Spirit Airlines' Aircraft maintenance hangar at Detroit Metro Airport had an accidental fire suppression system activation, releasing a massive foam discharge.

The open hangar doors allowed the foam to spill onto the ramp area. The incident on July 4th, 2025, affected an Airbus A320 and A321 plane inside the hangar.

There's no reason to think this had anything to do with the airline preventing the maintenance crew from getting the holiday off

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1101790292003704&set=pcb.1101790428670357

the result of over engineering. A simple flat tire on an Audi turned into a half-hour ordeal involving fault scans, resets, and drive cycles

“This is why no one wants to work at a dealership anymore. … you'd think you'd be able to pull this car in, take the nail out, put a plug in, and send it on its way, but no.”

When a nail punctures a tire, it doesn't just trigger the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). In modern cars, particularly high-tech vehicles like Audis, a single low-pressure reading ripples through interconnected safety systems. Wheel-speed sensors used by the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control feed tire pressure data throughout the car. If one tire spins faster due to low pressure, the ABS control computer registers it as under-inflation. It can trigger faults in stability control, traction control, adaptive cruise, and even parking brake modules.

Techs—whether at dealerships or independent shops—are increasingly frustrated by the rise of “software creep.” What used to be a straightforward tire plug-and-inflate operation now necessitates deep software engagements, including scanning the car’s systems, erasing fault codes, and conducting calibration drive cycles.

this is how manufacturers get around the ‘right to repair’ act, claiming ‘oh you don’t need to take your truck to a dealer, you just need a $700 special tool that only the dealer sells’.”

That comment nails the issue: today’s “push‑button diagnostics” have replaced much of the wrench-turning with multi-step digital procedures. A job as simple as fixing a tire requires software, special tools, registered access, and patience.

https://www.motor1.com/news/763868/audi-nail-in-tire-fail/

Over the past few years, the organization Stornara Life, has been responsible for bringing artists to the ghost town of Stornara, Italy, to paint murals, and brought the town back to life, and now it's a thriving tourist magnet

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/ghost-town-brought-back-life-tourist-magnet-street-murals

https://eyesonthestreets.blog/category/stornara/

a young boy spotted a Silver Ghost hiding in a roadside shed outside London, told his dad who tipped off the cops, and the owner got his car back... it was stolen in a hotel parking lot of course. A lot of collector cars are.

 

the owner has had the Rolls for over two decades, having purchased it at auction before dedicating years to its meticulous restoration. The car had become his faithful companion on tours across France, Italy, Poland, and numerous other European destinations

What makes this crime particularly audacious is the sheer impracticality of stealing a 1920 Silver Ghost that requires a 23 step starting procedure that most concours judges, and owners, can't remember, without written instructions

The Rolls was parked within clear view of two security cameras, and the thief got away clean, and isn't likely to get caught, ever. 

It's a good reminder that it's extremely effective to simply remove a piece of the ignition that's rare or hard to acquire, which prevents thieves from driving a car away... if you can rig up some clever way to lock the transmission in park, or the parking brake on, or the steering at the extreme left or right. 

https://luxurylaunches.com/transport/105-year-old-rolls-royce-stolen-06302025.php

Northrop Grumman manufactured 21 B-2 Spirit bombers in California between the late 1980s and early 1990s

https://www.slashgear.com/1902859/why-usa-cancelled-b-2-stealth-bomber-program/

The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force has acquired a remarkable collection of nose art and portraits by WWII artist Cpl. Tony Starcer, probably the best known and most prolific nose art painter of WWII, known for painting nearly 130 B-17 Flying Fortresses

The newly acquired Tony Starcer Collection includes 13 original oil-on-canvas paintings recreating his most memorable nose art designs.

“When I began looking for a home for my dad’s collection,” said Jerry Starcer, son of the artist, “I asked in various Facebook groups where people thought it should go. There were several suggestions, but one name kept coming up again and again—the Mighty Eighth in Savannah, GA. The oil paintings are now nearly 40 years old, and the V-mails are over 80.

“We wanted as much of the collection to remain together as possible,” said board member Mick Hanou. “This collection is a truly extraordinary addition to our museum,” added Tiffany Bueno, Research & Collections Manager at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. “Tony Starcer’s work not only reflects the artistic flair of the era but also offers a deeply human connection to the people and planes that shaped the air war over Europe.”

https://vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-museum-news/national-museum-of-the-mighty-eighth-air-force-acquires-historic-nose-art-collection-by-wwii-artist-cpl-tony-starcer.html

can you believe the DOD didn't use any common sense when setting up purchase contracts, so the military can fix the gear it's purchased?

