Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Jay Leno's Garage gets agrarian with Lamborghini tractor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/24/jay-lenos-garage-gets-agrarian-with-lamborghini-tractor/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/24/jay-lenos-garage-gets-agrarian-with-lamborghini-tractor/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/24/jay-lenos-garage-gets-agrarian-with-lamborghini-tractor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Stepping away from the trendy and arcane, the next guest in Jay Leno's Garage is a 1968-69 Lamborghini R485 tractor. In case there's anyone who doesn't know, the same Ferruccio Lamborghini ultimately responsible for giving us the Aventador started off making tractors in his native Italy after World War II.

The specs are a long way from anything we'd expect from the company's road-going products. The vineyard and orchard tractor has a 5.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 85 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque, a two-foot clutch and 12 forward gears that get it from 0.3 miles per hour to 14 mph. It's also got a starter motor from a Countach.

There's a whole lot more interesting info on the farm implement, the man who built it and the man who currently owns it in the episode below.

Continue reading Jay Leno's Garage gets agrarian with Lamborghini tractor

Jay Leno's Garage gets agrarian with Lamborghini tractor originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Dec 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill scottjay lenojay lenos garagelamborghinilamborghini r485 tractorlamborghini tractorslenor485 tractortractorvideovideosyoutubeMon, 24 Dec 2012 19:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20409268/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/24/jay-lenos-garage-gets-agrarian-with-lamborghini-tractor/20409268/article-detail.xml 20409268 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/jlglamborghinitractor_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/jlglamborghinitractor.jpg <![CDATA[VT farmer goes on rampage, crushes 7 police vehicles with tractor [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/vt-farmer-goes-on-rampage-crushes-7-police-vehicles-with-tracto/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/vt-farmer-goes-on-rampage-crushes-7-police-vehicles-with-tracto/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/vt-farmer-goes-on-rampage-crushes-7-police-vehicles-with-tracto/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As you can see from the screenshot above, the Orleans County Sheriff's Department in Vermont did not have a good Thursday. At 12:40 pm yesterday, they received a 911 call that a tractor was running over police cruisers. The location of the crime? Their very own sheriff's barracks! The man behind the wheel of the tractor has been identified as Roger Pion, a Newport, VT farmer who was reportedly angry over a previous arrest for a minor violation.

In a scene that sounds straight out of Hazzard County, the officers stormed outside, but the culprit was gone, and they had no uncrumpled vehicles with which to pursue to Pion. The sheriff's department called in, well, everyone - Vermont State Police, Border Patrol, and Newport City Police, who finally tracked the offender down. Pion was about a mile and a half down the road when they found him, at which point he took off on foot and was soon after apprehended and arrested.

The damage, totaling an estimated $250,000 included six cruisers and an unmarked police van.

While the original offense Pion was upset over was for marijuana possession and resisting arrest, he now reportedly faces charges including aggravated assault, unlawful mischief, gross negligent operation and leaving the scene of an accident.

Continue reading VT farmer goes on rampage, crushes 7 police vehicles with tractor [w/video]

VT farmer goes on rampage, crushes 7 police vehicles with tractor [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orleans countypolice carpolice carsroad rageroger piontractorvermont tractorvideoFri, 03 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20292758/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/03/vt-farmer-goes-on-rampage-crushes-7-police-vehicles-with-tracto/20292758/article-detail.xml 20292758 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/crushedcruisers-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/crushedcruisers-628.jpg <![CDATA[GMO crops so tough that farmers are turning to Kevlar tractor tires]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Farmers riding tractor in cornfield

Farming is one of the most difficult ways to earn a living. You'd think that with all the innovations mankind has developed over the centuries, we could make farmers' lives easier. But as it turns out, sometimes miracles of modern science make things tougher. Literally.

Take genetically modified organisms (GMO) for instance. For now, let's ignore the controversy over its safety, usefulness and ethical issues. The main issue for those guys actually growing and harvesting the stuff is much more practical. As it turns out, corn modified to stand tall and tough against pests is also wreaking havoc on tractor tires.

Mark Newhall of Farm Show Magazine tells American Public Media's Marketplace that after the stalks are cut during harvest, the leftover stubs are like "having a field of little spears."

So instead of tractor tires lasting the usual five to six years, they're getting chewed up after just one or two years. One tractor tire can cost thousands of dollars, and some tractors have as many as eight tires.

How does a modern farmer fight back against a genetically modified enemy intent on destroying the very thing his business rides on? The same way our military defends against its enemies: Kevlar. While these augmented tractor tires can't be cheap, they should at least outlast their thin-skinned counterparts.

The use of Kevlar in tires might seem extravagant, but in fact it's very appropriate. The material was invented in 1964 by DuPont during its search for a strong, lightweight material for, you guessed it, tires.

Take a listen to Marketplace's story with the player below.

