05/17/2008

Driver Brian Vickers’ team wins the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mike Metcalf just missed out on the start of Appalachian State’s run of three straight national championships in football.

Juan Pablo Montoya’s transition to NASCAR an anomaly
His transition from Formula One to NASCAR has been far from smooth, but Juan Pablo Montoya used to be a beacon of hope for open-wheelers who wanted to switch to stock car racing.

NASCAR putting fans into the action
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Carl Edwards’ No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion will carry a wedding proposal at today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte.

ON THE CIRCUIT
All Times EDT

New Hampshire International Speedway schedule
NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY 2008 SCHEDULE

05/18/2008

Old plates no good on different type vehicle
Q. I bought a small two-wheel-drive pickup truck at a local Rhode Island car dealer for my son. I filled out all the forms they gave me for the registration and left a check as requested made out to the DMV. They put my son’s old plates (from his Camry) on the truck and told me I was good for three days and to stop by the next day and get the final registration.

Car calendar for May 18.
May

05/17/2008

Some car dealerships starting to go green
The LaFontaine Automotive Group has spent about $15 million in the last two years building a sprawling, multibrand auto dealership in Highland, Mich., investing $2 million in “green” initiatives.

Toyota 4Runner won’t always start with the key
Q. I know nothing about cars, but always read your column and enjoy it. I hope you can help me with my 1990 Toyota 4Runner. It doesn’t always start with the key, although sometimes it will fire up with the remote starter. When I try to start the car, the dashboard lights, seat belt, brake and battery lights all go on, but the ignition simply clicks and doesn’t turn over. When AAA came one time, they told me there was no problem with the battery, but that it could be the starter. So we replaced the starter, but the problem still exists. What should I check for?

05/18/2008

Big, bold, powerful Harley
If you think riding a raucous, powerful Harley-Davidson motorcycle is a bold experience, try getting behind the wheel of the new-for-2008 Ford F250 Super Duty Harley-Davidson pickup truck.

05/17/2008

Charity motorcycle run is tomorrow
www.fredsrun.net or call Theresa Lazaro at (617) 243-0076 ext. 14.

Tech school teams battle in auto skills contest
WARWICK Andrew Chilabato and Dmitry Kaplin from Newport Area Career and Technical Center took top honors in AAA and Ford’s annual auto skills contest Thursday.

05/18/2008

Elite fleet just got more exclusive
It’s the world’s fastest handbag.

05/17/2008

Casinos give away cars to lure gamblers and keep them coming
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It’s 8:30 on a Monday night, and Claire Allen waits behind a dozen other hopefuls to swipe her Players’ Club card.

05/18/2008

Get more from a fill-up
AAA Southern New England offers consumers two useful tools, best local gas prices at AAA Fuel Finder by logging on to AAA.com and clicking on Gas Saving Tips and Tools, and its new enhancements to the TripTik Travel Planner. The new and improved TripTik now enables users to customize their trip, provides easier navigation and an improved route modification tool. Users can access up-to-date fuel prices at more than 100,000 U.S. gas stations. They can also obtain a copy of the Gas Watcher’s Guide at their local office.

Tag Tales: YRUSLO
When Gerard Bogossian, of Cranston, was 12, he would get excited to see his dad, Alan’s, 1979 midnight blue Corvette. He would brag to his friends about how fantastic the car was and what a cool plate he had, YRUSLO. He even took the car to his high school prom. Sadly, in the 1990s the car was sold and the registration was never renewed. Recently, Jerry was in the market for a new car, and it was going to be Mustang. He had driven one 16 years earlier but didn’t buy it. It was too much of a machine for him at the time, his dad said. So he bought a 2008 Mustang GT and tweaked it a bit to add to the performance. Jerry stopped by his dad’s house right after registering the new Mustang to show it off, and much to his dad’s surprise, YRUSLO was now on the Mustang. “Dad, we got it back,” Jerry said, and the torch was passed.

