My Ride


Anastasia Benson- Mazda Protégé Published on Oct 17th, 2005 0 comments At first glance, Anastasia Benson's 2001 Mazda Protégé doesn't stand out in the crowd. Not even to her. "A lot of people have a car like mine," says Benson, a UVA fourth-year, "so I lose it in...
Christy Gillmore-1996 Mustang Published on Oct 6th, 2005 0 comments Christy Gillmore and her 1996 Mustang are no strangers to danger. "My car only has rear wheel drive, so I probably shouldn't drive it in any kind of precipitation– not even rain," says Gillmore...
Rachel Smith & 1995 Honda Odyssey Published on Sep 29th, 2005 0 comments In these dire days of $4/gallon gas, the Hook wants to spotlight, if not Charlottesville's flashiest car, perhaps its most efficient. UVA student Rachel Smith's van may be the closest thing to a bus...
Tom Jakubowski - 1989 Cadillac El Dorado Published on Sep 22nd, 2005 0 comments "Dr. J," as his campaign posters call him, has driven only Cadillacs since buying a new Calais in 1966. Now on his 13th Caddy, Tom Jakubowski says with assurance, "They're so much better made than...
Mike Richardson- 1983 Cadillac Seville Published on Sep 15th, 2005 0 comments When 61-year-old Mike Richardson moved to Albemarle county from Britain, one of the things he missed most from overseas was, ironically, his American car, a 1983 Cadillac Seville. "That car was so...
Brian Roberts- 1968 Volkswagen Beetle Published on Sep 8th, 2005 0 comments It's not your father's Volkswagen. Well, actually it sort of is. Brian Roberts, 24, bought his classic navy Bug a few months ago in part because his father owned one when he was Brian's age. "It's...
Emre Arisoy - 1988 Buick Century Published on Sep 2nd, 2005 0 comments When he came from Turkey two years ago to intern in the U.S., 26-year-old Emre Arisoy wanted to immerse himself in American culture. "This car appealed to me because it's just so American," he says...
Michael Wegner- 1979 Pontiac Firebird Published on Aug 25th, 2005 0 comments Although 31-year-old Michael Wegner works at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, his favorite mode of transportation is undoubtedly his 1979 Firebird TransAm, the first car he ever bought. "I knew...
Jim Rice- 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Published on Aug 11th, 2005 0 comments When Ralph Nader wrote Unsafe at Any Speed in 1965, criticizing the dangerous design of the Chevrolet Corvair, Corvair sales were seriously affected. They skyrocketed. Jim Rice was one of those who...
Don Lepsch - 1973 Dodge van Published on Jul 28th, 2005 0 comments Mechanics of Charlottesville, beware. Don Lepsch, owner of a 1973 Dodge van, is the second "My Rider" who's performed major repairs on his own vehicle. "I replaced the engine in this vehicle once,...
Lauren Howard: 1991 Trek 7000 mountain bike Published on Jul 21st, 2005 0 comments MY RIDE- Lauren Howard: 1991 Trek 7000 mountain bike Same Roads, Same Rules, Same Rights,[per thou] reads the bumper sticker on Lauren Howard[base ']s commuter bike. [base "]That[base ']s my mantra...
Rusty Parrott: 2000 Jeep Wrangler Published on Jul 14th, 2005 0 comments "It was tiger-striped when I first bought it," says 26-year-old Rusty Parrott about his now lime green off-road ride. "It gets a lot of attention," he says. "It's just a fun vehicle." The paint job,...
Maurie Sutton: 2005 Saturn Vue Published on Jun 30th, 2005 0 comments "It's my first new car," says Maurie Sutton, 36, a PhD candidate at UVA's Curry School. "I love the color– slate gray– and I got a free sunroof, so yay for Saturn." Night driving is a...
Matthew Farrell: 1971 Triumph Trophy Trail Published on Jun 23rd, 2005 0 comments "It was my dad's," says 36-year-old Matthew Farrell, a bow-tie-wearing writer and boulevardier who spends his days as a desktop publisher at Lexis-Nexis. Another appeal of the bike: "Steve McQueen,...
MY RIDE- Elisa DeLeon: 2006 Honda Pilot Published on Jan 1st, 2021 0 comments PHOTO BY CLAIBORNE THOMPSON Elisa DeLeon raves about her Honda Pilot, and her kids, Rebecca and Emilio, love it too. While the children praise the comfortable seats, mom especially loves the Pilot's...
MY RIDE- Bobby Morris: 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi Published on Jan 1st, 2021 0 comments PHOTO BY CLAIBORNE THOMPSON Bobby Morris, owner of Morris Body Shop on Meade Avenue, loves all his cars— he has 15!— and he especially loves his bright yellow Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi truck...
MY RIDE- Bertha Jones: 2001 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer edition Published on Jan 1st, 2021 1 comments When you find something good, stick with it, says Bertha Jones, who owned a green Ford Explorer for years before purchasing the blue special-edition Explorer she currently drives. "I've had it about...
MY RIDE- Dave Richardson: 1987 Ford Bronco II Published on Jan 1st, 2021 1 comments In 1992, Dave Richardson was a UVA undergraduate looking for a vehicle that would allow him to cart belongings into the hinterlands for pleasure or for work. Fifteen years later, he's still a student...
MY RIDE- Jonathan Huckstep: 1983 Chevy 20 custom van Published on Jan 1st, 2021 1 comments The Chevy that Jonathan Huckstep rides around in might be nearly 25 years old, but he can still floor it. Literally, in fact. Huckstep, who works for Gibson's Flooring, says the van's roomy interior...
MY RIDE- Dawn Tryon: 2006 Kia Sorrento Published on Jan 1st, 2021 0 comments "My neighbors have a Kia, and they told me what a great deal it was," says Dawn Tryon, who purchased her own Sorrento in late August. "When I got in, I loved it," she gushes, reporting that the...
MY RIDE- Walker Thornton: 2007 Lexus IS 250 Published on Jan 1st, 2021 0 comments "I just decided I wanted a new car," says Walker Thornton, "something kind of sporty." It didn't take long for her to settle on her black Lexus sedan, which she purchased in "October or November" and...
MY RIDE- Hillary Mason: 2000 Ford 500 Published on Jan 1st, 2021 0 comments There's a long tradtion of cars with names– "Herbie," "Kit," or "Christine," anyone? Hillary Mason says her car, a white Ford 500, had too much personality to go without a moniker for long. "I...
MY RIDE- Nancy Cook: 1992 Buick Roadmaster Published on Jan 1st, 2021 0 comments Some things never change, and this is particularly true for Nancy Cook, who has driven the same model since 1975. Cook says she trades in her Buick Roadmaster station wagon for a new one every...