GoPro longest car jump attempt

Spoiler alert: He fails.

People get their kicks in different ways. Some are conflict zone tourists and go to Iraq. Others jump with 1,000 horsepower Minis.

Dangers on an aircraft carrier flight deck

I was listening to this Fresh Air podcast and had to find the videos the guest described.

First, an arresting cable snaps and a crewman hops twice to avoid catastrophic injuries.

And, this crewman gets sucked into a jet intake, and survives! The helmet stopped the engine! Insane.

Iraq's Shiite army

Not good.

Right Said Fred sings to Assad

My Dalton Highway truck post is on Hooniverse

Here.

Spot satellite messenger

I'm not an outdoorsy person, so I've never heard of this before. But the long-distance bicyclists and motorcyclists I met along the Dalton all used this. It sends emergency and non-emergency alerts via satellite for a relatively low price.

Holden Adventra

From Lukas: Bit of trivia: the Holden Commodore also has ties to that Opel, and was also made for a while as a V8, 4WD wagon, called the Adventra. It was meant as a rival to the Ford Territory (itself based off the Australian Ford Falcon), but was a flop.

Volvo truck conversion in Finland

Via Edvin. Thanks, man!

Johann Puch Museum tour

Stephan recently visited the Puch museum in Austria. From Stephan:

"This museum is a privately run place but does get support from Magna Steyr (formerly Steyr Puch). Steyr Puch became famous with the Haflinger and Pinzgauer Offroad models as well as for the Mercedes G models. They also have a great reputation for developing AWD systems for various car manufacturers as well as contract car manufacturing."

Thanks for sharing these photos!

"Opel Omega Wagon: the Cadillac Catera was based on the Omaga, would make for a cool Catera wagon! This particular car was used as a prototype to develop the AWD system for the smaller Opel Vectra. The sign said they stuffed a small block V8 from a Camaro into it and it would do just over 300 km/h"

"Pontiac Aztek: didn’t realize there was an AWD version!"

"VW Gold Country: built for two years only (’90 – ’91), basically a lifted Golf AWD with some cow catchers … this one was way ahead of its time."

"Chrysler 300 Hemi AWD Wagon: not available in the US, where the wagon version was the Dodge Magnum. The AWD system was shared with the Mercedes E class."

"Alfa Romeo 164 4Q AWD: Steyr developed and produced the AWD system for the 164."

"Lincoln Blackwood: a rare sight in the US, who would have thought to see one in Austria?"

"Peugeot RCZ: developed and built by Steyr." 

Aston Martin Rapide body.

Mercedes SLS body.

I had no idea they made Chrysler-Jeeps in Austria. That might explain all those Chrysler products in that one Bourne Identity movie.

Jaguat XJ220 with Martini livery

Confession: I never liked the looks of the XJ220. It's too long and those overhangs! But there's nothing a Martini livery can't fix.