When you go on a road trip, no matter the destination, you seem to pass by billboards that proclaim “World’s Tallest Rocking Chair” or some other great oddity that lies in the middle of no where that calls out to you like a Siren to see what its all about. Most of the time, you leave mildly entertained and wonder how such a great wonder was put in such a weird area.
With Spring starting to peak through the icy winter weeks, its time to start thinking about another road trip. But where are the best places to stop the monotony of the road to see a one of a kind attraction? Well, Time Magazine has you covered with the 50 best roadside attractions in the United States. Some of them are within a few hours drive from the Metroplex, such as the popular Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo, or the Beer Can House in Houston.
In 1968, John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, decided he “got sick of mowing the grass,” at his Houston home. So he laid marble, rock and wood into landscaping features. Not wanting to stop there, Milkovisch then covered his house with aluminum siding made entirely of flattened beer cans. Over 18 years, he attached an estimated 50,000 beer cans, including beer-can garlands that hang from the roof and sing in the wind. Why? We’re not entirely sure, but Milkovisch said on the house’s website, “I guess I just thought it was a good idea. And it’s easier than painting.” He said he’s tickled with people who drive around the block a few times, then return with a carload of friends. Take a group to Houston and pay him a visit.
What are some of your favorite roadside attractions? Be sure to leave them in the comments. Also, be sure to get your car ready for a long drive by contacting me before you head out to see the Strange and Unusual.
This year Subaru is banking on our love of dogs. This great marketing strategy has produced some super cute “Dog Tested” commercials. Starring in these pet friendly ads are Zelda, a golden retriever mix, and Olive, a Shar Pei mix. Here is a little sample of these two canines in action.
How funny is that! Just like a cat to pull a stunt like that! For a look at all of the “Dog Tested” Subaru commercials visit Subaru’s YouTube channel. Always remember that pet safety is very important, and while these videos are fun -- you should always keep your pet secure and safe while driving. For an Easy Solution to driving with your pet visit Pet Auto Safety’s website.
We’d love to hear from you about your favorite pet places, or you can feel free to come into Hiley Subaru and take your pet for a test drive in person!
Subaru is billing its new 2011 WRX STI sedan is “the fastest WRX STI ever.” During a recent test at the Nurburgring, the sedan reportedly clocked a 7:55 lap around the famed circuit. Here’s a Subaru-produced clip of the behind-the-scenes action.
It’s that time of year again! Time for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo! For those of you who don’t know about this event, it is one of the biggest events Fort Worth, Tx has all year. We’re talkin’ 23 days of great rodeo action, world-class livestock shows, kid-friendly exhibits, daily live music, terrific food, the carnival midway, four acres of unique daily shopping and more. Getting it’s start in 1896, the Stock Show and Rodeo has a long and prestigious past.
So, why am I promoting it? THE TRUCKS! That’s right, aside from all of the great scheduled events, downtown Fort Worth is going to be filled with every type, style, manufacturer and model truck you can think of. GMC always has a great turn out with some of the best looking and hardest working vehicles in the stockyards!
It’s a great venue to not only appreciate the event it self, but also see how the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo keeps on truckin’…pun intended.
If you are going to this year’s stock show, and happen to be looking for easy solutions for your next truck purchase, be sure to swing by Booth 722 in The Will Rogers Coliseum and say, “Hi” to Hiley! Tell us what you think of the blog too!
I know that the general consensus and those who study fuel efficiency will flat out disagree with the idea that going faster isn’t as fuel consuming as you might think. In fact, a news team in Oklahoma took this challenge to the real world with 2 separate, but identical trips to Tulsa. First trip was at 55 mph and the second was at 75 mph. Check out the video below to see the results of this non-scientific test:
I was a little surprised by the outcome. However, all of the experts are stand behind the controlled studies that state, in a nutshell, that the faster you go, the more fuel you will consume. Trust me, I had my fingers crossed too, but alas if you want to save money at the pump, all you need to do is lighten up on the pedal. Easier said than done, I know. Now if you are getting really poor gas mileage, you may have another issue. Keep your tires inflated properly, have your air filter replaced and your injectors cleaned. That should help you get a few dollars back at the pump. If you suspect that you need so maintenance, just swing by and see us and we’ll see what we can do about improving your fuel efficiency.
I decided to rifle through my glove compartment over the weekend and found pretty much everything I’ve been missing since I got the thing. Receipts for forgotten purchases, papers from the mechanic, business cards, a 100 year old pack of gum and yes, a left sock. “I wondered where that went?” Needless to say, I had my work cut out for me. What did I need? What could get thrown out?
“No, you don’t need that semi-melted peppermint”, I had to keep telling myself.
