Hydrail Trains Are Running Too Late: Here's Why

by guest blogger Stan Thompson

It's been 18 years since Dr. Holger Busche proposed that German electric passenger trains could run on wind energy carried on board as hydrogen. Once pointed out, it was an obvious thing to pursue;  but the first German hydrail train won't go into service until late next year.  The impediment hasn't been in either the energy or the railway industry. Here's where the derail can be found…and hopefully remedied by “sunlight!”

http://www.smartrailworld.com/expert-view-why-hydrail-trains-are-running-so-late

And here's what we've been missing, unnecessarily, for too many years:

Next year: Twelfth International Hydrail Conference in Graz, Austria!

Travel Style: Gregory Diehl

Gregory Diehl

Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.

Name: Gregory Diehl

Occupation: Author, Consultant and Coach

Hometown: Encinitas, California, USA

Residence: All over the world, but I have home bases in Vilcabamba, Ecuador and Tbilisi, Georgia

College: None

College major: None

Website: gregorydiehl.net

Twitter: @gregoryvdiehl 

Facebook: Gregory V. Diehl

Instagram: gregorydiehl

YouTube: Gregory V. Diehl

Short bio: I left California at 18 to explore our world and learn about myself. Now I write books and help people figure out their identities in business and life. My first book, Brand Identity Breakthrough, is an Amazon business bestseller. My new book, “Travel As Transformation,” chronicles the personal evolution worldwide exploration has brought to me and others.

How often do you fly? Recently, just about every month or two. But it changes frequently. I like to stay a while in one place to really get to experience life there.

How many countries have you been to? 45, if you count territories and overseas territories.

How many continents have you been to? Five: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Earliest travel memory: My first trip abroad was at 18. I spent nine months visiting a friend in Costa Rica. That was where I realized the life-changing potential of travel and I became obsessed with seeing more of the world.

Least favorite country: China, for a lot of reasons I don't have the space or emotional capacity to go into here. There's a whole chapter about it in my book.

I have no desire to go to: Most of the big cities everyone raves about.

Friendliest people in the world: Filipinos.

Country with the meanest immigration officers: The UK border guards interrogated me for two hours because I told them I was going to be housesitting for a friend. They thought it meant I was coming there to work illegally. It doesn't exactly make me want to go back.

Aisle or window: Aisle. I have the world's smallest bladder.

Favorite island: Mindanao, Philippines.

Favorite fruit: I'm hurryin' for durian.

Favorite travel movie(s): Cast Away.

Favorite travel book(s): “Walden.”

Right now I am reading: “Travel As Transformation.”

5 things you bring on a plane:

1. Laptop so I can work


2. Noise-canceling headphones so I can escape other people


3. Dark chocolate to ease the stress of flying


4. Music to dull the madness


5. About a million movies

What do you always seem to forget? Checking in to my flight online.

What do you like least about travel? Being crammed into small spaces and crowded with other travelers.

I'm embarrassed I haven't been to: Oceania.

Worst travel moment: Getting sick for days from Indian street food in Delhi.

What's your dream destination? Ecuador-or anywhere with a lot of wildlife.

Best travel tip: Travel to places that challenge you. Don't just go where it is easy. Stretch the limits of your awareness. 

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TIG Welding Aluminum Tanks

In this video Andy Weyenberg of Miller Welders connects with Joe Constance from JOES Racing Products to discuss the process of TIG welding aluminum tanks.  They explain how to weld materials with different thicknesses, and talk about adjusting frequency and balance on the Syncrowave 210 to focus the arc.

Sources:

Miller Electric Manufacturing Company

(920) 734-9821

www.millerwelds.com

JOES Racing Products

(425) 267-9199

www.joesracing.com

The post TIG Welding Aluminum Tanks appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

Mercedes' Inline-Six Makes the Rest of Its Impressive New Motors Look Like Mechanical Plebs

Mercedes-Benz is introducing a host of new engines with clever shared modular components, including a standard 500cc cylinder displacement. These new engines include a new AMG-developed twin-turbocharged V8 for the S-Class and one of the most encouraging mechanical additions to the automotive landscape seen in a while - a high-tech inline-six specifically designed to compete with, and […]

The post Mercedes' Inline-Six Makes the Rest of Its Impressive New Motors Look Like Mechanical Plebs appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

Travel Webcams of the Week: Chicago, IL

Like this feature? Check out past Travel Webcam of the Week posts and Travel Instagrammer of the Week posts!

Chicago, IL (earthcam.com/usa/illinois/chicago/field/?cam=fieldmuseum & chicago-webcams.com/wrigley-field-webcam)

There's no debating that Chicago (aka the Windy City) is one of the United States' great cities. They've gotten national attention this week since the Cubs have made it to the World Series for the first time 70+ years! We have two Chicago cameras we're featuring this week: One is right outside of Wrigley Field and the other is located at the Field Museum of Natural History. The latter offers live views of the Chicago skyline, Lake Shore Drive, the Museum Campus, and the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. You can even see the Willis Tower which is the second-tallest building in the United States.

