"The Relay" Online Newsletter
June 2025 Issue

This is the monthly online newsletter for the car club council. All car hobbyist events are listed on this site under "Calendar." Just click on the link above to view the list of car shows and other activities.

President's Message

Many thanks to those of you who participated in the Breakthrough Show. We had the best weather yet for the show. The cannon firings were a success with a lot of people coming to see them. A complete wrap-up of the show is below. Next year we’ll do it again. If you have any suggestions/comments email me at contact@carclubcouncil.com.

Things are going well for car hobbyists at the national level. Congress has ended the California rules. The previous administration should have never ceded federal power to the State of California. A single state has no business telling other states what they should do in their own state. It was a stupid decision that has now been reversed. The current administration is going after those dumb rules on appliances that saddled us with toilets that won’t flush and shower heads that restricted water flow. They are going after the green rules. This is good.

Below is an article on start-stop “technology”. While a greeter at the Pamplin show I was surprised at the number of vehicles that cut off when stopped. I don’t know of a single person that likes this. It was begun back in the Obama administration by offering pollution credits to automakers that put this dumb idea to work in their vehicles. The start-stop – in addition to being annoying – hurts battery life and can hurt engine life. If the engine shuts off so does the oil pump which means the vehicle gets many starts without proper oiling. Sometimes I think those that “think” they rule us impose dumb things on us just for the sake of being in control.

Also below is an article I wrote about OTA – over the air updates. These are becoming very popular with automakers. There have been so many Tesla OTA that it’s hard to determine the exact number – but Tesla makes multiple updates EVERY month! The advantages are that people may not have to take a vehicle into a dealership for an update or recall and the vehicle will work better with the multiple updates. There are problems with the updates: the owner has little control over the updates and how long will the automaker keep updating that vehicle? Cell phones get OTA updates for about 8 years. Cars last longer than 8 years. Will a car be non-functional simply because the automaker ceases updates? Already those vehicles with OTA operating on 3G networks have stopped updating. Not only can this no update condition affect an audio system it has also affected Automatic Collision Notification. See the article at this link for vehicles that has lost OTA updating: carpro.com/blog/the-end-of-3g-and-what-it-means-for-your-vehicle

The big problem is very few websites have information on this. Some of the vehicles affected are as new as 2018-2022 models. You could buy a new vehicle and in just a few years the updates stop – there is no law that requires automakers to continue updates. A great way to sell more new vehicles by making ones just a few years old obsolete.

One final thing – it's June and summer is here. Lots of car events to attend so make your summer fun by driving your special vehicle to them.

June 15 – Sunday Afternoon Father’s Day Cruise-In from 1 – 3PM at the Griffin Lounge, 108 E. Washington Street, Petersburg, VA 23803. Cruisers get 25% off all food and drink. Our story begins with a passion for sharing the rich, aromatic flavors of Yemeni coffee, the calming essence of exotic teas, and the timeless sweetness of freshly baked Turkish pastries—all in a cozy, welcoming space where everyone feels at home. Coffee is roasted onsite daily. Some of the best pastries and baked goods you’ve ever tried plus sandwiches and more. Take dad out for lunch or coffee or tea or pastries and baked goods. The Lounge has a smoking room and also sells cigars. Got questions? Call 804-998-8887 or email Fred at contact@carclubcouncil.com . Website for the Griffin Lounge is griffinlounge.vip

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be Monday, August 25th at 6:30 PM at a location in the August newsletter.

Oldies But Goodies Classic Cruisers Breakfast Cruise - May 3
See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window

Car Hobbyist News

National Report

We have great news: the passage of: H.J.Res.88 - Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision".

This ends the federal waiver that allowed California to set their own vehicle rules and also eliminates tax credits for electric vehicles enacted under the Biden administration. Then came that Big Beautiful Bill that repealed the green energy tax credits. The bill phases out or repeals Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) green energy credits, including those for electric vehicles and residential energy products, saving $500 billion over a decade, per the Tax Foundation. This aligns with GOP priorities to curb “Green New Deal” spending but faces opposition from clean energy advocates and could impact jobs in states like Michigan.

And that opposition can be seen in 11 states forming an "Affordable Clean Cars Coalition". From The Epoch Times: Governors from 11 Democrat-led states said on May 23 that they’re launching an “affordable clean cars” coalition to promote non-fossil-fuel-powered vehicles after Congress voted to block California from setting stricter car emission standards than federal rules.

“The Affordable Clean Cars Coalition—led by the U.S. Climate Alliance—will sustain America’s transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, support U.S. automotive manufacturers and workers, and preserve states’ clean air authority,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said in a Friday announcement.

The climate alliance said in a statement of its own that the coalition states will work together to defend their regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act, expand access to low-emission vehicles, push for tougher rules to further reduce vehicle emissions, and advocate for low-carbon fuels. Governors from California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington—all states that have adopted California-style low-emission vehicle rules or similar programs—are part of the coalition.

“We will continue collaborating as states and leveraging our longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act, including through state programs that keep communities safe from pollution, create good-paying jobs, increase consumer choice, and help Americans access cleaner and more affordable cars,” the 11 governors said in a joint statement, after Congress on May 22 voted to rescind California’s latest federal waiver allowing it to set tougher emissions standards than national rules.

These 11 state governors still want to push us into EVs. Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), the resolution’s sponsor, said that the initiative will protect consumer choice by ensuring all Americans can access vehicles that suit their needs, preferences, and budgets.

“American consumers, not out-of-touch politicians, should decide what vehicle best fits their individual needs,” Joyce said in a May 1 statement, when the resolution cleared the House. “Since I arrived in Washington, I have led this fight to protect consumer freedom and save the American auto industry from dangerous environmental regulations.”

At the time, Joyce urged his Senate colleagues to support the measure “to save our auto industry and protect the freedom of the open road.”

Yes we get to pick what we want to drive and get to keep the freedom of the open road - sounds great. and more good news - you can see the article below on getting rid of the start/stop where a car's engine cuts off when stopped and then restarts when you step on the gas. This is an Obama era rule that gave automakers with start-stop emissions credits. What a dumb idea - a car that cuts off when you stop and starts when you step on the gas. Everyone hates it. What were the people who came up with this thinking - let's drive people nuts with a car that cuts off whenever you stop. Getting rid of this is just common sense and let's hope the EPA can flush this mess down the proverbial toilet.

Have you noticed that car and truck battery prices have increased - a lot? One reason is the batteries need to be changed because of the demands of stop-start technology. Ending all lead mining in the US during the Obama administration could be another reason. We now have to get most of our lead from the recycling of batteries and this has increased the core charge for batteries. I've bought two this year at a cost of over $200 each. The average price of a battery in 2021 was $156. And yes I can remember new batteries for under $30.

The EPA is also looking at getting rid of the Biden administration's rules on limiting production of coal. The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that it is drafting a plan to remove the Biden-era caps on greenhouse gases from coal- and natural gas-fired power plants across the nation.

