The Friday before a three-day weekend always feels awesome. Hopefully, you don’t have to work on on Memorial Day, but if you do, here’s hoping you get overtime. Do any companies even do that anymore? Anyway, here’s the news:

• Authorities in the UK are investigating more than 400 driving instructors for not having proper credentials. Maybe this explains why everyone over there drives on the wrong side of the road. Auto Express
• With the American Axle strike now officially over, the General has calculated exactly how much it cost. The lost production wasn’t cheap. Well, unless you think that 2.81 billion is pocket change. Yikes. Automotive News
• Legislators in Florida want to release a Christian-themed vanity plate, and I think that’s a fine idea. Just as long as they release a Sex, Drugs and Rock’n'Roll plate along with it, that is. Winding Road
• Are the Japanese falling out of love with the car? Slipping sales figures seem to suggest they are, and automakers are nervously trying to figure out how to rekindle the romance. Something tells me that a nice dinner and flowers just won’t do it this time. Newsweek 

Seattle is an awesome city, and I love living here. But I wish it took me less that 12 hours of traveling to get to my folk’s place in Florida. I was there over the weekend, and in a funny coincidence, it was warmer here than it was in Tampa. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Around four o’clock this morning, a tractor trailer overturned near Chicago, spilling 14 tons of Oreo cookies onto I-80. The accident snarled traffic for hours, as clean-up efforts were complicated by herds of fat kids attempting to scarf up the spill. Briet Bart via Autoblog
• Will Ferrari give the 430 a removable hardtop? It sounds like a wild idea, but a car belonging to the company has been spotted in Maranello wearing just such a hat. Motor Authority
• While something that appears to be a baby Cayenne has been spotted in Germany, a member of the Porsche brass denies that it will happen, saying all development resources are being poured into the Panamera. But is he to be trusted? World Car Fans
• American Axle workers aren’t particularly stoked about their new contracts, but at least they’re headed back to work. It’s about time. Detroit News

Ah, Friday the best day of the week. Of course, it’s even cooler when you get to leave work early, and that’s exactly what I’m doing today. Good times. Anyway, here’s the news:

• I think that bikes and cars can—and should—live together peacefully. So when cyclists do stupid things like ride across all lanes of the freeway it really pissed me off. What a great way to screw up a bunch of people’s day. Seattle Times
• The General is wading into the American Axle fiasco, and it’s bringing 200 million dollars with it. Think this development has anything to do with the strike at the Malibu plant? The cash will go mostly toward employee buy outs. Automotive News
• I’ve always loved cut-away cars, and I’ve long wanted to see somebody make a functional one. This   "clear" Subie a UK dealer made is the closest I’ve seen anyone come, and I think it looks dope. CarScoop
• A spy video of the Aston Martin Vantage V12 RS has leaked, and wow, does it look hot. The vents in the hood just make it look vicious. Leave it to Aston Martin to make my dream car even dreamier. Motor Authority

It’s Monday, but that’s ok. I know, from experience, that I’m lucky to have a job I enjoy. Anyway, here’s the news:

• The General has seemed to weather the American Axle strike pretty well, but now the UAW has called a strike at a Kansas plant which makes the Malibu. It’s unclear if the motivation for the strike is based on actual grievances or just being used to make the GM help solve the AA fiasco. Automotive News
• Pininfarina has announced that it will dedicate one of its factories to electric car production. The car  hasn’t debuted yet, but the Italian coach builder has said that it will be available in the United States in 2010, and will have 155 miles range. Sounds cool, but I’ll believe it when I see it. AutoWeek
• Most of the time, when you hear a Lada mentioned, it’s as a punchline, or it’s being somehow compromised in a photo lifted from English Russia. But this one is designed to campaign in the WTCC series. Who knew? Jalopnik
• Looks like the shot of the M1 Prototype which was making the rounds on the internet is just a PhotoChop. Kind of a shame, as it’s a really sexy looking car. Hopefully BMW is taking notes. CarScoop

Seattle is supposed to have clear weather for the weekend. That almost makes me not want to spend so much time inside drinking. Almost. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Toyota was once poised for total global domination, but the Tundra hasn’t really delivered, and for the last two months, Ford has outsold the Japanese heavyweight. This could get interesting. Auto Observer
• Audi is going to be the official car for this year’s Isle of Man TT race. Notice they aren’t calling it a "safety car." There’s nothing safe about this incredible event. World Car Fans
• American Axle is telling it’s suppliers to be ready to rock, but it’s unclear as to whether we’ll see an end to the strike or replacement workers hitting the line. Will this ever end? Automotive News
• In other news, the General is facing a revolt from some of its troops. Two factories are ready to strike, and since one makes the Malibu, it’s making things pretty tense. Freep

