What we have here just might be the greatest piece of community-service rap ever written. The backup singers alone are worth the price of admission.

Full disclosure: I grew up in Louisville, and I remain fond of both TARC (the Transit Authority of River City, the city's bus system) and the town's quirky, offbeat vibe. If you're ever there, try the breakfast at Lynn's Paradise Cafe. It's like love on a plate.

Turns out the Bus has led an interesting life since it was pilfered in Washington so many years ago. When the original owner reported it stolen, and the vehicle didn't turn up, Allstate settled the claim for a grand total of $2,500. It's been shuffled around since then, sold and resold and ended up in the hands of a restorer who completely renovated the van. It was on the way to the Netherlands, presumed a legitimately titled vehicle when it was seized by Port of LA customs officials. The estimated value? $25,000. Unsurprisingly, Allstate will be taking back it's van now, thank you very much. [LATimes]

Photo credit: Department of Homeland Security

An endurance race doesn't really need a pace car, but we've found it helps to keep the hoons under control as they circulate for transponder testing prior to the green flag a-droppin'. This ex-Louisville transit bus (complete with CHURCHILL DOWNS in the destination sign) hauled the members of the Tetanus Neon to the track, and the team was kind enough to let us borrow it for Pace Bus duty.

Naturally, everyone wanted to ride in it, and that made for some interesting handling on the tighter turns. The driver- wearing a helmet, as required by track regs- took to calling out "LEAN RIGHT!" or "LEAN LEFT" as he approached turns at much higher speeds than TARC drivers ever contemplated (we hope), and the passengers would all dash to the appropriate side of the bus and hang on for dear life.
Thanks to MSR corner-worker Wayne Hill for the top photo!

The bus driver claims that the car in front of him came to a rapid, unexpected halt, resulting in his own extreme maneuver to avoid it. This video contradicts that claim, appearing to show a line of cars slowly coming to a halt while the bus is traveling at too high a speed to do the same. Police are reviewing this video and other evidence to determine fault. Six passengers on the bus were injured in the incident. [via ABC]

Not what we drove, believe us. We had a great time at the Dream Cruise, but we didn't have a really great time getting there (or back!) because we drove Bumblebee/Phyllis/Edith, our bright yellow Camaro, and frankly most muscle cars are hell for long trips. Once we got back, dropped Phyllis/Edith/Optimus McBumblebee off, and cabbed it home, we realized the cabs were by far the comfiest yellow cars we'd ridden in all weekend. Which explains our first choice:

Chevy Caprice-or really any big American body-on-frame sedan

Occupants: Up to four down-to-earth friends with extensive cassette-tape collections

Attitude: Relaxed, with ample stops for gas-station souvenirs

Slouchy comfort is the strong suit here. You get big bench seats fore and aft to stretch out on, a sort of floaty wallowy comfort, and a huge trunk for storing enormous 256-ounce collector's drink mugs, petting-zoo T-shirts and silver naked-lady silhouettes. It's unquestionably American without being a grandiose flag-waving statement, and some of them are still mistaken for cop cars in many regions. A great car to use when the trip matters more than the destination, but the drive matters less than the trip, if you will.

Photo Credit: Geocities

Volkswagen Camper Van

Occupants: Two in comfort, but up to four with increasing probability of hippies occurring

Attitude: Face-first and wide-eyed into the eternal now of the North American continent, or other such pseudopoetics

The VW van is really a very serviceable little automobile, within its limits, but those limits are defined as much by metaphysics as physics. Something about its ambling rate of progress, its right-up-front driving position, and of course its heritage, all combine to make this car a spiritual pitfall. People have been known to become cut-rate Ken Keseys after a week traveling in one of these, which is too bad. They really are pleasant and functional little things to putt around in, if your tie-dye inoculation is up to date.

Photo Credit: Motivemag

Mercedes E-Class Wagon

Occupants: Married couple with 2.4 kids

Attitude: Don't Make Me Turn This Thing Around, You Spoiled Ungrateful Brats

The point here isn't Mercedes style or quality or comfort or any of that, though it's nice to have those conveniences and comforts as possible on a family vacation. Any wagon would work just fine here as long as it had, as the Merc does, the rear-facing bench seats for the wee 'uns. The backwards bench is plain awesome to ride in when you're a certain age (roughly 7-65) and your mean dad won't stop at the petting zoo. It's also a good barometer for judging the behavior of your little darlings. Just belt them in, give them some juice, and set out for the other coast. If a Peterbilt rear-ends you and kills you all stone dead, your children were hellions who have learned to give The Finger. If not, they're probably pretty good kids.

