Steve Parker Motoring / The Car Nut

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.

DODGE'S CHALLENGER SRT8, CHALLENGER R/T AND CHALLENGER SE DISPLAYED IN NYC

At the Los Angeles Auto Show just four months ago, the Dodge Challenger concept caught its share of eyeballs, but only a Challenger concept, and the latest iteration of the always crowd-catching Viper, the company really had nothing exceptional to show. Now, at the 2008 NY Auto Show, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep certainly wasn't breaking any new ground, unless you count 6.1 liter Hemi engines as something remarkable and worth writing home about. We made fun of the company's exhibit at the LA Auto Show, riffing on their heavily-promoted "Hybrid Hemi" on our "CAR NUT TV" program. Now, we realize we shouldn't have gotten laughs of a dying company. We all saw the Plymouth and Oldsmobile divisions killed in the past few years; but there seems to be more than a reasonable chance that Chrysler itself will soon be bankrupt, taking Dodge and Jeep with it. There are about 80,000 full-time employees of Chrysler, 50,000 of them union members. At the end of this post, we're including a very short history of a current supplier problem affecting Chrysler which shows how the company has changed since being taken "private". (Photo - Above, Dodge Challenger's first official public introduction at the NY Auto Show; Below, another all-new Dodge Challenger, this one "taking it to the streets").

One thing Chrysler and the New York Auto Show have in common: The Chrysler 300; the new one, not the classics. Introduced at the NY Auto Show in 2003 as a concept car, the 300, produced for sale in 2004 as a 2005 model, was the last car even resembling a "hit" which Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep has built. Both of the other cars using the same "LX platform" as the 300, the Dodge Charger and Magnum, achieved their own relative levels of success, but now they're all old and used-up. The car business is all about "What have you done for me lately?", and when a car-buyer asks that question of Chrysler and its divisions today, there are no good answers.

Chrysler is in deep trouble, and with it, Dodge and Jeep are also both on their last legs. With India's Tata expected to announce their purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford next week, car-makers in both India and China are being talked about as possible buyer's of Jeep.

FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI AT NY --- "ONE-TO-ONE PROGRAMME" INTRO'D

The best story we know about company founder Enzo Ferrari (yes, for younger readers, there really was an Enzo Ferrari --- It's not just the name of one of the company's models) has to be, as far as we Americans are concerned, the great battle between "Il Commandatore," as Ferrari was known, and Henry "The Deuce," nickname of Henry Ford II, son of Edsel Ford, grandson of Ford company founder Henry. The Deuce is not to be confused with "Il Duce'," which was the "honorific" title, meaning "leader," given to Italy's Benito Mussolini, who was Adolph Hitler's lapdog both before and during WWII. (Photo - Ferrari 612 Scaglietti introduced at the NY Auto Show).

The short version of the Ford/Ferrari story has The Deuce wanting to buy Ferrari from its founder in the early 1960s. Many of the obstacles to the purchase had been worked through, and both sides felt there was a good chance the buy-out would happen; Ferrari would have the money his company needed to develop into a true world-class and worldwide car-maker, and Ford, which lacked a real sports car like GM's Corvette, would be able to buy the brainpower and technical ability needed to leave GM in the racing dust. Ford had attended Grand Prix and sports car races throughout Europe and saw the potential for Ford, using the Ferrari name, becoming a power in those series.

But there was one problem remaining, at least in Enzo Ferrari's mind. With the two seated at Enzo's desk in the Ferrari offices in Modena (Italy), Enzo mentioned to Ford that, even with the buyout about to happen, he, Ferrari, would naturally continue in his capacity as leading the motor racing business for Ferrari. Ford said that was not possible; if Ford bought Ferrari, it would be a Ford who would decide personnel staffing and the like. Ferrari said the sale was off, and the two had quite an argument, only ending, the legend goes, with Ferrari almost physically throwing Ford out of his office, with a loud shout, in English, of "Fuck you!"

The rest, as they say, is history. Ford was eventually to give a wily Texan named Carroll Shelby the then unheard-of budget of $40 million to build some race cars, which were dubbed GT40s, and which indeed beat Ferrari's pants off at the "24 Hours of the LeMans" for four straight years, 1966 through 1969. If anyone has ever wondered why Ford Motor has kept a relationship for so many years with Carroll Shelby, even through the many twists and turns of Shelby's personal life and career, one need only know the above story; it explains many things. (Photo - Ferrari's 612 Scaglietti from rear 3/4, above).

Not that Ferrari hasn't survived and enjoyed tremendous success both on and off the race tracks of the world. And while Ford hasn't done too badly, either, at this point in the history of the world's auto industry, Ferrari might be a better bet to stay in black ink than Henry The Deuce's outfit in Dearborn, MI.

But at the 2008 New York Auto Show, the word from Ferrari was "personalization", with a 612 Scaglietti introducing the company's new "One-to-One" Ferrari corporate program. And in the words of the Ferrari PR staff, with not a word changed by this website, we can all enjoy a taste of what the very wealthy can do if they have a mind to do so:

Ferrari intends to allow every client to fully personalise this flagship model, courtesy of a wide array of new content as well as the options available through the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Programme. In fact, a special dedicated "atelier" area has been set up at the factory, where clients can put together their own bespoke 612 Scaglietti accessory by accessory, detail by detail. In exactly the same way as they would at an haute couture fashion house, owners can choose details and materials they want for their car in consultation with the Ferrari experts who will actually build it to their exact specifications and tastes.

NYC - PONTIAC G8, SOLSTICE COUPE, OZ "UTE" FOR USA

Pontiac tried to come-on strong at the New York Auto Show, 2008 edition, with their 2009 G8 GXP sedan, another experiment in taking a Holden car from GM's Australian division, like they did with the recently-failed Pontiac GTO, setting it up for left-hand drive, adding a few more touches to make it US-legal, and adding horsepower, horsepower and more ... you guessed it ... Horsepower! In fact, the 6.2L LS3 small-block V-8 is rated at 402 horsepower and 402 lb.-ft. of torque. A new six-speed Tremec TR6060 manual transmission is an option; standard is a six-speed 6L80 Hydra-Matic. No pricing as yet on any of the three models pictured in this post. A Pontiac website says GM will import as many as 50,000 Holden VE Commodore Sedans to be sold as G8 GXP models in the US.

Drawing inspiration from classic sports cars, the 2009 Pontiac Solstice coupe was created, according to Pontiac's PR material, for drivers who appreciate both dramatic styling and balanced performance. Unveiled at the New York Auto Show as a GXP model, the Solstice coupe offers a greater range of all-season driving opportunities. The coupe also features a removable roof panel, fully opening the cockpit to all of the sensations of the road. The coupe is expected to arrive in Pontiac dealerships in early 2009. The roof panel frame is made of lightweight magnesium and weighs 31 pounds. The Solstice GXP is the turbo-charged, 260 horsepower model; the coupe variant will also be available with the base, 173 horsepower, Solstice. The Pontiac Solstice convertible went on sale in 2005. GM sold 19,710 Solstice convertibles in 2006, but sales dipped 15 percent in 2007.

And GM/USA is not through with GM/OZ/Holden yet. General Motors will reportedly sell a re-badged version of the Holden VE Commodore Ute --- and wagon variants --- in the US. Although Pontiac was running a "name that ute" contest at the NY Auto Show, another Holden-friendly website says the new Pontiac Ute will be named the G8 ST for "Sport Truck," and will only be available with a 6.1L V8 and will sticker for about $31,000.

"WORLD GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR" --- BMW 118d AT 2008 NY AUTO SHOW

BMW does so many things so well, that it's getting difficult to pin down exactly where the company excels and where it might be somewhat lagging. In every motorized category, excepting the one in which the company actually began, making spare parts for piston-powered aircraft engines, BMW not only makes "world class" parts and whole assemblies, they actually set the standard for "world class" in motorcycles and automobiles. It's not unusual, when at a new vehicle introduction for the media, for company executives to speak at length about how and why they "benchmarked" BMW for one, or several, aspects and/or systems of their own new car. BMW makes their eponymous brand of car, as well as Mini and Rolls-Royce. Is there any other company, in any manufacturing discipline, whose corporate pendulum swings a swath so wide from one side to another? From Mini to Rollers, with their BMW cars located somewhere in the middle, this company is truly remarkable. Now, an award for BMW in a new, somewhat unexpected, arena --- That of the "World Green Car of the Year." (Photos - Top, BMW 118d, named "World Green Car of the Year" at the 2008 NY Auto Show, Below, Chevrolet Tahoe SUV at the late-2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, named "Green Car of the Year" ... Hey, now! Wait a minute!).

