Yes, you read that right. $2.19/gallon for regular gas, and I’ve even seen it for a bit cheaper at some off-brand gas stations. The amazing part is that literally less than a year ago (probably much more recent than that, but I don’t recall specific dates for specific gas prices) I had seen that same gallon go for almost $2 more/gallon. More amazing is that $2.19 really isn’t all that far off from what gas prices were like pre-gas crisis. Finally, MOST amazing is that gas prices actually... Read Full Story

CNN is reporting that Sandor Ferenci, 28, of Oxfordshire, England, has been jailed for 12 weeks for engaging in reckless, high speed stunts which he posted on YouTube. The case got started when residents reported his license plate for allegedly speeding. When the police came to investigate, Ferenci asked if they had seen his YouTube Videos. WHY WOULD YOU EVER DO THIS!!?? That is like being pulled over, then asking the officer if he would like to smell the marijuana in your trunk. The... Read Full Story

Fairly soon, you’re going to start seeing those same tired old articles about how to make sure your car “makes it” through the winter: Change your wiper blades. Use a gasoline additive. Put a shovel and blankets in your trunk (evidently so you don’t freeze when your car breaks down even after following the tips that are supposed to prevent breakdowns). These articles, which for the most part simply suggest that you perform the basic maintenance that any car requires (like replacing your... Read Full Story

Track season is winding down. The last week of October, I’m going to Watkins Glen for 2 days and to Lime Rock for 1. Then the season ends, and with it ends the Protégé’s tenure as my primary track car. It’s given me 2 relatively trouble-free years. But it’s old, it’s tired, and it’s time for me to move on. Before I do, I thought I’d look back on my first track car, a 1994 Mazda Protégé. The Protégé was never meant to be a track car. I bought it from a woman whose last name was Schmuck for a... Read Full Story

ARS Technica has an interesting article looking at the effects of a cars being able to drive themselves (and you) in the future. The first page of the article goes into all of the benefits of having cars do the driving instead of humans: cars don’t fatigue, get drunk, get distracted, or require experience to become better at driving. All of which, the argument goes, will lead to less accidents and thus everyone will be much safer. While this argument seems valid on its face, I am just too... Read Full Story

Recently I picked up a copy of Popular Science at the airport to kill boredom on a cross-country flight. I’m accustomed to getting a skim what’s new in science and technology, nifty how-tos for hacking home gadgets, and yes, even automotive news. What I’m not used to seeing are full-page ads of preposterous scams that any technophile can spot a mile away. This one in particular claims “over 100 miles per gallon, even with an SUV”. The paragraph of blatantly false pseudo-science that follows... Read Full Story

As the global financial markets come crashing down all around us, something else is falling with them. The price of a barrel of oil just passed its lowest price in over a year. As I write this, the national average cost per gallon of regular unleaded is $3.35, down from a whopping $4.11 in mid-July 2008. According to CNN, experts are predicting $60/barrel oil in the coming year, which should make gasoline about $2/gal in 2009. Maybe by next summer it will be time to bring your 600 horsepower... Read Full Story

So apparently the original Ecto-1 from Ghostbuster’s is being sold on Ebay currently. The Ecto-1 was made from a 1959 Cadillac. The car was dismantled, but the seller says he was able to acquire all of the original parts to restore the Ecto-1 to its former gloy. At 5000 pounds, 21 feet long, and 10 feet tall, I would imagine any inputs would need to be planned about 1/4 mile in advance… Read Full Story

I’ll be at Lime Rock Park today for another SCDA track day. I haven’t been to LRP since they resurfaced the track, so it should be interesting. Pictures and video will be up shortly after the event (provided the Protege behaves), and you can also follow along with me throughout the day on Twitter (@Clint47). If you don’t see me update for a while, either the Protege has failed or I’ve had a misfortune too complicated to express in 140 characters. Read Full Story

Here is the provisional schedule for F1’s 2009 season: Mar. 29 Australian Grand Prix Melbourne Apr. 5 Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang International Circuit Apr. 19 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit May 10 Spanish Grand Prix Montmelo, Barcelona May 24 Monaco Grand Prix Monaco Jun. 7 Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul Jun. 21 British Grand Prix Silverstone Jun. 28 French Grand Prix Nevers-Magny-Cours Jul. 12 German Grand Prix Nurburgring Jul. 26 Hungarian Grand... Read Full Story