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Hamilton Spectator
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
A cult with cars? I'm inside this automotive clubhouse, soaking up a cool vibe
Tucked neatly behind a series of industrial complexes, studios and garages in Leaside, Toronto, lies RCLUB, a mysterious and somewhat misunderstood automotive social club. Some say their memberships cost upwards of $15,000. Others say it's an exclusive members club only for the fortunate few who own one of the world's great cars. The truth? It's a hub for all who love anything to do with automotive culture, and it provides its members a community to share in their passions. Since its creation in 2019, RCLUB (as in Our Club) has grown and evolved, while still staying true to its roots. Built upon the vision of founder, Adam Westland, to offer a luxury car-sharing platform, the club provided members with the opportunity to borrow high-end cars whenever they pleased. (Westland has a background in IT infrastructure design for hotel chains.) The model has since changed and the members have stayed. The shift in gear from supercar borrowing to automotive social club really started to ramp up over the past six months through the partnership of Nick Cassells, 42, and his wife, Whitney Bloom, 37, as they joined up with Westland. 'Today, the club has really evolved into this large community of auto enthusiasts' says Bloom. 'I think that's what's so great about the community at RCLUB, it's just really inclusive. It's not just a car club; it's a social club.' Now the club screams family and community, almost as loudly as the V10s of the Lamborghinis parked out back roar when they arrive. 'We both have full time jobs. but we are passionate about the RCLUB community and while it's busy with a three-year-old, a nine-month old and a dog), we are dedicated to keeping our unique car culture alive … even if it means stretching the boundaries of time,' says Bloom, who works for Meta. Cassells spent a decade at Labatt, where he learned how to create an atmosphere to make people feel welcomed. He attended culinary school at George Brown. 'Nick is always working to ensure the clubhouse, like his kitchen, is clean and fuelled with good energy,' says Bloom. The injection of Cassells' hospitality expertise invigorated the club. Even with its hidden location, and some confusion surrounding it since its change of direction, the 'exclusive' members car club has managed to grow to become the largest individually held and locally owned one in Canada. I went along to take in the Miami Formula One viewing party to sample the vibe. Some of the cars parked outside diverted partygoers' attention. A trio of Lamborghinis, in particular, caught the eye. I said I'd like to film some rolling footage of the Lamborghini squad. A club member jumped into action and rallied the three owners for a drive. He even hopped in at the wheel of my parents' Honda Fit, so I would be free to capture the moment through my lens as we took over the Bayview extension for a Sunday afternoon drive. It was generous of them to do this for a young photographer and highlights the large heart of this automotive family. I won't dwell on the features of the club: the mechanic bays, car storage, cars to swap and test, SIM racing, live events and discounts on parts and tires. What truly makes this club stand out is the inclusive vibe its members have built. Perhaps a line from the 'Fast & Furious' franchise will capture it best: 'Everyone becomes family. It's like a cult with cars.' — Aimes in 'Fast X.'
The Drive
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Old Ford Model A Rat Rod Is Actually a Polaris RZR
The latest car news, reviews, and features. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, which means it's also too quiet. Time to disturb the peace with another Polaris RZR body swap. This one will make Henry Ford roll over in his grave…and try to hop into the driver's seat. The RZR is the sport segment's most popular side-by-side that, well, often finds itself on its side—or rolling down a hill, or crunched against a tree. People get carried away, y'know. Enterprising builders know an opportunity when it wrecks itself: for example, a crashed Polaris became the donor for this off-roading Honda Fit. And now we've got another ruined RZR fitted into a Ford Model A. In part one of a currently 13-part series, Papa Wheelie rescues a 1929 Model A from his uncle's property, where it had been parked for an extended period. Although he doesn't specify how long the green machine was sitting, a photo shows the vehicle in a covered garage, itself partially covered by haphazardly placed items, such as a warehouse store-sized container of cat litter. Sigh. That's okay, though. He really just needed the sheet metal; its heart and soul comes courtesy of a 2016 Polaris RZR Turbo that was rolled by 'a friend of a friend.' Gee, some friend. 'Many of you will say, 'Hey, that's pretty stupid that you're doing that,'' Mr. Wheelie says at the intro video's 1:25 mark. 'But my idea of hot rodding is you take what you have.' And what he had was a neglected Ford and a rolled RZR. That first video was posted in January of 2022. Twelve updates and three-ish years later, the pieces are finally in place. Or at least fit together enough for a first test drive. The finished Model A 'pre-runner' now boasts a different look from its derelict beginnings. Featuring splashy teal and black paint, the Model A is also without its sidemounted spare tire, has a chopped profile, and wears whitewall tires wrapped around steelies. The vehicle was also made street legal with working headlights, taillights, turn signals, and a registered license plate. But when hitting the streets, your senses will be confused. 'I heard it coming down the road,' said a friend. 'I'm, like, who is showing up in a motorcycle?' He wasn't the only one flabbergasted. During the maiden voyage, Papa Wheelie ends up driving behind local law enforcement (4:00). After a while, the patrol unit pulls over to let him pass, but, to Wheelie's surprise, doesn't follow. Because, no, vintage Fords aren't supposed to sound like that. But who cares? Everyone who drives and rides Papa Wheelie's 'Model rAzR' comes back wearing the biggest grin their face can muster. Yes, especially the kids. The project isn't over yet, but it's certainly closer than it's ever been. The team still has to make tweaks to the hand controls and gauges. The overly squealy tires will also be replaced with a staggered-sized set of 32-inch ('maybe 30s?') high-performance ITP Coyote treads fitted onto Vision wheels. The next video will feature a comparo test between the vehicle's low-riding hot rod stance and the jacked suspension off-roader. The Model A was a favorite of gangsters and hot rodders. This Polaris-based version would probably get a thumbs up just the same. As for the Father of the Assembly Line, would he really be upset over one of his creations still enjoying life nearly a century later?