Photo Credit: Motorward

Mazda Miata

Occupants: One thoughtful loner or two people who are deeply and genuinely in love and have good nonverbal communications skills

Attitude: "I am just going outside and may be some time"

This is really the only hairshirt option on this list. Usually we love the Miata because of its balance and handling, but if you're the sort who can travel with a single big duffle bag and you're not limiting yourself to Interstates, the Miata is a brilliant tourer. The seats are good for moderately long stints, there's just enough weight that you don't get buffeted by trucks, and you can put speakers in the headrests so your music is audible over the wind noise, mostly. Believe us, driving through the mountains in a nimble convertible with the top down feels transcendent, like getting away with something. Of course, you'll become really familiar with American wheelcovers, and driving through a thunderstorm with the top up feels like spiralling down the Norway maelstrom in a tent, so there are tradeoffs.

Photo Credit: Automotive

Ford Bronco

Occupants: 1-3, plus huge dog with bandanna around its neck (not optional)

Attitude: Roads are nice, but not really necessary

Who wouldn't love a good old Bronc? It's the perfect cross-county ride for people who take the phrase literally. Plus you sit up nice and high, so you can see over bridge railings and the like, and you can roll the rear window down and feel rugged and raffish. And everyone loves them so you'll instantly make friends with the locals, especially when you stop to take snapshots of the petting zoo and your huge dog with the bandanna around its neck jumps out.

Photo Credit: flickr

Infiniti FX35

Occupants: Up to four adults with luggage or two with a darling credenza

Attitude: Before we leave, make sure all the NPR stations are pre-programmed in

There are some people who simply must have an SUV, so if you must, take this. It has the ride height to give you good views, it drives more or less like a car, it returns fair fuel economy, and it can even carry a few tasteful pieces back, for those who are too button-down for kitschy road-trip crap but aren't above a bit of modest antiquing. Just don't bring kids, who tend to leave unsightly smudges on the glass as you drone right past waterparks and petting zoos and giant roadside dinosaurs. Come to think, don't bring us either.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Cadillac Sedan DeVille, 1994-1999 models

Occupants: One.

Attitude: Stern, plus must be starting in upper Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest, or Upper Northeast, and be heading for Florida

This is a seriously comfy car: good leather, nicely done LED lights, arctic air conditioning, very smooth Northstar V8. God alone knows why they stopped making it, but it's no surprise because there hasn't been a sane day in this country since Eisenhower. Ashtray's really too small for the cigars, but that's why Christ created power windows. Damn if Rush doesn't sound like he's right in the car with you, and the music would sound okay too if it all didn't sound like some loon bangin' on a can anymore. How many more miles to Fort Lauderdale?

Photo Credit: picasa

Converted School Bus

Occupants: Up to 30, but who's counting?

Attitude: Either "Taking a year off to see a game in every great American ballpark" or "If it's really and truly terminal, this is better than a hospital bed."

Sometimes a transcontinental journey is both a specific goal and a way to say To Hell With Everything. In those cases, see of your local school district has a Bluebird they're not planning on using and go to town with whatever tools and batty ideas you have lying around. The example in our photo is a bit extreme, but you don't have to have a camper van welded to the top. Cutting off the roof aft of the wheel humps to make a porch works, as does adding alfresco seating in the middle section, as is installing a hang-glider launch ramp on the roof. Once you finally trundle it out there, just don't be in a hurry. Be willing to let "across the nation" become "around the nation." And watch for hippies.

Photo Credit: hackedgadgets

Acura NSX

Occupants: 1-2

Attitude: Understated, underappreciated, and well over the speed limit.

There may be better and faster grand-touring cars, but we just love this thing. Honda couldn't convince people their exotic really was an exotic, but we get it. Most know its reputation as a very balanced car, even with "only" 300 horsepower-less than the FX35. But it's also a supremely comfortable car, with some of the all-time great seats. It'll only hold two carry-ons in its "trunk," but you're not going camping in an NSX; have the coincierge send your clothes out to be cleaned and pressed while you take dinner. If we were to make a serious attempt at a fast but sane personal transcontinental record, this car would be hard to pass up.

Photo Credit: gotbroken

Mustang GT

Occupants: 1-3

Attitude: One man drives while the other men scream

We repeat: Muscle cars are terrible long-distance transportation. But if we had to pick one, it'd be the Mustang GT, with its combination of good outward visibility, ride quality, driver comfort, and survivable back seat room. If you have to play Third Cylon in a muscle car, as we did on our recent Detroit trip, this is the muscle car to do it in. But seriously, after the first gas stop, you'll be thinking about trading it in on a nice '94 Sedan DeVille.

