the Novakz » automotive

The Fabulous Fords Forever Show 2010

Bryan — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:12:13 +0000

This years Ford show was a lot nicer than last year. It was super hot last year. This year was beautiful. This technically was Bella’s second show, she was there in her mommy’s tummy last year. Poor Phia was so miserable last year. This time around was cool and my parents came with us. That was a lot of fun to see all those wonderful cars with my parents and in particular my Dad. He was after all the one who trained me to be a Fordnatic.

He showed me all the cars he had and most of the one’s he wished he had (read an original Shelby Cobra and a Pantera). We looked at the Lightnings to get ideas for “our” truck. I want to add stripes now because of this pretty blue one I saw. Not sure if dad will go for it. We can both agree though that we need to paint the rims black, which is probably on the agenda for sometime this summer. He’s already done it on mom’s Mercedes so should be a piece of cake.

Anyway a good time was had by all, we didn’t hand out for the end when the cars leave. We think it would have been to loud for Belle, but there is always next year!!

Pics below:

Bella Update

Bryan — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:05:52 +0000

So Bella is 6.5 weeks old now. She’s been sleeping great and only waking up 1-2 times a night. She’s growing steadily and adding new things to her repertoire every day. She’s getting pretty good at holding her neck up so she’s really close to having full control. She has learned the fine art of smiling and does a lot of it every morning at about 6 am. It’s really cute. I wish I could show you, but everytime she does it and I put a camera in her face, she fixates on the camera… and the smile goes away. I’ve tried to snap them quick but they are way out of focus. I’ll get a pic sooner or later. She’s also kind of learning to laugh, it’s sort of like a rapid breathing, but we can tell she’s trying. Soon enough on that too.

Let’s see what else, Bella is starting to “coo” and so in the morning when she’s smiling she’ll also sort of talk a little. I don’t think it’s what most people would call completely cooing. it’s mostly little noises, but she’s trying to say something. It was funny, today I was holding her in my left arm and playing chords with my right on the piano. I was singing her a song and she was kind of singing with me. She was just making long sounds kind of soft and drawn out and lets just say it was mega cute.

So that’s about it, things are going great. We’re really looking forward to the holidays and a great new year. We hope all is well with everyone and hope to talk to and see you all soon.

Here are some new pics of Bella, mostly of her playing on the bed and on her fun mat. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bryan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:12:55 +0000

So we hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, ours was wonderful. Bella enjoyed her first thanksgiving with a few bottles o’ milk and a long nap. Of course she loves to sleep when we are around other people. You have to catch her at 5:30 am if you want to see her partying. It’s pretty fun to wake up early!

I feel like this year was the best Thanksgiving ever, my parents are moved back, we are home owners now and of course we’ve got beautiful Bella. I’ve been wanting to thank Phia for a while now because she really has been amazing through the pregnancy and as a mother. She’s taken care of Bella better then I could have ever wished for and she still manages to take great care of me too. She’s an amazing wife, mother and my best friend to boot. So as a small thank you for all the things she does for me and Bella, I gave her a pair of diamond earrings. It’s something she’s always wanted and something I’ve always wanted to give her. They aren’t massive or anything but I feel like they are pretty and I know she just loves them!

As for life in general things are going great. Bella is wonderful. Sure she wakes up early and has bad nights here and there. In general though she’s a great baby and we’re lucky to have her. She is about 6 weeks old now and getting really strong. She can hold her head up pretty well and its starting to “coo”which I guess means just kind of talking. She’s really smiley in the mornings and is learning to laugh a little bit. Its really cute to see her go through all the phases of growth and learn new things. She started tracking with her eyes the other day and she really intensely focuses once she see’s something she likes. She has a play mat that she’s really digging lately so I snapped off a few pics of her enjoying it. Take a look below to check them out!

*Update: I’ve added the pics from Thanksgiving day see the set below!

Looking back at the Wedding.

Bryan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:46:57 +0000

3.5 years later it was still one of the best days ever! Look at all those familiar faces! Check out the pic below…click on the image to view it larger!

Bella’s awesome new game!

Bryan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:56:07 +0000

First of all this is Bella doing her best impression of Rodney Dangerfield… she “get’s no respect”! What can I say the kid has a good sense of humor! Anyway, speaking of funny, Bella decided today that she thought it would be super funny if while we’re changing her diapers, she would grab a hold of her own hair and pull it as hard as she can until she screams bloody murder. That of course is the opportune moment to do it because the person changing the diaper has both hands full.

She did it to Phia and I on separate occasions this morning. Pretty awesome. You’d think a baby would have weak little hands. Nope. It took everything I had to release her mighty grip from her hair, of course all the while she’s screaming. I guess Phia’s mom mentioned the other day (before she learned this new move) that Phia did this exact same move when she was a baby. So yeah she’s mini-Phia right down to the bad habits!

