Monster Jam is totally rad

To our 6-year-old selves, monster trucks really were the biggest, baddest things on four wheels, mechanized, city-block-sized demon machines that ate sedans and belched fire. The reality is that the trucks aren't that big when you get right up next to them -- certainly not the Caterpillar 797-sized car-obliterators we imagined years ago. They're probably around 12 feet high at most; given current trends, they'll be eclipsed by heavy-duty pickups in a design cycle or two.

This Week in 1958: Montgomery, NY, hosts Governor's Trophy Race for the third year in a row

Fifty-five years ago was the third consecutive year that a former Air Force base in Montgomery, N.Y., served as a racetrack. The Governor's Trophy Race was a growing event and spectators only had to travel 75 miles from New York City to see race legends like Carroll Shelby compete. Nearly 30,000 spectators came to the two-day event in 1957, and race organizers were expecting even more in 1958.

Landwind Fashion

Chinese manufacturer Landwind are entering the heated midi-MPV market with the Fashion, which is available with either five or seven seats. This pitches it directly against the Renault Megane Scenic and the Opel Zafira, which in particular is enjoying buoyant sales. The Fashion will hope its low starting price of about US$16,000 will help it steal some of those customers, though taller ones may be put of by a tail-gate that only opens to face height.