The Department of the Interior has approved the Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium mine in San Juan County, Utah, through an expedited environmental review in a bid to “strengthen U.S. mineral security,” the agency said. This is the first project in the United States approved under the Interior Department’s latest accelerated 14-day environmental review process. The process previously took up to a year. President Donald Trump has ordered agencies to accelerate domestic energy projects, with a focus on nuclear energy. The accelerated review process was initiated in response to Trump signing a presidential action on January 20 declaring a national energy emergency.

It's all good news for car hobbyists from the feds. State Report

Virginia has an energy problem and unless we get rid of the people in Richmond who think that wind and solar is the answer to our energy needs we will be in big trouble. Check this from the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy: At TJI’s Federal Policy Dinner this week, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Mark Christie warned about a pending energy crisis - a crisis created by bad policy. Put simply, Virginia is not building enough dispatchable energy plants to support the growing demand it is facing, mostly from data centers. Christie made three important points: First, Virginia imports more energy from other states than any other state in the country, which makes the Commonwealth vulnerable to the policy choices and actions of those other states. Second, we need energy that is "dispatchable" (immediately available when needed) and not reliant on the weather or the sun's position. Third, don’t expect FERC or any federal agency to “save Virginia,” as energy policy is rightly determined by the states and should remain a state decision. Christie said addressing Virginia's energy needs should be the top priority of voters and elected officials before it is too late.

With the energy crisis discussed above, there appears to finally be a crack in the near cultish support of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) by Democrats, as both Speaker Don Scott and Senate Democrat Majority Leader Scott Surovell acknowledged that the VCEA is impeding the construction of needed energy production as energy demand is spiking in Virginia. Virginia needs to replace the VCEA with a “Virginia Reliable and Cleaner Energy Act” (just brainstorming) that will make dispatchable, reliable energy a top priority, but also encourage the use of cleaner fuels as practicable, without hard, arbitrary deadlines for shuttering existing hydrocarbon fuel options while they are still needed. Every candidate for statewide office needs to explain what they would do to prevent the looming energy crisis!

We can hope that common sense will prevail in Virginia so we can get the energy that we need and stop getting most of our electricity from other states. At least California cannot set its own vehicle emission rules anymore. To get the energy we need we need new people in Richmond.

The election this November is going to be very important and the entire nation will be watching. Will Virginia move forward or revert back to the Northam administration's stance on energy? Abigail Spanberger had a slim 4-point lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in a recent poll. With months to go before the election this is good - recall that Terry McAuliffe led by 8 points before being soundly defeated by current Governor Youngkin.

Report: 6th Annual Breakthrough Car Show - 30th Anniversary of the Council at Pamplin Park

6th Annual Breakthrough Show dash plaque - if you registered and did not make the show email me for your dash plaque: contact@carclubcouncil.com. See all the photos of the show at 6th Annual Breakthrough Car Show.
By Fred Fann
When I left to head to the show it was 49 degrees - cooler than usual and there was zero percent change of rain during the day - a first for a show that has a reputation for drawing rain clouds. The high temp got into the low 70s and so we had perfect weather for a nice and needed change. I arrived at the show and there were already cars on the show field. Cars and trucks came in steady for hours and after the registration cut off at 11 the spectator vehicles came. Both the show field and spectator parking filled up. I don't know the exact count but I'm guessing around 125 show vehicles plus several special vehicles that showed up after judging had begun.

New this year was firing of the cannon - the 1PM firing is above - it signaled time to turn in the judging sheets. The cannon firings were well attended with dozens of people looking on. We will definitely have to have them again next year. We had 4 food trucks and two of them - Richlands Creamery and J's Catering sold out of food. We also had a 50/50, door prizes, goody bags, dash plaque, DJ and silent auction.

Pictured above is the Best in Show. Reggie Nash brought his 1909 Rambler and it was a crowd pleaser. It was tough to get a photo of it as there were people looking at it all during the show. This is the oldest vehicle that has been to the show. I'm hoping next year that we will have some of the older vehicles and keep in mind we have classes for all cars and trucks.

Clay Drnec worked with us on our first show which was unfortunately his last. Both Colin and I have known him for years. Colin wanted a preservation award in his name to keep his memory going. Clay's son has given the Clay Drnec Preservation Award for the last few years but this year at the last moment he had something important come up. We wanted to give the award to a vehicle that has been preserved and not modified or altered (as Clay would wish) and this year we had a real winner in the 1973 Mercury Montego GT owned by Joe Hebling. I've known him for years and he used to work on the Mercury Montego GT Registry. This red Montego only needs new car smell added as it is about as original as a vehicle can get. It only has 12K miles on it and is nearly flawless.

The Dinwiddie County Chairman's Award is given by the chairman to a vehicle of his choosing. This year Dinwiddie County Chairman is Daniel "Dan" Lee (on the right) gave the award to the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner owned by Jay Crannis. While presenting the award Dan stated that he always like Mopars of this era. I spoke with Jay about his car since I had owned a B5 blue 71 Road Runner in the 70s. Both of the Road Runners were 383 with B5 blue bench seat interiors with automatic transmission on the column. All the award winners were very deserving.

I'd like to thank Colin and the Pamplin Park employees for all their work. And thanks to show committee members Ron Clark and Herbert Hudson. Many thanks to Council Treasurer Tony for helping with the parking. Many thanks to RD Honeycutt for again this year helping with parking. Many thanks to DJ Danny Herald and his wife Debbie for helping with the show again this year. We will have an after show meeting where we will discuss making the show better. If you have comments or suggestions please email them to contact@carclubcouncil.com.

Amy's Mustang Finally Makes It To The Show

By Fred Fann
I walked down all the rows of show vehicles as I took photos of all of them for the council website. I was in the center of the third row when I spotted a Mustang like the one I own. And I thought could it be Amy's old Mustang? I looked closer at the car and show the framed sign under the hood which confirmed that it was her old car.

I met Amy Blumenthal because both of us were members of the Central Virginia Mustang Club (CVMC). Not only did I see her at car events but she would come to the art show openings at the gallery my wife co-owned. After we started the Breakthrough shows she came to every one but she never entered her Mustang in the show. This is because it refused to start. She had a couple of people work on it replacing various parts but the car refused to fire. She showed us photos of the car on her phone while we were having conversations under the greeter tent at the show. I know she wanted to enter the car in the show. Her Mustang and mine are both 1988s - both are scarlet red with a white convertible top, both are 5-speeds, both are white interior cars (mine has had new red and white seat covers installed). The big difference is mine is a V-8 while hers was the 2.3 L - 4.

I heard after the 2022 show that she was in the VA hospital with cancer and it didn't look good. She passed away at the hospital and was buried at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia. A few weeks after her death the CVMC president sent out an email to all club members that Amy had willed her Mustang to the club. She wanted the club to find someone who would get the car going and drive and enjoy it. A later email from the club president stated that they had found someone who would get the car.

Until the show I had no idea what had happened to the car. After seeing it I went by the car a couple of time but there was never anyone there. After the show ended I took photos of the winners and while taking photos of the 70 Road Runner I noticed 4 young people by the Mustang so I went over to speak to them.

