Black History Month Events in Nashville, TN

The Black History Month or the African-American History Month according to the United States in February. This is a yearly celebration originating in the US itself. It has gained special significance and observance in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Ireland. It is celebrated in the remembrance of the African-Americans’ achievements and the primary role they had played in the ancient history of the United States.

The event African-American History Month has sprouted from the roots of ‘Negro History Week,’ which is the thoughtful seed of the Carter G. Woodson (a noted Historian) and several other notable African-Americans. From the time of 1976, it has been an official and auspicious ritual to designate February as Black History Month, by every US President, to celebrate the labor, hard work, and bloodshed of the African American people.

In the upcoming year 2021, celebrate Black History Month with many events conducted in Nashville, TN. The engaging events conducted in Nashville during the entire month of February may range from photography exhibits to fun-filled activities at the local library. Each specially curated event for all the age groups to enjoy and learn more and more, with passing years, about the culture of African-American and Civil Rights, you need to recognize your pick. From a variety of events celebrated and enjoyed over the years, we would like to tell you about just a few so that even if you cannot visit the place, you would know what you have been missing out on.

Nashville Conference on African-American History and Culture:

The African-Americans’ enormous contribution towards Nashville and Tennessee history was celebrated as a gala event by the Tennessee State University’s College of Liberal Arts and the Metropolitan Historical Commission. As usual, the highlight of this jamboree is the music and ended with the presentation of award-winning documentaries of African-American history in Tennessee by Tennessee History Day students.

Sistas: The Musical by Dorothy Music:

The Sistas traced the relationship shared by the hundreds and thousands of Black women with popular music with songs like ‘Stormy Weather,’ ‘I Am Not My Hair,’ ‘Oh, Happy Day,’ ‘Nowhere to Run,’ ‘Single Ladies’ and many more.

Poetry and the African-American Experience with Frank X Walker:

Featuring poet Frank X Walker, a well-known poet, one of the most creative professors of the South was welcomed to teach the new generation about historical poetry and how it became the go-to genre for many repressed thoughts and voices of the Blacks in the past.

Raisin’ Cane: A Renaissance Odyssey with the Avery Sharpe Trio and Jasmine Guy:

In the ancient American Black community, there had been several artists, poets, actors, novelists, and musicians who were searching for an outlet. And when in 1918, the First Great World War ended and innumerable African-American soldiers returned home triumphant, the muffled cry for expression could no longer be contained and overflowed. Those thoughts, songs, and images were beautifully woven together and depicted on stage for the audience.

Tags: Black History Month Blog, Ford Blog, Wyatt Johnson Blog, Wyatt Johnson Ford Blog
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Things to Do on Valentine’s Day in Nashville, TN

The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of our modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men, both named Valentine, on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.

Couples in Nashville, TN have the following options on and around Valentine’s Day.

