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

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BIKER ON LARRY KING LIVE; WAS COLOMBIAN REBEL CAPTIVE

Glen Heggstad is a "neighbor" of ours, a fellow resident of Southern California's Coachella Valley, where the Colorado Desert landscape reaches 118 degrees and more from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. The weather between November and late April is some of the best in the world, and the Valley, home to Palm Springs and other well-known resorts, draws nearly 5 million visitors from around the world every year, many of them among the planet's wealthiest. (This photo is from a National Geographic special on Heggstad's capture, captivity and release, and in it, Heggstad is held prisoner).

Known locally as the Striking Viking, a name Heggstad coined to describe his appearance, his motorcycle trips around the world were fairly uneventful until he came to Colombia in 2001.

When the producers of CNN's Larry King Live show were planning their first program since three American hostages were returned to a military base in Texas following a complicated rescue operation called "impeccable" by one of those released, they tried, through e-mail, to contact Heggstad, and they found him in Mazatlan, Mexico. It was early on July 3rd, and after finding Heggstad near the US after getting his e-mail reply, CNN flew him to Phoenix to be a part of that first post-release show, guest-hosted by CNN White House correspondent John King. (In the middle of that group of camels you'll find Heggstad and his trusty BMW motorcycle).

Even in a Valley where General George Patton lived while training his over-100,000-strong WW II tank corps in the nearby desert, which has certainly had more than its share of interesting history and characters, with residents and visitors ranging from Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, US Presidents Dwight David Eisenhower and Gerald Ford, Sidney Sheldon and Barry Manilow, all the Marx Brothers and their families, US Ambassadors Mr. and Mrs. Walter Annenberg, every great in women's and men's professional golf and tennis, Merv Griffin and President John F. Kennedy, who was greeted at Palm Springs Airport in 1961 by, among others, the town's first mayor, Frank Bogert, who, now in his 90s, still rides horseback every day, Glen Heggstad is a stand-out.

Heggstad was kidnapped and held captive for five weeks in Colombia shortly after the devastating and coordinated attacks on the US on 9-11-01. On the King show, during his segment, Heggstad first took a moment to congratulate Colombia's President Carlos Uribe and the forces which effected the release of 15 long-term hostages, including former Colombian presidential candidate and Colombian/French national Ingrid Betancourt, and three Americans, Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes. The Americans' small plane, reportedly being used for observation of coca fields, had crashed or may have been shot down by FARC forces over five years ago. Another American on the plane was shot dead by rebels after they found the crash site. All were "civilian contractors" for the US government, and according to the Los Angeles Times, they were directly employed by Northrop Grumman Corporation. (FARC stands for Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).

When King asked Heggstad, "Did the kidnappers beat you, do anything physical, try to somehow intimidate you?" Heggstad answered, "All of the above." (Heggstad and Bimmer reached the Kremlin).

He told a chilling story of being stopped on a jungle road by rebel forces of the ELN, not FARC. Heggstad described being forces to stand in a circle twice a day for an hour at a time, while anti-American radio broadcasts were being played, and Heggstad was forced to "confess" to certain crimes while his young, armed captors surrounded him. He said he was chained to a tree every night to prevent him from escaping and said that never, in the course of his five-weeks of captivity, was he kept in the same place more than two nights in a row.

PAUL NEWMAN REPORTEDLY RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR LUNG CANCER

Paul Newman, 83-year-old film director, Oscar-winning actor, championship race car driver and successful race team owner, has reportedly been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and is receiving outpatient treatment at a NYC hospital. The actor is said to have been diagnosed at New York's Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he is currently receiving outpatient treatment and is under the care of a leading New York oncologist. Rumors of the actor's grave condition grew after he canceled several recent appearances. (Photo - PN on a TV GUIDE cover sometime in the Nixon era).

He had also pulled out of his latest project which was to have directed a screen-adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic, 'Of Mice And Men.'

Newman and his Oscar-winning wife were frequently seen at race tracks all over the world, though his wife would not go to races where Newman was a participant; his sports car racing brought him national honors in Sports Car Club of America competitions and in other racing organizations. Newman often said that he was acting only to pay for his very expensive hobby: auto racing. (And please remember that you can double-click on any and all photos to see them in a larger format).

