A man dressed as the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader appeared to defend the use of Flock cameras before the San Diego City Council, assuring that “this is what the emperor needs.”

 

“This is what the emperor needs. This technology will help us find the rebel scum and the hidden base on Hoth,” the man said

He urged that the cameras be used to surveil any “rebel scum as they move from playground to playground, from playground to pool, from pool to gymnasium, because we all know that the Flock cameras are not only following the license plate readers, they are following children.”

“And how will the people trust this City Council when this City Council continues to vote for surveillance technology that imprisons them? Ms. Campbell, you must work on your Jedi mind tricks,” he said, addressing City Council member Jennifer Campbell, before waving his hand to the audience. “Do it like this.”

His last plea was for the Flock cameras to be used to “help us find Luke Skywalker as he traverses the universe in his X-wing.”

“This technology is a necessary, necessary force,” he concluded.

San Diego has more than 550 Flock cameras across the city, according to the Flock tracking map DeFlock.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1431992038789213&set=a.381661467155614
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6042349-darth-vader-flock-surveillance

see it on video at https://www.facebook.com/reel/2318039352264119

at the Kentucky State Fair

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=28307568142212075&set=pcb.28307673452201544

Stefan is at Romo!

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1652906296834407&set=pcb.1652906386834398

the coolest stories in history often start out wondering... how'd that thing become famous... like, this - the Zero Haliburton briefcase, that's been in over 300 movies and tv shows - was made because aluminum airplanes inspired Halliburton to build travel resistant durable suitcases

I had never heard of Ed Halliburton, or oil well cementing, had no idea how dang rich you could get on 1700 shares of one companies stock (Equivalent of 3 million dollars, per quarterly earnings, so, 12 million a year, from the stock of an oil well cementing company!) 

You can still get a ride on a D Day LST (Omaha Beach), if you are going between New London, CT and Orient Point, NY, (on the eastern end of Long Island) on the Cross Sound Ferry company's Cape Henlopen (USS Buncombe County LST-510)

The Cape Henlopen (LST-510) served in the Allied invasion of Europe.

Built in Indiana, went down the Mississippi to New Orleans, then a shakedown run to Panama City Fla, then to New York City, where they loaded up 600 tons of ammo, then Boston, Halifax, then convoy'd to Ireland

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=don.feeley&set=a.277714205617098  via 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/132380976935515/posts/3472733912900188/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_LST-510

You know you've made it when Firestone not only supplies you with tires, but they also come with your name on them. Sox & Martin at the 1971 NHRA Springnats (Parnelli also had signature series Firestones)

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122150881202640485&set=a.122101740776640485

https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2024/06/parnelli-died-today-last-of-bullring.html

NHRA stuck Steell Fuller and his Avanti called "The Glass Widow" in B/Gas Supercharged at the 1963 NHRA Nationals at Indy, where he didn't have a hope in hell of competing, because Studebaker hadn't released the official power rating of the Supercharged 289 R2

Mr. Fuller spelled out his protest with NHRA on the hood of the car

No, I can't tell what the words are between the windshield and NHRA... or to the far side of 289. I suppose it might be something to the effect of "it is only a" 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122152744748640485&set=a.122101740776640485

Did Heff sponsor Bob Bondurant in the 1959 Laguna Seca?

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=28151563154474136&set=gm.3474659989374247&idorvanity=132380976935515

from the enjoyable facebook page  Vintage Men, Classic Sporting Life & Adventure  https://www.facebook.com/groups/132380976935515/

thank you to Henry Cow for the compliment of the day!

Your blog is the best in the whole universe!

Henry Cow  (mentioned in the comment on https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2026/08/annie-soisbault-de-montaigu-took-part.html?showComment=1787156581087#c183400420585837790)

gotta end the days posts with a cool parachute, towed by the Sox and Martin Barracuda

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122154028310640485&set=a.122101740776640485

ABC's Wide World of Sports were on hand to cover the 1966 NHRA World Finals in Tulsa Oklahoma. I think this qualifies as a "speed camera" and after the chair the other day, this is a pretty cool and unusual thing with wheels

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122155058888640485&set=a.122101740776640485

great photo of a Dragonsnake in action at the Winternats... I'll make it a banner one of these days

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122157073754640485&set=a.122101740776640485

Ed Beyer and Dale Young's '69 Mercury Cyclone CJ 428. You may remember Ed from him being the Hurst "Shifty Doctor" back in the '60's. He also was a national record holder with his '56 Pontiac Stocker.

 The team participated in both NHRA and AHRA competition. 

They ran with a Holley 2-barrel in F-3 F/SA in AHRA and in NHRA with the 4- barrel Holley in F/SA. 

They also had the option of running with the flat non- Cobra Jet hood bringing the car down to G/SA. 

During the '69 season they were also able to move up into SS/JA.