Ford pushes to meet demand for its Escape small SUV
Ford Motor Co., the second-largest U.S.-based automaker, said it’s scheduling overtime at a Missouri plant to keep up with increased demand for the Escape small sport-utility vehicle.

High-end bikes are revving up
Get set for an invasion of high-end motorcycles — just as the economy is heading into a possible recession.

05/16/2008

Bill relaxes limits on older R.I. drivers
CRANSTON — By midmorning yesterday, the parking lot at the Cranston Senior Center was jammed.

05/14/2008

Oldest, grandest collection of unrestored gems
BROOKLINE, Mass. There are many reasons to visit the Larz Anderson Auto Museum but certainly a key one is to see its collection of completely unrestored cars from the turn of the last century.

Prius supply is down, prices up
Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius hybrid, the most fuel-efficient car sold in the United States, is getting harder to find on dealer lots and commanding higher prices when customers do.

Is bigger better for the Santa Fe?
Crossovers are the family vehicles of choice for many new-car buyers in these days of record fuel prices, and one of the best is the Hyundai Santa Fe, which entered its second generation just last year.

Shop should admit causing wheel to come off
Dear Tom and Ray:

Biffle blasts faulty equipment, hints at move
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Greg Biffle certainly didn’t sound like a guy committed to Roush Fenway Racing when he blasted the faulty equipment that led to his last-place finish at Darlington Raceway.

05/10/2008

Hybrids something of a novelty act on the big screen
LOS ANGELES — It is cleaner than a smoking Beetle. Quieter than a roaring Mini. Able to leap through car pool lanes with a single occupant. But the Prius, car du jour among Hollywood insiders, is not looking much like a movie star.

AUTO RACING AT A GLANCE
All Times EDT

Ferrari tops Turkish GP practice
ISTANBUL, Turkey — Ferrari led both practice sessions for the Turkish Grand Prix on Friday, and Heikki Kovalainen rebounded from a crash in Spain with the second fastest lap in the morning session.

Drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney has advice for new star Ashley Force
ATLANTA — When Ashley Force stood in the Winner’s Circle at Atlanta Dragway, it was a historic moment because she was the first woman in NHRA history to win a professional Funny Car event.

Super Aguri withdraws from F1
Super Aguriwithdrew on Tuesday from Formula One and disbanded itself, ending owner Aguri Suzuki’s two-year struggle to run a team in the most-watched motor sport.

Bike to Work Day; Smithfield car show
• Bike to Work Day will be held May 16. Bicyclists will convene at the Bank of America City Center skating rink entrance at 7 a.m. Breakfast and refreshments will be served to cyclists from 7 to 10. Beginning at 3 p.m., there will be bicycle-related vendors providing safety tips and demonstrations, local environmental organizations, information about upcoming bicycle signage and lane striping, Rack n’ Ride demonstrations by RIPTA, refreshments, a bike raffle and entertainment.

Europe’s favorite SUV makes good in USA

Former Formula One driver Scott Speed paying his dues in ARCA
No more hanging out at the casino in Monte Carlo or attending parties hosted by a prince in Dubai.

Seekonk Speedway schedule
SEEKONK SPEEDWAY 2008 SCHEDULE

Buick Roadmaster has intermittent steering problems
Q. I have a 1995 Buick Roadmaster that is giving me intermittent problems. It has been leaking a small amount of power steering fluid for about a year.

Cars: Car starred in the mother of all sitcom stinkers
NORFOLK, Va. — Mothers have been portrayed in many ways, but rarely with pistons and overhead valves.

Motorcycle safety push under way
PROVIDENCE The state Department of Transportation’s Office of Highway Safety kicked off its Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month on Wednesday with a series of lectures and demonstrations.

Repair shop charged up about fixing hybrids
SEEKONK Wayside Auto Sales is jumping into the future as an independent repair shop that services hybrid vehicles.

