Tag Archives: car

Young Car Enthusiast and “Connor’s Day” Namesake Passes Away

One of our favorite news stories of last year was the story of Connor Harrison, an 11-year-old British car enthusiast. Connor was terminally ill due to an inoperable brain tumor, and his father was worried that Connor would not live long enough to go to a car gathering, something Connor had wanted to do for quite some time. Instead of giving up, though, Connor’s father posted his story on the car forum ScoobyNet with the idea that he could organize a car gathering of his own in Yorkshire. The story went viral within the car enthusiast community, and thousands of people pledged to attend “Connor’s Day.”

Sadly, Jalopnik is reporting today that Connor passed away just before Christmas. His funeral service was on Christmas Eve.

Connor’s story is a tragedy. He was only 12 years old when he passed away, and it seems unfair that a young boy who loved cars did not live long enough to get the chance to have a first car. At the same time, this was one of our favorite stories of last year because it was a perfect example of the camaraderie in the car enthusiast community. It showed what human beings will do for a total stranger and his family, and we can only hope that 2013 will bring more random acts of kindness in the news cycle.

You can read our original coverage of Connor’s day here and here, and get the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube.

Picture Source: Connor’s Day

Good Driving Made Simple (And Hilarious!)

From the time teenagers turn 14 and apply for their learner’s permit, they are bombarded with driving advice. Turn down the music, pay attention to the road, always wear your seat-belt, and so on and so forth. According to a web comic that is making the rounds online, though, driving is not as complicated as it sounds.

Jalopnik was one of the first news sites to post up the comic/flow chart which is seen below. It seems that driving properly all comes down to one factor, using the passing lane in the correct fashion.

As a frequent driver, I got a kick out of the comic. Yes, driving properly is really more involved than this flow-chart would suggest, but if people used the passing lane correctly, it would go a long ways in improving the roads. I think everyone at some point has experienced the frustration of another driver using the passing lane but not actually passing anyone, so on behalf of all the drivers using the lane properly, we ask that everyone else read this chart and follow it, please. It’s not too much to ask.

Are you buying your first car, or are you a veteran driver looking to trade in for something new? Approved Loan Store can help, even if you have challenged credit! Fill out the secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest car news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

Former CEO Flees Bolivia, Leaves Exotic Car Collection Behind

In action movies, I love it when they show the super-villain’s secret lair with high-tech weapons, sharks with lasers attached to their heads, and riches beyond belief. Amongst the collection, every evil genius worth his salt has a collection of rare and beautiful sports cars, all in perfect condition. Of course, collections like that only exist in the movies, right?

Well…maybe those movies aren’t so far-fetched after all.

Humero Roca is not exactly a super-villain. He is the former president of the Bolivian airline AeroSur which has struggled to continue operations this year and briefly shut down flights completely back in March. Roca was accused of embezzling $37.2 million from the company by the current president of AeroSur, Roca’s half-brother Sergio Sanzetenea, and he recently fled Bolivia leaving behind his extensive collection of rare cars.

As if this story wasn’t strange enough, Roca’s son documented the collection on his YouTube channel up until his father (and presumably Roca’s son) left the country. Under the About description on his YouTube page, Roca’s son wrote, “My father owns an Airline called Aerosur and we are not a family that always had everything my father just had to work hard to have what u guys see and this consist on every car that has changed the automotive industry worldwide or maybe eras or maybe just some significant car in my country, so please guys don’t come around saying ‘AH!!! NO EXOTICS IS %$%&’ no that not how it works everything in this collects has passion, history and love. And please understand that all thes cars are thanks to my Dad and his hard work.”

Of course, whether those cars are the results of hard work or illegal activities has yet to be determined, but until then, I wonder what will happen to his car collection. Will his blue 2006 Dodge Viper sit idle? Will the 1979 Lincoln Continental ever see the light of day? Time will tell what will happen to these cars, but if you want to see them for yourself, Roca’s son’s YouTube channel is still online here.

At Approved Loan Store, we might not have access to Roca’s collection, but we do have a huge inventory of new and used vehicles with every make or model available. If you have bad credit, don’t worry! We want to help you get into the car you want with the terms you want! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

High Auto Sales Predicted for March

Will March be the best month yet this year for American automakers? U.S. auto sales have continued to surprise even the most optimistic analysts, and now, it is expected that March sales will make the beginning of 2012 the best quarter in four years.

The Fiscal Times attributes the soaring auto sales to two factors. First, the economy is improving. It might not always seem like it, but the economy is improving slowly but surely. Second, car buyers are having an easier time finding financing. Part of that is due to services like Approved Loan Store which help people with poor credit and good credit alike get into a car.

Car ownership is an important part of economic recovery. Rising car sales are not only a sign that people have money to spend, it also shows that people are taking steps to avoid future problems. Car ownership has a strong correlation with less dependance on public assistance because employees are not dependent on public transportation and are not limited to employment options close to bus lines or subways. The fact that people are choosing car ownership is very encouraging to both U.S. automakers and Americans hoping for economic recovery.

Will you be shopping for a new or used vehicle in March? Make your search easier by applying through Approved Loan Store here, and make sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter to keep up with the latest auto news and trends.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net