Tacoma Auto Repair

So you've decided to take a weekend trip around the tri-pass! These passes consist of Cayuse Pass, White Pass, and Chinook Pass. Your car is all gassed up and ready to go, and your first stop is Cayuse Pass on state route 410. Cayuse Pass is just 41 miles southeast of Enumclaw with an elevation of 4675 ft. Cayuse Pass is typically closed in November due to heavy snow and outstanding avalanche danger caused by the high elevation. It usually opens in May and is known to have a snow depth at the summit of up to 15 feet. Cayuse Pass is tucked away in the Cascade mountains consisting of windy turns intersecting state route 123 and 410 is the second-highest pass in Washington. Cayuse Pass is on the east side of Mt. Rainier National Park and is a backcountry skiing destination.    The next pass you'll be going through is Chinook Pass, which has an elevation of 5430 ft and is located on the crest of the cascade range just a few miles up from Cayuse Pass. It is also usually ... read more

Racing In The PNW    Have you ever wondered about the origins of racing in the Pacific Northwest? Since the early days of engines, pushing for bigger, faster, and more has been a favorite pastime. Everything from drag racing, limited and unlimited hydroplane racing, road racing, off-road, circle track, and Motocross have been the racing scene's headliners in our lovely PNW. There is a lot of rich racing history in our area!   Pacific Raceways, formerly called Seattle International Raceway (SIR), is owned by a local family. In the '70s, Pacific Raceways was home to incredible events that brought huge crowds and intense entertainment, including side-by-side burnouts. The stands were filled with excited fans of all ages. SIR was host to many races, such as the 64 Funny Cars and the Fox Hunt, the two most significant events in the '70s. Those events eventually evolved into today's Northwest Nationals.   If you are into racing, you ... read more

  The History of BMW 2002   The BMW 2002 first rolled off the line in 1968. This iconic car's base model came stock with a single carburetor that produced 101 horsepower; this matched the Datsun 510 at the time. The BMW 2002Ti, an upgraded version, sported twin Solex 40 carburetors with a higher compression engine that delivered 119 hp, which pushed this little powerhouse to a top speed of 115 mph putting in the class of the likes of the Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII, but this 2002Ti seats 4 with space in the boot (trunk). The 2002Ti weighed more, but with those twin Solex 40's it had the pulling power to deliver both speed and performance.   When 1969 rolled around, BMW offered an automatic 2002 with a 3-speed transmission with a single carburetor engine. This coupe was not designed for sport but as a stylish easy-driving car. By 1971, BMW offered yet another version; the cabriolet had a 1.6-liter engine that was later upgraded to a 2-liter engine making it a ... read more

  History of The 911   When the Porsche 911 first rolled off the production line, it had a 2.0-liter air-cooled flat-six engine in the boot. This engine design was in production until 1998. Not everyone knows that the 911 was initially called the 901. It turns out that Peugeot claimed the rights to cars with a three-digit number having a 0 in the middle, and so Porsche changed the name to 911.    Throughout the years, Porsche made a number of styling updates to the 911 and employed various technological upgrades. In '83, Porsche upgraded to a 3.2-liter engine in the Carrera 3.2, and in the 964, they put a 3.6-liter engine.    In 1967 Porsche believed that convertibles would be made illegal in the United States, which is why they initially designed the Targa, named after the Targa Florio race. It took until 1983 for Porsche to produce a full convertible.   1988 was a monumental year for Porsche because the 911 classic was replaced by the ... read more

  At Bristows, we know the importance of being able to hop in your car and take a drive to clear your mind. Don't let recent events like the election, talk of the second wave of COVID-19, or the current season change have you feeling stressed, a little blue, or trapped. Take a nice drive to keep having fun this fall! The Pacific Northwest is a favorite of many, and as a Washington resident, you already know why. The beauty of Washington abounds in every corner of this beautiful state. There are so many gems that are just a road trip away. Need some fun fall road trip ideas? Look no further.    Port Angeles Just a hop, skip, and a jump away is amazing Port Angeles. Getting there is easy from Tacoma; it's only about two hours away. Port Angeles is about a 100-mile drive, and you'll get to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge! Here is a fun fact for you, the original bridge was named Galloping Gertie. It was rebuilt in 1950 and later renamed by locals Sturdy Gert ... read more