I saw a young man who looked to be in his 20s leaning against the car. I walked up to him and asked if it was his car and he said it's her car and pointed to a young lady who also looked to be in her 20s. I explained that I had known Amy and her car and wanted to know what was wrong with it, why it didn't start. She pointed me back to the young man who explained that he only cleaned the gas tank and the car fired up. I told him several parts had been replaced on the car and he said there were parts in the trunk when they got it. I don't know if one of those parts fixed it or not. He said that he had replaced the fogged headlights and that the starter was acting like it needed replacement. And then he pointed to the wheels and said he didn't like them and planned to replace them. The wheels on Amy's Mustang were what are called "Pony Wheels" and they didn't come on the 1988 cars but later model Fox bodies. Strange - when I bought my 88 Mustang it also had the same gray pony wheels on it and they were one of the first things I replaced because I also don't care for them. So in addition to being the same colors, same year, both convertibles, the original wheels on both of them were replaced with pony wheels.

Somehow Amy finally got her Mustang to the show. It was also the best weather we've ever had for the show. A coincidence? I doubt it.

Hopewell Methodist Men's 4th Annual Car Show - May 3 - See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window.

Meme Time (Life Can Be Tough)

Old School Hot Rodders of Virginia Fall Cruise In & Swap Meet - May 17
See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window.

Over The Air Updates – Bad News For Car Owners?

By Fred Fann
You’ve heard about OTA – over the air updates for new vehicles. Many vehicles built after 2015 have them. If you do an Internet search on OTA you won’t find much that is negative. When the media only reports the good you can be sure they are hiding something bad.

First what are they (from Wards Auto): In vehicles with software-over-the-air (SOTA) capabilities, automakers can augment a vehicle’s software by delivering an update over a cellular network or Wi-Fi connection remotely. In most cases, they can be downloaded automatically in the background by the vehicle while in use, then send an alert to the driver once the ignition is turned off. Most updates can be completed in minutes, though larger updates may take a few hours.

That is a good explanation. The car gets updated over a cell network just like updates to your cell phone. The selling points are you don’t have to visit a dealership for an update or recall and the vehicle will get better with age because things will update to keep it working properly. However as you already know sometimes updates go wrong. From Consumer Reports: When an update goes wrong, it can affect thousands of vehicles at the same time. That has already happened with a couple of high-profile failures.

Some functions on vehicles have ceased to work after an update that went wrong. Some vehicles won’t even run – Tesla updates can take 90 minutes and you cannot drive the car during the update. You can schedule an update but sometimes the vehicle just updates when you don’t want it to happen. Same thing happens with my computer – it will just update or make changes that I didn’t want.

This means that you do not have complete control over your vehicle. Just like when Microsoft drops a program or operating system that you have no control over. Microsoft decided to end support for the IE browser and suddenly one day it stopped working. But they left it on the computers and if you tried to open it you got the Edge browser. Later this year Microsoft is ending support for the Windows 10 operating system. The computer will still work as people are still using even older versions of Windows but not as well as they should. And of course the company says you will not be “safe” until you get the latest operating system they are now selling.

Which brings up a thought – what happens when the automakers decide to end updates for older vehicles? Will those vehicles continue to run and function properly? The answer is maybe not.

Since the Model A days dealers and automakers have been working hard to get people to get rid of their older vehicles and get new ones. Over the years many things have been tried including “cash for clunkers” during the Obama administration. The purpose was to get people to get rid of vehicles with poor gas mileage and replace with new vehicles with better gas mileage. In the past automakers have run ads to get people into new cars by saying they are safer, need less maintenance, are cheaper to operate and have more creature comforts.

With OTA the automakers have a new tool. They can now charge a monthly subscription fee for things like heated seats. Pay the monthly fee or the seats don’t work. And going a step farther the automakers can just end the updates in an effort to get you to buy a new vehicle that does update. And let’s go one step farther – the government tells automakers to stop updating old vehicles because you need to buy a new one that is “greener” than the old one you’re driving – exactly the purpose of the old “cash for clunkers” mess.

Plus there is no law that requires automakers to continue to make parts – or updates – for older cars. The only exception is when the government determines that a hazardous condition exists with an older vehicle and there needs to be a recall.

And if the automaker ends updates will the aftermarket come up with a solution? The answer will depend on a lot things – can they sell the updates and make a profit, will the automakers allow them to access the vehicles, will the government allow a company that didn’t make the vehicle to access it?

It is fascinating that vehicles that are over 100 years old are still running and driving. And those old brass era vehicles may be running and driving for years after modern EVs are no longer running because they are not getting the over the air updates.

Jewels Found On Ebay

Here are a couple of hot finds from Ebay Motors.

eBay item number: 326589979682
$8,994.00
eBay description: Up for sale is this beautiful 1973 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Edition.

I've been told that only 566 were made of this pace car and even less around today. so it's an extremely select few people who can say they have owned this iconic car. I believe the 66 of the 566 were parade cars with special flag pole holders on the bumper and lettering on the side, so it really makes it more of a 1 of 500 for the non flag bumper/non side lettered style. 500cu in v8 engine that You can listen to run in the video above. My family has had this car for around 8 years and has been garage kept. We only added things that could be removed to get it back to original condition, like the vinyl wrap so that it could go back to being a show car if we ever sold it.

I had to shorten the mile long description that was on Ebay. The car has been wrapped - I'm not sure what "Beehive" means. That thing is just ugly and the wrap should have been removed prior to posting. It will need a new top. The price of 8994 is a strange number but the whole vehicle seems to be "strange". That price reflects the fact that the owner made this car worse not better.

Next up is a "project".

eBay item number: 157002788745
$9,000.00
eBay description: This is a 1965 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8-L. Barn find, 95% complete car.

This car has not moved for 48 years. It does roll except for a locked-up brake on the driver front. It is in overall rough condition, but many rare parts are present… it is the best of the Austin Healey's! From what I can see it has a rusty body and the interior is shot. Windshield is intact and it does have both windows in the doors. Buy it for parts or start your new restoration project.

I have done NOTHING to car but clean the dirt and blue shag carpeting out. The floors in the cabin and trunk need complete replacing. The gas tank is bad. The starter motor and oil filter housing were in trunk. From what I can see all under hood parts appear to be there. Doors, hood and trunk all open and close. Wiring overall is shot. Convertible top frame metal is present.

Full restoration is needed.

The engine appears to be the all-original inline 6. This would be the higher horsepower (150 bhp) big Austin six with a higher lift cam. No oil pan on car. I pulled the spark plugs and they looked ok. Could not hand crank motor. The original dual SU HD8 carb/intake setup looks to be present minus one air cleaner.

The rest of the drive line, as far as I can tell, is present (5 speed transmission and rear end). Function unknown. No mufflers.

Serial number plate is present and reads: H-BJ8-L 32276. The body plate states 3208BJ8 77226 .This car comes with a bill of sale from individual I bought it from and a bill of sale from me. No title can be found. I do have the DMV-issued 1977 tagged CA license plate.