But whatever you go in, go! We've given you the best states to drive across, discussed the worst, and now a list of vehicles and ideas. Now get out there on the road and make our country a great destination again. Those petting-zoo animals ain't gonna pet themselves!

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

We've picked out 20 of our favorite VW ads from the Classic Ad Watch series for your enjoyment. From the 1950s through the current decade, from the USA, Germany, South Africa, China, Mexico, and Brazil, these ads cover the highlights of the Volkswagen product line in entertaining fashion

1984 Rabbit	1987 GTI	2005 Caddy	Beetle
1984 GTI	1998 Transporter Syncro	1984 Vanagon	1979 Scirocco
1968 Beetle	1979 Rabbit	1972 Beetle	1981 Vanagon
1970 Karmann Ghia	1958 Beetle	1976 Transporter	1958 Transporter
1955 Beetle	1971 Karmann Ghia	1983 Beetle	1966 Fastback

Photo Credit: exfordy/Flickr (Countach), Marcin Zieliński/Wikipedia (Ikarus). Pattern Recognition: Máté Petrány

The runaway bus spectacularly hops the guard rail without much loss in speed, then barrels into a group of cars and a flatbed truck with photographers who seemed to be oblivious to what 12-ton beast was coming their way. We're hoping that no one was seriously injured, but from the looks of the impact and subsequent scrambling we think it might have been an unfortunate possibility.

Not only was this driver, who appears to be driving a paratransit bus for disabled passengers, texting on his phone, but he was doing it for a full six minutes without ever really looking up. The look on his face at the end of the video basically says it all. He wasn't smoking, so we assume he didn't steal it. [via YouTube]

We're not sure what the relevant laws are but the photos seem to indicate its sea-worthiness. However, a look at the vehicle on the road shows four tiny wheels and a general layout not exactly best for road-worthiness. These are for sale worldwide so, if you run a marching band out of Mackinac Island, maybe give them a call.

Company Notes

A traditionally neglected segment of the mass transit market has been the Amphibious Vehicle Segment, which is now about to go mainstream on a global scale. This is due to the huge undertaking by our company. We have reworked and reinvented the amphibious tourist vehicle as everyone knows it. By creating a unique and exciting vehicle that is going to transform the world of city and harbour tours etc. A new vibrant industry will be created offering investors excellent returns for their money. Soon people will no longer be satisfied with just a city coach tour, they will want the complete package, a city coach tour with a water cruise built in. Investors involved in the early stages with these new vehicles, will achieve huge returns for their investment.

The starting point for this undertaking was the setting of criteria and targets that had to be met. The final product had to overcome all the shortcomings of previous attempts, assess where others had failed, and improve on previous successes. It also had to be very safe and easy to operate with minimal training and maintenance. The final hurdle was the one that thwarts most new projects; basically that it is relatively easy to build a one off prototype as a showcase or concept vehicle. However, the final production model has to be buildable on an industrial scale, whilst keeping within a realistic budget. It also has to be very saleable, and it has to comply with all relevant legislation worldwide to be truly considered a success.

The Amphicoach is a fifty seat road coach, which is also a true amphibious vehicle which has been developed over six years under professional supervision. It can compete with any luxury standard road coach on the basis of performance, level of finish, passenger safety and comfort, ride comfort, stability and manoeuvrability. On the other hand its sailing capabilities are accepted by marine experts involved in the project as being astonishing. This feature consequently makes the vehicle suitable for extended water tours. Its stunning good looks also grant it the opportunity to operate tours from five star hotels whilst fitting in with the opulent surroundings. The Amphicoach is able to operate day and night, in both fresh and salt water, which is highly unusual. All this amazingly enough has been achieved with full compliance to all relevant E.U. Legislation for Passenger Vehicles and Passenger Vessels. This legislation is widely known to be the most extensive in the world, and is achieved without any need for exemptions for the vehicles dual purpose capability.

