Episode 91 – Food Truck Frenzy!
Welcome to the automotive podcast that does not require a special license to listen to… unless you live in Australia!
On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…
- Want some shaved ice? A hot dog? How about a hamburger? We might have a business opportunity for you.
- AI is taking the wheel… Literally
- Sideshows and joyrides? It must be summer.
All that and more on This episode of Throwin’ Wrenches!
Sponsors
Fort’s Toyota of Pekin |
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Projects
Eric
- Oil leak on Treehugger. Don’t use universal tools!
- Ready for a trip to Colorado.
- 2 sets of tires for 2 cars. I’m broke.
- Throttle body cleaning on the green ’96 Celica.
Daryl
- Working on the Volvo driveshafts.
- Enjoying my junk for the time being.
- Solara brakes are done. The top is fixed.
New Segment: Full-Time, Part-Time or Side Hustle.
We joke all the time about our retirement job. More often than not, we find ourselves looking at being a Good Humor salesman. (Remember them?)
They all have wheels, and some even have motors, so it all counts for Throwin’ Wrenches.
Similar style to Race Daily Kill… I want to know what your opinions are on these three different levels of food trucks… Would you quit your day job and make this the full-time gig… Maybe it’s something you might do part-time? What about a straight side hustle?
What are your choices for… Full-time, Part-time or Side Hustle?
Shaved Ice Trailer | Hot Dog Cart | Food Truck |
(A side hustle is a secondary job or small business that someone has in addition to their main career to earn extra money or fulfill a passion. Side hustles can offer more freedom and control than part-time jobs, allowing people to choose when and how many hours they work, and to pursue activities that align with their interests. Some people may eventually turn their side hustle into their primary career.)
News
All Cars in Europe To Be Fitted With Speed-Limiting AI Tech Due to New EU Rule
Source: The U.S. Sun
All cars will now have to be fitted with speed-limiting AI tech due to new EU rules. The new gadget can, in some cases, slow the vehicle down for you if it catches you breaking the speed limit.
Intelligent Speed Assitance (ISA) systems became a legal requirement for motors across the EU as a law passed two years ago came into effect on July 7.
ISAs make use of AI, GPS data and even onboard cameras to assess your speed in real time as you drive along.
The system will then intervene if you go above the limit it has worked out for the road you are on.
For example, the system can assess things like road markings to determine whether you are in a 20mph or 30mph zone.
From there, there are three types of ISA which firms could opt to install, with each offering different levels of intervention.
First of all, informative ISAs only result in a warning message and sound to alert the driver that they are breaking the limit.
One level up from that is the supportive ISA, which works by increasing the upward force on the accelerator pedal to try and make it harder for drivers to speed up.
Finally, intervening ISAs are the most active, with the system actually slowing the vehicle down, whether the driver wants it to or not, until it goes back under the limit.
As sideshows gain popularity, police try a range of tactics to stop them in their tracks
Source: Morning Edition, NPR
Depending on where you live, you may have already heard of street takeovers: impromptu events, usually at night, in which drivers of muscle cars take turns doing donuts in intersections for cheering crowds.
In Alabama, the police refer to it as “exhibition driving.” Birmingham officer Mark Jones says it’s hard to miss.
“You can see the smoke from them burning their tires from several blocks away,” he says.
Police say the phenomenon grew during the pandemic, but it isn’t new. Filmmaker Yakpasua Zazaboi encountered it 25 years ago as a young man in Oakland. Californians call the events “sideshows,” and he says it helps to understand the original slang.
“When you see young fellas pulling up in their cars and they’re trying to look cool,” he says, “the way that you kind of lean back and towards the side — it was generally called ‘sidin.’ ”
And he says the sideshow is just a show of show-offs. People showing off their souped up cars, along with elements of style and fashion. He says it was “love at first sight” for him.
“[It was] hundreds if not thousands of black faces, all getting along together, all having fun in the middle of the night,” he says.
