Now this was something I didn't expect to read yesterday. An article on MarketWatch.com (part of the Wall Street Journal network) said that on Monday, four energy analysts spoke to Congress and told them that gas could fall to $2 a gallon within 30 days if they pass a law to limit speculation in energy-futures markets.

According to the analysts from Masters Capital Management, Oppenheimer & Co., Energy Security Analysis and PFC Energy Consultants, the high price of oil is being inflated by speculation, and don't make sense based on the market supply and demand. Without the speculation, oil should be around $60 per barrel right now.

In fact, one of the analysts said it wouldn't even take 30 days from passage of the law for gas and oil prices to drop, because fund managers would liquidate their positions in futures markets quickly.

Not everyone agrees with these analysts though. Instead, they say the high gas prices are because of simple supply and demand. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman both dismiss the notion that speculators are having an impact on gas prices.

And Neal Ryan of Ryan Oil & Gas Partners said he does not think Congress should focus on speculators, but instead work on a U.S. energy policy that increases our domestic supply of oil and works on energy conservation.

Source: MarketWatch.com

With older cars, a lot of us have no choice but to run premium fuel. Our high performance cars from the 60s have no computers and fancy electronics to automatically detect knock and retard the timing.

But most newer high-performance cars that specify premium fuel can actually run on lower-octane fuel just fine, thanks to these previously-mentioned computers. Of course, there is a trade-off in that power and fuel economy will decrease when using lower-octane fuel due to the computer retarding your timing to compensate. But, if you don't drive aggressively, chances are you won't notice the performance difference. As for the fuel mileage difference, you would need to check your mileage on a tank of each type of gas, figure out what percentage change in fuel mileage you got, and compare that to the price difference between premium and regular gas to see if you come out ahead or not. This will probably differ for everyone.

On the flipside: since it is commonly a 10 cent difference from regular to mid-grade, and another 10 cent jump to premium, the cost difference per tank is the same with $4 gas as it is with $2 gas. So let's say you have a 14 gallon tank. At 20 cents per gallon difference, it costs you $2.80 a tank more to fill with premium than with regular. And that doesn't change, whether gas is $2 per gallon or $4. In fact, percentage-wise, the price of premium is actually less of a "premium" over regular gas now then it was a year ago (10% for $2 gas, 5% for $4 gas.) On the other hand, even a savings of $2.80 per tankful will save you money over time... assuming your fuel mileage doesn't decrease by more than 5%... which, if you get 20 mpg city on premium, and you get 19 mpg city using regular gas, the price difference is a wash.

So, you really need to do some calculations to see if you will save money by dropping down to regular gas in your car. Of course, keep in mind, if you car does not specify premium gas, it is ALWAYS a waste of money to put premium in your tank in the first place.

So tell us: are you still using premium in your car or has your car gone on an octane diet? Let us know in the comments!

According to an article in Newsweek, the high price of diesel is having a serious effect on Nevada's legal brothels. Business is down 45% for some brothels, and according to the director of the Nevada Brothel Owners' Association, it is in the lowest slump he's ever seen.

It seems the truckers are spending so much to fuel their rigs that they are spending far less on entertainment. Also, since some of the brothels are in the middle of nowhere, a lot of truckers aren't taking the detours to visit them.

Some brothels are turning to advertising to try and attract new business, while another is offering a recession special: the first 100 customers who show up with their tax rebate checks receive twice the "services" for the price of one.

How's that for a little economic stimulation?

Source: Newsweek

Man, you think it is bad to fill your tank here in the US, just be glad you aren't in the UK right now! Due to a strike by Shell tanker drivers, the supply of fuel in the UK is drying up. As a result, over 380 gas stations are either short on gas, or completely out.

Those that have gas remaining have jacked prices up to £1.99 per liter, which works out to about $18 per gallon. Gas station owners say the prices will return to normal as soon as they start receiving fuel deliveries again.

Too bad you can't just bottle up some fuel and sell it on ebay, you'd make a killing!

Source: BBC via Jalopnik

Well, I guess it was bound to happen. Gas thieves are starting to get even more bold and sophisticated.

A man in Orlando was busted for stealing gas using a custom-built 800-gallon fuel tank built into a Ford truck. He also had a key that could disable the meters on the pumps, allowing him to freely pump gasoline into his truck.

He apparently got too greedy though, and tried to pump his tank full in one shot. A gas station attendant got suspicious at the amount of time he was spending pumping gas into his truck, and called the cops.

The cops are figuring that he is probably part of a bigger gas-stealing ring, due to the sophistication of his setup.

Souce: Local6 news via Autoblog

Well, you knew this was bound to happen. Used fryer grease is now a huge target for thieves. Restaurants couldn't pay to give the stuff away a year ago, but now they are installing surveillance cameras to keep a watch on the "liquid gold."

And get this: apparently processed fryer oil, called "yellow grease," is actually traded on the commodities market. In 2000, it traded for 7.6 cents a pound; now it trades for 33 cents a pound, which is about $2.50 a gallon. It is so valuable and such a target now, one of the nation's largest grease collection and rendering companies has hired detectives to investigate these thefts.

Since most restaurants put their used grease in big vats with their trash, the lawyer representing some of the thieves that have been arrested is claiming that it isn't actually theft, because once you put something in the trash, it is abandoned property. The restaurants, however, don't see it this way.