Whilst boasting of all the amenities associated with a traditional tourist coach, such as A.B.S. Ventilated Disc Brakes all round, Pulse Electric Wiring, a Complex Electronic Engine Management. It also has a state of the art Communication System to keep the pilot informed on all aspects of the vechicle's performance in real time, Air Conditioning & Heating can also be incorporated. Excellent all round vision is aided with a Reversing Camera to assist the driver and all necessary Navigational Equipment from Navigation Light's to VHF and Depth Sounder. LCD Screens, DVD players and PA Systems are now standard equipment; furthermore the vehicle can be specified to include extras such as GPS, Autopilot, Toilets and Luggage Compartments. All electronic equioment on our vehicle is backed up by an additional power suppy to eliminate electronic failure, our vehicles are also supplied with the world famous Seago life jackets which are excellent. Naturally a full Medical Kit, Flares, Boat Hooks, Life Belts etc are also supplied.

Furthermore, reliability issues are minimised due to the use of the well proven Iveco Tector common rail turbo diesel power plant. These are available in outputs varying from 250HP TO 300HP in both two and four wheel drive versions, to suit each and every individual application. All engines conform to EURO 5 standards, making the vehicle "future proof" as EURO 5 will not become compulsory till 2016 and ensure a lucrative long term investment opportunity. This produces impressive green credentials due to its low emission and consumption figures. Our vehicles are supplied with a twelve month warranty for parts and labour. We also supply a customer service regime second to none, to provide clients with technical support should they require it.

The Coaches hulls are built using 6mm Marine Grade Aluminium (Hydro 5083). This is the best suited material for this application, due to its lightweight and superior strength qualities. The uniquely designed watertight compartmented hull design includes collision bulkheads which help to make the coach relatively unsinkable. In the unlikely event that the hull is breached or swamped, the vehicle will remain completely upright and afloat, making it in our opinion and of our experts surveyors, the safest amphibious passenger vehicle in the world.

The Amphicoach utilises a marine jet drive unit specifically designed for the amphicoach by one of the worlds leading manufacturer in jet propulsion, this is driven by the vehicles main power plant. An electric propulsion system is also available, and is the ultimate in green power for areas which would benefit from the silence and zero emission levels achieved from this technology. This would still provide equal performance to the standard marine propulsion. An onboard whisper quiet generator is incorporated into the drive train, so that the vehicle can be used as long as required without any loss of power. The system is then recharged by a high powered alternator system whilst on the road segment of the journey.

The final but possibly most important innovation to the drive train is a one-off wheel retraction system that retracts the rear wheels into the hull when under sail, dramatically reducing drag. This permits speeds in excess of eight knots whilst fully laden in the water, truly exceptional for an amphibious vehicle with full EU Certification. This feature can be supplied as an extra to clients wishing to have this fitted.

Standard safety equipment includes: self inflating lifejackets, safety belts, the latest Pyrogen Patented Automatic - Manual Fire Suppressant Systems for instant eradication of danger in the event of fire in the machinery area. (This includes electronic temperature sensors strategically located and calibrated for their working environment. Electronic air density monitoring equipment which are linked to a digital control panel situated on the dashboard). Automatic Bilge Pumps are fitted in every compartment, including manual back up pumps. Banks of sensors which include visual and audible warnings constantly monitor every aspect of the vehicle to ensure smooth, problem free running and ensure complete passenger safety at all times. The passenger area is also sealed from the from the engine and machinery compartment for ultimate safety.

The Amphicoach is the one and only fully Amphibious Passenger Vehicle to fully meet all relevant E.U Legislation and is certified meet UN/ECE R66 Roll-Over Protection legislation, which was achieved by a physical test and not by calculation. Every single Amphicoach that rolls out of the factory is independently assessed and inspected by Professional Surveyors and Engineers and they are delivered with full TUV Classification Society certification for road use in Europe. It is possible however to also have a vehicle built to comply with all the relevant legislation in other countries throughout the world including certification as above, should this be required; there is no extra charge for this service.

The high level of customisation, finish and legislative compliance is only possible due to the highly skilled and experienced craftsmen used throughout construction and design. These include a unit that has previously been commissioned to affect modification to various US Naval Units in the Mediterranean fleet. This is the ultimate accolade possible for naval engineers as it requires an unparalleled standard of work, with impeccable attention to detail. They have Lloyd's certification for welding and all other qualifications required to build our vehicles.

Vehicles can be finished in any colour specified by the client, with a level of finish that is normally only seen in automobiles; custom one-off, artistic paint jobs are also possible. Interior trim options are varied, and range from industry standard touristic levels to the height of VIP and diplomatic luxury. Whatever the trim and finish chosen it is certain that it will surpass any expectations as it is hand assembled using latest techniques, equipment and technology.

All exterior components are treated with the latest corrosion barrier products which can withstand up to 3500 hours of constant immersion in the highest concentration of salt water without any adverse effects. The amphicoach can be serviced at any truck or bus service station which shows that this product has been designed and built with ease of maintenance and limited down time in mind, clients will also have full access to all components and tooling to ensure years of uninterrupted service.