Since both places have drive-up windows, I’m going to go out on a limb and call the fact that Arby’s just bought Wendy’s car-related. Founder Dave Thomas opened the first restaurant in Ohio forty years ago, and one of his daughters described her family as "devastated" by the sale. All I’m saying is that Arby’s better not mess with the menu at Wendy’s—it’s the best fast food out there. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Don’t be surprised if you hear some execs in Dearborn humming AC/DC today, as Ford just announced that—for the fiscal quarter at least—the company is back in the black. Given most analysts expected the Blue Oval to still be hemorrhaging cash, this is big news. Auto Observer
• Ferrari will open its first retail store in the UK later this year, which should come as a real relief to all the blokes looking for a great way to drop $50 on a ball cap. CarScoop
• Pininfarina has announced it plans to open a design center in India. Something tells me that in the next decade, India will be a major player in the automotive world. Stay tuned. World Car Fans
• VW is looking to build cars in the US, and the company has narrowed its search to three states. Who says having a devalued currency is so bad? Freep
• The American Axle strike is beginning to feel a lot like the Democratic primary. It’s going on and on, with no end in site. Will we have a new President before those AA and the UAW reach a deal? Detroit  News

Rental cars companies know that most people get a kick out of abusing their cars, and since it’s probably not good to preemptively scold customers, they just try to stick it to us in other ways. So if you want to save a little money next time you have to rent a car, check out the 6 Secrets Rental Cars Don’t Want You to Know. I found it pretty informative—or maybe I just like sticking it to the man. Anyway, here’s the news:

• The General says that it will be able to keep up with demand for the its award-winning and popular Malibu, despite the strike at American Axle. Good news for Chevy dealers, bad news for AA. Auto Observer
• Remember when all those Explorers were flipping in the early ’90s? Even those owners that didn’t wind up topsy-turvy took a financial hit, as their vehicle’s resale value tanked. Now a California judge has ordered Ford to compensate them. Automotive News
• Will we see a "people’s bike" in the next few years? The idea might not be that far-fetched, as VW honcho Ferdinand Piech says the company might buy a motorcycle manufacturer. Stay tuned. AutoWeek
• Remember how popular Vanilla Ice was before he went back to being Robbie Van Winkle? That’s what this review of the new GTR—which says it’s more fluffy kitten than Godzilla—reminds me of. Looks like Mr. Angry isn’t the only one underwhelmed by Nissan’s halo car. LA Times
• Everybody likes taxes. Everybody hates paying more for gas. That’s stuff nobody likes. But is suspending the gas tax—as John McCain has suggested—a good idea? Probably not. Wired

Wow, talk about a burly weekend. Right now, I feel like I’ve been hit on the head with a hammer. I threw a dinner party on Saturday night, and needless to say, there was a lot more drinking than eating. Anyway, here’s the news: 

• The American Axle strike has been going on for two months, and while the General has stayed out of the fight so far, it probably won’t for much longer. Supplies of parts needed to build the Malibu and the G6 are getting slim, and since those are big money makers, it’s probably going to start putting its foot down. Automotive News
• After Aaron Fike’s candid remarks about driving while high on heroin, it looks like NASCAR is going to start paying a little more attention to the condition of its drivers. Probably a good idea. AutoWeek
• A team of high school kids has just designed a car that gets over 2000 miles per gallon. Why is Detroit still whining about CAFE standards? World Car Fans
• The new M3 has barely dropped, but German tuning house HAMANN has already released a tuning kit for it. With some tweaks to the motor, the company says it should be good for 200MPH. Damn. CarScoop

It’s Friday, and you know what that means: a couple of days of partying which will be awesome, even if it takes a little while to piece together what I actually did. Have a great weekend! Here’s the news: 

• If you’ve ever wanted to design a car from scratch, this might be your chance. Local Motors is calling for designs, and if they get a really killer one, it just might see production. Wired
• The brass at American Axle isn’t pumped about the proposal the UAW has submitted, saying that it won’t allow the company to be competitive. Obviously, this isn’t good for workers, who have been on strike for over six weeks. Detroit News
• Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, who received a three year suspended sentence for fraud last year, recently had his conviction over-turned by Korea’s Supreme Court. Life is good at the top. Automotive News
• Most car companies get all huffy about spy shots of their new vehicles, but not Opel. The automaker is actually releasing it’s own. What’s next, dog and cats living together? Winding Road

Sorry there was no New on the Net yesterday. Monday was my birthday, and I was nursing a wicked hangover. But its ok Maker’s Mark, I still love you. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Lots of folks forget how important it is to keep tires properly inflated, and if this trick rubber catches on, they might never have to remember to check them. Auto Express
• While the strike at American Axle has already closed several of the GM’s plants, so far, new Chevy Malibu production hasn’t been affected. But unless a resolution is reached pronto, it will be, and since that’s the best-selling car the General has right now, don’t be surprised if it starts issuing orders. Automotive News
• After a video of FIA honcho Max Mosley participating in a Nazi-themed, sadomasochistic orgy surfaced, people immediately began calling for his resignation. But Mosley is defiant, and has so far refused to do so. Now, he’s denying the Nazi angle. Auto Week
• Think you’re lucky? Well, probably not as lucky as this dude. He walked away after his car was hit by a train. Tampa Bay Online