We'll let other websites talk about him as an actor, husband, father, etc. The usual stuff. But let's get into this guy's racing career; he's one of the best race car drivers in the world. If he didn't act and focused full-time on motor racing, who knows how that career might have gone? (Photo - This 1968 film, now a video available online, featured Newman and acting/racing co-horts including Kirk Douglas, Glenn Ford and James Garner, along with drivers Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and others).

The first time I met Paul Newman, I also spoke with him for a few minutes. It was at Riverside Raceway,  which is now a shopping mall, in Southern California, and Newman was there to campaign his Datsun in a major road racing event. I don't remember much of what he said, and my questions were no doubt ill-conceived and dumb, given my lack of experience talking with "stars" of any kind and the natural nervousness which comes with those talks.

But I do remember hanging around outside his team's garage, in the very hot and bright sun, and looking inside to try and spot him and ask for an interview. Everyone in the garage was busy working on the various race cars, prepping them for the next event, when a figure leaning over one car's engine bay stood up, straight and tall and looked my way ... And those bright, laser-like blue eyes of his stared at me as if they were considering tearing my soul out of my body. You don't forget a moment like that. About 35 years later, I still clearly remember, as if it had happened earlier today.

Paul Newman first became interested in motorsports while training for and filming Winning, a forgettable 1969 film. The film might not have had any great influence on society, but it changed Newman's life, and his wife's, forever. (Photo - Newman and wife Joanne Woodward --- America's acting royalty; they've been married 50 years).

And throughout the course of his racing career, Newman made it clear through his participation, that racing cars and competing in other sports was not only possible for people above retirement age, but those people could even win.

Newman's first professional racing event was in 1972, in Thompson, Connecticut at Lime Rock Park raceway, near his long-time home in Westport, CT. He ran the 24 Hours of Le Mans once in 1979 and finished second in a Porsche 935 owned by Dick Barbour. (Photo - Newman smoking; supposedly he was a heavy smoker at one time, but gave it up; unfortunately, it appears that the cigarettes did damage to his lungs which can't be undone).

The film studios were not thrilled with Newman's participation in auto racing; he was usually the lead character in whatever movie he was in, and the companies which insured his films put clauses in contracts which were supposed to keep him away from race tracks. Newman continued to race though, often signing-in to the events under a different name, or merely as "PL Newman".

Click below to read and see more about Paul Newman and his careers ... One on-screen, one in a race car.

SIMON COWELL BUYS BUGATTI VEYRON, ROLLER DROPHEAD COUPE, MCLAREN SLR TO ADD TO HIS COLLECTION

Rolls-Royce has calculated that there are 85,400 people in the world who have the necessary disposable income to buy their cars. The company-aims to do business with 1 per cent of them every year. Simon Cowell already had one (or two) but a few weekends ago in Los Angeles bought one of the first Roller Phantom Drophead Coupes ... and a Bugatti Veyron. (Photo --- Cowell and girlfriend Terri Seymour in a Bugatti Veyron, perhaps a "test-drive loaner;" Cowell took home an all-black model).

American Idol's Simon Cowell, 49, the (creator/producer/) judge on that FOX-TV smash hit which viewers most love to hate, did what untold millions of other transplanted Southern Californians have done before --- Hit a few car lots, kicked a few tires and considered making a purchase or two, perhaps wanting to bring something special home for the girlfriend, so she can make a run to the market when their stock of eggs dwindles.

When his weekend shopping jaunt was over (he had some spare time to shop because the Rugby World Cup precluded taping of his UK TV show, X Factor), the garage at Cowell's a-building Beverly Hills manse was populated by two new models (of cars, that is, not fashion): A Bugatti Veyron and a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. Cowell dropped somewhere well north of $2 million (with factory options) for the two engines, eight wheels, AM radios and all else which comes with these machines (the ego boost alone has got to be phenomenal ... and worth it).