Just another overpriced no title rust bucket. I love the "I do have the DMV-issued 1977 tagged CA license plate" right after the no title - as if a license plate can be used to get a title. Also love the 95% complete. 9K seems high for what you get but a search of 1965 Austin 3000s revealed to me that people are asking from 30K to over a 100K for one. Sure didn't know they were worth that. What's one without a title worth - not much.

eBay item number: 286548904589
$100,000.00 or Best Offer
eBay description: his is a very rare collectable M3W. One of the last in a group of five Morgan 3 Wheelers made for the 2021 year model. This Morgan is completely stock and as original as can be except the front fenders have been Chromed, and the Morgan “Wide Headlights”

All the graphics are in the original build sheet, i.e. the Shark teeth, eyes, Bulit holes.

This M3W just had a Major service to the tune of almost $6,000. See the complete work order.(Ebay says there are not the right format to post)

Dozens more pictures and documents by request. (eBay says my Pixils or something are the wrong size to post )

Located in Walnut (Southrtn California)

1,500 miles and in As-New condition.

Why can't everyone use spell and grammar check??? I don't know where the 100K price tag came from - an Internet search revealed the highest one for sale was priced at 75K. One on Bring a Trailer sold for 57.5K. Car just looks weird. Rear end looks like it is floating - V-twin motorcycle engine hangs off the front. And let's not talk about how 3 wheelers handle.

Friendship Baptist Church 3rd Annual Car Show - May 17 - See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window.

Over-the-Air Updates: What They Fix (and What They Can’t)

From Pro Car Manuals
1. What Are Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates?
OTA updates deliver software upgrades remotely to your car’s onboard systems, much like a smartphone update. Automakers like Tesla, Ford, and BMW use them to:

Fix bugs: Glitches in infotainment, driver assists, or battery management.
Add features: New apps, driving modes, or customization options.
Improve safety: Patch vulnerabilities or refine collision-avoidance algorithms.
Key Stat: Tesla has issued 500+ OTA updates since 2012, adding everything from video games to “Dog Mode.”

2. What OTA Updates CAN Fix
Software Glitches
Infotainment crashes: Frozen screens, Bluetooth pairing fails.
False alerts: Phantom braking, erroneous check-engine lights.
Battery management: Optimize charging speeds or thermal controls (e.g., GM’s Bolt fire fixes).
Feature Upgrades
New apps: Spotify, Netflix, or gaming platforms.
Performance tweaks: Faster acceleration (e.g., Tesla’s “Acceleration Boost” purchase).
Autopilot improvements: Smooth lane changes, better traffic light recognition.
Security Patches
Close hacking risks: Prevent exploits like CAN bus intrusions.
Data encryption: Protect user privacy and vehicle access.

3. What OTA Updates CAN’T Fix
Hardware Failures
Worn components: Brake pads, tires, or suspension parts.
Sensor damage: Cracked cameras, dead ultrasonic sensors.
Battery degradation: Physical cell wear can’t be reversed by software.
Legacy Systems
Pre-2015 vehicles: Most lack OTA capability.
Third-party parts: Aftermarket radios or tuner chips.
Regulatory Recalls
Safety-critical issues: Faulty airbags, fuel leaks, or steering defects require dealership visits.
Example: Ford’s 2022 OTA couldn’t fix faulty Mach-E battery contactors—owners needed hardware replacements.

4. The Hidden Risks of OTA Updates
Bricked systems: Failed updates can disable your car (rare but costly).
Feature paywalls: Subscriptions for heated seats or Autopilot.
Privacy concerns: Updates may collect more driving data.
Pro Tip: Always install updates in a well-ventilated area (some cars can’t charge during updates).

5. How to Prepare for an OTA Update
Park in a safe spot with strong Wi-Fi/cellular signal.
Check release notes: Avoid updates before road trips.
Backup settings: Save driver profiles and preferences.
Monitor the process: Don’t interrupt the update (can take 30+ minutes).

6. The Future of OTA: What’s Next?
Repair by update: Tesla’s Cybertruck can adjust suspension via software.
AI-driven fixes: Predictive updates for common local issues (e.g., pothole mapping).
Third-party apps: App stores for custom mods (e.g., BMW’s upcoming platform).

7. FAQs
Q1: Can OTA updates drain my 12V battery?
A: Yes—keep the car plugged into a charger during updates.

Q2: Do all EVs support OTA?
A: No. Base trims of some models (e.g., Nissan Leaf) lack connectivity.

Q3: Can I roll back an update?
A: Rarely. Tesla allows reversions within 48 hours; most brands don’t.

Q4: Are OTA updates free?
A: Most are, but premium features (e.g., BMW’s heated seats) require subscriptions.

Q5: Can hackers push fake updates?
A: Yes. Always verify update sources and use a VPN on public Wi-Fi.

Padow's Hams and Deli Cruise - May 23 - See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window.

Where Did All the Minivans Go?

From Mental Floss
The popularity of the once-iconic family car has dwindled quite a bit.

If you were born between 1985 and 2005, chances are you spent a solid portion of your childhood squished into the third row of a Dodge Caravan, eating Goldfish crackers off the floor mats. Back then, minivans were everywhere.

But now, they’ve all but vanished. You’ll still spot the occasional minivan out on the road. But they’re a scarce sight in today’s school drop-off lines, replaced instead by the ever-ubiquitous SUV. What happened to this quintessential family vehicle as we knew it?

A Brief History of the Minivan

The minivan got its start in the age of shoulder pads and Satanic panic. Chrysler came up with an idea for a vehicle built around the American suburbanite in the 1980s. It was the minivan, a spacious vehicle complete with sliding doors, cupholders, and enough cargo storage for your kids and their soccer buddies.

By the early 2000s, the minivan had hit its peak, with 1.3 million sold in a single year. But that peak was also the beginning of the end. Because while the minivan was useful, it was never cool: the cars were even rudely dubbed “mom-mobiles” and “loser cruisers.”

The rise of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in the ‘90s and early 2000s didn’t help the minivan’s popularity. While the SUV was basically just a less practical, more expensive version of its older counterpart, there was a key difference in branding that brought in the consumer crowds. Suddenly, everyone wanted to embody that very SUV feeling of adventure, freedom, and a less stuck-in-the-suburbs version of parenthood.

A Mini Comeback

The minivan’s fall from grace was partially about aesthetics, but it was also about something deeper: the changing American family.

Birth rates in the U.S. have been steadily declining for years, with the CDC reporting a historic low in 2023. Meanwhile, a growing number of young adults aren’t sure they want kids at all. The classic image of two parents shuttling around their horde of kids just doesn’t represent most households anymore. With fewer children to lug around, the demand for a vehicle that could fit a large family has simply declined.

Though the minivan might not dominate the family market anymore, the nail isn’t in the coffin quite yet. Millennials, once loyal city slickers, are slowly settling down into less urban locations. According to a Bank of America survey, around 45 percent of Millennials expect to buy a home in the suburbs. And what do the suburbs demand? A car with storage space that can handle Costco hauls and a whole lot of commuting. Perhaps it isn’t so surprising after all that minivan sales have actually seen an uptick in 2025.

