60 Vehicles Were Seized in the Charlotte NC Street Racing Organization

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Have you visited Charlotte, North Carolina? If you like racing, it’s home to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Nascar Hall of Fame. It’s a great place to watch racing. However, many people have taken it upon themselves to be a part of an ongoing street racing investigation, making I-77 and other surrounding roads dangerous. 

Street racing continues in Charlotte, North Carolina 

2020 Dodge Charger | Gettys Images

According to WCNC, some drivers are still doing the crime, even if they might face the time. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department impounded 60 vehicles Thursday morning after an extensive street racing bust. This is one of the largest operations of this kind that the CMPD has been involved with. 

The CMPD began receiving complaints from citizens about dangerous drag racing activities last October. Then the department quickly began an investigation as the Transportation Division identified significant amounts of these hazardous activities occurring around Interstate 485 and Prosperity Church road. 

So far, the ongoing six-month investigation has resulted in 60 vehicles being impounded, 2,100 speeding violations, 400 reckless driving violations, 32 DWI violations, and over 1,000 other charges that the CMPD has filed. 

Who are these racers? 

RELATED: Is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach- E Replacing the Mustang?

Major Dave Johnson of the CMPD shared that these vehicles are a part of an organized national trend of sports car enthusiasts known as ‘Hooning.’ 

Hooning can be defined as groups of motorists engaging in aggressive and reckless diving in the form of intersection and highway takeovers, burnouts, and donuts. Spontaneous and pre-arranged street racing may occur too. 

CMPD is working in collaboration with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and other law enforcement agencies across North and South Carolina. 

So, if you have a nice ride that looks pretty fast right now, don’t speed in the Carolinas! The cops are watching and waiting. On that note, we’ve also heard that you never want to speed in Virginia. 

About 300 individuals will soon receive a warning letter from Chief Johnny Jennings with details about the types of charges they could face if they continue engaging in dangerous and reckless driving activities.

These charges may include and are not limited to aggressive and reckless driving as well as unlawful racing on the streets and highways. 

What vehicles are being used? 

The 2021 Ford Mustang on a race track
2021 Ford Mustang | Ford

You can see Dodge Charger models, Ford Mustangs, an Audi, a Porsche, and more from the photos of impounded cars. Because the Ford Mustang is a popular racing car, let’s check out the 2021 model. 

You can get started in the gas-powered 2021 Ford Mustang for about $27,155. It’s different from the Mustang Mach-E and still has its classic sports car shape.

But it should only be raced by professionals and not used by street racers. The turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine provides 310 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 5.0-liter V8 engine for 480 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. 

Also, the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 pumps out 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque. The Ford Mustang, along with other sports cars, has a ton of power to offer, but it should be used safely and responsibly.

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Indy 500 Urinals Commemorated With Special Shirts

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It’s the month of May. That means all eyes are peeled on qualifying for the Indy 500 scheduled to run on Memorial Day. The long-running race is steeped in history and pageantry. Since Roger Penske took over ownership in 2020, there have been a lot of upgrades. There has also been fear that some of the Memorial Day institutions of the Indy 500 would be relegated to the garbage heap of history. And those fears include replacing the infamous trough urinals in the Men’s restrooms. 

The 125 urinals are a particularly special feature of the Speedway

A group of men wearing dresses as part of a fancy dress challenge pee in a urinal | Photo by Gideon Mendel/In Pictures/Corbis via Getty Images

A particularly special feature of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, they have been an institution for decades. The yearly sights and smells of the Indy 500 urinals greet you with the familiar stainless steel troughs in all of the Men’s restrooms. It wouldn’t be the Indy 500-no, it wouldn’t be summer itself without those gleaming silver urinals glistening in the sun.

In February when word spread that the urinal troughs were being taken out of the restrooms panic ensued. It was such a concern that track president Doug Boles tweeted about it. “The troughs will be replaced…with troughs. Those will be nicer, updated, and reflect the nice updates to the rest of the facility.”

The urinals are an Indy 500 institution

Urinal troughs
General view of urinals | Photo by Dave Howarth/PA Images via Getty Images

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There was a great sigh of relief. The institution of standing surrounded by those with similar pursuits as one urinates is an Indy tradition. Taking away the troughs would be as serious as the removal of the iconic green and white wooden garages in 1985. Possibly worse.