• Chicago webcam – Field Museum of Natural History


• Wrigley Field live webcam

Screenshot from earthcam.com/usa/illinois/chicago/field/?cam=fieldmuseum

The post Travel Webcams of the Week: Chicago, IL appeared first on Johnny Jet.

Low-Cost Piston Engine of the Future Could Be Doomed by Lack of Interest

Despite paying lip service to the growing - but still minuscule - electric vehicle market, automakers do love piston engines. The companies that built their current empires around internal combustion engines take comfort in the technology, finding stability and solace in the seemingly timeless act of burning fuel in exchange for power. Batteries and electric […]

The post Low-Cost Piston Engine of the Future Could Be Doomed by Lack of Interest appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

SEMA 2016 Massive First Look Gallery #TENSEMA16

As gearheads, we wait all year for the doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center to open for the annual SEMA show, an event that is truly the Mecca of everything automotive. While the show officially kicks off on Tuesday, we snuck in early during setup day because, well, we just couldn't wait any longer. There are plenty of rides, parts, and personalities yet to arrive, but what we've already spotted has this year's show shaping up to be a great one.

We've seen crates upon crates of new products, a ZL1 Camaro splattered with bugs and grit we can only assume were earned at its recent Nurburgring record, tons of cloaked project cars ready for unveiling, and what we're pretty sure is the latest gen Batmobile – and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Without further ado, here is a massive first look gallery of the hallowed halls of the 2016 SEMA show. Stay tuned, as HOT ROD will be on the ground for the entire show bringing you coverage of the coolest cars and parts SEMA has to offer.

The post SEMA 2016 Massive First Look Gallery #TENSEMA16 appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

Travel Instagrammer of the Week: Santiago Borja

Like this feature? Check out past Travel Instagrammer of the Week posts and Travel Webcam of the Week posts!

Santiago Borja (santiagoborja)

Santiago Borja is a pilot and photographer based in Quito, Ecuador. He flies the Boeing 767-300ER for a major airline in South America and has been featured in dozens of US publications including The Washington Post and NatGeo. He takes photos of mostly nature and landscapes and posts almost daily on Instagram. Note: You won't see him posting too many photos below 10,000 feet if he's in the plane since it's illegal for pilots to do so.

Nuclear Storm – Over colombian rainforest #storm #weather #cumulonimbus #nature #landscape #tropopause #thunder #lightning

A photo posted by Santiago Borja (@santiagoborja) on Oct 11, 2016 at 8:51am PDT

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Ford is Either Playing the Long Game Well or the Short Game Poorly

General Motors and the Ford Motor Company both saw U.S. sales declines in the third quarter, but GM was the only one achieving earnings that widely beat expectations. Still, which company is playing the game better is up for debate. This could turn out to be an Ant and the Grasshopper situation if there is another economic […]

The post Ford is Either Playing the Long Game Well or the Short Game Poorly appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

Nitro, Nostalgia, And Gnarly Burnouts From The California Hot Rod Reunion

The California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, California, a gathering of drag racers that originally began as a onetime event, now celebrates its 25^th anniversary of nostalgia drag racing at the historic Famoso Raceway. From the fire spitting-nostalgia nitro drag cars to the high-flying gassers there was something for every fan to enjoy.

The track crew was on their “A” game for the three days of racing keeping the dragstrip in perfect condition. In fact, with all the added grip, many of the drag cars pulled massive wheel stands, set record times, and blasted out record speeds. Only a few oil downs and visits to the sand trap at the end of the dragstrip were the only incidents of the event.

By the end of the third day champions were crowned in the nostalgia Top Fuel and Nostalgia Funny Car classes, with Tony Bartone taking the Nostalgia Top fuel win and championship with a 5.60 e.t. at 247.25mph in the final round against Jim Murphy. In the nostalgia funny car class, Kris Krabill would walk away with the championship despite losing to Jason Rupert' Camaro in the final.

We caught all of the smoky action from the event so don't miss a minute of it in this 122-image gallery of racing action from Famoso.

The post Nitro, Nostalgia, And Gnarly Burnouts From The California Hot Rod Reunion appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

What Not to Pack If You're Flying on Halloween

In the spirit of Halloween, today's tip is an important one for anyone planning on festive flying, straight from the TSA (via Harriet Baskas):

“If you plan on traveling with your costume this year, keep in mind that realistic replica items and props such as guns, scythes, pitch forks, chainsaws, butcher knives, grenades, axes, bombs, swords, machetes, and other realistic weapons are prohibited from being transported in your carry-on bags.

Most replica weapons can be transported in your checked baggage, but it's never OK to pack anything that looks like (to include but not limited to) explosives such as grenades, land mines, rocket launchers, shells and bombs. Even if it's a replica, anything resembling an explosive is treated as the real deal until the explosives experts can prove otherwise, which often leads to delayed flights or baggage.”

