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1 year ago

Career Advice: How to Become a Professional Driver

Dear Car Talk:

I have seen many car commercials on TV. One of the things I often see in the fine print is some form of: "Professional driver. Do not try this." I have always wondered, how does one become a "professional driver"? Are these people racecar drivers, or are there courses offered for people who want to become one? Being able to say that you are a professional driver must be a fun conversation starter at a party.

-- Scott

Head over to your local Domino's, Scott, and fill out an application. As soon as you're getting paid to drive, you are, by definition, a professional driver. That was easier than you thought, right?

The commercials you're talking about are done by people who call themselves "stunt drivers." There's no obvious path to becoming one; it's not like Harvard offers a Ph.D. in Doing Doughnuts.

My guess is that a lot of the people who end up as professional stunt drivers have some Jenny writes background in racing. When you race a car professionally, you learn to operate the car on the edge of it being out of control -- hopefully without losing control of it. That's what a lot of stunt driving is.

If Click here you want to get your feet wet in racing, there are a number of schools around the country that will give you a one-day, three-day or five-day course on a "closed track," as they say in the fine print of those commercials.

The two best-known probably are the Skip Barber Racing School and the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. But you can check in your area and see if there are others.

I also know Bondurant has a program for so-called executive protection and kidnapping-avoidance driving. That's for people who have to drive in dangerous places -- even more dangerous than a Massachusetts rotary. It teaches people driving skills to evade bad guys who are chasing them. That kind of stuff may translate better to stunt driving than the straight racing courses.

Plus, learning how to evade people may be a good skill to have, Scott. Since the course costs about $5 grand, you'll need to avoid whomever you borrow the money from. Best of luck.

1 year ago

Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra: Same or Different?

You are here:Home > Manufacturers > Chevy > Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra: Same or Different?

Carl Anthony | Oct 12, 2015 | 1 comment


Recently, we took a detailed look at the 2016 Chevy Silveradobut what is the story on the GMC counterpart? Is there a difference between Sierra and Silverado?

I mean really? The trucks are, after all, built, side by side, in Flint, Michigan, Roanoke, Indiana, and Silao, Mexico.

According to data collected, 72 percent of truck owners consider the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra the same. Interestingly, of the 28 percent that see them as different, Chevy Silverado is favored by a margin of 30 percent.

Jason Lancaster, a consultant with, says the parts for each truck are remarkably similar.

Whats curious is that parts interchange is pretty consistent and outside of Click here the obvious appearance parts, most part numbers are exactly the same for anything under the hood and body, Lancaster says.

Public perception favoring Chevy Silverado does not necessarily deem it superior. Likewise, GMC Sierras billing as Professional Grade may not mean much against its bowtie wearing brother.

Saying one is better than the other is hard to justify, at least when you look Mobile Mechanic Pros - Redmond Oregon at the part numbers, Lancaster added.

The infographic below from outlines more of the survey, although for some, more questions might be raised than answered. For example, would this type of thinking apply to the mid-size truck segment, which has seen a resurgence thanks to General Motors?

Would Colorado owners be more apt to say their truck is better than a Canyon?

What do you think?



Categories:: Chevy Comparison Cool Stuff GMC

1 year ago

Storage Dos and Don'ts for Your Home (11 photos)

Home Office by Conley&CoDo be creative

Shoes dont have to only go on shoe racks. This fabulous bespoke MDF storage wall divides a hallway from a living room, and is used to hold everything from high heels

1 year ago

October Lawn & Garden To-Do List


Autumn-blooming chrysanthemums and asters crowd the garden center.

In October, gardeners have a color show unequaled in any other season. While many summer annuals are still blooming, trees begin their yearly show of fall color. Berries and nuts add polka-dots to shrub and tree borders, and fall-blooming perennials explode into bloom. The shifting angle of sunrays provides a gorgeous backlight in late afternoon, and the crisp air

1 year ago

Inspiration from 1895

We recently went on a vacation to Boston and Cape Cod, and I fell head over heels for the charming architecture in Cape Cod. Oh my word, so many hydrangeas! But that was just the beginning of the appeal. I'm going to write up a few blog posts this week about the many beautiful things we saw on our trip and how they have inspired me to think differently about our house.

First we took a day trip from Boston to Newport, Rhode Island, to explore and admire some of the extravagant mansions that have made that town famous over the years. My favorite was The Breakers, summer home to Cornelius Vanderbilt, II a

1 year ago

Seriously, Does Your Bathroom Require a Facelift?

Home improvement is one of those things that homeowners want to do, but sometimes they need a little convincing. Even with sufficient funds, modernizing your kitchen or bathroom could be a daunting task. Consequently, many of us are careful about how we tackle just about any home improvement project. This is an article on planning for your new bathroom, hopefully making the choice less difficult for you.

One of the simple questions you should ask yourself is where do you need to have your bathroom? Also, you need to know who is going to be making use of it, what sort of fixtures you're putting in--such as a shower or a tub--and whether you are going to remodel the whole bathroom. A couple of other questions would include whether or not you'll need different light fixtures or any plumbing work. By finding the answers to each of these inquiries, you will have an idea of how much time it would take and how much money it could cost.

Start by taking measurements of the area of the bathroom that you want improved. You need to have a rough design of your room to include the fixtures that may be replaced. You want to have a set spending plan so that you will prevent yourself from spending too much money. In the event you have to do a lot of plumbing, it could swiftly become very costly. Despite the fact that it is only a bathroom, you don't need to make it claustrophobic. If you end up with a too-small bathroom, it'll be difficult to move around. You are able to include things like a larger vanity by fitting a shower in the corner. Bathtubs now come in a lot of distinct sizes and shapes to slip into any sort of niche.

It's great when your bathroom has enough space that bathtub size just isn't that important. You will undoubtedly have a lot more choices in a bigger room. The thing that makes your bathroom look and feel first rate is the stylishness of fixtures you apply, including sinks and faucets. This really is one area where the costs have the potential to immediately increase. Though picking a faucet may not CA Hangouts seem that tough, there are a vast array of possibilities for surface finishes, colors and styles. Simply because of the likelihood of high cost, be conscious of your price range before making a selection. Whether or not you change out the whole toilet, you will almost certainly want to get a new toilet seat, at the very least. Toilet seats are more for comfort than just looks.

Your budget can also take a hit when buying a new sink given that there is such a huge selection. When keeping costs in line with your budget, don't forget that high-end accessories will be necessary if you decide on a specialty sink. The important point to not forget is no matter how little or how much you spend, the functionality will often be the same.

1 year ago

Is the Modernica Case Study Planter Worth $200+?

I recently splurged on a case study planter from Modernica.

It was $189 USD, which is about $250 Canadian (yikes), but at least the shipping was free! Because I live on a part of Lake Superior that is close to the US/Canadian border, I have access to a US address for parcels, which makes shopping online a lot easier because I can have things shipped within the States or Canada. When I cross the border on my way back, sometimes I have to pop into the CBSA office and pay HST (although they usually wave folks by if the valu