  The Racing History of Porsche Within the automotive racing history, Porsche is a flagship racing icon. Their production car, stock comes ready to hit the track as a serious competitor. They are race-ready with their gorgeous lines and rumble under the hood. The most common race cars are the GT2 and GT3 models. Yes, even though they are a streetcar, it is most common to see these luxury vehicles tuned and stripped, ready for the track and performance racing. You are less likely to see them with added creature comforts on the road. These cars exist for the track, and we are lucky to drive them on the road.    Porsche has a history of reliability. Did you know that over 70% of Porsches are still roadworthy and driving to this day? Comparing that to production models of the common car, the percentage of roadworthy Porsches still driving today is astronomical. With this ratio, it is no wonder that most of Porsche's titles, winnings, and trophies are from long-distan ... read more

Have you ever found yourself stuck on the side of the road? If not, you are lucky or very good at preventive maintenance. We all plan to have a safe drive; however, just in case things don't go as planned, it is good to have an emergency kit packed in your car for that just-in-case. What should you keep in your vehicle emergency kit? Great question! At Bristow's, we have put together a list of items to consider packing before you take off on your Great Escape.   First Aid Kit Purchasing a first aid kit that is pre-packed is a no brainer. It comes with gauze, bandages, antibiotic ointment, tape, scissors, gloves, aspirin, tweezers, hydrocortisone, and a thermometer all packed into an efficient little bag. You can pick them up for about $25, and it is sure to come in handy. If you can find room to add a few things into the bag, we suggest you tuck in a flashlight, extra batteries, and a spare phone charger. Adding a handwritten note with your insurance information, prefer ... read more

The world had no idea what was in store when Gottlieb Daimler (1834 - 1900) & Carl Benz (1844 - 1929) were born into the world. This powerful duo pushed our world into a new era with their quest for automobile innovation and technology, leading us into a new wave of the future.   In the late 1800s, Carl Benz produced the world's first 2-stroke engine powered bicycle. Soon after, Benz & Daimler teamed up to form a company focusing on research and development of a 4-stroke engine designed to power an automobile. Of course, this comes after a few business ventures with other shareholders that did not share their vision and only wanted to work on developing stationary engines. As we all know, this was not to be their destiny, and so they parted ways. Daimler & Benz stayed true to their dream separately and together, focusing on building the world's first automobile, first by inventing the first internal combustion engine called The Grandfather Clock in 1884, foll ... read more

A tire blowout while driving can be a harrowing experience, especially while on a highway, interstate, or another high-speed road. Bristow's Auto Repair wants to make sure you are prepared and know how to handle an experience like this in the safest possible manner.   If you suddenly get a flat while you are on the road, it can be difficult to keep your vehicle going in a straight line. You will want to take hold of the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 positions, take your foot off the gas pedal and allow your car to reduce speed slowly. It is crucial to avoid slamming on your brakes; you want to let your vehicle slow down gradually so as not to further damage the wheel or create a traffic hazard.   Check your breathing; make sure you take long, deep breaths, full, slow inhale, and exhales to help stay calm and keep a clear mind. You have got this!   When you find yourself in a middle or left lane, you will want to carefully work your way toward an exit or a brea ... read more

When you are ready to get out of the city and find some incredible winding roads to explore, the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway is an ideal day or weekend adventure. Beginning in the Methow Valley in the town of Twisp and ending in the Skagit Valley, there is so much to see and do along the way; you can easily make a fabulous weekend out of this day trip.   To kick off this adventure you will want to head north on I-5 to Highway 2, where you may want to stock up on snacks and fill your tank in Monroe before heading out on this adventure. Along Highway 2, you will wander past small rustic towns such as Sultan, Gold Bar, and Index before coming to the historic town of Snohomish. Snohomish is known for its antiquing, so if you have the time, be sure to pull off and wander through the town.   There are many hiking trails along the Skykomish River to explore, and whitewater rafting or kayaking adventures to seize upon if you can make the time. There are bald eagle feeding grounds ... read more