2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit

Hi All:

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Every journey begins with a small first ste ... decal!

The 2018 Hyundai #Elantra Eco is now prepped for its inaugural 7,000+ mile RT journey to the 2018 NAIAS (Detroit Auto Show) and back.

Starting in San Diego, the first destination is the half way point in Detroit. A small detour on the way back for short visits to both The Chicago Auto Show and the Greater Milwaukee Auto Show, hopefully taking in a Midwest Automotive Media Association meet while in the frigid Midwest, and finally a trip back west to the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. - home to the 2018 Shell #EcoMarathon - before heading home to San Diego.

The first Shell Eco-marathon Americas was held at the Sonoma Raceway back in 2007 so this is a kind of welcome home celebration.

2018 Hyundai Elantra Eco

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Shell is helping with the fuel so in return I will be passing out a large number of $0.25 off per gallon Fuel Rewards Network cards as I make my way across the country and back.

The 2018 Auto Show season is in full swing and I cannot wait to check out the all-new metal being planned and prepped in both Detroit and Chicago this winter.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The road to Detroit begins in California...

A Pennzoil/Quaker State MPG meet at the The Proud Bird Restaurant just outside of LAX is just the beginning...

2018 Hyundai Elantra ECO


The #Hyundai #Elantra is posing below a famous "Red Tails" P-51 at the Proud Bird just outside of LAX...


Carlsbad, CA. Shell with the Pacific less than .5 miles behind me and the infamous I-5 ahead.


But first a climb on the I-8 to the 4,181' ASL Crestwood Summit some 81 miles out.


And sea level at the 122-mile mark.​

With #Shell and the Fuel Rewards Network covering the fuel, how about "#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The CA/AZ border is just down the road a piece.

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"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

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NM is next.

"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The highest point traversed occurred at the Continental Divide on I-40 in NM.

The highest point traversed was 7,275' ASL at the Continental Divide on I-40 in NM.​

"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

HI All:

The TX border was up next and the next few shots are some of my favorites as they are time lapse setups.

2018 Hyundai Elantra ECO at the NM/TX border


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If you are crossing the U.S. on I-40, you must stop at Cadillac Ranch just outside of Amarillo, TX even if it is in the middle of the night.

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A 30-second Time Lapse with my Sony a6300 and 19 mm f2.8 Sigma Prime mounted on a tri-pod. I used a Samsung Mobile USA Galaxy S8+' LED to light the vehicles while running up and down the length just outside the right of the frame as the time lapse was occurring.

"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

It was just 13 degrees F at the TX/OK border when I snapped this reflection off the passenger side rear glass.

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"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

A shot from the embankment above the OK/MO border sign on I-40.

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"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

There was little I could snap at the Mississippi River when passing by. The Arch would have been a killer shot but... An IL border sign later in the evening. Temps from 9 to 15 degrees F and 20 to 30 mph headwinds.

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"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Looking back, a cool product shot from a Shell in Tulsa, OK.

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"#Shell_OnTheRoad" with #InstantGold.

Wayne

 

HI Bill:

Thanks! I saw a time lapse vid on YouTube where the producers were doing this with hour long plus exposures with high end DSLRs in the middle of the desert and using high power flashlights to sweep the target while everything outside just showed a beautiful sky with the star sweep above.

I snapped three and this one provided the creamiest ground lighting while still allowing some of the painted colors to show. I wish I had a high power flashlight with me as the Sony a6300 only has a 30-second maximum time lapse and I suspect the colors could have popped a lot more.

Here is a similar shot with a 10-second time lapse but without a passing vehicle or my smartphone LED sweep. A vastly different picture and a useless one at that.

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

James Davis, aka "The Step Child" will be adding his own commentary to what was on the floor as well.

From the 2018 NAIAS, the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado details are up.

Chevrolet Formally Introduces the All-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The majors from Detroit from my perspective.

• Chevrolet Formally Introduces the All-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado
• Ford’s Set for U.S. Release of its Much Anticipated Ranger
• The Most Important Reveal from Detroit Was? Kia’s 2019 Forte
• 2019 VW Jetta Reveal
• 2019 RAM 1500 Mild Hybrid
• 2019 Hyundai Veloster
• 2019 Toyota Avalon

Wayne

 

Hi All:

And the road back...

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

My view at the first WY Rest area after NE on I-80 Westbound.

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Wayne

 

Hi All:

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From the NE/WY border at 5,000' ASL and 60 degrees to Cheyenne at 6,200' ASL and 45 degrees just 40 miles later, to nearing whiteout conditions at 8,600' ASL and 30 degrees, and closing of I-80 after Laramie after another 35 miles. This is early April in WY in a nutshell.

Wayne