tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41763346117097204692026-09-11T02:37:57.104-05:00The heterodyne personal blog of a professional automotive journalist and photographer. Now in color! In blue, anyway.looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-43501365775754476502025-10-17T11:20:00.004-05:002025-10-17T11:20:38.936-05:00

 Vermont Just Radically Overhauled Its Education System. Here Are 5 Surprising Things You Need to Know.A Seismic Shift in the Green MountainsFor generations, Vermont's identity has been deeply intertwined with its system of local control and small, community-centric schools. But in July 2025, that long-standing tradition was upended. The passage of Act 73, formally titled "An act relating to

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-12323761496425465252017-01-11T11:31:00.003-05:002017-01-11T11:31:47.255-05:00

Sometime in the mid-Nineties, NPR played a spoken word recording of a poem (?) called The Ballad of Dave and Eddie, about two friends who took California infrastructure into their own hands. I've never been able to find a copy of that recording, and the only reference I've ever seen to the work at all is in a 1995 back issue of West Coast lit magazine Zyzzyva. I don't even know who the

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-23958396973787946112014-12-04T14:49:00.000-05:002014-12-05T08:44:43.324-05:00

Some of my friends have been on a campaign to unfriend the many closet racists who have popped up in the last few months. I've had the urge myself and was just about to start when I had a kind of revelation: It's exactly the wrong thing to do. It is by now obvious to all of us that many Americans live entirely in environments of like-minded people, so compartmentalized and isolated from other

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-88747288277771588202014-09-26T09:17:00.000-05:002014-09-26T09:18:06.673-05:00

There's a lot of discussion on and praise for the John Oliver piece on Miss America Scholarships, and with good reason. But what I haven't seen is the actual scholarship amount awarded. It turns out that's an easy number to calculate, because Miss America lists the names and amounts of all their scholarship winners. It was $323,000 in 2013 (for 2012 contestants). $323,000 is not the amount

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-15670510628611922632014-02-12T09:35:00.000-05:002014-02-12T09:35:17.382-05:00

Two years ago, I had the rare privilege of seeing a dream come to life, when The Road Home was launched. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit is dedicated to finding social, vocational and employment opportunities for post-9/11 veterans in automotive restoration shops through short-term internships. With the help of a generous sponsorship, we've been able to help veterans, as well as do our little bit to

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-75017241516112369112013-08-23T15:16:00.001-05:002013-08-23T15:16:44.918-05:00

Dear Jim,For the eight years I worked at Hemmings, you made it painfully obvious that if I wasn't sitting at my desk with a Word document open, you didn't think I was working. You and Rich Lentinello showed me over and over and again that you felt any time spent out of the office was too long, that a full day was too much time for a feature photo shoot three hours away; and you repeatedly

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-3070010395583232712013-07-24T13:43:00.000-05:002013-07-24T13:43:00.577-05:00

IVOR LARSSEN: TENNIS PRO             Smash!  Grunt!  “30-Love!” calls the umpire.  Ivor takes a couple new balls from the ball girl, Linda, he thinks her name is.  He tries to learn all their names, but with over 30 tournaments in a normal season, and half-a-dozen or more matches in a good tournament, it’s hard.&

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-74810322191689325542013-07-18T12:39:00.000-05:002013-07-18T12:39:22.243-05:00

2000 Ford Contour Sport It is an unloved, small American car today, but the Ford Contour was designed to be revolutionary. It was designed to be the first new World Car in 50 years. For some carmakers, the phrase “world car” has a frighteningly compelling ring. Like perpetual motion machines, squaring the circle or mysterious black helicopters, in some minds it can be an obsession that

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-49070835572980167452013-03-15T10:13:00.000-05:002013-03-15T10:13:00.248-05:00

Fun Fact: On March 15, 1863, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles met with my Great- something grandfather William Aspinwall and John Forbes at the Fifth Avenue Hotel to discuss sending the two to England to buy suspected Confederate gunboats, specifically two ironclads under construction by Laird Brothers. For plausible deniability of what would be a

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-28625309821019026462013-03-06T10:06:00.000-05:002013-03-06T11:44:43.100-05:00

Introducing the world’s first ever scientifically proven precipitation enhancement device (PED) for small and midsized farms. The Traverado PED© is based on research conducted by the US Army and is the only method of increasing rainfall that works on a small scale—right over your crops. The story of the Traverado PED© is one of coincidence, research and discovery, and for inventor Dr. David

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-87281958533004275312012-10-22T07:52:00.001-05:002012-10-22T07:58:08.601-05:00

"I'd watch an Aaron Sorkin show about people changing cat litter." --Dave The Litter Box INT: Hallway. JIMMY is walking forwards carrying a TRAY OF CAT LITTER in front of him. He is accompanied by LESLIE, a perky Southern blonde; and MICAH, a distinguished middle-aged black man. JIMMY is in the middle of a conversation, which we hear part of as he comes into the frame. JIMMY: So

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-33358470212744041862012-10-15T14:21:00.002-05:002012-10-15T14:21:28.244-05:00

This got cut by about two-thirds to make it into print. Also the editor hated it. If you’re thinking about buying and selling modified cars, it’s handy if you’re either a complete genius, or don’t mind losing money. We suppose you could just be super lucky, but if you have that kind of kismet you’ll be too busy getting banned from casinos in Vegas and fending off lingerie models to have

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-38299839058369998212012-10-05T09:46:00.000-05:002012-10-05T09:55:04.953-05:00

c. 1900 Roberts Electric, one of the oldest known operating electric cars BoingBoing science editor Maggie Koerth-Baker writes in The New York Times, It will come as no surprise to hear that only a tiny fraction — less than 1 percent — of cars driving along American roads are fully electric. What might be more surprising is the fact that this wasn’t always the case. In 1900, 34

