Cave News: Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc.

8 stolen school busses found scrapped in Chicago junkyard

A 40-year veteran of the school bus business, Greg Bonnett had never heard of anything like this: Eight of his full-size, 40-foot-long yellow buses were missing when workers arrived at the Far South Side yard early Friday.

GPS units aboard the buses indicated the vehicles were on the Southwest Side. Bonnett headed in that direction and wound up at a South Lawndale scrap yard.

"I expected to pull up and meet the police and see eight buses," Bonnett said. "I got here and I saw exactly what you're looking at now. A pile of scrap with school bus yellow."

The buses had been reduced to a towering tangle of fenders, springs, seats and sheet metal. On one scrap the name of the bus company Bonnett co-owns could still be seen, "Sunrise."

Link

March 10, 2013 in Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc., Crime - Police | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Flier thrown off United flight for taking photo

A frequent flier took a photo of the back of the seat ahead of him to put on his travel blog.

A flight attendant informed him photos were not allowed on United flights and summoned a gate agent who escorted him off the plane.

The frequent flier was able to speak briefly with the captain who was rude saying, “I don’t want to hear you, get off the plane before I call the police.”

The frequent flier had more than his usual travel report to put on his blog for this flight.

Link

March 07, 2013 in Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc., General Interest | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Cars that lose value fastest

9 Cars that lose value fastest per a two-year-old report in Forbes Magazine online:

1. Chrysler Sebring Convertible
MSRP: $28,530

Value after 24 months: 27%
Value after 36 months: 22%
Value after 48 months: 18%
Value after 60 months: 15%

2. Kia Sedona
MSRP: $21,245

Value after 24 months: 33%
Value after 36 months: 24%
Value after 48 months: 19%
Value after 60 months: 15%

3. Kia Optima Sedan
MSRP: $17,495

Value after 24 months: 32%
Value after 36 months: 25%
Value after 48 months: 21%
Value after 60 months: 17%

4. Kia Spectra Sedan
MSRP: $13,550

Value after 24 months: 35%
Value after 36 months: 26%
Value after 48 months: 21%
Value after 60 months: 17%

5. Dodge Grand Caravan
MSRP: $23,545

Value after 24 months: 24%
Value after 36 months: 26%
Value after 48 months: 21%
Value after 60 months: 17%

6. Dodge Ram 3500
MSRP: $30,385

Value after 24 months: 34%
Value after 36 months: 26%
Value after 48 months: 21%
Value after 60 months: 17%

7. Mitsubishi Raider
MSRP: $21,135

Value after 24 months: 30%
Value after 36 months: 25%
Value after 48 months: 21%
Value after 60 months: 18%

8. Lincoln Town Car
MSRP: $46,525

Value after 24 months: 32%
Value after 36 months: 26%
Value after 48 months: 22%
Value after 60 months: 18%

9. Dodge Durango
MSRP: $28,980

Value after 24 months: 33%
Value after 36 months: 26%
Value after 48 months: 22%
Value after 60 months: 18%

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The original report included a Saab Saab 9-7X SUV. It has been removed from the listing above because Saab no longer makes cars and SUV’s.

There is a definite pattern here as 3 Dodge vehicles and 3 Kia vehicles show up on the list accounting for 67% of the total.

If you add the Chrysler Sebring to the 3 Dodge vehicles, the vehicles by Kia and the Chrysler Corporation account for a whopping 78% of the total!

March 03, 2013 in Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc., Business News and Information | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

NASCAR blocked film of horrific Daytona crash - but YouTube video here

A NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway was disrupted by a harrowing crash that sent debris flying into the stands and left some fans injured.

As CNN reports, shredded debris flew into the racetrack barrier, with some reaching 20 feet up to the second level of the track's stands.

At least one fan who witnessed the event caught it on camera and promptly uploaded it to YouTube — but the video was blocked by NASCAR on copyright grounds just minutes after it went live. (Update: YouTube has restored the original video, which you can watch below.)

According to Reuters, at least 29 people including one driver were injured in the multi-car crash; 14 people were sent to nearby hospitals, with another 14 being treated at the race track.

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NASCAR claims all rights to film and broadcast of anything that happens at its events.

But taking down a video of a dangerous crash that injured spectators has sparked a backlash from observers who see it as an improper use of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, which is typically used to suppress pirated content like music and movies.

Despite the takedown request by NASCAR, the eyewitness video has already been shared on the internet and can be viewed above.

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NASCAR officials are optimistic that the 55th running of the Daytona 500 will proceed on Sunday as planned.

Link

February 24, 2013 in Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc., Sports | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Burma-Shave roadside signs from the past

.................... If these signs blur .................... and dance around .................... Better park .................... And walk to town .................... Burma-Shave ....................

These signs were in South Dakota on highway 212 between Redfield and Watertown a few decades ago.

February 23, 2013 in Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc., Burma Shave Signs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Ping pong - Boulevard version

February 16, 2013 in Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc., Unusual news stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Largest private yacht in the world docks in midtown Manhattan

On Wednesday, a private yacht sailed slowly and quietly up the Hudson River and docked near midtown Manhattan.

This wasn't just any yacht, however. It was Eclipse, the largest private yacht in the world.

Seeing Eclipse docked off the midtown piers is the boating world equivalent of seeing a blue whale swim up the Hudson in the dead of winter. It just doesn't happen -- or hasn't happened.

Eclipse has a crew of more than 60 people and a battalion of security cameras and sensors. It has two helicopter pads, two pools and a submarine.

Eclipse's owner, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich (pictured above) is famously private and averse to publicity.

Eclipse is almost always kept in the rarified preserves of Monaco, Cannes, Portfino or St. Bart's, visible to other billionaires but rarely to “common people.”

Above Zhukova and Abramovich walk the streets of Manhattan.

Some speculate that Abramovich may be using the boat as a temporary residence, since it is more secure and can better accommodate his large security force than a New York hotel. Abramovich's partner, Dasha Zhukova, has announced that she is pregnant, and due in the Spring.

It is said that Dasha Zhukova and Roman Abramovich are in New York so Dasha can give birth to her expectant child in the United States.

Link

February 15, 2013 in Automobiles, airplanes, cycles, ships, etc., Unusual news stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Gas prices highest ever for a February 11

Gas prices hit a national average of $3.59 Monday, the highest ever for a February 11.

From a report at the link below:

A combination of high crude prices, refinery shutdowns, and early speculation has sent gas prices soaring to seasonal highs earlier than usual this year, with no signs of prices at the pump falling until spring, according to recent estimates.

Gas prices have climbed every day for the past 25 days, reaching a national average of $3.59 per gallon Monday, the most expensive national average ever for Feb. 11, according to AAA.

During just the past two weeks, average prices have climbed almost 25 cents, the biggest jump in gas prices in almost a year.