Lee Town Car Club Show - May 24 - See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window.

The Briefs

Robber assumed he was the only one with a gun when he tried to rob a couple inside their vehicle. A Henrico man is dead after attempting an armed robbery early Saturday morning. Henrico Police responded to the 2800 block of Fairfield Avenue for a reported shooting around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. Once on the scene, officers found a man, Ivan Hunt, on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were taken until Henrico Fire transported Hunt to an area hospital for treatment; he later died from his injuries. He was 50 years old. According to investigators, a man and a woman were in a vehicle when Hunt approached them with a gun and attempted to rob them. During that interaction, Hunt fired his gun, prompting the man in the vehicle to return fire.

Tesla told Austin workers on its Model Y and Cybertruck lines to stay home for the week of Memorial Day, three workers told Business Insider. The break is unusually long, the workers said. Production lines were up and running during the same period last year, they said. The electric vehicle maker notified employees earlier this week. The workers, who are paid hourly, were told they could either take paid time off or come in for cleaning and training but would not be working on the production line. The workers said their schedules had been increasingly inconsistent since February. Some said they had been sent home early on multiple occasions. In February, the Austin factory began cracking down on overtime hours, the workers said. Two said they were told by management that if they clocked overtime hours, they could eventually face disciplinary action. A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. In April, BI reported that Tesla had reduced production targets for the Cybertruck and moved some of its workers off the line. The carmaker also shut down Cybertruck production for three days in December.

A pursuit involving a stolen car took a dangerous turn in California last week when the driver reportedly tossed a live grenade from the vehicle during a police chase. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers attempted to stop a man identified as Carlos Kuceja, 28, of Berkeley, after seeing him behind the wheel a stolen vehicle in Oakland around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Kuceja allegedly refused to stop, initiating a low-speed pursuit that led officers through the streets into his hometown, Berkeley. As the chase continued, Kuceja was seen tossing a bag from the driver’s side window. A CHP officer, who was not directly involved in the pursuit, later recovered the bag and found what appeared to be a live grenade inside, with its safety pin partially removed. Authorities quickly responded to the potentially explosive threat. The CHP alerted the Berkeley Police Department, prompting officers to divert traffic and evacuate nearby homes and businesses out of precaution. The University of California, Berkeley Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team was called in to handle the device. Officials confirmed that the grenade was live and capable of detonation. The CHP shared a photograph of the recovered explosive on social media, highlighting the severity of the situation. Kuceja continued to flee from law enforcement in the stolen vehicle, until he reached a dead end. At that point, he exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, though he was quickly apprehended by officers.

In an unrelated incident, a Pennsylvania driver involved in a road rage situation dropped a different kind of bomb, when she defecated on the hood of another person’s car. Christina Solometo, who has since been dubbed the “Delco Pooper,” was arrested Thursday after allegedly dropped a retaliatory deuce. The confrontation reportedly began as a verbal dispute with another motorist who allegedly insulted her. According to investigators, Solometo admitted that her response stemmed from anger over being called a derogatory name. “I wanted to punch her in the face,” she reportedly told officers. “But I pooped on her car instead and went home.” Prospect Park Police Chief Dave Madonna said that he didn’t believe that the other driver was “aggressive” towards Solometo. “Were there weird exchanges between the two? Yes,” Madonna remarked. “Was the victim taking an aggressive stance towards the defendant? Not at all.” Solometo allegedly informed police that it was a “clean poop” and claimed that it “didn’t even require toilet paper.” The incident took place in broad daylight and was captured on video by a witness. The footage quickly made its way to the internet, where it instantly went viral. When police arrived at Solometo’s residence to place her under arrest, she allegedly admitted to the disgusting act without hesitation. Officers noted that she was laughing and smiling during the arrest. While being placed in the patrol car, Solometo reportedly claimed she had been chased before the incident and smiled for her mugshot. She is now facing several criminal charges, including indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, harassment, and depositing waste on a highway.

A radar clocked someone going nearly double the speed limit. It turned out to be a duck — and a "repeat offender." A radar image of a speed offender caught in central Switzerland last month revealed that the culprit was not only a duck, but likely a "repeat offender," local authorities said. Police in the town of Koniz, near the capital Bern, were astounded when they went through radar images snapped on April 13 to discover that a mallard was among those caught in the speed trap, the municipality said on its Facebook page over the weekend. The duck was caught going 52 kilometers per hour (32 mph) in a 30-km zone, the post said, along with a photo of the fast fowl. The story, first reported by the Berner Zeitung newspaper on Monday, got even stranger. It turned out that a similar-looking duck was captured flying in the same spot at exactly the same speed, on exactly the same date seven years earlier, the Facebook post said. Officials called the duck a "notorious racer and repeat offender." The municipality said it had considered whether the whole thing might not be a belated April Fool's joke or a "fake" picture. But the police inspectorate said it was impossible to doctor images or manipulate the radar system. The computers are calibrated and tested each year by Switzerland's Federal Institute of Metrology, and the photos taken are sealed, the municipality explained. The Facebook post concluded: "We hope you enjoy pondering curious coincidences, criminal activities of animals and the maximum flight speed of ducks."

Police in Akron, Ohio, caught bodycam video of a bandit behind the wheel with a meth pipe in his mouth during a traffic stop on May 5. But Chewy, the bandit in question, did not face arrest, because Chewy is a pet raccoon. WLWT 5 reported that as the driver of the vehicle, Victoria Vidal, 55, was detained for having an active warrant and driving with a suspended license, officers returned to Vidal's vehicle to find Chewy in the driver's seat with the drug paraphernalia. "While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!" the Springfield Township Police Department said in a Facebook post, adding, "No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident."

A stray bull in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, became an internet sensation when CCTV caught the bold bovine taking a spontaneous ride on a motorized scooter. In the video, which was posted on X and reported on by NDTV, the bull casually strolled down a street before taking an interest in a parked scooter. As a prescient mother scooped up her child and ducked out of harm's way, the bull hopped onto the scooter with its front legs, somehow perfectly balancing the scooter and setting it in motion. The ride covered about 50 feet before the scooter fell over and the bull nonchalantly walked away. One user on X summed it up: "No one would believe if it wasn't captured by CCTV."

A recent Southwest Airlines flight was met by law enforcement after landing in Chicago, where police removed a passenger who had stripped naked and defecated on her seat, NBC Chicago reported on April 25. The plane was taken out of service to be cleaned. Southwest, just the latest airline to be put in the unenviable position of apologizing for the bizarre behavior of an unruly passenger, issued a statement: "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees, and we appreciate the professionalism of our flight crew."

The Peel P50 features in the Guinness World Records as the smallest production car ever made. We meet up with the guys from the Manx Transport Heritage Museum in Peel, on the Isle of Man, and embark on a nostalgic journey back to the factory where the P50 was originally manufactured in the 1960s. We scratch beneath the surface of this tiny microcar to discover some of its fascinating history and key components. Plus, we also get to meet its two-seater sister, the Trident. The Isle of Man is an intricate patchwork of Manx curiosities, Celtic and Viking history, and lots more. For those, who have never heard of the Isle of Man, it’s a small island right bang in the middle of the Irish Sea, between the UK and Ireland. Video below.

