Business smart 48: The Old Triangle, Halifax, NS

The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse

Smart electric set to plug in next summer

By Steve MacNaull The Canadian Press - Thu, Jul 21

KELOWNA, B.C. — Dana Sleigh pushes the pedal to the metal on the Smart electric car and gets only silent acceleration.

"I knew that’s what’s supposed to happen," said Sleigh during a recent test drive of the 100 per cent electric vehicle.

"But it’s still a bit unexpected because when you accelerate you expect all the revving and accompanying noise. I love the quiet of this car."

Sleigh of Kelowna test drove the Smart ED (electric drive) when the Smart Plugged In Tour promoting the vehicles came to the local Mercedes-Benz dealership recently. Mercedes-Benz is the maker of both the regular Smart and electric Smart cars and the vehicles are sold through their dealerships.

While the electric Smart car won’t start to be sold to the public until summer 2012, the tour is meant to bump up awareness and excitement about the brand.

Smart has an advantage in the electric car race because its gas and diesel models have already been on the market for years and people are familiar with the distinctive snub-nosed shape of the cute littletwo-seaters.

That will come in handy when the electric car market explodes next year with not only Smart coming on stream, but also the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Miev.

Read more here.

Fake Kombi is Subaru in Disguise

Photo by RLT

This little beauty didn't fool us for long. Hats off to the folk at La Perla for delivering the make-over.

Rare Bird

Photo by RLT

We spotted this Hondy Acty in St Peter Port, Guernsey at the Val des Terres Hill Climb. This is a grey import as this vehicle is not normally seen in these parts.

Little Ligier is no racer

We spotted this Ligier microcar in Cherbourg, France. The same company that ran in Formula One 1976-1996. Photo by RLT

Business smarts 45, 46 & 47

Photo by RLT

After spotting 15 fortwos at St Peter Port, Guernsey within an hour of arriving, I give up on counting. It's not surprising that drivers find them suitable to the narrow streets and limited parking on the island. Above are some of the "business smarts" we've seen.

Channel Islands: Alderney

During our six day visit, we count 7 or 8 fortwos including the one above at St Anne's Harbour.

Also suited to island driving is an electric GWiz made by Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Limited, pictured below.

Smart Crossblade Returns

Leaked patent drawings reveal Smart is working on a successor to its wacky 2001 roadster.

By Jack Rix 04th January 2011

The Crossblade is back! Introduced at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, Smart’s quirkiest model did without doors, a roof and a proper windscreen – and these grainy design drawings prove that a spiritual successor is on the way.
Filed by Mercedes, Smart’s parent company, in mid-November last year these revealing images were leaked onto the web this week, and show the newcomer from a variety of angles.
Precious few details have emerged, but the outrageous styling tells you everything you need to know. Unlike the Crossblade which ditched conventional doors in favour of shoulder-height safety bars that swung upwards on gas struts, this new roadster keeps a conventional set of doors.
A chopped-down windscreen is designed to channel airflow over the occupant’s head, while maintaining the dramatic open-top looks. Smart’s distinctive Tridion Safety Cell keeps the structural rigidity in tact, and now forms two oversize roll hoops behind the driver and passenger’s head.
No details have emerged about if and when we’ll see the new roadster in the flesh, but a debut, initially in concept form, seems likely at the Geneva show in March.

View Source.

New York City gets smart

On a recent visit to Midtown Manhattan we spotted four smart cars in four days, two of which are pictured here. By comparison, it's hard to leave home in Toronto without seeing two or three.

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 38: South Bend, IA to Toronto, ON (Home)

Five and a half weeks into mission, we're starting to feel road weary and deciding we'd like to wake up the next morning in our own bed, we put the hammer down and head for home.
It being Sunday morning that we're in the heart of Northern Indiana Amish country, we share the highway with innumerable horse drawn buggies (above).
In Ohio we stop at the Libbey Glass Factory Outlet. Since we've started collecting glassware, we've become interested in the history of its manufacture in North America. Toledo has long been a centre for the industry.
The border crossing at Detroit is busy but traffic moves quickly and we're across the Ambassador Bridge and back in Ontario in less than half an hour (below).
A combination of heavy rain, fatigue and a detour off the 401 make for a long and wearisome drive into Toronto. We are thankful to arrive safely and are glad to be back home.


