Electric Cars Keep Driving in Hurricane Sandy Gas Shortage

nissan leaf
Nissan Leaf

Electric Cars Keep Driving in Hurricane Sandy Gas Shortage

If you currently live in New York or New Jersey, Hurricane Sandy has most likely caused you to deal with long gas lines, even if you don't own a car. People with electric cars however, like the Nissan Leaf, seem to be making out ok.

After Hurricane Sandy, millions of people in New York and New Jersey were affected by flooding and massive power outages. Even now with electricity restored and debris out of the way, Hurricane Sandy's massive damage is still being felt as it is a huge pain to get gas in the Tri-State area. In the early hours in the morning people are queuing up at gas stations to make sure they get some of the limited supply.

People like Varun Bhatia, who lives in Long Island isn't having as much trouble with his all electric car, the Nissan Leaf. “I didn't realize I would be the only one driving for a couple of days and everybody else would be just in a tough position,” said Bhatia of Long Island, New York.

Bhatia got his Leaf shipped from Washington State so he could be among the first in New York to own a Leaf. Now he is happy with his choice to buy an electric vehicle, especially since he can skip the long gas lines. He also has made good use of his Leaf putting 300 miles on the car during the three days after the storm hit. Not only has his Leaf saved him money, but his popularity seems to be going higher too. Bhatia helped saved a couple of friends who got stranded because of Hurricane Sandy.

Let's face it for most of us gas is essential for getting around. Also if you didn't have electricity during a Hurricane it would be hard to charge your electric vehicle. Still, it seems Bhatia made out pretty good with his Nissan Leaf in the great gas shortage. Maybe this will cause a lot of people to change their thinking about electric vehicles and cars.

Timonium Motorcycle Show brings Bikes & Bikers to MD

If you love motorcycles, chrome, leather, and hot babes, than the 2012 Timonium Motorcycle Show was the place for you to be.  The Timonium Motorcycle Show takes place at the Maryland State Fairgrounds every year in February and is one of the largest indoor bike shows up and down the Mid-Atlantic. The show covers around 750,000 square feet of floor space and features all sorts of exciting events and bikes over the three days it takes place.

This year's show, which took place February 10th-12th, was a cold weekend. A little cold never keeps bikers away as the parking lot was packed, as usual. Walking in from the parking lot you can always tell the enormity of the event by the all the out-of-state license plates, Virginia, Pennsylvania, even as far away as North Carolina. Luckily those people didn't drive all that way for nothing as this year's show was quite good.

Walking into the entrance you are greeted by a glorious display of Harley-Davidson motorcycles showcased by Harley-Davidson of Baltimore. My favorite Harley at the show? Honestly… it is too hard to decide.

Behind the Harley-Davidson display was Bob's BMW with their exciting BMW offerings, which included the special K-1300S HP package. Improving upon BMW's amazing K-1300 S, the K-1300 S HP package offers a 175-horsepower with carbon parts for the front wheel cover, battery cover and rear seat cowling, making the bike light. It also has a beautiful Akrapović sports silencer and a paddock stand. Only 750 of these amazing motorcycle will be made, which is disappointing, but at least I was able to see one.

Victory Motorcycles was also at the show. The bike everyone always seems to crowd I have noticed is the Victory Vision Tourer. It's striking lines and amazing shape really catch the eye and make a lot of people stop to take a closer look.  It screams, “Ride me!”

Some other brands I enjoyed seeing at Timonium Motorcycle Show were Triumph and Indian. There is something about the classic look of the Triumph Bonneville and Triumph Scramblers which is so hard not to love. It takes me back to a simpler time, when I wasn't even alive! I talked with the salesmen about how it has been selling motorcycles in this economy and it seems Triumph sales have endured. As the Bonneville is a popular among celebrities and Marlon Brando rode a Triumph in the famous movie “The Wild One.”

The beautiful Indian Chiefs on display form Indian Motorcycles of New Jersey were quite amazing too. Lots of people stopped and commented on how beautiful the bikes were.  Better save your money because the least expensive Chief model starts around $26,000.  Worth, probably.