He's got the cash; no one need hold a benefit dinner for The Young Mr. Cowell. More than two years ago, Cowell signed a "golden handcuffs" deal worth £20 million-a-year (currently USD$39,037,284) with the UK's ITV, making him the highest paid British TV star of all time (quick, name two other highly-paid UK TV stars ... Ha ha! Got you on that one!). (Photo --- Last week, for Mother's Day in Los Angeles, Simon Cowell took his mom to the star-heavy Ivy restaurant on Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood, which is directly across the street from a business office which we've frequented for many years ... So I can attest that the street is always a 'scene', with star-sightings as guaranteed as anywhere in La-La Land. And Cedars-Sinai Hospital is barely 100 yards around the corner from the famed eatery, which is where celebrities have their kids; they die of old age at St. John's in Santa Monica. Anyway, Cowell and Mum enjoyed arriving in son's nearly-new Rolls-Royce Phantom Limousine, purchased near New Year's, 2008, and equipped with that most showbizzy of optional extras - mirrored privacy glass).

Turns out that Cowell already had quite an auto collection. Cowell's is not in the "Jay Leno mode," that is, a grouping of classics and collectibles kept in a plain-Jane industrial area near the Burbank (CA) Airport. Leno visits "his garage" almost every day, sometimes twice a day, tuning and working on the cars and motorcycles himself aided by a small crew; no, Cowell's collection is probably more closely-related to what the average Car Nut would purchase if they found themselves on the winning end of the Super Lotto. They're generally stock from the factory, they're new, they have warranties and Cowell doesn't have to employ a full-time gang of wrenches to do upkeep on the the fleet.

He says, "I've got lots of nice cars... six, in fact. It's completely over the top! I absolutely love them. I could have 100 cars and I'd still want more. I love staring at them. I love driving them too. I've got two Rolls-Royce Phantoms, a Range Rover, a Jaguar XKR, an Aston Martin DB9 convertible and a very hot Mini Cooper which I drive more than anything else."

In addition to the newly-acquired Veyron and Roller, Cowell has recently taken-delivery on one of the last of a small run of McLaren SLR coupes, what many call "the ultimate Mercedes-Benz sports car". The USD$683,052 McLaren, as all of Cowell's cars, has instant credibility, inherent high value and immediate cachet. This is not only because of their low production numbers which translates into exclusivity, but also their celebrity connection. In fact, in years to come, Cowell's stable will do very well either at auction or in private sales because the cars are so stock ... We'd expect that all the numbers will "match". (Photo --- Cowell in the Veyron which he now calls his own; fewer than 200 of the cars have been built since production began in 2005).

The style and comfort of the Bugatti Veyron coupe deserves a whooping price-tag. Built by Volkswagen, the car comes with more than 1,000 horsepower being produced by its 16-cylinder engine and a top speed of 253.81 mph (408.47 km/h). The Bugatti concept car at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show actually had 18 cylinders. Cowell's Bugatti Veyron is truly a stud car. With an excess of 1,000 horsepower, the Veyron - built by Volkswagen, which also owns the Bentley, Audi and Lamborghini car brands - has a top speed of 253.81 mph (408.47 km/h). The car lists for $1,480,584 in US dollars.

For much more on Simon Cowell and his cars, click below!

HONDA'S ASIMO ROBOT TO LEAD DETROIT SYMPHONY; WE FIRST MET HIM WHEN HE (IT) COULD BARELY WALK!

Here's a press release we recently received from Honda: Honda Motor Co.'s remarkable robot Asimo will conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at a special performance for young people on May 13 that will feature superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Asimo will open the evening by conducting the orchestra in a performance of the song, "The Impossible Dream." (Editor's note: Impossible Dream, like Andy Williams' rendition of Moon River, are both much-loved by the Japanese public, apparently fraught with all sorts of deep meanings which a drunk Japanese recognizes more easily than his or her drunken American friends. It's not unusual to hear either song being sung, always loudly and usually badly, on Japan's late-night streets and in restaurants, and, of course, in the estimated 50 million karaoke bars throughout the country).

The 4-foot robot, able to speak English and Japanese, is the latest generation in a line of Asimo robots developed in 2000 by the Japanese automaker.

Honda has teamed up with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to offer music lessons to students in Detroit and has provided more than $1 million to create The Power of Dreams Music Education Fund.

As part of the program, Paris-born cellist Yo-Yo Ma will teach a master class on May 14 for a group of students selected from the Detroit School of Arts. (Photo --- Guest-starring in a corporate video seen at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, Asimo demonstrates features of the company's "FCX Clarity" hydrogen fuel cell family sedan).