Daily distance: 757 km Fuel cost: $9.08 US, $15.05 CDN

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 37: Knoxville, IO to South Bend, IN

Up and on the road early, we have a hearty breakfast of veggie omelets & hash browns at The Copper Lantern in Sigourney, IO. Like many other county seats in the state, the County Courthouse is the focal point of the town's layout (above).
Throughout this tour we've navigated across fifteen states using four tools: GPS, maps, signs and hubby's sense of direction. This morning, leaving Iowa and entering Illinois our GPS has developed laryngitis and we don't have a state map. Months ago when planning this trip, I ordered travel info from various states. I was sent brochures and road maps from every state but one - Illinois. After several false leads we get a map at a rest stop.
When we get to Indiana we are very impressed by the Welcome Centre at South Shore where the staff are friendly and helpful (below). We decide to press on to South Bend, IN, and stop for the night.

Daily distance: 655 km Fuel cost: $20

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 36: Columbus, NE to Knoxville, IO

When we stop at the smart center in LaVista, NE (a suburb of Omaha) we realize that one of our sidelights is not working (above). We wanted to get an oil change after all the kilometres we've covered on tour. A friendly salesperson directed us to the service centre at the back of the dealership to get both of these problems looked after. Evidently, our timing was bad. We were told that ALL of the service folks were just about to go for lunch. No worries. We'll take our money elsewhere.
At lunch time we stop at Our Daily Bread in Griswold, Iowa (below). This historic building is just as lovely inside as out. This family run business is a bakery and cafe. We order the pizza of the day with side salad and grilled salmon with rice and salad. Two large mugs of tea and a luscious lemon cake to share round out the meal, $24 including tax and tip. We can't resist buying a loaf of banana bread for the road, $2.49.
By evening it's raining, we're road weary and hadn't booked a room. All things considered we were happy to find the Red Carpet Inn in Knoxville, home of the Sprint car equivalent of the Super Bowl - the Knoxville Nationals.


Daily distance: 449 km Fuel cost: $11

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 35: Ogallala, NE to Columbus, NE

Another theme of our trip has been railroads. In Trains magazine, we read about the largest train yard in the world at North Platte, Nebraska and knew we'd have to top at the Golden Spike Tower & Visitor's Centre while on tour (above). It's hard to come to grips with the magnitude of Union Pacific's Bailey yard. Imagine being on the eighth storey of a tower overlooking a 2,850 acre yard where 10,000 railway cars are handled daily. "The idea of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center was first conceived in the mid-1990s as Union Pacific's viewing platform was falling into disrepair. Community leaders thought it a good idea to erect a tower that would allow visitors to get a birds-eye view of Bailey Yard. The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center opened on June 26, 2008." Source: official website.
Travelling eastbound on highway 30, there is a constant flow of railway traffic easily viewed from the road.
We stop for a picnic lunch at Ehman Park in Gothenburg, NE, which is named for the city in Sweden where the town's early settlers hail from. In the park we visit an original Pony Express Station, moved 20 miles to this site in 1931 which now houses artifacts, tourist info and a gift shop. Across the street is the Gothenburg Historical Museum where we discuss war time ration books, Canada's medicare system and the joys of travelling off the interstate with long time residents (below). Neither site charges admission but donations are gratefully accepted.


Daily Distance: 442km Fuel Cost: $ 19

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 34: Rawlins, WY to Ogallala, NE

On this tour, hubby and I have been talking about how "Westerns", both films and TV shows, were very popular when we were growing up. Today we drove into Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming both of which had series named after them. I've been trying to figure out which program's opening song is stuck in my head. After searching on Youtube I realize it's the theme from "The High Chaparral" (set in Arizona, not Wyoming alas).
At Laramie we find "The Grounds" a coffee shop that just re-opened under new ownership on the first of August. We enjoy their coffee, banana bread and wifi (above).
At lunch time, we drive in to Kimball, the first town of any size we reach in Nebraska on I 80. At Greg's Grub Steakhouse and Grille we enjoy the best service and best lunch of the tour. Hubby opts for the "Chicken Hobo Pocket" (chicken breast with potatoes, celery, onions, carrots and seasonings cooked in a foil "pocket") and I have the grilled cheese sandwich. Both come with salad bar. Add iced tea, tax and tip - $17.35 for a wonderful lunch.
We stop and several thrift and antique shops along Hwy 30 - The Lincoln Highway which gets us off the interstate for miles before we end the day's journey in Ogallala, Nebraska.



Daily distance:520 km Fuel cost: $9

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 33: Salt Lake City, UT to Rawlins, WY

Salt Lake City has a unique history, setting and vibe. As we drive to the Utah State Capital Campus we see temporary no parking notices that have been set up to keep the road clear for the "Tour of Utah" time trials to be held this evening. We see the teams getting their practice laps in.
At the capital, we are greeted by Beverly, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who shows us the old supreme court, the house chamber and senate chamber. The art work in the rotunda is exquisite (above).
We cross the street to the Travel Council Building (below) which was constructed in 1865-66 and moved to its present location in 1963. We pick up a map and some tourist info and head west towards Rawlins.


