INFINITE SHIFT: A Car Designer’s Shower Thought

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Alan Macey crafted the automotive future in advanced design studios at BMW, VW, Dodge, SRT, JEEP and Ford before founding The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society. Here’s his insight on his latest work.

Adam: What is INFINITE SHIFT? How did this idea come about?

Alan: INFINITE SHIFT is a new line for TMGPS, and the Infinite Shifter Sticker Pack is the first product in the line.

Honestly, I was in the shower, and I was thinking about how hilarious the whole Toretto Special decal was.

Adam: Our fans really responded to that celebration of movie magic.

Alan: I was thinking, okay, what if it was possible? What if you could just keep shifting upwards and upwards forever? What would that look like?

An infinity symbol would be the gate, and it would let you shift in an infinite loop. And you’d just keep shifting and shifting like in the movies.

Adam: How did this idea transition from shower thought to the newest TMGPS slap?

Alan: I struggle a lot with overthinking things. I spend forever perfecting, then when it’s 99% there, I get distracted with another project. So, I told myself, you just gotta start doing things.

When this image first popped into my head, I thought, I’m going to draw it, cut it out on a vinyl, slap it on my speaker and put it out there as a giveaway with purchase to measure the response. I had the idea at 3:30, and an hour later, orders started rolling in.

It was really inspiring. I put it out there and people loved it. I appreciate that feedback, so I re-proportioned and remastered the art and cleaned it up a lot. I reached out to our sticker company and decided to just use a bunch of different options. We’re including three distinct designs in our launch edition sticker pack.

Adam: The yellow graphic represents the technical side.

Alan: It’s actually a shift pattern. It’s a diagram that shows you how to do an infinite shift. The arrows tell you: down and to the right — up and to the right — down and to the right. Ad infinitum.

Adam: The launch pack comes with three stickers, including a holographic.

Alan: Holograms are so awesome. You think about aurora borealis — about a wormhole. You think of 2001: A Space Odyssey, when they take that travel at the speed of light through the rainbow tunnel. So the holographic sticker is perfect. It’s the essence of the whole project. We have to take the safe road with the color options on our products so it feels nice to do something so colorful too.

Adam: Do you see this as a retrofuturist image? From what era?

I see it as the early ’90s looking at the 2020s. Everyone was obsessed with 2020 in the ’90s.  I think about McFly’s hat.

Adam: Holograms were the future then. Is the Infinite Shifter our future now?

Alan: I see it as a hilarious joke — but it’s also sort of mystical. There’s almost a mythological transcendence that I think fits with the way many of us feel about driving. We just wanna do it forever.

@highmileage is a world-traveling automotive historian. follow adam barrera on instagram.

TMGPS Friends at RADwood!

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First, a special surprise for TMGPS Journal readers: freshly restocked TMGPS License Plate Frames, after a long hiatus. Enjoy!

We’re longtime fans of RADwood, a celebration of cars from the era of the manual transmission’s last stand. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, the show is back with a host of measures designed to protect car enthusiasts — and at every event we can make, we’ll be there. When we can’t be on the ground, though, we rely on representation and coverage from the legion of TMGPS members who make RADwood a can’t-miss show. Here are a few of our favorites!

Dr. Cane’s Manual BMW M5 Wagon

We met Dr. Cane at RADwood Austin in 2019, and couldn’t believe his rare import was the real deal. We were even more shocked when Dr. Cane agreed to rock the TMGPS Stacker Decal on his rear window for the entire show. Rumor has it he left it there after the show — you’ll have to catch up with him at RADwood to see if it’s still there!

Justin’s Manual Audi GT Coupe

We owe Justin a full profile on his minty-fresh Audi GT Coupe, a front-drive iteration of the legendary Coupe Quattro. As with many of our dedicated TMGPS.org Sponsoring Members, Justin has an extensive collection of classics, so you never know just what he’ll bring to RADwood.

Jeff’s Five-Speed Mazda Miata

How often do you find a showroom-stock NA Miata these days? In an era of skyrocketing prices for modern classics, Jeff’s clean convertible is a bona fide classic worthy of RADwood Royalty. Catch him at RADwood PNW this weekend, September 19. We’ll be there, too.

Brandon’s Manual Mazda RX-7

Speaking of impossible-to-find mint Mazdas, how about this JDM example finished in Chaste White? Brandon brought his DeLorean DMC-12 to the last RADwood PNW, and since then, we’ve followed his collection with interest — with a soft spot for his second-gen Isuzu Trooper.

Romeo’s Manual Isuzu Rodeo

Would I really be an Isuzu Stan if I didn’t work in a vintage Isuzu? Romeo’s manual Rodeo is a treasured rarity in Isuzu circles, venerated for its rock-solid reliability and rugged trail manners. Catch him at RADwood PNW, and we might just snap a souvenir Polaroid for you. See you there.

@highmileage is a world-traveling automotive historian. follow adam barrera on instagram.

ILLINOIS BILL TO EXPAND ANTIQUE VEHICLE USAGE SIGNED INTO LAW

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Congrats to SEMA Action Network on the passage of expanded Antique Vehicle usage in Illinois! Our friends at “SAN” (Sema Action Network) are our most powerful ally in our mission to advocate for and protect our ability to continue driving the cars we love long into the future!

From the SAN Blog:

Success in Illinois! Governor JB Pritzker signed into law SAN-supported legislation (H.B. 2548) to allow “Antique Expanded Use” vehicles to be driven without limitation for two additional months. Expanded-use antique vehicles are defined as being more than 25 years old or a “bona fide replica” and were previously limited to traveling to and from auto shows, exhibitions, service stations, and demonstrations during the colder months (November 1 through March 31), but could be driven without limitation during the warmer months (April 1 through October 31). The new law expands the months without driving limitations to March 1 through November 30. The law went into effect on August 20, 2021.

 

Thank you to Representative Andrew Chesney for sponsoring this bill and to those who supported this effort—congratulations!

I have been long putting off some writing discussing SAN and will make it a priority, but for now you can learn more here, and support SAN by participating in their efforts in your state!