HOME - AutoMatters

AutoMatters
*A Living History of Automotive Culture, Motorsports & More!

Jan Wagner
(Award-Winning Writer and Photographer)

Welcome to AutoMatters online. Here in the AutoMatters COLUMN ARCHIVES you will discover an incredible variety of original automotive and motorsports content, and more. Told through words and award-winning automotive photography, topics have already included: auto shows, professional and amateur racing, new vehicle introductions, road trips, auto-themed movie reviews, manufacturers' "Ride & Drives," accessories and aftermarket enhancements, discussions of issues, interviews of enthusiasts and famous personalities, new technology, car club events and much more.

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AutoMatters PHOTOS

Some of my photos have won awards in the annual American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters' Association photo contest (sponsored by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) and at the San Diego County Fair.

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Did you notice the change?

You may have noticed that the photo of me in the red Miata mirror, which appeared for years in my newspaper column and here on my Web site, has changed. Friends and relatives told me that it did not really look like me. While it might have been nice to be able to travel incognito, I changed the photo to another one where I feel especially comfortable — in the driver's seat of a car.

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AutoMatters Advertising

If you would like to reach visitors to this Web site with prominently displayed advertising, choice locations are available. Please send an email to AutoMatters@gmail.com.

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AutoMatters Syndication

If you would like to add AutoMatters to your Web site or publication, please send an email to AutoMatters@gmail.com.

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Motorsports, Travel and more!!!

It was brought to my attention that something that I had pretty much taken for granted is not necessarily understood by everyone. So, I'll say it right here and now: motorsports are not limited to four-wheeled vehicles, so AutoMatters isn't either. That means you won't just find columns about automobile competitions, but also about boat racing (think the Thunderboat Regatta on San Diego's Mission Bay) and even air races (including the San Diego round of the Red Bull Air Race World Series next to downtown, over San Diego Bay).

To make things even more interesting and unpredictable, occasionally I also throw in bonuses like touring the U.S.S. Midway in San Diego and the retired Queen Mary ocean liner, which now calls Long Beach, CA its home.

Basically the bottom line is this: especially if it has some means of propulsion (or if it used to, as in the case of the Queen Mary), you just might read about it and see it in AutoMatters. I've written about radio controlled scale model vehicles, a scooter and even the Mars Exploration Rover (no, I'm not from Mars — cut that out). You might also virtually travel on vacation with me from time to time or find out what's interesting at the movies (notice that I said 'interesting,' not necessarily good). The name of game is v-a-r-i-e-t-y, not boring predictability. That's what most of you seem to want, as do I. Any questions or comments? You can reach me at AutoMatters@gmail.com.

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Thank you very much for your continued support and encouragement.