There were also many custom bikes at the show.  Paul Teutal Jr.'s first he built after he split from Orange County Choppers was on display at the Geico Insurance booth.  The Geico Insurance bike is a cool looking bike, but it has fairly useless infrared sensor. One of my favorites at the show every year is a motorcycle dedicated to The Beatles. The gas tank is adorned with the famous Abbey Road album cover picture. Who doesn't love the Beatles? Most interesting vehicle of any kind would have to be the Monocycle. That thing must be hard to ride and control!  There were countless other amazing custom motorcycles at the show as well.

Every bike enthusiasts has a different style and taste, and most likely you will find something that will suit your style at the Timonium Motorcycle Show.  Since this year was the 10th Anniversary of the show, it felt particularly exciting experience. If you missed it this year, be sure to check it out next year.  See my pictures below and check out my International Bikini Team Contest coverage.

2012 ‘Best Of’ Award Winners

Judge’s Choice Best of Show:  #5702 Denny Ritchie / 2010 Roadkill Chopper

People’s Choice Best of Show:  #5715 Rick Levitan / 2002 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide – ‘Beatles Themed Bike’

Best Display of Show:  #5505 Curtis Wolfe / 1966 Harley Davidson Sportster

Best Handcrafted Parts:  #5711 Troy Helmick  / 1974 Honda CL 360

Best Paint of Show:  #5207 Kevin Webb / 2007 Harley Davidson Nightrain

3rd Annual Beatris Landis Memorial Award for Best Antique

Best Antique of Show:   #5818 Brian Kehoe / 1939 Indian Jr. Scout

Publishers Choice Award – Presented By Born to Ride Magazine

#3010 John Nicklin / 1976 Honda Radical Trike

For pictures of the winners check Timonium Motorcycle Show's Website.

Jalopnik Rates Baltimore 2nd Worst Driving City in Country, DC 1st

The Grand Prix in Baltimore

Baltimoreans… our humble city has been rated the 2nd worst driving city in the country!  Why such a rating?  Apparently drivers of Baltimore get into 88% more accidents than the rest of the country.  “Charm City residents apparently see their vehicles as just another crustacean waiting for its shell to be cracked open” is the way Jalopnik put it.  Somehow there is some truth to that statement.  The rankings were taken from Allstate's data, which insures 10% of all US drivers.  Jalopnik sorted through the data to compile the list.  It's hard for me to believe we are the 2nd worst in the country, but I guess the numbers speak for themselves.  No wonder insurance is so expensive here!

The first city on the list is Washington DC.  All the super yuppies (as I like to call them) are apparently twice as likely to get into an accidents as the rest of the nation.  “There are so many possible reasons — the city's cross-hatch street layout, it's population of drivers with diplomatic  immunity, tour-bus related congestion — that it's hard to assign blame, exactly the kind of problem Washington excels in creating.” commented Jalopnik.  Essentially this means the Baltimore-Washington Metro area is the worst driving area in the country!

I would definitely like to hear people opinions on this.  Do you agree or disagree?

Ten Worst Driving Cities in the US! 

  1. Washington DC
  2. Baltimore
  3. Glendale, CA
  4. Newark, NJ
  5. Providence, RI
  6. Philadelphia
  7. Hartford, Conn.
  8. Jersey City, NJ
  9. San Francisco 
  10. Alexandria, VA

 


Win Baltimore Grand Prix Tickets

Do you want to go to the Baltimore Grand Prix?  Well you are in luck!  Mr. Tire is giving away 250 pairs of tickets to the 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix for Friday September 2nd.  All you need to do is fill out and submit your information on the online entry form. Then you could win tickets to the event.  You better hurry to enter as the sweepstakes ends August 22nd, 2011.

There is a catch.  You can enter if you reside in Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia or West Virginia.  If you live in other states… sorry you are not eligible.  I assume most people within the specified entry states are most likely the majority of people who would be attending the Baltimore Grand Prix anyway.

The winners will be notified by email on August 24th.  So don't make any plans for Labor day weekend if you enter.  Remember this is big event for Baltimore.  If you win some tickets I hope to see you there!

To enter visit: http://www.mrtire.com/grandprix/