1. Enjoy a Picnic Together– A hilltop spot known as Love Circle is quite famous as the city’s highest vantage point. Many couples gather to enjoy the beauty of this place through picnics and other activities, making it a popular romantic spot in Nashville.
2. The Couple that Hikes Together Stays Together– Hiking is a passion for many people, and what better occasion to fuse the love for hiking and each other than to get to Forest Hills. This area has several vast hiking trails, one of them being the Radnor Lake State Park here.
3. Historic Attraction– There is something about the resplendent beauty of a historic site, and one such place is the Centennial Park. A green space here is quiet enough for love birds, and one can also marvel at the beauty of The Parthenon, which appears like a very accurate replica of the famous temple in Athens, Greece.
4. Art Crawl– Nashville observes a First Saturday Art Crawl in which participants have the freedom to roam across more than 20 art galleries and studios, free of cost. All couples who love art should remember not to miss out on this opportunity. Other places where art can be appreciated include Rymer Gallery and The Arts Company, though with tickets.
5. Carriage Ride– Think of the most famous cities in the world, and all of them have the facility to travel on a horse-drawn carriage. It is a very romantic way of seeing the beautiful town of Nashville with one’s partner, including spots like Wild Horse Saloon, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Riverfront Park.
6. Hot Air Balloon Ride– Imagine proposing to a girlfriend or boyfriend while being thousands of feet in the air! The hot air balloon, at a height between 500-3000 feet above mean sea level, is an excellent way of getting close to one another. One can enjoy a view of middle Tennessee with their partner while doing so.
7. Honky Tonk Highway– Music helps create the perfect ambience for every mood, and one can enjoy live music all the time on the Honky Tonk Highway in Nashville. Partners will love to visit frequented places such as Legends Corner, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, and Robert’s Western World.
8. Spend Time Among Plantations– Several hours can be spent while enjoying beauty at the Belle Meade plantation, which has been revived in Greek style. It is often regarded as the Queen of Tennessee plantations. Social interactions beyond just each other can be enjoyed on tours here.
9. The Green Path– Walking amid greenery gives a wonderful kick, and this is possible at the Shelby Bottoms Greenway, a natural park in East Tennessee. Couples can participate in activities such as cycling, skating, or even run together. The length of the pathway is about 4 miles in length, and helps couples feel peaceful.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

6 Tips to Get Better Gas Mileage

In the last couple of years, gas prices have soared over the roof. Unfortunately, they continue to increase with every passing year to everyone’s disappointment. However, it has also not restricted car owners to use their vehicles. Despite soaring gas prices, many people prefer to take their vehicle to work or for grocery shopping, even if it is just a block away. Therefore, getting better mileage is what everyone’s looking for these days.

There is no harm in saving money, wherever you can. Saving money on gas would be the biggest priority of car owners today. Here are some tips that can help you improve your fuel economy: –

1. Follow Driving Rules: Speeding or sudden braking due to speeding is the main cause of increased gas mileage, not to forget, it also is the reason for causing the maximum number of accidents on the road. Driving rashly can also reduce the life of your vehicle. Therefore, always drive at the optimum speed to maintain safety and gas mileage.
2. Don’t Overweigh your Car: When going on long trips, families often take loads of luggage. Your car would require extra effort to carry all the weight leading to burning more fuel. Therefore, loosen up your car by ditching all the unnecessary load to have a better fuel economy.
3. Maintain Your Car Regularly: Like other things in your life, even your car requires regular maintenance. A well-maintained car will always have better mileage. So, make sure, on those trips, to stop at vehicle shops for regular maintenance before you leave to save money on fuel.
4. Avoid Air Conditioners When Possible: We mostly don’t turn off the car air-conditioners while driving, even if the weather outside is normal. Use air-conditioners only when required. Roll down the windows as much as you can and enjoy the fresh air outside. Also, don’t idle your car. We mostly keep the car running while waiting to clear a red light or waiting for someone. Keeping your engines on in the idle state can burn high levels of fuels than normal. Shut off your engine when not moving, it will allow it to cool down and save gas.
5. Encourage Other traveling Methods: If possible, use other methods of traveling like taking a bus or train or encourage carpool, if you have some of your colleagues coming from the same route. This will help you save huge loads of money on traveling as well as gas mileage since you won’t be taking your car frequently.
6. Drive According to Weather Conditions: During cold weather, your car is susceptible to burn more fuel because it requires extra effort to start the engine and if your car is not maintained properly, it would take additional effort to move. Therefore, it is recommended to turn on the engine 30 seconds before driving. It will help in heating up faster. During summer weather, heating your engine is not a problem, but other potential problems can lead to fuel consumption. So, make sure to roll down the windows for a minute or two before turning on the AC. Always park in a shadier place to avoid the car from overheating and reducing the workload on your air conditioner.

These are some common tips that should be followed to maintain your fuel economy.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Is it Necessary to Rotate my Tires?

