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November 4, 2022

The Bridge VII and the Art of Staging Cars

Words by Vijay Sankar

Photos by Kevin Arechiga, words by Vijay Sankar The seventh edition of The Bridge underlined its elegance and exclusiveness amongst the nation’s premier automotive events. Photographer Kevin and I almost missed the last-minute Friday event expansion due to delayed flights, but fortunately managed to capture the best of it. Staged at the golf club that…

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Postcards from Rennsport Reunion 7

Words by Vijay Sankar

Take Luftgekühlt, Rolex Motorsports Reunion, The Quail, and combine them into one grand weekend – that’s a nutshell of what Rennsport Reunion 7 was like. Every car on display was positioned with artistic obsession, like we witnessed at Luft9 in Mare Island a few months ago. There were endless races raging on track like the Rolex Reunion…

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Thanks for coming to Carbecue!

Carbecue was honestly one of the most fun events of the year so far! We’ll be back there monthly on the first Sunday of each month from April-October. Additionally, we’ll be working with the city to possibly host 1-2 summer nighttime events in the street with more food and beverage options. Stay tuned!

by Joe Ottati April 8, 2024

VALT Member Story: Meet Pal

In conversation with our friendly neighborhood Porsche 911 owner and enthusiast, Cale, we delved into his journey into the air-cooled P-car world, his automotive experiences, and aspirations.

by Vijay Sankar March 26, 2024March 26, 2024

Our Drive on Sunday is ON!

Hey all! Looking forward to a great weekend with everyone! Our drive is on for this Sunday morning. Dont’ forget about Daylight Savings Time! We’ve pushed back the time a bit to make it a little easier. Meet up start point: Starbucks, 1110 S King Street #20 San Jose, CA Meet up time: 9:30am Depart…

by Joe Ottati March 8, 2024

Velocity Invitational Shows How to Celebrate the History of Racing

In its fourth annual event at Sonoma Raceway from Nov 10-12, the headliner was the 60th anniversary celebration of McLaren, which brought along a large selection of their historic F1, Can-Am and Le Mans race cars for dynamic demonstrations by renowned racing drivers.

by Vijay Sankar December 23, 2023December 23, 2023

Meet Victoria Bruno, Vintage Ferrari Mechanic

Victoria Bruno’s penchant for vintage automobiles was sparked at an early age, growing up around the car culture in Los Angeles. In the male dominated sphere of classic car restoration, she is breaking down barriers, and currently pursuing her dream job as a vintage Ferrari mechanic at Patrick Ottis Co.

by Vijay Sankar December 7, 2023December 7, 2023

The Bridge VII and the Art of Staging Cars

Photos by Kevin Arechiga, words by Vijay Sankar The seventh edition of The Bridge underlined its elegance and exclusiveness amongst the nation’s premier automotive events. Photographer Kevin and I almost missed the last-minute Friday event expansion due to delayed flights, but fortunately managed to capture the best of it. Staged at the golf club that…

by Vijay Sankar November 21, 2023November 21, 2023

Postcards from Rennsport Reunion 7

Four days of the greatest hits from Porsche, and so much more. Take Luftgekühlt, Rolex Motorsports Reunion, The Quail, and combine them into one grand weekend – that’s a nutshell of what Rennsport Reunion 7 was like. Every car on display was positioned with artistic obsession, like we witnessed at Luft9 in Mare Island a…

by Vijay Sankar October 5, 2023October 6, 2023

Monterey Motorsports Reunion Celebrates the History of Racing

One of the best experiences during Monterey Car Week is to witness historic racecars do what they were built for – race hard on track, all week long at Laguna Seca. You can see historic cars firing up, being worked on, and driven as they were originally intended.

by Vijay Sankar September 1, 2023September 1, 2023

‘How to Build a Car’ by Adrian Newey

Adrian Newey’s autobiography elegantly chronicles the design philosophies behind a select 11 Grand Prix cars that he championed over an illustrious career. Anyone with a casual interest in automobiles, motor racing or aerodynamics will find this book to be a sure-fire stimulant.

