Even Easter Can Be An Adventure

How A Chevrolet Suburban Turned One Child’s Holiday Into An Adventure Of Epic Proportions

By Brandon Gorrell
 

For a lot of families, Easter involves hardboiled eggs, different colors of dye and a basket full of goodies at the bottom of the staircase. For my family, it involved a whole lot more.

When I was an elementary school kid living in Florida, my family managed to make Easter Sunday a holiday that rivaled Christmas. This is because when we had Easter, we had it on wheels.

It went something like this. At the crack of dawn, I’d wake up—unfazed by the sleepless, excited night I’d just had to endure—and rush downstairs to find a giant basket of chocolate goodies waiting for me (all thanks to the Easter Bunny, of course). I loved chocolate (and still do). But after a cursory inspection of the run-of-the-mill treats in my big basket, I’d yell to my parents, “Are they here yet?”

“No Brandon, it’s still early,” they’d reply. “Just be patient.”

After scarfing down a chocolate bunny for breakfast—and then having to eat a real breakfast of something at least slightly healthier—I’d rush outside and wait for one of my favorite childhood sights ever: my aunt and uncle’s forest greenChevrolet Suburban rounding the corner and pulling into our driveway with my three cousins in tow. When I first spotted their vehicle, my parents couldn’t hold me back. I’d be in the backseat before they could get halfway up the driveway.

What lay ahead of me was something out of child fantasyland. We were to go on an Easter egg hunt. But this Easter egg hunt would be an adventure of epic proportions.

First, we’d go to the putt-putt course, where my aunt and uncle would already have hidden plenty of treat-filled Easter eggs for us to find as we took part in one of my favorite childhood activities. Then we’d head to the batting cages, because we all loved baseball. After that, we’d drive over to the go-kart track. After a generous number of laps around the track—because Easter eggs couldn’t be hidden there—we’d find eggs hidden in the Suburban. We’d finish the day off with a nature walk and a trip to our favorite BBQ joint. By then, all the kids would be tuckered out and the adults could have fun of their own.

I will never forget those experiences. With their unique take on Easter, my aunt and uncle showed me that traditions didn’t have to be traditional. Even Easter could be an adventure! And so can yours—as long as you don’t accidentally hide the car keys.

Brandon Gorrell is an editor at Thought Catalog. Follow him on Twitter @brandongorrell.

Are We There Yet?

Remember the awe and wonder you felt as a kid? When a simple game of “I spy” could keep you joyously occupied for hours? Road games are a great way to keep children of all ages entertained during long and boring road trips. In addition to preventing road fatigue, they make the experience more pleasant for everyone--especially mom and dad. Here are 10 simple and fun games anyone can enjoy.

One: Bottled Treasure
Fill a two-liter bottle about 3/4 full with rice or birdseed. Add a variety of small household objects like paperclips, buttons, marbles and toy soldiers. Make a list of everything you hid and seal the container. Have your kids shake the bottle and hunt for all the treasures you buried.

Two: A Map Mission
Give your children a map and have them mark it up to chart your journey. As you pass different towns and landmarks, help the kids note them on their maps. Fun for the kids and also educational, this game is a win-win and one that the whole family can get involved in.

Three: Counting Cars
Come up with fun, age-appropriate challenges. For example, be the first to find five green cars or ten semi trucks. Or keep count of how many different types of cars you can spot in an hour. Or how often you see a Toyota pass by. This simple game keeps kids occupied and teaches them how to stay alert.

Four: License Lookout
Before you hit the road, ask everyone how many different state license plates they think they’ll see. Write down their guesses. Keep a running list of the ones spotted along the way and fill time in between plates by talking about the 50 states, what their capitals are and what they’re famous for.

Five: Games Galore
Simple card games can keep children occupied and entertained for a long time. Games like Go Fish, Solitaire, Uno or even just practicing shuffling can be a fun way to pass the time. In addition, most favorite board games come in magnetic versions that are designed for travel and are perfect for road trips.

Six: Media Savvy
Have your kids pick a new book or movie, something they can get into and spend some time with during the long ride. Interactive games are a good means of entertainment and education. For electronic gadgets, make sure batteries are charged and that you have headphones.

Seven: What Do You See?
"I Spy" is a classic car game. Find a fixed object that everyone in the vehicle can see and say, "I spy with my little eye something that is …" Then give a clue as to what the object is.
Everyone takes turns asking “yes" or "no” questions about the mystery object. The asker then guesses what the object is. This repeats until someone gets the right answer. That winner chooses the next object.