Happy Halloween!

 

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Is Your Car One of the Most Dangerous Vehicles on the Road?

Modern vehicles are, for the most part, a treasure trove of technology designed to keep your sorry butt out of the emergency room, but not every driver enjoys such luxuries. The average vehicle on the road is 11 or 12 years old, hailing from a time when backup cameras needed to be hand held, side […]

The post Is Your Car One of the Most Dangerous Vehicles on the Road? appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

10 Ways to Find Cheap Thanksgiving Flights

It's the end of October and procrastinators  across the country are slowly starting to try and figure out how they can find cheap Thanksgiving flights. The bad news is that the airlines are expecting to have full planes over the holidays and most of the cheap fares for peak days and times are already gone. The good news is that I'm here to help you find the most economical way for you to see your family, for them to come see you or for you to get out of Dodge. Here are 10 ways to find cheap Thanksgiving flights:

1. Be flexible

Without a doubt, the key to finding cheap Thanksgiving flights is to be flexible (or any day, for that matter). If you can't be flexible, then you aren't going to get a deal so you can stop reading right now. It's not that difficult to figure out that the most expensive time to fly is when everyone else is, too. For example, Thanksgiving this year is on Thursday, November 24 and I bet you want to leave the Wednesday (November 23) before and return on the Sunday (November 27) or early morning on the Monday ((November 28) after. Am I right?

Well, that's not going to happen and if you ran an airline, you wouldn't discount fares that day either, now would you? To prove my point, I just ran a flexible search on Google Flights (below) for roundtrip non-stop flights from New York's LGA to Miami for a four-night stay. You can see that leaving on Wednesday and returning on Sunday are the most expensive days to fly. The round-trip will cost $532 and that's for a noon flight returning on a 6am flight, which no one wants to take. To leave later in the day will cost a lot more.

Solution: Travel a day earlier on the outbound and return a day later and the price will drop by almost 50%. See screenshot below. If you want to save even more money, push the dates even more.

2. Consider the time of day

Since everyone wants to leave after work or when school gets out, don't enter in a specific time when searching for a flight. Generally, the most expensive times to fly are peak business travel hours (8am to 10am and 5pm to 7pm). Cheaper seats tend to depart early in the morning (5am to 7am), midday (noon) or late in the evening (after 8pm).

Good to know: By leaving early in the morning, you have the best chance of not getting delayed.

3. Alternate airports

Another money-saving trick is to not only be flexible with dates and times, but also with airports, too. For example, rather than flying into (or out of) Miami when going to South Florida, check out Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), which is 25 miles north and usually much cheaper. To see what I'm talking about, see the screenshot below. Flying from LGA to FLL on Wednesday, November 24 and returning on Sunday November 27, the roundtrip price is $429, which is $100 cheaper than flying in and out of MIA. If you're a family of four, it might be worth traveling an extra 25 miles to save $400.

FYI: Almost all major U.S. cities have alternate airports and I created this page show you the actual driving miles.

4. Stay away from the low-cost carriers

When you do a flight search, don't just grab the cheapest fare you see, especially from a low-cost carrier (LCC) because it could end up costing you much more than you think. Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier, Norwegian and WOW are just a few that are notorious for offering ridiculously low fares and then hitting you up for everything from assigned seats, checked baggage and even carry-on luggage. The worst part is that now the legacy airlines like Delta and American don't want to lose out so they're going to offer the same kind of fares. So make sure you read the fine print on your fare before buying-even from the mainline carriers.

5. Choose Southwest Airlines if you're checking bags

Southwest was the original low-cost carrier so it's ironic that they're the only one that doesn't charge for checked bags. They offer the first and second checked bag for free, which most airlines would charge an extra $120 for on a roundtrip ticket. If you're planning on checking bags and don't have elite status or an airline branded credit card where one of the perks is free baggage, then check to see if Southwest Airlines is flying your desired route. Remember: Their fares don't show up in any search engine except their own so you need to log on to Southwest.com.

6. Sign up for fare alerts

If you don't want to constantly have to check airfares manually (as I like to do for some insane reason), then sign up for fare alerts. Many sites offer this free service including Airfarewatchdog.com, Kayak and FareCompare.com.

7. Hold your airfares for free for 24 hours

Many consumers in the US don't realize that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has stated that all US and foreign carriers have to allow consumers the ability “to hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty.” See here for the DOT's full rule (PDF). However, if you're booking a ticket with fewer than seven days before you fly, this rule doesn't apply.

Note: American Airlines is the only airline that I'm aware of that allows consumers to hold a reservation without a credit card for 24 hours, making it much easier to cancel. However, since American offers the hold option, if you make a reservation with them, you can't cancel without a fee.

