Author Archive: Bryan McTaggart
BangShift Tune-Up: “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” by Meat Loaf (1977)
One of Michael Aday’s most notable traits was not his singing range, nor his acting range. No, it would be his social anxiety. He had no idea what to do with himself in a social setting, felt...
Wicked Wedge: The Legend Of The Cannonball Run Lamborghini Contact
It’s 1988. I’m five years old, looking for something to watch from the catalog of VHS tapes in the downstairs living room, since it’s a rainy Saturday in Colorado Springs and most...
Unhinged: Airflow, The Very Faint Pulse From Chrysler
For years now, we’ve had Chrysler on Death Watch. No, not just me…in 2009, even Brian Lohnes, eternal optimist that he is, was wondering if the brand was done. It’s been difficult...
Historical Footage: The Joie Chitwood Thrill Show at Beech Bend Raceway In The 1960s
Beech Bend Raceway is one of our home tracks. Brian grew up in the Northeast, Chad has California and Texas under his belt, and raced at plenty of tracks out West long before I moved to Kentucky, but...
Money No Object: A Menacing Pro Street 1978 Dodge Magnum
Chrysler’s B-body intermediates started life as the be-all, d0-all platform for the company. About the only thing that wasn’t put on the 1962-1979 chassis was a truck-based vehicle....
History Class: The First Decade Of Pro Modified Racers
Pro Modified…door cars that are absolutely ballistic machines that are running numbers that far eclipse anything any real production car can or should be able to do. Today, we see them as...
Money No Object: 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351
Within the half-century plus timeframe in which the Ford Mustang has been produced, there have been a lot of hits. The original was akin to Babe Ruth’s “called shot”, one that shut...
Unhinged: McTaggart’s 2021 Year In Review
After whatever the hell 2020 was supposed to be, 2021 was supposed to be better. Decide if that is the case for yourself, but as far as I’m concerned, 2021 was good. Not great, but good. Oh,...
On Equal Footing: The Hoonicorn Vs. The AWD Olds!
First of all, it’s awesome that fans took Hoonigan to task for not putting worthy opponents against Ken Block’s properly insane “Hoonicorn” Mustang. A purpose-built...
Brougham Bomber: This Nasty ProCharged Grand Marquis Is Glorious!
I’m part of a group of people that love the idea of “ProLuxury”. What that means is this: sure, when it comes to balls-out, no-holds-barred performance, you should find the...
Rough Start: 1972 AMC Javelin Dirt-Tracker With Endless Possibilities
If you’ve been around BangShift for quite some time, then a wave of nostalgia is about to hit you. Right about the time CarJunkieTV went below the waves around late 2008, there was a fire sale...
Chiropractor, Stat: 500 Miles In A Pinto Wagon With Trashed Suspension!
The Ford Pinto’s infamous reputation as a pipe bomb on wheels really isn’t that justified. When tested, it was determined that the Pinto was really no worse off than any other subcompact...
Junkyard Digs’ Twin-Engined Go Kart Looks Like A Riot
The recipe for a go-kart has been pretty straightforward throughout my life: a tube frame, simple steering rack, a bucket seat, steering wheel, four tires, two pedals (brake and gas) and a simple...
BangShift Tune-Up: “Roundabout” by Allegaeon (2020)
I know what you’re thinking: “Oh, great, it’s a cover of a classic. It’s gonna suck, and if it’s McTaggart posting it, it’s just loud screaming noises and heavy...