Rubber bands? No. Windup key? No. Steam? No. Alcohol? No, not yet.
Somehow, you have to have a sense of humor during all this pain at the pump time, when there is more and more talk about alternative fuel.
But it’s strictly talk. After all, talk is cheaper than gasoline.National Speed Sport News editor emeritus Chris Economaki reviewed the subject of ethanol (E85), meaning 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas.
He points to the fact the Indianapolis Racing League has been using E85 for some time and will switch to the corn-based product 100 percent next year.
Some will say motor racing introduced many innovations for the average motorcars. Critics will tell you the only useful thing was the rear view mirror.
It’s said that the energy in ethanol is far less than gasoline, which means a vehicle that gets 30 miles to the gallon will get only 22 on E85. Economaki, though, visualizes an elimination of 18.4 cents per gallon federal tax and a move by some states to reduce taxes on E85 as well.
But there’s a problem. Economaki revealed that there are 168,997 gasoline stations in the country, of which only 608 are said to have pumps delivering E85.
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Hydrogen, maybe? Congress has discussed exploring the prospects of using hydrogen for fuel.One wag put in: “Don’t they remember the Hindenburg?”
History tells us that in the 1930s, Germany was unable to obtain helium from other countries, including the United States, so they had to fill their dirigibles with the more volatile hydrogen.The great Hindenburg burst into flames at a New Jersey mooring tower in 1937.
***Related subject: Nissan has devoted 10 years to fuel cell research, now packed into its latest FCV X-trail sports utility vehicle.They built a fuel stack, which squeezes this advanced technology into a smaller and lighter package. The stack develops 120 horsepower, 35 more horsepower than before. It reportedly has better acceleration, response and higher speed.
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Spreading out. The San Diego Automotive Museum expands its Balboa Park space. The floor has been filled with off-road racing machines and the display titled “Dune Buggies and Desert Racing” will run through July 24.
Ironman Ivan Stewart, the sport’s premier star who’s won 19 races in Baja California, has helped supervise the exhibit with two of his machines.
Other featured exhibits include cars of Corky McMillan, Joe Crawford, Greg MacDonald, Walker Evans and Bruce Meyers.
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Another season. Championship Off-Road Racing held its first of four promotions at Otay Mesa last month with the usual cast of stars. They’ll return again July 22-23, Sept. 23-24 and Oct. 21-23. In between will be Crandon, Wisc., June 24-25; Bark River, Mich., Aug. 12-13; and Crandon again, Sept. 2-3.
Watch for Johnny McDonald’s “Auto Biography” car column each month in the Village News. n