8. Use frequent flier miles or credit card points

It's almost impossible to use your airline frequent flier miles during the holidays unless you are flexible with dates or are willing to use double or triple the usual amount. I don't recommend the latter but last Thanksgiving, I used 12,500 American miles for my wife to fly from Los Angeles to Toronto the Friday after Thanksgiving. If you don't want to cut your trip short, then consider getting a credit card like the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®. That's because you can redeem your miles for travel statement credits starting at 10,000 miles for $100 toward all or a portion of your travel purchase of $100 or more made within the past 120 days. On top of that, for a limited time, you will earn over $500 in travel, 2x points per $1 spent, and a 5% rebate on all point redemptions. Learn more about it here.

9. Consult a travel agent

As you can see, bargain hunting can be a time-consuming process but it can pay off big time, especially if you are traveling with multiple people. If you don't want to spend the time and energy doing all the legwork, then call a travel agent and pay their fee, which can be $25 or more. A good agent will find you the same deals as you can find online and sometimes even better deals if they are clever with the ticketing (usually for international flights). To give you an example, once I was flying from London to Bangkok and everything I was finding online was over $1,000. I called my travel agent and he found a flight on Etihad through Abu Dhabi for $550. It was well worth the $25 fee.

10. Hidden city trick

The airlines do not like the hidden city trick even though you are beating them at their own game. With that said it's against airline policy so you didn't learn it from me! Here's how it works: Once I needed to get from L.A. to Cleveland and a last minute one-way ticket was a whopping $600. I took my own advice and searched alternate airports and found a ticket to Buffalo (BUF) for only $230. I noticed that the flight first was stopping in Cleveland and then connecting to Buffalo. What's crazy is that the first flight was the exact same $600 flight I originally found.

I know it makes no sense since Buffalo is farther from Cleveland and you have to take two flights instead of one but that's the airlines for you. If I'd wanted to break airline policy, I could have just gotten off in Cleveland and let my connecting ticket to BUF go to waste. If I had done that, I would have bought a one-way ticket, made sure not to check bags, got on the plane early so I didn't have to gate check a bag or put my mileage account number since the airlines can take away all of your miles. Consult Skiplagged.com since they show you the hidden cities.

I hope this guide helps you find cheap flights and more importantly, allows you to spend the holidays with the ones you love.

This post is sponsored by Barclaycard Arrival but all opinions expressed within are my own. 

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Dead and Gone: These Are The New Vehicles We Lost In 2016 [Video]

Ah, fall. The leaves have changed and are dropping to the ground below. Football is in full swing. Your kids get free candy just by walking around the neighborhood (and you can eat it after they go to bed). And another new model year of vehicles is taking over parking lot space at the local […]

The post Dead and Gone: These Are The New Vehicles We Lost In 2016 [Video] appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 4Matic Review – Uppercase C or Lowercase S?

Style is subjective. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You believe the Mini Paceman is the ugliest of Minis; I say it's the best. You believe the X6 is BMW at its masculine and modern best; I believe the X6 stands in stark and unfortunate contrast to the beautiful delicacy of the BMW […]

The post 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 4Matic Review – Uppercase C or Lowercase S? appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

TTAC News Round-up: The Chrysler 200 Was More Unpopular than Anyone Imagined

There is something sincerely wrong with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' math, although things are starting to add up for why some of its sales numbers were so inflated. That, Ford decides to get a little less global at the expense of the small car, Hyundai pays the price for lying, and parts suppliers see doom and gloom […]

The post TTAC News Round-up: The Chrysler 200 Was More Unpopular than Anyone Imagined appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

These Are The 15 Questions That Caused George Hotz to Cancel Comma.ai

George Hotz announced he was cancelling the Comma One project last week in response to an information request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. At first glance, this might appear to be a bit of government overreach. However, once you start digging into the letter, it's apparent the questions are reasonable and easy to answer. The […]

The post These Are The 15 Questions That Caused George Hotz to Cancel Comma.ai appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

FCA: We Know You Love That Old Ram 1500, So We'll Keep It Around Awhile

The next-generation Ram 1500 is still expected to trundle out of Sterling Heights in January of 2018, but don't expect a familiar face to go away just yet. As it readies a new full-sizer to better challenge Ford and General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plans to keep the old Ram 1500 in production for the […]

The post FCA: We Know You Love That Old Ram 1500, So We'll Keep It Around Awhile appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

Junkyard Find: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL, Bubba's Cab Edition

The Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class was the king of 1980s sedans and it sold very well in the United States. You'll still see plenty of them on the street today and it's rare that a California self-service wrecking yard doesn't have at least one fully depreciated, high-mile example in stock. I haven't paid much attention to […]

The post Junkyard Find: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL, Bubba's Cab Edition appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

12 Ways to Save Money at Hotels

(Credit: Andaz San Diego)

From booking a hotel, WiFi fees and phone charges to saving on food, parking and more, hotels can be expensive. Staying at hotels when traveling can add up (especially with extra fees and the steep rates some hotels may charge) and who doesn't want to save a buck or two, especially when these tips take hardly any extra effort? Check out our best tips to help you save money at hotels and feel free to share your favorite tips below in the comments section!

