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NY Times goes on safari to Texas, struggles to understand natives’ love for their “trucks”
http://legalinsurrection.com/ ^ | 01/02/2017 | William A. Jacobson

Posted on 01/02/2017 12:50:18 PM PST by heterosupremacist

“People in Texas will buy trucks even if they’re not going to haul anything heavier than raindrops.”

The NY Times went on safari to Texas, and it has an article about a peculiar love of the natives for trucks, Rodeo Offers a 90-M.P.H. Glimpse of Texans’ Truck Mania:

Tim Spell has noticed a peculiar condition that affects Texans’ mental, physical and automotive well-being.

“I call it ‘truck-itis,’” said Mr. Spell, the former automotive editor for The Houston Chronicle. “People in Texas will buy trucks even if they’re not going to haul anything heavier than raindrops. I was interviewing one guy. He had a 4-by-4. I said: ‘You live in Houston. Why do you have this 4-by-4?’ He said, ‘Well, I own a bar, and 4-by-4s are higher, and I can climb up on the cab and change out the letters of my marquee.’”

Whether for high-up urban letter-switching or more rural and rugged purposes, pickup trucks are to Texas what cowboy boots and oil derricks are to the state — a potent part of the brand. No other state has a bigger influence on the marketing of American pickup trucks.

Having diagnosed the symptoms and named the disease, the Times tried to understand by taking a safari to the Texas Truck Rodeo:

This year’s rodeo, held in October at the Longhorn River Ranch here in Dripping Springs, in the Hill Country outside Austin, left me with a new appreciation for the word truck-a-thon….

At the outdoor awards ceremony, everyone gawked at the two-handled Truck of Texas trophy. In the end, it went to the 2017 Ford Super Duty. A mere five voting points separated the Titan from the Super Duty. John Rieger, Ford’s Super Duty brand manager, gave the trophy a long kiss in the glow of the headlights.

(Excerpt) Read more at legalinsurrection.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: automotive; cityslickers; dontmesswithtexas; fakenews; fordmotor; media; msm; redstates; texas
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To: heterosupremacist

My son in preschool announced that Daddies drive trucks and Mommies drive cars.


81 posted on 01/02/2017 2:14:16 PM PST by tbw2
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To: tbw2

He never met my redneck aunt.


82 posted on 01/02/2017 2:16:06 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear wrote:

“I would ask how much you wanted for it but when you found out that it was going to be used as a farm truck you would probably refuse to sell it.”

NOT for sale, I don’t even own it!


83 posted on 01/02/2017 2:16:59 PM PST by heterosupremacist (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: taterjay

Heck the rich snobs probably don’t even need cars if they live in NYC.

The rest of us in the real world need our own transportation.


84 posted on 01/02/2017 2:17:27 PM PST by dhs12345
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To: dgbrown

I bet you’re having fun finding parts like I get to with my Willys jeep.

The next job which I would like to do is the windshield frame. All goes well into the next pay period, I’ll order it.

After that, it’s save up and buy the few bigger things it needs and send it to a shop. No lift, no beer buddies, and tennis elbow rules out the underneath stuff.

Brakes all around, lift kit, steering box rebuild, and very likely the transmission need reworking. Barring catastrophic engine problems, it would be done short of paint and body.

Today I learned that taking the windshield frame off my long languishing CJ7 to replace it was a two man job. I got it down anyway.

I used some Christmas money and bought some impact bits. Between those, 3 small propane torch bottles, and some patience, the frozen 1982 torx screws came out.


85 posted on 01/02/2017 2:19:30 PM PST by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
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To: heterosupremacist

Warning NYT

“Do Not Laugh at the Natives”

(They have been known to invite you to judge a Chili Cook Off)


86 posted on 01/02/2017 2:19:53 PM PST by TexasTransplant (Idiocracy used to just be a Movie... Live every day as your last...one day you will be right)
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To: Celtic Conservative

I chose the ‘57 motor because, it was available, it was fresh rebuilt, it had an additional 55 horsepower, and it had superior positive oiling.

I have a dual-carb manifold and carb set that I bought for it that looks cool but I’m reluctant to mess with success.


87 posted on 01/02/2017 2:21:24 PM PST by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
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To: heterosupremacist
Oh well, just a thought.

I really like the old trucks for some reason. They have a sense of style that is lacking in the newer trucks.

88 posted on 01/02/2017 2:21:28 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Not a Romantic, not a hero worshiper and stop trying to tug my heartstrings. It tickles! (pink bow))
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To: heterosupremacist

I have a 1969 F250 Camper Special waiting for me at my mechanics - 59k miles, he was re-charging the original AC and replacing some steering rubber.

Traded for an older nonrunning but original flat fender Jeep.


89 posted on 01/02/2017 2:23:15 PM PST by freedomlover
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To: tophat9000
Texan men have trucks for the same reason liberal men have balls. even if you never use them it nice to have just in case

Your analogy breaks down because Texas men aren't banging their trucks into one another.

90 posted on 01/02/2017 2:23:40 PM PST by Gulf War One
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To: heterosupremacist

Bought my 75 year old man a pair of truck nits for Christmas.


91 posted on 01/02/2017 2:23:49 PM PST by cornfedcowboy
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

Just sold my 1975 Chevy 3/4 long bed for $4,800. 69K original miles. Just to small for my 6’7” frame.


92 posted on 01/02/2017 2:27:56 PM PST by OregonRancher (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints)
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To: heterosupremacist

Tx women want to be seen with their man in a truck.


93 posted on 01/02/2017 2:28:55 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: tophat9000

Texas men, yes indeed. I can scarcely call male liberals “men” and while anatomically they may possess testicles, I doubt they really know what to do with them.

But give me a man who drive a pick up any day over a Ubering sissy car fool.


94 posted on 01/02/2017 2:29:47 PM PST by DallasGal (Please Lord, let 2017 be far better than the 2016. I don't want to hurt anymore)
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To: heterosupremacist

They’re working vehicles. New Yorkers wouldn’t understand.


95 posted on 01/02/2017 2:30:26 PM PST by AFreeBird (BEST. ELECTION. EVER!)
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To: heterosupremacist

Written by a guy who shaves his forearms (amongst other things), waxes his unibrow, and wears the same cologne and skinny jeans as his sister.


96 posted on 01/02/2017 2:30:41 PM PST by ameribbean expat
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To: rockrr

Yep, full pressure oiling showed up in ‘54.

CC


97 posted on 01/02/2017 2:31:05 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (CC: purveyor of cryptic, snarky posts since December, 2000..)
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To: heterosupremacist
unlike all the Escalades and other land barges roaming the city carrying nothing more that their liburl fatasses around... right?
98 posted on 01/02/2017 2:36:23 PM PST by Chode (may the RATS all die of dehydration from crying)
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To: heterosupremacist

We have an old Ford Ranger and a utility trailer which is a MUST in our area.


99 posted on 01/02/2017 2:36:56 PM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear (****happy dance**** BIGLY!!!!)
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To: elcid1970

I have a E350 Super Duty instead of a truck. When I pull all of the rear seats out, I can load a pallet of plywood sheets in there without a problem. Get em home, unload, seats back in and the five children to their soccer and basketball games.

No problem.


100 posted on 01/02/2017 2:39:43 PM PST by wbarmy (I chose to be a sheepdog once I saw what happens to the sheep.)
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