Mercedes-Benz & Friends, Berlin Tempelhof

Prior to their huge "Mercedes-Benz & Friends" event in Berlin Tempelhof we had the privilege of discussing with Mercedes-Benz what it takes to be a "cool" (Young Classics) brand. The meeting took place in a small circle in their stunning Berlin Gallery. As we usually travel long distancies in our 1970 Mercedes-Benz W 109 we might be a little prejudiced regarding that question ...

Just hit one of the images above to visit our "Mercedes-Benz & Friends" gallery.

Decim8

I think I've fallen in love. With Decim8. As everybody is applying retro or vintage effects to images, this handy little app decimates them. Yeop—it destroys them. It makes your images look like a "corrupt JPEG on a dying hard drive". 

If you are a fan of streamlined pop music, get a Hipstamatic. If you get inspired from Throbbing Gristle (video above), Frontline Assembly or Trent Reznor, get Decim8.

Mercedes-Benz Brand Workshop

A couple of days ago, we were invited by Mercedes-Benz for a "brand workshop". We had a fabulous guided tour through the stunning Mercedes-Benz Museum, visited the design department and test drove a lot of cars. Just follow this link for more pictures.

The first car we tested — voluntarily — was the Smart Electric Drive. We had a lot of discussions regarding this car recently, so it was a good opportunity to form our own opinion. Um ... well ... interesting. But to be honest: most fun we had with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. I think we can't hide our origin. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a wonderful beast.

Gotta Go

A couple of days ago I had the pleasure to meet Roger Miret. He gave a concert in Hamburg with his band Agnostic Front and visited his Rumblers C.C. Chapter Hamburg.

For a full story (written in German) just follow this link. 

Google+

A few days ago Google rolled out "Google+" and we are honored to be part of it. At the moment it is still a kind of closed beta. "Kind of" because sometimes it seems to be possible to invite other people, but most of the time it fails. 

Due to our concerns for Facebook we are thrilled what this will do to the whole "Social Media" circus. Will it be a game changer? Or a geeky non-starter? It seems Ford (FoMoCo, Ford Europe) tries to find an answer as well.

Be that as it may — our first steps on Google+ feel very good. The whole interface (web/mobile) is excellent designed and fun to use. If you are on Google+ — let's get in touch! 

Rain ... er ... Race 61

Although we got warned in the forefront that it would pouring rain, we hit the road to Finowfurt in our 1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II. Usually we came back with heavy sunburns from the Roadrunner's Race 61 – not so this year. What a bummer.

We snapped some photos with our cellphones. For some more photos just click on one of the images – or follow this link.

Oh. It's me.

Tobi Faust and Arthur Heisler (Faust & Heisler) just released a video portrait of me. And my work. And Chromjuwelen.com. Which makes me self-conscious. To be honest.

The video was shot during the "Street Mag Show Hamburg" and presents some people of our Chromjuwelen Family. Including Helge Thomsen (Motoraver, 1973 "Mad Max" Ford Falcon XB GT), Kris "Kick 'n' Rush" Karathomas (1958 Chevy), Niels-Peter Jensen (Cheezy Rider), Oliver Kaps (Style Deluxe). And — of course — our 1972 "General Tire" International Harvester Scout II.

Enjoy.

Techno Classica Essen 2011

1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II

Needs some tlc. Opel Rekord Limousine

1955 Flajole Forerunner

"I cruised the Reeperbahn" - Peter "Monsti" Theobold (Fusseltuning)

1928 Opel Raketen-Motorrad

Mercedes: Bertha's Benz (Motorwagen)

Bitter SC

Quote: "If the raver's dream is the Loveparade, the petrol head's dream is the Techno Classica."

Word. We just have brought our 1972 General Tire International Harveseter Scout II to the booth of our colleagues from Street Magazine and took some pictures. Hit one of the images above to see them all. 

Chromjuwelen Road Movie: 44 minutes and 44 seconds

Ever since we are doing Chromjuwelen.com, we are dreaming of "Chromjuwelen Road Movies". To capture outtakes, "behind the scene" material and shaky cell phone videos. Here it is—our first movie. Enjoy!

Please check out Chromjuwelen.com for more details.

Chromjuwelen En Route: Continental Tire Challenge, Rolex 24 at Daytona

"Fascinting Daytona Beach"

"Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Lyonel Kent"

"Rolex 24 at Daytona: (Patrick) Dempsey Racing"

Finally—our Grand-Am/Daytona Beach videos which we shot in the course of our Brand Ambassadorship for Continental are ready. Sorry fellas—German only. Props to Dean Malay (Producer), Jan Wigger (Camera) and Christian Tomes (Editing).