Periodically rotating tires is essential for car owners for the best utilization of tires. With time, tires tend to wear down, so you have to find out tires have a balanced tread pattern. It is essential to understand which your car needs for tire rotation. Rotating the tires helps them by extending their life and stay within their warranty, which is very beneficial for car owners. The tire rotation is a procedure that involves the rotation of each tire of the car periodically. The placement of tires rotation depends on the type of car. There are generally three types of rotation patters known as the front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel-drive cars. The rotation method for each of these tires is different, which is mentioned below.

Benefits of Tire Rotation:

• When you rotate your tires periodically, you can manage the wear and tread pattern evenly in your car’s tires. When the wear is spread evenly among all the tires, the longevity of the tires is maximized.
• Traction and handling are two primary components that depend primarily on the tires. When we regularly rotate our tires, the tires handling, and traction control improves. Not only traction but also the turning and overall performance of the vehicle is improved.
• When tire rotation occurs, you can inspect the other tire components, such as rims and alloys. There are instances due to which the rims bend. Having examined at an early stage will help you take the necessary actions and save a lot of money.
• If a tire rotation is done periodically in all-wheel-drive vehicles, there are fewer chances of tires harming the other expensive components due to wear and tread patterns.

How to do a Tire Rotation Process:

The tire rotation process depends hugely on the type of vehicle. Below mentioned are the three types of vehicles and their tire rotation process.

Front-Wheel-Drive Vehicles (FWD):

In FWD vehicles, the front tires wear off very quickly. This is because the front tires are responsible for driving the vehicle in different directions. The procedure of rotating tires for FWD vehicles is straightforward. The front tires should be on the rear end on the opposite sides for the best results. Front-wheel tires have more tendencies to wear off quicker compared to the rear ones.

Rear Wheel Drive Vehicles (RWD):

The RWD vehicles wear very balanced as the rear tires are only produce the power. The procedure of rotating the rear wheel tires are unique. To get it right, rotate the rear end tire to the same side in the front. The procedure here is equally opposed to that of a FWD vehicle. This is because both the vehicle’s tires wear off differently. The front tire should be moved to the rear on the opposite side. This will help your car tires to increase its longevity and deliver higher performance for easy handling. It is advised to get your tire rotation done after 3000 to 8000 miles for the best results.

All Wheel Drive Vehicles (AWD):

AWD vehicles have the most efficient tires and taking proper care by rotating it when required will help increase its longevity and performance. In an AWD vehicle, the procedure for rotation stays the same as RWD vehicles. You rotate the front tires to the rear, ensuring they are fitted on the same side. The rear tires go to the front on the opposite side for the best results.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Great Tips to Help Prepare you for your Holiday Trip

The most well-known occasions for traveling are usually the last two months of the year. Everybody wants to spend time with their families during the memorable seasons, which implies going on long trips. So, before setting off for your journey, ensure that you follow these tips to keep you safe while you’re on the road.

Car servicing is a must: Before beginning a road trip, ensure you have your car serviced. Check if the tires have appropriate pressure, pneumatic stress, and also check its tread. Any upkeep, such as belts replacement, topping off liquids, and oil change, will help with vehicle proficiency and reduce the odds of a breakdown. If you experience some issues with your car, ensure you put your hazard lights on and don’t drive any farther to avoid creating problems for others in traffic.

Comply with the law: Make intelligent decisions and comply with the rules. To ensure you are driving safely, keep the following tips in mind:

• Avoid driving over the speed limit.
• No messaging/texting while driving at the same time
• Drinking? NO, NOT AT ALL!
• Avoid sluggish driving

Nothing is more terrible in the holiday season, like facing an accident or getting a traffic ticket. Ensure you are taking care of everybody in your car and around you, keeping them safe on the road.

Technology should be used: Ensure you are carrying a phone in your vehicle if something turns out badly or if you require travel directions. Always carry a charger inside your car to charge your phone. If the insurance you have offers you an application or administration that permits you to get roadside assistance, make sure you have that in order before you set off for a long trip. It’s critical to utilize all the instruments accessible while traveling a long distance. Whether it is a tire blast or an issue in the engine, it’s good to know that you can have it whenever you need help.