"Honda hopes Asimo's appearance will draw attention to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's nationally acclaimed youth music programs, and particularly Detroit Symphony Orchestra's effort to encourage and support involvement of children in Detroit," Honda said in a statement.

Asimo, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, made his first appearance in the United States on Feb. 14, 2007, when he rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. (End of Honda press release).

Asimo is conducting ... in Detroit?! Boy, those folks at Honda really know how to rub it in, don't they? Other recent Asimo happenings:

"Honda demonstrated its unique robot, ASIMO, at the Kennedy Center JAPAN! culture + hyperculture festival in Washington D.C. from Thursday, February 7 - Sunday, February 17, 2008.

The robot performed live (?) 15-minute demonstrations several times daily throughout the festival. Visitors will experience the most sophisticated robotics technology and see how robots like ASIMO will someday assist people. The free demonstrations will be held in the Nations Gallery at the Kennedy Center."

And ...

"Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has further advanced intelligence technologies enabling its advanced humanoid robot ASIMO to act autonomously and perform uninterrupted service to office guests. (Photo Below --- If Asimo replaces hostesses at Japanese companies, what will the women working there do? Gosh, maybe they'll let them have real jobs!)

Honda developed an intelligence technology that enhances smooth movement by enabling ASIMO to choose between stepping back and yielding the right-of-way or continuing to walk based on the predicted movement of oncoming people ("Out of the way, Asimo!", "Yes, master," or, "Hai, sensei." At least we hope that's what happens ... Just imagine the other possibilities). Honda also developed a new intelligence technology related to ASIMO's ability to perform tasks such as carrying a tray and pushing a cart. In addition, a newly added function enables ASIMO to automatically charge its battery when its remaining battery level falls below a certain level. Furthermore, a new comprehensive system was developed so that multiple ASIMOs can share tasks by adjusting to the situation and work together in coordination to provide uninterrupted service. For example, if one ASIMO is idled while recharging, other ASIMO robots will step in and perform assigned tasks.

Honda will begin test operations of two ASIMOs equipped with these newly developed technologies December 12, at the second floor lobby of Honda's Aoyama, Japan headquarters."

If human beings suddenly start flying out the windows of the upper stories of Honda's HQ, then we'll know ASIMO may have a problem or two ... But plugging-itself in when the battery gets low? Working in conjunction with other robots? Serious stuff, my friends (as John McCain might say, just like the used car salesman he is).

Hey, Uncle Car Nut, tell us about the time you first saw Honda's robot, Asimo, climb down a flight of stairs! (Photo --- Asimo at rest. It shrinks quite a bit when "off;" gaining height as it powers-up. Latest-generation Asimo is now four feet tall).

Well, sure kids ... Now gather round! And in spite of Honda's efforts (and who can blame them) to have  everyone anthropomorphize Asimo, like a favorite, gentle pet, let's keep in mind that "he" ( or "she" --- and who decides? Mrs. Asimo?) is quite literally a bucket of bolts. Very smart bolts and all the rest, but bolts nonetheless.

It was a cool, wet afternoon at Honda's Research and Development Center on Tochigi, Japan, about 50 miles north of Tokyo, in the lowlands surrounding the mountains where, if you cared to drive up, one would find the Twin Ring Motegi Race Track. Honda, at the time, had some 5,000 engineers working at the Tochigi R&D Center, none of them, they told us, over 40 years old. I bet a like-number of them were women, too, but I digress, kids ... You have to remember, "When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do" ...

Click below to read more about Honda's car-building, orchestra-conducting, and potentially union-bashing robot, Asimo!

GM's BOB LUTZ: GLOBAL WARMING IS "A TOTAL CROCK OF SHIT"

Bob Lutz, a Vice President of General Motors in charge of North American products, told a group of reporters recently that global warming "is a total crock of shit". Yes, mothers, get your daughters in the house, because Lutz, in his seeming never-ending attempts to become at least as quotable as Lido A. Iacocca, was either just kidding around --- as he is wont to do, and in which case the media would give him a break, as they (we) have done so many times  --- or he really meant it. Now, we find that not only did he absolutely mean it, but he meant it in a way so ethereal and universal in scale that most of us mere mortals simply would not understand.

