Location
Louisville, Kentucky
School
The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Glasgow
Expertise
Modern muscle cars, Sports sedans, Motorcycles
- Erik's obsession with cars started with a ride home from the hospital in a classic Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL moments after birth.
- He can't seem to say no to the opportunity to review and experience a new drive, from clumsily flogging a Corvette ZR1 around the track to blasting around Austin on electric motorcycles and beyond.
- Ever the impractical car guy, his first big purchase after returning from combat service was a project 1967 Chevrolet Camaro.
Experience
Erik is an experienced writer and editor with a car, motorcycle, and travel obsession. He got his start writing articles for sites like MotorBiscuit, TopSpeed, 6SpeedOnline, BroBible, and MBWorld. Before his time as an automotive journalist, writer, and editor, Erik served as a U.S. Marine and a full-time firefighter and EMT, spending quite a bit of time getting acquainted with tactical and emergency vehicles. Today, Erik leverages his unique experience and love for all things automotive to entertain, inform, and engage with fellow car enthusiasts.
The unique content on Jalopnik is a result of skilled collaboration between writers and editors with broad journalistic, academic, and practical expertise.
In pursuit of our mission to provide accurate and ethical coverage, the Jalopnik editorial team consistently fact-checks and reviews site content to provide readers with an informative, entertaining, and engaging experience. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
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Spacelopnik
By Erik Sherman
NASA needed somewhere to keep its rockets for the missions to the moon decades ago. But that location is still being used for its intended purpose today.
By Erik Sherman
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That fluorescent puke yellow-green color was carefully chosen by the MUTCD, and the reason why goes deeper than just being bright and visible.
By Erik Sherman
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Planelopnik
By Erik Sherman
You might have heard of the 'Goblin' or read about the 'Guppy' Boeing, but the 'Doctor Killer' moniker for the Bonanza stands alone. It's a complicated story.
By Erik Sherman
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Planelopnik
By Erik Sherman
The management of airspace changed forever after a mid-air collision between two commercial airlines in 1956. Learn what led to the creation of the FAA.
By Erik Sherman
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Wrenching
By Erik Sherman
Independent testing confirms this 3D-printed Z-pipe can deliver more power than an X-pipe. Whether it is actually worth the investment is a different matter.
By Erik Sherman
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The way Consumer Reports tests new vehicles looks like a ton of fun. Here are some of the tests the organization uses and why they're so important.
By Erik Sherman
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While orange ones are most common, these power line balls also come in other colors, such as white and yellow. And they are much larger than you think.
By Erik Sherman
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Car Design
By Erik Sherman
This French monstrosity could technically drive on 11 tires powered by two Chevy small-block V8s, and it served an incredibly important purpose.
By Erik Sherman
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Ram Trucks
By Erik Sherman
Ram revealed a new 1500 Rumble Bee model this week, but it isn't the first go-around for this spicy, muscled-up version of the full-size pickup truck.
By Erik Sherman
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Motorcycles
By Erik Sherman
Want to add a sidecar to your Harley-Davidson? it's not as easy as bolting it on and calling it a day. The DIY route takes time, patience, and the right gear.
By Erik Sherman
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Spacelopnik
By Erik Sherman
The components used to launch the Artemis II astronauts into space are truly massive. Here's how NASA moves those parts around the country.
By Erik Sherman
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PennDOT says the affected motorists will have to swap their licenses for learner's permits should they be unable to retest, which is a big setback.
By Erik Sherman
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Entertainment
By Erik Sherman
While some advertisements utilize loveable brand ambassadors, others are too weird and annoying to survive, like these discontinued car insurance mascots.
By Erik Sherman
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These engines took minutes to start up and their unique two-stroke design allowed them to idle by rocking back and forth, completing 0 revolutions per minute.
By Erik Sherman
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Motorcycles
By Erik Sherman
If you have an older Harley-Davidson with a dead battery, you may be wondering how pick the right replacement. Here's how to choose a new Harley battery.
By Erik Sherman
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America's highway signs are not uniform. A decades-long battle between two fonts has led to differences in signs across states and even along the same routes.
By Erik Sherman
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Not every change signifies progress. So it's worth asking whether losing the spare, its weight, and its cost in favor of a tire-sealing kit was a good move.
By Erik Sherman
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You're a driver for Uber or Lyft, and you get into an accident. Surely the company's insurance will cover you, right? Ah, but there's a catch or two.
By Erik Sherman
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"Defensive driving" may sound like it's all about driving slowly, but there's more to it than that. And taking a class can bring you a welcome discount.
By Erik Sherman
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Your driving habits affect your mileage, of course. But other things also can make a difference between high and low mpg ... including your oil filter.
By Erik Sherman
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Motorcycles
By Erik Sherman
Hitting the road on a bike with that special someone is a romantic idea, for sure. But it will work far better with some Harleys than it will with others.
By Erik Sherman
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With millions of car crashes every year, the odds are good that at some point, you'll have to file an insurance claim. Don't make it harder on yourself.
By Erik Sherman
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Motorcycles
By Erik Sherman
Harley started out with a one-cylinder engine, then after six years added a second cylinder. But getting to an acceptable version proved a bumpy ride.
By Erik Sherman
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Motorcycles
By Erik Sherman
Some vehicles start losing value the moment they leave the showroom, but this limited-edition bike has held its worth on resale markets amazingly well.
By Erik Sherman
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Motorcycles
By Erik Sherman
The Brits complained that American Motorcyclist Association rules were keeping them from winning races. The fallout led to the birth of a great racing bike.
By Erik Sherman
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