You should know the limitations and restrictions: If you are going with the family, ensure that you are aware of the speed limits. Plan incessant stops for kids who need to utilize the bathroom frequently. Ask someone else to drive if you get worn out. Top off on gas whenever you get the opportunity, and don’t push excessively far on a gas tank. These will all prompt unnecessary stops and will put your vehicle in danger on the road.

Your vehicle should be loaded: Before the start of your trip, it is significant you have your car loaded with all the necessary stuff. Individuals are typically wise about ensuring they have tons of tidbits and beverages; however, there are different things to keep in mind.

Following are the things you must have in your vehicle for the trip:

• A first-aid box
• Extra tire
• A toolkit
• A few bottles of water
• Any essential medicines
• A coat or a jacket, just if there is an occurrence of terrible climate

It’s consistently an excellent plan to keep anything important ready in the car.

Getting ready to face some terrible situations will consistently help you in a crisis. It’s always good to anticipate these circumstances beforehand and get ready for them. Once you have made sure that you have covered everything for safe travel, you can make the most of your holiday season.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Do you wish to get to your destination on time during winter? If yes, ensure that you make a few pre-preparations with respect to your vehicle. The following tips will help you get started in no time:

1. The fuel line needs protection– In case the temperature drops and there is water in the fuel line, it will not be long before the fuel line freezes. Once this happens, you may find that fixing the fuel line is troublesome, but not expensive. Instead, pre-prepare your vehicle by adding a fuel additive into the line and fill the tank completely.
2. Correct tire pressure– Follow the owner’s manual to have the correct tire pressure for winter. You can keep the pressure high since tires do not expand in winter. You may also have to select a different tread pattern if there is a lot of snow around.
3. New engine oil – Engine oil tends to gain viscosity at lower temperatures, which makes it does not flow easily. For effective lubrication, it should have just the right amount of viscosity. Too much thickness can damage the oil pump over time. 5W engine oil is perfectly suited for winter conditions.
4. Check power in the batteries– A lot of vehicle batteries lose roughly 50% of charge when the temperature drops. Apart from this, age of the battery and low maintenance levels also diminish its ability to charge itself. If the battery is taking longer than usual to start or you get slow cranks, it may be time to replace it.
5. Let the engine idle – Spend a few minutes idling the engine after you have started the car. This will help it get conditioned to the environment outside and thereby run smoothly. Hoses and belts will warm themselves and engine fluids will be able to flow normally. Instead, driving off as soon as you start up could be detrimental. This is because your car’s engine needs a few minutes to acclimate with the outside environment before it can run without problems. Belts and hoses can warm themselves and fluids start to flow.
6. Keep a winter supply box handy– There can be times when you are stuck in heavy snow, with nowhere to go. In such a scenario, you may have to spend the night in a nearby lodge or the car, and you should be prepared accordingly. It is important that you have an entire trunk with necessary supplies whenever you leave for a long trip. Supplies such as an additional pair of gloves, change of clothes, a few bags of sand (for traction), mobile chargers, and a working mobile phone.
7. Headlights– Visibility can be severely compromised in the falling snow. It is imperative for your vehicle to having strong working headlights. Consider higher output lights for better visibility in the winter.
8. Replacement of wiper blades– Most of us do not think of the wiper blades until they start scratching windsheilds. Changing the blades in time will help your vehicle get rid of the cold precipitation in an effective manner.

Apart from these DIY methods, it is important to get your vehicle checked regularly by a trusted service workshop. They may offer you free towing services as well.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Do I Need an Alignment?

You might not be sure whether you need an alignment for new tires or not. Here we will answer the most important questions that will help your vehicle to get perfect new tires.

Is the alignment required for new tires? 

