Just one of Those Days Fan Response

Since writing about my experience of locking myself out of my car I have received wonderful slew of responses from readers with similar stories. Here is what they have shared.

"One of my friends locked his keys in his BMW, broke the back passenger window to get in and find out the keys were in his house the whole time."

"i used to lock the keys in my car so much that I "fixed" one of the windows so I could get in any time I wanted."

"it was 30 degrees outside. got in the car and started it, got out to scrape ice off the windshield, went to get back in the car....eh doors locked with car running....just great."

"Locked my keys in my truck while it was running....had to wait in the parking lot for 3hrs while someone brought my spare set.......Oh did I mention it was about 40 degrees and had no jacket?? good times

"Locked keys in the truck at 10pm while it was still running when we were about to get on the road to go out of town... had to wait 2 hours for a locksmith!!! Thank God I hadn't put the dogs in the truck yet!!!! LOL"

"Not only did I lock my keys in my car..I locked my precious niece in there too! And wouldn't ya know I did the same thing when I had my bouncing baby girl two years later! Thank God for PGPD..they don't just bust a cap in people..they rescue kids! :)"

"I locked my keys in my car at a gas station by one of my buddies work in high school. I had gone to visit him but told my parents i was going to be somewhere else. I had to borrow his truck to go to my parents house and get my spare key. needless to say i got caught in my lie and in trouble"

"my story is kinda boring, but this always happened in the mornings during the winter. when someone would go outside to heat their car up and then press the lock key out of routine, get out and shut the doors. thankfully after the first time it happened, my parents got spare keys for the cars so after that it didn't matter. but it happened every winter. always."

"locked my keys in my car while it was running during an ice storm underneath a power line that was going to fall at any minute. had to break in through my truck and rip through the back seat of my car to get in."

At least I am not alone...and, after reading these, I must say that all cars should have a keypad on the driver's side door. Read more...

One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong? Yesterday, it happened to me. I woke up bright and early thinking it would be nice to start the day with a little work out. But after looking at my clock I realized that I had slept about 45 minutes longer than I had planned. After rushing to get dressed, I hurried and made breakfast and headed over to pick up some dry cleaning. Since it was 7 am and I was in a hurry, I neglected to turn off the engine. After paying I was out the door. I had a big day ahead of me. But when I got to the door, it was locked!"Great." I thought. "Now I have to go back into the dry cleaners and tell the lady working that I am mentally handicapped." When I did however, the woman working didn't seem concerned at all. She immediately ran to the back of the store and when she returned she had a tool box and hanger in hand. Before I knew it she was out the door and standing by my car with her tools. What is this freaking Lady MacGyver?

"I really appreciate it, but isn't there a shopping center security guard or something?" I asked.

"No, we can get in. I have done it before."

Within seconds she had a rag and a flat head screw driver and she began to pry back the door. Before I knew it the hanger was inches away from automatic lock. Then, "Click" we were in. I cordially thanked her and left. As I was driving away I wondered how the hell the lady knew exactly how to break into cars. What does she do when she leaves that cleaners?? Then I said aloud, "Who gives a crap, at least I'm headed home." Read more...

Alex Ovechkin: In Animation

The Washington Capitals are preparing to take on the Penguins in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. If they win it they will be on track to have a story book season with Alex Ovechkin playing the role of the main character. So how many characters can the Great 8 play? We've seen him on the jumbotron at the games as the "Russian Machine" we've seen him try his hand at football, but now, Alex comes to life in animation as Eastern Motor's most recent spoke's person.
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New Ovi Commercial

The out takes from this Eastern Motors commercial have been a huge hit. But now its time for the real deal. Check out Ovechkin in the newest commercial. Will he make the team? Watch and find out.



Also, make sure to check out Easterns Hyundai of Leesburg. Read more...

Lost in the Locker Room

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New Commercials

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Destruction Crew #8 and #47

Yesterday Eastern Motors and Gearshift Productions shot a commercial with their newest star, Alex Ovechkin. The shoot, like all of them, was very light hearted. It was also very destructive. There were pucks and footballs flying, stick thrown down, helmets smashed, and even some friendly competition between #8 and #47. Check out the preview of what will surely be an awesome commercial..





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Brashear's Lambo

In the recent weeks I have become friends with Washington Capitals Donald Brashear. Besides being an awesome hockey player and a longtime veteran, he drive a badass Lamborghini. This doesn't have a lot to do with Eastern Motors, but it is worth sharing none the less.



For a more family friendly car, check out the car of the year for 2009, the Hyundai Genesis. Read more...

Brett Favre Recommends the Smart Car

If you live in a cave there is a small chance that you didn't hear the recent news that Brett Favre retired...again. If you didn't, he is "officially" retiring.

