July 9: Power to the people!

Those were the days.

Days when America rode to the local drag strip in cars, that had more power than any sane person could use.
 
And those were the days when you couldn't get that power to the ground, since you were riding on such puny and narrow rubber.

And those the days when all that power could be had for cheap.

Those were also the days when all that power was overstated. Overstated? Yeah, it was the power the motor actually generated on the dyno, but not the power that you could put to the pavement due to all of those energy robbing add ons.

And finally, those were the days, when sexism in the ads was rampant and welcomed.

If only we could bring back those good ol' days. CUT!

If you are a car person or if you've read this blog before, you'll know that we are in the midst of a new era of wildly big horsepower and performance. The differences these days are several and noteworthy. The stated power ratings are what actually can be put to the pavement. Also, those huge tires allow all that gorgeous power to hook up. And, the pricing these days is not cheap.

Anyway, enough preamble.

Last week Dodge unveiled yet another variation to add to their Hellcat clan. Remember the first car to carry that name? The Challenger.......

Next up, that Challenger could be ordered with a very aggressive looking wide body package for an inexpensive $8000 Cdn, which is almost double the price of one of those ground pounders back in the day.  Nice tough-guy look, in case your neighbours didn't get the hint that your new ride was something special, just by hearing its raucous exhaust.

But you need four doors, since you have a family and they like to rock along with you. The solution has been the Charger Hellcat.........

Practical in a warped kind of way, but at least it has seating for five and a trunk big enough for your golf clubs (and a baby stroller). But, again that issue of your deaf neighbours, who have been oblivious to that Hellcat roar. How to make them realize that your new Dodge isn't the same as that rental they had in Florida last winter?

Count on those folks from Dodge to realize that if the wide body worked on the Challenger, then why not try the same thing on the Charger? So, here we have it, new for 2020.........

Another example of how to look when one is sporting over 700 pavement ripping horsepower and delicious mind bending exhaust notes.

Sure, it's twenty (20!) times the price of the original, but check out that rubber and know that you'll be able to get every single one of those horses to the ground.

Now, one last item to address. What about that sexist ad from way long time ago? Have things changed? Check out this latest ad, which ran with the caption.......Ride Like Rolling Thunder.........

You decide.

Until next time........