05/11/2008

Small electric cars head for the road
BAY SHORE, N.Y. — Just in time for summer and $4-a-gallon gasoline, a Long Island man and his partners in North Carolina are preparing to market a street-legalized golf cart in the Hamptons as a “neighborhood electric vehicle” — a low-cost substitute for conventional cars for local trips.

DOT TRAFFIC REPORT
All RIDOT construction and maintenance activities are conducted as weather allows

Sales tax formula doesn’t include added fees
Q. I am about to buy a new car, and would like to know on what the sales tax is based. This particular vehicle will have a “destination charge” of $600. Since the dealership is charging this on all cars, I don’t have a problem paying it. But it seems to me that the sales tax I pay should not include this amount, or any “documentation fees” that are added. Can you help me with the answer to this question?

Ford pushing 6-speeds to boost fuel efficiency
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. said it plans to double the number of six-speed automatic transmissions in its models by the end of next year, increasing fuel efficiency to the point where it’s equal to or better than manual gearboxes.

Car show to help animals
The First Annual Cause for Paws Classic Car Show to benefit homeless animals at the Warwick Animal Shelter will be held June 8 at Sam’s Club, 25 Pace Blvd., Warwick. Registration will be from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be door prizes, raffles, People’s Choice and Best of Show. Antiques, classic to ’78, rods and all year Corvettes are invited. Music will be by Cruisin’ Bruce Palmer. Trophies will be awarded at 2 p.m. Goody bags go to the first 100 entries. Entry fees are $15. Sponsors are still needed to help provide spay/neuter assistance, emergency veterinary assistance and additional equipment at the shelter. For more information, call Ruth Napolitano at (401) 480-9769. Rain date is June 29.

Pontiac Vibe a feel-good car
Some cars get far less credit than they deserve. They please their owners, start every day, look good and go about their business reliably without fanfare.

Web tools show you where to get the cheapest gasoline
Before Akshay Dodeja stopped to fill up the gasoline tank of his Acura Integra, the 22-year-old Portland, Ore., computer-engineering student checked his cell phone. There, he found the cheapest gasoline from a list of 10 stations in the area. So in the end, he paid $3.63 a gallon — compared with the $3.80 that the most expensive station was charging.

Car calendar for May 11
May

05/10/2008

Cars: Charities see little from car donations, due to high overhead
HACKENSACK, N.J. — Your ’92 Honda has been sitting unused in the driveway, taking up space. Should you call one of those car-donation charities?

05/07/2008

Ask RIDOT: Henderson Bridge is subject of two more concerns
Q: On April 9, you answered a question about the Henderson Bridge’s signage. I believe, however, that there are two questions concerning the bridge that should be addressed. First, one of the signs just east of the bridge has lost a panel. Secondly, during storms, a lot of water collects at the juncture of Waterman Street and the approach to the bridge when heading east. The overflow drain cannot handle the amount of water that comes downhill from a few blocks to the west. I hope that DOT can improve the drainage in this area.

Collectible experts have tips for the rest of us
BROOKLINE, Mass. The theme of a recent seminar on buying collectible cars at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum was a simple caveat emptor, or “Let the buyer beware.”

More horses have pragmatic Volvo S80 leaping off the line
When you think of the best exports from Sweden — and no, sorry, there never really was a Swedish Bikini Team — thoughts soon turn to furniture and design and that spare Scandinavian style. So it was when I settled into the new Volvo S80 sedan.

‘Cannibalizing’ new car may not be a big deal
Dear Tom and Ray:

Cruise calendar for May 7
SUNDAYS

Tesla rolls out long-awaited electric Roadster
LOS ANGELES — It’s safe to say Jeremy Snyder gets a charge out of the two-seat Tesla Roadster whenever he pulls one off the lot — and not because it’s equipped with an all-electric engine.

Kyle Busch just trying to do his job — win
CONCORD, N.C. — Three security guards followed Kyle Busch around Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where his safety was presumably still in danger from a victory-starved “Junior Nation” incensed over the late-race accident that cost Dale Earnhardt Jr. a victory.