Allow us a laugh, at Chevrolet's expense, because Chevy's full-sized, gigantic Tahoe SUV, was named "Green Car of the Year" by a magazine called Green Car Journal at the most-recent Los Angeles Auto Show. We supported the choice at the time, and we still do, and not only because Green Car Journal's editor, Ron Cogan, is an old friend of ours. Cogan, and several others on the voting panel, saw Tahoe as a good choice because, 1) The huge SUVs are going to be produced and purchased for the foreseeable future in the US, and, 2) The revolutionary "dual-mode hybrid automatic transmission," developed by GM, BMW and Daimler, doubled Tahoe's in-town mileage. But a small-ish BMW diesel (!), something we're not used to seeing in the US, winning "World Green Car of the Year" is a no-brainer which doesn't need a five-minute explanation, like the Tahoe's win does. And it usually takes me a bit longer than five-minutes when explaining (defending?) the magazine's choice of the Tahoe. Now, "here's the rest of the story," as radio old-timer Paul Harvey might say, directly from BMW, with, as always, all the fun "Euro-isms" kept intact:

BMW’s award-winning EfficientDynamics programme has been honoured with a global brand. A jury consisting of 47 motor journalists from 24 countries has awarded the BMW 118d, a model that displays all facets of what BMW terms EfficientDynamics, with the “World Green Car of the Year” at the New York International Auto Show 2008. (Photo - BMW 1-series, just reaching BMW dealerships in the US; no plans announced as yet for the second-generation direct-injection diesel 118d to come to the US).

Judges of the World Car of the Year Awards praised BMW and its 118d for offering buyers a model with a range of innovative technologies that reduce fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions as standard. The three- and five-door BMW 118d record an impressive 62.8mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of just 119g/km – putting it into the Band B category for Vehicle Excise Duty. The BMW 118d now costs just £35 (USD $70)a year to tax.

To help it achieve these impressive figures, EfficientDynamics technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop and Electric Power Steering are employed to cut fuel bills and emissions. An optimum gearshift change indicator is included to encourage economical motoring.

FORD INTRO'S "TRAILER SWAY CONTROL" FOR EXPLORER AT NY AUTO SHOW

Of all the things a car company can offer, none of them are ever more important than the myriad of active and passive safety devices now found, almost always forced into use by government mandate, on late-model cars and trucks. From the older and more obvious, including shatterproof glass and energy-absorbing materials throughout a vehicle's interior, to some of the many new life-savers, such as airbags and anti-lock brakes, and even to those lighted hooks in trunks so anyone who might get stuck in a car's trunk --- and we're thinking more of an eight-year old kid than a Tony Soprano-type --- can pull on this device and unlock and open the trunk. These doo-dads are in every vehicle with a trunk sold in the US; check it out sometime if you hadn't noticed it already.

A few months ago, the LOS ANGELES TIMES ran a series of what would later be honored as award-winning articles on U-Haul trailers. That paper's reporters found the company's trailers to often be rented-out while in unsafe condition, in need of repair, and were almost predictably dangerous. Rent-a-trailers become most dangerous, and often deadly, when they begin to slowly sway behind the car or truck which is pulling it down the road, a motion so subtle when it begins that it is often overlooked; but if this motion is not recognized and stopped, and skillfully so, the situation almost always turns life-threatening. Often drivers are young, newer drivers going to college or otherwise on their own and traveling away from home for the first time, with all their worldly possessions packed into the trailer. Almost always these drivers, no matter their age, are completely unaware of the dangers of towing a trailer, and what to do, and when and how to do it, should a trailer begin that dangerous, yet often nearly-imperceptible, swaying motion.  By the time this motion is "telegraphed" to the driver, there often is nothing he or she can do to avoid an impending wreck. Even before a host of trailering problems are felt by the driver, this team of LA Times' writers found, the die has been cast and an accident is almost always in the offing.

Throughout the over-100 year history of mass-produced cars and trucks, almost every vehicle manufacturer has been dragged, kicking and screaming, to the table where safety systems and devices are mandated by government. Because of that, Ford should be commended for taking this step, above and beyond, what has been ordered by government edict. Ford apparently has, on their own, devised and made-available an important, new safety system called Trailer Sway Control. The following is from Ford's PR people:

Ford will bolster the 2009 Explorer by including Trailer Sway Control. Trailer Sway Control joins an already  impressive list of standard safety features, including industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control). (Photo - Ford's Explorer concept at NYC Auto Show).

“When we first introduced AdvanceTrac with RSC on the Explorer in 2004, we offered customers enhanced safety by including roll sensing,” said Steve Kozak, Ford’s chief safety engineer. “Now with Trailer Sway Control, we are helping our customers who tow trailers achieve an enhanced level of control of their load. Ford is committed to continuing to develop features and technologies that help make the driving experience easier and safer.”

Unlike electronic stability control systems that only use yaw rate sensing, Advance Trac® with RSC® utilizes a roll-rate sensor to determine the vehicle’s body roll-rate and roll angle, along with yaw rate sensing. If the unique roll-rate sensor detects a significant roll angle, the system applies additional countermeasures — such as applying brakes to one or more wheels or reducing engine power — to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle.

Trailer Sway Control works in conjunction with AdvanceTrac with RSC to determine from the yaw motion of the vehicle if the trailer is swaying and take measures – such as applying precise braking or reduced engine torque – to help bring both vehicle and trailer under control.

2009 HONDA FIT DEBUTS AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW

It wasn't many years ago that the Mini was considered a car too small to ever enjoy successful sales in the US, but the new-generation BMW-engineered and -built Mini has caught-on with Americans of all ages (and sizes). If the Mini was too small for some US car-buyers, the company's new Clubman "station wagon" (or an "estate," as they're known in the UK) might fit the bill. Speaking of fitting the bill, Honda's Fit, as Toyota's Yaris and Nissan's Versa, and the Mercedes-Swatch Smart cars, is every bit as interesting, fun-to-drive and attractive as the original Mini, first sold in the UK in 1959. Now, the Toyota iQ concept from the most-recent Frankfurt and Tokyo Motor Shows is slated to start production and be on-sale in Asia and Europe early in 2009; no US sales announcement as yet. Traditionally one of Japan's most-popular sellers, Honda's latest version of their Fit, the 2009 car, debuted at the NYIAS and goes on-sale in the US this autumn. Here's how Honda describes their newest Fit model, and in their own words, too, so pardon the to-be-expected "hype-ese":

The all-new 2009 Honda Fit, set to go on sale in the U.S. this fall, is making its U.S. debut at the New York International Auto Show, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Fit promises to further its leadership in the subcompact segment with top-of-class feature content, including an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™; improved interior functionality, including one-motion dive-down rear seats; enhanced sporty demeanor through improved suspension, steering and body rigidity; and high levels of standard safety equipment, including Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

Dimensionally compact on the outside, the interior provides surprisingly large passenger and class- leading cargo space to maximize comfort and utility. At the foundation is an improved rear Magic Seat®, now featuring one-motion dive-down functionality, which allows the rear seat to fold flat with the front seats in the rearmost slide position and without removing the rear head restraints. The seats offer multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations (tall object mode, long object mode and utility mode) in addition to the standard five-passenger mode. Additionally, a new hidden storage bin under the driver's side rear seat provides a place to store small items.

Adding further refinement, Fit Sport offers an available factory-installed Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition, featuring a 6.5-inch screen. All Fit Sport models feature a USB audio interface compatible with current generation iPods and many USB storage devices.

NY AUTO SHOW: THE DIESELS ARE COMING! THE DIESELS ARE COMING!

