My Blog

Category: Editorial

  • National Speed Performance Parts eStore Now Open!

    We’ve worked long and hard to bring you the best online shopping experience possible so check out the new National Speed Performance Parts eStore. Over the past few weeks we’ve worked closely with several car enthusiast forums and clubs to test the shop and gather feedback.

    As such, the team at National Speed has been floored by the positive support our customers have shown us. By opening the eStore it allows us to continue to provide you with the support and performance you’ve come to expect, as well as expand across the entire United States. We’re excited about giving everyone across America the chance to experience what we feel is the ultimate automotive performance experience.

    So on behalf of all of us at National Speed, we’d like to say thank you. We like to think this is your store as much as it is ours, and without your support and feedback we wouldn’t be here. Enjoy the eStore, and if there’s anything that National Speed can do to make your online shopping experience better, please let us know.

  • National Speed's Favorite Bond Cars

    You know the name, you know the number. In what is cinema’s longest running and arguably most loved franchise, James Bond has become synonymous with high-octane adventure, gorgeous women, and exotic cars. Ever since Sean Connery ripped up the road with his modified 1963 Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger, automotive enthusiasts have been foaming at the mouth to see what the British super spy will be driving next. In anticipation of the upcoming awkwardly titled Bond adventure, Quantum of Solace, National Speed has compiled a list of its favorite Bond cars for your eyes only.

    5) 1971 Ford Mustang Mach-1 from Diamonds are Forever. Driven by Sean Connery in a chase through the Vegas Strip, the Mach-1 was the first vehicle to ever be filmed doing the “driving on only two wheels” stunt. Now everybody drives their cars like that (my mom goes to the grocery store on two wheels just for kicks) but remember Bond did it first, and nobody does it better.

    4) 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day. While it may be featured in the worst Bond movie since Moonraker, the Aston Martin Vanquish is an amazing car deserving of a better Bond than Pierce Brosnan. Capable of turning invisible, flipping upside down, and launching rockets (in the movie of course), the Vanquish was a fitting automobile to celebrate Bond’s 20th cinematic outing.

    3) 1977 Lotus Espirit from The Spy Who Loved Me. Why stick to the roads when you can drive underwater? In one of the best chase sequences in Bond history, Roger Moore outruns a group of really bad guys by driving his white Lotus Espirit into the water, which then turns into a heavily armed submarine. What I wouldn’t give to be able to do that during Hurricane evacuation traffic in Wilmington.

    2) 1979 Gondola from Moonraker. Anybody can drive a car, but it takes a highly trained super spy to drive a Gondola. Featured in Roger Moore’s embarrassing Moonraker, Bond rampages through the streets of some exotic country I’m too lazy to wiki in a seemingly innocuous Gondola. However, this is James Bond we’re talking about, so of course the seemingly innocuous Gondola transforms into a hovercraft. Ridiculous? Of course. Would we want to drive one? Absolutely.

    1) 1963 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. Sure, it’s the obvious choice, but that’s because it’s the only choice. Anyone that doesn’t think this is one of the most beautiful cars on the planet obviously left their brain in their other pants (I’m not sure what that means but it sounded good). Not only does the DB5 come stock with 282 bhp, you also have the option of installing an oil slick, tire shredders, dual front mounted machine guns, and the infamous ejector seat. Quite possibly the coolest car ever made.

  • The Unusual Suspects

    Those of you that frequent the shop have probably already met our technicians Ben, Bobby, John, and Tim (and if you haven’t check them out here) but what about the rest of the guys and girls of National Speed? Peek behind the curtain and behold the astonishing, fantastic, and in the case of Jordan, just plain weird employees of National Speed.


    Vincent Alfaro
    Alias: Short Round
    Vince is our badass graphic designer, which means he colors within the lines, and if he doesn’t he can make up a cool excuse for why he didn’t. “It’s like…artistic, man.” He also gets major cool points for looking like Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.


    Dennis Corpuz
    Alias: Numb3rs
    Dennis is our accountant and keeps track of how many Red Bull IOU’s everybody owes. With the amount of caffeine around here it’s pretty much a full time job. Then again so is keeping up with James and his daily trips to Zaxby’s. The man is serious about his chicken.


    Shane Karalewitz
    Alias: The Parts Guy
    Shane is the Director of Vendor Relations & Logistics or as he likes to put it, “the parts guy.” He grew up on the mean streets of Detroit and from looking at his picture doesn’t he just scream thug life? It takes an original gangster to drive a Slimer-green Nissan 240 SX.


