Monday, December 15, 2025
Volkswagen of America said it offered to restore the 1977 microbus that survived the Palisades fire and made the news in this photo
That iconic photo eventually reached VW enthusiasts and, finally, Volkswagen of America, which tracked down Weinraub, received permission to tow it from the otherwise off-limits fire zone, and trucked it to its makeover at VW's Oxnard facility
Body panels were handled by a Porsche specialist, while VW technicians replaced anything needed to make the microbus roadworthy, the company said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/classic-blue-vw-bus-azul-palisades-fire-gets-full-restoration-rcna245553
Stellantis (STLA) is bringing its all-electric Fiat Topolino to the U.S. market, around a week after President Donald Trump announced his intent to allow mini-cars in the country. "We'll be bringing the Fiat Topolino to the U.S., with more details to come next year," Fiat CEO Olivier Francois stated.
The Fiat Topolino is an all-electric quadricycle designed for easily navigating city traffic, with a top speed of nearly 28 miles per hour and a driving range of up to ~47 miles on a single charge.
I don't believe they'll find enough buyers to make this idea come close to breaking even. Not far enough or fast enough to do diddly squat unless it's used on a gold course, vacation resort, or similar limited distance limited speed locations
New York is the eighth state found to routinely issue commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants that are valid long after they are no longer legally authorized to be in the country
New York was the fourth state run by a Democratic governor called out publicly by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
In addition to finding licenses that remained valid longer than they should have, these federal audits have also discovered instances where the states may not have even checked a driver’s immigration status before issuing a license.
The rules of these licenses the Transportation Department is enforcing have been in place for years
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sent letters to Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington during the government shutdown in October.
Duffy has said the high percentage of problems in some states, combined with the defensive responses from officials, suggests a systematic problem
“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake — it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership,” Duffy said about New York on Friday.
Since Duffy pressed the issue in California, the state has revoked some 21,000 commercial driver’s licenses that were issued improperly.
Duffy has said the high percentage of problems in some states, combined with the defensive responses from officials, suggests a systematic problem
“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake — it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership,” Duffy said about New York on Friday.
Since Duffy pressed the issue in California, the state has revoked some 21,000 commercial driver’s licenses that were issued improperly.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
there is a Carl in LA who has made it his mission to stop people from using the orange cones and pylons to reserve public street parking along Los Angeles' busy roads. This desperate for attention seeker, is going to get shot.
Morales turned into a vigilante parking enforcement officer after struggling to find street parking himself.
"A lot of people would say it's a Karen move," Morales said. "It is, but at the end of the day, you can't pick up a public parking spot and assume that because it's in front of your house, it belongs to you."
hmmmm, designed for time trial racing, the Battaglin Piranha featured a large, fully solid and bulged front disc wheel, created to minimize aerodynamic drag.
During road testing, Roberto Visentini gained 3 seconds per kilometer compared to his regular time-trial bike.
The plan was to use the Piranha in the prologue of the 1985 Giro d’Italia—until the UCI banned the bike, stating that it gave an “unfair advantage.”
The result: the Piranha never raced.
Navy veteran Chuck Reeves repairs donated bikes for veterans in need.
The Navy veteran’s bike restoration work started with him repairing bikes for fellow veterans staying at MANA House. Mechanically inclined, Reeves possessed a knack for fixing equipment at a young age. At the homeless veterans shelter, his work began small, fixing a few bikes at a time, to becoming his No. 1 passion.
Bikers Edge Cycle & Fitness in Peoria, Arizona, caught wind of Reeve’s mission and began donating bikes for him to repair. When he finishes a bike, Reeves sends it to MANA House for a veteran to use.
“I’m not out to get rich,” Reeves said. “As long as I can keep going and just help others, that’s what matters.”
Reeve’s work is vital because just under 30 percent of veterans who use transitional housing there have reliable transportation.
Many do not have vehicles, so using a bike can help restore their independence. On a bike, they can get to a job interview or make an appointment on time.
Bikers Edge Cycle & Fitness in Peoria, Arizona, caught wind of Reeve’s mission and began donating bikes for him to repair. When he finishes a bike, Reeves sends it to MANA House for a veteran to use.