Right now, more than 60% of all vehicles sold in Europe are diesel-powered. Got that? 60% of ALL vehicles, cars and trucks alike, are diesel-powered. These modern-day direct-injection turbo-diesels are fast, quiet, comfortable, responsive and in many cases cleaner than even their gasoline variants. Many of these same diesels are heading for the US, and several car-makers (VW, M-B, Audi, Peugeot and several others) are just beginning their marketing campaigns to educate Americans about these new-generation engines and the cars and trucks which they power. Audi and Peugeot using diesel engines in their endurance race cars is part of that marketing; Audi dominated the major endurance races last season, in the US and Europe, Audi winning the "12 Hours of Sebring", the "24 Hours of LeMans" and many other events. (Photo - Mercedes-Benz M-class ML63 AMG, one of the new "high-performance" diesel-powered SUVs).

For many of today's Americans, the first diesel-powered cars they ever saw (or smelled) were Mercedes-Benz diesels from the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s; apart from those cars, big-rig trucks and busses of all sorts carried the "diesel" banner in the US. In the late-'70s and early '80s, General Motors went on a diesel binge which most American car-buyers still remember, or, if they are too young to remember, they've heard about the near decade-long debacle from older friends, relatives and car enthusiast magazines. Between 1978 and 1985, GM used engine blocks made for gasoline engines in building diesels; the idea was to allow Americans to enjoy the lower prices of diesel fuel and the higher mileage and longer engine life which diesels were said to offer. If an American had traveled in Europe, they they might even be more likely to buy one of the new GM diesel-equipped cars; mostly available in Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs. How serious was GM about diesels? In 1985, there was talk inside of GM about making a diesel engine available for the Chevrolet Corvette!

SCION AT NY AUTO SHOW --- HAKO COUPE CONCEPT

NY AUTO SHOW: Scion has a problem, a common-enough one for a car company, which is: After a fairly successful entry into the automotive marketplace, what do you do next? What's your follow-up? When we first test-drove the then all-new Scions, the xA and xB, parent-outfit Toyota already had made a mistake in their own understand of the new cars. The Toyota execs, who did a good job of establishing Scion as a separate division, operating on its own, free and clear of some of Toyota's corporate stuffiness, were betting their money on the xA. But whenever we drove the xB, and indeed the first time we drove one on city street's (in "hip" Santa Monica, California, no less), the people checking out the car always liked the boxy xB much more than the forgettable xA. xB had that kind of "cool" factor which you can't buy, much less be able to predict.

Scion's tC sporty coupe and the xB are still in the Scion line-up, while the xA has been dropped. Now a newer box, the xD, is the newest Scion. Toyota has a turbocharger kit for the tC, developed and supplied by TRD (Toyota Racing Development), and only to be installed at select Toyota/Scion dealerships. tC has also been entered into two racing series where it might develop a "tough" reputation. At the 2008 NY Auto Show, Scion showed the Hako Coupe; Scion has traditionally used the NY Show as a place to introduce concepts, no doubt trying to capture some of the earthiness and grittiness of the country's biggest, hippest city. Here's what the Scion PR people want you to know about it:

Scion's Hako Coupe was developed by Tokyo Design Division, which studied global, youth-inspired trends. Japanese and American youth cultures often influence each other and are interpreted with a unique twist. (Photo - Looks a bit like a Deuce Coupe at this angle).

The Hako Coupe Concept was inspired by the iconic xB and the emergence of American vintage style among young Tokyo trendsetters.

"Scion's Hako Coupe Concept embodies a distinct global perspective on today's youth," said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president. "This type of forward thinking complements the Scion philosophy of intently listening to our customers and being willing to take risks to help us see where our brand should be. We took the xB's iconic boxy shape and explored something more vivacious, yet just as emotionally appealing. This concept is the sporty version of a box."

Tokyo Design developed the Hako Coupe with classic American coupes in mind. The car's geometric  profile conveys a powerful stance in a compact and bold package. Its trapezoidal LED headlights lie parallel with a large and aggressive, rectangular upper grille. The lower rectangular grille anchors the front fascia and continues to communicate the Hako's aggressive attitude. Round fog lights, symmetrically placed high on the front bumper, have integrated turn signals.

The Hako's silhouette is accentuated by slim, race-car-inspired side mirrors that also feature integrated turn signals. Powerful, flared fenders add dimension and contrast to the concept's boxy shape and smooth surface planes. The Hako concept hugs the road with custom 18-inch deep dish five-spoke wheels and tires with a "Scion" custom tread.

NY AUTO SHOW --- LINCOLN MKS WITH "ECOBOOST"; FIRST WITH "FULL SUITE" OF IN-CAR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

NEW YORK AUTO SHOW: Here's the latest on an old technology with modern-day upgrades which Ford is trotting-out first in their Lincoln Division. Turbocharging has been around since the first internal combustion engines; gasoline "direct injection" is a newer feature; the technology was first used in diesel engines, and has spread to their gasoline-powered cousins. Lincoln's 2009 MKS (are you getting as confused with all of Lincoln's new, confusing nomenclature as we are?) will be the first car to be "EcoBoost" equipped; whether or not buyers will accept Ford's contention that their EcoBoost V6 is just as "good" or better than a V8 (say, like the one from Cadillac, or BMW or Mercedes-Benz or a dozen other manufacturers) remains to be seen. Our guess? We've all been waving "Bye-bye" to Lincoln-Mercury for so long now that perhaps EcoBoost will be just another nail in those companies coffins. Here's the straight scoop from FoMoCo's very own and very hyping PR material:

As America watches gasoline prices creeping toward the $4 per gallon mark, Ford Motor Company is coming to the rescue with a new family of engines that promise real-world savings at the pump.

Highlights:
* EcoBoost uses gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology for up to 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions and superior driving performance versus larger displacement engines.

* The new technology will be available in half a million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles annually in North America within the next five years – beginning with the new Lincoln MKS sedan in 2009.

The EcoBoost family of 4- and 6-cylinder engines uses turbocharging and direct injection technology to deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and and up to 15 percent fewer emissions. More importantly, EcoBoost builds on todays affordable gasoline engines allowing the technology to be applied across a wide range of engines and vehicles types, from small cars to large trucks.

In 2009, Ford first will introduce EcoBoost on the Lincoln MKS featuring a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6  that will produce the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6. In fact, with an estimated 340 horsepower and more than 340 lb.-ft. of torque, the Lincoln MKS will be the most powerful and fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive luxury sedan in the market.

EcoBoost’s combination of direct injection and turbocharging mitigates the traditional disadvantages of downsizing and boosting 4- and 6-cylinder engines, giving customers both superior performance as well as fuel economy.

With direct injection, fuel is injected into each cylinder of an engine in small, precise amounts. Compared to conventional port injection, direct injection produces a cooler, denser charge, delivering higher fuel economy and performance.

$10 MILLION AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE ANNOUNCED AT NY AUTO SHOW

In the same week in which futurists and all people across the globe (and who-knows-where-else) said goodbye to the incredible Sir Arthur C. Clarke, age 90, it was on March 20th at the New York International Auto Show, that the X PRIZE Foundation and Progressive Insurance jointly announced the $10 million dollar Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. "Let the race begin!" said X PRIZE Chairman and CEO Dr. Peter Diamandis. Sir Arthur was no doubt pleased, wherever he was when the announcement was made. (Photo - Tesla, their roadster pictured here, and whose cars went into production this week, according to the company, have entered the X Prize competition for autos).

Long after the Raptors, the Corvettes and Challengers and Murcielagos and those ubiquitous Hemi engines (doesn't the newly-private Chrysler Corporation make any other engines?) at this week's New York Auto Show are forgotten (like, next week), it's quite possible that the winning vehicle, and those who created it, in the $10 million Ansari X-Prize competition for vehicles, will be well-remembered many decades from now. Here's the basics, taken directly from the prize's website:

    The Ansari X PRIZE was modeled after the $25,000 Orteig Prize, offered in 1919 by wealthy hotelier Raymond Orteig, to the first pilot who could fly non-stop between New York and Paris. The prize was finally won in 1927, by an unknown airmail pilot named Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh won the hearts of a nation, and his world-changing achievement spawned a $300 billion aviation industry.  (Photo - Richard Branson has been active in the X Prize contests on land and in the air, well, in space, actually).

