Author Archives: emptyroadchronicles

Getting Down at The Shamrock Shakedown – Day 1 & Prelude

It was approaching my typical bed time when I stepped into Wayne’s CJ-3B – the last of the flat-fender Jeeps. It was his grandfather’s and had been in his family since it was new – purchased at the time to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Kill Devil Hills Beach Driving

Kill Devil Hills is the most populous settlement on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It’s home to the Wright Brothers National Memorial – a strange place where North Carolinians celebrate a half-assed achievement by some dudes from Ohio… It’s … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Not Getting it Right – Just Keeping it Running

They say knowledge is power. But, it can also be a curse – especially when it comes to used vehicles. The more you know about cars and the more in-tune you are with your own, the more you start to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Definitive Ranking of the First 10 Cars I’ve Owned

I’ve been driving since 2005 and in October, 2017, I purchased my tenth vehicle. In those 13 years of motoring, I very nearly averaged a different car a year, but here’s the truth: some cars only lasted three months while … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

RJ the Jeep – Old is Always Better

Six years ago in October, I bought a new Jeep. I still have it but never introduced it to this site, so here we go – a “stuck in draft mode” style introduction to also talk about what it means … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Southern Ohio “Overlanding” in a Flat Six Subaru

Thirteen hundred miles in two and a half days, driving from Rochester New York to southern Ohio. My goal – spend one night outside of modern amenities to rekindle something that my digital existence doesn’t foster – an analogue connection … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Where I Should Have Stopped

A few weeks ago, I sold the one constant thing in my life for the past four years. While it was a hard decision to make, it was the right thing to do if I was every going to preserve my truly southern Jeep while living in upstate New York. Its now vacant parking space has left me with a set of juxtaposed emotions that would leave any gearhead spinning – what do I buy next? Continue reading

Posted in Car People Speak | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New York to Windrock: Prologue

As a wheeler, or someone who partakes in off road activities with a motorized vehicle, your hobby is often defined by your surroundings. The goal of modern infrastructure and bureaucracy is to eliminate what you find appealing – near destitute … Continue reading

Posted in Car People Speak | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Camry Conundrum – Why Every Gearhead Should Make Friends with One

Let me make one thing clear – the Toyota Camry is by zero means an enthusiast vehicle.  It doesn’t matter how many “Sport” badges, fog lights, lower body moldings, or paddle shifters are added, the midsize Japanese namesake simply does … Continue reading

Posted in Car People Speak | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Project Hot Rod Apocalypse Part 2 – Skip to The Middle

Two years after taking over responsibility for Ruby, she now looks at me with glassy eyes and a bruised face – but that’s mostly from pushing her into a tree… er, three trees. Whatever the number of trees this Jeep … Continue reading

Posted in Car People Speak | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment