Random Facts

* Toyota is recalling 2.3 million vehicles in the United States because of the risk that the accelerator pedal could stick. The vehicles covered by the recall include the RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra and Sequoia. Consumers can check to see if their vehicle is covered by the recall at www.toyota.com/recall.

* Another 1.8 million Toyota vehicles in Europe, 270,000 in Canada and over 100,000 in U.S. dealer inventory are also at risk of developing a sticky accelerator and in line for repair, Toyota and industry sources say.

* Toyota dealers will begin receiving a part to fix the defective accelerators this week. The replacement part — a steel reinforcement bar — is designed to reduce friction in the accelerator and prevent sticking. U.S. consumers who have their vehicle repaired will be eligible to have a whole new accelerator installed when those parts are available.

* The repair job on the defective accelerators is expected to take less than an hour. The cost will be covered by Toyota. Dealers have said they expect to bill almost $100 per repair to the automaker. Many U.S. dealers said they were extending operating hours or would run repair shops overnight to fix defective vehicles once the fix arrives.

* In a separate safety action, Toyota is recalling nearly 5 million vehicles in the United States because of the risk that the accelerator pedal could become trapped by the floormat, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That recall covers late model versions of the Camry, Avalon, Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander, Corolla, Venza and Matrix. The Lexus ES350, IS250 and IS350 are also covered. Some vehicles are covered by both the floormat and accelerator recalls.

* Toyota has started to notify owners affected by the second recall that they can have their accelerator pedal shortened at a dealership. In addition, Toyota has said it will install a new brake override system on some recalled models. Owners who opt to do so can also have a new brake pedal installed sometime after April 2010.

* NHTSA says it has confirmed that five people — in two separate accidents — died in Toyota vehicles because the accelerator was trapped by a floormat. The U.S. regulatory agency said it has not confirmed any injuries or deaths because of the sticky accelerator issue.

* Safety Research and Strategies, a Massachusetts-based consultancy, says it has counted 2,262 incidents of apparent unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles since 1999. That total includes 815 crashes, 341 cases of injury and 19 deaths, according to the firm.

via FACTBOX – Key facts about Toyota safety recall | Business News | Reuters.

Top Models

Vehicles that received a top rating of “good” in all four crash tests—front, side, rollover and rear impact—and have electronic stability control to help drivers avoid crashes.

via Safest 2010 Cars Revealed by Insurance Institute for Highway – WSJ.com.

The only state highway in the U.S. that prohibits motorized vehicles is M-185 on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. You can travel on foot, bicycle or horse.

Amazing Fact Generator ».

BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: Among the nation’s oldest athletic clubs, the B.A.A. was established in 1887, and, in 1896, more than half of the U.S. Olympic Team at the first modern games was comprised of B.A.A. club members. The Olympic Games provided the inspiration for the first Boston Marathon, which culminated the B.A.A. Games on April 19, 1897. John J. McDermott emerged from a 15-member starting field to complete the course (then 24.5 miles) in a winning time of 2:55:10. The Boston Marathon has since become the world’s oldest annually contested marathon. The addition of principal sponsor John Hancock in 1986 has solidified the event’s success and ensures it well into the future.

PATRIOTS’ DAY: Since its inception, the Boston Marathon has been held on the holiday commemorating Patriots’ Day. From 1897-1968, the Boston Marathon was held on April 19, unless the 19th fell on a Sunday. Since 1969, the holiday has been officially recognized on the third Monday in April. The last non-Monday champion was current Runner’s World editor Amby Burfoot, who posted a time of 2:22:17 on Friday, April 19, 1968.

$806,000 PRIZE PURSE AT STAKE: The total prize money distributed among the winners of the 112th Boston Marathon will be $806,000. The Boston Marathon began awarding prize money in 1986 and through the 2008 race more than $11 million has been awarded in prize and bonus money.

RECORD FIELD SIZE AT BOSTON: The all-time record for the world’s largest marathon was established at the centennial race in 1996, when 35,868 finishers out of 36,748 official starters participated in the 100th running of the Boston Marathon. The Centennial Boston Marathon had 38,708 entrants and was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

FOUR OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS HAVE WON BOSTON: Three-time women’s champion Fatuma Roba (ETH) became the fourth person to win the Olympic Games Marathon and the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, when she posted a time of 2:26:23 to win the 1997 Boston Marathon. Roba, who won the 1996 Olympic Marathon, joined fellow women’s champions Joan Benoit Samuelson, who won Boston in 1979 and 1983, before adding the 1984 Olympic Games title; and Rosa Mota (POR), who won a trio of Boston crowns (1987, 1988, and 1990), while adding the 1988 Olympic title. Gelindo Bordin (ITA) is the only male to have won the Olympic (1988) and Boston (1990) titles.