    The X PRIZE Foundation began a revolution in private spaceflight with the $10 million Ansari X Prize.On October 4, 2004, the Mojave Aerospace Ventures team, led by famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan and financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, captured the Ansari X PRIZE. The world took notice of this great achievement and the winning SpaceShipOne is now hanging in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.

     The X Prize Foundation, best known for its competitions promoting space flights, is offering $10 million to the teams that can produce the most production-ready vehicles that get 100 miles per gallon or more.

     More than 60 teams from nine countries have signed up for the competition so far, including California electric carmakers Aptera Motors and Tesla Motors, German diesel carmaker Loremo and a team
from Cornell University (where Carl Sagan studied and taught for many years).

   Teams will be able to sign up through mid-2008, when applicants will be narrowed to those who can prove they would build production-ready, consumer-friendly cars. Those that qualify will race their vehicles in cross-country races in 2009 and 2010 that will combine speed, distance, urban driving and overall
performance.

    The purse will be split between two categories: mainstream and alternative cars. Mainstream cars must carry four or more passengers and have climate control, an audio system and 10 cubic feet of cargo space. They also must have four or more wheels, hit 60 miles per hour in less than 12 seconds and have a minimum top speed of 100 miles per hour and a range of 200 miles.

   Alternative vehicles will be required to carry two or more passengers and five cubic feet of cargo, have a top speed of at least 80 miles per hour and have a range of at least 100 miles.

The Santa Monica, Calif.-based X Prize Foundation, which was founded in 1995, gained fame in 2004 when it awarded $10 million to the first private vehicle to fly into space. The foundation since has launched a $10 million prize for rapid human genome sequencing and a $30 million prize for sending a robot to the moon.

IT'S SOAP BOX DERBY TIME! GET INVOLVED!

BE THERE! Saturday, March 29, 2008, the "14th Annual Coachella Valley Don Berry Memorial Soap Box Derby" will be run on Avenidas Bermudas in La Quinta, California. From 9am until every entrant has run, late in the afternoon, there will be all the excited thrills and spills which occur in every kind of speed contest, but also a lot more. There will be great amounts of love, enthusiasm, coaching, learning, caring, mentoring and winners and losers ... But truly, no losers at all. All the competing girls and boys, from age 8 through 17, have, along with their adult "partners", built their own Soap Box race cars, made from kits which are shared by every participant, developed new ways to coax more traction and speed from their vehicles, learned about working with sponsors and, especially, the local media, to get the word out about this great annual event. These are great lessons for anyone of any age ... Just imagine if you'd had these kinds of lessons when you were much younger!

And the winners can make it all the way to the this year's "71st Finals" in Akron, Ohio.

This coming July 26, 2008, over 100,000 spectators will gather in Akron for the finals of the "71st All-American Soap Box Derby". Over the decades, the Derby has had its highs and lows, as any large event might, but in the past few years, along with a resurgence in Americans' patriotism, it has re-built itself into a huge, exciting contest not only for boys and girls, but also for their moms and dads, aunts and uncles, granddads and grandmoms, mentors and coaches of all types and kinds.

We'll be there at Avenidas Bermudas on March 29th, cameras and microphones in-hand, interviewing and taping all the kids and their great efforts, along with those of their mentors and sponsors, who are often the most emotional people at the event, based on past experience, for a future  'CAR NUT TV' show, and of course we'll post all the video on this website, too.

Over the years, many people have been great contributors to the Coachella Valley's Derby, including the late US President Gerald R. Ford, who with his wife, Betty, was for many years a local resident, and always a great font of encouragement for the Derby and all its participants and supporters. Don Berry, for whom the local Derby is named, established the event and was a person of non-stop action and enthusiasm, doing everything which needed to be done to guarantee the local Derby would continue on for years, even without him, as it has. Fred Mohler, now a longtime local Coachella Valley resident, was the national winner of the Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, in 1953, and gives willingly of his time and effort, wherever he might be of the greatest good to encourage his "kids". We do point out, however, that while Mohler was from Muncie, Indiana, the next three finishers that year, 54 years ago, were from Los Angeles, only 100 miles from where our local Derby will be held on March, 29th, in La Quinta.

And we want to encourage all the adults from the Southern California area who visit this website --- more than several hundred a day --- To participate as sponsors and mentors in their own local Soap Box Derby! It's fun, it's a great learning and teaching experience,  and it's a fantastic way for kids and adults together to learn patience and teamwork. And all the local events need sponsors of all kinds, large and small, as you'll read below.

To paraphrase Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday, "Here's just the facts":

Race Date: March 29, 2008, 9AM Start - till approximately 4-5PM

Location: Avenida Bermudas in the La Quinta Cove area

Contact information: 760-564-3761; E-mail: [email protected]

Coachella Valley Soap Box Derby Local Website: www.cvsbd.org

Ages: Stock 8-13, Super Stock 10-17

Divisions: Stock & Super Stock (Masters Division to be held in 2009)

Local area for competitors: All of Riverside & Imperial Counties (and portions of San Bernardino, i.e. 29 Palms)

Cost of New Car: Approximately $700

We are always looking for sponsors to help with the costs to send the winners back to Akron. 

Anyone interested in a sponsorship, please call 760-564-3761.  We can get your names in the event program for this year's event if you contact the Derby by March 25th.

Click below to read more for the sponsor and contact information ... Maybe you can help out! Maybe you should help out! What if someone had helped you when you read about the Soap Box Derby as a kid ... maybe you dreamed about participating ... but for whatever reasons, you couldn't ... Maybe that was because that someone who could have helped you never called when they should have ... So NOW is YOUR chance to help! It'll be fun! You'll LOVE it ... So DO it!

$5 GAS --- IT'S HERE, GET USED TO IT, VOTE APPROPRIATELY

It's official: Gasoline is selling at $5-a-gallon on a daily basis, within the continental USA, smack dab in the middle of California's most-scenic road, in a town called Gorda, along gorgeous Highway 1, about 150 miles north of Los Angeles. There have been reports, on-again and off-again, about $5-a-gallon gas being sold in America, but until now, those reports have come mostly from Alaska or Hawaii, and they had almost always been short-lived affairs (see the posting on this site, below, about $5-a-gallon gas on the Hawaiian Island of Maui). (Photo - Recent gas prices, as reported by the Los Angeles Times).

It's probably safest for you readers, especially those with weak hearts, if we kind of "build up" to the story about the $5-a-gallon fuel, so we'll start-off with this report from the LOS ANGELES TIMES:

"California gas prices hit a record high today (3-17-08) but that milestone probably won't last very long. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded hit $3.511, eclipsing the previous high of $3.499 reported last May, according to the Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Today's average is more than 58 cents higher than what motorists were paying a year ago. Southern California pump prices remained either slightly below or matched their all-time peaks." (end of LA TIMES blog posting).

Now the bad news, and, interestingly enough, it's from the NEW YORK TIMES' Jesse McKinley, reporting on the highest-priced gas in the country, which is, no surprise, found in California. Seems their brother reporters working for the Los Angeles paper with the same "last name" missed this one (but they'll probably remedy this soon ... Like, right after they read today's NEW YORK TIMES ... Happens almost every day, one way or another). We've truncated the story a bit for brevity, and also added a word or phrase or two to help readers not familiar with California's Central Coast (which is a shame, because it's so beautiful and offers so much):

"The reason for consumer agitation is that a station in Gorda, in Big Sur on the Central Coast of California, is serving up what may be the costliest gas in the land. On Tuesday morning, as crude oil flirted with $110-a-barrel and petrol prices set records nationwide, a gallon of regular at the Amerigo station was going for $5.20. Premium was fetching an eye-popping $5.40-a-gallon, though that included a free copy of a local newspaper (which was free, anyway).

