Tacoma Auto Repair

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

  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