WELCOME! "THE CAR NUT" --- AWARD-WINNING AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALIST STEVE PARKER'S WEBSITE

ROUSH HYDROGEN FUEL PROJECT IN UK

Most American racing fans think they know all about Jack Roush, the "Cat in the Hat" who can be found most weekends running the show for his Ford cars and trucks in the NASCAR Sprint, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series. But knowing that much about Jack Roush is like knowing that Roger Penske has won one or two Indy 500s ... The real story is much, much deeper. Roush, headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, right smack in the heart and soul of the Detroit Three's car-making plants, is a company of more than several thousand employees located in offices and factories and assembly plants all over the world. (Photos --- Above, Jack Roush's own "Little Deuce Coupe" is exhibited outside a company display trailer; Below, "The Cat in the Hat" at a NASCAR event).

A recent press release out of the UK reminded us, once again, of how big and far-flung the Roush Empire is (and we don't think he'd mind his company being called an "Empire"). It seems that Roush, in conjunction with a UK outfit called ITM, are working together on a project to not only develop commercial vehicles with internal combustion engines which will run on hydrogen, producing few emissions and no CO2, but they are also going to create new and improved ways to actually make their own hydrogen fuel. Imagine that: Not only could a company use hydrogen as the main fuel for their (now) low-polluting fleet, but they can also make the fuel for their cars and trucks wherever there's access to water and electricity. Not bad, eh?

Hydrogen fuel used in an internal combustion (IC) engine of any type is not the "be all, end all" answer for the world's transportation problems; far from it. We first saw hydrogen used as an engine fuel and displayed for the public by Mazda, used in a rotary engine, at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. There are many problems to be overcome, including making the fuel, storing it in some central location, transporting it to other locations by truck, train, pipeline or some new method not yet developed, and then, finally, delivering it to the vehicles which will "burn" it in their IC engines. Once on-board the vehicle which will use it brings up another set of tough problems; storing it safely is just one of them. A given amount of hydrogen does not deliver the same amount of mileage which the same amount of gasoline can produce. But hydrogen as a fuel has a lot going for it: It is the most prevalent element in the universe, and when used in an IC engine, very few pollutants are created. So it's definitely worth looking at it closely, and good to see an American company, Roush Technologies, apparently among those in the lead of this particular race. So here's the latest on Roush, their UK partner, and their corporate plans. So here's some of what Jack Roush is doing when he's not busy promoting Ford and saying nasty things about the Toyota teams in NASCAR. We'll even leave-in the quaint misspellings for those of you who enjoy that sort of thing (as we do) as "proof" that the release did originate in the UK (someone once suggested that Disney should simply buy the UK and turn it into a giant theme park ... Don't laugh; it's still possible!).

2008 Roush and ITM to Collaborate on Hydrogen Vehicles

ITM Power plc & Roush Technologies Limited

Collaboration agreement with Roush Technologies Limited to accelerate the arrival of hydrogen vehicles
ITM Power plc is pleased to announce a collaboration agreement with Roush Technologies Limited in a unique project to realise hydrogen-powered, emission-free vehicles on UK roads. Roush Technologies is one of the world’s foremost automotive design, engineering and development groups and the collaboration agreement is expected to accelerate CO2-free, hydrogen-fuelled commercial vehicles operating in Britain. (Photos --- Below left, artwork for the Roush and ITM collaborative hydrogen project; Below right, one of Roush's Ford Fusion NASCAR race cars after a victory).

Roush Technologies, which already has extensive experience in the commercial vehicle sector, will be responsible for both adapting existing internal combustion-engines in vehicles and researching the development of new power units to utilise hydrogen fuel.

ITM will provide the breakthrough refuelling solution by enabling vehicle operators to generate their own hydrogen fuel. Using a patented electrolyser, due to enter production at ITM’s special facility in Sheffield later this year, it is possible to make hydrogen fuel wherever there is a source of electricity and water. The advances in electrolysis technology that ITM has achieved elegantly address the hydrogen infrastructure issue by using the already developed electricity and water distribution network.

The electrolyser can produce hydrogen from water and any source of electricity including off-peak or renewable energy --– electricity generated by wind, wave or solar power. Unlike petrol or diesel, when hydrogen burns, it releases no CO2, merely water vapour.

This agreement will enable both parties to jointly offer a complete package of hydrogen refuelling systems and hydrogen vehicles to customers. It is anticipated that first sales will be to large commercial or local government organisations that wish to demonstrate a commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Marketing to third parties will commence as soon as possible.