GMO crops so tough that farmers are turning to Kevlar tractor tires originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cornfarm equipmentfarminggenetically modifiedgmokevlarkevlar+tires+gmokevlar+tractor+tireskevlartiresgmokevlartractortiresmarketplacenprtractortractor tiresThu, 02 Aug 2012 18:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20292068/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/20292068/article-detail.xml 20292068 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/tractor-in-corn-field-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/tractor-in-corn-field-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Driverless John Deere tractor terrorizes Walmart parking lot]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/video-driverless-john-deere-tractor-terrorizes-walmart-parking/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/video-driverless-john-deere-tractor-terrorizes-walmart-parking/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/video-driverless-john-deere-tractor-terrorizes-walmart-parking/#commentsFiled under: , ,

John Deere Wal-Mart rampage
John Deere Walmart rampage - Click above to view video after the jump

A couple in Richmond Hill, Georgia Ontario were returning from the car wash when they noticed a strange late-night gathering at the local Walmart. Curious, they stopped to see what the fuss was about, and were confronted with the spectacle of a driver-less John Deere Tractor careening around the parking lot.

The tractor in question wasn't just your regular, run-of-the-mill lawn tractor, either. No, the phantom tractor was a four-wheel-drive Deere equipped with enough snowplow to clear Vail in January. The tractor spent five minutes jogging circles around the parking lot, gouging the side of the Walmart and annihilating an unsuspecting Suzuki SX4 and Toyota Corolla while slackjawed onlookers stood by doing nothing and area police literally drove in circles.

Eventually, someone with enough cojones decided to climb aboard the wayward farm machinery and try to stop the madness... but did they succeed? Click past the jump to find out for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Marshall!

[Source: YouTube via VW Vortex]

Continue reading Video: Driverless John Deere tractor terrorizes Walmart parking lot

Video: Driverless John Deere tractor terrorizes Walmart parking lot originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>farm equipmentjohn deeretoyotatractortractor+walmarttractor+walmart+richmond+hilltractorwalmarttractorwalmartrichmondhillwal martwal-martwalmartwalmart+tractorwalmarttractorSun, 10 Apr 2011 18:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19908411/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/10/video-driverless-john-deere-tractor-terrorizes-walmart-parking/19908411/article-detail.xml 19908411 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/johndeere-parkinglot_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/johndeere-parkinglot.jpg <![CDATA[English trucker blindly follows GPS down the wrong path]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/24/english-trucker-blindly-follows-gps-down-the-wrong-path/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/24/english-trucker-blindly-follows-gps-down-the-wrong-path/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/24/english-trucker-blindly-follows-gps-down-the-wrong-path/#commentsFiled under: ,


A little more than a month after one bloke followed his GPS guidance into the path of a train, we find a lorry driver in Great Britain pulling a similar blunder. Instead of looking outside the cab of the truck and noticing the large sign indicating the road was "unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles," he ignorantly followed the GPS display as it led him down a narrow farm lane. Within minutes, his 45-foot tractor trailer became firmly wedged in the mud and thicket. Needless to say, his trip to carry timber from north Wales to Birmingham was abruptly cut short. The driver's job is likely in jeopardy, but he is thankfully uninjured. The owner of the land, who now has to drive an extra two miles around the detour, is understandably irate.

This isn't a rare occurrence. In November, a Czech truck driver in the U.K. was led off course by his GPS and ended up spending three nights stuck in the woods. And who can forget the Brit who followed his GPS guidance into a river? GPS is a wonderful technology, but it is no substitute for common sense! Thanks for the tip Bobby!

[Source: Engadget]

English trucker blindly follows GPS down the wrong path originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GPSGuidanceLorryLostStuckTractorTruckSun, 24 Feb 2008 16:34:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1122940/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/02/24/english-trucker-blindly-follows-gps-down-the-wrong-path/1122940/article-detail.xml 1122940 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/gps_trruckoffroad_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/gps_trruckoffroad.jpg <![CDATA[Pimp my tractor: the Valtra Revolution]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/pimp-my-tractor-the-valtra-revolution/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/pimp-my-tractor-the-valtra-revolution/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/28/pimp-my-tractor-the-valtra-revolution/#commentsFiled under: ,



Finnish tractor maker Valtra has just the thing for the likes of Huggy Bear, Snoop and Ice-T when they decide to find a little plot out in the country and tend the garden. Valtra took a T-191 and, in a makeover worthy of Galpin Auto Sport, loaded it up with goods to keep the day moving when it's harvest time. The exterior remains understated, with just a glossy black paint job highlighted by blue LEDs and a raft of hi-po lights hinting at that the farmer is a pimp. In the cab, it gets more blue LEDs, an illuminated Valtra logo, an Alpine DVD screen with remote, a shiny sound system with a full complement of speakers -- including in the roof -- and a retractable GPS system, because sometimes, you know, you need a little help finding the party... in your tractor. The promo video even comes with an Ibiza soundtrack. The tractor is called the Revolution, and you know you want one. Check out the video after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Ovidiu!

[Source: YouTube via Zercustoms]

Continue reading Pimp my tractor: the Valtra Revolution

Pimp my tractor: the Valtra Revolution originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tractorvaltravaltra revolutionValtraRevolutionMon, 28 Jan 2008 08:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1097127/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/01/28/pimp-my-tractor-the-valtra-revolution/1097127/article-detail.xml 1097127 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/valtra_revolution_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/valtra_revolution.jpg -1 2