Log Book NotesFriday, Day OneLunch is served on Delta Air Lines Flight 850 and I go for the chicken dish. Could have used a Dremel rotary tool to cut the food; and that's just the veggies. For the chicken we're talking die grinder or plasma cutter. On the bright side I didn't get sick.
In Hotlanta, there is something going on at Mako's, a popular nightspot in Buckhead-the party section of town.
Note: In Atlanta if anyone says get off on Peachtree better have them be more specific. There are so many Peachtree streets, avenues, boulevards, ways, circles, courts, roads and drives in greater Atlanta that it has to be Guinness record of some kind. We guess wrong and end up on the seedy side of town. Desperate, we pull into a convenience store for directions. A helpful gentleman gives us directions and comments on how photographer Robert Hallstrom looks like Chris Elliot (he is not even close) but Rob doesn't miss a beat asking the guy if he is Chris Rock. After a 2$ "tip" our Buick Le Sabre is once again slicing through the night. A bit cynical, we call some friends and get real directions.
After a few hours of partying at Mako's we are rewarded with a spontaneous display of lesbian affection at about 1AM. Digging it, the action evolves from a PG rating to R as tonsil tickling graduates to a disappearing up the skirt trick. Now this is a nightlife.
2 A.M. -Cat Fight Ends All Chance Of Another "Side Show."We close the bar at 4:30AM and since I am the designated driver, I chauffeur Rob, Turbo tech editor Gary Castillo and Import Tuner staffer Jason Mulroney back to the Embassy Suites. After the two-hour-plus adventure getting to the bar we make the hotel in less than 20 minutes.
Day 2: SaturdayOn With The ShowIt's 9 a.m.: Jason and Gary are feeling the effects of Buckhead. After five minutes of continuous knocking on the door and window of their room, Gary emerges. I return the Buick keys and tell him Rob and I will check them after breakfast. Upon return, the only movement has been the curtains; which are now fully closed. Not a sign of eminent action. Rob and I head to Atlanta Motor Speedway-Show is huge: 5,000 cars and 20,000 to 40,000 people.
The Trends:-Everything is big-Hondas, the new Celica and Neons top the depth chart -Body kits, paint, interior, few engine details seem to be the style-A lot of Euro Lowrider style vehicles-Chrome wheels are in, not many over 17-inches though-Color shifting paint is popular-High-watt stereos on the rise-Flames are in-Lots of air brushing-Graphics are hit or miss-Ford, GM and TRD had big displays, GM seems lost-Hydraulic competition, not a big part of Turbo's content but a flat-out blast to watch.-Burnout contest was also cool, the number of cars in the competition-a staggering 30.
Weather has been excellent, NOPI's Mark Myers takes full credit for ordering it up from the man upstairs. Sunburned and running on empty, Rob and I hit the highway.
White Mustang 5.0 is doing big burnouts on stop-and-go Highway 54. His last tire-shredding display is in front of two State Troopers. The 5.0 bones out down side road, two cherry-topped Crown Vics in close pursuit.
Note to self-watch "COPS" for next two months.