It’s not compulsory to have a wheel alignment for new tires. Still, it’s good to have an alignment because it maintains angles of all the tires with each other and the road.

If you’re thinking about saving money and don’t get an alignment, you may experience a hectic and rough ride that can shorten the lifespan of your new tires.

How often does my vehicle need an alignment?

It would be better to get an alignment every year, but f you drive more on rough roads, your car may require an alignment before a year.

If your vehicle wears from the side or if you hear any noise while driving the vehicle, then you must do an alignment to prevent your vehicle from damaging.

Why are wheel alignments necessary?

Alignments for the vehicle will save you money in many ways.

Poorly aligned tires can wear out faster; they have to regularly install new tires and that will not be affordable anymore. So, wheel alignment helps you to conserve fuel and save your money.

Is it necessary to align all the tires at once?

Of course, yes. Nowadays, the majority of vehicles need a four-wheel alignment. Four-wheel alignments make it simple to handle. You should also check the rear axle regularly.

If you do a two wheels alignment, then the weight imbalance causes damage to your vehicle. Wheel balancing compensates weight imbalance in the wheel combination. There is the presence of two standard types of wheel or tire imbalance that requires to be corrected at the right time: Static (or single plane) & dynamic (or dual plane). Static balance is a balance on one plane only.

Vertical movement causes vibration. There is a need for a special balance machine for vertical and lateral movement. To balance the tires, a technician can adjust the pressure on the entire tire. The machine spins the tire or wheel at high speed and measures the tire imbalance. According to the results of the balancing machine, the technician adds weight to the tires and balances the vehicle.

Now it is clear how to maintain your vehicle. If you follow the above steps, then your vehicle will not face balancing problems.

Take advice from some technicians and add an alignment for your new tires to boost the efficiency of tire.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

When you’re a car owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure that your car is properly equipped to keep running smoothly. With so much to keep track of, it’s easy to forget about the four pieces of rubber that separate your car from the road. While it may seem like tires just take care of themselves, they most definitely do not. If you neglect your tires, you could be facing seriously expensive repair bills down the line.

Some issues, like a puncture, can be solved by just changing a single tire, however, others will require you to change all four to keep everything in perfect working order.

Single Tire Fix

• If you have recently replaced your tires and have sustained damage to only one tire, then you only need to replace that single tire. If your tires are relatively new they 
• The main thing you need to be sure of is that the tread depths look nearly identical across all four tires. An easy way to check tread depth is to insert a penny into the tread and see how much of Lincoln’s head is covered.
• If the depths do not add up, you should ask to have your tire shaved so as to better match its three other counterparts.

Multi-Tire Fix

• If it has been a good bit of time since your last tire change, then it is most likely a better option to change all of your tires. This is because your tread depths will not match up between the old and new tires. This imbalance will cause alignment issues and more within your  car if ignored.
• Losing like 2/32 or 4/32 tread depth is fine. In that case, go for the replacement of a single tire. But if your other tires have lost more than that, then it is a safer option for you to get all your tires replaced.

If you are in the market for tires, check out our tire center. As always, if you have any questions about the overall health of your car, reach out to our service department, they’ll be more than happy to get you the information you need.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Check out our list of some of the spookiest cars in TV and movie history. 

Tumbler — The Dark Knight

The Batmobile is almost as famous as Batman himself. Like the lead character, the Batmobile also has seen multiple updates and changes to its appearance over the past few decades. One of the latest iterations, the “Tumbler” was heavily featured in the 2008 film,The Dark Knight. This particular car was quite different from its predecessors, taking on more of a militaristic vibe than ever before. Most notably, this is one of the only Batmobiles to date to not feature batwings somewhere within its design. However, the tank-like appearance coupled with the matte black paintjob made it appear as menacing as ever before.  