    James Moncure
    Alias: The Zaxby
    When he’s not eating at Zaxby’s, James serves as National Speed’s Chief Financial Officer. He has over 10 years experience in the financial industry, as well as over 4 years experience as a successful entrepreneur in the retail sector. Just don’t ask him how to work the fax machine.


    Casey Robinson
    Alias: Space Hamster
    Casey is our over-caffeinated Copywriter/Media Specialist, which basically means he sits at his desk surfing MySpace when he should be writing. He’s an expert at pretending to work and has an unhealthy obsession with all things movie related. His Ford Focus is the envy of everyone at National Speed.


    Nathan Snell (Schnell)
    Alias: The Baron
    Nathan is the Vice President of Web Development, but don’t let the fancy title fool you. Beneath the corporate veneer is a stone cold operative highly trained in hand-to-hand combat, cage fighting, and clerical efficiency. He may drive a K.I.A. but that’s because he always kills in action.


    Josh Tobey
    Alias: Office Ninja
    Josh is our resident Web Developer and has the stillness of a praying mantis. Seriously, watching him work is like an exercise in Zen efficiency. He’s the ninja of National Speed. You don’t even realize he’s there until he materializes out of thin air. He’s that talented.


    Nina Voltaire
    Alias: Hollywood
    What doesn’t Nina do around here? Besides putting up with a shop full of guys, Nina is our Executive Assistant and a big New Kids on the Block fan. Don’t hold that against her though. What she lacks in musical taste she more than makes up for in cars — the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS will be hers.


    Scott Walker
    Alias: Speed Walker
    Scott is our marketing intern and the only guy cool enough to rock a pink turbo. He skates, he races, and he had his picture taken with Jessica Barton. Too bad she doesn’t date guys that drive ’81 civics…or does she?


    J    ordan Watson
    Alias: Zed
    Jordan is a giant and devours small cities in his spare time. Working as our Performance Consultant he practically lives at the shop. From the moment the customer walks in the door, to the moment they walk out, everything in between is the Performance Consultant’s responsibility.

  • NY Times Chooses Life Not Speed

    The New York Times published an article yesterday calling for all vehicles sold in the United States to only be able to go 75 mph. In effect this means that no car will be able to grossly exceed the speed limit because the car itself is severely limited. The author, Kent A. Sepkowitz, states that this will cut down on the 13,000 people a year killed in traffic accidents.

    Unfortunately, what Mr. Sepkowitz doesn’t take into account is that if his car can only reach 75 mph how is he going to escape the wrath of the millions of drivers in the United States that want to run him down?

    You’d think that the New York Times would only publish writers with common sense and simple logic but obviously that’s not the case. If Mr. Sepkowitz had any of those traits he would’ve realized before he wrote his knee jerk article that of those 13,000 traffic deaths per year, there’s no way to prove that speeding was the actual cause of death. Hell, more than half of the drivers involved in those accidents could’ve had alcohol in their system, in which case wouldn’t drunk driving be the cause of death?

    Does Mr. Sepkowitz really think that people will stand for limiting the speed of their cars? If something like this was actually passed by Congress, automobile sales would plummet causing more chaos than 13,000 traffic deaths per year. If Mr. Sepkowitz is so worried about dangerous drivers perhaps he’d be happier taking the bus. At least then there’d be one less idiot behind the wheel.

    For more statistics regarding Mr. Sepkowitz’s dubious claims check out Jalopnik’s coverage on the subject.

  • Top 3 Hybrids That Make Me Want to Pollute the Environment – part I

    Why does saving the environment have to be so ugly? Is it a requirement that every hybrid has to look like something from a made for Sci-fi Channel movie? Every time I pass one on the street I half expect to find Casper Van Dien behind the wheel. Better technology is all well and good, but if it comes at the cost of driving the equivalent of an electric shaver you can count me out. Just looking at a Prius makes me want to drive the nastiest, gas guzzling beast I can lay hands on and burn through tires like they’re made of Bubble Yum. And while you’re probably thinking I sound like a shallow, mother-nature-hating jackass (and you’re not far off), take a look at these cars and tell me they wouldn’t make you proud to pollute.

    1. The Toyota Prius. The battery for this little baby is advertised as lasting as long as the life of the car, which if you’re anything like me you’ll be praying for a mercy killing by the first mile. I kid, I kid. Honestly, for the price and the horsepower, the Prius isn’t that bad of a car. It’s just so damn ugly. Little known fact: according to engineer Walter Whitwicky, the Prius is the first car that crash test dummies have refused to ride in. True story.

    2. The Honda Insight. Honda stopped production of the Honda Insight as of September 2006. Less than 2,000 Insights were sold in 2005, and they fell below 1,000 in 2006. Honda stated that this was due to their strategic marketing plans to introduce a smaller hybrid in 2009 and had absolutely nothing to due with the fact that the Insight was about as much fun as a nuclear holocaust. Sure it may get 70+ mpg, but do you really want to be seen driving something like that? I didn’t think so.