Two senators introduced a bill this week that would make “right to repair” a staple of military contracting, with rules requiring that future weapons systems be delivered with manuals, tools and access to parts and information that would make systems fixable by the military members who use them. Separately, the Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced its version of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act that also includes a “right to repair” provision, which would require defense contractors to “submit instructions for continued operational readiness necessary for operations, maintenance, installation, and training,” according to a summary of the bill that was released on Friday.

Under modern contracting rules, some of the most critical systems on U.S. Navy ships, as well as major systems used by the Army, can only be fixed by defense contractors. When one of these systems breaks — whether a vital weapon or the machines that produce fresh water — sailors and soldiers may not have the tools, training or permission to fix them, due to the contracting rules under which the military cedes its “right to repair” systems to contractors who built them.

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-navy-right-to-repair/

https://www.military.com/equipment/m109-paladin

Sikorsky’s HO3S-1 design was the first naval helicopter to see widespread service beginning in December 1945, but at the start of the Korean War there were two Navy HO3S-1 helicopters in the theater.

 https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-ho3s-1-famous-for-its-portrayal-in-the-movie-the-bridges-at-toko-ri-was-the-first-navy-helicopter-to-replace-fixed-wing-aircraft-operating-with-the-fleet/

Look at this custom Mustang front end travesty, if you dare. I find it horrid. One of just two fastbacks that was modified by Carrozzeria Zagato in Milan when it was new

Those modifications seem to be front end only, and start with a narrowed grille, a smoothed-out valance, rectangular Carello headlights, a modified bumper with turn signals mounted above it, and a revised hood with an air scoop – plus Zagato Elaborazione badges. 

This modified 1967 Ford Mustang remained with its original owner for much of its life – until 1995, in fact – when it was sold to the current owner. It was repainted back to its original white for a while before being returned to its Holly Green hue as part of a refurbishment in 2019. Since then, it has participated in the 2021 Mille Miglia

https://fordauthority.com/2025/07/extremely-rare-1967-ford-mustang-up-for-auction-in-italy/

Thank you Liz Z for ringing my tip jar!

great looking race car, 1947 Indy 500 Novi Governor Mobile Special, a Kurtis Kraft of course. With a gear driven supercharged engine designed by Bud Winfield, brother of famous engine building icon Ed Winfield

 

When they showed up to Bonneville in 1947, salt flat racing pioneer Ab Jenkins wasn’t feeling well, so he decided to pass his driving duties of the Novi Mobile Special onto his son Marv to race that day.

 The canopied version of the Kurtis Kraft car looked beautiful, but she had a troubled past.

 At the Indy 500 earlier that year, Herb Ardinger started and finished in 4th place with his #54 Novi Governor Mobil Special. Teammate Cliff Bergere drove the #18 Novi Governor Mobil Special with mixed results however, spinning out during qualifying, then starting in 2nd position only to a piston on lap 62 of the race.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=37530

Unexpectedly, HBO Max cancelled season 2 of the J.J. Abrams muscle car era murder mystery, Duster... and for some reason, Hagerty waited until 2 days later to give it great free publicity, a month ago, it might have helped that show get the viewers needed to stay alive for a 2nd season

Here's the summary by Hagerty, that could have saved the show by attracting more viewers with such high praise

Duster pays playful tribute to ‘70s movies from Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid to Blaxploitation, and its stacked main cast frequently sport some of the coolest leather jackets you’ve ever seen. But its diverse collection of machines makes it a must-see for classic-car enthusiasts. Duster is a gift to gearheads.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/entertainment/hbo-maxs-duster-is-a-gift-to-70s-gearheads

https://www.slashfilm.com/1908643/why-josh-holloway-duster-canceled-hbo-max/

Ha! This looks real, not photoshopped

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1154290806735954&set=a.543526814479026

Just so I'm not opening your reading day with my outrage (see the next post) here's the coolest thing I've read in a while, and yeah, it's good Submariner history

Disease, and perhaps an increasing desire not to use one’s own hand to wipe one’s nether regions, drove Lt. Cmdr. James Coe of the submarine Skipjack to send an “urgent” message to the powers that be.

Since July 1, 1941, a requisition had been submitted for 150 rolls of toilet paper to replenish the dwindling supply aboard the Skipjack. However, as the boat patrolled the Pacific, no sign of the all-important bathroom item appeared — even as other war materiel came in.