NEW APRILIA SCOOTERS FOR USA MARKET ARE HUGE GAS-SAVERS

With gasoline more expensive than ever, and even though some car-makers are working hard to  make a gallon go farther than before, motorcycles and motor scooters are naturally growing in popularity. They're fuel misers, and many of the smaller two-wheel machines can achieve 50 miles per gallon even on a bad day of going uphill at freeway speeds in a constant head- or cross-wind. The US is seeing an influx of scooters, especially those with under-500cc engines, the kind of machines which people in European and Asian countries have made use of for many decades but were not sold in the US because, frankly, Americans didn't want them, and the company's which made them didn't see a marketplace for their product in the US' 50 states. Now, with gas approaching $4 a gallon nationally, still below its price in most of the rest of the industrialized world, suddenly bikes of all displacements and horsepower are looking more and more attractive, especially in America's drier, warmer locales. (Photo - Aprilia helmet; Remember, April is Helmet Month! Wear it!).

Aprilia is one of motorcycling's best-known names throughout the world, even though the name is still not so easily-recognized in the US. Some Aprilia models have been sold in America under other names, but more and more the Aprilia name is becoming familiar; the company's emphasis on racing in various two-wheel series worldwide has gone a long way to educate American buyers to their many products, the same way many "foreign" cars were first introduced to the US in the 1950s and '60s.

We'll let Aprilia tell most of the "rest of the story," because these new machines, 100cc and 200cc four-stroke "automatic" scooters, usually work pretty well, are priced reasonably and you can't argue with their fuel mileage figures. In fact, these days, when Maseratis are called "the poor man's Ferrari", these Aprilia scooters might very well be the best and least-expensive way for the average American to own and personally enjoy Italian styling and sportiness. But I must admit --- My first bike was a Yamaha 175cc Enduro, and it cost about $500 brand-new in 1971. My second motorcycle, a Honda 550/4, purchased new in 1974, cost about $1,400. Seeing the prices of the following 100cc and 200cc machines still does sort-of catch me by surprise! But hey ... Allow me to complain about getting older! Now here's the latest from Aprilia:

2008 Aprilia 200 and 100 - An Authentic Italian Experience  
2008 Aprilia Scarabeo Scooters: An Authentic Italian Experience, Sized to Suit

Signature styling, big wheel safety, class leading features and unbeatable value distinguish Aprilia's Scarabeo 500 and – new for 2008 – the 200 and 100

With more than 750,000 Aprilia Scarabeo scooters sold during the last 15 years, this model line is a household word among style and value-conscious Europeans. Now, in addition to the Scarabeo 500, Aprilia has added two new Scarabeo models to its portfolio, the Scarabeo 100 and 200. Whether they have a taste for the "big bike" cruising qualities of a large 500cc scooter or prefer a smaller machine, American riders will find the right size within this popular Italian family. Ready for any challenge, whether it involves in-town errands, cross-town commutes or out-of-town distance rides, these "automatic motorcycles" are the definition of authentic style, performance, premium quality and unparalleled value.

The Scarabeo 200 is chock-full of great ideas. A flat platform provides added space for load carrying. A  windshield fixed to the steering head channels air flow over the rider, guaranteeing turbulence-free travel and surprising weather protection, even at high speed. Generous analog-digital instrumentation includes an on-board computer with handlebar controls. The system's many functions include outside air temperature display with ice warning for the hardiest of scooteristi. Even the center stand has been carefully designed to afford the best possible leverage-now every rider will find that lifting his or her Scarabeo on to its stand is a quick, strain-free experience.

The heart of the Scarabeo 200 is an advanced single cylinder four stroke engine, designed by Aprilia exclusively for the Scarabeo. It is lightweight, eco-friendly and packs an impressive 19 hp at 8250 rpm, with generous torque (12.5 lb./ft at 7500 rpm). That makes the Scarabeo 200 the most powerful scooter in its class. All this power is available without sacrificing fuel consumption or low emissions, the Scarabeo runs both fast and clean. One of the ways Aprilia achieved this dynamic package is by optimizing valve timing in the same way engineers tune the company's high performance racing engines. As a result, engineers were able to combine high peak power and good midrange punch with low emissions.

The Scarabeo 200 is available at Aprilia dealerships nationwide for $3599. Color choices include Couture Blue and Shine Red.