Talk about off-road … how about a truck for the Moon?
HOUSTON — It turns on a dime and parallel-parks like a dream.

Survey: Teen drivers believe they’re experienced enough to be safe
Teenagers know inexperienced drivers are dangerous, yet most believe they and their friends have enough time behind the wheel to be safe, a survey found.

05/06/2008

Animal shelter advocates gear up for fundraising classic-car show
WARWICK — A nonprofit group that supports the city’s animal shelter is expanding its fundraising repertoire with a classic-car show next month.

05/04/2008

Tag Tales: SPDFRK
Byron Wilcox, 18, of Wakefield, says, “I’ve never been a speedy worker, I take my time.” An automotive student at New England Institute of Technology, where speed and accuracy are always being sought after, Byron has been into cars since the age of 8. He has owned and tinkered with BMWs and other sports cars over the years. Two years ago, for fun, he got the vanity plate SPDFRK, short for “speed freak,” and put it on a ’98 Saab 9000 CSE. It is not known as a real fast car in the sports car world.

Ask the Registry: Firefighter plates are for passenger cars
Q. My question concerns the new firefighter license plates that recently emerged. These plates are only allowed on passenger vehicles, and they keep the passenger car license plate type. Purple Heart, Veteran, and National Guard plates (among others) have their own license plate types and their own sets of numbers, and can be placed on pickup trucks, etc. Why is this not the case for firefighter plates? It is probably a safe assumption that a large number of firefighters own pickup trucks as personal vehicles.

05/03/2008

‘Top Tier’ gas not worth it; leave Trac-Control on
Q. I own a 2005 Toyota Sienna. Someone told me for dry, open highway driving I should turn off my Trac-Control and save 2 to 3 miles a gallon. Is this true? If I kept it off, how would it affect the tires, calipers, struts, etc. Also, is “Top Tier” gasoline worth the extra money? I have two Hondas and the Toyota, which only need regular. Would an occasional fill-up of high test clean build-up deposits as Top Tier gas claims to?

05/04/2008

Harley-Davidson motorcycle museum invites its faithful fans
MILWAUKEE — Harley-Davidson enthusiasts who can’t wait for the motorcycle museum to open in July can sign up now for membership, securing “founding member” status and taking the road to a number of museum perks.

05/03/2008

Music under your thumb
NEWPORT — The 8-track tape — which only folks over 50 can even remember — remains an icon of portable music technology that was outdated almost as soon as it got to market.

05/04/2008

After showing initial promise, hybrid truck development stalls
Once upon a time, hybrids were going to rule commercial vehicles. In May 2003, when gasoline was $1.50 a gallon, FedEx was predicting that it would have 30,000 hybrids on the road in a few years. But today, all companies together have only about 300.

05/03/2008

Another spin for a fine old Camaro: Father and son project car eventually becomes finished ‘restomod’
WARWICK In the end it all worked out, but it was a long hard trip for Joe Rochira and his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro convertible.

Next best model has a much better price
NORFOLK, Va. —

Cash-strapped car owners are delaying repairs
LOS ANGELES — Social worker Cathie Capp knew her teenage son’s 1992 Toyota pickup needed work. Whether she could afford the $1,500 repair bill was another matter.

I-Car curriculum; cool cars under $18K
•Christopher Bannister, chairman of New England Institute of Technology’s Transportation Technology, has received a grant from the I-CAR Foundation to provide the I-CAR curriculum at no charge to the college. I-CAR is a worldwide organization recognized as the industry standard for training and certification in the collision and automotive repair industry. The school’s collision repair students will now be awarded I-CAR Gold Metal Points when they successfully complete their program of study. New England Institute of Technology is the first post-secondary school in the United States to be the recipient of the I-CAR Grant and the I-CAR Curriculum.

Consider the Aston Vantage, Mr. Bond . . .
Before there was product placement, before automakers bought their way onto the big screen, James Bond drove an Aston Martin.

