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Gas, Oil Prices Hit New Records

NEW YORK -- The upward trend in energy prices showed no sign of abating Wednesday as gasoline set yet another record at the pump and crude oil topped $112 a barrel for the first time in the futures market, according to the Associated Press.

The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas rose 1.2 cents to a record $3.343 a gallon, according to a survey of gas stations by AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

With the peak summer driving season still to come and gas following crude higher, the fuel may well reach the retail price of $4 a gallon that the Energy Department has been forecasting.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:52 PM to Crude oil market , Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 1

Tasca III in Las Vegas for 5th race of Drag Racing Series season

Las Vegas – Heading into the fifth race of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season this weekend in Las Vegas, Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Shelby Mustang team look to put together a solid performance at one of Tasca’s favorite racetracks, according to Tasca's spokesowoman Alexis Kinch in a news statement.

“Las Vegas is a race you circle on your calendar at the beginning of the season as one where you want to showcase your best performance,” said Tasca. “Being in the city that is the home base for Carroll Shelby’s company, certainly is another factor to help hype us up for the race.”

The rookie nitro driver is coming off a consistent event in Houston; one that saw his Shelby Mustang make four solid qualifying runs down the track. While Houston’s Sunday outcome wasn’t what the team had hoped for, Tasca is encouraged by the progress the car is showing.

“I think that the car performed terrific in Houston, except of course for the first round,” said Tasca. “We had a very consistent race car in qualifying and if we can build on that in Las Vegas, we should be successful. Our intention this season is to qualify well with four consistent runs and put ourselves in a position to win on Sunday.”

With bad weather plaguing most of the start to the season, this weekend is predicted to be hot and sunny, which will play a factor for everyone setting up the cars.

“It’s supposed to be hot, so the track conditions are going to be tricky,” said Tasca. “That is really an equalizer for a lot of teams, because you can’t throw all the power at the car. You’re going to have to really finesse the car down the racetrack. Las Vegas is a red carpet, it’s got a wide groove and it’s forgiving from a driver’s standpoint. The surface temperature will definitely be something that the crew chiefs are going to have to deal with come Saturday and Sunday.

“We’ve got some confidence going into Las Vegas with the changes that we made from our Houston test. I’m really excited to get back to the track and put together a great weekend for all of the fans and our sponsors.”

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:42 PM to Racing | Permalink | Comments 1

Rear-hinged doors make comeback

The "coach doors" on Rolls-Royce's Phantom Drophead Coupe

Reappearing on several cars are doors hinged toward the rear of the vehicle, instead of the usual front-hinged variety, according to USA Today. Most car nuts know them as "suicide" doors.

Call them freestyle doors, coach doors or club doors. Just don't call them suicide doors. Not unless you want to see an auto executive come unhinged.

The latest is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé, unveiled last month in Geneva by the BMW-owned brand and to be displayed in the USA for the first time at a collector car show in Carmel, Calif., in August.

The big, rear-hinged "coach doors" on the two-door let "all passengers enter and exit more gracefully," Rolls says.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:05 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Video: Are hybrid cars too quiet?

A new bill is expected in Congress that will look at the safety of hybrid cars and the blind. The nearly-silent cars are difficult to detect for pedestrians who can't see them. (April 9)

See -- and hear -- the AP Video report here.

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments 0