The 428 was bored .030 over and featured a cross drilled crank by Holman-Moody and Stroppe who also did the final balancing. 

Best time running in SS/JA was 11.87 at 118.42

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122157955100640485&set=pcb.122157955124640485

Every single flock camera in this Winona Minnesota were sawed down and removed in one night, and the whole town is playing dumb

 
Someone cut down poles and removed all eight of the city's Flock cameras  between July 29 and August 1, causing an estimated $24,000 in damage.

At least four Minnesota cities have reported Flock cameras being vandalized or stolen, including Winona. In North Branch, a planned expansion of Flock is now on pause. Duluth, Columbia Heights and West St. Paul have also moved to suspend or end their Flock contracts.

After careful consideration, Winona PD has decided not to reinstall any Flock cameras in the City of Winona," the department said.

The thefts appear to have happened Replacement cost is about $3,000 each.

 When police asked the public for tips, the responses poured in:

➡“The Flock cameras tore themselves down.”

➡“Whoever did it was fishing with me.”

➡“Whoever it was was at Bible study with me.”

Over 900 people commented on a WPD post about the theft before the department restricted further comments. “It’s almost like people don’t want to be watched 24/7,” one person wrote. “I need to buy whoever did this a drink,” another stated. “Hopefully it was a sworn officer, realizing that their duty to uphold the constitution necessitated the removal of the devices,” a third commenter quipped.

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/winona-police-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras/

https://www.facebook.com/bluematters/posts/pfbid0vUqqSgSKoWcBLQFMofE9i9yEw7gxfRXQ5wNf18PsqJfDJcYH5gh1i9JvvUTugraLl

https://winonadailynews.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_7a9e4213-929e-4ee4-9e44-0aeadb509292.html

https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.html

Maybe it was an autonomous sawzall. Mounted on a self driving tractor

a good news piece on the Banks Oregon harvester/combine demolition derby

PBS news did a couple minutes on the Right To Race laws

it's worth a rewatch, the THX 1138 car chase scene. This was filmed in 1971

Pure Vision is bringing a Road Runner and a GTO to SEMA

https://www.facebook.com/PureVisionDesign

Annie Soisbault de Montaigu took part in the Tour Auto in a Ferrari 250 GTO chassis number 3607, and was the only Monte Carlo Rally competitor to ever bring her pet cheetah to the start

In 1956, she entered the Monte Carlo Rally "clandestinely," riding in the back seat of a Simca Aronde alongside two friends. Snow joined the fray, and the difficulties piled up. She took the wheel and impressed everyone, setting some impressive times. She finished 119th out of 233.

In 1957, she entered the Mille Miglia, driving a Panhard Dyna. She retired. No matter, the bug had bitten. She bought a Delahaye Grand Sport, then a Triumph TR3.

after running her privately owned TR3 she was brought into the factory Triumph team. 

In 1958, she became French Rally Champion and officially joined the Triumph team. The following year, she won the European Championship. She didn't limit herself, not even by competing in single-seaters. At the wheel of a Lola Mk2-Ford, she competed in Formula Junior races, eventually finishing 12th overall at Chimay.

After rallying moved into racing with her husbands Ferrari GTO

She won her class, then followed up with a fourth-place finish at the 1000 Kilometers of Paris in a Ferrari 250 LM, partnered with Guy Ligier.

After a few attempts at long-distance rallies—the East African Safari in 1966 and the Paris-Saint-Raphaël in 1969—she retired from competition. But not from cars. She took over the Mirabeau garage in Paris, then an Aston Martin dealership.

Living between Paris and Saint-Tropez, she became a discreet socialite, both elegant and independent. She passed away on September 18, 2012

https://www.envoiturecarine.fr/2025/annie-soisbault-de-montaigu-la-grande-dame-du-sport-automobile

https://forums.autosport.com/topic/175131-annie-soisbault-1934-2012/

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10236451522249604&set=pcb.2744123989114167

https://collectorscarworld.com/the-grand-dame-of-motorsport/

70 Coronet

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=27567777982894682&set=gm.1822850882324063&idorvanity=226675368608297

the ArtCenter College of Pasadena used to have it's annual car show in the fall, in October if memory serves. The last time I went was 2018... so, I looked into going this year, and discovered they've changed the name, and the season - it's now in June

It's now known as the Design Invitational. It was May 31st this year

https://www.artcenter.edu/connect/events/car-classic/overview.html
https://www.facebook.com/artcenteredu/

the legends

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3472732079567443&set=gm.1826522241956927&idorvanity=226675368608297

intriguing (Joe knew what this was about!) Cadillac Allante bodies were made in Italy (Pininfarina design - beautiful car) and shipped by air to Detroit for assembly to the chassis and powertrain. (How to make cars expensive, and go bankrupt, class 101)