In March 1942, Coe took command of the Skipjack and learned of the dire situation. To make matters worse, Coe received a canceled invoice for the TP alongside a stamped July 1941 message stating “cancelled-cannot identify.”

In response to this bureaucratic boondoggle, Coe sent a letter to the supply officer in Mare Island, California. His tongue-in-cheek rejoinder would become the stuff of legends within the Navy.

USS SKIPJACK June 11, 1942 From: Commanding Officer To: Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California Via: Commander Submarines, Southwest Pacific

Subject: Toilet Paper

Reference: (a) USS HOLLAND (5148) USS Skipjack req. 70-42 of 30 July 1941. (b) SO NYMI Canceled invoice No. 272836

Enclosure: (1) Copy of cancelled Invoice (2) Sample of material requested.

1. This vessel submitted a requisition for 150 rolls of toilet paper on July 30, 1941, to USS HOLLAND. The material was ordered by HOLLAND from the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, for delivery to USS Skipjack.

2. The Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, on November 26, 1941, cancelled Mare Island Invoice No. 272836 with the stamped notation “Cancelled---cannot identify.” This cancelled invoice was received by Skipjack on June 10, 1942.

3. During the 11 ¾ months elapsing from the time of ordering the toilet paper and the present date, the Skipjack personnel, despite their best efforts to await delivery of subject material, have been unable to wait on numerous occasions, and the situation is now quite acute, especially during depth charge attack by the “back-stabbers.”

4. Enclosure (2) is a sample of the desired material provided for the information of the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island. The Commanding Officer, USS Skipjack cannot help but wonder what is being used in Mare Island in place of this unidentifiable material, once well known to this command.

5. Skipjack personnel during this period have become accustomed to use of “ersatz,” i.e., the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work, and in so doing feel that the wish of the Bureau of Ships for the reduction of paper work is being complied with, thus effectively killing two birds with one stone.

6. It is believed by this command that the stamped notation “cannot identify” was possible error, and that this is simply a case of shortage of strategic war material, the Skipjack probably being low on the priority list.

7. In order to cooperate in our war effort at a small local sacrifice, the Skipjack desires no further action be taken until the end of the current war, which has created a situation aptly described as “war is hell.”

J.W. Coe

War is hell when you don’t even have one-ply toilet paper, so I respect LCDR Coe and crew for utilizing the “the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work” to get the job done. That's just putting useless paperwork to good use. Gotta respect that!

After almost a year, upon returning to Australia after its patrol, the men were greeted with crates of toilet paper seven feet high, toilet paper streamers decorating the dock and a band wearing toilet paper neckties with toilet paper adorning their trumpets and horns to greet them.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/z-files/zc-files/zc-ship-files-in-the-navy-department-library-s/uss-skipjack-toilet-paper-memorandum.html

In the 1959 comedy Operation Petticoat, Cary Grant writes a letter to the supply department about the inexplicable lack of toilet paper on board the fictional USS Sea Tiger... that's all based on the USS Skipjack

ok, bear with me, this is a bit of a stretch from cool things with wheels, unless you appreciate the solemn magnitude of a military funeral, with full ceremony, and the traditional horse drawn cart. But there's a catch. The Army has NOT been treating the horse well. WTF?

The Army has just recently resumed caisson operations at Arlington National Cemetery after an investigation found the horses in those units were mistreated, left to graze in lots with little grass, leading them to consume sand and gravel. Two horses died in 2022, and caisson operations were suspended until earlier this year.

The Arlington National Cemetery horses are part of the caisson platoon of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, which is best known for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the cemetery, located just across the river from Washington.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/army-end-ceremonial-horse-programs-adopt-out/3864854/?amp=1

So, I'm effing outraged. Who the actual fuck mistreats the ceremony horses? The FUNERAL horses, and WHAT ARMY asshole officer was in charge of that and how fast can he be court martialed? Two horses DIED? 

So, yeah, that gets posted, put out on blast. And the Army assholes that didn't treat the horses in their squad/regiment/battalion/unit/command (whatever the hell the right military term is) and get sent straight to the middle east after being busted to E1, for a couple years of baking. That ought to be as close to hell as the Army can arrange. And reminder, some god damn officers were on the damn golf course instead of checking in on the horses. 

Oh and it was the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Just so the assholes are clearly identified, and put on public shame. 

WHAT the actual F is this govt bullshit? A teenage boy’s fishing bait stand, stocked with worms, sodas and candy, is a threat to government order? A GD cease and desist was mailed to his grandparents farm to shut down this 15 yr old bait stand!