Minnesota woman deliberately targets pedestrians: The separate incidents occurred on the evening of April 30 in Minneapolis, leading to the arrest of 38-year-old Sophia Sullivan, who was later booked into the Hennepin County Jail. According to a criminal complaint, Sullivan was behind the wheel of a Honda Accord when she allegedly ran a red light at approximately 6:19 p.m. and hit a teenage girl and a woman, while they were lawfully crossing an intersection in a marked crosswalk. Police believe Sullivan continued driving and, minutes later, targeted another pair of pedestrians further along the same road. A man and woman, were struck as they used a separate crosswalk. Surveillance footage reportedly captured this second collision, offering a clearer view of Sullivan’s alleged actions. The complaint outlines that Sullivan was seen driving parallel to the two pedestrians before she allegedly accelerated and hit them at high speed. The man, police say, was launched roughly 30 feet into the air and landed near a parked car. The woman ended up on the hood of Sullivan’s vehicle before falling to the pavement when the car abruptly stopped. The report claims she steered her car toward the fallen woman, running her over and continuing to drive with the woman pinned underneath the vehicle. According to investigators, she then veered the car from side to side until the woman was dislodged, at which point Sullivan allegedly ran her over a second time with the rear wheels. The two people from the initial crash sustained burn-like injuries and lacerations. The man involved in the second strike was hospitalized with a broken wrist and additional abrasions. The woman later died from her injuries on May 2. Authorities eventually tracked Sullivan’s vehicle to her apartment complex. When they located the car, investigators noted a shattered windshield and what was described as “fresh blood” on the exterior. Records show Sullivan’s driver’s license had been revoked in 2015. She was taken into custody on April 30 and is being held on a $2 million bond. She has been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, and five counts of criminal vehicular operation.

Nissan has said it will cut another 11,000 jobs globally as it shakes up the business in the face of weak sales in its key markets of the US and China. It brings the total number of layoffs announced by Japan's third-biggest car maker in the last year to about 20,000, or 15% of its workforce. It was not immediately clear where the job cuts will be made, but the carmaker said it would reduce the number of its plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. Nissan currently employs about 133,500 people globally, with about 6,000 workers at its manufacturing operations in Sunderland. The layoffs come on top of 9,000 job cuts Nissan announced in November as part of a cost saving effort that it said would reduce its global production by a fifth. In February, talks between Nissan and its larger rival Honda collapsed after the firms failed to agree on a multi-billion-dollar tie-up.

The Trump administration said it will end a Biden-era pause on liquefied natural gas export approvals, saying increased exports are in the public interest by boosting the economy and supporting allies, while posing minimal environmental risks.

Japanese carmaker Honda Motor Co. said that it will scale back investment in electric vehicles as demand slows and will focus instead on meeting a growing demand for hybrids.

A German court convicted four former Volkswagen officials of fraud yesterday in the decade old “Dieselgate” scandal. Two executives working in engine technology received sentences of several years in prison; the others received suspended sentences.  The US Environmental Protection Agency discovered the scandal in 2015, revealing VW had installed so-called defeat devices in models dating as far back as 2009. The software enabled vehicles to illegally pass diesel-efficiency standards in controlled environments, while producing up to 40 times as much pollution in real-life driving conditions. More than 11 million cars worldwide were impacted by the fraud, which engineers said they enacted under time frame and budget constraints.  The scandal—which cost VW $34B in fines and legal fees—is thought to have expedited a global shift to battery-powered cars. Before 2015, diesel cars accounted for over half the European market. They now make up less than 10% of the market.

Tesla’s vehicle sales across Europe tumbled nearly 50 percent in April, even as overall electric vehicle demand accelerated across the continent.

A federal judge has temporarily barred the federal government from punishing New York State for continuing New York City’s congestion pricing toll in defiance of a federal directive to shut it down.

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

From Rock Auto
I'm not a mechanic. But, if it's something simple I will attempt it after viewing a few YouTube videos of people smarter than me. I did just that before I went to replace the battery in my 2010 Toyota Prius. This was in the winter, and with no room in the garage, it was a cold job.

I followed the YouTube geniuses step by step, but when it was time to start up the car - nothing. I checked the connections and everything looked fine. I went inside to warm up and watch some more videos, thinking that this was a mortal Prius electrical problem that would be the death of my car. I went out, un-installed the battery, then re-installed it and ... same problem! There was nothing to indicate any power going anywhere in the vehicle.

I warmed up again and checked the Prius online forums for any ideas. Third time was the charm - because that is when I discovered I had not removed the plastic caps on the battery terminals! Now the first thing I will do before installing a new battery is take the caps off.

Tom in Canada (didn't remove the plastic cap from the positive terminal of the battery - yes, he's from Canada)

Memorial Day For The Vets - May 24 - See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window. Photo by Jeff Malo.

First Driverless Heavy Duty Trucking Service Launched on US Public Roads

From: The Epoch Times
The autonomous service is being launched as labor groups are pushing for measures to protect truck driver jobs.

Pennsylvania-based Aurora Innovation Inc. has launched a commercial self-driving trucking service in the state of Texas, conducting customer deliveries between Dallas and Houston, the company said in a May 1 statement.

SAE L4 refers to Level 4 of the nonprofit SAE International’s measure of driving automation that runs from Level 0 to Level 5. At the L4 level, the features of the driverless system can “drive the vehicle under limited conditions and will not operate unless all required conditions are met,” according to the SAE website.

Pedals and steering wheels may or may not be installed in SAE L4 vehicles. The automated features of the system won’t require a person sitting inside the vehicle to take over driving.

“We founded Aurora to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly,” said Chris Urmson, CEO and co-founder of Aurora. “Riding in the back seat for our inaugural trip was an honor of a lifetime—the Aurora Driver performed perfectly.”

Meanwhile, autonomous trucks pose a critical employment issue for truck drivers.

In an April 8 statement, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the largest labor unions in the United States, said its representatives testified at the Nevada state capitol of Carson City, asking lawmakers to support Senate Bill 395.

The bill requires all commercial vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds to have a trained human safety operator behind the wheel.

“For Big Tech companies to think they can come into any state and replace the jobs of hardworking union members with this dangerous and inferior technology is an insult to professional drivers everywhere,” Peter Finn, president of Teamsters Joint Council 7, said.

“SB 395 is critical to protecting the middle class. That is why we are demanding that Nevada lawmakers vote in favor of this legislation.”

The bill passed the Nevada Senate on April 16 and is currently under consideration in the Assembly, where it was recently referred to the Committee on Growth and Infrastructure.

Aurora Safety, DOT Relaxes Rules
Aurora said its flagship truck is fitted with a powerful computer and sensors that enable it to operate safely on highways. “In over four years of supervised pilot hauls, the Aurora Driver has delivered over 10,000 customer loads across three million autonomous miles,” the company said.