    3. Honda’s 2009 Mystery Hybrid. Pop quiz: you’ve just built the ugliest car known to man and sold less than 3,000 units in two years. What do you do? Well, if you’re anything like Honda, you release something almost as hideous as their last collosal failure, the Insight. While we’re not sure what Honda’s calling this one yet, it might as well be the Insight 2.0 — bigger, badder, and uglier. Hat tip to Jalopnik for originally leaking the story and providing pictures of what will no doubt be the ugliest car of 2009.

    Perhaps if car companies would design a decent looking, affordable hybrid, car enthusiasts might be more interested in driving them. But then again, considering hybrid technology isn’t as eco-friendly as it’s made out to be, maybe consumers are right in not buying them. Check out part two of our hybrid blog to find out why.

  • UPDATE: Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Horsepower

    Just wanted to post a quick update to our previous blog about the new Dodge Challenger SRT-8. We originally didn’t post the National Speed dyno numbers due to having to wait for Chrysler’s prior approval. We’ve since been given the go ahead so here you are…

  • When the Dodge Challenger Came to Town

    Sometimes I have to remind myself I get paid to do what I do. Normally my typical morning at work consists of perusing MySpace and trying to remember what’s her name’s name, but this morning was different. Today I’m told that Scott Vandekerckhove, a representative from Chrysler with a name my spellchecker absolutely despises, is coming by the shop with the new Dodge Challenger SRT-8. Since August 13th, Scott has been driving down the east coast on a road tour to promote the new Dodge Challenger and after hearing about National Speed, decided to check out the shop and let us get a look under the hood.

    Combining old school lines with a modern aesthetic, the new Dodge Challenger is a pretty sweet ride. In fact, I would say I prefer it to the new Mustang — sorry to the Ford lovers, I love Steve McQueen as much as the next guy, but the Challenger is so much cooler. The SRT-8 comes fully loaded with a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 engine capable of 425 horsepower and the suspension to back it up. And while we weren’t allowed to take it for a test drive (and considering my driving record that’s probably a good thing) we did manage to get the Challenger on the dyno.

    When we strapped her down and cranked her up the Challenger’s GPS went absolutely nuts, thinking it was traveling at a ridiculous speed. By the end of the third pull I think the car ended up somewhere in eastern St. Louis. Overall, the Challenger is an impressive car and we’re stoked that Scott stopped by National Speed to let us check it out. He’s an awesome guy so be sure to give him a thumbs up when you see him cruising by picking up chicks along the east coast. You should also check out the official Dodge blog which details Scott’s adventures eastbound and down. Thanks again Scott for your hospitality. Now how about that test drive?

    UPDATE – AUGUST 29, 2008

    We previously held off on publishing the dyno results for the Challenger due to Chrysler having to approve it first. Luckily, Scott got back with us and we’ve been given the okay to post the dyno sheet. The Challenger ended up putting down 339 horses.

  • 9 out of 10 Women Hate the Environment

    A recent survey conducted by General Motors said that nine out of ten women would prefer to date a guy that drove the latest fuel-efficient car rather than a high performance sports car. Now I’m not sure where General Motors conducts their surveys, but it obviously isn’t Wilmington, North Carolina. It might not even be the same planet. And come to think of it, isn’t it funny that as soon as General Motors dips their toes into the hybrid market they release a survey stating chicks dig guys that drive fuel efficient cars? That’s like McDonald’s saying nine out of ten vegetarians would prefer to eat McDonald’s hamburgers than contract salmonella.

    WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER?

    In the spirit of scientific experimentation, I decided to hit the street and survey the lovely ladies of Wilmington, NC. I presented them with the option of going out in a fuel efficient Ford Focus or a sporty BMW 135i. A whopping nine out of ten women stated they’d rather eat glass than date me, no matter what I drove, so I decided to conduct the remainder of the survey via email instead.

    After randomly sampling women from all walks of life (that sounds a lot dirtier than it’s supposed to), I found that a resounding 15 out of 20 women would prefer to date a guy that drives a sports car. The remaining five said that they didn’t care one way or the other. In other words, not one woman wanted to date a guy that drove a fuel efficient car! That may sound like shenanigans, but I defy anyone that doesn’t believe me to try getting a date while driving a Ford Focus. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be trading in my 30 mpg station wagon for a Bugatti Veyron. Come get some, ladies.