1. Ask the doorman

Don't ask the concierge where to eat, as they are likely to recommend somewhere fancy and more expensive than you're looking for. Instead, ask the doorman, who is more likely to give you good, local suggestions that won't break the bank.

2. Use social media

Every hotel is on Twitter and Instagram now so why not tweet them in advance to say how excited you are to stay there? You can also search Twitter for secret social media-only deals or hotel flash sales not found on websites. Sometimes, using certain hashtags, you can enter a contest or get the hotel's attention. Free upgrades, anyone?

3. Ask the front desk for forgotten items

Next time you forget something like shaving cream, a razor, toothpaste or a phone charger, check with the front desk before rushing out to buy it. Many chain hotels have items like this on hand, if you ask. It certainly saves finding a store nearby and spending money on a full-sized version.

4. Find out about the club level

Find out how much it costs to upgrade to the club level at check-in. Certain hotels offer real value and include a nice breakfast for two, evening appetizers, dessert, large bottles of water, soft drinks and snacks all day, WiFi and more. Even with the cost of the upgrade, you could save money on food, especially if you're traveling with a family.

5. Beware the mini bar

Don't ever open the mini bar as some hotels charge you if the mini bar just senses movement. It's easy enough to bring snacks from home or pick them up at a local grocery store.

(Credit: Hilton Los Cabos)

6. Be on the lookout for extra/hidden fees

It's unfortunate but consumers have to be savvy when booking hotel stays and know what to be on the lookout for. Many hotels charge extra for parking, water bottles in the room (they are so much cheaper at the gas station down the street), sunscreen and other extra items that aren't well labeled with a price tag. Resorts are especially known for hidden fees. The reverse is true too … find out what's included. There could be perks you don't know about. Sometimes beyond a free breakfast, there are discounts at the hotel restaurant or an evening happy hour with appetizers.

7. Look for parking alternatives

Instead of using the hotel valet, ask the bellman if there's self-parking or a cheaper lot nearby. It may sound cheap but some valet prices are just absolutely ridiculous so you could save a lot. If the bellman isn't any help or you feel cheap for asking, call the hotel front desk while you are in the car and ask if there's a lot nearby the hotel … they will never know you called when you walk in!

8. Join hotel loyalty programs

Join hotel loyalty programs for access to the club room or other perks like free WiFi. Even the lowest tier loyalty members can get perks and benefits.

 9. Phone calls

Don't ever use a hotel phone, even for local calls! More often than not, any other method of internet calling is cheaper than doing this. Use internet phone services like Skype, Rebtel or Line for reduced rates. If you absolutely need to make a call, check with the front desk first on rates to save yourself having a heart attack when you get the bill at check-out.

10. Save at a business hotel

If you are looking for a hotel over a weekend, try a business hotel. They are usually looking for guests over the weekends, since they cater to the business crowd during the week. You may be surprised at the great deals to be had. The reverse is true for leisure cities (like Cancun) where prices are clearly cheaper during the week than the weekend, since they cater to the weekend leisure crowd.

(Credit: Kimpton)

11. Ask for deals and upgrades

If you speak to the hotel staff, don't just ask, ”do you have any deals” but ask for the cheapest refundable rate. Many hotels will also offer deals if you have a AAA membership or AARP (you can get AARP as young as 50). Also, the best time to even ask for an upgrade is around 5pm or 6pm. At this time, they will have a better gauge of what rooms will be open for the evening.

12. Recheck the hotel price

If you book your hotel in advance, you can recheck the price a few days before travel to see if the price has lowered. Sometimes if a hotel isn't busy, it will drop their prices to entice guests. As long as you booked a refundable rate, you can book another room at the lower price and cancel your initial reservation.

The post 12 Ways to Save Money at Hotels appeared first on Johnny Jet.

BMW Recalls 154,472 Vehicles Because of Fuel Leak Caused by 'Hot Wires'

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notified the public that BMW will be issuing recalls on 136,188 vehicles in the United States and another 18,284 in Canada due to possibility improperly crimped wires. The wires in question, for the fuel pump and a loose connection, could create enough heat to melt the connector and result […]

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All Of The Customs, Classics, and Race Cars From The Hot Rod Reunion Car Show

The Grove at the Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, was the site for the car show during the 25th California Hot Rod Reunion. Created as a memorial to racers and people that have been influential to the sport of drag racing, the Grove was packed with everything from traditional hot rods, to survivor dragsters, to wild customs, and plenty of other types of vehicles. The show stretched past the length of the quarter mile and spilled into the swap meet at the end of the drag strip.

