A Hero's Story, a Patriot's Musical, and a Slick Racing Team

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August 31, 2009

GREASED LIGHTING: No, this is not somebody’s idea of a joke: A Santee-based team of racers will attempt to win the Baja 1000 in November with a car whose engine can run on leftover fast-food grease. So says David Moye, who’s promoting Greasecar Motorsports, an alternative-fuel off-road racing venture. “When other racers go to the gas station,” says Moye, “our driver can go to a taco shop and fill up on taquito grease.” And so far, the Greasecar — which typically runs on pure vegetable oil — has met with some success. The 1969 Baja Bug finished fifth in the Baja 1000 last November and second in the Baja 500 in June. Next test: the September 11-13 Primm in Nevada. Gentlemen, start your fat-fryers.

BUSINESS BASICS: Jim Bowers figures we’re finally back to politics as usual. “At the car wash last week,” he says, “I had to pay extra to have my Obama sticker removed from my bumper.”

ITEMIZED: The latest and greatest of Sheriff Bill Kolender’s ongoing retirement celebrations is set for October 5 at the Town & Country Hotel. Former Mayor/Senator/Governor Pete Wilson will lead the way in what figures to be equal parts roast and love fest ... A National Public Radio story last week on Iraqi immigrants in the U.S. — and their struggles to assimilate — put the largest concentration in El Cajon ... Former San Diego councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer Stutz and her husband, attorney Dave Stutz, have a piece of Churchill — the Musical, a British stage play (looking for a home) based on the life of the cigar-chomping patriot Sir Winston.

EVERYDAY HERO: Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the US Airways pilot who safely crash-landed his passenger jet in the Hudson River last January, spoke in San Diego last week, exuding the kind of quiet confidence expected of heroes. Sullenberger, who has a TV documentary and a book due in September, told the group he intends to return to flying next month. The ill-fated flight, he said, was his first ever with his co-pilot. But they were a perfect match. On landing in the Hudson, he said, they both uttered the same line — almost in unison: “That wasn’t as bad as I expected.” Sullenberger piggybacked a local college tour on his speaking engagement. He and his daughter, Katie, visited San Diego State, UCSD and USD, and reportedly loved all three campuses. SO THEY SAY: Congressman Bob Filner, at the City Club/Catfish Club luncheon, calling for increased attention to mental health for Vietnam veterans: “There are now more deaths among Vietnam vets by suicide than deaths of servicemen in the war.” And, “The problem is, we didn’t distinguish between the war and the warrior.” ... Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, welcoming some 60 teachers and administrators at the annual Chula Vista Elementary School District alumni breakfast in National City: “What are we doing in National City for this reunion? Perhaps next year, we should think Chula Vista.”

BOTTOM LINE: Rich Folger spotted the freelancer in the parking lot at the Point Loma Home Depot, bearing a sign with his basic job requirements: “Will Work for $15 an Hour. Have My Own Food.”

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