by Vijay Sankar July 28, 2023July 28, 2023

Holy Grail Hunting: Ferrari 458 Italia

The 458 Italia was born at the tale end of the goldilocks 2000s era, serving as a culmination of the most desirable characteristics in a mid-engine Ferrari. It was a timely return to form for Maranello after a hiatus.

by Vijay Sankar July 13, 2023July 13, 2023

Why Citroën was the Pioneering Misfit of the Car World

Words and photography Vijay Sankar (pink_helmet) … Arriving at the sprawling farm draped over the hilly landscape of Castro Valley, I was greeted by a sanctuary carefully preserving the cream of French automotive avant-garde. It was fitting that the entire locality felt detached from the modern world, seemingly living in its own dreamy bubble of…

by Vijay Sankar May 5, 2023May 8, 2023

Six Questions with Sreten of M539 Restorations

Words and photography by Vijay Sankar (@pink_helmet) When Jason Cammisa decided to host an impromptu meetup with the beloved creator of M539 Restorations—Sreten—we didn’t have to think twice about showing up. Nor did 100 or so others who flocked to that tiny corner of San Rafael on a day’s notice to exchange pleasantries with the…

by Vijay Sankar November 4, 2022November 4, 2022

BMW Z3 M Coupe: The Weird And The Wonderful

All images are from a recent BMW Z3 M Coupe reunion photoshoot held in the Bay Area. Thanks to Rich (@dasblaushu) and the rest of the M Shoe owners for making this gathering happen. Words and photos by Vijay Sankar (@pink_helmet). … Some of the most interesting cars ever made have taken form without express…

by Vijay Sankar September 30, 2022October 24, 2022

The Lamborghini Miura Experience

Words and photography by Vijay Sankar (@pink_helmet) … A solid wall of thunderous wails echoed through the woods lining the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. Flocks of birds were dislodged from mountain sides at the arrival of the exhaust note rocking their world. As much as the visual presence is iconic, the noise of the Miura precedes it.…

by Vijay Sankar September 14, 2022October 24, 2022

BMW E60 M5–The Power of Ten

There is electric throttle response throughout the rev range, and it makes peak power at its manic top end near 8000 RPM. It punches well low in the rev range, but boy does it pay to rev it out to the climax. The motor hits so hard at the top after a linear climb through…

by Vijay Sankar July 21, 2022October 24, 2022

Tales from The California Automobile Museum

VALT Stories is a series that brings together car culture tales worth sharing from the Bay Area. This series embodies everything from photo essays on notable cars to selected narratives of the stewards of automotive enthusiasm in the community. … Gabriel Ionica serves as the Communications Coordinator at California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. He is…

by Vijay Sankar June 29, 2022October 24, 2022

The Sights from Sundays on Solano

Photography by @tinydarkroom. Select photos from Cars and Coffee at our ‘4th Sundays on Solano’ on May 22. Explore and/or purchase many more images from the gallery here. Photography by @tinydarkroom. Explore and/or purchase many more images from the gallery here.

by Vijay Sankar May 26, 2022October 24, 2022

BMW ///M is Still Alive and Well

In search of the soul of BMW, we found that there are still palpable signs of life at the M Division that excite us. You just need to be open new experiences. khj Words and photography by Vijay Sankar (@pink_helmet on Instagram) Caveat: The photos are those of a base M2, but my driving impressions…

by Vijay Sankar May 18, 2022October 24, 2022

The Sights from Golden Gate Cars & Culture

Photography by Tiny Darkroom on Instagram; words by Vijay Sankar Explore and/or purchase many more images from the event at this link. The Bay Area car community is richly diverse in ways that are hard to encapsulate under the roof of one event. The cars, the drivers, the restorers, the artists, the curators and the…

by Vijay Sankar May 4, 2022October 24, 2022

How the Original Acura NSX Changed the World

The NSX is a culmination of the visionary methods of Honda that have led the way in automotive innovations over the decades, democratizing safety, reliability and fun for the masses. It feels, sounds, smells and drives very much like a Honda, and in the best way possible.

by Vijay Sankar April 29, 2022October 24, 2022

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