Eclectic mix of cars awaits you at the Lane Motor Museum

When you come to this website, you probably expect to see big ‘50s cars, Corvettes, Kustoms, hot rods, and muscle cars. You will see none of those in this story. Today we’re visiting the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tenn. This 132,000 sq.-ft. facility was formerly a Sunbeam bakery, but today houses more than 330 mostly vintage European cars from the private collection of Jeff Lane. But these aren’t the typical Mercedes, Porsches, and Ferraris that you might expect. The Lane Museum contains an eclectic mix of microcars and Communist dictator limousines. If it’s quirky and interesting, you’ll probably find it here. Let’s take a tour.

2013 Fiat 500C Abarth test drive review. Indy 500, here we come!

Last week, we hit the Barrywoods 24 for a digital showing of Turbo, an animated movie about a little snail who dreamed of becoming fast.  Everyone told him it couldn’t be done, but when he is accidentally sucked into the blower of a street racer and doused with nitrous, he is infused with otherworldly speed so great that he qualifies for the Indianapolis 500.  Turbo even gets a new spoiler and some racing graphics to complete the package.

How do I get this car out of second gear?! The Micro-Mini Car Show invades the Westwood City Hall

In 1958, the novelty music group known as The Playmates went to #4 on the Billboard music charts with a crazy little tune called “Beep Beep.” You’ve probably heard it, but if you haven’t, here’s the gist. A guy in a Cadillac is driving along when someone in a little Nash-Rambler appears to challenge him to a race. The song’s tempo gets faster and faster as the guy drives faster and faster to try and outrun the Nash.

Big fun at the Westwood MICROCAR meet

The MICROCAR meet at the City Hall building in Westwood, Kan., was packed with cute little international commuters, specially designed for the narrow streets and high fuel prices of many European countries. So I rolled up in my big, black '96 Impala SS. When you think about it, I was responsible for the equivalent of three micro cars all by myself.

OK, I couldn't be part of this show, but the cars that were there really were interesting to look at. Some of them, like the crazy front-door access Isettas and true-to-their name Minis are fun, in a scary, stay off the interstate sort of way.