IRL OPENER TRUE-TO-OLD-FORM, UNFORTUNATELY; ONLY FOUR CARS ON LEAD LAP AT END

OK, we wanted to like this race, we really, really did ... But it gave us so few reasons to do so. Admittedly, the super-fast "merger" of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car will take at least a season, maybe more, for the effects to be felt, but we'd hoped for a bit more professional racing in this first "combined" event. And, no, I have not been an open-wheel racer and know almost-nothing about going around a 1.5-mile race track at over 200 miles per hour (something which the ESPN announcers feel compelled to mention every five or ten seconds during their race promotion, uh, coverage), but, then again, I am not getting paid several million bucks a year to drive these cars, only to (thank goodness) watch them and comment, based on what we all see, and what we all know about the sport. (Photo Above --- Winner Scott Dixon, foreground, dices with Tony Kanaan).

Quick race report: Gainsco Auto Insurance 300, opening meet of the 2008 Indy Car season. Congratulations to winner Scott Dixon, followed by Marco Andretti (more on that below), Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Ed Carpenter, Danica Patrick, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, AJ Foyt IV and Vitor Meira, the race's Top Ten. All of that group were running Dallara chassis, Honda engines and Firestone tires ... No, no, now wait a second ... This just in: All 25 of the starting cars had that same chassis/engine/tire set-up! And, someone tell me again, why is this not a "spec series"? (Photo --- "Geez, I know I left it in here somewhere...", team owner Dale Coyne still gets down-and-dirty with his race cars).

So, let's see ... The first race of the suddenly-combined Indy Racing League and Champ Car series was run this evening at the 1.485-mile Homestead-Miami race track, with four cars actually completing 200 laps in front of several dozen fans. At the checkered flag, there were: Four cars on the lead lap, and 16 cars still running out of the (event-record) 25 which had started. Tony Kanaan's car, leading the race with only about 10 laps to go, was collected by a spinning Ernesto Viso (who?), resulting in Kanaan's right-front suspension and wheel assembly coming off the car, except for a carbon-fiber safety strap somehow holding it all together. Kanaan was permitted by Indy Car officials to run in the #1 position for several laps under the "yellow" condition necessitated by Viso's spin, while the track was cleared from the same incident which crippled Kanaan. (Photo --- Danica Patrick, in always-fashionable black, has her way with Ryan Hunter-Reay).

Ah, Indy Car ... Welcome back!

Of several other very familiar notes hit by the IRL, which, it is being reported, did not "merge with" but rather has "absorbed" Champ Car, much like worms might absorb dirt and leaves to make mulch, was that of the only Andretti in the race, one Marco, aged 21, son of Michael, grandson of Mario. And what was so familiar about his run? Young Marco led for 85 of the event's 200 laps, yet, as everyone connected to the event in any way, shape or form knew, he wouldn't win. Couldn't win. And Andretti placed second ... And 'twas ever thus. Ain't it? We won't even go into detail about the bad call made from the pit by Marco's boss and dad ... Which led directly to his second-place finish. See what we mean about "familiar"?

And that official IRL hottie, Danica Patrick? See "Andretti", above. Finished the race, brought the car home in one piece, and placed a "respectable" sixth, after starting second (but never the pole). Unofficial IRL hottie Milka Duna finished 20th after starting 16th and running almost 120 laps before problems befell her.

And here's the really big news, direct from the Indycar website:

"Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008, will be the grand marshal for the Honda Grand Prix of St.   Petersburg on April 6. Haglund, 19, from Farmington Hills, Mich., is the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network. Haglund will participate in pre-race activities and will give the "start your engines" command." (Photo --- Doing his best 'Richard Nixon,' Scott Dixon claims victory at the end of the Miami-Homestead season-opener).

You just know Donald Trump will somehow be involved with that race ... If Miss America is there, The Super Sleaze himself, The Donald, can't be too far behind. After all, this is the racing series which gave new life to rock group KISS.

Like was said: Indy Car! Welcome back!

HAMILTON IS TOLD: WIN THE TITLE, GET A CAR --- A MCLAREN F1 LM CAR, THAT IS

Ron Dennis, well-known and highly-regarded principal of McLaren Mercedes Formula 1, has promised his second-year driver, one Lewis Hamilton, that if Hamilton wins this year's F1 World Championship of Driving title, and, between himself and McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen, the two bring the F1 2008 Constructor's Title to the team, Hamilton will "win" one of only five McLaren F1 LM models, a bright orange job which Hamilton has apparently had his eyes on since first seeing the car in the McLaren factory in 1998, when he was but 13 years of age. No word, at least so far, on what Dennis has promised Kovalainen if these wins take place. How can Dennis make such a promise in the first place? Because he owns a minimum of 15% of McLaren Mercedes F1 ... Wonder how much of his 15% paid that nasty $100 million fine to the FIA last year?