After I heard his name nearly 96,000 times in the one hour episode of Sports Center and reading some of the 46 articles written about him today I started wondering, what kind of car does Favre drive? After about 10 pages of google searches, the best I could come up with was a Chevy Silverado Truck. In that same google search I also found this. Can't you just see him and Jason Fabini cruising home after practice together? 



Now I know that wasn't much of a car commercial but it begs the question, "What would Brett Favre drive if he had done an Easterns commercial instead of a Smart Car commercial?" I decided to ask those close to home what they thought.

Eiman Bassam, Chris Cooley, and Lindsay Czarniak all stuck to the truck theme differing by very minor details. Dan Hellie and Jason Campbell on the other hand thought differently of Favre and went respectively with a Denali and Bentley. So far some pretty generic answers for one of the most prolific passers of all time. So thinking I could get something good, I asked Eastern's founder Robert Bassam what he thought. And although he stuck to the truck theme, least he went big saying Favre was an F650 guy. Which at this point gave me a good laugh because can you see a guy who does a smart car commercial hitting the streets in this?Thinking that if I pursued this further I would keep getting much of the same, "Favre is a bit of a redneck...so a truck." But, I decided to continue the search for Favre's fantasy Eastern's car anyway. I asked Dan Steinberg to give me his take on the matter and unlike those before him, he wasn't too quick to answer. After some advice from his intern and much deliberation he finally said, "A 1993 REDSKINS CHEVY BUBBLE CAPRICE. I wrote about it yesterday. That's what he would drive for sure." I laughed and continued the search. I figured Matt Terl might have something good and even though he went with the country boy truck thing, he said  "A tractor, but with custom rims." A pretty classic answer considering I can definitely see Brett cruising the streets of Ashburn in a Tractor with some 60 inch spinners. 

So now after asking seven people I began writing. I felt like their bright minds had come up with was pretty damn good. I could picture the commercial now. Favre singing the Eastern's tune and each line would cut to a him in a different vehicle beginning with the Smart Car and getting bigger and bigger until finally, he's atop the tractor screaming "YOUR JOB'S YOUR CREDIT!" And then much to my surprise I got a call back from the man himself, Clinton Portis. Since pretty much everything Clinton says is gold, I couldn't wait to hear what he had to say. "I think a Volkswagen Beetle, surf board on top. Just like coach Zorn." And at that instant, my search had ended. If Favre had played for the Skins and done his Eastern's commercial, this is exactly where he would be...him and Zorn both. Drinking milk and driving VW's. Thanks Clinton.  Read more...

Easterns at the 2009 Washington Auto Show

Eastern Motors knows how to do things big. And that's what they did at the 2009 DC Auto Show. Their cars included a Rolls Royce Phantom, 2 Ferrari's, a Lamborghini, a Maserati, Mercedes CL 65, and more! Check 'em out for yourself and you will know what I mean by doing it BIG.



Not only did they do it big with their cars, Easterns also brought in Jason Campbell, Antwaan Randle El, and the Redskins cheerleaders to sign autographs. These guys and girls were definitely one of the biggest attractions on hand and they didn't dissapoint as they signed autographs and took photos for hours.




If you went to the show we would love to hear what your favorite display was and also ask that you share your photos with us. You can email them to cooleyfans@gmail.com Read more...

Fuel Economy and Tax Benefits at Easterns

Last week we took a look at what consumerreport.com said were some of the Best Cars in 2009. As great as that is Best Cars don't mean fuel efficient cars. In a year that fuel costs rose to over $4 per gallon, I feel like fuel economy is the most important thing to look at when buying a car. There is a great site out there for all your fuel economy tips. It covers benefits from: driving sensibly, observing the speed limit, using your cruise control, removing excess weight, etc., etc. What about the people who don't want to change their habits? The people who just want to buy a car that does it for them? Because you can "save $200-$1,500 in fuel costs each year by choosing the most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Fuel-efficient models come in all shapes and sizes, so you don't have to sacrifice utility or size."

If your asking what kind of cars I'm talking about, here's your list.




Great! Everyone can save from choosing the right car and following some simple tips. But there are plenty of people out there who don't feel like they can afford a new vehicle right now. If you are one of them, you need to head into Eastern Motors. Because this year Easterns is offering a Tax Stimulus Package.

Announcing the Easterns Stimulus Package, put wheels on your tax dollars today. Bring your tax refund check from Jackson Hewitt or any other tax provider to any Easterns location and Easterns will pay for your tax preparation fee plus will apply 110% of your refund towards the car of your choice with no payments for 45 days.

That’s right the Easterns Stimulus Package will bail you out of your tax preparation fees and apply 110% of your refund towards any of our 2200 new or used vehicles in stock with no payments for 45 days.

Hurry offer ends April 15, 2009 call now.