If any of you ever thought, "Well, you know, this guy Lutz ... He seems really smart, and he says he has balls made of iron ... But does he, you know, 'get it'?"

Well, the official answer is in: No, he doesn't. Lutz,  somewhere north of 74 years of age, wrote a book called "Guts", spends his off-hours collecting, restoring and driving vintage cars, which is to be expected, and he also does the same with vintage fighter jets (no kidding) and has also, by the way, been in-charge and the force behind all of General Motors North American product planning for the past few years and some of that actual product, too.

EVEL KNIEVEL MAKES COME BACK! (WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S JUST A REPLICA OF HIS BIKE ...

Think of the phrase "Evel Knievel's motorcycle", and what bike comes to mind? For me, it's the "All-American" Harley-Davidson. Knievel was often photographed astride his trusty Harley, and it kind of "went without saying" that Harley was the only bike that this American icon would ride, direct from Harley's home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But the truth is that Knievel played no favorites; he put the Harley name on his bikes as long as Harley was supplying the machines and kicking-in a goodly sum of dollars ... American dollars, to be exact. But there were other machines in Knievel's large stable, and one of them in particular still carries with it the hopes and aspirations of anyone who has ever ridden a "Made-in-the-UK" Triumph motorcycle. Now, a well-known motorcycle parts and service hard site and Website presence in the UK is turning out what they call "Knievel Commemorative Editions" of modern Triumphs. Triumph motorcycles are designed, developed, and built at the factory in Hinckley, England.

Originally intended as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Evel Knievel's unforgettable Caesar's Palace jump, UK bike dealer Jack Lilley has created a special edition of Triumph's on-and-off-road Scrambler. The choice of motorcycle makes sense because that original jump some 40 years ago was done aboard a Triumph T120 Bonneville. Although the project was started before Knievel's recent death, it has taken on new meaning now that the legendary stunt-man has passed and is a tribute to more than just that one jump.

According to the Jack Lilley company, the bike "is based on a Scrambler and has a superb paint job along with short front mudguard, Thruxton seat and hump, chrome engine cases, red cam cover and other small details." The one-off tribute bike will be sold with a signed picture of the man himself in mid-jump and will command a few thousand extra over the base price of the Scrambler.

The bike sells for UK8,250-pounds, which translates into USD$12,068.26. But who's counting, right?

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT'S ALWAYS A CAR THING: IS PARIS HILTON GETTING SCREWED? YEAH, WE KNOW ... OF COURSE SHE IS ... BUT THIS TIME BY THE COURT?

Because we've been covering the auto scene in southern California for 35 years, it's only right that we weigh-in on the Paris Hilton story, right? Also, we might as well get her name asociated with our BLOG to try and capture a few more hits, like every other BLOG in the universe ... right? And after all, Ms. Hilton does drive some great cars!

Tim Rutten, in his always-enlightening "Regarding Media" column in today's LOS ANGELES TIMES (May 12), suggests that those involved in reporting the news take a few minutes to do something different when it comes to this week's ongoing fascination with the 45-day prison term given Paris Hilton by a judge in downtown Los Angeles. Rutten says that maybe someone out there, whether in the "real" media or the "celebrity" media (and the line between the two is barely visible these days) take some time to perhaps call the judge's office and check-out his record when it comes to handing out sentences for similar driving crimes.  (Photo - Paris driving her tasteful Bentley).

Rutten correctly points out that with most all editors and producers working on the "real" news (say, NBC as opposed to MSNBC, or the NEW YORK TIMES as opposed to, say, the NEW YORK POST) absolutely blinded by their daily desperate attempts to garner "website hits", there is no difference between the mainstream media and the celebrity media. Rutten points out that the LOS ANGELES TIMES is itself in the process of hiring a journalist (we assume) to cover the "celebrity justice beat", whatever that may be. In fact, with the NATIONAL ENQUIRER, since breaking many stories during the OJ trial which proved true, now considered as "real" as almost any other major news outlet, some industry observers think that only by combining the best elements of traditional journalism with the worst of celebrity gossip, can any media outlet hope to bring readers/viewers in the preferred advertiser demographic (18-49 years) to their publications, whether traditional print or electronic.

And what did Rutten find out, by doing a little old-fashioned "gumshoe journalism" on the Paris case?