Eight: Rest Stop Athletics
Pack some small athletic gear in your car like squishy footballs and Frisbees. If you don't have room, when you’re at a rest stop, create races where everyone has to run from tree to tree in different ways: run to the first tree, hop to the second, jump to the third and run back to start.

Nine: Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of items you think you'll see along the way. Make copies for everyone. As each person sees an item, he or she calls it out. Another person verifies it. The first one to cross off the entire list wins. Once you’ve finished this list, try and make another more challenging list and keep going.

Ten: Alphabet Game
As you pass signs, find each letter of the alphabet in order. You can only get one letter from each sign. When you see the letter, call it out. For example, you'd say, "I see an 'A' on 'Dairy farm this exit'." Keep going all the way through the alphabet until the first person finishes it entirely.

These car games are fun and keep young passengers occupied in safe, healthy and educational ways. Be sure to reward the winners by letting them choose the next DVD, hour of music, place to stop for lunch, etc.

Chevy Tetris!

Have you ever played Tetris? If not, you must have not owned a phone in the early 2000′s! It’s such a simple yet addictive game that it’s long been the go-to free game included on everything from phones to calculators. People play it so much that they even start seeing how things fit together in real life. We here at Herndon Chevrolet want to show you that there is a use for that skill!  What is it you ask? Packing the car.

Check out the video below!

Easy Ways to Spring Clean Your Car

from Yahoo Finance

With the spring season in swing, now’s a smart time to give our vehicles some TLC. Our cars can take a real pounding in the wintertime, but taking a few measures to spruce up our wheels can help lighten the load in the coming months.

“In the winter, cars see a lot of cold weather, a lot of salt on the roads, a lot of water that’s splashed up in places it shouldn’t go. It’s important to get that out of there so it doesn’t lead to a lot of problems down the road, says Mike Allen, a certified automotive technician and founder of SaturdayMechanic.com.

Allen’s first tip is a simple one: hand-wash your car. “Hand-washing gives you a chance to look over every square inch of your vehicle. You get to see any nicks or cuts in the paint that need to be attended to before they get worse,” says Allen. It’s essential to wash underneath your vehicle, too, especially if you live in an area where it snows. The salt from the road can rust your undercarriage, and if left unchecked, can cost you thousands of dollars later on.

Next, Allen advises we pop open our hoods and check our car’s air filter, typically located near the front the car inside a box known as a cold air collector box.

“All of the air that goes into your engine goes through that filter,” says Allen. Lightly tap it on a hard surface to remove dirt or dust.  “Cleaning it facilitates your car’s operation. Replace if necessary.”

Now’s a good time to also check your tire pressure. According to Allen if your tire pressure is six psi (pounds per square inch) below the manufacturer’s recommendation, you’re likely paying 3 percent extra for fuel.

Cleaning your car’s weather stripping will also keep water, dirt and other contaminants from infiltrating the inside of the vehicle, says Allen. “It’s important to wash it off with some soap and water, and dress it with some silicone spray so they don’t stick together.”

Finally, keep your car light on its feet. Remove any heavy gear or objects you’re not regularly using. Get this: For every 50 pounds removed from your car, you can increase fuel efficiency by 1 percent.

So, if you find yourself spring-cleaning your home this season, don’t forget to tend to that hunk of metal in your garage. Your car will thank you for it – and so will your wallet.

Tips for Parents of New Drivers

With These Resources, You’ll Feel Better About Handing Over The Keys To The Traverse

By Heather Spohr

One of a teenager’s most exciting rites of passage is when they learn how to drive. For the parents of teens, however, this time is a little less exciting and a whole lot more nerve-racking. Thankfully, there’s a lot that parents can do to help their teenagers take this important step as responsibly and safely as possible. Check out the tips below, and breathe a little easier next time your teenager asks to borrow the family Traverse.

Learn Your State’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing Laws

Since the 1990s, nearly every state in the nation has passed graduated driver’s licensing laws (GDL laws), which put restrictions on new drivers until they gain more experience behind the wheel. These restrictions include limiting the number of passengers, imposing a curfew for driving at night and banning any and all cell phone usage. Parents should learn the specific GDL laws in their state (detailed here), and make sure their teenager follows them—no ifs, ands or buts.