Daily distance: 500 km Fuel cost: $20

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 32: Elko, NV to Salt Lake City, UT

Back to "the Salt" today for a last look at the cars - what a blast! We've met so many interesting folks from near and far. At what other motor racing event can you sit at the start line and watch the cars and bikes being launched?
These two Crosleys really caught my eye. They are both date from between 1946 and 1948. "Crosley Motors Incorporated had its main office and engineering facility in Cincinnati Ohio, with assembly plants in Richmond Indiana (1939-1942) and Marion Indiana (1946-1952).
The Crosley automobile was the brain child of Powel Crosley, who had already made his fortune as a radio and appliance manufacturer, owner of WLW the "Nation's Station" and the Cincinnati Reds baseball team." Source: Crosley Automobile Club Inc.
During the drive to Salt Lake City we start to appreciate the full extent of the salt flats - over 30,000 acres.

Daily distance: 407 km Fuel cost: $6

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 31: Elko, NV - Wendover, UT - Elko, NV

Six weeks ago, when we tried to book a hotel for Speed Week we weren't that surprised that everything within a 100 miles of Bonneville was fully booked. With 345 vehicles registered, each with a crew of 5 or 6 people; add to that family and friends; then the spectators - it's not hard to explain why even the campgrounds are full. We stayed in Elko, NV and so clocked up 400 km just going back and forth from "The Salt".
We had a much better idea about how to make the most of it and stay hydrated in the 90F sun.
Even with the amazing array of vehicles that show up, our smart car Trudi still attracts some attention.




Daily distance: 400 km Fuel cost: $16

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 30: Ely, NV to Elko, NV (via Wendover, UT)

People we've spoken to that had been to "the salt" at Bonneville told us that the experience defied description. After being there today for Speed Week I have to agree. Every type of vehicle you can imagine - from motorcycles, to hot rods, to streamliners - from around the world are all ramped up to set land speed records (LSR). The sights, sounds and smells are unique. There's a juxtaposition of strict rules for competitors and lax regulations for spectators who are free to roam at will, chat with drivers and crews and take all the photos they want.
We meet up with Rick Pearson who is driving the "Flower of Scotland" (above) and attempting to break the LSR in the blown fuel streamliner class. We get to ride in the vehicle that tows the trailer, following Rick's first run at 170 mph and then watch the pit crew prep the car for a second run.

Daily distance: 398 km Fuel cost: $10

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 29: Ely, NV

Today didn't work out the way we planned. We thought we'd go to take a look at the Ward Charcoal Ovens in the national park, but when we realized it would mean 10 miles each way on a gravel road, we decided not to risk a flat tire or chipped windshield. Instead, we drove up to Cave Lake and enjoyed idyllic scenery and watching an American Coot herd her chicks with peculiar vocals (above). The water was so clear we could see Rainbow Trout of a good size coming to the surface for insects.
The laundromat our GPS found had gone out of business but fortunately there was a sign on the door recommending Soak n' Suds a few blocks away. It was a pleasure to wait for our clothes to be done in a clean, bright establishment with free coffee, washrooms and recent magazines. On the bulletin board, we see a poster about a car show hosted by the White Pine Rodders that neglected to give a specific location but it didn't take us long to find where it was - in front of the White Pine County Courthouse (below).
We stop for lunch at The Big Apple - daily special tuna melt on a croissant and cup of fresh fruit a bargain at $5.95. We consider visiting the White Pine County museum but neither of us could face another tourist attraction so we retreat to the hotel and chill out and regroup.

Daily distance: 45km Fuel cost: $0

Crazy Daisy Tour Day 28: Ely, NV

We arrive at the Nevada Northern Railway's East Ely station and board the 9:30 train. Four cars are pulled by an Alco RS 3 diesel engine, number 109 (above). We're on the Keystone Route which goes to the mines of Ruth and Keystone, NV. After an hour and a half journey, we disembark the train at the workshop where an extremely knowledgeable volunteer named Bob shows us where and how the hundred year old steam locomotives are maintained (below). The Railway has some gems in its collection - many are fully operational but much time and money are needed to fully restore some unique pieces like the rotary snow plow. The walking tour lasts a full hour and we feel we've really got our money's worth.


Daily distance: 55 km Fuel cost: $11.50