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The Best Cars of 2009

The auto industry has obviously been hit hard in the recent months. With a new man in charge maybe some of that will change. As it currently stands however, things suck. So to try and shed a brighter light on the auto industry, we will take a look at the top cars in 2009 from consumerreports.org. Best in class: Family-friendly vehicles. If you have a family and need a car I took a look at the Honda Accord and the Subaru Forester for a number of reasons. Check 'em out.

FAMILY SEDAN - HONDA ACCORD
My first year of college I drove around a VW Jetta. After school was done I moved to Virginia to do summer sales and drove that thing all the way across country. Everything was going great. I loved that car. It got great gas mileage, it had no problems internally, and although it was as coupe, I fit in it quite comfortably. This was great until one day I got T-Boned by a Ford F150 doing 45 in a 25 and totaled the Black Beauty. After that I bought my first foreign car. It was an '02 Honda Accord. It was a great car for me then and still seems to be as it is #1 in the FAMILY SEDAN category. If you're thinking about buying a car and want something reliable, efficient, and fits your small family this is definitely the way to go. The 4 cylinder gets about 23 mpg compared to the V6 that gets about 21. This car will definitely hold its value down the road.

AFFORDABLE SUV - SUBARU FORESTER
Growing up in Utah I saw tons of young families with at least 3 children. With that said, I also saw tons of Minivans and Foresters. Since the minivan really isn't my style I am highlighting the Forester. According to consumer reports:

The Forester has always been a sensible, practical, and affordable vehicle, and the redesigned 2009 model is even better. It also has a roomier rear seat, standard curtain air bags and electronic stability control, and improved interior quality. The base engine is an adequate 2.5-liter four-cylinder, delivering 22 mpg with an automatic and 24 mpg with a notchy manual transmission.

So if you've got some littles running around your house and need a good affordable SUV, this one is #1. Especially since it ranks #1 in fuel efficiency for SMALL SUV'S as well.

Tomorrow we will take a look at fuel efficiency. And if you are thinking about getting a car make sure to head to Eastern Motors. You can find a location at www.easterns.com Read more...

One Score Away

Eastern Motors story of the fall, at least here, was the campaign to give away a Redskins Super Ride if all of their players scored. Considering the Redskins offense ranked 28 in PPG with 16.8, the chance of 4 different players scoring were very slim. Throw in that Jason Campbell's touchdown had to be done on the ground and odds go down even more. Given all of this, last Sunday vs. the 49'ers, the Skins came one player shy of making this dream giveaway happen. JC, CP, ARE all scored and Chris, well he got as close as the 5 yard line but couldn't make it happen. Here's to hoping that Easterns will continue the deal next year when the Skins have the offense down a little better.  Read more...

Holiday Parties

The holiday season, oh what a wonderful time of the year! Its always the time for family, friends, gift giving, but best of all, holiday parties. I have been to my fair share of them this year and most have been a few drinks, some finger food, maybe a little drunk karaoke and then call it a night. That's not how Eastern Motors does things. Their party, at Dave and Busters, was the epitome of all holiday parties. I'm talking buffet style food including free drinks, steak, chicken, shrimp kabobs, a fruit platter fit for a king, and all the games you can handle!

Boxing, hunting, and skee ball were definitely fun but the real battles came when we played basketball and racing. Between Eiman Bassam and myself we split in the two. I'll let you guess who won what. What an amazing night! Read more...

Randle El's Platinum Bentley Part 2

So if you ever had a better chance of all four of Easterns players scoring this week is it. In honor of that potential here is what you could win. 

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Sean Taylor Auction and Tribute Evening

Last night I attended the Sean Taylor tribute auction at The Original Steakhouse. The crazy thing about last night was that I had no idea of what to expect going in. My wife and I showed up and the first thing I saw were the three cars parked out front that were up for sale. It's crazy for me to think that at one point those cars were Sean's...


Once we were inside the place was filled with some familiar faces and some not so familiar faces. Its crazy to me how even in death someone can connect so many different people. From the fans to family and everyone in between. The cool thing about the group that gathered last night wasn't how we were connected but why we were there, to support Sean's daughter.

The setting couldn't have been better. If you haven't been to the Steakhouse, they have about twenty projector screens surrounding the entire bar area and they all played Eric Espada's photo montage of Sean for most of the night. Which if you haven't seen you need to check it out before you read any further. Also shown on the big screens that brought a tear to many an eye including mine was this


After some mingling Robert Bassam, founder of Eastern Motors opened up the auction to those in attendance. Among the items were those listed online and also a few available to those in attendance. The best one (also most expensive) was a framed autographed Sean Taylor jersey. If I had 25K extra that thing would definitely be on my wall right now but, it went to the owner of the establishment instead.