Sign a Parent/Teen Agreement

It’s a smart idea for parents and their teenager to sign a Parent/Teen Agreement, which spells out the restrictions, privileges, rules and consequences of driving. This agreement puts parents and their teens on the same page (literally), and makes expectations clear from the beginning. For best results, parents must consistently enforce the agreed-upon consequences, and being able to point to a signed document definitely makes doing that a whole lot easier.

Ask for a “Flight Plan”

Studies have shown that teenagers have fewer accidents when driving somewhere specific as opposed to “joy riding” with no set destination. This is why it’s wise for parents to insist that their teenager never gets behind the wheel without filing a “flight plan.” Teens don’t have to be wearing aviator glasses, of course, but they do have to communicate to their parents exactly where they’re going and when they’ll be home.

Always Model Good Driving

Remember that anti-drug PSA from the 1980s where a kid shouted at his dad, “I learned it from watching you” at his dad? Well, teenagers learn how to drive by watching their parents, too. If you focus on driving the speed limit, following the rules of the road, and avoiding distractions, the only time your teen will say “I learned it from watching you” is when you ask them how they’ve become such an incredible driver.

Make Consequences of Drinking and Driving Clear

Teenagers understand that drinking and driving is dangerous, but they’re often unaware of how much a drunk driving conviction would impact their lives. Parents should explain to their teen that most states have zero tolerance for drivers under 21, which means they will have their license suspended if a breathalyzer test detects even a blood alcohol level of .01. Additionally, parents should walk their teen through the thousands of dollars of fees and costs associated with a DUI, and how it will impact their insurance for 3-5 years. With teenagers, the prospect of losing their license as well as their spending cash may be the biggest deterrents of all.

Discuss Distractions

Today’s teenagers have serious distractions behind the wheel. The most serious of these distractions is texting while driving. To demonstrate just how dangerous it is, parents can show their teenagers anti texting-and-driving videos available online, and ask them to take the “It Can Wait” pledge, which proclaims that “no text is worth the risk.” Teenagers can even upload their pledge to Facebook.

Resources

Here are a few resources parents should check out before handing over the car keys to their teenager:

“Teen Driver: A Family Guide To Teen Safety” was created by The National Safety Council and General Motors, and is full of in-depth, indispensable information.

“From Reid’s Dad: A Blog For Parents Of Teen Drivers” is full of resources and reflections written by Tim Hollister, who lost his teenage son, Reid, in a car accident.

“The Good Egg Guide For Parents of New Drivers” aims to “help keep your sons and daughters safer behind the wheel.”

The trademarks mentioned in this story are held by their respective owners.

Heather Spohr is a writer and philanthropist who blogs at the award-winning The Spohrs Are Multiplying.

Wheel Alignment or Wheel Balancing Needed?

Wheel alignment and wheel balancing are two totally different things, but many people often get them confused. To put it simply, wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road. Wheel balancing, on the other hand, allows the tires and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations. This is accomplished by checking for any heavy spots on the wheel-tire combination and compensating for it by placing a measured lead weight on the opposite site of the wheel from where the heavy spot is.

The symptoms of a car that is out of alignment are:

• Uneven or rapid tire wear
• Pulling or drifting away from a straight line
• Wandering on a straight level road
• Spokes of the steering wheel off to one side while driving on a straight and level road.

The symptoms of a wheel that is out of balance are:

• Vibration in the steering wheel at certain highway speeds.
• Vibration in the seat or floorboard at certain highway speeds.
• Scalloped or cupped wear pattern on the tires

Out-of-balance tires will cause a car to vibrate at certain speeds, usually between 50 and 70 mph. A tire is out of balance when one section of the tire is heavier than the others. To balance a wheel, the technician will mount it on a balancing machine which spins the wheel to locate the heavier part. He will then compensate for the heavy part by attaching a lead weight on the opposite side. Many people are pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car drives after balancing all four wheels.

To schedule an appointment for wheel alignment or wheel balancing with Rick Hendrick Chevrolet click here.

Tire Service: Aren’t All Tires The Same?

If you are tired of the continual hassle of tire repair, then it’s time to go shopping for tires. If you have done this before, you know that there are dozens and dozens to choose from. Thus, choosing the appropriate tires for one’s vehicle is not easy to do. Make your choice by considering your style of driving and what is best for your particular vehicle rather than the most  widely advertised, or the most expensive in the tire service shop.

There are other factors to consider when considering the right tires to purchase for your vehicle. Consider these tips:

• First, consider the price. Although choosing the cheapest is not the wisest choice, choosing the most expensive may not be the best choice either. It is best to consider factors such as braking and road handling abilities before you set your purchase price point. The best are often middle priced, yet they offer a range of desired features, such as long lasting compounds, an advanced tread pattern, and quality performance in a variety of road conditions.