"Had such questions (about the time given Hilton) been asked, the reporters would have found that (Judge) Sauer's sentence was unusually harsh for a defendant who had behaved as Hilton had. It was far more typical of the kind of sanction a judge might have imposed on somebody who had violated probation by drinking and driving again, which she did not do. (In that context, it's also interesting that no one bothered to debunk early reports that Hilton also had failed to enroll, as her probation required, in a program to discourage alcohol abuse. In fact, she's close to completing such a program.)"

Pretty interesting, isn't it? We'd imagine a solid majority of "Paris-watchers" think she was being sentenced for at least having been caught again for driving under the influence. As Rutten point out, of course that was not the case.

Rutten also goes on to write: "The harshness of the sentence ought to have loomed larger, when put together with Sauer's unusual ruling forbidding Hilton from paying to go into one of the private jails usually open to suitable defendants with sufficient financial means." Rutten goes on to (correctly) state that these "private jails" springing up around the country (and out of the country, but those are run by the CIA) raise serious and real questions of how criminals are treated in America, and whether the amount of cash they have in the bank has an effect on their overall experience with the justice system (and of course it does ... see above, re: "OJ"). (Photo - An absolutely reasonable amount of media greet Paris Hilton as she leaves court).

So, bottom line, Rutten opines that it appears Hilton was being singled-out by this jurist for her celebrity and wealth, in other words, the judge was using the defendant's social stance "to make an example of her".

Now, around every April 15th (tax day), it seems the Internal Revenue Service makes some huge bust of some rich celebrity involving tax charges. No one ever says that the IRS is making an example of whoever this "victim" might be, but the implicit warning is that "If a big celebrity can go to jail for not paying taxes, then you, Joe Public, had better pays yours!" The reality is that practically no one ever goes to prison for non-payment of taxes, but the IRS would rather you didn't know have bit of information.

Rutten correctly points out that ours is a land of laws and a series punishments created to fit the breaking of those laws. In other words, no citizen in America is to be made an example of by any jurist. Here's what Rutten said:

"... it's troubling that none of the mainstream print or broadcast journalists commenting on the case pointed out that the American criminal justice system does not make examples of people. It penalizes people for specific individual acts and punishes them according to the law. We do not punish one person to instruct others. We rely on the public administration of disinterested and dispassionate justice to educate and deter." (Photo - Paris drives some more).

To view Rutten's complete column, simply click here: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et- rutten12may12,1,7389668.column and Enjoy!

And if your idea of entertainment is to wait for Paris crying her eyes out on Larry King this coming week (almost a sure thing), then you need to spend more time reading real newspapers than watching CNN. Hey ... I've been a guest on THE LARRY KING SHOW, twice in fact ... Take it from me: For a guy who brags that he never reads the books his guests are promoting on his show, he sure has done well for himself. In fact, King, who amazingly is celebrating 50 years interviewing anyone and everyone with his famous softball questions, is probably the world's first true nexus of news and entertainment. And how a near-80 year old Jewish guy from Brooklyn can live happily married with a bleached-blond Mormon is, well ... All we can say is: Good for him! (Photo - This is what Larry looks like under the make-up and hair color --- Kind of snake-like, wouldn't you say?).

And just be glad YOU are not the person some judge (or Larry King's producer) decides to make an example of ... At least not yet! And, yes, we do appreciate Paris' taste in cars, too.

...AND SOME NEWSPAPERS DO GOOD! LOS ANGELES TIMES EXPOSES GEORGE BARRIS!

For decades, George Barris has held sway in the automotive world as creator, builder and owner of many, many of the msot famous of Hollywood's TV and movie cars. From the Monkeemobile to the Batmobile to the General Lee to many others before, after and in-between, Barris' name is the one bandied about when it comes to the best and most memorable vehicles modified for use in movies and on TV shows.

Recently, Barris even had a section of road in front of his North Hollywood, CA office/studio renamed in his honor.

But an article in the LOS ANGELES TIMES by staff writer Bob Pool calls into question not only Barris' claims of creation and ownership of many of these world-famous cars and trucks, but also Barris' entire past. In fact, after reading the devastating piece, many might say that Barris started "creating" his own history many years ago, and together with Hollywood publicist Ed Lozzi, has simply been around so long making so many claims that antire generations of car enthusiasts simply accrpt Barris at his word.

