Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
You’ve got to do something when you’re stuck in traffic. You can’t just stare at the ass end of a Lamborghini Gallardo the whole time — or can you? But really, why not make the waiting a little more entertaining by revving your engine?
If you don’t have the time to go on vacation in the mountains of southern Europe, don’t worry – we went there for you. We’ve returned with gifts, too. No unwrapping required. All you have to do is look at these spy shots of the facelifted B-Class we snapped.
We’re bringing you spy shots of the Mercedes-Benz MLC63 AMG (or ML-Coupe AMG or M-Class Coupe AMG — the jury’s still out on that one) straight from an undisclosed spot near the manufacturer’s proving grounds.
The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, with its slab sides and butch, safe-like lines, may appear impenetrable, but it’s not. Like every normal automobile, it’s at the mercy of small-arms fire … until you take it to Inkas Armored Vehicle Manufacturing.
One of our forum members from Australia, “GRP”, is lucky enough to own a 2010 C63 AMG (pictured above). Unfortunately, no amount of horsepower under the bulging hood — not even 451 — is enough to get the super sedan across the vast expanse of water between his home country and the good ol’ U.S. of A.
Brabus is hard at work developing its version of the Smart ForTwo. The hotted-up city car should have more aggressive bodywork, including a bigger grille, a different front bumper and twin exhaust pipes.