• Second, look at the braking performance. Look very seriously at the braking performance before you make a purchase. The rate at which one’s car is capable of coming to a complete stop from highway speeds will depend to a large degree on the pattern of the tread as well the composition materials. Tires that are made of hard compounds are more likely to lock up when the brakes are strongly applied. On the other hand, ones composed of soft compounds will brake very quickly but will also be prone to wearing down long before they should.


• Third, consider the climate and seasons. What seasons will the tires mostly be driven in? These are factors that people often forget to consider. If one lives in an environment that is colder and prone to ice and heavy snowfall, it will be essential to choose performance tires that are built to work well in the snow. In contrast, if one lives in a warmer or perpetually sunny climate, there are more choices available, with options to choose all weather or all season ones without worrying about their ice and snow capabilities.

So, after all, all tires are not the same. Be careful in your next purchase to get the ones that are best for your driving habits and the conditions that you drive in.  For information on purchasing tires from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet contact our Parts Department.

6 Easy Ways to Get More Out of Your Driving Experience

Road Resolutions You Can Stick To All Year Round
 

New Year’s resolutions were born to be broken. Admit it: It doesn’t take a calendar shift to make solid life changes. It takes a priority shift. A mind renovation, if you will.

Even so, it’s important to set goals and stick to them, no matter what day of the year it is. And where better to start than your second home? (I mean your car, not your office.) Sometimes we treat driving as though it’s just a means to an end, when really it’s an experience. It’s a time to be alone with our thoughts, or a quiet opportunity to bond with our loved ones, or a chance to listen to our favorite satellite music station. All too often, those simple pleasures are eclipsed by little frustrations that are actually in our power to control. It’s easy to miss the joys of the open road if your car’s oil light is blinking incessantly and your CDs are sliding across the seat at every turn. Who wants that?

Drivers and passengers alike can improve the quality of their journeys and their state of mind by making resolutions for the road. Here are six foolproof ways to improve the time you spend on the move this year.

1. Clean out your car on a regular basis. This means recycling old water bottles, putting your flashlight back in the emergency kit where it belongs and returning that Bruce Springsteen album to its rightful jewel case when you’ve finished listening to it. Do you want to break Bruce’s hungry heart? I didn’t think so.

It also means having trunk space ready for your groceries, which equals zero anxiety when someone needs to sit in your back seat. There is no greater shame than the backseat of your car looking like you dumped the contents of your closet on it. Cleaning up a big mess feels overwhelming, but if you clean as you go there won’t be an opportunity for the junk and disorder to accumulate. Making an effort to never leave the car empty-handed goes a long way toward keeping your Pig Pen tendencies in check.

2. Keep your vehicle outfitted with spare tires and other equipment so you’re always ready for an emergency.You’re probably no Boy Scout, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for worst-case scenarios. This will mitigate your stress when you’re in hot water, and it never hurts to be proactive when it comes to safety. When’s the last time you checked the air pressure on your spare tire? How long has it been since you checked the contents of your roadside assistance kit? Take care of that today.

3. Put your phone away when you’re on the move. Did you know that texting drivers are 23 times more likely to get into an accident? I don’t know about you, but nothing I have to say via text message is that important. The road deserves 100 percent of attention—and so do the drivers sharing it with you. If you need to call or text someone, find a gas station or a rest stop and talk while the car is parked.

4. Check your owner’s manual for suggested maintenance schedules. The suggestions exist for a reason! If there’s something up with your car, you don’t want to find out when it’s too late. Taking preventive measures pays off. Your local GM dealer will be happy to make sure your car is in tip-top shape.

5. Practice keeping your cool when other drivers get aggressive. You can’t control a bad driver or their actions; you can only control the way you react to them. Take a deep breath, count to 10 and change lanes if the culprit is too close for comfort. Throw on a little Sade if you really start to unravel; that always works for me.

6. See the USA—as you’ve never seen it before. Sometimes we become so focused on the clock or on a to-do list that we completely miss out on the journey. But the ride is why we love our wheels in the first place! It’s why we choose the car over a train or a bus. It’s why we take days and even weeks away from the humdrum of everyday life to go road tripping when we could just as easily fly. No matter what was happening when you departed and what you imagine will happen at your destination, remember to soak in the scenery and open yourself up to viewing the world from a whole new perspective.