HAMILTON DOMINATES F1 SEASON OPENER; CHAMPION RAIKKONEN'S FERRARI IS NINTH

Any doubts F1 fans might have had following the incredible debut year of McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton last season were quickly dispelled even before the start of the 18-event 2008 season-opener at Melbourne, Australia. That's because Hamilton took the pole position and led every lap of the event, except for those few laps he pitted to take on fuel. (Photo - Hamilton leads the pack in Oz).

Other than that "excitement", the winner of the race was never in doubt. Nick Heidfeld in a BMW and Nico Rosberg in a Williams-Toyota took second and third; a great season start, especially for Williams-Toyota.

The 3.3-mile race track in Melbourne, Australia, spends most of its life as a public road, so changing surfaces, from concrete to blacktop to everything in-between, add up to only a small part of what the drivers had working against them in the first Formula 1 race of the season.

Taking on this course is a difficult job even on the best of days and conditions. Add 100 degree air temperature, over 120 degrees on the track surface, humidity of only 15% and steady winds, and there was little joy among the drivers in the Land of Oz. None of this was to stand in the way of the still-remarkable Hamilton. He's only 23, but in his rookie season last year, he was almost frighteningly good, winning four events and being on the podium at races' end for almost every meeting of that season. (Photo - Fernando Alonso represents in his favorite Renault colors).

Leading into this new season, during testing in Spain, it was widely reported that many Spanish fans who  had come to see the testing screamed invectives and insults at Hamilton. Unfortunately, as Hamilton is the only Black man in F1, he's said that he is fairly inured to that kind of treatment. But considering the huge number of problems which surrounded his McLaren team last year, it's kind of a wonder that he not only stayed with the team, but also bravely decided to keep living his dream in spite of what a few racist Spanish spectators might have felt; indeed, possibly because of them.

To say that anyone's first year in F1 would be difficult is a great understatement. Hamilton, who "signed" an agreement with McLaren principal Ron Dennis when Hamilton was only 11 years old, made his dream come true and entered F1 last year as the "second" driver on the two-car McLaren Mercedes F1 team, traditionally one of the best in the sport. With Hamilton #2, his teammate was two-time F1 defending champion Fernando Alonso, who had left the Renault team where he'd won his two titles, for what he thought would be a better fit for him and his career at McLaren. (Photo - Champ Car's four-time champion Sebastien Bourdais in his first F1 race finished a very impressive seventh, gaining his STR-Ferrari team 2 points).

The opposite was true. It was Hamilton, not Alonso, who quickly got the worldwide media attention, whose victories, coolness under pressure and amazing driving skills and maturity, especially with the media, made his team owner proud and gave the fans something very special; the best rookie who'd ever sat in an F1 cockpit.

By the close of the 2007 season, Alsono was not speaking with either teammate Hamilton, or their boss, Ron Dennis. Alonso went back to his Renault team as fast as he could pack his bags and walk out the door of the McLaren Mercedes shop. And no one warned him to "not let the door hit you in the ass on" his way out. No love lost there.

SHOCKER AT '12 HOURS OF SEBRING'; PENSKE PORSCHE WINS OVERALL, A FIRST-EVER FOR LMP2-CLASS RACER

PENSKE/PORSCHE WINS OVERALL AT "12 HOURS OF SEBRING", FIRST 'AMERICAN LEMANS SERIES RACE OF THE SEASON; FIRST OVERALL WIN EVER FOR AN LMP2-CLASS CAR AT SEBRING. (Photo- Roger Penske's Porsches ran like clocks, taking their class and the overall win).

Celebrating the ALMS' tenth anniversary, this year's Sebring competition, from 10am to 10pm, from light into dark, provided a great "birthday party", with fireworks, for the teams, drivers and some 60,000 spectators who found seating, with folding chairs, blankets and on the tops of motorhomes, around the runways of the airport where the racing is held. No one could have been happier than two men who are, shall we say, a bit older than "middle-aged" yet still dominating forces in American racing, "Captain" Roger Penske, the winning team owner, and Dr. Don Panoz, the super-wealthy "patron" and founder of the series.

It was a big day for Porsche at the "12 HOURS OF SEBRING", the longest-running major sports car event in the US. The German manufacturer took two class victories as well as, somewhat surprisingly, the overall win and the first0-ever overall trophy for a LMP2-class race car. Other class wins went Audi's R10 V12 turbo-diesel-engined machine and a factory-supported Corvette C6R.

After winning the NASCAR Daytona 500, his team's Dodge race cars finishing one-two, the first win at Daytona in the history of the PENSKE RACING SOUTH team just a few weeks ago, now brings home the over all (and LMP2 class) win at the '12 HOURS OF SEBRING'. Roger Penske's skill as a team owner, putting together a team which gives their drivers cars which definitely win races, the legend of Penske, known to racing insiders as "The Captain", grows even more.

Drivers Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas (LMP2 class) took the overall and class win at Sebring. Dindo Capello and Allan McNish took the LMP1 class victory in their Audi R10 turbo-diesel racer, a terrific come-down for that team which completely dominated last season's ALMS series. All the "big" cars (class LMP1) had problems at Sebring, and the first car in that class, the Audi R10, finished fourth overall (complete top fifteen results after the jump at the bottom of this story).

Peugeot, which fielded their own "Frenched" version of the Audi R10 turbo-diesel, finished third in class, behind the two Audis. We saw that race car (or a non-running facsimile; a "show car" version of it) at the 2007 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW in October, 2007. Both Audi and Peugeot are going to be selling vehicles with diesel engines in the US (Audi's Q7 SUV is the first Audi diesel-powered vehicle which will be on-sale in the US) and they will both be advertising their "diesels bred by competition"; at least they should. Mazda won the "24 HOURS OF LEMANS" in 1991, the first (and still only) time a Japanese-made car won that race, and certainly the first (and still only) time a car powered by a Wankel rotary engine won there. However, they never advertised that victory, at least not in the US, and Mazda missed-out on a bonanza as far as their reputation as car-builders. The Wankel engine, which had a bad reputation for reliability, could have also gained new believers --- But the advertising which should have happened never did. We don't think Audi nor Peugeot (which also will be selling cars in the US soon) will make that same mistake. (Photo - Audi's R10 diesels dominated the ALMS series last year and won the "24 HOURS OF LEMANS"; but it was not to be for them at Sebring, at least not this year).

In LMGT1, the factory-supported Corvette C6R took the class win and finished ninth overall.  The driving  team of Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows, who have been the team's drivers for several years, celebrated especially for Johnny O'Connell, who set a record by winning his seventh class victory at Sebring, taking the title from Phil Hill, the American F1 and endurance racing ace. I took a ride with O'Connell several years ago at Willow Springs Raceway in Southern California, when he was one of the drivers of the Nissan factory-supported sports car team, and take it from me ... He's FAST! Canadian Ron Fellows also enjoyed the much-deserved win, as he was the lead test driver for Chevrolet throughout the development of the phenomenal C6R machine. Combined with Magnussen, this is a driving team which could win in any class, any series ... Chevy is lucky to have them. The second Corvette C6R finished eleventh overall, second in class, with Olivier Beretta, Olivier Gavin and our old friend, Max Papis at the helm.

LMGT2's winners were the whimsically-named "Flying Lizard Motorsports" Porsche 911 GT3, driven by
Jörg Bergmeister, Wolf Henzler and Marc Lieb.

For all you real CAR NUTS (and super-gearheads) here are the specifications for the 2008 Penske Porsche ALMS race cars ... And the sheer numboer of people on the teams ... And don't forget, Top Fifteen results also after the jump:

Porsche RS Spyder

Concept:         Two-seater, open sports prototype according to A.C.O. regulations;
                      LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) class. (Photo - Peugeot's oil-burners had their first Sebring outing, but the diesel-powered cars will undoubtedly be a factor later in the season; we first saw this car on a display stand in October, 2007, at the TOKYO MOTOR SHOW; check the Photo Albums in the left-hand margin of this page for more Tokyo Motor Show photos).

Bodyshell: Carbon-fibre reinforced monocoque; front, side and rear body sections made of reinforced carbon/kevlar; underfloor cover with skid block and rear diffuser; rear wing adjustable on two wing elements; six-point seat belt with Head And Neck Support System (HANS) modification; fire extinguishing system; helmet protection to FIA and A.C.O. regulations; three-point pneumatic car jack.

