Chet Parsons, Car Guy

I attended the annual DFW Toy Run with members of the local Ferrari, Lotus, Porsche, and Italian car clubs as well as a few Saabs and Bimmers. This event grew from 35 cars last year to over 80 cars this year and with each car bringing toys and / or donations for a local children's charity, much good comes with this little run. Here are a few photos I grabbed from the event: Lots of Porsches, including this '89 Speedster. Some vintage and Japanese metal, a RUF, and a brick. An old Lancia, more Porsches, and some Italian stuff. A subtle Lamborghini. I think I can lose him.

Yes, that's a Christmas tree, and yes, it's strapped on top of my wife's 3-series. (photo taken in my rear-view mirror)

While driving through the 'burbs today, I saw a black Nissan GT-R with some big, flashy, wheels. Aside from the wheels being too much for the car, it reminded me that I have an issue of another sort with the GT-R. It smells. Before I explain that revelation, let me say that I've yet to drive a GT-R, and would very much like the opportunity to do so. It is apparently one bad you-know-what of a car. It's great looking, too. But it smells. In 1980, my mother got her first sports car. It was a 280ZX 2+2 in silver with a blue and silver velour interior. In high school, my best friend had a Sentra. In 2005 I was one of the first to take delivery of the redesigned Pathfinder. All of these cars had one thing in common: they all smelled similar. Maybe it's the plastics and other materials that Nissan has been using all these years or maybe it's imported Japanese air (even from the factory in Tennessee), but there is a certain aroma consistent among Nissan products....