The media is filled with gloom and doom, and replete with enough bad news to take teeth grinding to the next level.
But, occasionally a bit of light appears, a piece of news that actually gives hope for the future.
The latest purveyor of glad tidings is the Ford Motor Company.
Ford recently announced that the 2013 Mustang will sport a supercharged engine with 650 horsepower.
For those not among the Elect, this means one thing: fast. Insanely fast.
Understand me: anyone who misuses automotive excellence and capability on a public road with any vehicle should be fined, horse whipped, and live out their remaining days driving a two-cylinder econobox powered by bacon grease and three double A batteries.
No one should be endangering life or property on a public road with any vehicle, including a bicycle.
There are organizations, such as the Sports Car Club of America, that hold rallies on airport tarmacs and industrial parking lots, as well as those that sponsor the “run what ya brung” events at local drag strips.
This latest reincarnation of the American Muscle Car was made for this type of adult fun.
The engineering on these vehicles is truly breath taking. Not only is the future Mustang capable of going 200 mph right out of the box, today’s base V-6 engine delivers more giddy-up than the V-8 of seven years ago.
Yes, this is all so politically and culturally incorrect.
We are continually reminded by everyone from Al Gore to the latest talking head from the Global Warming – sorry, “Climate Change” – crowd about the carbon footprint that accompanies burning anything other than a lighted match.
And, yes, for the record, my wife and I each drive a Honda Accord.
They’re nice little reliable cars that get decent gas mileage. They go from point A to point B with a minimum of fuss and cost.
Two words sum up the driving experience they provide: adequate and boring.
But for some of us unapologetic Gearheads, the rebirth of the American Muscle Car is our opportunity to Stick It To The Man (a green one, I suppose). Our chance to metaphysically push our thumb in the eye of every green weenie who rushes to the first available microphone and hyperventilates about the latest study indicating the average planet temperature has risen three-eighths of a degree Celsius in the past 78 years.
In actuality, much of the engineering efforts of the past 30 years have resulted in the current crop of automobiles being cleaner and more efficient.
And some of this engineering excellence has originated or been proven on a racetrack.
Fuel consumption by competition vehicles is restricted at most racing events.
There are some things that are missing from the current crop of Speed Demons. Very few cars are built today with a standard transmission, a “stick shift” if you will.
Some of the more sophisticated drivetrains sport an ersatz standard transmission, with paddles to sift gears electronically.
This denies many of us oldsters the secret glee of watching the face of a young driver contort when entering a vehicle that features three floor pedals. And yes, we miss the old-time thrill of shifting through the gears of a four-speed transmission, popping the clutch, laying rubber, etc.
Nevertheless, the Ford Mustang announcement is music to some ears.
I’d certainly consider owning or driving one. Or a Camaro, o r a Charger.
But at my age, I’d probably misplace the keys.
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