Getting the gearhead itch

I'm getting the itch. If you're a gearhead, you know the feeling. The month of March comes around, snow begins melting, the temperature rises and you feel the urge to get the collector vehicle or the motorcycle on the road.

Yeah, we're getting close. The Edmonton Motor Show will be held next month and all the new cars and trucks will be on display for the consumer who's looking to get better transportation.

Those who are restoring vehicles will be in Red Deer March 22 for the spring swap meet. I'm planning to go down and see what's for sale and what is collectable in automotive memorabilia. No, I'm not restoring anything right now but, even so, I enjoy seeing what old iron is for sale.

"Dreaming is cheap," as they say.

It's my intent to have this blog keep you updated on automotive news and present road test reports on the latest 2014 vehicles now on the market or soon coming to a dealer near you.

I've been doing automotive features on radio for a long time. Bouncing out of broadcasting in 1990, I carried on doing features in print for magazines both in Canada and the U.S. As a result, our family has been able to enjoy quite a variety of cars and trucks over the years. Some of those rides transported us on vacation, saving us car rental fees. Nice little perk that was.

I'm very anal about maintaining my vehicles – always was – because whether they were a beater or something newer, that vehicle was an investment of money and needed to be reliable.

There was always satisfying about doing my own work when I could. I am not a handyman around the house – that's my wife's talent. But taking care of the cars … that I can do.

And if you're not a car nut I'm sure I'll have some information from time to time that will be beneficial to you as a vehicle owner, like why you should wax your car every year or two.

Stay tuned, come along for the ride and let’s both learn something new.