“It has also demonstrated extraordinary capabilities, including predicting red light runners, avoiding collisions, and detecting pedestrians in the dark hundreds of meters away.”

Before beginning operations, Aurora had completed a “safety case” for its vehicles. A safety case is a documented assurance of the safety of the vehicle.

The company said it had briefed several government entities about Aurora Driver’s readiness for driverless operations, including the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Department of Transportation.

Aurora’s driverless truck service launch comes as the Department of Transportation (DOT) said on April 4 that it would ease some of the safety regulations involved in the development of self-driving vehicles.

Specifically, the agency will expand the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program to domestically produced automated vehicles (AVs) as well. The program currently only applies to imported AVs.

“This Administration understands that we’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a April 24 statement. “As part of DOT’s innovation agenda, our new framework will slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.”

Advocacy group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety criticized the decision, saying that “troubling incidents” involving automated vehicles have already occurred in multiple cities.

If proper safety regulations, safeguards, transparency, and accountability are not maintained regarding the issue, the deployment of AVs could result in “deadly consequences,” it said.

John Bozzella, CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation, welcomed the DOT move, calling it “unequivocally good—and overdue—news,” the group said in an April 24 statement.

“Yes, we’ve got to move smartly and safely,“ he said. ”But this announcement shows the administration is also proceeding with a sense of urgency, so we don’t cede AV leadership to China and other countries. Time is of the essence.”

The driverless trucking service uses Aurora’s flagship product “Aurora Driver,” a self-driving system that can “see over 450 meters ahead,” according to the company. Aurora says the truck is capable of spotting and reacting to pedestrians “up to 11 seconds sooner than human drivers at highway speeds at night.”

“To date, the Aurora Driver has completed over 1,200 miles without a driver,” said the statement. “The milestone makes Aurora the first company to operate a commercial self-driving service with heavy-duty trucks on public roads.”

“Aurora plans to expand its driverless service to El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, by the end of 2025.”

Aurora’s launch customers are logistics companies Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines, both of which have had “long-standing supervised commercial pilots with Aurora.”

Aurora Driver is reportedly an SAE L4 self-driving system that is being deployed for long-haul trucking for the first time.

Lebanon United Methodist Church Cruise-in - May 25 - See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window.

How Hollywood Builds Its Dream Cars

World’s First Mass-Produced Flying Car Prototype Unveiled

From: Nice News
Eager teens reaching driving age in the next few years may be able to take their inaugural spin in a car … in the sky. The world’s first mass-produced flying automobile prototype has been unveiled, and we’re ready for a ride.

Created by Slovakia-based company Klein Vision, the AirCar production prototype made its public debut May 8, after making its insider debut at the 2025 Living Legends of Aviation Awards Ceremony in Beverly Hills late last month. At the event, Morgan Freeman and John Travolta presented the car’s inventor, Stefan Klein, with a Special Recognition Award for Engineering Excellence.

Per the company website, the AirCar is the result of Klein spending the past 20 years “converting his flying car dream into reality.” The vehicle already holds a Certificate of Airworthiness and has successfully completed over 170 flight hours and more than 500 takeoffs and landings. It’s capable of automatic transformation from car to aircraft in under two minutes, enabling the operator to simply drive to an airport and then take off.

“The AirCar fulfills a lifelong dream to bring the freedom of flight into the hands of everyday people,” Klein said in a news release. “With the launch of our production prototype, we are one step closer to transforming how the world moves — merging the road and the sky into a new dimension of personal mobility.”

Incredible footage has been uploaded to YouTube over the last few years featuring various earlier versions of the AirCar soaring among the clouds, including one from April 2024 showing the first passenger to go for a ride.

Klein Vision says the mass-produced model is expected to be priced between $800,000 and $1 million, depending on luxury features, with first units expected to be available to buy in the first quarter of 2026. And according to Klein Vision co-founder Anton Zajac, pre-orders are already coming in. He told tech outlet TNW there are a “few interested potential clients.”

The new model will run on gasoline and will be able to reach speeds of 155 mph, with a maximum flight range of about 621 miles. Zajac said the company plans to go electric “as soon as the energy density of the batteries is good enough.”

In the news release, Todd Douglas Miller, Emmy Award-winning director of the documentary Apollo 11, who attended the April awards ceremony, said: “From the cockpit of another aircraft, I watched the AirCar in flight. Stefan Klein and Klein Vision have turned the impossible into reality, merging dreams and science fiction into something breathtakingly real.”

And last year, James May, former host of Top Gear, visited Klein Vision and witnessed the AirCar in action at an international airport in Slovakia. “The AirCar has landed,” he said at the time. “Very rarely am I lost for words, but I am lost for words!”

Nothing like an ad saying the new car will use oil - gotta love the Brits

EPA Targets Engine Start-Stop Systems in Cars

From The Epoch Times
Start-stop systems exploded under Obama-era rules offering emissions credits, but officials are now signaling a course reversal. (And everyone hates them)

The Trump administration is taking aim at automatic engine start-stop systems—technology installed in millions of U.S. vehicles to reduce fuel use and emissions—with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin signaling plans to roll back incentives for the feature that he says drivers despise.

“Start/stop technology: where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy,” Zeldin wrote in a May 12 post on social media. “EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it.”

Zeldin’s announcement comes amid a broader shift under President Donald Trump, whose administration has moved aggressively to dismantle a range of environmental rules it says put pointless burdens on energy producers, manufacturers, and consumers.

While the EPA doesn’t require start-stop systems, it has granted automakers fuel economy credits for adopting the technology. Zeldin’s post suggests the agency may eliminate or revise those incentives, though officials have yet to announce formal policy changes.

The EPA declined to provide details of any plans to revise or eliminate existing incentives in response to an inquiry from The Epoch Times.

Start-stop systems are designed to automatically shut off a vehicle’s engine when it stops—at a red light, for example—and restart it when the driver releases the brake. Proponents say the technology helps reduce emissions and saves drivers money at the pump by improving fuel economy. Critics say that it’s annoying, unnecessary, and sometimes difficult to disable. In most vehicles, drivers must press a button to turn the feature off each time they start the car.

The feature became increasingly common under fuel efficiency rules implemented during the Obama administration, expanding from fewer than 1 percent of new vehicles in 2012 to about 45 percent in model year 2021, according to EPA data. The agency notes on its website that start-stop systems can improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent, with the biggest benefits under stop-and-go city driving.

An Obama-era regulatory impact analysis from 2012 estimated that start-stop systems can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8 percent to 2.4 percent, depending on vehicle type and size, compared with baseline models. The systems have helped cut nearly 10 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, according to The Battery Council International.

Zeldin’s remarks come as the Trump administration pursues a sweeping deregulatory agenda across multiple agencies.

On May 9, Trump directed agencies to rescind federal water efficiency standards for household appliances such as showerheads, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines—calling them relics of a “radical green agenda” that reduced performance and increased costs.

“The federal government should not impose or enforce regulations that make taxpayers’ lives worse,” Trump wrote in a memo, saying the rules made appliances less useful, more prone to failure, and costlier to fix.

