Autoblog

And now, a brief public service announcement and reminder. The Garage419 Invitational takes place exactly four weeks from today at Grand Prix New York in Mt. Kisco, NY. All proceeds from the event benefit benefit Racing4Research and the Children's Tumor Foundation, as they work to raise awareness and find a cure for neurofibromatosis. I'm driving in the pro-am-style kart event with Garage419 fan Mike Duffy, and you can make a tax-deductible donation in support of us (or any of the other participating driver teams) by punching in your credit card number on the online donation form. We'd like to help raise as much as possible for the charity. Autoblog readers are legion, and you guys can definitely make a significant impact. Remember, no donation is too small!

If you're in the area, feel free to swing by, say hi, and be a part of the festivities, which we hear will include a car show out in the parking lot and some sort of opportunity to get onto one of three driver teams being held open until race day. It'll be a good time for a good cause, and we appreciate your support.

The Garage419 Invitational is a pro-am-style charity kart race taking place on October 26 at Grand Prix New York in Mt. Kisco. All proceeds from the event benefit Racing 4 Research and the Children's Tumor Foundation, which are dedicated to raising awareness and finding a cure for neurofibromatosis, or NF, as it's more commonly known. (Last year, the local NBC affiliate here in NY did an informative piece that serves as a good primer on NF. You can watch it here.)

"I'd like you to be a part of this, it'll be fun." So said Mike Spinelli when he invited me to be one of the pros driving in the Invitational. I patiently explained to Mike that calling me a "pro" is akin to calling those dudes who play Madden in videogame tournaments "athletes", but he was undeterred. And because Spinelli is one of the best guys you'll ever meet, it's essentially impossible to say no to him, so here I am. He's right, too -- it should be fun. After all, there are worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon than driving go-karts and hanging out with the likes of Spin, Matt Farah, Mike Musto (a.k.a. "Mr. Angry") and other fellow participants like Farnbacher Loles Racing's Bryce Miller and Jalopnik's Wes Siler. I've been paired with Garage419 fan Mike Duffy, and on behalf of my team, I'm here to ask for your help in the form of a donation to Racing 4 Research.

If you go to the online donation form, you can support the Alex Nunez/Mike Duffy duo (or any of the other participants, for that matter) by pledging a traditional fixed-dollar amount or an amount for each lap that we complete at the Invitational. All major credit cards are accepted and your donation is tax deductible. While I'll do my best to represent Autoblog well at the event, I'm asking you readers to help us put on a good show on the fundraising end of things. No donation is too small, and your generosity is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Leaving no stone unturned when looking at a more efficient future, Toyota has teamed up with the Univerisity of California to further study the viability of plug-in hybrid versions of the Prius. As part of the research, Toyota donated two prototype Prius models modified for plug-in operations to the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Berkeley and the Advanced Power and Energy Program at UC Irvine. The two university programs will study ways to measure and test fuel economy and emissions, including upstream emissions from power generation, as well as what sacrifices people are willing to make, how much they'd actively seek to plug their cars in, and what type of range and charge time they're willing to live with.

The current Prius provides a good base for the research, and didn't change drastically to pull PHEV duty. There's a larger battery pack occupying the space normally reserved for the spare tire, and the powertrain controller allows more frequent EV-mode operation, as well as running on battery to about 60 mph. The battery pack size will shrink as new technologies come online, and the limited (7 miles) range in EV mode will likely also increase. Quite an about-face from the days not too long ago when Toyota was vociferously denouncing PHEV conversions of their cockroach-shaped four-wheeled eco-statement.

Hit the jump for Toyota's press release.

There is certainly no shortage of extraordinary stories about Ferraris being dug out of somebody's barn after decades of neglect, but few are quite as intriguing as this one. As a student at the University of Alabama in 1966, Darrell Westfaul bought a competition 1950 Ferrari for $1,500 which he drove during his senior year. He planned to restore the car after graduation, but plans changed and the car was relegated to moving from garage to warehouse to garage for forty years.

Now 63 years old, the owner took the car out of storage and donated it to the university where he enjoyed it four decades earlier. The university sold the car for upwards of $1 million under an arrangement that will provide Mr. and Mrs. Westfaul with dividends on which to live for the remainder of their lives, after which the interest from the capital will go towards a scholarship fund.

Sounds extraordinary? That's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Well researched and documented by the owner, the 1950 Ferrari 166MM Touring Barchetta turns out to be far more than an "ordinary" Ferrari, imbued as it is with an extensive race history and pedigree. Already one of the earliest Ferrari models, s/n 0046MM, originally owned by famed designer Nuccio Bertone, was made even more special by the fitting of custom bodywork by Zagato in 1953, after having competed four times in the famous Mille Miglia race in 1950, '51, '52 and '53.

The car was sold to a museum in Arizona, whose owner will put in an additional $300,000 to properly restore the car to original condition.

[Source: University of Alabama via Tuscaloosa News and Alabama Press-Register]

There's less than 24 hours left in Brenda Priddy's drive to raise $1,000 for the March of Dimes. We told you about the famous spy photographer participating in the Jail and Bail event where she's "locked up" until enough bail can be raised in the way of donations. Well, she's about $190 short of her $1,000 goal, so if we don't pull together and get her to a grand, no more spy shots for anyone. We're kidding of course, they'll let her out (probably), but Autoblog readers are the best in the world and we not only appreciate what Brenda does for the business with her lens, but we also have big hearts when it comes to good causes like saving babies' lives through the March of Dimes.

In order to donate money, visit this link and choose your pledge amount. Any amount will do, but we gotta get this lady at least $190 bucks. BONUS: leave a comment with your pledge that says "Saw this on Autoblog" and Brenda will choose a few people and send out cool spy gear and auto show stuff. We already know she's got a hat to give away, but she promised more spy stuff if we help her reach her goal. Thanks much to all those who have already donated, btw.

Related Post:

• Brenda Priddy incarcerated for a good cause
• WIN real spy gear by helping Brenda Priddy

The world of auto enthusiasts was surely shocked to learn about the very serious accident Top Gear host Richard Hammond suffered on Wednesday. Current reports tell us he is now out of intensive care and in stable condition.

The outpouring of support for Hammond has been incredible in the last few days and shows just how much the British host meant to enthusiasts around the world. If you'd like to show Hammond your support and haven't done so already, you can leave a get well message for him at The Sun.

Our friends over at PistonHeads.com have also set up a way you can donate money via the website JustGiving to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity. One of this service's helicopters flew Hammond from the scene of the accident to Leeds General Infirmary where he's being treated. These helicopters cost 3,600 a day to keep in the air, and so far fans have generously contributed 39,945.50 in Hammond's name. The first goal of raising 25,000 was met so easily it's been raised to 51,000, which will pay for 150 flights.

Thanks for everyone who sent in these tips.

Related posts:

• Top Gear's "Hamster" in stable but serious condition day after crash
• UPDATE: Details on Richard Hammond crash
• Top Gear's Richard Hammond in critical condition