Well, those of us in the auto journo have known for many years that Barris wasn't even the original owner, much less the designer and builder, of many of the cars and trucks he claimed in his stable. Why don't the 'enthusiast mags' write about it? Because none of the car magazines would attack Barris, his name is so revered and "his" cars and trucks on a cover still sells magazines off the rack ... And you definitely can't take that away from him. Also, any of the new auto journos writing for magazines, BLOGS and the new websites, simply do not know the real Barris story.

Thanksfully, the LA TIMES has fulfilled at least one of its newspaper duties ("To afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted") with a great piece on Barris, calling into question many of his claims, and quoting many people in the industry who have waited years to tell their versions of the Barris story. Give the TIMES' story and read then revisit this site to read our take on it. The LA TIMES story can be found at:

http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/local/~3/114067592/la-me-custom4may04,1,7419406.story.

LUTZ: BUSH SAYS "LET REAR DRIVE DIE!!!"

Well, there he goes again! Just a few days after claiming that the Bush  Administration's attempts to increase fuel economy will cost anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 per vehicle, at least as far as the company's Product Maven Bob Lutz and GM are apparently concerned, (Lutz is seen in photo introducing his first major sales loser for GM, the Australian-made Pontiac GTO), he now says things are worse than he first thought! Yes, the President's proposals will not only raise the price of GM vehicles way out of proportion to their competition's models, but will also KILL ... you hear me: KILL ... GM's much-vaunted rear wheel drive efforts, starting, perhaps, with the all-new CAMARO!!! (The car which more males with mullet haircuts want more than anything else in the world, as reported in a recent CNN poll).

Here's a quick wrap-up of Jim Mateja's ChiTrib column and the basics from it ...

General Motor’s rear-drive initiative is in trouble. While the next Camaro is still moving forward (but who knows, really, right? - SP) , car czar Bob Lutz has indicated that “…anything after that is questionable or on the bubble.” That shocking bit of news means that the Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo, and even any Camaro derivatives (Pontiac Firebird, etc.) are all a big question mark. So too, is a replacement for Buick’s Lucerne, and a sub-CTS-sized Cadillac.

According to Lutz (in photo intro'ing Chevy Volt concept car at this week's NY Auto Show), the problem is that the company’s planned rear-drivers are all larger and heavier, which exacts a heavy toll on fuel economy. President George Bush’s new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, if enacted, would make it very tough for GM to be compliant with these new cars. Says Lutz: “We don’t know how to get 30 percent better mileage” [from these cars]. Lutz says that GM will decide the fate of these models when the government figures out how to proceed on CO(-2) levels and updated CAFE standards.

Could this all be a bit more of Lutz screaming that the "sky is falling", when what really is falling are GM's mpg numbers?  Are Lutz' words  (pray no!) designed to discourage Washington from enacting tougher emissions and fuel-economy standards? Of course they are. Or are a good portion of GM’s future vehicles now well-and-truly on the ropes? What say YOU?

Let's see --- First Lutz says earlier this week that improving mpg in GM cars and trucks will cost consumers many thousands per vehicles ... Now he says GM's rear-drive initiative might be dead in the water because of the Prez ... Hmmm ... Seems to us if Lutz really does not know how to improve mileage by 30% in those vehicles, he ought to be looking for a new job (or at least enjoy his retirement flying his old fighter jets). Here's an idea: Hey Bobby! Try putting HYBRID powerplants in those cars!

To read Mateja's complete column, simply click anywhere on this line.

'GM SAVIOR' BOB LUTZ INSULTS AMERICA, AGAIN --- "BUSH'S PROPOSALS TO COST $5,000 PER CAR!"

