OK folks.  I am in my late 50s and this is what I remember when I first
started to drive in the early 60s in southern California.

Gas price wars on "99" highway with the winner being a "Bruce 88" station
that would sell fuel for five gallons for a DOLLAR!  That was 19.9 NINETEEN
POINT NINE CENTS per gallon.  General price then was 28 to 31 cents per
gallon.  As I was just a lowly teenager, my father's wages were about $80.00
per week.  Compare both to what you are making now and see what the
difference is!

Here in northern Alabama we have the wonderful ability to pay $3.00 per
gallon or more.  I don't even want to think of what Chicago or So-cal is
now.

===========================================

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Brian Tipsword
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 11:32 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Gas price war / costs of road trips (NVC)

More grist for the mill...

  http://zfacts.com/p/60.html

  http://healthandenergy.com/ethanol.htm

  http://www.cecarf.org/Programs/Fuels/SourcesCarriers.html

  It is my opinion that ethanol will do several things none of them very
good.

  People don't factor in how much petroleum it takes to produce corn or
sugar cane or whatever you intend on distilling. They also neglect to factor
in the energy required in the distillation process.  Where is this energy
derived?  Coal, NatGas or?  No matter how you slice it the hidden costs are
numerous and they far outstrip the usefulness of this energy carrier.

  Lastly this is to provoke thought and friendly discourse, not spin anyone
up :-)

  Brian

  PS
  The scarpar is very cool!