Doubters should remember that McLaren, deeply involved in an F1 spy scandal worthy of James Bond, forfeited all their Constructor's Title points at the end of last season, and paid a $100 million fine (though one must wonder how close to reality that $100 million figure really is). All things being equal, if Hamilton had won the Driving title last year, McLaren might have won the Constructor's Title ... But perhaps Hamilton will be glad if he, his teammate and the team can own all the glory they win this season ... Because that'll mean he'll win his beloved McLaren F1 LM (though it's a little garish for our tastes).

Lewis Hamilton is the current and incumbent (so far this season) F1 l'enfant terrible; at least the other drivers on the F1 Circus must think he is the "wild child" of the moment, if not a magic child. He seems to have a more-than-winning way with the media, and his rookie-type errors, one of which cost him last year's World title, seemed to have appropriately humbled him, at least in front of the public. Hamilton missed-out on winning the 2007 World Driving Championship by one point ... in his rookie year in the sport, at that!

So far this season, Hamilton won the pole and the race in F1's first event of the year, in Melbourne, Land of Oz, then in Malaysia, the season's second race, he started ninth and finished fifth, while his nemesis from last season, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, started second, but finished first. That Raikkonen is the one and the same who aced Hamilton out of the series driving title in 2007 by a mere point.

But this posting is about the promise from Ron Dennis, with whom Hamilton has had a written and signed contract since 1996, when he was but 11 (Hamilton is positively reaching elder status at this point in his career, pushing as he is 22, turning 23 on July 1, 2008). Hamilton was only 13 when he's said to have fallen in love with this bright orange McLaren F1 LM supercar sitting on display at the factory in Woking, UK, not too far from Heathrow Airport.

The McLaren F1 was the fastest street-legal production car in the world from 1994 to 2005, the longest for  any street legal or production car in history. Engineered and produced by McLaren, the car features a 6.1-litre 60° BMW S70 V12 engine and was what its designers hoped would be the ultimate road car, at least for a somewhat lengthy period of time. Only 100 cars were manufactured, 64 of those were street versions, 5 were LMs, 2 were GTs and the rest were GTR racing models. Production began in 1992 and ended in 1998.

The F1 LM is estimated today to be worth around $4 million; a proud owner of one was the late Beatle, George Harrison. You might remember photos showing Harrison sitting in the center-front-mounted driver's seat, with one passenger behind and above the driver to each side. (Photo --- All 5 of the road-going McLaren F1 LM models, with the "24 Hours of LeMans" race-winner at the upper-right in the familiar "Gulf" colors).

Only five McLaren F1 LM models (LM for LeMans) were built in honor of the five McLaren F1 GTRs which won the 1994 24 Hours of LeMans.

The weight was reduced by approximately 165 pounds over that of original car, through the removal of various trim pieces and the use of optional equipment. The car also had a different transaxle, various aero modifications, specially-designed 18-inch magnesium alloy wheels and an upgraded, lightened gearbox. The F1 LM also used the same engine as the 1995 F1 GTR, however, without race-mandated restrictors to produce 680 hp. It had a top speed of 225 mph, which is less than the standard version due to added aerodynamic drag, despite identical gear ratios. The "thinner" LM, with its "added lightness," is achieved through having no interior noise suppression, no audio system, a very stripped-down base interior, no fan assisted ground effect and no dynamic rear wing. In the place of the small dynamic rear wing there is a considerably larger, fixed CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) rear wing mounted on the back of the vehicle. The fact that the idle noise level inside the car is loud enough to prevent verbal communication is the reason that the car comes with a headset, which features ear protection and a means of communication through microphone, for the occupants. The conventional instruments are replaced with a LED implementation which features more information than the former type (though the "former type," whatever it was, was probably pretty accurate and cool, too).

AUTOMOTIVE ADVERTISING, MARKETING GIANT HAL RINEY DEAD AT 75

An American original, a smart, intuitive and open-minded genius, Hal Riney, has died at the age of 75. Known by virtually everyone in the automotive and advertising fields, and well-known to hundreds of millions of radio and TV users because of the smooth, dulcet, calm, reassuring tone of voice he affected, Riney put General Motors' then-new Saturn brand on the American peoples' radar, both by using his phenomenal voice on the GM brand's first TV and radio spots, and the tagline which he and his co-workers created: "A different kind of company. A different kind of car". (Photos --- Above, a 2006 Saturn VUE; Below, Hal Riney).

The first campaign which put Riney firmly on advertising's international map was his use, in 1970, of the brother-sister music act of Karen and Richard Carpenter singing their own song, "We've only just begun," as the not-very-background music in commercials for California's Crocker Citizens Bank. That song is still in "heavy-request" at weddings and the like, and it was listed #405 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of all Time," published in 2004.

