| | |
|
|
| The 2009 Cadillac Presidential LimousineWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:55:45 -0800 by PatriotMcCainGeneral Motors Corp. recently delivered to the U.S. Secret Service a brand new presidential limousine, replacing the 2006 model Cadillac DTS presidential limousine that President George W. Bush has used.The new limousine, dubbed the 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine, makes its debut on Inauguration Day. It's the first presidential limousine not to carry a specific model name, said GM spokesman David Caldwell.GM declined to say how many it was building for the U.S. government, but it's believed to be fewer than 25.Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman, confirmed that the new Cadillac limousine would make its debut on Jan. 20 during the inauguration, but declined to elaborate on the new vehicle's improvements or specifications.The new limousine has larger windows and better visibility for the president, Caldwell said. But it is roughly the same size and "footprint" of the previous model, he said.Obama will use the limousine during the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue after his swearing in on the west side of the Capitol.Spy shots of a test version of the new presidential limousine made the rounds on blogs this summer, with some suggesting it was built on GM's medium-duty truck platform and had a diesel engine. But those photos didn't have GM production panels.Another company provides heavy armor that is reportedly at least 5 inches thick for the vehicle. The limousine also has run-flat tires, bulletproof glass and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack, among many other high-tech security features. It also has electronic communications equipment.Secret Service agents are training with the new limousine at a facility near Washington.Caldwell said it would be a mistake to classify the new vehicle as a truck or a sedan."The president is not riding in a medium-duty truck, nor he is riding in a sedan," he said, adding that it is a "unique" vehicle.Caldwell said he couldn't give specifications -- even the engine size or type -- in either the current limousine or the new one. Other facts also are secret like the vehicle's curb weight, though Cadillac has disclosed in the past that the limo has a 10-disc CD player and hand-stitched leather interiors.Both Donovan and Caldwell said they would release more information and pictures about the new limo next week.Caldwell noted that the Secret Service would continue to use the 2006 model vehicles as well. Presidential limousines are often used for a decade or longer. They are also used by the vice president, and the Secret Service often provides transportation for visiting world leaders.GM introduced its latest version of the presidential limousine in 2005 during Bush's second inauguration, which replaced the 2001 Cadillac DeVille presidential limousine. GM builds the vehicles to "an exacting list" of government specifications."This is an assignment we really treasure," Caldwell said. "We're honored again to be associated with the U.S. presidency."The president also on occasion travels in a Chevrolet Suburban. Bush often travels in a Chevy during weekend biking trips in Washington. He owns a Ford F-250 pickup he keeps on his Texas ranch.During the presidential campaign, Obama bought a Ford Escape Hybrid, getting rid of his less efficient Chrysler 300C. He also blasted the first car he learned to drive on: a Ford Granada, saying it may be "the worst car Detroit ever built."GM has built the most presidential limousines since 1983, wresting the job away from Ford Motor Co., which built a series of Lincolns -- mostly Continentals -- for use by presidents starting in 1939, when it built a Lincoln V-12 for President Franklin Roosevelt.Ford built a 1989 Lincoln Town Car limo for President George H.W. Bush that was modified from an F-250 pickup. It's on display at his presidential library.GM has a 90-year history with presidents.President Woodrow Wilson rode in a Cadillac during a World War I victory parade in 1919. President Calvin Coolidge used a 1928 Cadillac town car throughout his administration.But the first government-owned vehicle was a Stanley Steamer purchased during President Theodore Roosevelt's administration. The first president to ride in a car in his inauguration was Warren Harding, who rode in a Packard Twin-Six.In 1938, two Cadillac convertibles, dubbed the "Queen Mary" and "Queen Elizabeth," were purchased by the U.S. government. Named for ocean liners, the 21 1/2 feet, 7,660-pound vehicles were equipped with a full ammunition arsenal, two-way radios and heavy-duty generators.They remained in use until the 1950s. President Dwight Eisenhower got one of the first production 1953 Cadillac Eldorados, which he rode in his first inaugural parade.The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn has the largest collection of presidential limousines, including