Aerodynamics:  Variable as a function of rear wing and body height.

Power unit:      Eight-cylinder V-engine with 90-degree cylinder bank angle; watercooled; four valves per cylinder; oil cooling with oil/water heat exchanger; intake system with a 44 mm (1.73”) restrictor for ALMS Regulations; intake system with individual throttle butterflies; dry sump lubrication with separate oil tank; Bosch MS 4.2 electronic engine management; sequential multipoint fuel injection.

GAS HITS $4 AND OVER IN CALIFORNIA, HAWAII

About a year ago, we at this Website predicted $4 a gallon gasoline within a year. Unfortunately, we were right. But where else was the price of gasoline going to go? DOWN? With this country's two top executives having been either owners of, employees of or chief executives of oil companies and those in related fields, what else would anyone expect to have happened? The Bush family's history in the oil business, not only in the US, but in Saudi Arabia and most other Middle Eastern countries, has been written-about and reported on extensively --- And W still got elected and then re-elected, if you believe the US Supreme Court. Our current pres' father, George Herbert Walker Bush, joined that small club of one-term presidents only when he was either so arrogant or just plain stupid enough to open his mouth about "Read my lips: No new taxes!" That Bush, dad, had also been head of the CIA ... Are we just out of our minds in this country, electing and re-electing these dangerous dolts?

Dick Cheney played it more straightforward, you have to give him credit for that. He has been so obviously entangled in the huge monies flowing between government, the "private" market and outright, unapologetic warfare, that he was almost daring Americans to vote for him. Cheney, having worked for various neo-con leaders in the shadowy hallways of our federal government, became a Congressman from Wyoming, a super-right-wing backwater state if ever there was one, and "somehow" became the chief executive of Halliburton. That outfit makes a lot of its money from the business of finding oil, drilling for it and operating oil fields. They also have developed a nice "side business" taking care of feeding and supplying our military forces all over the world. Of course they do so without having to engage in any of the usual pettiness which goes with these things, like actually "bidding" for contracts; and why should they? Their fix was in years ago, bought-and-paid-for. The company gave Cheney a $30-million "thanking you in advance" paycheck when he left the company in order to take the lesser-paying and lower-prestige job of American vice president.

Do you seriously think someone as clearly stupid as George Bush ever wanted to be anything other than Commissioner of Baseball, yet somehow got side-tracked into his scripted job? The more sensible people of the world are scared to death that these two will blow it all up before next January, when, says our Constitution, they get run out of office ... But only if there isn't some emergency or rumor of emergency which forces the inauguration of the new president to be "moved back". Think it can't happen? We all thought Katrina and the destruction of a great American city could never happen because of a hurricane. It did. Most of us have probably forgotten about that already.

Now, to the gas prices we're all dealing with:

KURT BUSCH COPS DODGE VIPER #25,000

Kurt Busch got a pretty cool gift this week --- The 25,000th Dodge Viper. He got it right off the assembly line, with the company chief handing him the keys.

When you drive as many different cars and trucks as we do in order to be able to speak and write reasonably authoritatively and accurately about them all, readers and viewers might think that it gets to be a rather blasé' occurrence, driving all these vehicles and changing into another one every week or so. But, if you're doing your job right, in fact, doing any job right, it never gets old, never gets unexciting and/or uninteresting and one never becomes jaded or blasé'.  And if you do, no matter the job, it's time to find a new profession. (Photo - Bob Nardelli (literally, "the suit") hands the keys to Kurt Busch; and is it me, or does Nardelli looks like one of the sleaziest used car salesmen you've ever seen? Let us know! Remember to click on the photos to see them in a much larger format).

Over the years of getting into and out of so many cars and trucks (a minimum of about 50 annually ... Now multiply that by 35 ... And it's no wonder my back is bad!), you develop, in addition to all the objective testing criteria which must be understood and translated into understandable English, one also develops some other methods of judging a vehicle. And one of the most-important of these subjective areas of vehicle testing is: Other people's reactions. And without a doubt, with absolutely no question any part of the equation, the very first Dodge Viper I ever drove was, and remains, the single most-admired car I've ever driven on public roads (some of  the cars I've driven on race tracks would have brought even more attention, but often they weren't street-legal). Judging by the number of horn honks, thumbs-up, waves, "ok" signs, smiles, shouts and more, from every kind of person of every age, was overwhelming. Dodge, it was obvious, had hit on something remarkable. Even if it was terribly uncomfortable to drive!

I even remember the day ... it must have been in the summer of 1992 (thanks to the PR release below for helping me remember), and I was headed south on the 405 (San Diego) Freeway, top down, driving from Santa Monica to somewhere in Orange County in the late afternoon. It was what some people call "a moment in time" and today, some 26 years later, I remember it as clearly and completely as if it were still happening.

But Viper's end is soon to come, so when we got the following PR release this week, we decided to run with it, because Dodge still builds the beast, faster and definitely better in almost every way than that car I drove in '92, which, while they said it was a production car, felt barely more comfortable (and legal) than some of the worst prototypes I've driven, before and since. So here, with a few of our own observations, the latest on the Viper.

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 - 25000 Vipers Loose on the Streets

Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, was awarded the 25,000th Dodge Viper to roll off the line. Viper has been produced at Chrysler's Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, hand-built by Dodge craftpersons since 1992. Busch's all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is powered by an 8.4-liter V-10 engine producing a ground-shaking 600-hp and 560 lb.-ft. of torque. (Photo - The 25,000th Dodge Viper comes off the line at Chrysler's Conner Avenue plant).

Yessir, THAT'S what we need more of in America! No doubt about it! Chrysler is also busy throwing their gas-guzzling V8 Hemi engine into as many products as possible, because "Hemi equals money" in the world of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. And with the company having just raised customer incentives to a record-setting $3,579 per vehicle (some races need to be lost), when you're giving away that much money, on average, every time the company actually manages to sell a car or truck, it's crucial to use every trick possible (and still legal) to raise the sticker price.

GENEVA SHOW, OTHER SUPERCAR PHOTOS AND SPECS RELEASED

What with Geneva Auto Show, one of the world's biggies, opening this week, we thought we'd search high and low so you, our dear visitors, don't have to grind your way through the Web, searching for the most interesting stuff ... We've done the work for you! In fact, we're such a time-saving Website for our visitors, we think we'll have Billy Mays advertise it on late-night cable TV! But seriously ... And on another product: Isn't that shammy ad the best late-night ad you've ever seen? The guy does his entire shtick from the county fairs and auto shows where he usually works, and it's a blast to watch ... We especially love the on-screen title at the end, in big, bold letters: "Made in Germany!", so, if you don't believe anything else at all in the ad about the Super Shammy, or whatever they call it, we all KNOW that those Germans build great stuff!

If you do see any misspellings and/or unusual phrasings, it's probably the fault of whoever translated this stuff into English; if it's from an English company, well, then, they oughta learn how to talk and spell right, like we do here in the USA! So without any further ado, and in their own too-highly-paid PR people's words, are some of the great things being intro'd at Geneva this coming week ... and maybe some other cars which won't be at Geneva, but are big on the Web right now ... and photos of the cars are right below their descriptions:

"Quaranta"

Quaranta is an "extreme", clean-technology project embodying 40 years of styling research and engineering celebrated by Italdesign Giugiaro in Geneva.

The Quaranta is an "extreme" product, an environment-friendly, 4WD super sports-car which incorporates a series of innovative aspects: its styling, but also its drive technology, which combines a hybrid engine with solar energy, and its internal layout which, despite its mid-mounted rear engine, can accommodate three adults and a child, also providing a generous luggage compartment.

The idea which inspired the Quaranta project is that of the first single-volume concept car with central engine and drive. The original reference is to the 1968 Bizzarrini Manta which, at that time, represented a major breakthrough in styling, now adapted to state-of-the-art technology and enriched with Italdesign Giugiaro's forty years experience of research.