Notable vehicles in the show were the original unrestored Orange Crate 1932 Ford Sedan dragster, with its Potvin supercharged Oldsmobile engine, and Squeak Bell's vintage 1932 Ford sedan drag car– the two old drag cars looked as if they were separated at birth. Another notable piece of history was the wrecked display of Bill “Maverick” Golden's Little Red Wagon, which was crashed in 1975 and then preserved for future generations. See the full gambit of the show cars from the 2016 California Hot Rod Reunion in this 80-image gallery.

The post All Of The Customs, Classics, and Race Cars From The Hot Rod Reunion Car Show appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

Hydrocarbon Wax + Microwaves = Hydrogen

Even though hydrogen fuel tanks holding compressed H2 gas have been proven to be safe, still critics cite safety as one of the top reasons not to buy a fuel cell vehicle. So, in steps UK researchers from the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Cardiff plus Saudi Arabia who have created a hydrocarbon wax that can release a large amount of hydrogen with the help of microwaves.

The idea is to carry this hydrocarbon wax onboard the fuel cell car and release the hydrogen on demand as needed by the vehicle.

According to Oxford's Dr Tiancun Xiao, “Our discovery – that hydrogen can be easily and instantly extracted from wax, a benign material that can be manufactured from sustainable processes – is a major step forward. Wax will not catch fire or contaminate the environment. It is also safe for drivers and passengers.”

Presumably carrying wax onboard the vehicle will be lighter than a metal hydride tank and will quiet the critics who squawk about comparisons to the Hindenburg.

Now, (and this may be none of my beeswax) there is one important aspect of this research which wasn't mentioned and that is how to refuel / replenish this hydrocarbon wax once the hydrogen has been depleted. What would a fueling pump look like if this were to be implemented?

Anyway, this is exciting new research, which has a decent chance in making it as a “better mousetrap” in the emerging commercial world of hydrogen storage.

 

References

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep35315

http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2016-10-20-safe-new-storage-method-could-be-key-future-hydrogen-powered-vehicles

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/14813648.Microwave_wax_could_be_used_to_power_cars__Oxford_scientists_discover/

http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/index.php/category/hydrogen-safety/

http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/index.php/hindenburg-fallacy/

 

As the Marketplace Shifts, Toyota Has a Truck Problem

Cars. They still make 'em, don't they? Automaker do, in fact, still produce cars, but they're the last thing those companies' bosses want to talk about, and they're no longer on the top of most buyers' shopping lists. For the world's largest automaker, the U.S. public's shift towards trucks, SUVs and crossovers presents a problem. […]

The post As the Marketplace Shifts, Toyota Has a Truck Problem appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

Freaky Friday: Bosom Photography Breeds Danger and the Buick Verano is a Drag

Danger, nudity, drugs and the long arm of the law. You're not safe from any of those things while on the road. There's Buicks out there, too. In this edition of Freaky Friday, a young lady discovers that some things are best left to the intimate and discreet confines of one's own home (or an […]

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Travel Style: Elaine Schoch

Elaine Schoch

Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.

Name: Elaine Schoch

Occupation: Wife, Mother, Child Chauffer, Traveler, Blogger, Photographer, Social Media Consultant, Wine Judge

Hometown: Grapevine, TX

Residence: Denver, Colorado

College: University of North Texas

College major: Journalism

Website: carpe-travel.com

Twitter: @elaineschoch

Facebook: Carpe Travel

Instagram: elaineschoch

Pinterest: Elaine at CarpeTravel

Google+: Elaine Schoch

Short bio: Elaine Schoch (pronounced the German way-Shock), is the founder and editor of Carpe Travel. She is a recovering corporate climber who spent 15 years in marketing and public relations. She launched Carpe Travel after leaving the corporate world to try to gain a better work life balance…and actually be a part of the lives of her husband and their two Princesses. Her focus on Carpe Travel is on balancing life and work with her passions-traveling-with and without kids and discovering new wines from around the world.

How often do you fly? Lately it's been about once a month. During the summers I've been trying to stick to more road trips with my kids. Albeit, it's my LEAST favorite way to travel.

How many countries have you been to? I have a hard time processing numbers over 10.

How many continents have you been to? Four-North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Earliest travel memory: One summer when I was maybe six-years old my parents rented a beach house on Galveston Island in Texas. The first night I cried and begged my dad to take me home…not because I didn't like the beach but the mosquitoes were eating me alive!

Favorite American city: New Orleans.

Favorite international city: This is a toss up. I love Turin and Rome in Italy. And, I have a special place in my heart for Moscow. It's simply stunning…

Least favorite country: I haven't found one…yet.

Friendliest people in the world: I think it depends on who you meet and how you choose to engage with the people around you. There are friendly and not so friendly people everywhere in the world. A lot of times you can choose how friendly people are to you by your actions. A simple hello and smile can change everything. 

