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Best Ride Contest!!!
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Best Ride Contest. Submit a story stating why you think your ride rules the rest and you'll be entered to win a $500 gas card.
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Poor Prius, part 2
About two months ago I wrote to you all about my trip to Pennsylvania and how I made it my goal to jump a Prius I had rented. If you need to recap and wish to read Part 1, click here.
I was in PA for 5 days. I flew in Monday evening, tested the power by trying to squeal the tires on Tuesday, was snowed out on Wednesday, will fly out on Friday, which only left me with Thursday. That’s the day…that’s the day I jump the Gerbil. That’s the day I release the hounds. That’s the day Toyota redeems itself…maybe. That’s the day where the rubber meets the road. That’s the day when I burn dust and eat my rubber…wait, I said that wrong. That’s the day the mountains crumble in to the ocean, and the day when peace is achieved throughout the world…all because I launch a Prius. Sorry, went a little over board there.
If you read Part 1 of this story you know that on Wednesday I found my launch spot. It was a nice gradual hill which apexes over a bridge and then turned downhill. As I was driving back to work from lunch that day, we did a test run up and over the hill. I turned toward the hill and I floored it. I had 3 other people in the car with me (they didn’t know I was trying to jump the car ;-) and the Gerbil didn’t even break 35 miles per hour. Crap, this is going to be hard.
Now comes Thursday, the day I jump the Prius. Two of my friends and me head out to the launch site after work. We waited until there was a break in traffic and I floored it again. This time I got it up to 41 miles per hour and nothing. After we got over the hill, I stopped and told my friends to get out. Both of them hadn’t have missed a meal in a long time so I though by dropping the weight I can get this thing airborne. Now, the moment of truth. With my two friends on the other side of the hill filming with their cell phones, I turn the corner. No traffic anywhere. I floor it 30 mph, 35 mph, 40 mph, 41, 42…43….44….45…..46….... 47 ….…..…. and that was it. Max speed up the hill with only me in the car, 47 mph. I can run faster than that! I can’t, but whatever that’s it? Freaking’ Prius. Needless to say, the shocks barely extended and I didn’t get the Gerbil off the ground. “This sucks, I’m trying again.” This time I didn’t slow down as I turned the corner to go up the hill. Without breaking I turn the corner and I hear a little chirp. “Alright, come on Prius. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!” I chanted as I went up the hill…yes it was to myself because I was alone. I reach the top at a speed of…wait for it…47 mph. Yep, that was the max, no matter what. So, that was it. I couldn’t jump the Prius. Sorry everyone.
Now I'm pissed and I unfortunately took it out on the Prius. I drove it up on a couple of sidewalks, power braked it a couple more times and tortured the poor speakers with blaring music. Freaking Prius.
So what have we learned? First a disclaimer, please don’t go out and try and jump a Prius, I’m a professional and I was on a closed course…sort of. Second, never buy a former rental car, or at least not a Prius from Philadelphia, PA!
The last two newsletters I asked if any of you have jumped a car and I posted my email address. It didn't work the first time and I thought it was the new mailer program that I was using, but it turned out that it was an ID10T error and I was an idiot and didn’t realize that my mailbox was full. It is cleaned out now and open for stories. Please send me your stories, click here.
For next time, I finally came clean with my dad and told him the story of how I jumped our 1970 Charger when I was in college. So, next newsletter the story of the flying Charger!
Targa versus Convertible
A friend of mine and I were talking the other day and I mentioned that the first hardtop convertible made by Ferrari was awesome, dubbed the California. My buddy proclaimed that this was not the first hardtop convertible Ferrari made. I looked at him like he had two heads and said “Did you come to work drunk again?” He said “bet you lunch?” And I held out my hand and we shook on it. Then all hell broke loose. Next thing you know, everyone on the entire floor is standing at our desks trying to define what the difference is between a targa top and a convertible. My buddy thinks the SuperAmerica was the first hardtop convertible and I say it was the California. We want you all to decide.
Click the pic below if you think the SuperAmerica (left) is the first hardtop convertible or if you think the California (right) is the first hardtop convertible, then hit send on your email and I will tally up the results next week.
Remember, a cool $10 lunch is riding on this!Please let us know what you think and I will post the arguments next week.
2009 Best Ride Contest Winner
The winner will be announced next week…I haven’t contacted him yet.