Riney also produced TV campaign spots for Ronald Reagan, but it was a much-anticipated car from GM, meant to be the giant corporation's, and, by extension, America's "answer" to what many perceived as an "Asian invasion" of vehicles, not a US president, that made Riney's craft and voice an immutable part of American culture.

To learn more about Hal Riney and his contributions to American culture and the "car business," simply click anywhere on this line to visit this website's Hall of Fame section.

JAGUAR, LAND ROVER SAY "TA-TA" TO THE UK; NOW MERE "JEWELS IN THE CROWN"

After several months negotiations, the US' Ford Motor Company and Tata, a gigantic Indian car- and truck-maker, also the world's fifth-largest steel producer, jointly announced today, March 26th, that two prestigious Ford luxury automotive brands, Land Rover and Jaguar, have been purchased from Ford by Tata for $2.3 billion. Ford is expected to net somewhere around $1.3 billion. Ford purchased Jaguar in 1989 for $2.5 billion and they purchased Land Rover in 2000 for $2.85 billion. A $1.3 billion expected net on products which Ford bought for nearly $5 billion ... pretty rotten rate of return, don't you think? (Photos - Above, Important logos of record; Jaguar XKR; Below, late-model Rover at auto show).

Incidentally, Tata also gets the rights to some other well-known Brit-type names, including Rover  (by itself), Daimler (not the Teutonic one, the UK variety) and Lanchester, which I thought was a British WWII-era bomber, or an old-school Brit actress, first name Elsa. Turns out the name Lancaster is correct for both the bomber and Elsa. Lanchester-the-Brit-car produced its first model in 1895 and hasn't been heard from, new model-wise, since 1956; the name was owned by Jag, most-recently. Rover, the singular version, has had a round-about life since BMW bought the Rover group some 15 years ago, and then it came to be owned by Shanghai, China's SAIC car-making firm. Just to be safe, Ford bought back the rights to the Rover name to 'nip in the bud' any possible confusion over future models. (Photo - 1921 Lanchester 40-horsepower saloon, or 'sedan' to we Yanks; 1970 Daimler built for the Queen Mother; 2008 Land Rover).

Daimler, of the UK since 1896, and pronounced 'Dame'-ler', as opposed to Germany's 'Dime'ler', makes what looks to most of we Americans as the really big, really ugly and nearly all-glass versions of Rolls-Royces in which the "Royal Family" rides ... Well, they're not Rollers, they are Daimlers. Jaguar in the UK also used the Daimler name for their even more up-scale sedan versions known in the US as "Vanden Plas" or "Super 8" editions. The name does go back to some still-confusing business dealings between Gottlieb Daimler, who patented the first car in 1889, and Emil Jellinek, Daimler's most successful dealer (and whose daughter, "Mercedes," has gone onto great renown). OK, got all that? So Tata got five for the price of two. And remember --- We Americans are "citizens," while all Brits are mere "subjects."

The purchase should be complete by the end of 2008's second quarter. Tata said they foresee very few, if any, changes to the two companies in terms of the number of employees and the location of production, at least in the near-future. Tata recently came-on the world scene with their introduction, at the recent Delhi Auto Show, of a five-passenger, four-door car called Nano, set to sell for near $3,000 (dealer price in India: $2,500).

Jaguar, founded in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company (hence the "SS" designation on some models throughout the years; though after WWII, with a large part of the German military also identified by the initials "SS," that part of the company's nomenclature was dropped for many years). The company's product was, as stated, motorcycle sidecars.

Two motorcycle enthusiasts, William Lyons and William Walmsley, created Swallow Sidecar, and the "SS Jaguar" name first appeared on a 2.5 litre sedan in 1935. The Jaguar name was given to the entire company in 1945. The "SS" confusion was similar to a problem the UK had with dogs called for many years "German Shepherds". The problems with the name were obvious; but from reading this post, you now know that the dog brand, uh, we mean breed, "Alsatian," was created as a replacement breed name for the "German" dogs.

Jaguar merged with the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and that holding company was eventually known  as British Motor Holdings (BMH) in 1966. After merging with Leyland, which had already taken over Rover,  all of that became British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC) in 1968. In 1975, under what amounted to a forced nationalization of the company under Prime Minister Mrs. Thatcher, it became British Leyland Ltd (later simply BL plc). In 1989, Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion. Jaguar has never turned a profit for Ford. Jaguar Cars also holds "Royal Warrants" from both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. (Photos --- Range Rover, inside and out, the high-end of the Land Rover brand).