“Who threatens a 15-year-old over selling ice cream, worms and t-shirts on a farm?” asks McKinney’s grandfather, Tom Foss, 65, a retired Washburn County farmer. “The answer is bullies and bureaucrats. This story is about as un-American as it gets. We’re out in the country on a farm, so just leave us alone.”

McKinney is a workhorse: No lounging in a bedroom playing video games or scrolling an iPhone. He handles three summer jobs as a canoe rental crew member, little league umpire and babysitter. A bait stand was supposed to be his fourth job.

“I started planning for summer and thought a bait stand on the farm would be perfect to work on the weekends and maybe make a little money,” McKinney says. “I want to be a doctor in the future, and I’m willing to work hard and save money any way I can.”

“I was proud because I decided to put the stand at the same spot where my grandfather has sold crops and vegetables since he was my age, at the end of our farm driveway.”

Almost at the edge of Spooner Lake, Foss’ driveway is part of an 80-acre farm, the last sliver of land representing decades of production in dairy, alfalfa, grain, and vegetables. Since 1976, Foss has hauled deer corn, pumpkins, squash, eggs, wood, and golf balls to end of the drive for roadside sale in a wagon, stand, or atop benches.

In late fall 2024, as a high school sophomore, McKinney raised worms for months in his parent’s garage, preparing for lakeside sales to coincide with the kickoff of fishing season in May 2025.

As school time allowed, McKinney and his cousin, Jax Foss, 14, hammered and sawed for three weeks under a pole barn at the farm. They built a 6’-x-15’ shed on skids, covering the studs with board and batten, and topping the lumber with tin.

“Mainly, I stocked the worms I raised, but I added snacks, water, soda, several kiddie fishing poles, bobbers, and some t-shirts printed with my stand name: Spooner Lake Bait Store. Then I waited for customers and it was awesome because people stopped by and encouraged me.”

“Under agricultural zoning in this county, you can have a roadside stand, but only for fruit, vegetables or ag products,” Beers adds. “He has a bait store. That is not allowed.”

Foss filed a formal complaint days after receiving the county’s cease-and-desist letter. “I went into the main office and the officials were defensive right away. I requested a site visit and asked them to come take a look at Max’s stand. They refused. Their response was, ‘Our decision is final,’ and they also said, ‘No stores allowed,’ while talking about a boy selling worms and t-shirts. The whole thing is beyond crazy.”

The forced closure of McKinney’s bait stand is indicative of a deep “disconnect” between rural America and government at multiple levels, Foss says.

“We stand up for the plain truth and common sense. There’s no way this type of bureaucratic crackdown on a kid selling bait would have happened when I was a teen in the 1970s. Things have changed to an alarming degree that’s very, very serious. I see these overregulation stories from all over the country.”

“People should be disgusted by this because it doesn’t pass the smell test,” Foss concludes. “Nickel-and-dime a 15-year-old on a farm over zoning like he’s an outlaw? No. My grandson, Max, is the kind of kid this country needs more of.”

https://www.agweb.com/news/business/farmland/county-shuts-down-15-yr-olds-bait-stand-family-farm-threatens-daily-fines

The nighttime movements of bizarre panel-clad vehicles have some thinking that new armor is being prepared for unveiling at an upcoming military parade.

A column of unidentified vehicles, each of them covered by a large, box-like structure, passing through Beijing, poses something of a mystery.

https://www.twz.com/land/what-are-these-mystery-vehicles-rolling-through-beijing

wow... compliments to GM (despite the unbelievable amount of recalls, class action lawsuits, and ridiculous excessive oil consumption engines) they are investing the right way in training the next wave of dealership techs

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology’s General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP) has received a major donation from General Motors to help ensure students are learning on the most current technology used in today’s vehicles.

Over the past six months, OSUIT has received the following from GM:
14 - 5.3L V-8 engines
2 - 3.6L V-6 engines
2 - 6-speed automatic transmissions
1 - 2024 GMC Sierra pickup
1 - 2023 Chevrolet Traverse
1 - 2023 Chevrolet Equinox

this support ensures graduates are ready for the modern automotive industry.

“When our students graduate having been able to train on the most recent vehicles and components, they then move into the dealership with the confidence of being able to diagnose and repair customers’ vehicles.