Holden Special Vehicles unveil seven litre Supercar the W427

Holden Special Vehicles today unveiled a seven litre program at the Melbourne Motor Show the last installment of the company s 20th anniversary celebrations. The car to be known in its final development stages as the W427 is finished in the same Panorama Silver paint scheme as the original Group A SS VL Commodore, released at the Melbourne Motor Show of 1988, exactly 20 years ago.

The W427 will be quite possibly the fastest road registrable Supercar ever produced in Australia and among the quickest anywhere around the world. While power output figures are still to be confirmed, the W427 is likely to produce in excess of 370kW (near 500 horsepower) of power and 640NM (about 472 pounds feet) of torque. A new six piston front braking system will provide a 50% increase in pad area, while the W427 also receives a revised ESP calibration, six air bags, improved handling and new Magnetic Ride Control settings. The W427 receives a bimodal active exhaust system to improve noise quality and back pressure management. (Wow! Classic hot rod-style CUT-OUTS! I, your humble host, said that, not the PR hand-out).

GM, FORD EXECS MAKING MORE MILLIONS THAN EVER; FIRST SIGNS OF BOB LUTZ OVER-STAYING HIS WELCOME

Here are a couple of interesting tidbits from two of the Detroit Three. First, while we reported a few days ago that GM CEO Rick Wagoner (photo) has apparently, in the eyes of the company's board of directors, the only eyes that count, done his job so well over the past few years that his original salary of $2.2 million, which had been cut to a paltry $1.28 million after 2005, when GM lost $10 billion, has been reinstated. Well, good for Rick ... Like we always say, "Who can argue with success?"

Wagoner also can enjoy an extra bonus of $2.43 million if GM hits its performance targets. GM lost a record $39 billion last year, most of it from a one-time accounting change. Anyone know what GM's "performance targets" are? Didn't think so.

Next, Alan Mulally, the still-relatively-new man-in-charge at Ford, has been awarded restricted stock worth $4.1 million and 3.56 million stock options after a year in which the No. 2 U.S. automaker lost $2.7 billion. You get all that? The company stock is hovering around seven dollars --- $7.00! --- FoMoCo is bleeding red ink ... and the new guy, the CEO, gets a nice little bonus from his buds at the board (he undoubtedly plays golf with a few of them every week or so).

Not that Ford didn't try to hide this news. Oh, they did. The compensation was detailed in a filing with securities regulators, and the news came just two days after Mulally (photo)announced that all Ford employees in the United States and Canada would be paid bonuses for 2007. Just, not, you know ... as much as he got. Actually, all UAW Ford workers will receive a $1,000 bonus.

Says industry newspaper AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, "The issue of executive compensation in the struggling U.S. auto industry has become something of a hot-button issue because of the UAW." Well, I don't see why the union would be upset at all; do you?

You may remember that Mulally joined Ford from Boeing Co. in late 2006, and was paid $37.5 million during his first 14 months in the top job at the automaker and had the potential to earn a bonus of an additional $3.1 million. You may also remember that Mulally wouldn't even take the Ford job before that $37.5 million was deposited in his bank account. Sounds more like a kidnapping to us (or a blackmailing).

One more note of import, and maybe a sign of sanity, if a small one, with GM: The corporation's North American "car czar", the well-over-70 Bob Lutz, was quoted by reporters at an event in Texas a few weeks ago as saying that, "global warming is a crock of shit". Again, this from the man who is supposed to be planning future product for GM in North America for at least the next 5 to 7 years out from now.

ENTRY-LEVEL LOTUS, TOYOTA iQ, BRABUS ForTwo; ALL IN OR NEAR PRODUCTION

A story or so below this one we posted the latest news about some really hot new bikes, much of the state-of-the-art of our era's current choices (from BMW, MV Agusta, Yamaha and Honda). With that "ganging up" of vehicles by category seeming to strike a chord with you visitors, we're doing the same with three all-new small cars. Some are available in the US now; some will be coming to the marketplace in 2009 or a bit later.

The three cars found below (well, four if you're really counting close), are all, in their way, excellent choices for the young-at- heart and, in some cases, for the heavy-of-wallet, ranging from the ridiculous (Toyota's iQ) to the sublime (entry-level Lotus 2-eleven) and everything, well, sort of, in-between ... meaning a combination purchase: A 2008 McLaren SLR by Brabus, combined with a smart ForTwo by Brabus, and they're calling this the "dynamic duo" (apologies to Batman ... and the Batmobile). Why we picked these photos to lead the post, we're not sure, but we thought it'd be nice for visitors who have not visited Japan to see a slice or two of "real life". Above is a police scooter, electrically-powered, and a "koban," or police box, both of which are in the same traffic circle in front of the very busy Narita, Japan JR station, about 50 miles north of Tokyo. In fact, this police box is a re-creation of the original Narita station, which had been destroyed.

As always, we'll let some of the PR fluff from the manufacturers do the talking, except when we feel the need to add some humor, realism and downright sarcasm as we see fit. We hope you agree.

2008 Lotus 2-Eleven - New Entry-Level Version

The latest Lotus 2-Eleven, bristling with Lotus Sport options and wearing a dramatic carbon fibre body was exhibited with its premier last week at the 78th annual Geneva International Motor show. This car has been specified with, amongst other options, the 255 PS (252 bhp) power upgrade, carbon fibre tonneau cover, four piston front brakes, "Aero Pack" and "Sport Pack" as an example of how the new range of Lotus Sport options can be configured.

The 2-Eleven made its global debut at the 77th annual Geneva International Motor show in 2007 available in launch specification with the supercharged 255 PS (252 bhp) engine, in either UK Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) or Track Only guise for the introductory price of £39,995/ € 49,573/ USD$76,155. After suggestions from Lotus racers and owners, the 2-Eleven will now be available as an entry level car with a number of option packs to tailor to owners' individual requirements. As well as a number of performance option packs such as the Track Day pack and UK road SVA pack, there are a range of stand alone options that now include two different Limited Slip Differentials, an FIA approved 70 litre bag fuel tank (almost 19 gallons) and a removable competition steering wheel.

MV AGUSTA, YAMAHA, BMW, HONDA ALL WITH NEW BIKES

Lots of new motorcycle news, including one bit which heralds the end of an era. Honda is ending the manufacture of motorcycles at their Ohio plant, and you can read more about that at the end of this posting. At the same time, Honda has just recently announced the sale of their DN-01 model in Japan, their all-new automatic transmission-equipped two-wheeler, a production model of a vehicle we first saw at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show (see, sometimes these things do make it into production). What follows are the photos and  PR releases made available to us by Honda, BMW, Yamaha and the legendary MV Agusta, all about their new bikes. Enjoy!

Remember now, we're posting most of this using the manufacturer-supplied copy ... So keep that in mind when things get a bit too "hypee".

BMW K1000R

It's been long-rumored that BMW is considering a campaign in the Superbike racing world with a machine inspired by the bikes from Japan. In fact, test mules have been seen lapping racing circuits with Yamaha R6 bodywork, meaning that the chassis and engine are quite compact for this class. BMW has made liter-bikes (1000cc and more) before, but none have used the industry-standard chassis layout placing the four-cylinder engine transversely between the frame rails with chain-drive and upside-down forks. It will be interesting to see what engineering details BMW chooses to utilizes, because they never do anything exactly like everybody else. In point of fact, they usually do it before anyone else! The bike should make 190 horsepower or more to do battle in Superbike racing if they want to be competitive. Like the Aprilia RSV-4, the BMW will give riders, racers and spectators a few interesting story-lines when World Superbike starts its 2009 season.

2008 YAMAHA YZ-F R6

Light, powerful and bristling with knowledge gained from years of racing, the YZF-R6 is the most advanced production 600cc motorcycle Yamaha—or anybody else—has ever built. The YZF-R6 was the first production motorcycle with a fly-by-wire throttle system—for flawless response under all conditions. YCC-I, Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake, introduced in 2007 on the R1, is now used on the R6 to vary intake tract length for excellent cylinder filling and a broader powerband. On the higher-revving R6, its benefits are even more pronounced. Slipper-type back torque-limiting clutch greatly facilitates braking/downshifting from high speed.