Originally, the term "Land Rover" referred to one specific vehicle, a pioneering civilian all-terrain utility  vehicle launched on April 30, 1948, at the Amsterdam Motor Show. "Land Rover" was later used as a brand-name for several distinct models, all four-wheel drive, and all heavily dependent on the use of alu-min-ium, as our Brit cousins say. Why the "industry-first" heavy use of aluminum? Because there were hundreds of wrecked carcasses of airplanes throughout the UK; the planes were British, American and German, and most all of them were made mostly of aluminum. Call it smart minds thinking alike, call it early recycling, but it resulted in the manufacture of these mostly-aluminum Land Rovers, something which happens to this day, though the aluminum comes from other sources, but it remains a vehicle feature which contributes to its high price.

Starting out as part of The Rover Car Company, Land Rovers were designed and manufactured as a range of four-wheel drive vehicles under a succession of owners, much like Jaguar was, including British Leyland, British Aerospace and BMW. In 2000, the marque was sold by BMW to Ford, and both Jaguar and Land Rover became part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group (PAG). (Photo - Jaguar "Super 8" rear interior).

PAG, headquartered in a "made-to-order" five-story office building designed and owned by Ford in Irvine, California, about 50 miles south of Los Angeles, has been gutted, personnel-wise,inside and out. Any Ford employees, blue- and white-collar, have been either let go from the company, been bought-out by the company, or, if they are lucky enough, were able to keep their jobs, but were severely punished, having to move back to one of the coldest environments in the USA, lovely, downtown Dearborn, Michigan.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON OPENS MUSEUM IN JULY

This July, the all-new Harley-Davidson Museum is opening in ... Where else? Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Apart from all the celebrities like Jay Leno (almost a guaranteed attendee, if not the Master of Ceremonies) and many of the RUBBIES (Rich Urban Bikers) who got turned-on to Harley by Leno and a lot of other celebs, the crowd will mostly be made-up of us "regular" folks like us.

Celebrities have long been attracted to the full-throat burble of a Harley, going back to Marlon Brando in the 1953 flick, "The Wild One," (though serious film and bike buffs know that Brando rode a Triumph in that film, but Harleys were featured as the rides of some of the "gang of bikers" who terrorized a California town called Hollister. Inspiration for the movie came from a story in LIFE magazine, which was as popular as POPULAR MECHANICS and READERS' DIGEST in the "day," with a near full-page photo, which years later was admitted to have been "staged" for the photographer, which forever lent motorcycling its "criminal" and  "rebel" air.

"What are you rebelling against?" a member of the town asked Brando's character in "The Wild One", and, Brando replied, "What've ya got?"

There had been earlier "cycle" movies from the '20s and '30s which, if they didn't have much to say for themselves in the way of script, acting or directing ... If nothing else, they memorialized board track racing, a born-and-bred American style of racing which started in Los Angeles. Several miles of boards were attached in the shape of one of today's NASCAR "bullring" tracks, like Bristol, for instance, with fast straights and high-banked corners where speeds were even higher than on the straightaway. A fall almost always meant significant damage to the racer and bike, of course, but "splinters" from these tracks actually killed more than one contestant. The "Speedway" racing bikes of today are related to these "board-trackers"; no brakes, a single four-stroke cylinder of 500cc and fuel, "modified," with nitro-methane. No joke, these machines, now ... or then.

Of course, one of our other all-time favorite celebs, Robert Blake, added to Harley's mystique through his movie, "Electra-Glide in Blue". And we'll allow the Harley people to have their full say about their grand new museum:

In March of 2005 the city of Milwaukee and Harley-Davidson Motor Company signed formal agreements related to Harley-Davidson's purchase of the Museum site at Sixth and Canal Streets near downtown Milwaukee. In late February 2006, designs for the Museum were unveiled. On June 1, 2006, Harley-Davidson launched construction of the much-anticipated Harley-Davidson Museum with a groundbreaking ceremony. The event held on the future Museum grounds at Sixth and Canal Streets in Milwaukee was attended by hundreds of invited guests, including state and local government officials; representatives of Harley-Davidson riders, dealers, suppliers and employees; current and past company executives; and local business and community leaders.

SPEEDER SAYS: "AN OREO MADE ME DO IT!"

Lots of news about Speeders TV, a man blaming a speeding ticket on an errant Oreo cookie, and, finally, Oreo cookies themselves! Could there be any "sweeter" topics? Enjoy!