“These donations show that the partnership between General Motors and OSUIT is strong as we have more donations scheduled to come our way in the next couple of months, including another vehicle and various components,” Penrod said. “We rely on GM to keep us on the forefront of technology with these donations. In return, GM expects us to train technicians to meet the demands of our dealers and customers.”

https://news.okstate.edu/articles/osuit/2025/gm-donates-engines-vehicles-to-osuit.html

The California Supreme Court (told the butt heads who want to shut down offroading at the dunes) that the court declined to hear a petition from the California Coastal Commission (CCC) (buttheads, every damn one) seeking to ban off-highway vehicles (OHVs) at Oceano Dunes.

The  California Supreme Court decision to decline to hear the petition reaffirms the previous ruling by the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, which found that the CCC's attempt to prohibit OHV use contradicted the Local Coastal Plan (LCP).

The move is a significant victory for OHV enthusiasts.

The Commission’s attempt to ban OHV use at Oceano Dunes contradicts the plain language of the certified Local Coastal Plan (LCP).

It further stated: “Here, we conclude the Commission did not have the authority to phase out OHV use by unilaterally amending the Oceano Dunes [development permit] because the LCP permits such use. The LCP states that one of its goals is to “ ‘maximize public recreational opportunities’ ”— including OHV use—at Oceano Dunes.”

Aside from maintaining the free country aspect of using some SAND that has no other useful function, (we have a really big damn desert between the coasts if anyone can ever figure out what to do with SAND) for having FUN with dunebuggies, it's a fact that the LAW about the damn California Coastal Commission was CLEAR about the legal use for the dunes was specifically for maximizing public recreational opportunities and specifically OHV use—at Oceano Dunes. 

Plus OHV recreation generates a half a billion dollars annually for the local economy.

https://kmph.com/news/local/california-supreme-court-upholds-off-highway-vehicle-use-at-oceano-dunes

There's no doubt in my mind that the coastal commission is made up of a bunch of rich people who want to make a lot of condos and apartment buildings, so they get richer, either with kick backs from developers, or pay raises based on tax income increasing, or some other boondoggle. Govt people, they simply don't leave recreational areas be, and instead focus on corporate pollution and code enforcement 

Oceano Dunes is about 1/2 way between San Diego and San Fransisco

Bridgeport CT; Just a month into a two-year effort to crack down on illegal car registrations and the firm hired for the job has identified 5,000 out-of-state vehicles.

the program's ultimate goal — to identify people who are failing to pay local car taxes because their wheels are not correctly registered in the city

Bridgeport's City Council late this past winter hired Fischer Investigations of Berlin to spend the next two years scouring Connecticut's largest municipality for cars and trucks that should be on the tax roll.

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bridgeport-ct-out-of-state-car-registration-review-20413829.php

That right there, is how the govt increases their income.. they get active on digging up more taxpayers, so they can blow the money on giving themselves raises

they'll try anything but give the shooting range types lots of ammo and time to perfect their aim... on moving targets. I'm just saying, the army would be better off allowing more soldiers to achieve sharpshooter status. How's that a bad idea?

and that right there is the difference between journalism, and blogging.

Journalists only tell you the news, I tell you what I figure makes sense

The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), is developing a cybernetic prairie predator to keep airfields clear of hazardous wildlife.

I think all us vets are familiar with wasting a budget to make sure you get the same budget next year. 

In addition to birds, other wildlife like rabbits and deer can wander onto runways or damage equipment by foraging, burrowing, nesting, or relieving themselves. To prevent this, airfield operators have employed all sorts of countermeasures, including aerial drones, hawks, falcons, dogs, lights, and even gas-operated cannons to scare fauna away.

See? Like I said, get them soldiers out there with loads of ammo, sniper scopes, spotters, and all that stuff... get some ammo flying downrange! 

The result of five years of development, the Coyote Rovers, as they are officially called, began life as a Boston Dynamics Spot quadruped robot, but this turned out to be too slow to intimidate the local wildlife, so they were replaced with four-wheeled Traxxas X-Maxx motorized cars capable of reaching 20 mph (32 km/h). Adding plastic coyote dummies to ride on the platforms provided them with the right balance of cute and alarming at a total cost of about US$3,000 each.

The robo-coyotes have been tested at a number of military airfields, including Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, famous as the home of the Blue Angels aerobatics team, Fort Campbell, Tennessee, and Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida.

https://newatlas.com/military/robot-coyotes-protect-airfields-adorable-cyber-ferocity/

Good ideas like mine (Navy vet) are why the Navy kicks the Army's ass at the 63-55 -7 all time record of wins where the Navy is 8 games up. It's just the facts folks. 