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Singaporean drivers clash in road rage incident at Johor CIQ
JOHOR BARU: A petty road spat between two Singapore-registered Honda drivers escalated into a full-blown shoving match at the land checkpoint here on May 31. A one-minute-17-second clip of the road rage incident, which also showed both men kicking each other's vehicles, is believed to have been captured by another motorist's dashcam and later posted on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page. The incident, which occurred at 2.30am, involved a white Honda Vezel and a black Honda Fit, both Singapore-registered, in near-standstill traffic at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI). In the video, the Vezel driver, clad in a white T-shirt and shorts, is seen stepping out of his vehicle to confront the Fit driver, who was wearing a black T-shirt and shorts. As the latter opened his door, the man in white kicked it, sparking a brief but aggressive shoving match. A woman from the Vezel and two men from the Fit rushed to defuse the situation, but not before more door-kicking and finger-jabbing played out, all in the middle of slow-moving traffic. The altercation further irritated motorists already stuck in the early-morning jam. The clip ends there, but netizens were quick to weigh in. Some condemned the display of machismo, pointing out that traffic at the checkpoint was bad enough without "two Honda drivers playing Street Fighter". Others advised motorists to "leave the drama on Netflix, not in JB". One commenter quipped that the saga probably ended with both men hugging it out at a nearby petrol station, after realising Malaysia's fuel prices were too good to fight over. Meanwhile, Johor Baru South police chief, Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat, said that, as of press time, no police reports had been lodged by either party.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Singapore Drivers Fight at Causeway Checkpoint
TWO Singapore-registered Honda vehicles were involved in a physical altercation at a Malaysian immigration checkpoint, according to footage shared on social media. According to SG Road Vigilante on its Facebook post, the confrontation took place during the early hours of May 31 (Saturday) at approximately 2.30am, featuring a white Honda Vezel and a black Honda Fit, both bearing Singapore number plates. Dashboard camera recordings from a nearby vehicle captured the incident as it unfolded in the congested checkpoint area, with both cars moving slowly in adjacent lanes. The footage reveals that tensions were already escalating between the drivers through hand gestures before the situation deteriorated further. The dispute intensified when the white Vezel attempted to merge into the black Honda Fit's lane, prompting the Vezel's driver to exit his vehicle. The man, wearing white clothing, approached the Fit aggressively while making threatening gestures toward the other driver. As the situation escalated, the Fit's driver, dressed in black, opened his door to step out, at which point the Vezel driver grabbed the door and delivered a kick to it. The confrontation then moved onto the roadway, where the man in white physically pushed his opponent backward, initiating a scuffle. A female passenger from the Vezel attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation, while two additional men emerged from the Fit to join the fray. The incident devolved into a group altercation with multiple participants pushing each other as the woman continued her efforts to restore order. Majority netizens stood out to condemn the act by both drivers. Facebook user Mohd Barak suggested the Singapore government to enact a new law fining or temporarily ban anyone from entering Johor Baru if caught fighting at checkpoints.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Road rage erupts between Singapore Honda drivers at Causeway border
TWO Singapore-registered Honda vehicles were involved in a physical altercation at a Malaysian immigration checkpoint, according to footage shared on social media. According to SG Road Vigilante on its Facebook post, the confrontation took place during the early hours of May 31 (Saturday) at approximately 2.30am, featuring a white Honda Vezel and a black Honda Fit, both bearing Singapore number plates. Dashboard camera recordings from a nearby vehicle captured the incident as it unfolded in the congested checkpoint area, with both cars moving slowly in adjacent lanes. The footage reveals that tensions were already escalating between the drivers through hand gestures before the situation deteriorated further. The dispute intensified when the white Vezel attempted to merge into the black Honda Fit's lane, prompting the Vezel's driver to exit his vehicle. The man, wearing white clothing, approached the Fit aggressively while making threatening gestures toward the other driver. As the situation escalated, the Fit's driver, dressed in black, opened his door to step out, at which point the Vezel driver grabbed the door and delivered a kick to it. The confrontation then moved onto the roadway, where the man in white physically pushed his opponent backward, initiating a scuffle. A female passenger from the Vezel attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation, while two additional men emerged from the Fit to join the fray. The incident devolved into a group altercation with multiple participants pushing each other as the woman continued her efforts to restore order. Majority netizens stood out to condemn the act by both drivers. Facebook user Mohd Barak suggested the Singapore government to enact a new law fining or temporarily ban anyone from entering Johor Baru if caught fighting at checkpoints.
