Today is Drive-In movie day!

June 6th is Drive-In movie day, so here's a little history of one of America's favorite pastimes! By the mid-50's West Virginia "peaked" with as many as 76 Drive-in movie theaters operating within the state. 

Since the heyday of the Drive-in, their numbers here have declined by 87%, and presently there are only ten of them operating within the Mountain State.

These are the most-recent closings and remaining Drive-ins that you can still enjoy and support.


Link to locations of Drive-In Theaters:  http://bit.ly/1k0UGmA

 

The art of Towing: Follow these guidelines

Whether it’s your first time using your pickup to haul cargo or you’re a regular pro with the tow, it’s important to haul your cargo the right way.  Don’t latch that trailer until you’ve asked yourself these four questions:

1. What are the restrictions?  Towing laws vary by state, so get to know the ones for your area.  Make it easier on everyone: abide by them.

2. What are my limits?  Brake slightly if the towing vehicle slows, or starts down a hill where your speed may cause you to begin to overtake him. Slack in the tow line while traveling can result in a serious jolt if the vehicle pulling your speeds up suddenly. By keeping the tow line tight, this risk is greatly reduced. 

3. What am I hauling?  Just like you adjusted the size of your trailer for the size of your truck, take into account what you’re moving. You might need to use a closed trailer so avoid cargo spilling onto the road.

4. Where am I towing this?  The last thing you need to keep in mind is the terrain you’ll need to tackle during this job.  Take note of any unpaved roads or other deviations from the norm– it can and will affect your experience.

Some of our favorite Car Movies!

As car-enthusiasts we love when we get to see an action packed movie with tons of really nice cars. We are going to give you our list of some really awesome movies that if you haven’t had a chance to see them yet, well now you have something to do.

Number 3 on our list: Rush: This is an epic movie that gets the blood flowing. The film is centered on an intense rivalry between two of Europe’s best F1 racers, James Hunt and Niki Lauda. With an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty amazing, this is a must-see film for all the car lovers out there.

Number 2: Drive: Ryan Gosling puts in one of his best movies of his career as he plays a wheelman for hire during the day, but at night uses his skills steering getaway vehicles for armed heists. He runs into some trouble with the wrong kind of people and has to make some tough decisions to protect the ones he loves. A great film that will grab your attention from the beginning and keep it until the end!

Number 1: Fast and Furious: There have been a number of Fast and Furious’ made after this gem, but this one still gets my vote as the best ever. It found a way to introduce Underground Street racing at its core, and didn’t need all the crazy special effects that you will find in all the newer films. An absolute classic, and must see.

♫ Happy Birthday to Bob Smith ♫

“A joyful heart is good medicine.” King Solomon is credited with giving that little piece of good advice thousands of years ago and it still holds true today. Experts agree that laughter is good for the soul and for your physical health. It's a proven fact that people with a good sense of humor live longer. Nowhere was humor more evident than during a television commercial shoot for Advantage Toyota. Jenn Brooks and I laughed loudly through a few bloopers before getting down to business. Research finds that humor can help you cope better with pain, enhance your immune system, and reduce stress. I am told that when I was much younger my family would have no trouble finding me in a crowd. They would hear my very loud laugh and know exactly where I was. In the world we live today, it's very easy to become discouraged. The economy, healthcare, unemployment, drugs, terrorism, pollution, anxiety, depression, the list goes on and on and if we're not very careful, any of these things can drag us down. Please remember, usually, the space between our ears keeps us from living a vibrant, positive, and healthy life. Now obviously we can't laugh at everything that comes along, but we can certainly put a positive spin on most of life's circumstances.

A good sense of humor has brought me through some very trying times and it can do the same thing for you. The first thing I look for in The Herald-Dispatch every day is Brenda Lucas' column. Today's chuckle is a great way to start the day. As the old song goes, “Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day.” By the way, did you hear the one about....

Buying vs. Leasing

Disadvantages of Car Leasing

• You don't own the car at the end of the lease.
• Your mileage is limited to a set amount, typically 12,000-15,000 miles a year (excess miles are paid for at the lease termination).
• Lease contracts are confusing.
• Leasing is more expensive in the long run (as opposed to buying and driving until the wheels fall off).
• Wear-and-tear charges can add up (paid at lease termination).
• It's costly to terminate a lease early if your driving needs change.

Advantages of Car Buying

• Pride of ownership — you can modify your car as you please.
• Car buying is more economical in the long run unless you buy and trade-in regularly.
• No penalty for driving excess mileage
• Increased flexibility — you can easily sell the car whenever you want.

Disadvantages of Car Buying

• Higher down payment is generally required.
• Higher monthly payments
• You're responsible for maintenance costs once the warranty expires.
• Trade-in or selling hassles when you're ready to get rid of your car
• More of your ready cash is tied up in a car, which depreciates, rather than an investment that appreciates.

Look to Edmunds.com for more valuable information and analysis!