We're listing this under "personalities" because, when it comes down to it, that's what Bob Lutz, 72 or so, really is at this point in his long, checkered career. Younger auto journos just love Lutz (see photo, left, taken after Lutz intro'd some Chevy minicar concepts at this week NY Auto Show); he's always good for a great "quote", and he stays away from talking about anything deep or important or crucial by telling them great industry stories from 40 or 50 years ago, which the young scribes naturally eat up. Lutz is a former Marine who collects race cars and fighter jets. He's the next best thing to Carroll Shelby for uninformed and inexperienced industry writers and plays his "curmudgeonly old man of the industry" to the hilt. He has had no major mass-production successes to crow about since taking the job as the top person at "GM North American Cars and Trucks", his given goal being to develop vehicles Americans "really want to buy". Some point to the Pontiac Solstice (photo below) as having Lutz' handiwork all over it, but a two-seat sports car is not going to move the 400,000 units annually GM needs at least one of their new cars to sell. But with Lutz now spending a good amount of time trying to scare American consumers into believing that fuel economy = higher vehicle costs and that Americans still have a god-given right to buy as many Hummers as they want, Lutz is taking on a new persona: He is playing the Dick Cheney role to GM chieftain Rick Wagoner's George Bush. Look at it this way: Wagoner was busy this past week glad-handing the President at the White House during a "showcase" of US-made alternative fuel vehicles. Wagoner was there along with Bill Mulally of Ford (who's now being criticized for making over $28 million in his first four months with FoMoCo, as that company  lost $12.7 billion in 2006; we criticized Mulally and the company the day he was hired and his planned compensation was announced) and Tom LaSorda from that great American company, Chrysler. Well, it might be an American company (again) in the next 72 hours or so. By the way, Toyota and Honda, leaders in alt fuels, were not invited to the White House, and neither was Mercedes-Benz, which is touting their Bluetec diesel system which will make diesel-powered cars and trucks widely available in the US for the first time in decades. So see the connection: While Bush and Wagoner hang-out at The Big House, Cheney and Lutz bad-mouth their respective enemies and let their bosses relax and bask in the wonderful, warm glow of power. By the way, as far as fuel economy = higher vehicle costs: Our Toyota Prius, which we bought 4 years ago, cost us $20,500 fully-loaded brand new, and is worth as much as $5,000 MORE than that now. With over 48,000 miles on the car, apart from regular maintenance and front tires wearing out faster than we'd like, NOTHING on the car has broken. Nothing. So here's Lutz take on America's car companies being bale to reach even Bush's meager targets for fuel economy --- Take our word for it, it's pretty shocking and graphic, as well as the usual Detroit BS. What's also bothersome is that Lutz falls back on the sure-thing of the midwest --- Ethanol! And ethanol made from corn. There are so many problems with this product, which we have covered in this BLOG and will continue to as they develop, starting with nations and huge nation/corporations now wanting to chop down whatever rainforest and protected land might be left so they can plant corn and sell it to the US for processing into ethanol ... But don't get us started!

(Detroit News) General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said President Bush's proposed fuel efficiency increases could add more than $5,000 to the price of a new car. (Photo - Heads of the former Big Three meet in the Oval Office with President Bush earlier this year).

A Bush administration analysis of its proposal for a 4 percent average annual fuel economy increase would cost the automotive industry $114 billion between 2010 and 2017. That included a $40 billion estimate of GM' costs -- a figure the automaker has called "probably low."

The Bush administration wants to reduce the country's gasoline usage by 20 percent a year by 2017, with 5 percent of the reduction coming from improved required fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks.

Meeting those mandates could require making nearly every vehicle a hybrid and other expensive steps. That is an "unaffordable solution," Lutz said. "This technology does not come for free."

A better way to reduce oil dependence is to dramatically boost the availability of ethanol-based fuels, like E85, said Lutz said. Improving access to E85 is key, since there are only about 1,100 E85 pumps out of 170,000 nationwide.

Lutz's comments at the New York International Auto Show came in the wake of the Supreme Court's 5-4  ruling Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has the express authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act. The rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been linked to the warming of the earth.

Lutz said it wasn't yet clear whether the Supreme Court determination would hurt or help the auto industry. "We're still studying the decision," he said.

Dave McCurdy, top lobbyist for automakers (the job Bush's former Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, had before he entered public service in the White House --- Our CAR NUT BLOG comment, not the Detroit News'), said in an interview the Supreme Court decision helps pre-empt individual state efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The industry wants a national policy that spreads the burden across industries.

But McCurdy, who heads the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers -- a trade group that represents General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG, Toyota and other manufacturers -- agreed that the decision has boosted momentum for Congress to take some action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.