Imperator Furiosa’s War Rig — Mad Max:Fury Road

While the Mad Max franchise has featured a number of mean looking vehicles, the one that has really stood the test of time is the “War Rig”. This truck was constructed by combining together a Tatra truck with a Chevrolet Fleetmaster. It had 18 wheels with six-wheel-drive and was powered by twin V8 engines. The front was outfitted with a mechanized shovel and spikes all around. While this large tanker already looked malicious, the icing on the cake was the human skull adoring the front of the vehicle.  

Creeper Truck — Jeepers Creepers

This truck was based on a Chevrolet COE. In the movie, the villain uses it to attack the car of the lead characters. It was also used by the villain to transport dead bodies. While the truck itself looks rusted and battered, it represents the presence of the devil in the movie. For viewers of this movie, a glimpse of this truck is enough to make the skin crawl. 

Chevy Nova — Death Proof

This was a typical Quentin Tarantino movie, featuring some really gruesome unbearable scenes. The plot revolves around a stuntman using his death-proof car to murder young women and plotting these as accidents. The car used was a 1970 Chevrolet Nova painted in a dark matt scheme. The highlight was the skull logo on the tank in contrasting white. While the Nova is a classic muscle car, the killer character behind the wheel made it dreadful.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The 2020 Ford EcoSport is the smallest among the vehicles being increasingly offered in the company’s SUV lineup. It is characterized by good handling and decent foot space, and is arguably the most affordable four wheel drive vehicle in the USA right now. Take a look at its features in detail below.

Trims Offered

Four trim levels have been instituted by Ford for the EcoSport, namely:

S

SE

SES

Titanium

Colors available include Lightning Blue, Canyon Ridge, Smoke, Shadow Black, Race Red, Moondust Silver, Diamond White, White Platinum and Ruby Red (Extra cost).

Performance specifications

You will get to drive this subcompact SUV with a 6-speed automatic transmission. You get a Sport (S) driving mode as well on the transmission where the engine runs at higher RPM than usual. Under hard acceleration, the engines get pretty loud. Before deciding to purchase this car, try and test it out with other family members and some amount of luggage inside.

Although extensive work has been done on the EcoSport’s exteriors, you do not get any mechanical improvements in performance over its previous version.

Intelligent four wheel drive allows the car to take on any terrain with ease. It can be added to a variant of the EcoSport at an additional cost. For grip on different types of terrains, AdvanceTrac and Hill Start Assist are available.

Exterior impressions

You will notice a black front grille which is standard on the S and SES variants. S and SE showcase a sportier look than the others which look more upscale. Projector headlamps are available in the SE trim and above. No roof rails have been provided on the SE trim, while the SES gets them in black color. Similarly, the Titanium variant gets silver roof rails. A shark fin-extended audio antenna is visible close to the rear top. For those who have to constantly drive around in congested spaces, they will find it very easy to maneuver this car.

The rear lift gate reveals a cargo capacity of 20.9 cubic feet. Fold the 2nd row of seats to create a phenomenal 50 cubic feet of space.   

Interior impressions

Fit and finish in the interiors of the EcoSport is pretty good, considering that it is a subcompact SUV. Its cabin design appears to be pretty similar to the Ford Escape. Various interior features available across trims are as follows: 

• Cupholders available even in base S trim 
• Good rear seat comfort
• 6-way power adjustable front seats (SE onwards) 
• Perforated leather seat finish (Titanium)
• Tilt steering wheel
• 8-inch touchscreen (standard on SE)
• Heated steering wheel (SES, Titanium)
• Steering wheel mounted controls
• Ambient lighting (SES, Titanium)
• Small glove box, although separate space to store Owner Manual has been given
• Great visibility through the rear view mirror on the inside

Safety features

Driver assist technologies that have been classified under Ford Co-Pilot 360™ are available in the EcoSport. The list of these technologies includes:

• Rear view camera
• BLIS with Cross Traffic Alert

In addition, Ford has also installed RSC (Roll Stability Control) in the EcoSport.

To test-drive a new 2020 Ford EcoSport, visit us at Wyatt Johnson Ford today.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »