How dangerous is a floor mat when it comes to associating it with car accidents? Well as far as Toyota is concerned, the current recall in the car mats that they package with their Toyota Lexus is still a puzzle. A fatal car crash which claimed four lives in Southern California last month has forced the arm of Toyota to order its dealers to make prior inspection of car mats in the light of this unfortunate tragedy.

It seems that the car mat caused the Toyota Lexus to get out of control, forcing it to crash into another vehicle, turn over and burst into flames. But to this day, no one knows if these car mats were truly the culprit but just the same, Toyota has taken the initiative for this tragedy.

Some tips to drivers when it comes to car mats though. Avoid the thick mats to be used in cars. Do not place more than one mat since this may become a reason for your accelerator to get stuck. Check out your car now. This could make all the difference between life and death on your end.

You can watch the report here.

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(Source) Yahoo

Tags: accelerator, car accidents, car mat, car mats, Cars, culprit, fatal car crash, flames, floor mat, initiative, life and death, puzzle, southern california, thick mats, Toyota, toyota lexus, unfortunate tragedy, yahoo

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Who would ever thought that the speed at which a hydrogen-powered vehicle would matter to anyone? As far as Jesse James is concerned, it does. More so if you are talking about breaking a record, the land speed record, to which he was able to successfully do so with the use of an emission free vehicle with a “Breathable Exhaust”.

The whole thing was documented by the Southern California Timing Association. James successfully accomplished the feat by going 199.7 mph while filming his show, “Jesse James is a Dead Man” on Spike TV over at the El Mirage Dry Lake Bed. The previous record was 185 mph, accomplished by a BMW H2R in Germany.

Jesse James is a custom bike and car builder, producer, publisher, television host and restaurateur. In 2000, James started his TV career with Discovery Channel’s “Motorcycle Mania,” and in 2002 produced and starred in the international television hit, “Monster Garage.” Before his TV gigs, James started West Coast Choppers by doing what he loved, building motorcycles in his mom’s garage. As an expert welder, James produces only 12-14 bikes a year, making a very long wait list for his coveted custom machines.

(Source) Press

Tags: bmw h2r, car builder, custom bike, dead man, discovery channel, el mirage dry lake bed, gigs, hydrogen powered vehicle, international television, jesse james, land speed record, long wait, monster garage, motorcycle mania, restaurateur, southern california, spike tv, television host, tv career, west coast choppers

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Racing is not solely for the professionals. Apparently, Toyota will be showing that is the case as it has announced the 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Drivers. Among the notable names were Adrien Brody, Luke Wilson, Keanu Reeves, Raven-Symone, Alex Trebek, who will get behind the wheel of race-ready Scion tCs for Charity on Saturday, April 18.

The field of 20 drivers will compete in brand new race-ready Scion tCs in what has become the world’s longest-running, most successful celebrity racing event. The historic, 10-lap race for charity on a 1.97-mile street circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach in Southern California is one of six featured events during race weekend.

Toyota will donate $5,000 to “Racing for Kids” in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a national non-profit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. Toyota has donated $1.7 million on behalf of the race and it’s participants and various children hospitals since 1991.

Finally, a $15,000 donation is made in conjunction with the 12th annual “PEOPLE Pole Award.” Sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, the award honors the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on Friday, April 18.

(Source) Press

Tags: adrien brody, alex trebek, celebrity race, charity, keanu reeves, luke wilson, people magazine, southern california, Toyota

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