So, I did a little research and I found this helpful list at nationwide.com. It outlines the 10 most useful things for your new car glove box. Feel free to modify this list to fit your lifestyle, I just thought it was a really good starting place…thanks Nationwide!
The crucial stuff
Critical medical information. Write down any medical conditions, medications and allergies for each family member in case you’re involved in an accident and can’t communicate these important facts yourself.
Emergency contact numbers. Write them down, and while you’re at it, add them to your cell phone and put them in your wallet, too.
Pen and paper. If you’re in an accident and need to exchange information, you’ll have something to write with – and on.
Proof of insurance. It’s the law almost everywhere in the United States. But don’t store the car’s title (keep that at home) or registration (keep that in your wallet) in your glove compartment.
Owner’s manual and recommended maintenance schedule. So you can figure out what those weird symbols on the dash mean.
The convenient stuff
A flashlight. To help you find that dropped french fry under the passenger seat.
Napkins/travel wipes/tissues/hand sanitizer. After touching the gasoline hose at your next fill-up, you’ll be glad to have something to wipe the odor off your hands.
High-energy snacks. Stash a few granola bars in the glove box so you can last through an extra-long rush hour.
Plastic grocery bags. Smash a few into a zip-top plastic bag and use them for trash as the need arises.
Lint roller. If you have pets, you know you can never have too many of these.
Who can add to this list? Is there something missing? Let me know! I’d add a Tire Pressure Gauge to the crucial stuff. Maybe even fuses! You never know what Pennsylvania roads have in store for your car.
Sometimes writing can be a tough creature. It takes understanding what the reader is interested in and then some researching to write a coherent article covering that topic. However, I’m not going to pretend that I don’t get sidetracked sometimes when I run across an obscure gem on the vastness of the internet. In this case, this 1953 Buick Commercial with Milton Berle caught my eye.
Take a peek for yourself and see how much buying a Buick has changed…and how much has stayed the same.
Yup, I’d say that a lot has change from back then. Of course, the one thing that hasn’t changed is that when your ride with Buick, you are certainly riding in more car for less money.
…well they are trying at least. Subaru has recently release a few environmentally conscious commercials which really reflect the commitment that Subaru has made towards promoting more awareness. Here are just a couple for your enjoyment:
Don’t you want to throw your bike on the back of your Subaru and take a few long rides along local trails? Don’t have a Subaru? You’ll want one and when you do, I know just the place to get it ; ).
So often we do business with people near and far that we don’t know. At Hiley, we want to change that. That’s why we give you the opportunity to get to know us, and we hope you’ll give us the opportunity to get to know you. Here’s our story:
The Hiley Family of dealerships is a locally-owned family business that has sold 100,000 vehicles and counting. In 1976, Randy Hiley moved to Fort Worth, Texas to work for his uncle – Dub Shaw, a Fort Worth Ford Dealer. After working there for several years, he then went to work for a local competitor – Charlie Hillard. Fourteen years, seven franchises and a company vice presidency later, Randy realized a life long dream and opened Hiley Mazda and Hiley Volkswagen in Arlington, Texas.
Needless to say, it was a very successful venture. In 1992, General Motors approved Randy Hiley to be one of the first Saturn retailers in the country. After interviewing all of Hiley’s employees, from the top to the bottom, and the Hiley employees had the highest rate of employee satisfaction that they had ever seen. Hiley was awarded the two franchises in Dallas and they both opened in 1994. Shortly after the two new dealerships opened, Randy Hiley became the chairman of Mazda’s National Dealer Council and became a director of Saturn’s franchise operations team.
Randy Hiley’s two sons, Jason and Matt went on to buy and sell more dealerships and now serve as the president and vice president of the company. The Hiley dealerships are still family-owned and operated after nearly two decades and are one of the last privately owned dealership groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
In keeping with the family’s passion for growth in the automotive industry, we would like to announce the Grand Opening of our Buick GMC store. It’s the only Buick GMC dealership in Fort Worth! We’re located at 3535 West Loop 820 South, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Come in and help us celebrate all month long!
This is an event that a lot of us don’t get to go to, or may not even know very much about, but that hasn’t stopped it growing in popularity and “tuners” nationwide are celebrating Subaru’s Entries this year! SEMA stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association and it is closed to the public.
Kicker has designed an STI with a focus on audio performance, while K&N has brought one that emphasizes street performance. Get More G’s teamed up with SPT to provide the go-fast treatment to a five-door WRX, and Subiefest Best of Show winner, Jamarri Whiteside, was able to display his 2006 Subaru WRX STI beneath the bright lights of the 2010 SEMA show.
Did anyone see the Subarus at SEMA this year? Have any photos to share? If you are interested in what Subaru can offer you, do hesitate to swing by and check them out!
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