Another reason why hybrids suck: NHTSA study indicates hybrids have higher pedestrian crash rates

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that hybrid vehicles are more likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists under certain scenarios. According to state-level accident data, 77 of 8,387 hybrid vehicles (that's .9 percent) were involved in crashes with pedestrians and 48 (.6 percent) were found to have been in accidents with bicyclists.

By way of comparison, 3,578 of 559,703 non-hybrid vehicles (.6 percent) were involved in pedestrian accidents and 1,862 (.3 percent) were involved with bicyclists. Tellingly, the NHTSA data shows that hybrid vehicles are twice as likely as non-hybirds to be involved in pedestrian or bicyclist accidents at low speeds when the internal combustion engine is not running.

Read the full report here:

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811204.PDF

Race Ramps Flatstoppers

On Richard's recommendation I picked up a set of Race Ramps Flatstoppers for the SV while it hibernates this winter. Richard is a Ferrari Master Technician and one of 30 techs in the US capable of servicing an Enzo. He runs the Mid-Atlantic area's best regarded Ferrari service/race prep shop: Competizione & Sports Cars (www.competizioneracing.com).

Anyway, here's a picture of the Flatstoppers (from their website):

Anthem AVM 50

My old trusty Acurus ACT 3 developed an intermittent connection problem with the amplifier, so I ended up getting a new pre-processor, the Anthem AVM 50.



Anthem has always been known for making very high end audio/video gear along with their twin Paradigm speaker line, and this pre-processor is no different. Video processing duties are handled by Gennum VXP Digital Image Processor that provides truly broadcast quality image processing. On the audio side, theres the usual bullet proof D/A @ full 24-bit x 192 kHz resolution along with 2-channel balanced inputs, and 7.2 channel balanced outs (capable of 2 zones).

I have an audiophile set up rather than a full on HT, and even then the accoustics of the house aren't very good to begin with. Here's the current rig:

Speakers (5.2):
RBH 1266SE/R (front tower; pair)
RBH 661 SE/R (center)
RBH 66 SE/R (surround; pair)
Axiom EP500 (subs; pair)

Amp: Parasound 5250 (5 channel amp, 250w per channel @ 8ohms)

Pre-Processor: Anthem AVM 50

Transports:
Denon 2910 (CD, DVD, DVD-Audio, SACD; HDMI to AVM 50)
Sonos (mp3; coax audio connection to AVM 50)
PS3 (HDMI to AVM 50)
Western Digital Media Player (HDMI to TV; coax audio connection to AVM 50)
Cable box (HDMI to TV; coax audio connection to AVM 50)

TV: 65" Panny plasma

The last two transports hook up to the TV directly via HDMI so that we can watch TV/movies without the whole set up on.

In its current set up, this rig is an audiophile dream.

Instant Ninja!

Just awesome. Period.

Welcome to the dark side

Darth Vader Atom....




....meets Stormtrooper Exige

Adolf Hitler's R35 GT-R Original

This made my day - a funny take on Nissan's ongoing troubles with the new GTR tranny. Starts out slow...but you need to watch the whole thing.