And neither to the people who have legitimate contracts with restaurants to collect the used oil. Ben Healy, the owner of Healy Biodiesel in Sedgwick, KS, said that on one particular night not too long ago, the oil was stolen from 9 of the 15 restaurants he has a contract with.

So, all you restaurant owners: time to watch not only the cash registers, but the grease barrels.

Source: NY Times

Hold on to your wallet! A storm that rolled through Kansas City yesterday sat a vat with 1.2 million gallons of unleaded fuel in it ablaze. Lightning was determined to be the cause, and firefighters are letting the fire burn itself out, which should happen sometime on Thursday.

Just what we needed!

Source: Fox4News

Some might say that Motortopia is not the place for poetry. I think some of the passion about cars, bikes, boats, and planes here on Motortopia sometimes borders on a poetic understanding.

In any event, I have been to enough shows in the past year to know that a big part of that experience is some good, ole', American fried food. Enjoy this piece, and get ready for some good eatin'

Fried Beauty

Glory be to God for breaded things--
Catfish, steak finger, pork chop, chicken thigh,
Sliced green tomatoes, pots full to the brim
With french fries, fritters, life-float onion rings,
Hushpuppies, okra golden to the eye,
That in all oils, corn or canola, swim

Toward mastication's maw (O molared mouth!);
Whatever browns, is dumped to drain and dry
On paper towels' sleek translucent scrim,
These greasy, battered bounties of the South:
Eat them.

Here are the credits:

American Life in Poetry: Column 166

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006

Texas poet R. S. Gwynn is a master of the light touch. Here he picks up on Gerard Manley Hopkins' sonnet "Pied Beauty," which many of you will remember from school, and offers us a picnic instead of a sermon. I hope you enjoy the feast!

P.S. For those of you interested in receiving updates on American Life and Poetry, head on over to AmericanLifeInPoetry.org.

Have a good one.

June 1st marks the start of hurricane season. And experts are saying that gas prices could surge up to $6 per gallon if a hurricane hits in July. That's because a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, like Katrina or Rita, would disrupt refineries and pipelines in the southern U.S.

In fact, because of Katrina, gas prices today already have about 5 to 10 cents built into the price of gas by speculative traders. The NOAA are saying there is a 65% chance of a stronger-than-normal hurricane season, and only a 10% chance that it will be weaker.

On the other hand, they are saying that if we make it through hurricane season with no hits, gas prices could ease a bit. But, hurricane season isn't over until Nov. 30, so we have a long ways to go.

Wonderful.

Source: CNN

"Ready to go? Let's jump and and join the fun!"

With those words Ben Deutschman, aka BenCar, gently instructed me, wife Beverly, sister Rosalie, son Martin, and ever-present-friend Tommy, and the Reverend to find a seat in the 1960 Plymouth Satellite or the 1976 Trans Am 400 for a Memorial Day Parade in Metuchen, NJ.

I was given the seat of honor in the Trans Am; which I later learned was a big part hospitality and a little part devilish gearhead humor as Ben showed me what at 400HP TransAm can do with a little $4.00/gal premium.

It was American and Americana to the max. Small town American, flags, boy scout troops, old soldiers, high school bands, and lots and lots of little children waiving, holding on to their dogs, and trying to eat ice cream before it got to the point of needing "shout it out."

And, what they were shouting was "Hey Ben, you still young enough to drive?" "Haven't been picked up in that thing yet, heh?" There were also a lot of "great car, Ben" comments as we rode through town.

Only 40 minutes outside of New York City by train, I entered a world that I grew up in, small town America. And, upon reflection, I recognized once again that what made a place like New York City possible - with all its deal-makin', finance, and intense ways - are places like Metuchen, NJ and its people and community.

You can't legislate the kind of community that lives in Metuchen and a thousands of other places like that in America. This is the roots and what holds it all together, in my view.

After the parade, I got the first class tour of Ben's garage, his basement workshop, his car projects, Martin's (who is not old enough to drive, but I did think I saw him behind a wheel once or twice ;-) ) own car and train projects.

We sat out back in mother's house (mother has passed away but it is still her house) and had a BBQ..and how good can Key Lime pie be on a Memorial Day holiday! Great.

You can all read about Ben's cars in his Motortopia garage and see some of the pics from the day in his photo album of our day in Metuchen.

Ben was one of the early adopters and supporters of Motortopia and has encouraged me along the way to keep working on things, keep making it better, and keep improving "making it right."

And, those are thoughtful words from someone who takes car of his folks' 1960 Plymouth Slant Six like they were going to ride in it tomorrow; and who has that gleam in his eye as the Trans Am gives that growly rumble as he starts it up for the parade.

I think it is, in large part, what the whole spirit of Motortopia is all about...people who are passionate and focused about their cars, bikes, airplanes, and boats because; well, they know the value of things well done and of sharing those things with others...and not because of the trophies (while those are nice and Ben has a few thousand, I think) because it is the right thing to do.

And, that was a good memory on Memorial Day, as we honored those who did the right thing; many giving their lives for our Freedom because it was the "right thing to do."

Goodness, isn't it refreshing.

Thank you Ben and family for a great day!