I’ve always heard you should pick your battles. Not take on just anything that comes along ‘cause battlin’ takes a lot of time an energy. The problem is the fewer battles ya take on, the fewer ya wanna pick. After a while it’s just easier ta not pick any.

‘Course, as a friend a mine used to like ta say, "Who gives a rip about apathy?"

There is little doubt that there are things worth stickin’ your neck out for, but mostly it’s committin’ the time and energy necessary to get something worthwhile accomplished. The other thing necessary is to utilize all the tools available to complete the task. Not goin’ at it half hearted. It’s easy to sit around and jabber about somethin’, ‘nother thing to actually get off the porch and get after it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’

Sponsored by Curry Automotive

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

Who is the real leader in hybrid technology? The last time I went into a Toyota dealership, the salesman told me that Toyota had just sold its first-generation hybrid technology to Ford because Toyota has developed its second generation. The implication is that Ford will never be able to catch Toyota. From your examination of hybrids, does this appear to be the case? Is Ford technologically remedial? - Bruce

RAY: Well, I think it’s only fair to give Toyota credit for being the hybrid leader right now. It was the first car company to develop and sell a large number of hybrids to otherwise gas-guzzling Americans.

TOM: The third-generation Prius is out now, and again, it’s even better than the last version. Not only does it get 50 miles per gallon in the city, but it’s also a roomy, seemingly reliable car with very few downsides.

RAY: That said, there’s nothing remedial about what Ford is doing. What we’ve heard (and remember, we’re only slightly more trustworthy than your car dealer, Bruce) is that Ford developed its own hybrid technology, but that it was similar enough to Toyota’s that Ford opted to make a licensing deal with Toyota, rather than risk being sued for patent violations.

TOM: Or, Ford stole Toyota’s technology and got caught!

RAY: Anyway, now Ford has its second generation of hybrids out, and the Ford Fussion Hybrid midsize sedan gets an impressive 41 miles per gallon in the city. By comparison, the latest, comparably sized Toyota Camry Hybrid gets only 33.

TOM: Ford is hardly a laggard these days. And I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a hybrid from either company.

NASCAR THIS WEEK

By Monte Dutton

Brian Vickers Looks for Cup Victory

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Brian Vickers, who made a switch to Toyota when the Japanese manufacturer entered the Sprint Cup Series in 2007, has yet to win a race, but feels the progress of Team Red Bull is evidenced by his success in qualifying.

Vickers, 25, won his third pole of the season at Michigan International Speedway, though he wound up finishing ninth in the LifeLock 400.

"It always feels good to be the fastest driver in this series on any given day," he said. "It’s a challenge, to say the least. This is the most competitive racing series in the world, definitely here in the U.S.

"Sitting on the pole is no easy accomplishment. ... (The team) gave me a great car."

Vickers, who is from Thomasville, N.C., has won eight poles in his career and won a race at Talladega, Ala., in October 2006. At the time of his lone victory, he was at Hendrick Motorsports. Vickers has remained patient at Team Red Bull, a new entry at the time he signed up, as its performance has gradually improved.

"I think we’re making gains," said Vickers. "We’ve been making gains all year. We’ve been making gains since this team was founded. There are times when we’ve made huge gains and times when the gains have been slow. There have been times when we’ve taken a few steps back, but for the most part we’ve always taken more steps forward.

"We’ve come so far in such a short amount of years, and hopefully, we can keep going."

Vickers offered a staunch defense of Toyota’s rightful place in NASCAR.

"Personally, I didn’t grow up in the Detroit generation," he said. "I grew up in a national and international generation. To me, I see multi-national conglomerates that do business all around the world, and it’s very difficult to distinguish where their headquarters really is. Probably the only person (who) can distinguish where any company’s headquarters is these days is whoever is collecting taxes. I can assure you that Uncle Sam knows where (Toyota’s) headquarters is.

"Toyota, in a lot of eyes and to me with what I’ve learned about them, they are as much of an American car company as anyone. They have been over the years, and the Toyota Camry is the only car in the sport right now that’s built in the U.S."