New for 2008:
Over 50 friction-reducing strategies have been employed inside the engine, including the use of wider crank  bearings. Upgraded fuel injection mapping for the YCC-T dual-injector system complements the higher compression ratio for great throttle response and reduced engine braking. A magnesium subframe removes weight from the rear of the motorcycle for increased mass centralization. All-new frame takes handling to the next level, allowing more precise turn-in, greater corner speed, and tighter exits. Thicker headpipe-headstock and swingarm pivot area walls, and elimination of the frame crossmember, help achieve perfect balance. New swingarm has internal ribs added, and extruded section is now forged to work with the new frame. Revised outer fork tubes, a new lower triple clamp, and increased fork offset provide highly tactile front-end feedback.

Moving the rider and bars forward and slightly lower enhances braking and turn-in performance. Clip-ons are also lower and re-angled. Front discs are 310 x 5mm instead of 4.5mm for increased cooling qualities. Increased fork height adjustability and rear ride-height adjustment range accommodate a greater range of riders and tires. Revised bodywork results in even greater aerodynamic efficiency.

ONLY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ...

While we search the newswires every day for the car, truck, motorcycle and motor racing stories we think you'll find most useful and entertaining, sometimes a story jumps off the screen, grabs us by the throat and pummels us into submission all the time screaming, "This could only happen in Southern California!"

Which is exactly what happened with the story below ... How could we possibly resist posting this story, and thanks to it, creating a new site section entitled, "Only in So Cal". And we think the following is a great story with which to kick-off (pardon the pun, which you'll 'get' after reading the first line of the piece, which we found on the KNBC/TV4 website) the new section:

An 80-year-old Corona (a city about 30 miles east of Anaheim, CA) woman who tried to turn off the idling engine of a Range Rover was hospitalized after the vehicle slipped into gear and ran over her legs Monday, authorities said. (Photo - The daunting interior of a Range Rover; could an 80-year old woman lean into the vehicle, engine idling, and turn the key while it's in the ignition?)

The Range Rover then continued into the street, where it managed to strike both sides of a parked vehicle (now you don't see THAT every day, do you?)  before plowing into a tree. The crash was reported at 9:35 a.m., and happened at a home in a gated community on Reserve Drive at Trilogy Parkway, said California Highway Patrol Officer George Foard.

The engine apparently had been started by the victim's 50-year-old daughter, who then got out of the Range Rover and went into the home, Foard said. He said the vehicle had not been put properly into the "park" mode and slipped into gear as the 80-year-old woman leaned into it.

Foard said that the Rover ran over both her legs, cutting the flesh down to the bone. The vehicle then rolled backward down the driveway and hit a parked vehicle belonging to a woman who was waiting to take the 80-year-old woman on an errand, he said.

After hitting one side of the other vehicle, the Range Rover continued into the street, where it did a U-turn  and then struck the same vehicle on its other side, Foard said. The Rover then went up the driveway and struck a tree, he said.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Inland Valley Medical Center, the CHP reported. The woman in the other vehicle was not injured, authorities said. (end of story)

Now ... Could we make these things up? Our best wishes to the injured woman. She must have imagined that she's a lot taller than she is, in order to reach into an idling Range Rover from the driver's side open door, then try to reach either over or under the steering column tunnel to try and turn the key ... And if she reached in from the passenger's side, then she was really not hitting on all eight, as the saying goes.

DETROIT THREE DESPERATE; GIGANTIC FORD F-SERIES RECALL, CHRYSLER CUTS CALIFORNIA DESIGN STUDIO, BUT GM GIVES CEO WAGONER A BIG RAISE

Let's take a look at this weekend's news from the Detroit Three: First, 

Ford

is recalling about 100,000 2008 F-Series trucks because the front driver's seat does not conform with federal standards. What? On their bread-and-butter F-series truck, the #1-selling vehicle in America for the past fifty years, they didn't check the seat and its ancillary systems (shoulder harness, etc.) to make certain that the federal standards were met? Hard to believe ... Someone's head (or heads) should definitely be rolling out of Ford's Dearborn headquarters come Monday morning.

Now, second: Chrysler (now owned by the Wall Street private investment firm called Cerberus, and not stockholders worldwide) is going through an absolute hemorrhaging of whatever money in Highland Park they still have and whatever models are still in dealer's showrooms. Remember, Chrysler is now a private company and that means we the public hear only rumors or incomplete stories of what's really going on with the automaker. There's more than a few reasons to believe that Chrysler might be out of business a year or two from now.

The following is from a press release Chrysler released just today: "Increasingly, we are leveraging resources worldwide, forming new joint ventures and alliances and consolidating operations in order to better achieve global balance and manage fixed costs. As such, we are closing the Pacifica Advance Product Design Center, consolidating the Advance Design function in Auburn Hills. Advance Design remains an integral part of our future design efforts, led by Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President -- Design." Yes, there's a good idea. The company is bleeding red ink over everything it touches, so closing the one place in the corporation which might have been on the cutting-edge when it comes to design for future Chrysler vehicles seemed a grand idea ... to somebody. Someone mention "bean counters"?

Finally, General Motors. These words are from a GM press release posted Friday, March 7th: "General Motors announced today that it will be adding 900 new jobs to its factory in Brazil."

OK, great ... for Brazil. But given that news, and with some five (or more) GM plants in the USA closed-down due to a strike at one of the corporation's major suppliers, what motor journos used to call "Generous Motors" is giving CEO and President Rick Wagoner a raise ... That's right, a raise.

GM lost over $10 billion in 2005, and cut Wagoner's pay from $2.2 million to a measly $1.28 million. But apparently, GM's board of directors feel that GM has recovered so strongly (in Brazil, China and other far-flung locations) from their 2005 predicament that they are restoring Wagoner's take home pay to the $2.2 million he was making before 2005. Yep, things are tough all over.

FIRST "DESERT CLASSIC CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE" DRAWS 100+ CARS, THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS IN PALM SPRINGS, CA

SEE THE ALL-NEW "PHOTO ALBUM" FOR THIS EVENT BY CLICKING ANYWHERE ON THIS LINE! OVER 60 PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING FROM THE "FIRST FERRARI" TO AMERICAN CLASSICS TO ONE OF TEN MASERATI MC12 STRADALES IN THE COUNTRY ... COST? ... OVER $900,000!

The "Inaugural Event" of the "Desert Classic Concourse d'Elegance", held at the O'Donnell Golf Course in downtown Palm Springs, California, was held Saturday, March 1st, and for a first-time Concours, promoters produced a nice grouping of (mostly) very local cars, a large number of vendors and a very nicely-produced, well-written and superbly-designed souvenir program. And as often as we complain about automotive PR people, we have to admit that the PR folks working for this event were helpful, professional and ... amazingly enough for PR people ... not in the least bit aggressive. They let the cars, their owners and the event speak for themselves, judging, we guess, that motor journalists know a car show when they see one. What a concept, eh? Maserati was the featured marque, and a 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta Zagato which John Bookout brought from Houston, Texas, won both the "Long Distance" prize, for being the car-owner bringing a vehicle from the farthest point, and its namesake Maserati category.

In the above photo, event organizer Paul Merrigan stands with Ken and Ann Smith of La Jolla, CA, and the winner of "Best of Show" and the "People's Choice Award," a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition. The twin wins were a rare and pleasant agreement between the event's judges and jus' plain ol' show-goers (like us). In addition to the show award plaque, the Best of Show winner received a limited edition print from artist Nicholas Watts of the winning Bugatti Tipo 35 in the 1930 Monaco Grand Prix, signed by Watts and the late racer and NYC restarantuer Renee Dreyfus, who won that year.

The event promoters do themselves wrong by writing the following on the "classicrallies.com" website: "Only the most rare and beautiful automobiles will be invited to Palm Springs next year (2009) as a part of a miniature version of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the world's premier collection of exotic vehicles." I think the Concours could stand on its own ... And apart from a lack of proper punctuation, why use the word "miniature" when describing their own event? And why say it's operating in the shadow of Pebble Beach? People already know that; saying it on their own website only reinforces a "second-best" mentality for everyone involved. But, what do we know, right?