Speeders TV Announced Canceled

Sadly it's true. There hasn't been a new episode shown for a about five months now and Court TV released why. The only reason they have for this show being canceled is that there weren't enough viewers and Police Departments willing to participate in the show. Speeders has been replaced by Inside American Jail (which we at Car Nut absolutely enjoy. At our home, it's a tough choice between MSNBC's "Locked Up" and "Inside American Jail", or IAJ, but with America having more prisoners than any other country in the world, over 2,000,000 of them, IAJ, located mostly as it is in county facilities, is a nice respite from the MSNBC world of federal and state prisons --- And hey! Don't even get us started about "Perverted Justice!"). And WHAT PD in the country HASN'T been profiled by this time!??! No wonder there are no new volunteers! Now try this Oreo-moment on for size:

SALISBURY, Conn. (AP) -- Police say a man's excuse for speeding through a small Connecticut town takes the cake -- or, at least, the cookie.
   A state trooper who stopped the 1993 BMW last fall says its driver, 28-year-old Justin Vonkummer of Millerton, N.Y., blamed his driving problems on an errant Oreo.
   Vonkummer told the trooper that an Oreo had just slipped from his fingers as he dunked it in a cup of milk, and that he was trying to fish it out when he lost control of his car.
   Prosecutors learned in court this week that Vonkummer had been charged with speeding and driving under a suspended license -- not driving under the influence, as a clerk had mistakenly noted in the court records.
   Vonkummer's attorney declined to comment. The case is pending.

And now, from our good friends at ABOUT.COM, where we've written a bit about cars now and then, we find the following 'tribute' to the Oreo and its history: (Photo --- An Oreo-themed cookie jar made by Nabisco for Oreo-lovers in Japan. Look closely and you'll note the writing on the cookies is in Japanese ... at least it looks that way to us).

In 1898, several baking companies merged to form the National Biscuit Company (NaBisCo), the maker of  Oreo cookies. By 1902, Nabisco created Barnum's Animal cookies and made them famous by selling them in a little box designed like a cage with a string attached (to hang on Christmas trees).

In 1912, Nabisco had a new idea for a cookie - two chocolate disks with a creme filling in between. The first Oreo cookie looked very similar to the Oreo cookie of today, with only a slight difference in the design on the chocolate disks.

The shape and design of the Oreo cookie didn't change much until Nabisco began selling various versions of the cookie. In 1975, Nabisco released their DOUBLE STUF Oreos. Nabisco continued to create variations:

1987 -- Fudge covered Oreos introduced
1991 -- Halloween Oreos introduced
1995 -- Christmas Oreos introduced

The Mysterious Name

So how did the Oreo get its name? The people at Nabisco aren't quite sure. Some believe that the cookie's name was taken from the French word for gold, "or" (the main color on early Oreo packages). Others claim the name stemmed from the shape of a hill-shaped test version; thus naming the cookie in Greek for mountain, "oreo." Still others believe the name is a combination of taking the "re" from "cream" and placing it between the two "o"s in "chocolate" - making "o-re-o." And still others believe that the cookie was named Oreo because it was short and easy to pronounce.

No matter how it got named, over 362 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since it was first introduced in 1912, making it the best selling cookie of the 20th century. (end of ABOUT.COM piece)

2009 NISSAN MAXIMA AND CUBE AT NY SHOW

Nissan, which recently moved their American headquarters from Gardena, California, to Nashville, Tennessee, losing in that move as much as 60% or more of key employees in certain departments, came to NYC with a new Maxima and their own version of the Scion xB, called Cube. We first saw Cube exhibited in the USA at the Los Angeles Auto Show as many as four or five years ago. A crew of young, fresh-scrubbed, earnest and non-threatening Americans, each wearing a sporty Nissan shirt and carrying an electronic clipboard like FedEx delivery people use, were questioning other young Americans, who were examining the displayed Cube. Now it pops-up again, this time in NYC, in an all-electric EV-mode, though Nissan's PR material says it will be sold in the US beginning sometime in 2009, and with a gasoline engine, not as an EV. (Photos - 2009 Maxima).

Maxima's US sales were about 69,000 in 2006, dropping to 52,000 for 2007, a drop-off of nearly 25%. The car was old, showing and feeling its age. The "all-new" 2009 Maxima debuted at New York, which Nissan says was designed using some of the same methodologies used for their now-available-in-the-US GT-R, is not expected to join the sales ranks of Camry, Accord or even Chevy's new Malibu, but it definitely needs to succeed; if it doesn't do well, it will be chalked-up to Nissan moving their top American staffers from Los Angeles to Nashville, and whether that's true or false, that's the impression the public will have of the car. Sort of a "Japanese sedan designed and built by NASCAR fans", if you will.

