Article about me in the local paper
 

So I got interviewed about my "hypermiling" last week and they ran this article this weekend:
Hypermilers squeeze the most out of a gallon of gas - Local - Kentucky.com

I googled it, and found it's been linked in more than a few places already:
Hypermilers squeeze the most out of a gallon of gas - Ontario Gas Prices

So far there are the typical "you're too slow and dangerous" comments, but hopefully it will at least get a few people thinking. What do you think about the way the article was written? I'm on the fence about it, but at least it's putting the information out there for people to read. There was a LOT of our conversation that was left out, but he got the jist of what I had to say.

I thought the article was more positive than negative overall. I think when you begin talking about the "more extreme" hypermiling tactics you always open yourself up to criticism because it is so foreign to 99% of people out there. Higher psi, grill block, creeping to stop signs and moderate acceleration out of stops are the "common" techniques while EOC, slower driving on the highway, etc. are "uncommon." People will always criticize that which they don't know because it's easier to do than actually spending some time to research it and form their own opinions.

And as for the comments, take 'em or leave 'em...someone will always agree and someone will always disagree.

Great job getting the info. out there!

Nice article! It doesn't trash either of you guys, and shows the accomplishments you've made.

The normal nay-sayers are all too common and are likely just the average annoying driver that tailgates you every day. Pay no attention to them. Good job!

Hope you don't mind I moved this to the "success stories" forum...

I think it was a pretty factual article. Most writers will highlight what they perceive as the sensational aspects, which this guy did by putting EOC & a "hold on" turn in his opening.

As for the comments - you can't win 'em all. :)

rwyler -

Congratulations! That article was way more fair than I expected. They could have gone bonkers, but they didn't do an attack piece.

CarloSW2

Nice article! Yeah, we're just a bunch of outlaws, or at least it feels like that sometimes! :D

It was a good article overall, but as always, the "old thinkers" or "believers of the old way" always try to point out that hypermiling is a danger to others on the road.

Your interpretation of the laws are leaving you in the legal end of things. you can have the motor off as long as the gearbox isn't in neutral ;)

I always find it amusing how ignorant people can be and just rant about something they don't know about just because it's not the same way they drive or because they can get jealous.


It all comes down to being aware of your surroundings. Something that these "believers of the old ways" tend NOT to be when they are out driving. even when I'm driving the posted speed limit I'll get tailed by an SUV and then that SUV driver will get pissed and go to pass me in the left lane, but won't look to see if there is another vehicle already there or coming. Then they usually swerve into or just miss the other vehicle and cause a pile up in the left lane. This happens after they are tailgating me for a mile or so. It's ridiculous.

Things will get better when the "believers of the old ways" aren't allowed to drive anymore. but then again, those types usually become the octogenarian behind the wheel that can't see where they're going and hold up more traffic and run into curbs as they drive, lol.

That lower grill block on the Camry looks really nice. How'd he do it?

I think they did a good job on the article. It should be brought up in the discussion board that speeding probably kills 10 times as many as driving 5-10 MPH under the posted limit. I use to live in KY and at the time I lived there the MINIMUM posted speed for interstate driving was 40 MPH and that was in the days of the 70 MPH maximum before they dropped it in the 70's to 55 because of the oil embargo. Of course back then I was in my teens and twenties and thought a car only had two speeds fast and faster. I still travel in KY some because my parents live there and I visit them a couple times a year when possible and know the speed limit on the interstates is 70 MPH now and there's probably still a 40 MPH MINIMUM. I also travel federal highway 68 a lot when I'm in KY and the speed limit on it is 55 MPH, but 90% or more of the traffic is driving at 60-75 MPH which is more dangerous for everyone than driving 50-55 like I do. I seldom travel the stretch of 68 between Hopkinsville, KY and Bowling Green KY without seeing at least one state trooper with a speeder stopped getting a ticket. So in the long run I'm coming out much better than they are, I'm saving gas, being safer, not getting a ticket that I'm going to have to pay, and making better time than the one who got stopped because he has lost all of his gained time and distance waiting for the state trooper to write him a ticket. I can drive from my house in NC to my parents house in KY, just over 500 miles at 55 MPH and it only takes me about 1 hour longer on the road than when I drove 65-75, because I'm able to keep a more constant speed where before I was always catching up with someone and having to slow down, then speed up, just so I could slow down again.

Yeah, reading the article about Gerdes rolling round and round a parking lot so he doesn't have to use his brakes almost put me off hypermiling before I even started. Going in circles to improve your numbers is no better than jacking up the drive wheels and setting the cruise control at 55.

Glad you kept to the known "safe" tactics. Great article.