"It's not about the money, it's for the family," said Osama El-Atari, the owner of the restaurant, who bought the jersey. "It's for the family and the estate." 

Reading things like that reiterates why the evening was so successful. When all was said and done over 100 thousand dollars were raised, all of which will be going to the Sean Taylor Estate Trust fund.
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Sean Taylor Auction

When I was a senior in high school I spent nearly 12 hours in my basement watching the 2004 NFL draft. My brother (Chris) had just returned from a disappointing trip to Dallas (the trip where Bill Parcels said he would be nothing more than a decent special teamer in the league) and knew that if he was going to go anywhere it would likely be Washington. Well as fate would have it, the Washington Redskins selected Sean Taylor instead of Kellen Winslow and goosebumps ran down my back knowing that Chris could play with "that guy from Miami." Sure enough, the trade flashed across the screen and with the 81st pick the Skins took Chris forever connecting him with whom would become much more to me than just "that guy."

November 5, 2006 would be the last time I saw Sean in action. It was a game full of ups and downs. One minute I was 100 percent sure of victory and the next, 100 percent sure of defeat. I stood by my seat moping with the rest of the crowd when all of the sudden, as the Cowboys attempted their winning field goal I see #21 sprinting down the sideline with the ball! I jumped to on the railing screaming with all I had. With no time left Sean needed to find the end zone for the win...but he didn't, he was tackled. And as he went down I felt defeat in every ounce of my body. I was packing up and preparing to make the walk of shame to my car and sulk until next week. But wait...a penalty. Yes! We get one more shot. The snap...the hold...the kick! REDSKINS WIN! REDSKINS WIN!

That was the last time I saw Sean play a down of football but definitely not my last memory. I remember getting a call from Chris one morning telling me Sean had been shot and that he wasn't doing very well. It was a call I will never forget. Chris sounded lost on the other end of the phone and I could do nothing to help ease the pain. As the hours passed I watched the endless news coverage. I was glued to the TV trying to soak in everything that was happening to the Redskins, to Sean's family, to my brother. It was a very tough experience to watch and to live.

As horrible as some things in life are, some good can still be done for Sean's family. Unable to keep everything they felt it would be best to give the fans a chance to own something of Sean's. Eastern Motors is helping auction off his vehicles through an online auction that ends on Dec. 2. All proceeds will go to the Sean Taylor Estate Trust set up for his two year old, Jackie.

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Randle El's Platinum Bentley Part 1

I took a ride in Randle El's Platinum Bentley as part of Eastern Motors Super Ride give away. Check out part one of what turned out to be an amazing interview.

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Walt Disney, New Store, and Car Give Away

A few bits of news that are Easterns related this week. First, two of Eastern Motors own spent their bye week together in Disney World. Yeah that's right, Chris Cooley and Jason Campbell decided against spending their free time in Hawaii, California, or the Bahamas (wouldn't that be rough). Instead decided to take a ride on the "Rockin' Roller Coaster." The trip looked like fun and I'm glad these guys are building some chemistry. Hopefully it amounts to a few more touchdowns from JC to CC.
Next comes from Eastern Motors newsletter: The White Marsh store is now officially open. This is huge for Easterns as General Manager Kenny Booth states, "It's been a long time coming, we've been waiting for two years and everyone is ecstatic and ready to go and sell!" So if your in the area, go in and check it out (and buy a car).

The third thing and most important (even though chances are slim) is that I will be riding to the Dallas game Antwaan Randel El! This is in an effort to hype up the contest that Easterns is currently holding. You know, the one where if each of the 4 (El, Cooley, Portis, Campbell) Skins scores a TD in the same game, the winner can stake their claim to their choice of one of the 4's car! So be sure to check out the video from inside the Platinum Bentley on Monday!

Also, if you haven't registered for the contest do so by clicking HERE. If you have already registered then good luck! But more importantly, good luck to the Skins, because you can't win if they don't score. Read more...

Vernon Davis was Happier 3 Days Ago

Since our relationship with Yardbarker has started I have been reading plenty of athlete blogs that I never knew existed. One of those has been tight end Vernon Davis's which three days ago he wrote this

Coach Singletary brings a lot of energy. His speeches, they really seem to touch the team. If you look at some of the guys faces they really are tuned in to what he's saying. They might be like a couple of feet away from him but it seems like he's right up in their face by the looks of their expressions that you see on their faces.

Davis was tuned in today when big Mike told him "he’d do a better job for us right now taking a shower and coming back and watching the game than going out on the field, simple as that,” and then after the game when Vernon tried to approach his new coach, Singletary came at him with “You don’t want to talk to me right now.” And then to the media with this.



Interesting. I wonder what Davis will write about this week?
Now this wasn't about cars, Eastern Motors, or the Redskins. But I feel like this blog needs something...more than I have been writing about. Read more...