Country with the meanest immigration officers: To be honest, I haven't met any “mean” immigration officers…yet. I have met some scary ones though. However, in hindsight I think it's more that I was just nervous and wanted to get back on U.S. soil. We adopted our youngest daughter in Russia, after three visits it was finally time to bring her home. The immigration line to leave the country was beyond long and at the time there weren't any roped lines allowing for people to approach the desk in an “orderly fashion.” Holding a wiggly, two-year-old and managing our luggage while essentially pushing our way through the line was no easy feat. Once we finally got to the desk the officer had to stamp a pile of papers. One officer turned to two, then three and then four. All thoroughly examining the papers…twice. Holding our passports up to match our photographs. Speaking to each other in hushed voices and then to another on a walky-talky. (This was a few months before Russia banned U.S. citizens from adopting in Russia so the political topic was a hot button for some.) The officers were simply doing their jobs and I appreciated that…once they gave us the final stamp, we had landed in Washington, Dulles and she officially became a United States citizen.

Favorite World Heritage Site: Of the sites I've visited I have a few favorites. (How can you possibly have just one!) The Historic Town of Ouro Preto in Brazil is amazing. The shopping, architecture and hidden restaurants made for one of the most memorable days during my two weeks in Brazil. In Italy, I fell in love with the Cinque Terre. Exploring Red Square in Moscow at sunrise (aka 10 am in November) was chilly but like stepping into a movie with stunning cinematography and a historical plot around every turn. At home in the United States, Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is tops so far. Walking through the ancient adobe villages is literally like walking through a history book.

Favorite airline: I love to fly internationally on Lufthansa. The free wine with meals won me over on my first flight to Italy many moons ago.

Favorite aircraft type: What ever gets me there.

Aisle or window: I'm usually an aisle kinda girl; I like the extra space.

Favorite U.S. airport: Ninety-nine percent of the time it's Denver since it means I'm home.

Favorite hotel: It really depends on the destination. I loved this little boutique hotel-Hotel Villa Steno-in the Cinque Terre and would give almost anything to stay at The Ritz-Carlton in Moscow again. If I'm looking for a staycation in Denver, it's Hotel Monaco.

Favorite travel credit card: I carried the American Express Gold card for nearly 12 years and loved the travel rewards program it offered…but, I found AMEX wasn't readily accepted in other countries I was visiting, so I always had to carry another card with me when I traveled. I recently switched over to the Chase Sapphire card. So far, I'm loving the points I'm earning towards hotels and have already earned two airlines. It doesn't have foreign transaction fees AND my card is always accepted so I don't have to carry more than one credit card with me when I travel.

Favorite fancy restaurant: I have a lot…this might have to be more of a by destination answer. I just left New York City so today I can say Patsy's on West 56th in the Theatre District. The Veal Marsala is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Pretty much all I drink is coffee, water, wine. Usually in that order.

Favorite travel website(s)-besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! SmarterTravel and Conde Nast.

5 things you bring on a plane: iPhone, headphones, portable charger, bottle of water, Global Entry ID.

What do you always seem to forget? Band-Aids and toothpaste.

What do you like least about travel? Being out of synch with my exercise routine.

Favorite travel app(s): I have come to rely heavily on TripIt. I swear this app is THE best travel organization app. I also love Vivino. When I travel I'm always trying to explore the local wine scene so keeping track of the wines I sampled is a must. Vivino allows me to snap and save a photo of the wine label while also enabling me to share and see other peoples reviews of the wine. The app recently set up a purchase feature too so ordering new discoveries is simple. A few others I use a lot-Gate Guru, Open Table, Google Translate, and Google Maps.

Most embarrassing (and worst) travel moment: Trying to breast feed in the airplane bathroom. I'll just leave it at that.

What's your dream destination? Right now I'm dreaming of Cuba, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Galapagos Islands.

Favorite travel charity: I've always wanted to do a volunteer trip but most I've found require a full week or more to dedicated time, cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars and aren't always that easy (or safe) for families with young kids. Last year I came across Give a Day Global, a voluntourism program that connects international travelers with one day of volunteering. The purpose of Give a Day Global is to help travelers who want to get involved with a meaningful experience, even if they just have one day of time to give. This “experience” is aimed at helping community-based nonprofit organizations who are doing impactful work by helping them recruit volunteer labor and expand their networks of support. My family spent a day working with the group on our last visit to Cancun. The Give a Day Global program turned out to be something we could actually do – with our young kids-while still doing the “vacation” we had already planned. It was a great way for my family to experience the real Cancun.

Best travel tip: Don't let fear-or kids-keep you from traveling. Plans can change for several reasons. Being flexible can make or break your trip.

The post Travel Style: Elaine Schoch appeared first on Johnny Jet.

Irwindale Speedway Staying Alive for 2017

Rumors and uncertainty regarding the demolition of Irwindale (CA) Speedway have been a dark cloud hanging over the facility for the past two seasons.  It appears race fans and enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief – at least for 2017.

Jim Cohan, CEO of the Irwindale Event Center (IEC), revealed via a press release Wednesday that the facility is scheduling events for next season.  The IEC includes the LA Racing Experience, Irwindale Speedway, Advanced Driving Dynamics, and Irwindale Dragstrip.

