I am usually dubious about any major attempt outside the entrapeneural workshop to renew the face of manufactoring. My suspicions weren't thinly veiled last year when reviewing "Who Killed The Electric Car?"---and I seem to be joined in this by an old masthead mate http://thecarnut.typepad.com/steve_parker_the_car_nut_/2008/01/tesla-sackings.html

While there, feel free to key in the Jesse James commentary written recently by Steve. Absorb truths on racial (and horribly misogynistic) ignorance in the retroauto industry (that are, also, thinly veiled by the balance of a 'nostalgia'/'tatt'/rustrod neuvo-greaser richkid movement which is selling a bucketload of magazines) from Mr. Parker-an old school inclusivist who, unlike this post-apocalyptic luddite here, believes the future progress of autoculture can still be tooled-up within our current economic framework. I love his idealism. (Mine is more spiritual, less about faith in new materials...) Reusing old materials for results Steve and I both want-a future free from dependence upon death industries- is where I look..and we still have plenty 'nuf uncrushed parts to dabble with on the left coast.

Props for a new direction in '08 to: a couple of mainstreamer writers- Top Fuel Handbook author and former National Dragster editor Chris Martin, who is going public on his health n' selfcare challenges.......and Ian Tocher, senior dispatcher for the Drag Racing Online crew-leaving to do what he's really doing anyway: PR for the ADRL. Attention DRO: you can't have an indie press when your major sponsors include a SANCTIONING body...and I know I'm hardly the only punter out here seein' this.........