Car break down? Use a torch to fix it. Jay Leno did.

**NE-Firebird** · 04-23-2011, 09:33 AM

Car break down? Use a torch on the engine to fix it - really!

BTW: It took me a few seconds, but the first picture has the hood up. That's what that big dark oval thing is over the "hood area".

From:
Jay Leno -- STEAMED Over Vintage Car Trouble | TMZ.com

Jay Leno -- STEAMED Over Vintage Car Trouble
4/23/2011 12:15 AM PDT by TMZ Staff

Jay Leno's joyride in a steam-powered sports car was abruptly derailed when his classic ride crapped out on the side of the road ... ah, the trouble with 105-year old vehicles.

Jay's 1906 Stanley Steamer stalled out in Burbank, CA Friday -- and police tell us officers driving by noticed flames and stopped to help.

Turns out Jay had everything under control ... re-igniting the steam engine with a torch. Once it fired up, Jay and his passenger went on their merry we-don't-have-to-pay-5-bucks-a-gallon-for-gas way.

Fun fact: The Stanley Steamer once set the land speed record at 127mph. It's since been broken ... many, many, many times.

**ibanez7** · 04-23-2011, 10:08 AM

on a side note, Leno was on his way to Farm and Fleet to buy another 100 more Wrangler denim shirts and jeans

**0rion** · 04-23-2011, 09:44 PM

actually brings up a good point.......why not go back to steam cars? Surely with the technology today someone could make a much better steam car than they had back then and it would get waaaay better gas mileage than a prius.

**NE-Firebird** · 04-24-2011, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

actually brings up a good point.......why not go back to steam cars? Surely with the technology today someone could make a much better steam car than they had back then and it would get waaaay better gas mileage than a prius.

I was wondering the same thing when I read that.

Consider that wood is a renewable natural resource. And, planting more trees is better for the air, environment, etc! So, there's no issue with planting a ton of trees and having plenty of tree farms.

But, I did think of a few important negatives:
1) Convenience. You can't just start up your steamer in mid winter and drive off. There are many good ideas/alternatives. But, it's important to remember the consumer.

2) Space, storage, and distribution of wood (or wood pellets). A massive thing that Gas going for it is it's energy density in terms of volume and weight.

3) And, a big one: Pollution! Burning wood/leaves is a huge pollution source! That's way many cities/towns have banned it (plus it's a saftey hazard). I doubt that the pollution issue could be easily solved. Yea, it's "possible" to clean up the emissions.

However, like batteries, it's the overall pollution/impact to the environment that's important. IMHO, in the U.S. with our electrical power structure/mix, I see battery-powered cars as mainly a good way to help to try to keep oil prices in check. As for the environmental impact, IMHO, the technology is still ~10+++ years away before the overall pollution/impact to the environment is in favor of battery-powered vehicles verses gas powered.

Don't forget, the battery material/manufacturing, recharge power for the battery, and disposal of used batteries are real-life issues.

It's unfortunate, but without nuclear power plants, and some acceptable and safe way/place to store the used rods, electrical power creation, *in the U.S.*, will be non environmentally friendly for a while. Note, we have a huge diverse country, and there's no easy way to get water power (like Niagara Falls), wind power (like the new one that will be off Cape Cod in Mass), solar power (only makes sense for the Southern Most part of this country), etc to "work" for all of the country.

Different areas can take advantage of some local features. But, overall, as a country, we'll need oil, coal, gas, for a while to supply our electrical needs.

I mention the above because for other countries that have a huge portion of their electrically produced by nuclear, battery-powered cars will make more sense for them sooner.

However, as the incident in Japan as exposed, the disposal/storage of used fuel rods is a huge issue.

**StuntmanMike** · 04-24-2011, 08:23 PM

^^^ True. It seems that most "electric" cars are going to be effectively coal powered.

My brother and his fiance and I were joking around this afternoon about it...we came up with the idea of mounting a wind turbine on the roof of an electric car. Think about it....when the car is stationary, the wind will be generating electricity. As the car is moving, the force of the airflow over the roof will be turning the turbine, making the car power ITSELF!

They might be a bit ungainly looking,and maybe the not the safest thing for pedestrians, but they'll def be green! And you get the added bonus of sounding like your driving a helicopter. I have seen the future!!