Here are some new photos, Bella is modeling a new outfit courtesy of Mic. Thanks Mic! It looks great!

Click on any photo to view it larger, click on the left or right side of the photo to scroll to the previous or next photo in the set. Enjoy. Bella is 3 weeks old tomorrow!

Pearl Jam @ The Gibson Amphitheater Oct 1, 09

Bryan — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:49:42 +0000

I’ve been a long time fan of Pearl Jam’s since I was a kid. I’ve seen the band… boy I lose track, between 10-15 times, and I can say this show was one of the best I’ve ever seen. The Band was really feeling it and the crowd was giving back what they were putting out . Really phenomenal. Believe me I’ve been to a few shows where the crowd was less than enthusiastic and the band really suffers because of it. I don’t really understand how you could go to a Pearl Jam show and not be mesmerized. They are easily one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. But I guess it happens.

Ed’s voice was marvelous, the band was really well tuned and on point. The new songs sounded terrific, especially Ed’s stripped down version of Just Breathe. He was accompanied by a string quartet. It was beautiful. One of the highlights of the night was when Eddie mentioned that Stuart Copland (The Police) was in attendance and that they were going to try something they’d never done before… it ended up that they played “Driven to Tears”. It was awesome! I’ve never seen then cover anything like that. Usually it’s The Who or Niel Young. I have to say it sounded great. they would never of been able to do that back before Matt was drumming. Only he could do the Police Justice.

Eddie is charged as being the voice of the band and he was in great spirits. I have on occasion seen him far more closed off or perhaps more serious, however last night he was just happy… maybe a little silly too. He mentioned more than a few times that we were leaps and bounds a better crown than the previous night, and he kept thanking us for it. I think Pearl Jam really prides themselves on putting on a good show and so it’s probably tough for them to play to a lethargic crowd.

Because I am part of the Ten Club I am able to secure pretty good seats. The Ten Club is unique in the way they always offer the fans the best seats in the house. As a member you are able to purchase only a pair (prior to general public sales), you must pick them up in person with your ID and your seats are assigned by your seniority within the group. Its a really fair system that ensures the fans are well taken care of and that scalpers are left to fight over the nose bleeds. Plus you can be pretty certain that everyone around you is as big a fan as you are. Since I’ve been with Ten Club for a while I am able to get pretty good seats.

Unfortunately because of the proximity of the show to the due date, Phia felt it better that I she stay home. My mom joined me In her place . Mom didn’t complain, she was extremely stoked to be going, especially after she saw our seats! I was happy to have her join me, but I was really sorry Phia missed it, she would have loved it. I’ll make it up to her though after the baby is born. I’m sure they will come back around next year.

For anyone that cares, below is the set list, which was totally awesome. Below are some pics I snapped, they suck by my standards, but with the light and distance its about as good as it gets.

Main Set: Interstellar Overdrive/Corduroy, Severed Hand, Got Some, Do the Evolution, Dissident, Given to Fly, Johnny Guitar, Amongst the Waves, I Got Shit, Daughter, Jeremy, Unthought Known, Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Driven to Tears (The Police), The Fixer, Rearviewmirror

Encore 1: Just Breathe w/ String Quartet, The End w/ String Quartet, Lukin w/ String Quartet, Red Mosquito w/ Ben Harper, Jazz Odyssey Improv, Betterman/Save It For Later (English Beat)

Encore 2: Gonna See My Friend, I Believe in Miracles (The Ramones), Once, Alive, Yellow Ledbetter/Star Spangled Banner

Lightning Strikes…

Bryan — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:51:42 +0000

Some of you know that I am housing my father’s almighty Ford F-150 Lightning in my garage. Or as I like to refer to it, my inheritance. I actually feel that it’s really fair to call it co-ownership since what’s my dad’s is mine and .. how does the rest of that saying go? Well anyway it’s in my garage and I get to drive it so it feels like mine! If you don’t know, The Ford SVT Lightning is a sports/performance version of the F-150 Pickup truck designed by Fords tuner division (SVT). The Truck sports and 5.4L Supercharged V8 and tuned suspension. Stock, the engine was rated at 380hp, but after some tweaks and mods here and there, my father had it dyno’d at 500hp (approx 410 to the rear wheels) and a whopping 575 lb ft of torque! Yikes. Yes it burns out very well…uuuhh not that I know first hand or anything.

Anyway I took the Truck out the other evening and snapped some cool pics as the sun began to set. Driving that truck is probably one of my favorite things to do, even at idle it’s sheer joy, but wide open, there’s almost nothing better. Let me know what you think of the pics, and if you want a ride, then come on by. In case you’re wondering what mods it has, here is a list of the items that have been added, upgraded so far.