MOST BOSTON MARATHONS: The legendary John A. Kelley started a record 61 Boston Marathons and finished 58. Kelley, who won the race in 1935 and 1945, first competed in the race in 1928, but it was not until 1933, in his third attempt, that he completed the course, placing 37th in 3:03:56. He last completed the course in 1992 at the age of 84. Kelley, who lived to be 97 (1907-2004), had a larger than life-size sculpture, entitled “Young at Heart,” created in his likeness and dedicated in his name at the base of Heartbreak Hill, a landmark which had its name coined in reference to one of Kelley’s seven runner-up performances. The sculpture stands in tribute to his longevity and spirit. From 1995 through 2004, Kelley, a three-time U.S. Olympian, served as the Boston Marathon’s grand marshal (missing only 1999 due to illness). He preceded the race in a pace car. Kelley is a member of both the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame and the National Road Running Distance Hall of Fame. He was selected as “The Runner of the Century,” by Runner’s World magazine, for his contributions to the sport of running and the millions of athletes who he has inspired.

ONLY B.A.A. RUNNING CLUB CHAMPION: The only B.A.A. Club member to win the Boston Marathon was John J. Kelley, who established a then-course record 2:20:05 to capture the 1957 race. Kelley finished second on five other occasions. A runner from the B.A.A. has finished in the runner-up spot on ten different occasions, including Patti Lyons [Dillon] in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

FIRST TO SPONSOR WHEELCHAIR DIVISION: The Boston Marathon became the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division competition when it officially recognized Bob Hall in 1975.

SECOND LARGEST SINGLE DAY SPORTING EVENT: In terms of on-site media coverage, the Boston Marathon ranks behind only the Super Bowl as the largest single day sporting event in the world. More than 1,100 media members, representing more than 250 outlets, receive credentials annually.

SPECTATORS: Approximately 500,000 spectators line the 26.2-mile course annually, making the Boston Marathon New England’s most widely viewed sporting event, according to estimates by police and public safety officials from the eight cities and towns along the route.

CHARITY PROGRAM: The Boston Marathon Charity Program enables selected charitable organizations to raise millions of dollars for worthwhile causes. In 2007, approximately 1,200 participants, representing 21 charities, raised more than $10 million.

source: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/RaceFacts.asp

Fastest Animal on Land

Cheetahs are, without a doubt, the fastest creatures in the world on land. There’s probably some wickedly fast creatures in the ocean that we still don’t even know about. Why would a cheetah need to be able to run so fast? The only animal that comes in a close second to the Cheetah’s amazing speed is its favorite prey, the gazelle. In order to catch up with a meal that’s as swift as the wind, the cheetah had to develop the ability to run as fast, or faster than the gazelle, or face the alternative – starvation. Pretty strong motivation for practicing their wind sprints.

· it has a long, super streamlined body with long, powerful legs – longer legs mean fewer strides from point A to point B

· the cheetah’s head is small in proportion to its body (compare it to other large cats) – part of its aerodynamic styling for less resistance for greater speed

· the long, powerful tail helps the cheetah to maintain balance when changing direction at extremely high speeds

· did you know that cheetahs can “bark”? They make several different types of vocalizations, but they don’t growl. Listen to the sound of a Cheetah purring.

Although the Cheetah is one fast runner, he can only maintain that incredible velocity for about 200 to 300 yards/274 meters. These high speeds only allow the cat to overtake its prey within short distances, so cheetahs must still rely on stealth, sneaking, and the element of surprise to get close enough to the gazelle before giving chase.

Cheetah | Fastest land animal.

NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets.

Tracking Santa starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system consists of 47 installations strung across the northern border of North America. On Christmas Eve, NORAD monitors the radar continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left the North Pole.

The moment that radar indicates Santa has lifted off, we use our second detection system. Satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit at 22,300 miles from the Earth’s surface are equipped with infrared sensors which enable them to detect heat. Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature which allow our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.

US and Canada flagsThe third tracking system is the Santa Cam network. We began using it in 1998, which is the year we put our Santa Tracking program on the internet. Santa Cams are ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many locations around the world. NORAD only uses these cameras once a year on Christmas Eve. The cameras capture images and videos of Santa and his reindeer as they make their journey around the world.

The fourth system is made up of fighter jets. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots flying the CF-18 intercept and welcome Santa to North America. In the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in either the F-15 or the F-16 get the thrill of flying alongside Santa and his famous reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and, of course, Rudolph.

How We Track Santa

We’re The Big Three. We Don’t Need to Compete. : TreeHugger

Some interesting things to point out here such as how Subaru is partially owned by Toyota!

Car Company Family Tree

Leasing Pike may pay off, but at cost

Lawmakers cautious of a quick debt fix

Whoever agrees to take over the turnpike would also have to consider the price of maintenance, estimated at $1 billion over the next 10 to 20 years.

Leasing Pike may pay off, but at cost – The Boston Globe