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=27643080878697725&set=gm.1828031091806042&idorvanity=226675368608297

can you believe, that a car club in Dearborn Mi, in 64, went in on and bought a Thunderbolt for racing? They had it at least two years, Super Stock the first year, and A/FX the 2nd

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122169972362640485&set=pcb.122169972878640485

Norman Harvey's in Cardiff, which had a lioness on the garage forecourt, for a little while. He brought a 4 month old lioness to the garage in 1968 until it was too powerful to be handled. (Thank you Paul!)

then he rehomed it with a safari park

I bet a LOT of people came by just to see the lion! 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/385607415205628/posts/2014587888974231

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=669526690302632

https://www.pressreader.com/foryou?popupArticleId=281814285774005

a bombardier on a B-17 for 30 missions during WW2 left his flight jacket to his son, but not much info

the 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 326th squadron, and was in Europe from February, 1943 until returning to the U.S. at the End of April, 1944.

there was a mid-air collision over friendly territory at some point, the crew bailed out, the plane crashed. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4464766247113983&set=gm.10165053519242728&idorvanity=9261317727

before they became a convenience store with gas pumps, and were a service station with gas pumps... this was what they looked like

 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=27348395441453129&set=gm.2667244617204236&idorvanity=605062986755753

to test Toyota and Lexus trucks for the potentially catastrophic engine defect the company’s engineers have come up with “smack it with a hammer”... Everyone I knew in the Navy from 89 -99 knew that as the "bigger hammer theory of mechanics."

In this case, a tiny, plastic hammer built specifically for the purpose of creating a vibration that can be measured in a controlled environment. Pickup Truck + SUV Talk shared a fairly detailed breakdown of the procedure over the weekend. Essentially, by measuring the vibrations that move through the engine when struck by the tool, Toyota can determine the health of critical components without having to tear the engine down for a costly, time-consuming physical examination.

this inspection uses the resonant frequency of the front of the crankshaft to assess the condition of the #1 main bearing

Toyota hopes this new procedure will give them some reassurance that the process isn’t entirely arbitrary. By measuring the frequencies transmitted through the engine, Toyota can tell how much main bearing #1 has degraded. When combined with a software analysis of the truck’s service life, Toyota techs will be able to tell with a reasonable (but not 100%) degree of certainty whether a given engine is a goner.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/hit-it-with-a-hammer-toyotas-actual-official-procedure-for-diagnosing-recalled-v6-engines

of course, most of you are familiar with using a hammer on a crank to listen to the ringing to discover if there is a crack, (dull noise) or if a crank is "sound" (rings like a bell)

the 911 Turbo turns 50, fine, that's cool and etc... but, what I realized, is I haven't heard why Porsche 911s seem to have very good looking plaid upholstery. German car, Scottish cloth design - so that had me looking into that...

https://www.porsche.com/stories/innovation/porsche-911-turbo-50-years/

How the historic tartan pattern made its way into the latest Porsche anniversary collections? What does a fabric with deep Scottish roots have to do with Porsche?

Research reverals that the McLaughlin tartan was a design highlight of the 911 Turbo # 1, because  the chief designer at Porsche at the time, was going for a fashion look and wore a pair of tartan trousers to work...  Inspired by his bold style choice, the design team decided to explore how this classic pattern could add a unique flair to the interiors of their cars.

At the 1973 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Porsche unveiled the 911 RSR Turbo concept car, which featured an upholstery fabric inspired by the Black Watch tartan in a blue, green and black pattern. 

Two more patterns were soon added to the collection: the McLaughlin (also known as MacLachlan) tartan in a bold red and blue, and the Mackenzie tartan in shades of beige, red, blue, white and olive green. 

 The tartan interiors quickly became a distinctive feature of the Porsche high performance models

https://www.porsche.com/stories/culture/what-is-the-porsche-tartan-collection/

wow... what's cool and has wheels? A chair (if the research is correct, then it's from the USS Gilligan that was hit by kazmakazi in 1945)

the Army and Air Force were still furnishing ships with wood chairs - on casters - in WW2 and they were called captain’s chairs.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/157104191579343/permalink/2132535924036150

looks like that might have been a car wash in a previous iterations, why have walls on BOTH sides of the car?

https://apnews.com/article/drivethru-dining-car-culture-america-250-da66714c7282d307d5240f91c31b9e56

the M2 F1 in 1963 proof of concept that the wingless lifting-body aircraft was viable as a emergency life shuttle from large aircraft (the big Navy dirigibles, big bombers, and possibly from spacecraft if they added heatshields)

https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/on-this-day-in-space-aug-16-1963-wingless-m2-f1-completes-1st-glide-flight

Since I recall posting this before, I went to look in the archives... and I find that this is the ONE (tail numbers) in the 2013 post about NASA using a Pontiac Catalina

https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2013/06/most-far-out-thing-ive-seen-in-while.html