  • The 3,000 Mile Oil Change

    I have a confession to make. I went a year and a half without changing the oil in my car. There, I said it. I’m not proud of it, nor would I ever recommend trying it. In my defense I’d like to point out that I didn’t do this out of negligence or forgetfulness, I simply wanted to see what would happen (when you drive a Focus you can afford these stupid little social experiments). I’ve always heard that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles, but with today’s advances in synthetic oils and engine technology, does the 3,000 mile rule still apply?

    What if I Never Change My Oil?
    If you’re anything like me you like to push the limits. Someone tells you to stay off the grass, you throw a lawn party. No parking? Pardon me while my SUV takes up two spaces. It’s in my nature to do stupid things, hence not changing the oil in my car for close to 20,000 miles. In the case of my Focus I had to pay a sizable fee to get the equivalent of an automotive enema. I was lucky. But because I’m naturally inquisitive (i.e. stupid) I’ve always wondered what would’ve happened had I never changed the oil. This is what I found:

    1. Dirt and sediment will accumulate in the oil causing the filter to clog.
    2. The bad oil bypasses the filter through a relief valve.
    3. Detergent and other additives in the oil wear out.
    4. The oil stops lubricating and the engine wears out and seizes.

    A Change Would Do You Good
    So now that I’ve been scared straight into changing my oil routinely in order to avoid carmageddon, do I really have to change it every 3,000 miles? Simple answer: yes and no. In all honesty, if you drive a high performance vehicle you’re going to want to change your oil often. With the heat that is generated by high performance vehicles and the general wear and tear that comes with driving them, you definitely need to change it early and often.

    However, if you’re just tooling around town in a Tahoe, it’s not going to be as important. Today’s oil is much better than when the 3,000 mile rule first took hold. In fact, most cars today require the oil to be changed about every 5,000 to 8,000 miles (obviously it varies on a vehicle by vehicle basis and you should consult your manual for the proper maintenance schedule). Changing oil is not an exact science, but as long as you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and not what some quick lube shack arbitrarily plasters on your windshield, you should be fine.

    *The author is not responsible for any damage your vehicle may incur due to the fact that his judgment is impaired by hardheaded stupidity.

  • 5 Automotive Urban Legends

    If you don’t read this blog and forward it to 5 of your friends in the next 24 hours your car will explode. Kidding of course, but odds are you’ve probably received an email similar to that, warning you of the dangers of keeping aluminum foil in your glove box or something equally ridiculous. Not to worry. Most of these are nothing but urban legends about as believable as Bigfoot having lunch with Elvis. So in order to steady your nerves, the team here at National Speed has compiled the five most prominent automotive urban legends on the internet and put them to the test.

    1. Not Always Coca Cola. Coke is NOT good for cleaning car batteries. While it may be the king of sodas, Coca Cola does not have magical properties that allow it to remove corrosion. Try Baking Soda and water instead. A few teaspoons should do the trick.

    2. Reach Out and Touch Someone. One of the more popular automotive urban legends as of late is the cell phone myth. The rumor says that if you accidentally lock your keys in your car, you can call someone on your cell that has your spare remote, and if they hold the spare remote up to their phone and push the button, it will magically unlock your car. While this sounds good in theory, remote entry devices work on radio waves and your cell phone can’t send the signal needed to unlock the door. So don’t believe the crazy spam emails. No matter how good your cell provider is, it won’t work.

    3. Pour Some Sugar On Me. Putting sugar in someone’s gas tank will not have catastrophic effects on the engine! Despite popular belief, the sugar will not harden into cement and kill your car. As proven in 1994 at Berkeley University, sugar does not dissolve in gasoline. However, if someone doesn’t like you very much and you do end up with sugar in your tank, you will need to change the fuel filter and probably remove the gas tank and empty it. Sugar in your tank can be a minor annoyance, but it’s nowhere near the horrible car killing event that movies and pop culture make it out to be.

    4. Baby I got Your Number. It is possible for thieves to use your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to make a copy of your car key. So technically this urban legend is true. That being said, most dealerships require people in need of a new key to provide proof of ownership, which thieves aren’t going to have. And while covering or removing your VIN may prevent thieves from making a copy of your key, it creates a new problem in that it’s highly illegal. Bottom line, if you’re that worried about your car being stolen, get an alarm. Or just drive a Ford Focus station wagon and nobody will touch you.

    5. Tennis anyone? There’s a longstanding rumor that you can unlock your car by cutting a hole in a tennis ball and squeezing it over the lock. On almost all cars this is complete B.S. and we ruined a perfectly good tennis ball trying to do it. However, on some older model cars that have a vacuum based lock system, it just might be possible. Bottom line: if you desperately need to unlock your car, call a locksmith or find a brick. It’ll look less silly than a tennis ball.