They are a hallmark of the Speedway. It was so important that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has now released a special T-shirt commemorating the troughs. The month of May will now be just a little more special with new urinal troughs maintaining the decades-long tradition of peeing in them.

Urinal troughs are mostly a thing of the past. Wrigley Field and Indy 500 are the two that come to mind as a couple of sporting events that feature them. Beyond that the piss-list gets short. 

These orange commemorative T-shirts are a fitting urinal trough tribute

Indy 500 urinal commemorative t-shirt
Indy 500 urinal commemorative t-shirt | IMS

These orange commemorative T-shirts are a fitting tribute, especially for those who consume beer at the event. The frequent stops to the troughs as the cars can be heard racing around the track are precious moments. Especially, if the day turns into a typical Indiana weekend of humidity and heat. And that makes these commemorative shirts special too.

Messing with traditions is beyond what is acceptable for the Indy 500. From singing “Back Home Again In Indiana,” to those urinals, it just mustn’t be messed with. Thankfully, the IMS majordomos not only live by it but are now immortalizing the urinal troughs forever with these shirts. At the Indy 500 tradition shall never be forsaken. 

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Hankook Puts Wild New Tires Inspired by Origami Water Bombs on a Jeep Wrangler

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tire innovation has been needed for some time now. Well, Hankook has just developed some wild new tires that fold and expand to deal with any terrain and slapped them on a Jeep Wrangler. The coolest part of these new tires is that they are inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding, origami. Who knew origami could translate to a new tire design so well? 

Experimental Hankook tires | Hankook

Hankook’s new tires are unlike anything we’ve seen before

Well, maybe not anything. The Hankook designers based the new tire design on the traditional origami shape, the water bomb. It is essentially a hollow paper cube that uses a complex series of folds to make a tough but malleable box. 

The Hankook tire is obviously a bit different, but you can see the “folding” inspiration in these space-age new tires. According to New Atlas, Hankook’s R&D has been hard at work with some biorobotics folks from Seoul National University and Harvard engineers to bring us these trippy folding wheels. 

These teams have worked on this project for nearly 10 years before this usable set of wheels. These are clearly no ordinary tires, but what sends them into the stratosphere is the ability to expand from a diameter of 18.1 to 31.5 inches.

Not only do these bad boys expand for tons of ground clearance, but these wheels can support a full-size vehicle’s weight. 

How do these new wheels work? 

New Atlas says they are made from three layers of thick, flexible composite membrane that can still fold up like the origami water bombs. The lines and creases that allow them to work are actually very close to the folds used to make a water bomb with paper. 

diagram of the new Hankook experimental tires
Hankook Experimental tires | Hankook

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In between these triple-layered membranes, the Hankook team sandwiched aluminum plates on the non-folding parts. These plates are what make the tires rigid enough to carry real weight. 

Without any inward pressure, the wheels would stay in the 18.1-inch collapsed position. Once the inward pressure is applied and set by the internal locking plates, the wheels can stay at their max height of 31.5 inches. Hankook set up a lab vehicle and a Jeep Wrangler with a set of these for testing. 

What are these wheels used for? 

The applications for these adjustable tires seem nearly endless. However, the main objective for these tires is likely for greater versatility for robot vehicles to access more locations without swapping parts. 

For instance, if a vehicle is off-road or traveling over the wreckage, the wheels could shrink to allow the robot to pass under obstacles or rise to cross more treacherous terrains. Even in more normal scenarios, having smaller tires might help with comfort and gas mileage. However, they seem to be much better for going camping or crossing off-road terrain than city tires. 

Let’s hope these prototype tires can pass their testing period and move into production. They could be one of the most practical car modifications ever to hit the market. To really drive the point home, the researchers say the wheels have a slight give to them that would suggest some suspension applications as well. 

If nothing else, these wheels or something like them seem like a no-brainer for off-world space exploration. These extending new tires could grant access to more places to a rover making the trips more valuable. 