Like i mentioned the other day with the job about being a side car tour guide, there are some interesting jobs out there, and well - this isn't one, but, it's close, it's a very interesting volunteer position - that brings up a curious notion

Detailer

A detailer volunteer gets up close and personal with our vehicles and exhibits like no one else. After undergoing specialized training in vehicle detailing, this select team of volunteers keeps what the public comes to see in pristine condition.

This is an ongoing position.
Detailers work on Mondays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Training is provided.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older.
Pre-requisite: Minimum 20 hours as a docent volunteer.

https://sdautomuseum.org/pages/volunteers

I had no idea it was possible to get hands on with a museums exhibit, by being a volunteer car detailer! So, if you ever wanted to wax a Ferrari, Lambo, etc... this is one way to add to your life experiences!

awesome news, Ford donated a F150 to the deacon at the CrossPointe Community Church who stopped the shooter from killing anyone at his Michigan church, by using his old truck – a 2018 Ford F-150 – to ram the shooter

“I didn’t have a weapon on me, in the truck or anything, so what are your options?” Pryor’s actions prevented a tragedy from occurring, as after he rammed the gunman, the man was fatally shot by church security, ending the threat before something worse could happen. In the process, however, Pryor’s old truck was caught in the crossfire and wound up with several bullet holes in it, leaving him in a bit of a predicament himself.

The local Ford dealership gifted the $70,000 2025 Ford F-150 to Pryor on a two-year lease, though Pryor admits that he didn’t expect to be rewarded for his heroic act.

https://fordauthority.com/2025/07/2025-ford-f-150-gifted-to-deacon-who-stopped-church-shooter

This is cool; a Portland, Oregon neighborhood that has a fun day for everyone that wants to compete at parallel parking

The idea of a Parallel Parking Contest came from Stefanie Lynch, who heard of a similar event in Pittsburgh, got to work creating the perfect stage (and set of rules) for a pretty unique block party and fun competition with her friends Daniel and Casey

A stretch of sidewalk was chosen, 

pool noodles were taped to the stationary vehicles fore and aft of the open spot.

and no automatic parking features were allowed,

the judges decided to tape a piece of cardboard to the backup cameras to make sure contestants didn’t have an edge and relied purely on skill to avoid hitting another car. 

According to the video shared by Good Morning America, more than 50 people attempted to show off their skills

According to the rules, the shorter the vehicle, the fewer points they were awarded, so if you showed up in a Ford F-250 long bed and did a decent job, you probably would’ve taken home the trophy. 

There is an actual trophy, and it being Portland, it’s a golden Subaru.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/neighborhoods-parallel-parking-competition-is-my-kind-of-block-party

compliment of the day from Matt P!

thanks for continuing with your great blog which I've been checking out almost every day since soon after you started!

 Cheers from Sydney, Australia

The surviving 1949 Packard Monte Carlo convertible - cool interior colors match the external, even the rust and patina

 

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/the-mysterious-packard-monte-carlo-part-iii

probably during the civil rights movement, maybe part of the Cesar Chavez fight for migrant workers

William Gedney, California, 1966-67

Strikes and lockouts -- Agricultural laborers -- California Migrant labor -- California

I never heard of this show before

annoying people, nearly everyone in the exit lane, only took it to rejoin the Southbound lanes, but hopefully, with better speed than the traffic jam the regular the regular lanes were experiencing. Instead, the jammed up the exit lane

 

another vehicle that is from Mexico, that they can't sell in the US, but somehow, can legally drive here anyway? Makes no sense to me

 A Renault Kangoo

Goodwood is celebrating the 60-year career of Gordon Murray. The towering sculpture - designed by Gerry Judah. This features the Brabham BT52, representing Murray's legacy in F1. It also features the GMA T.50, the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1 and arguably the crowning moment of his career.

 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1132547575575143&set=a.641167781379794

A beauty of a Torino on the interstate a couple days ago in rush hour traffic

My paternal grandfather had one like this, and around 1987, my classmate Dan bought it from one of my uncles, after I'd went past it every time I visited my Grandmother, it was a permanent landmark at the bottom of her drive way

I was surprised to see this Falcon Ranchero on the interstate in rush hour traffic

looks a lot like a run down Camaro... but, with those seats, and tires, the hints are that this is a very fast and well handling Camaro

that's far too expensive of tires for just a run down Camaro, and between the spokes of the rim, the Wilwood brakes are a huge upgrade over stock

Saw this Volvo 1800 yesterday morning, that sure was a good looking design! I guess car companies had some ability to take risks on unusual designs

this is an odd thing to put on a Jeep