05/04/2008

A star among small cars
Climbing into the Saturn Astra, which replaces the miserable Ion sedan, I close the door.

05/03/2008

New stars promise to give Indy fans a thrill
This may be the year that the Indianapolis 500 regains its glitter.

Ashley Force beats her dad at the Funny Car game
There have been female drag racers before, but none like Ashley Force.

Race calendar: Thompson Speedway 2008 Schedule
THOMPSON SPEEDWAY 2008 SCHEDULE

Patriots’ Randy Moss plans to start a NASCAR team
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss announced the formation of Moss Motorsports, LLC, and said he hopes to have a team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series by the end of this year.

Auto racing at a glance
All Times EDT

05/04/2008

Mazda is on a massive mission to destroy 4,793 of its new cars
PORTLAND, Ore. — “Fire in the hole!” shouts Ron Hoodenpyle, covering his ears and stepping away from a brand-new Mazda 3 he just wired with special detonators. Suddenly, all six of the car’s airbags explode at once.

Car calendar for May 4
May

The battle for China’s car market is building
BEIJING — At 23, Shi Lingxi bought his first car last month.

04/30/2008

Ask RIDOT: Street-sign rules vary within Rhode Island
Q. I’ve traveled on Route 136 in Bristol, but have not seen a Metacom Avenue sign. There are only two somewhat hidden or obscurde ones in Warren. Also, street signs in Bristol are smal,l unlike in Warren. Isn’t there a law that signs should be a certain size so passing motorists have a chance to see them? A further inconvenience about street signs in most communities is that the name of the street is only mentioned once, usually at a busy intersection where the driver is concentrating on the traffic. For main or secondary arteries and roads, street names should be repeated two or three times and use large signs.

Free agency talk is good for Tony Stewart
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If winning really and truly is the most important thing to Tony Stewart, then he’ll be hard pressed to find an acceptable reason to leave Joe Gibbs Racing.

Model racers have a mind of their own
WARWICK Whining like bees on steroids, the miniature race cars buzzed up and down the track in the parking lot, occasionally flying off for spectacular crashes against the curb or under the wheels of their full-sized cousins parked nearby.

Cruise Calendar: April 30

2008 Honda is the right Fit for thrifty and practical drivers
Enough already. I’ve heard enough Fit witticisms to last a lifetime — from “I Fit, so you will, too,” and “It Fits like a glove” to “Skip the gym, get a Fit.”

Check again for minivan coolant leaks
Dear Tom and Ray:

04/29/2008

Fuel prices give R.I. boaters a sinking feeling
Boating is a way of life for thousands in the Ocean State, and the soaring price of fuel is forcing many boaters to think twice before heading out on the water.

04/27/2008

Ask the Registry: Who can supervise a permit driver?
Q. My son just received his driving permit, and he insists that he was told that anyone could supervise him driving, not just a parent. He wants his older brother to take him out driving, but his brother has only had a full license for one year. Can you clarify the law for me?

04/26/2008

Movie version of Japanese cartoon Speed Racer will race Boomers back to their childhood
NEW YORK Here comes Speed Racer!

’08 Liberty is a wolf in new sheet metal
Texas Truck Mama smiled as she pulled into the driveway in her little Mini Cooper. Parked in front of her was a considerably different vehicle, a 2008 Jeep Liberty Limited sport-utility vehicle. It was about two feet longer than her Mini Cooper, several inches taller and nearly 900 pounds heavier.

Coming this fall, more American classics on stamps
The Post Office yesterday unveiled five stamps depicting classic American cars from the 1950s. The 42-cent First-Class stamps go on sale Oct. 3, the Postal Service said.

Movie version of Japanese cartoon Speed Racer will race Boomers back to their childhood
NEW YORK Here comes Speed Racer!

