2014 Tradesman/express New 5.7l V8 16v Automatic 4wd on 2040-cars

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Only in Japan: Dodge van one-make racing series is a thing

Japan seems willing to embrace a level of automotive insanity that many other places lack. Whether it's 1,200-horsepower Nissan GT-Rs blasting through tight, tree-lined mountain roads or advertisements with dances for the Toyota Prius Plug-in, the country definitely has a unique way of expressing a love for autos. The D-Van Grand Prix might be one of our favorite examples yet of crazy Japanese car culture, because the annual, one-make race at the Ebisu Circuit is exclusively for heavily customized Dodge vans. Like many great things, this wonderfully crazy idea came from a little rule breaking. D-Van Grand Prix organizer Takuro Abe was at a track event for a motorcycle racing school, and vans were used to haul the bikes around. During lunch someone came up with the idea for a race. Ignoring that the big machines weren't actually allowed on the circuit, the drivers headed out. The popularity has just grown since then. These days, the racing vans absolutely aren't the stock machines from the event's inspiration. In addition to stripped interiors and track rubber that you might expect, the list of mods for them is a mile long. For every possible advantage, the racers fit them with things like Brembo brakes, cross-drilled rotors, heavy-duty transmissions, and much more. Seeing vans lumbering around the track is very weird at first, but the racers take the competition very seriously. These folks even employ all sorts of little tricks to coax the most from the machines. This is a fascinating motorsports story, but be sure to turn on the subtitles to understand the interviews with the competitors.

Idaho Ram dealer offered free elk taxidermy with purchase

A Ram and Jeep dealer in Post Falls, Idaho, was offering free elk taxidermy with the purchase of a new truck. Sadly, the promotion ended yesterday.  Now, is this type of promotion commonplace? I honestly have no idea, but it sure seems novel. Offering free taxidermy of any sort with the purchase of a new car or truck is certainly one thing, but the specificity of the elk really drives it home.  "Hi, I'm looking to buy your blue Ram 1500 Laramie and I just took down this pronghorn that I'd like to get taxidermied for free." "I'm sorry, sir, the promotion only covers elk. But about that Laramie ..." For those wondering, it does seem to be general elk hunting season in Idaho, but after a brief look at Idaho's extensive Big Game Seasons and Rules guide, there is a dizzying number of rules and regulations regarding exactly when and where one can hunt elk as well as what kind of elk one can hunt. Try reading that sentence out loud. Nevertheless, it would logically seem that free elk taxidermy could be enticing for those living in the area of Post Falls, which is in between Coeur d'Alene and Spokane, Washington, near the state border. So hey, why not? Way to get creative Findlay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.  According to the advertisement, the dealer would only cover $1,500 worth of elk taxidermy. Is that enough for a quality taxidermification of your elk? Again, I'd rather not Google that. But it's nevertheless something, right? Related Video:  

Ram 1500 Mossy Oak Edition ready to start Truck Dynasty in the Motor City

Throughout the last half of the 20th Century and extending into the 21st, our country has had an on-again, off-again love affair with redneck culture. Urban Cowboy begot The Dukes of Hazzard which bled into the Ernest movies, which, in turn, paved the way for the long locks of Joe Dirt and Kid Rock. These days Duck Dynasty is the ignoble standard bearer for the hillbilly way of life - a group that would undoubtedly feel right at home in the latest offering from Ram, the 2014 Ram 1500 Mossy Oak Edition.
Custom designed for the hunters, fishers and other outdoors-folks that make up the Ram customer base (according to the company's press release) the latest instantiation of the Mossy Oak boasts a liberal daubing of camouflage. The camo rides on top of your choice of Black, Black Gold Pearl, Prairie Pearl and with either a Canyon Brown or Frost Beige interior. All of the Mossy Oak Edition trucks are 4X4s with a Crew Cab body, perfect for hauling your hunting buddies out into the wild places of the world.
Fashionable redneck culture doesn't come cheap apparently; the Ram 1500 Mossy Oak Edition starts at $39,985 with a $1,195 destination fee.