“Everyone on the IEC Team is very pleased that we've been able to make this announcement,” Cohan said. “We will be continuing with our Thursday Night Drags, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and Nights of Destruction, along with special events such as K&N Pro Series West, HotVW's Drag Day, the NHRA Summit Series, Thursday Night Drift, Truckin' for Kids, Formula Drift Championship, and 'MoonEyes' all being presented on their traditional calendar dates.”

The uncertainty surrounding the facility dates back to May of 2015 when it was reported that the site was likely to be demolished to make room for an outlet mall.  However, no further action has been taken toward the demolition of the facility.

For more information visit www.irwindalespeedway.com

The post Irwindale Speedway Staying Alive for 2017 appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

Installing an engine in a 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Truck

Seems like forever ago that folks were fashioning motor mounts out of scrap steel-and that was the norm because, unlike today, folks didn't have the so-called luxury of pre-made components at the ready. Problem is, some people are still resorting to the scrap metal option, oftentimes missing the “mark” with placement, let alone structural integrity. For those folks alone, we'd like to present the proper way in which to mount an engine in a Mustang II–equipped classic Chevy pickup.

It's quite simple, really, just keeping in mind the importance of angles, interference of other components (harmonic balancer/water pump pulleys with crossmember, valve covers/distributor with firewall, stuff like that), and, of course, the quality of the installation itself (good penetrating welds, and so on).

Classic Performance Products (CPP) helps greatly when it comes to the simplicity factor with their weld-in, side-mount pedestals for small-block Chevys (which, with their FitRite adjustable engine plates, will accommodate LS swaps as well); no more cobbled together scrap. While we were over at CPP covering the various transformations being done on a 1949 3100 they were R&D'ing, we were able to document the process of properly installing engine mounts, as well as their bolt-in/adjustable transmission crossmember.

Unlike the placement of the suspension crossmember, there is no “exact” set of measurements in which to follow when installing an engine and trans-basically, you want everything to fit nicely between the boundaries, those being the radiator and firewall for the most part. Typically, you can do so without having to butcher up the firewall, however, when running a mechanical fan (rather than a slimmer, radiator-mount electric for instance), you'll need more engine setback, in which case you may need to relieve some sheetmetal to accommodate the distributor. In our case, no portions of firewall were harmed or altered at any point during the procedure.

With that said, let's get started.

01 We'll be installing CPP's weld-in–style engine pedestals (PN CP4810-S, top, pictured with a set of poly mounts) and bolt-in transmission crossmember (CP9424, bottom, also pictured with a poly mount).

02-03 With the Mustang II crossmember-and corresponding IFS components-already in place, we first had to remove the remaining stock transmission crossmember. This was done by ridding the framerail-attaching rivets and then slicing the crossmember in half with a plasma.

04 Next, we dropped a plastic small-block Chevy engine-with semi-tall valve covers bolted on for clearance reference-between the framerails for subsequent pedestal placement. Notice, too, that the core support and radiator are also in place, as we need to ensure adequate fan clearance.

05 A Turbo 350 was bolted behind the dummy block, with CPP's tubular crossmember attached-also for placement reference sake.

06-07 Whilst setting the engine/trans up, a bit of interference was encountered between the bellhousing and forward-most portion of the stock inspection/access cover flange-that area was quickly relieved with a cutoff wheel (the cover can still be bolted on with no visible signs of modification).

08 To stabilize and subsequently maneuver the engine/trans into place, we laid a piece of 1-inch square tubing across the 'rails, perching the block atop via two bolts installed in the lowermost accessory holes-this will allow front-to-rear movement using the floor jack beneath the transmission, and side-to-side off the piece of tubing.

09 Once an 8-inch harmonic balancer was test-fit, however, we had to add a couple 1-inch spacers to bring the engine up and provide adequate clearance for the power rack-and-pinion unit. Elevated sufficiently, the engine was then centered, as evidenced by the marks on the tubing.

10 OK, now onto the actual pedestal adaptation. We started by making cardboard templates of the top portions …

11 … and with the actual motor mounts bolted to the engine block, trimmed the templates to fit.

12-13 The modified templates were transferred back onto the pedestals, which were then trimmed to size using a cutoff wheel (the lower gusset portions also trimmed back).

14 We cut the upper side so it would sit nearly flush with the top of the framerail; the gussets will join with the surface of the MII crossmember.

15 With the engine still supported atop the frame and the pedestals mocked onto the mounts, the transmission crossmember was installed. It can be bolted on, as shown, or welded together and onto the lower lip of the framerails.

16 The angle of the transmission tailshaft was checked and set while the engine pedestals were still able to be adjusted.

17 Then, the pedestals were finally tack-welded to the frame and crossmember.

18 The mockup engine and trans, as well as the radiator and core support, were removed so that the pedestals could be properly and fully welded up.

19 Done deal-onto the next portion of the project.

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