driver's responsibility to change gears in an automatic car. The fact that the car can shift gears on its own is the whole reason people choose to drive an automatic transmission instead of a manual transmission or "stick shift" vehicle. So yes, most of the time, you don't have to worry about changing gears in your automatic car. However, there are a select few instances where you'll want to manually shift into lower gears (that's what the mysterious "1" and "2" on your shift lever are for) for safety and efficiency. In addition to these instances, understanding how and why automatic cars change gears when they do allows you to become a more informed and more efficient driver.
By Dr. Ethan Levi8 years ago in Wheel
Smart Ways to Prevent Your Children from Ruining Your New Car
When you become a parent, there are a number of sacrifices you have to make. These sacrifices include having to childproof everything you own, from your house to your car. This can be a great source of headache, especially if you just got a brand new SUV. You're torn between wanting to share it with the family you love and wanting to keep it to yourself so nobody else can ruin it. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent your children from ruining your new car. Taking these steps will help you find the right balance and extend the life of your new family vehicle.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Wheel
Life Hack: Work Smart, Not Hard
As a young professional in their early 30’s, getting ahead in life seems to be my only focus lately. The pressure to succeed can be really daunting, but what I have found is that the simplest solution is the best. In effort to become more economical as well as environmentally aware, I have risen to the challenge of living without a car and maintaining a job for almost 4 years in a city without a strong public transportation system.
By Jared Myers8 years ago in Wheel
Can You Wash Your Car When It's Cold Outside?
Proper car maintenance in cold weather is a tricky beast to handle. On one hand, using water to wash your car when it's cold out can be a huge gamble. If the temperature is below freezing, you risk turning your vehicle into a giant ice cube. On the other hand, your car is much more likely to need a good cleaning during the winter months, as road salts and grimy snow can cause rust and other serious damage to your vehicle's exterior. We all know the serious effects of salt on your car, and how to protect your car from salt. Even still, some experts recommend cleaning your car as often as every other week during snowy weather.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Wheel
How Are Monster Trucks Made?. Top Story - July 2018.
Bob Chandler, the putative inventor of the monster truck, had no idea where the project would take him when he began. But as he added larger and larger tires to his Ford truck, and made many adjustments to the structure in order to accommodate new demands, a legacy was born. This original monster truck, Bigfoot, one of the most popular monster trucks of all time, paved the way for a whole new, exciting style of entertainment.
By Nicola P. Young8 years ago in Wheel
How to Change Your Oil
Keeping track of your oil is one of the simplest, yet most important aspects of car maintenance. The quality of your oil affects everything else about how the engine runs, so you can't slack on replacing it when it needs to be replaced. Paying attention to your oil levels is one of the easiest ways to make your car last longer.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Wheel
Best Alternatives to ZipCar
With the turn of the century, a change started in car rentals—there was a demand for hourly rentals at a low price for people who didn't own their own car. Zipcar was on of the innovators in this field, with the ability to lock and unlock a rental with your phone and drive away, all without ever stopping by a rental agency. Since then, peer to peer car rental apps and services has exploded. For daily drivers, membership fees can be steep, but worth the upfront price for the low priced rentals available. If you only need a car for a day or even a couple hours, there are many companies that offer daily rates, and some that offer hourly rates as well. For those that don't like to drive, peer to peer ridesharing services have also become ubiquitous with going out for the night.
By Dave Schneider8 years ago in Wheel
Mazda’s Highs and Lows over the Years
This year, Japanese car manufacturer Mazda celebrated the production of 50 million vehicles in Japan. This impressive milestone demonstrates just how far the company has come since it started out in cork production back in 1920!
By Elena Willson8 years ago in Wheel
How to Keep Car Floors Clean
When it comes to big purchases, few are bigger than getting a new, or at least new to you, car. To keep your new car fresh or restore some life to your beater, we've gathered the top tips to getting your car carpets clean, and keeping them that way. The carpet, after all, is a spot in your car that everyone forgets to clean. Keeping car floors clean is a sure way to increase the resell value of a car and keep that new car feeling longer.
By Stephanie Gladwell8 years ago in Wheel
Top 18 Must-Have Car Accessories & Gadgets 2018. Top Story - June 2018.
Road tripping is great, especially if you have a reliable car. Your car can become your own personal chariot to beautiful beaches, gorgeous roadside attractions, and some of the best music festivals in the country.
By Buddy Brown8 years ago in Wheel