2001 Ford SVT Lightning F-150
Dyno’d @ 500hp (410 Rear Wheel)
575 ft lbs Tq

- Bassani Cat Back Exhaust
- Twin 90mm Throttle Body
- Air Raid Cold Air intake
- Upgraded Pulleys 15lbs Boost
- Re-programmed Computer
- Lowered Front / Back
- Triple Guage Pod
- Color Matched Tonneau Cover

Below are the pics, click any image to view larger and scroll through the gallery.

Shamu Is Watching You!

Bryan — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:30:15 +0000

For my birthday Phia got us annual passes to Sea World! She knows that I grew up going to Sea World and that I have a real attachment to going. It was wonderful of her to get me such a great gift and I look forward to watching Bella grow up with Shamu like I did. We went recently to get re acquainted with the park, things are much different! There are lots of rides now and new attractions that they didn’t have the last time I was there. By the way it’s been literally years and years.

We’ll have to wait until after the baby is here to try out the rides since they are not recommended for preggy girls! But they looked like a lot of fun. All in all we had a great time and since we have passes we’ll be able to head out there a lot more times!!

Below are a few pics (click to view larger) from the day or you can click here to see all the pics from Sea World.

The New Family Truckster, A Real Nice Surprise

Bryan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:47:19 +0000

Somehow my father has the ability to buy or be gifted vehicles for far less money then the average man ever could. Some have theorized that his car acquiring ability is a genetic mutation, making him a low level member of the X-men team. While it’s not very useful for fighting crime, it’s still a pretty cool talent.

Recently my Father was gifted a mini RV made out of a 1980’s Ford Van. It’s a little dated but it’s still pretty damn awesome. As my mom describes it, it’s roughly the size and shape of an old skool ambulance, and with it’s extra tall roof it allows my over-six-foot father to stand upright while inside. There’s a over hang above the front seats that houses a small bed. Inside the main compartment everything is carpeted and or wood paneled which is pure class. The side doors open completely like French Doors. As you enter, there is a kitchenette to your left, complete with sink, mini fridge and dual burner stove. Across is a little couch that doubles as a second bed. Towards the back is some storage (little closet) and a toilet! Yep a toilet! It also has full hook ups for when you are at camp grounds.

It actually reminds me a lot of when they had their boat. The birth was small, but cozy, with all the mini amenities. I think it’s perfect for them to travel with and alternatively it makes for a pretty awesome desert rig. The Van has a big V8 and tow package so it can pull a trailer full of quads no problem. I look forward to using it!

Aside from some out dated cosmetics, everything seems to be in good working order. My folks plan on re carpeting and freshening things up a bit and I’m certain once they’re done it will be really nice. Not a bad deal for the high price of 0.00 dollars!

My Mom took some more pics, including some interior shots as modeled by the dog. Click here to see the rest if the pictures

Here is an artist’s rendition of what I envision happening with the mini RV. Pretty sweet!

That car started the ball rolling, the movie Bullitt had a lot to do with building the mystique of the Mustang. I can remember how it felt to watch the big chase between Steve McQueen and the mysterious Charger for as long as I remember, it’s a Novak family tradition. I used to ask my dad to “double clutch like Bullitt” when we’d go for a ride in his Mustang. Of course he would. Now I own it on BluRay and make my poor wife sit through it once every 3 weeks.

When it was time to start driving, my father built up a 1969 Mustang coupe for me, it was beautiful but it had a inline 6 and was under powered. Back then I was disappointed, I was hoping for a big rumbling V8 like dear old dad. Later he’d tell me he couldn’t reconcile giving a 16 year old a heavy hitting big block, and in the end, he was absolutely right. That car taught me to walk before I could run, and when I finally upgraded to my first GT, I had a greater appreciation for how to drive and the satisfaction of earning your stripes. For my dad it must have been pretty tough to knowingly disappoint me just because he knew what’s best for me. Looking back it’s a good lesson in how to be a great father, and with my wife pregnant it’s one I appreciate even more today.

Here’s some pics of the cars that made me the Ford Man I am today.

Billy holding “Max”, me in the middle and Dad with the 1964 1/2 289 and the 85′ SVO. The SVO by the way was a limited run road course car that Ford made mid eighties, it had a turbo 4cyl. It was the sport compact before Sport Compacts were popular. Very quick, handled like a dream and of course Dad put on Nitrous just for fun.

1969 Mustang Coupe

1995 Mustang GT 5.0

1996 Mustang Cobra 4.6L

1993 Vortec Super Charged F-150 Lightning