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Where Should You Sleep if You’re Living Out of Your Car?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

You might live in your car full-time, or you might be traveling, but there are many reasons why you might sleep in your car. It saves money over getting a hotel. But before sleeping or camping in your car, you should know the spots to pick and the ones to avoid to minimize trouble. Some spots are illegal, and others will help you ensure car safety.

Places you can sleep in your car

RELATED: Is Living in Your Car Dangerous?

It can sometimes be difficult to find a good spot to sleep in your car overnight. Road Trip USA suggests finding a private, safe place that allows cooking and has restrooms.

  • Walmart parking lots: A Walmart parking lot is a great spot to park overnight. It’s a nationwide chain, so you’ll likely come across one on your travels. Overnight parking, including with an RV, is allowed at about half of the nation’s 4,700 Walmarts, Drivin’ & Vibin’ reports, so call ahead to confirm. The parking lots are well-lit, improving safety. Some stores are open 24 hours, providing restroom access, and many offer free Wi-Fi. But light sleepers might have trouble with the bright lights and early-morning shoppers. 
  • Casinos: If you’re near a casino, especially in Nevada, they’re open 24 hours, so you’ll have access to restrooms and restaurants. Many also have security guards and cameras in their parking lots for improved safety. Because the casino assumes you’re there to gamble, don’t draw attention to yourself in the parking lot by cooking outdoors, walking around excessively, or playing loud music.
  • Rest stops: If you’re on the highway, you’ll probably pass several rest areas. You can legally sleep here in many states, so you won’t be asked to leave in the middle of the night. Many also have 24-hour restrooms and picnic tables. Some are secluded and not well-lit, though, so be sure to pick a spot where you feel comfortable.
  • Welcome centers: Often found near state lines, these spots offer larger parking lots that don’t get much overnight use. You can also get maps and info about local attractions. However, they aren’t open round-the-clock, so there isn’t overnight restroom access.
  • Bureau of Land Management sites: Dispersed camping is permitted on BLM land, so you won’t have trouble sleeping in your car or setting up a tent. It’s allowed pretty much anywhere except trailheads and designated campsites, and you can stay for 14 days (and sometimes 30) without paying. You’ll need to make sure you take all of your trash away with you. This is more of an option out West than in the East.

Where it’s illegal to sleep in your car

Some types of parking and even states are illegal to sleep in your car. It’s best to avoid these locations; otherwise, you could be asked to leave in the middle of the night or get a ticket. Also, your car should be parked while you’re sleeping, even if you’re in a Tesla with Autopilot.

Generally, it’s illegal to sleep overnight in the parking lot of a grocery store, mall, or restaurant. However, if you’re willing to take the risk, sometimes no one will notice you’re there. They are convenient in many suburban places. However, keep in mind that mall parking lots sometimes attract thieves.

Also, sleeping in your car on a city street overnight is relatively safe. It’s also often free because parking fees are generally required only during the day. However, sleeping in your car there overnight is usually illegal, so you won’t want to do anything that could get you noticed. Plus, there’s no access to public restrooms during the night.

Some states have stricter laws than others. Some places in Florida ban sleeping in your car. Neither the Sunshine State nor Georgia allows sleeping on a highway shoulder. You can sleep at Florida rest stops but only for three hours at a time, Direct Auto Insurance reports. Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee don’t allow overnight parking at rest stops and have some limits on how long you can park during the day. Walmart parking lots are good spots in these states, but call ahead to confirm the location allows it.

Staying safe when sleeping in your car

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Here are ways to stay safe when sleeping in your car:

  • Park near a light pole.
  • Park in the shade to help keep the car cooler.
  • Avoid sleeping on the side of the road because it’s less safe, and you could get hit while parked.
  • Bring any bikes or interesting belongings on an outside rack inside your vehicle if you can. Don’t leave valuables in plain sight.
  • Lock your doors.
  • Don’t sleep with the car running or the climate controls on. This burns gas and drains the battery. It could also force you to breathe emissions while you sleep. Instead, use a battery-operated fan.
  • Don’t leave your windows open more than a bit to keep thieves out. But leaving a small opening improves air ventilation.
  • The Drive also suggests texting your location to someone before going to sleep.

These types of accommodations aren’t for everyone. But if you choose good locations and plan ahead, you’ll be able to sleep in your car safely.

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