Meanwhile as the first consignment is ready for service, Our Search and Rescue Vehicle concept is complete. This has been designed using some of the technology of the Amphicoach, but they are 4 Wheel Drive All-Terrain Trucks that can carry 10 tons of cargo or in excess 50 whilst travelling at 20+ knots in the water and 70mph on the road. The uses for a vehicle like this are endless, Search and Rescue, Armed Forces, Amphibious Troop Carrier, Navy Ship Tenders, for collecting supplies from normally inaccessible areas, Remote Island Emergency Fire Tender, Customs Intervention Vehicles, Flood Rescue Vehicles etc. etc. These vehicles can be armoured built for use by the armed forces. We are confident this vehicle will become a permanent fixture fixture with several Government and Military Agencies throughout the world.

[Amphicoach via 4wheelsnews via Le Blog Auto]

Why, you do what I did and add to the safety by whipping out your camera and shooting some video of the action! Oakland's San Leandro Street is such a driving adventure that I've often felt it ought to be the inspiration for a driving video game, in which the player pilots an '83 Chevette with no license plates and three space-saver spares the length of the much-potholed street, dodging brakeless 18-wheelers, insensate drunks passed out on the gas pedals of rampaging Chrysler New Yorkers, Sterno bums shambling along pushing trains of lashed-together shopping carts, and so on. Unfortunately, the road surface was too bumpy for the camera to register the nerve-wrackingly loose front left wheel on the bus, but you can see the engine cover on the right side of the bus swinging, as the driver weaves randomly down the road.

Though the ersatz NGV bus was destroyed and five other cars damaged, there were no passengers at the time and the bus's driver was standing a short distance away. The only person injured was the gas station attendant, who didn't seem to take it as odd that the bus driver didn't want to stand anywhere near the vehicle while it was being fueled. [Bangkok Post via GCC, Photo: Getty Images]

What's doubly funny about this effort is the fact that when all was said and done, they took it to the drag strip to have a go. Despite our best efforts, the quarter-mile times for the "Vancake," or as we like to call it, "The World's Most Literal Shortbus," could not be found. While hilarious in its own right, we think they should have swung for the deep seats and gone with a pop up camper in the back. [JustKampers and VWBug.co.uk]

I found these pictures while sorting through my electronic picture files on my computer. I took them a couple of years ago when I saw this great combo parked in one of Cooperstown, NY's tourist parking areas. The combo consists of a 1945 Flxible Clipper, a Volvo 544 as a "toad" back-up and a Sears Allstate bike (which I believe was made by Puch in Austria). All of the vehicles are painted a matching paint scheme of oxide red and white. They must have been running because they have California plates and they only made a one day appearance in Cooperstown.

One goal of The Connected Bus is to show that public transportation isn't just for the poor, as the stereotypes often conclude. Including Wi-Fi and other gadgets provides the bus riders with a more desirable experience. Included on each individual screen on The Connected Bus is information like bus schedules, routes, times, advertising and even a "green meter," which is a cheesy schtick to show the environmental impact from the bus at any given time.

It's a pretty smart idea by MUNI and CISCO. We'd be more likely to take a bus chock full of gadgets, what about you? [The Connected Bus via TH]

First, the Arts Academy Charter School contracted (we're guessing cheaply) with a company called Aqua Limo, which already sounds sketchy. Aqua Limo hired a driver who, besides making bad decisions, has a record. And what's the record for? Grand Theft Auto. We're all about rehabilitation and giving someone a second chance, but this just seems like a bad idea. No one has gone to jail, yet. [Fox Cleveland via Motive Mag, Photo WHDH]

This '60 parks very close to the 1960 Studebaker Lark and the 1955 Plymouth Savoy.


Vintage VW Type 2 owners will spend the rest of eternity screaming about how they're not hippies. Hell, real hippies haven't been able to afford these things for many years- they're driving 20-year-old Tercels now.


These vintage travel stickers are great, but I can't help but wonder if they've been there all along or are reproductions.

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Recycling as much as he could, and using common materials, Jake seems to have created a pretty comfortable setup, heck, it may even be bigger than our apartment. Plus, if you don't like the view or the neighbors are yelling at their kids at 7am to "GET ON THAT POTTY", you can simply pick up and move again. We'll be bookmarking this one for that time when the lashings raining down on us from our Wertian overlord become too intense to bear. [Jake's School Bus]