Sunday, June 28, 2009

Smart car?


I saw one of those smart cars on the freeway yesterday. It was being followed closely by a UPS semi at freeway speed, and I gotta' say, that just didn't look very smart to me. It left me with an image burned into my brain of a bicycle trying to outrun an AMTRAK train. Look at this thing. It looks like it has been smacked a couple of times already.
Now I'm all for saving the planet. I recycle stuff. Junk mail. (unopened insurance/credit card/AARP crap) Beer cans. (see picture) I'm just not ready to risk my life for the cause.
In Oregon, we are forced to use a 10% mixture of alcohol in our gas. I have been told it takes approximately one gallon of fossil fuel to make one gallon of alcohol. Now consider one gallon of alcohol and nine gallons of gas will take you as far down the road as nine gallons of gas alone, what have we gained? Nothing! (net loss of approximately 10%) The damage to older cars done by this unnecessary mixture, can be expensive. It also separates and becomes useless, if allowed to set for any length of time, as it will in a collector car that is not driven frequently.
I'll do my part for the planet. However, you will never see this old baby boomer flying down the freeway in a beer can/bicycle. And I found a place to get good gas...
Drive safe
John

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Temporary Hotrod

The big block project is on hold. I'm still waiting for my stimulus check from Obama. He may be a little pissed because I voted for McCain, however with out that check (or a job), no big block. I'll just be content with the six banger...





Well, I told myself that anyway. The old stovebolt was a good engine, it was just so slow. And quiet. Slow and quiet just don't do it for me. This little small block should be able to fill the neighborhood full of tire smoke. And the M21 four speed will be a lot more fun than the three on the tree.
John