ON THE CIRCUIT
NASCAR SPRINT CUP

Race Calendar: Lime Rock Road Racing Center 2008 Schedule
LIME ROCK ROAD RACING CENTER 2008 SCHEDULE

Formula One revs up anti-racism campaign
BARCELONA, Spain — Formula One’s governing body launched an anti-racism campaign on Thursday at the same track where Spanish fans taunted black driver Lewis Hamilton.

Patrick’s victory puts women on track
When a 23-year-old rookie named Danica Patrick became the first woman to briefly lead the Indianapolis 500 three years ago, she raised the tantalizing possibility that in a male-dominated American sport, one where men and women compete on equal terms, a woman just might for the first time stand in the victory lane.

04/27/2008

Tag Tales: MARLN
Spero Karol, 90, of Seekonk, had the license plate MARLIN, for 30 years when he lived in Cranston. The letter combination on the plate is the shortened names of his daughters, Marilyn and Linda. Spero did not realize what a ruckus he would create with fisherman in the Ocean State, as he was constantly being asked if he would part with the MARLIN plate, as they assumed he was passionate about fishing. He was passionate about his two daughters, and still is. Spero has moved in with his daughter Marilyn and her family in Seekonk, and has a new plate, MARLN. They think a Bay State fisherman reeled in the Massachusetts MARLIN.

Falling dollar freezes VW Scirocco out of U.S.
Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest carmaker, said it won’t bring its resurrected Scirocco sports hatchback to market in the U.S. because of the dollar’s decline versus the euro.

Gas Station TV is both blaring annoyance and welcome relief
NATICK, Mass. — Commuters on the Massachusetts Turnpike put up with a lot. There’s rush-hour traffic, tolls, more traffic, idiotic drivers, car accidents, and enough anger to leave even the most stoic driver simmering with frustration.

Suzuki C109R is one masculine motorcycle
Ask any female biker and she’ll tell you the same thing: A motorcycle is a great prop for soliciting male attention. Stares, smiles, honks, devil horns — it starts happening as soon as you throw a leg over.

Hybrid for the high powered
Let’s face it, rather than sacrifice, we want to save the Earth at our convenience. Thus, the rise of the gas-electric hybrid car, which allows us to continue driving large vehicles while consuming less fuel.

Chinese car market begins to shift upscale
BEIJING — Two years ago Yue “Ricky” Zong paid 70,000 yuan, or $10,000, for a mini-car made by China’s FAW Car Co., a unit of First Auto Works based in Changchun. The car was cramped and didn’t have power locks or cruise control, but it got the 31-year-old marketing executive around Beijing, where he works for a U.S. high-technology company.

04/25/2008

R.I. bridges at risk: DOT says 2 big bridges need more restrictions
The state says existing weight limits have not done enough to ease traffic on two major highway spans.

04/24/2008

Fractional gas prices at issue
A bill passed by the House yesterday eliminates the practice of tacking on the 9/10 to per-gallon prices.

04/23/2008

Acquiring osprey plates
www.asri.com to download an application form, or call the Audubon Society of Rhode Island at (401) 949-5454, extension 3005, or Save the Bay at (401) 272-3540, extension 106, to order license plate order packets.

Bob Tasca always had a family plan
CRANSTON The Tasca family has been working with the Ford Motor Co. since the days of Henry Ford himself.

Ask RIDOT: What do sensors detect?
Q: There were recent questions and answers about traffic-light sensors embedded in the road. What do sensors actually detect? Magnetics? Weight? Vibration?

Escape offers reasons to crossover to the hybrid
The great thing about the Ford Escape is that, unlike other small crossover SUVs, it isn’t cute. Its look is purposeful. A guy can be seen in public driving one without others questioning his manhood. A woman can get step out of it without having her womanhood questioned. It looks the part of a small, tough truck, one good enough to be competitive in any parking lot beauty pageant.

Dale Jr. looking to Talladega to end victory drought
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s been 70 long races — almost two full years — since Dale Earnhardt Jr. won a race that mattered.

Getting rid of garage clutter: You’ve got to have a plan
At some point, our tw