the vehicle that President John F. Kennedy rode in 1963 when he was shot. Related: fox news republican conservative o'reilly hannity limbaugh coulter ingraham beck savage military cnn nbc olbermann liberal traitors patriots global war on terror god | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| Robert Wood Johnson EMS Squad 110-2 in RainWed, 07 Jan 2009 09:44:44 -0800 by HotGirlDater475Squad 110-2 passes by my house while going down Hamilton Avenue in the rain & then goes down Atlantic while enroute to a medical call at 12:32 p.m. in the afternoon on a cloudy, cool & wet day in Hamilton. (Unit is a Ford E450 Medical Ambulance) Related: ems ambulance | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| 6 Year Old Drives 10 Miles To SchoolWed, 07 Jan 2009 07:44:55 -0800 by TheSexyPatriotWASHINGTON - The word "miracle" can be overused. But when a 6-year-old boy drives a Ford Taurus for more than 10 miles, weaving in and out of oncoming traffic, slams into a utility pole and no one gets hurt, well, maybe miracle is appropriate.That's what happened Monday in Virginia, when the 1st grader missed his school bus and decided to drive his mom's car to elementary school so he wouldn't miss breakfast and PE, authorities said Tuesday."It's a miracle that somebody didn't get killed," said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkins, of the boy's drive along Northumberland Highway.The boy's parents were arrested and charged with felony child endangerment. Wilkins said the father, David Dodson, 40, was under court order not to leave the 6-year-old and his 4-year-old sibling alone with their mother, Jacqulyn Waltman, 26, at their home in the town of Wicomico Church.But Dodson left for work at 6:30 a.m., and Waltman was still asleep when the 6-year-old missed the bus and drove off at 7:40 a.m. for Northumberland Elementary School, Wilkins said. The boy was placed in foster care.Sgt. Thomas Cunningham of the Virginia State Police said the boy is not particularly tall for his age and was "possibly standing" while driving the Taurus. Wilkins said the child had an idea about how to start, propel and steer the car from playing video games.Once he got going, the boy navigated across a bridge spanning the Great Wicomico River. He also made it through two intersections, Wilkins said, and then was "doing a pretty great rate of speed" as he passed cars on a two-lane road while not wearing a seat belt.The boy had gone 10.4 miles and was about a mile and a half from his school, the sheriff said, when he decided to cross the double line and pass again. But this time, he saw a tractor-trailer coming toward him in the other lane.He quickly whipped the car back into his lane, but the car swerved out of control and then struck a utility pole on the rear passenger side.Northumberland deputies Jeff VanLandingham and Roger Briney arrived first. "He was crying, hysterical," Briney said, "not from any pain; he was just adrenalined up on fright." Briney said another motorist said she'd been driving 60 m.p.h., and the boy had sped past her.Briney said he unzipped the boy's coat to check for injuries, found none, zipped it back up and the boy turned and walked away. "I said, 'Where are you going?' " Briney said. "He said, 'My school's right over there. I'm late.' I said, 'We'll get you to school.' " Related: six year old drives 10 miles to school david dodson | |
|
|
| 911 lightbarTue, 06 Jan 2009 22:26:30 -0800 by LMFDfiremanNOTE: this is not my vehicle. this is a fire buddy's. also note this is NOT his complete light setup. he was just showing his lightbar. the truck is a ford f-250. it is his private vehicle and used as his company plow truck. Related: lights lightbar 911 amber truck pickup | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| Lawrence Township EMS Squad 129-1 & Capital Health System EMS Life 5 in RainTue, 06 Jan 2009 17:44:45 -0800 by HotGirlDater475Squad 129-1 cruises past me while going down Hamilton Avenue in the rain enroute to St. Francis Medical Center with a patient from Lawrence Township onboard followed by Capital Health System EMS Life 5 at 3:04 p.m. in the afternoon on a cloudy, cool & wet day in Hamilton as I was at a bus stop waiting for my NJT 609 Bus to Quaker Bridge Mall. (which was on time) (I was heading to Nottingham High School for a swim meet against Robbinsville (in which I got soaked!!) & a basketball game against Hightstown) (Unit is a Ford E450 Medical Ambulance & a Ford Expedition MICU-I believe a 2005) Related: ems ambulance | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| Ford GT40 Problem Starting Car ShowTue, 06 Jan 2009 12:37:58 -0800 by DjMrABeatI'm not to sure but I think this is a Ford GT40 copy. One of the people watching told me that he was sure it was not a real one before it was tried to be started. Well if it is or if it is not, it's still a fine machine.... when it's running. Related: gt40 problem | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
| |
