Big Black Dodge, Who could it be?

[ELKCHSR]

Electric cars in Big Sky country?
Gas-guzzlers rule in Montana, but one salesman is trying to grow a niche market for the environmentally friendly Zenn car.
By Ray Sikorski | Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor

Bozeman, Mont.
"So here's a guy in a diesel," says Ron Gompertz, looking over his shoulder at the truck looming next to us. It's not really necessary to look, because the growling diesel engine is nearly drowning him out.

"You wanna drag?" he asks me.

The question is an interesting one, not so much for its illicit overtones, but because it's being posed by the driver of a tiny, 1,200-pound Zenn electric car, which boasts a top speed of 35 miles per hour. The presumed competitor is a Ford F-250 Super Duty diesel pickup truck, which towers menacingly above us in the left lane.

The light turns, Mr. Gompertz hits the accelerator, and a surge of electrical zeal sends the little car flying down Bozeman, Montana's Main Street and around the next corner just before the next light changes.

"He just ran a red light to chase us," Gompertz says, brimming with glee. "Watch him as he pulls up – he'll probably look down at us and make fun."

Gompertz owns Bozeman's EcoAuto, which sells the two-seater Zenn cars, electric scooters, and gas-powered, Mercedes-built Smart micro-cars. The race seems very amusing to him, but now the gurgling behemoth is hovering just above my shoulder. I take a timid glance up at the driver. He's not making fun – just staring.

"This is the Montana culture," says Gompertz, a native of New York City. "Macho mobiles. This is the contrast. Look, he's got his big bars there [in front] to kill things with. It's Mad Max Road Warrior. ... This is the part of the Montana culture I don't get, the Neanderthal kind of thing."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0709/p20s01-sten.html

 

[Curly]

Did you ever watch "Who Killed the Electric Car"? It's a pretty good documentary.

 

[BigHornRam]

"This is the Montana culture," says Gompertz, a native of New York City. "Macho mobiles. This is the contrast. Look, he's got his big bars there [in front] to kill things with. It's Mad Max Road Warrior. ... This is the part of the Montana culture I don't get, the Neanderthal kind of thing."

Another candy ass east coaster moves to Bozeman and tries to enlighten the ignorant local rednecks.

 

[ELKCHSR]

LOL Your right...

I posted this because the antics of the individual in the big black dodge ram remind me of some on this board who live in that local...

 

[Bambistew]

To bad Mad Max didn't swerve and run his New York azz over. I'll be it will be a real asset in the snow too.

 

[barefooter19]

Look all around you, no matter where you are things are changeing everywhere, big time.
You'll run into a fruit cake in MT. just as easy as you would in NY nowdays.
Sad but true. Just look around.|oo
Like my granddad always says,:BLEEP: the good old days are behind us now.

 

[ELKCHSR]

I think their a little more concentrated in the big cities though, I see people down here all the time that just wouldn't fit very well into the Montana scene.... well... er... ceptin maybe Missoula... Home of the dreadlocks...

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

Hell, We are living in the GOOD OLD DAYS! We have more to be thankful for than just about any American generation! We may have a few thing still to work out, but I am seeing my son inheriting a pretty good life. All you have to do is look back just 50 years ago and see where we have come from....and screw Gore and MM!! John

 

[Whiskers]

the individual in the big black dodge ram

The presumed competitor is a Ford F-250 Super Duty

Where is the Big Black Dodge...I live on the east coast, and drive a big black dodge...360 cubic inches, 4wheel drive, front and rear Posi's. His little electric car might beat me off the line, but when he stops and I crash my big bars meant for killing things into the back of him, we will know who really won.

 

[IDHunters]

Just race him in the snow or up a rough 2 track road somewhere.

Pick your fights!

 

[ELKCHSR]

Or you both can load each with a ton of stuff, then race...

 

[MattK]

There is a lot of use still for Big black Dodges in MT as well as throughout other states. The part I always like though is the guy with that truck or better yet the humvee that has never even seen the snow or the hills. Why would you want to spend 30-75 thousand dollars on a truck or humvee and beat the hell out of it...best to keep it on the highway where there's no danger of getting a scratch...yep, it's a pretty useful vehicle. The only thing they tow is maybe a boat to Flathead lake.

 

[ELKCHSR]

I've seen a lot of people right in the Bitterroot that fit that criteria perfectly

 

[Bambistew]

Hey Matt,

I have a truck, it see's very little snow, and even less off road... problem is if I drove through the city with a trunk full of deer and the blood started oozing out.... I think it might turn a few heads.

 

[BigHornRam]

I think Bozeman has passed Missoula as the official Montana eco-freak capital.

 

[Whiskers]

My big black dodge always has blood running out and drying on the back bumper, freaks people out in parking lots. But the driver freaks em out too.

 

[MattK]

Bambi- I saw a car (4 door sedan) in the area I hunt. It's mostly walk in with about a 3 mile drive on a maintained dirt road. The funny part is when he left, he had his trunk tied down with a blue tarp in the trunk. He also had a fairly nice 4 point white-tail with it's head sticking out between the ropes. I've also seen a picture (I believe somewhere on this site) that has an elk propped over the top of a car. Most of the big trucks I see (and especially the Humvees) probably have never seen anything but highway and in town pavement. At 4 -15 miles per gallon...all they are is for show...not for go.

 

[noharleyyet]

Bambi- I saw a car (4 door sedan) in the area I hunt. It's mostly walk in with about a 3 mile drive on a maintained dirt road. The funny part is when he left, he had his trunk tied down with a blue tarp in the trunk. He also had a fairly nice 4 point white-tail with it's head sticking out between the ropes. I've also seen a picture (I believe somewhere on this site) that has an elk propped over the top of a car. Most of the big trucks I see (and especially the Humvees) probably have never seen anything but highway and in town pavement. At 4 -15 miles per gallon...all they are is for show...not for go.

...your idol Gore is appalled by their carbon "feetprint'! Don't be an expensive toy hater. They prolly buy hi-dolla' landowner tags too.

 

[BigHornRam]

Try to stay on topic, Matty. Do you think Gompertz's rubber band powered beer can/speed bump will ever transport wild game? Can it still drive in over 4" of snow? How many cords of wood can it haul? Should every Montanan that cares about global warming, go out and buy one of these?

 

[ELKCHSR]

I've heard that the foot print of the Prius is far larger than a Humvee if you look at the overall picture including how their made

The toxic waste from all the batteries alone make it a pollution pig of biblical proportions