Tod Mesirow

Author

Tod Mesirow

science, cars, photography, art

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Each year some serious automotive enthusiasts bring their vintage vehicles to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and take them around the track, wheel to wheel, in a series of races. It’s an awesome event because many of these cars are worth six or seven figures, and instead of spending their lives strictly as garage queens, their owners put them to the use for which they were built – racing. in 2011 Mazda brought the only Japanese car ever to win Le Mans, the rotary powered 1991 Mazda 787B. Pay no attention to my hair.

Watch Tod’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Video here.

By Morio (photo taken by Morio) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

September 13, 2016 0

Cars & Coffee

by Tod Mesirow

There was an amazing early morning event, every weekend, from 6 to 9 AM in Irvine, held in the Mazda parking lot, called Cars & Coffee. The ultimate automotive enthusiasts show – free – and completely eclectic. From one week to the next one never knew who would show up with what amazing vehicle. I had the good fortune to make this short piece for Mazda. I’m not used to getting up that early – but it was worth it.

Watch Tod’s Cars & Coffee video here.

(Photo by Axion23 (A few Rare Ferraris) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons)

September 9, 2016 0

Los Angeles Auto Show and the Concept Car

by Tod Mesirow

The LA Auto Show is one of those annual events that just feels like the right thing in the right place- and once they moved it to November, the right time as well. A great opportunity to see some old classics thanks to a display organized by the Motor Press Guild, and of course the perfect opportunity to see the newest, latest, and greatest from all the world’s car manufacturers. I went with KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis to experience the show in person.

Hear Tod’s story on KCRW.

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September 6, 2016 0

Why Fuel Efficiency Hasn’t Changed Much…

by Tod Mesirow

Most people think about their car’s mileage only when they get to the gas station, and realize they have to spend money for the privilege of sitting in traffic on the highway or in one of our clogged cities. Unless you’re a hypermiler, that rare denizen of driving with one purpose in mind: To squeeze the maximum mileage out of every sip in every tank of gas. If you’re not –like most of us aren’t — you may still wonder why we don’t have a car that gets 100 miles per gallon.

Hear Tod’s story on KCRW.

Photo (c) Toyota

September 2, 2016 0

Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 Tire Review

by Tod Mesirow

They’re the most important single thing on your car, and the thing you probably think the least about. Okay, maybe you don’t think much about all the stuff hidden underneath the rear seats that’s fallen there over the years. Fair enough. But tires – they are worth thinking about.

Read Tod’s Yokohama Tire Review here.

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Photos (c) Tod Mesirow

August 30, 2016 0

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class Test Drive and Review

by Tod Mesirow

The SUV came mostly out of nowhere and now occupies a preeminent place in most car manufacterers’ lineups. All the functionality of a minivan – most carry a minimum of six passengers, some as many as eight – with the style and some of the capabilities of a robust off-road vehicle. Mercedes has married the best of both lineages while including a bit of their signature refinements.

Read Tod’s review at SUVs.About.com.

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Photos (c) Tod Mesirow

August 26, 2016 0

2016 Dodge Dart Test Drive and Review

by Tod Mesirow

There are certain cars that demonstrate the maturity of that which we now all take for granted – that cars work flawlessly, are comfortable, keep us safe, and get us from one place to another with a bit of opportunity for fun. The Dodge Dart GT was all of that and more.

Read Tod’s review at Cars.About.com.

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Photos (c) Tod Mesirow

August 23, 2016 0

2017 Bentley Bentayga

by Tod Mesirow

There’s a reason some things are called luxury items. They’re better versions of workhorse items. There’s a lot of competition at the top of the pyramid because there’s a lot of money up there. I guess that’s the point, so to speak. On almost all fronts, the Bentley Bentayga belongs on a pedestal, if not the tip of a pyramid, as the top of its luxury SUV class.

Read Tod’s review at SUVs.About.com.

Photos (c) Tod Mesirow

August 19, 2016 0

The Minivan on KCRW

by Tod Mesirow

Chrysler is credited with inventing the modern minivan in 1983. On November 2, 1983 the first minivan rolled off the assembly line in Windsor, Canada, across the river from Detroit. It was reportedly a blue Plymouth Voyager with wood trim.

But credit also goes to the United States government, and citizens, a.k.a. taxpayers. On the verge of bankruptcy, Chrysler received $1.5 billion in Federal loans in 1980. What did they do with it?