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-82282003154928547142012-09-27T14:26:00.002-05:002012-09-27T14:26:31.048-05:00

Indistinguishable tall chubby cars from Nissan, VW, Mitsubishi, Vauxhall, Suzuki, Ssangyong, Hyundai, Mercedes, Seat, Renault, Škoda, Toyota, Dacia, Honda, Audi, Ford, Citroën, Kia, Mini, Peugeot and Volvo. Hooray

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-22666197201861181952012-08-10T20:30:00.000-05:002012-08-10T20:40:42.646-05:00

Apparently, I didn't grasp the seriousness and weight with which they regarded themselves. Also I wasn't being paid enough for what was essentially a complete rebranding, so I really didn't feel motivated to try that hard. It didn't help that the agency I was freelancing for was owned by an ALMS driver. Not at all. ALMS: [like] a 9,000 RPM, 700 horsepower, 200 MPH Swiss watch. America's

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-88554211905006527462012-08-02T10:48:00.001-05:002012-08-03T09:27:17.558-05:00

I have bought a new vehicle, a Persian Ivory 1980 Peugeot 103 LVS U3 moped. Top of the line, baby! It could use new seat padding and I think a reed valve; I'll probably save up for a 15mm carburetor. Although as it took two years for me to buy this, don't expect that any time soon. I am considering hand-porting the engine, which should yield some notable gains. In the meantime:

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-9128272639908927972012-07-24T14:45:00.000-05:002012-07-24T14:52:08.718-05:00

I take a strange satisfaction from a well-formed spec page. After poring though FIA homolgation documents, in Italian, I think I've got them for the OSCA. The story won't use them except perhaps in abbreviated form, so I'm releasing them to the world. Fly, little OSCA specs. Fly! 1961 OSCA 1600 GT Specifications ENGINE Displacement 1568cc (95.7-cu.in.) Bore x stroke 80 x 78 mm

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-6926147003584537212012-07-03T18:57:00.000-05:002012-07-03T18:57:29.003-05:00

Of all the times I dearly love, There’s one I love the best; It’s not a song of  turtledove, Nor of a feathered nest; It has a hum that’s all its own, Without a skip or jar, It is that muffled throbbing tone of my big Staver car. The world is striving all the time, To master speed and pow’r, And wise brains full of cog-wheels claim two hundred miles an hour; But what’s the use of  

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-83043443150858299962012-06-08T12:05:00.001-05:002014-02-24T12:41:03.469-05:00

This list will grow as I am able to express additional concepts. As any one model becomes expensive, the market finds acceptable alternatives and makes them expensive. The more a collector car is worth, the more it tends to appreciate. More valuable cars are more easily able to settle on new accepted higher values. The more a collector car is worth, the harder it is to assign an absolute

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-2160939040908506702012-06-05T08:51:00.003-05:002012-06-05T09:58:25.350-05:00

John Draneas does his usual excellent job looking at the legal complexities of the case of the disputed ownership of a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster. But as a guy who has sidelined in auction catalogue write-ups for a major house from time to time, I have to disagree that "RM, like all major auction companies, puts great effort into researching the cars in their auctions." I'd say

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-66530102039440940662012-05-25T13:34:00.001-05:002012-05-25T13:34:34.703-05:00

I reported on Alex Zanardi and his comeback back when he was injured; now, I'm just going to quote this story out today about his journey to the 2012 Paralympics. He was and continues to be The Man. By Michel RosePADUA, Italy, May 25 (Reuters) - "The car broke into two pieces, one bit of me stayed with the car and the other bit, which was my legs, went 'arrivederci' in the other

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-34202805181753254412012-05-18T09:13:00.000-05:002012-05-18T09:13:00.285-05:00

Chevrolet Camaro New for 2013: Deletions   (GAP) Imperial Blue Metallic exterior color   (H45) 45th Anniversary Package (including [GAR] Carbon Flash Metallic exterior color)   (RQH) 18" painted aluminum wheels   (R3Z) 20" painted aluminum wheels   (R40) 20" polished aluminum wheels   (DRG) Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with rear camera display   (

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-4895049763818780282012-05-17T09:04:00.003-05:002012-05-17T09:05:16.838-05:00

I know, I didn't do my annual World's First Look at the 2012 GM models last year. So sue me. But 2013? Yeah, I'm all over that. Here's a biggie, maybe the make or break model for Cadillac, the XTS. Highlights Base model and 3 Collections: Luxury, Premium and Platinum (LFX) 3.6L V6 engine in either FWD or AWD configurations All-wheel drive available on Luxury, Premium and Platinum

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-82960366551467371702012-05-16T08:27:00.000-05:002012-05-16T08:28:46.288-05:00

1956 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman  A few are famous, many are overlooked and most are affordable Forward Look, Adventurer, Fire Sweep, Firepower, Golden Lion, Letter Car and Hemi: As I wrote those names, a series of images flashed past, each one a pure evocation of a moment in the Fifties. But even with these icons, not to mention NASCAR Grand National titles, world speed records

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4176334611709720469.post-38204009482933949252012-04-03T08:46:00.000-05:002012-04-03T08:46:02.641-05:00

THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPORTATION Roy George, 1922 I Time, and the Wheel, and the Infinite Sphere, What is the problem the gods have set? How shall man master it, now and here? Conquering Time and Space—and yet Holding dominion Over his mind; Riding the wind On steel pinion While keeping his eye fixed hard on the earth, His by promise, and right, and birth? FOR, RISE AS THEY MAY,

looiehortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725972921319438115noreply@blogger.com0