2013 Ford Flex test drive review. Retro surprise

I’ve had the opportunity to drive lots of new cars over the years, and for the most part, the experience behind the wheel is pretty much what I expected. But every once in awhile, something comes along that catches me by surprise. Such was the case with the 2013 Ford Flex.

I recently went to San Diego for the 2013 Ford Taurus and Flex ride and drive. Actually, the updated Taurus was what I was there for—I sort of forgot that we were even driving the Flex until we got to the hotel and saw them parked in the line. You really don’t see all that many Flexes around, and they just aren’t the first thing you think about.

Dean Weller's amazing hand-crafted creations

Dean Weller is quite a guy. At 86-years-old, he is easily one of the most interesting people I’ve ever come across while working on this blog. The things he’s doing in his Southern Johnson County, Kan., shop are nothing short of amazing.

There are so many little tangents this story can take, but let’s start with Dean himself.  Dean was a home builder with a passion for old cars. He is also an incredibly talented artist and craftsman.

And by "incredibly talented," I mean that he could probably make anything car related from scratch. Anything from the smallest piece to an entire car. Anything from a wooden wagon body to a smooth steel speedster. Seriously. Anything.

CARB Race-On Car Show is a Snake Saturday tradition in North Kansas City

The CARB Race-On Car Show during the annual Snake Saturday Parade is a North Kansas City tradition. What is not a tradition is the beautiful weather with which this year's installment was blessed. Normally, people are wrapped in blankets and parkas, and drinking coffee and cocoa. This year it was shirt sleeves and soft drinks. It has been a mild winter, indeed.

Basehor Boys kick off the 2012 Kansas City car cruise season

All these new car shows and auto museums are nice, but I've been itchin' for a normal old car cruise for months now. And as it turns out, the same guys that had the last cruise of the season in 2011 came through with the first cruise of the year in 2012.

The Basehor Boys Car Club hosts these monthly cruises in the parking lot adjacent to the Sonic Drive-In in Basehor. And for a cool, dark night in March, I'd say they had a pretty nice turnout. Dozens of hot rod owners made it out to nosh on foot-long hot dogs and creamsicle slushes, and it was a positive start to this year's car cruise season.

New cars are in charge at the 2012 Greater Kansas City International Auto Show

I was recently told that the Greater Kansas City International Auto Show is the largest trade show-type event held in Bartle Hall each year. It's nice to know that there are still people out there who are interested enough in cars to pay to look at them.

My boss asked me why I would bother to go take pictures of cars that you see everyday on the road. I guess there's some validity to that question. I mean, they had a grey Toyota Corolla sitting there and various other completely lackluster examples of bland, lifeless commuters. Of course, people buy this stuff for one reason or another, so they've got to be there.

The Lorax hates Vipers

Something interesting caught my eye on the way to see The Lorax at the Legends Theatre. More on that in a minute.

The Lorax is an animated movie that tries to deliver the message that it is bad to cut down trees for short-term personal gain, which is a nice message, I suppose. But then it turns its attention to the evils of big business and successful entrepreneurs. People should leave the environment alone, renounce large corporations and money, and live in a perfect utopia of cottony trees and adorable forest creatures under sun-drenched skies. Danny DeVito voices the Lorax, protector of the forest.

Spotlighting the good stuff at the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall

The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall in Grain Valley, Mo., is big. We're talking 42,000 square-feet big. So if you're just going out there to look for automotive collectables, you're going to have a lot to sift through.

But don't worry. I've done the work for you. I went there this weekend and found the good stuff ... the important stuff ... the car stuff. 

Branson Auto Museum damaged by devastating Midwestern tornado

Living in the Midwest, we are certainly no strangers to the devastation tornadoes can cause. What we may not be used to is having them show up before the end of February. Tuesday night was definitely a bad night. Deadly twisters ripped through Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri. The death toll is at least 13 people. Several more are injured. And the material damage adds up to millions.