But sideshows also disrupt traffic, disturb neighbors and endanger lives. Spectators make a game of crowding in as close as they can around the spinning cars, and the resulting collisions are prime viewing on social media.
For coastal automobile dealers, contingency planning for severe tropical weather is muscle memory. But higher insurance premiums are an added pain point this year, some said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an 85 percent chance of an above-average Atlantic hurricane season. It expects 17 to 25 named storms. Dealers told Automotive News they are confident in their hurricane readiness, though they plan to closely monitor the weather.
Stolen car joyrides lead to multiple underage arrests in Peoria
Source WMBD-TV, Peoria
Three 15-year-olds are now in the Peoria Juvenile Detention Center and one in the hospital after officers stopped two cars that were reported stolen early Tuesday morning.
According to a Peoria police news release, officers saw two cars traveling south on Western Avenue around 4:30 a.m. One was excessively speeding and the other car following had a missing passenger window. Both cars were reported stolen.
One car stopped near AutoZone on W. Proctor while the other continued south. Three 15-year-old boys were inside the stopped car. Officers detained and interviewed the three at Peoria Police Department before they were charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of cannabis. The driver of the stolen car was also cited for no driver’s license.
The second car attempted a left turn on SW Jefferson Street. When the driver saw the police, he abandoned the car and ran.
He was taken into custody after a brief chase, being taken to a local hospital for a hurt ankle.
When released, he will be arrested and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center for possession of stolen motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, obstructing police and possession of burglary tools.
Super Car News Search
Australian Supercar Drivers Will Need Special License
South Australia state will require anybody with a car with more than 0.168 hp/pound to take an additional test.
Source: Road & Track
Younger drivers in the United States are already familiar with the restrictions brought by graduated licensing, with the grindingly slow graduation from provisional, probationary, or intermediate status to the glorious freedom that comes with a full license. From that point onwards, you are free to drive any car you can afford and insure.
Now one Australian state is set to impose new restrictions on all drivers wanting to drive the most powerful cars, regardless of their age or level of experience. From December this year, anybody in South Australia wanting to operate what is categorized as an Ultra High Powered Vehicle (UHPV) will have to take and pass an additional test to earn a new U-License. Failing to do so will result in a fine of up to $2500 Australian if caught in a qualifying car; that’s nearly $1700 at current exchange rates. Get caught a second time and you face up to a year in jail.
Earning the U-License will be done through an online training course followed by a test; there is no practical element to prove any level of driving skills. Much of the course is reportedly dedicated to explaining the function of active safety systems.
Cars of the Weak
Eric
1929 Mercedes “Gazelle” Kit Car
Source: Facebook Marketplace
From the Ad: 1929 Mercedes Gazelle kit car. I belongs to a friend of mine. Want info? Call or text.
What a comprehensive ad, wouldn’t you say?
There’s a TON of these air-cooled VW Beetle-based kit cars lurking around Marketplace these days. Just taking a quick look yielded quite a few:
Could these be the cheapest and most fun roadster “fun cars” out there today?
Speaking of roadsters…
Daryl
1991 Buick Reatta Convertible – $20,000
Source: Hemmings
From the ad: Gateway Classic Cars of Atlanta is proud to present this 1991 Buick Reatta convertible. Its red exterior turns heads while the tan leather interior offers a touch of elegance and sophistication. Under the hood a 3.8 liter V6 engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. This Reatta is equipped with power features including power brakes power locks power seats power steering and power windows all designed to provide you with a convenient driving experience.
For your comfort the Reatta comes with air conditioning and the AM/FM radio provides a variety of entertainment options for your journey. The manual convertible top is easy to operate allowing you to enjoy the open air at a moment’s notice. The car also features seatbelts. The leather interior adds a touch of luxury to this classic car. This 1991 Buick Reatta convertible is a blend of classic style and modern convenience offering a unique driving experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to own this classic Reatta.
As always, thanks for listening!
Hit us up anytime at info@throwinwrenches.com.
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