The Department of Energy has also begun rolling back efficiency rules for outdoor heaters, decorative hearth products, and other miscellaneous appliances. In each case, the administration says it is eliminating unnecessary regulations and restoring consumer choice, while environmental advocates say the changes could undermine years of progress on conservation and fighting climate change.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is returning to common sense–and that means giving the American people the ability to choose which heaters they use in their own backyards,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a May 2 statement. “To date, rescinding or delaying unnecessary consumer regulations such as this have saved the taxpayers nearly $24 billion–and we’re just getting started.”

The EPA’s expected rollback of incentives for start-stop systems would mark another high-profile pivot away from the climate policies of previous administrations.

Memorial Day Car Show - May 26 - See all the photos at Album - opens to a new window.

Good News: Antarctica’s Ice Sheet Stages a Comeback

From New Conservative Post
Antarctica’s surprise ice growth challenges Al Gore’s warnings, disrupts climate catastrophe narratives, and sparks a broader call for scientific moderation.

Al Gore must be reeling. The former vice president once warned that melting Antarctic ice would swallow coastlines and submerge cities. But between 2021 and 2023, the continent did something he didn’t predict: it gained ice—a lot of it. In a twist that’s proving inconvenient for more than just his documentary, a new study published in Science China Earth Sciences shows the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) added mass at a rate of 108 gigatons per year during that span, offering a short-term reprieve in the global sea-level rise narrative that has shaped climate politics for a generation.

Researchers used data from NASA’s GRACE and GRACE-FO satellites to measure gravitational shifts indicating ice mass changes, explained The New York Post. The contrast is stark: from 2011 to 2020, Antarctica lost 142 gigatons annually, driven by glacier destabilization in West Antarctica and parts of East Antarctica like the Wilkes Land–Queen Mary Land (WL–QML) sector. Glaciers such as Totten, Denman, and Moscow University were among the hardest hit. But in just two years, that trend reversed—especially in East Antarctica, where anomalously high snowfall brought unexpected gains.

Scientists attribute the turnaround to an unusual burst of precipitation, which thickened snowpack and added to ice mass in vulnerable glacier basins. The net effect: a modest but measurable offset of about 0.3 millimeters per year in global sea-level rise. That may sound small—but in a debate often framed around irreversible tipping points, it’s a data point with disruptive potential.

For Gore and others who’ve long held Antarctica’s melt as central evidence of impending climate disaster, the new findings are difficult to square with the apocalyptic script. Since the 1990s, global sea levels have risen roughly 3.7 millimeters per year, with Antarctica playing a major role. But for now, at least, the ice is moving in the opposite direction.

It’s almost as if the climate changes in both ways.

Most climate change scientists stress that the recent gains are likely transient and don’t negate longer-term projections, which suggest accelerating ice loss as global temperatures continue to rise. And the same weather patterns bringing extra snow today could fuel faster melt tomorrow. But it does underscore what the climate debate often glosses over: Earth’s systems are complex, nonlinear, and not always cooperative with political narratives.

The Antarctic ice gain serves as a stark reminder that Earth’s climate doesn’t always follow the dire scripts of activists or media outlets like The New York Times, which often amplify warnings of imminent catastrophe. Similarly, a group of climate scientists from the University of Colorado-Boulder recently pushed back against this trend, urging colleagues to stop fixating on worst-case scenarios.

In a letter to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they argue that emphasizing extreme futures—such as 9°F temperature spikes or human extinction—diverts attention from more likely outcomes. Middle-ground scenarios, like 2-3°C of warming by 2100, point to challenges like intensified heat waves or regional droughts, which are serious but not apocalyptic. This overemphasis on doom, they note, distorts research priorities and public understanding, much like the oversimplified narrative of Antarctica’s melting.

Moreover, the scientists highlight a human cost to this catastrophism: it’s fueling a mental health crisis among youth. Surveys show 45% of young adults feel climate change negatively affects their daily lives, with 40% hesitant to have children due to these fears. The Boulder team warns that exaggerated scenarios can also justify rash policies, citing past examples like forced sterilizations tied to overpopulation panics or Sri Lanka’s disastrous fertilizer ban in 2021. Just as Antarctica’s unexpected ice gain challenges Al Gore’s dire predictions, this call for moderation underscores a broader truth: the climate debate needs less panic and more focus on realistic, evidence-based futures.

So while the Antarctic Ice Sheet is offering a rare moment of good news, it’s also offering something rarer still—a reality check. And for those, like Gore, who built a legacy on worst-case scenarios, it may be the most inconvenient truth of all.

California Deploys Next-Gen Highway Patrol Vehicles to Stop ‘Video Game Style’ Driving

From The Epoch Times
The new Dodge Durangos will allow officers to catch reckless and unsafe drivers more easily, the CHP reported.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said on May 8 that it has rolled out its newest weapon to crack down on what the department calls “video-game-style” driving by deploying specially marked patrol vehicles on busy highways.

“We’re deploying 100 of these vehicles statewide to confront a growing threat—aggressive drivers who speed excessively, tailgate, split lanes, and endanger lives,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said Thursday in a social media video.

The CHP will use 2024 Dodge Durangos fitted with the latest lights and colors to blend into traffic.

The first 25 vehicles will be deployed across the state this week. All 100 of the units will be strategically placed along California’s busiest, high-risk roadways by June, the CHP said.

Each Durango features a V8 Hemi engine, a police pursuit package, concealed 360-degree emergency lighting, and a version of the CHP badge on the door.

Uniformed officers will operate them primarily on multi-lane freeways with a clear mission to identify and stop reckless and dangerous drivers, according to Duryee.

“The new vehicles give our officers an important advantage,” Duryee said in a statement on Thursday. “They will allow us to identify and stop drivers who are putting others at risk, while still showing a professional and visible presence once enforcement action is needed.”

The blue-and-red flashing lights are mounted inside the rear window and windshield. The vehicles are also equipped with police lights and flashing lights inside the headlights, the grill, and the running boards.

The new vehicles will be added to the CHP’s existing fleet of high-performance units, which include Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers.

The vehicles allow officers to blend into traffic just enough to observe the most reckless and dangerous behaviors without immediate detection, according to the CHP.

More than 390,000 vehicle crashes are reported each year in California, and nearly 1,000 incidents of reckless driving happen each day, the agency reported.

Last year, CHP officers issued almost 18,000 citations to drivers going over 100 miles per hour, according to CHP.

Speed is a factor in about 30 percent of all crashes and is a major contributor to traffic deaths and injuries. The CHP said it is particularly dangerous because it decreases reaction time, extends stopping distance, and intensifies the severity of crashes.

“Despite advances in vehicle safety, California still sees over 4,000 traffic deaths annually. Most of these are preventable,” Duryee said. “A small percentage of aggressive drivers put everyone at risk.”

Using the latest statistics from 2022, the California Office of Traffic Safety reported that the number of traffic fatalities in the state decreased by about 2 percent from 4,513 in 2021 to 4,428 in 2022.

Find out more at Crude Lies: A Deeper Dive into the Fossil Fuel Deception

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