“I’m not out to get rich,” Reeves said. “As long as I can keep going and just help others, that’s what matters.”
Many do not have vehicles, so using a bike can help restore their independence. On a bike, they can get to a job interview or make an appointment on time.
Ford supercharged '57 Ford Custom two-door station wagons, 100 of them, for Nascar, and they could rip off a 13.7 1/4 mile... but then NASCAR changed rules to only allow a four-barrel carb early in '57, with the AMA ban on factory-supported racing coming shortly after.
Thanks George!
80s flashback song/video... but something I didn't know! It's a COVER! I just learned yesterday that the original was by Tom Waits. His version has no melody.
I knew Tom was a musician, but not that he'd created this song, I've only known of his talent in movies. It turns out he's a Hall Of Fame rock n roller, but, I'm not aware of a single song of his that he was famous for (by sales) and after looking online, see he never had a hit song that made it to the American Top 40.
but movies? OMG, he's got the face for movies... and I remember him in 7 Psychopaths, Licorice Pizza, Book of Eli, Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (that is one incredible movie, and the co-stars are all legends too) Dracula (ditto legendary costars) Fisher King (Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams!) Outsiders (see where this is going? Swayze, Lowe, Cruise, Dillon, Diane Lane) and Rumble Fish (Lane and Dillon again, Rourke, Cage, Hopper and Fishbourne)
Anyway, point is, huge talent, massively respected by actors, and musicians - but not a radio star. How damn strange!
I rarely come across cool stories without photos... but Sharon just shared a wonderful one with me
My daughters were born in 1970 and 1973. The older one's birthday in May meant funds went for her stuff first, including used cars followed by proms, graduation.
The younger one always got the same sad story, well we are short on funds, this or that happened, etc., and she always graciously accepted "second place." We bought her a little used Datsun B-210.
The year she turned 18, had her prom and graduated we gave her the same old rundown sad story. But, that year we secretly bought her an 88 red Camaro! Parked it on the next door's space, covered it with a car cover.
With permission of the neighbor, she always parked in that space, so when she came home she saw the car not only parked, but covered up with plans to stay in her "space." She said she almost lifted the cover to key the intruder's car.
Hot and tired after work, she came in and we told her that with her graduation and prom coming up, we were short on money.
Hot and tired after work, she came in and we told her that with her graduation and prom coming up, we were short on money.
I handed her a set of Chevrolet keys and an owner's manual.
She presumed she was being allowed to use my Corvette to go to Prom, but she had learned to drive in that car, so why did she need the owner's manual.
Well, Diane, did you see the car cover out there?
She took the Chevrolet key in hand, went outside to slowly, carefully lift the car cover to reveal the car of her dreams! From a little brown B-210 to a 1988 Red Camaro? Wow! A couple years later the car was totaled, she bought a 1968 Ivy Gold totally restored Camaro, and started the San Diego Camaro Club.
unbelievable French junkyard find... 65 Dodge Power Wagon tow truck, that with very little effort, is up and running... a handcrafted wrecker, certified by the French vehicle registration authorities. This truck combines the robustness of a Dodge WC 51 chassis (1944 Ambulance S7MA51) with the aesthetics of a Citroën U23 cab (1954).
This seems to have been simply abandoned one day, for no reason... everything works.
HA! at about 10:40, he discovers the Mopar left hand threaded lugs on the drivers side (for safety) and nearly snaps one off before trying it backwards
And of course, change your Youtube play speed to 1.5 or more
I remember posting something else this guy fixed up, I'm certain it was a very cool tractor, but it's been a while. He is very good, and does not talk during the videos he makes.
Wow, Walmart made a great Grinch and Max commercial using the 51 Studebaker Manta Ray. Coolest thing you'll see today, and it's great to see Walton Goggins in a light hearted role for a change, 1st I've seen him do easy going since Worlds Fastest Indian
the biggest problem with broadway type live theater, is that few get to see it, only those nearby, who can afford to blow 50 to 200 on one ticket. So, are any of us going to get to see Tony Hawk and the Golden State Ballet in the Nutcracker? Nope
50 per nosebleed seats, 200 per the up close ones where you don't need binoculars to see the people on stage