Appearance in alphabetical order:

• Greg Cates (Team Manager), Dempsey Racing

• Patrick Dempsey (Team Principal, Driver Rolex 24 at Daytona), Dempsey Racing

• Charles Espenlaub (Driver Rolex 24 at Daytona), Dempsey Racing

• Joe Foster (Team Principal, Driver Rolex 24 at Daytona), Dempsey Racing

• Andy Green (Andy Green is the current holder of the World Land speed record, and the first person to break the sound barrier on land)

• Lyonel and Danielle Kent (Driver Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge)

• Buz McKim, NASCAR Hall of Fame

• Tom Long (Driver Rolex 24 at Daytona), Dempsey Racing

• Matthias Schönberg, Continental Tire The Americas

• C. J. Wilson, Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers

Make sure you visit Chromjuwelen.com for the full article and photo galleries!

Sneak Preview: NASCAR Hall of Fame

On our way to the Continental Tire Challenge and Rolex 24 at Daytona (GRAND-AM) we stopped at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte to meet Buz McKim. Buz gives us a brief overview on the NASCAR history. For a "NASCAR Hall of Fame"-gallery hit on of the images above. Or just use this link. 

This is a sneak preview—we will publish a full coverage of our latest trip soon. 

MotoClub Hamburg: Finest Motorkultur since 2006, every Sunday.

Good to see the MotoClub Hamburg, which we brought into being 2006 with our soulmates from Motoraver, is still the place to be. Too bad I don't find the time to pay the Hafenbahnhof a visit more often. It is probably not the biggest weekly gahthering in Northern Germany. But it is the one with the best cars. To get an idea of it—here are some more photos.

If you'll ever be in Hamburg for a weekend, make sure you pop in.

Take-Off: Rolex 24 at Daytona 2011

Our plane leaves in a couple of hours. We will pop in at our partners from Continental in Charlotte, whip round the NASCAR Hall of Fame and finally visit the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona. Here are some more details ...

OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational

Brent Jarvis, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette

1972 Chevy Nova

Tom Ciancitto, 1937 Ford Pick-Up

1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Twin Turbo V12 ("Mercedes-Bent")

Chevrolet Camaro

During our trip to SEMA 2010 with Continental we had the honour to visit Cam Douglass' "OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational" (OUSCI) in Pahramp, NV. Impressive, seeing all that "Über-Autos" in real life.

Head over to Chromjuwelen.com for our photo essay (115 photos). 

SEMA Show 2010: Photos, Articles and More

OK, SEMA is over. And we are already back in Germany. But it is never too late for ultra slammed mini trucks, imposing restomods and awesome hot rods. Just hit this link to see what we brought back. 

Some may have already seen our article ("SEMA Show Las Vegas 2010: Vorbildliche Kulturpflege") on Chromjuwelen.com. Our colleagues from autobild.de posted our coverage as well: "Tuning-Meisterstücke in Las Vegas". We also just received a call that GRIP, a German TV Motor Magazine, covered us working. Check out Min. 6:20 in their "SEMA Show 2010 report". What a coincidence!

At this moment we are working on our reportages about the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, our test drive at the Lucas Oil Off Road Series and our interview with Alex Anderson (West Coast Customs (LA)). Stay tuned.

What a mindblowing trip. A huge "thank you" to our partners from Continental for letting us go out into the world. Wow. We love our job. Did we mentioned that already?

SEMA Show 2010: Sneak Preview

Yes. We are still alive. We are back from our overseas trip and brought along a ton of material — SEMA Show 2010, Lucas Oil Off Road Race, OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, West Coast Customs (Los Angeles) — which wants to get chopped. Aside from that we visited the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for some oval track sports and dragracing and finally paid Rinkens a visit. 

I bet it will not get boring the next days. Stay tuned.

SEMA Show 2010. We will be there.

Soon we will be back on the road again—we will visit the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Also we will attend the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing. Yepp. We are hooked on desert racing.

Just shoot us an e-mail if you want to meet us!

We have seen the paradise: Contidrom

The German "Youngtimer" Rallye Creme21 brought us today to the test track Contidrom (Continental). We have to come back. Under all circumstances.

Hit one of the images to see more pictures.

Hamburger Stadtpark-Revival: Pictures

After our first coming out in Winsen, the traditional "Stadtpark-Rennen" was the next date on our "GT Scout"-tour. If you ever wanted to know what Maserati, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz or Volkswagen paint our town red, you should visit the Hamburg Stadtpark-Revival. For more classic car beauties visit our gallery. 

Roadrunner's Paradise & Race 61: Photo Sneak Preview

Do I really need to say I want that Mercedes Benz Adenauer 300 Hot Rod? What a bad*ss built — it'll be gorgeous once it's finished!

Just click on one of the images above to start a Flickr slideshow. A full "Roadrunner's Paradise & Race 61" article will follow asap.