Here's some of the voluminous media PR material for these two cars, with a comment or two of   our own when we think it necessary:

The 2009 Nissan Maxima, which made its world debut at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, marks a return to the longtime Nissan flagship sedan’s roots as a commanding 4-door sports car – a vehicle that is unique in both appearance and driving feel, with renewed relevance for today’s active and ambitious sedan buyers. In other words, the Maxima is back (we here at Car Nut weren't aware that it had gone anywhere, other than "down" in sales numbers). The all-new 2009 Maxima will be offered as two well-equipped models, Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV, and is scheduled to arrive at Nissan dealers nationwide in early summer 2008.

“Maxima has always enjoyed a certain ‘duality’ – a unique fusion of sedan practicality with the soul of a sports car,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. And we here at Car Nut say: Al is 100% right ... Especially when the discussion turns to, "Why has the Maxima never seriously challenged the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, or even, going back a few years, the Ford Taurus in its hey-dey?"

Exactly because of what Al says above: This "duality" thing. A big part of why people buy cars is because of what the cars mean, what they stand for, in a sense; and Maxima's "meaning" has always been confused. It can be a four-door family sedan. It can be a sports car. But it can't be both, no matter how hard Nissan has tried through the years. Ultimately, Nissan had developed a badly-flawed marketing direction for Maxima, and, rather than change it, they stubbornly stuck with it, forever destroying Maxima's chances of being seriously considered by Americans looking as that "family sedan" (Car Nut out).

High targets were established, including the goal of creating “the best performing front engine, front-wheel drive car in the world,” along with class-leading acceleration, braking, handling, workmanship and cockpit design. (Photo - Maxima interior).

NISSAN DENKI CUBE (Which translates into English as "Nissan Cube Cube", but since when did we Americans worry about what a car-name really meant in its original language?).

New York City got a lesson in what happens when geography meets geometry – specifically, when the world, which is round, mets the Nissan Cube, which is essentially square. The occasion was the world debut of the Nissan Denki (Japanese for “electric”) Cube Concept at the 2008 New York International Auto Show (more photos after the jump).

ACURA TSX DEBUTS AT NYC; 2.1 I-4 LITER ENGINE MAKES 206 HP

What a long, long way Acura has come. One of the earlier automotive divisions with one of those "created" names which have become so ubiquitous (Lexus, Infiniti, etc.), Acura holds many distinctions in America, one of them being the first Asian car-maker to sell a car for over $20,000 in the USA. And they had the car to carry all this new baggage, too, called Legend. What a great name! You can bet it'll be back, after Acura gets over their recent infatuation with their "easier" letter and number nomenclature. (Photo - Acura TSX shown with the NYC skyline in the background).

The first-ever Acura press conference in the US shocked the car world with their news that a well-equipped Legend would price-out at somewhere north of $20K. But, product being king and all that, Acura's name got famous fast, delivering on their promise to build the kind of cars Honda would build if their customers were in a much-different demographic (the Acura name is used only in North America and Hong Kong, so rest assured that there are plenty of sporty drivers wearing gloves and Ray-bans, pointing their little 'Honda NSX" cars into a tough corner).

Acura has, through the years (they started selling cars in the US in 1986), definitely held their  own against competition offering much more powerful engines, and more cylinders, too. And turbochargers, too, and superchargers. Acura has stubbornly stuck to I-4 and V6 engines; not a V8 in sight (but maybe a V10 for a new NSX). Honda and Acura engineers insist that any car company can easily gain more horsepower from any engine by adding turbochargers or superchargers; getting more horsepower from a naturally-aspirated engine ... Now, THAT is a true challenge! Honda's S2000 sports car made 240 horsepower from its naturally-aspirated 2.0 liter I-4 engine, the only street car to ever make that amount of power from that size engine, and was introduced in 2000 --- that wonderful li'l powerplant redlined at 9,000 rpm, making it a dream for drivers, but sometimes uncomfortable for passengers. Incidentally, Honda's S2000 CR (club racer) was introduced at the 2007 NY Auto Show. We'll let Acura's highly-paid PR people take over from here:

Acura's redesigned 2009 TSX offers the first glimpse of the brand's new styling and technology direction for sedans.

The exterior design is more evolutionary than revolutionary. But a wider, bolder stance gives the second-generation TSX a sportier look. The new TSX sits on a longer wheelbase and is roomier than its predecessor, which debuted as a 2004 model.

The TSX, unveiled at the New York Auto Show, also has many safety and technology firsts for Acura. The vehicle goes on sale in April.