Jalopnik: Virginia

Rocket Scientist Citroen D Special Awaits Blast-Off In Virginia

Murilee Martin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT

We always love to see French cars down on the North American street, especially when they're Citroëns. Chimuel caught this early-70s D Special in Deltaville, Virginia, and had camera at the ready. Note the NASA parking permit.

Spotted a Citroën D Special when I was walking around a restaurant in Deltaville, VA. I saw it randomly and there was a nice blue Citroën sitting in an alley, unrestored. The NASA bumper sticker is interesting too.

1954 Chrysler Windsor

Murilee Martin — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:40:00 EDT

Much of the old Detroit iron in the eastern half of the continent has oxidized into nothingness by now, but that doesn't mean it's all gone. Virginia-based Jagvar has been kind enough to shoot some quality photos of a very clean '54 Chrysler that parks in his neighborhood. The Windsor was the least expensive Chrysler for '54, and it came with a 265-cubic-inch flathead six engine. Make the jump to read Jagvar's description.

I live in Arlington, Virginia, where I've spotted a green 1954 Chrysler Windsor parked on the street several times. I've been waiting for weeks for a clear, sunny Saturday, and today I was finally able to make it over to snap some pictures.
The car appears to be a daily driver. It's usually parked within a few spaces of the same house, and it's out on the street, rain or shine. As I said, it's a '54, it has a flat-head six, and that's about all that I know about it.

Poultry Fat Causes Chaos on Virginia Roads

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST

If you live in Virginia and accidentally put a dent in your parent's new Bimmer we've got a great excuse for you: a truck carrying poultry fat left a trail of greasy, smelly lard 20 miles along northbound Route 13 in eastern Virginia, causing at least four accidents and creating a massive stink. It all started when a driver for Perdue somehow sprung a leak while carting the waste product to a disposal facility. Despite leaving a "greasy film" and broken fenders in his wake, it wasn't until he made it to a weigh-station that the cops caught up to him.

Perdue has contracted with a cleaning company to help clean up the spill, which is apparently an environmental and driving hazard. We fell in love with the Perdue Wonder Chicken thanks to the Chicken Hut in Chicago, so we're glad our noses weren't anywhere in the proximity of this greasy disaster. [AP]

Virginia Leads Nation In Vanity License Plates

Murilee Martin — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST

Fully 10 percent of American vanity license plates can be found in the home state of George Washington and the Central Intelligence Agency. A whopping 16% of license plates issued by the state are of the vanity variety; this can be explained by the cheapness ($10) and online ease with which such plates can be obtained. But how do you explain Illinois, which has a vanity rate approaching Virginia's yet charges $78 per year for the privilege? [Associated Press]

All Right, Gay: Virginia Man Must Remove Suggestive Plates

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:45:00 EST

David Phillips of the Commonwealth of Virginia is out, way out. So out that he runs around town in a car with the license plate "POOFTER," which is British slang for a gay man. He's put 11 years and more than 200K miles on this plate in his Geo Tracker without anyone minding. Unfortunately for him, someone complained and now the VA DMV is on the case. The plate, which replaced "NANCYBOY," is possibly considered offensive because it can be considered a negative term. To his credit, Phillips is going to do his best to maintain his plates and will fight this all the way to the odd sounding Word Committee. Maybe as a back up he should just change his plates to "TOBIAS." [Washington Post]

"OMG, I Just Ran Over A Hobo, LOL!"

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:45:00 EST

The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would ban teenagers from using cell phones while driving. The bill still has to be passed by the upper house and signed by the governor, but let's be honest that we all know that's going to happen. It's an easy way to look good and, even better, most teenagers can't or won't vote! One delegate pointed out that in the seven seconds it takes to send a text message in a car going 60 mph you drive two football fields or over one hundred hobos. – Matt Hardigree

Virginia House Passes Teen Driver Cell Phone Ban [WTKR-TV]

Related:
Governator To Sign Automotive Celly Ban [Internal]

NSRA to Allow Pre-'77 Vehicles at Three Events

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:45:00 EST

The National Street Rod Association has long been regarded as a cabal of beards in the car-modification hobby. No cars at events newer than 1949, bantering back and forth about what's a rod, what's a custom, what's tradtional and what isn't. Well, then again, that crap goes on at Billetproof, too. Regardless, the Beards have deigned to allow '77-and-earlier vehicles into three events this year, in an attempt to attract hobbyists under the age of 50. Their Milwaukee, Richmond, VA and Sacto events will all allow iron from after Los Jalops were born. Well, except for Wert. Heck, maybe they'll let Avail's tour van into the Virginia show... – Davey G. Johnson

NSRA Announces 2007 Schedule And Changes At Three Events [Street Rodder]

Related:
The Sacramento Autorama [Internal]

Celebrating Walgreenisnoon in Virginia: Dump Truck Takes Out Cars, Drugstore

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 02:09:06 EDT

Donnie Lee Smith, of Troutsville, VA, is out a job after failing to set the parking brake on the dump truck whose care he was charged with. The vehicle rolled 500 feet down the street, hitting several vehicles and then smashed into a Wallgreens. Needless to say, everyone involved in the incident is rather unhappy. Well, except for the media types. We're having fun making up stupid headlines.

Dump truck hits car, drug store on Williamson Road [WDBJ]

The Speed-Trappiest Towns in the USA

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 22:30:00 EDT

If one Sheriff R.P. Coltrane ever finally runs permanently afoul of a certain Jefferson Davis Hogg, it would behoove him to look for employment in one of the cities listed after the jump.

1. Detroit, Michigan suburbs
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Colorado Springs, Colorado
5. Houston, Texas
6. Virginia Beach, Virginia
7. Austin, Texas
8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
9. Nashville, Tennessee
10. Fresno, California

Top Ten US Speedtrap Cities [TheNewspaper via TransportTrends]

Related:
My Hoopty Rollin', Speed-Camera Evadin' [Internal]

Law Breaking the Law: License Plate Covers on DC Area Cop Cars

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 18:36:50 EST

In Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, license plate covers are illegal. In the District and MD, nothing can be covering the tag, while in Virginia, nothing tinted can cover the plate. So why do some area police cruisers and officers' personal vehicles sport plate covers? We're guessing for the same reason that civilians resort to the devices to make their plates harder to read, either to photo cameras or to passerby who may report unsavory activities to said officers' superiors. Closet hoons in blue? Who'da thunk it?

Illegal Tag Covers Found on Personal Police Cars [WTOP]

Bay Area City Must Refund Red Light Camera Tickets [Internal]