Road trippin’ with Reusse
Posted on March 6th, 2008 – 9:25 AMBy Joe Christensen
For a rental car this spring, I’ve been driving a green Toyota Prius hybrid, which has been a point of pride for me, especially with gas prices running about $3.30 per gallon down here.
Yesterday, the great Patrick Reusse rode with me on the two-hour ride to Tampa. He was skeptical when the drive started, asking if that little car “had any guts,” but the Prius handled itself just fine in the fast lane up I-75 North.
I was feeling pretty good all day, as we covered the Twins/Yankees game. Patrick can fill a car ride with stories — many hilarious — and I was looking forward to getting back to the Prius.
That is, until we got about 100 yards away from the car and noticed the lights were on.
There are things you don’t want to do as a Star Tribune sports writer. One of them is leave your car running all day, when you’re responsible for Reusse’s ride home.
I walked those last 100 yards to my car, imaging being stranded with Patrick in a deserted stadium parking lot.
Yes, I’d left the car on. I exited the Prius, just as I always do, with the electronic key in my pocket. For this car (and perhaps all hybrids, I’m not sure) you don’t put a key into the ignition. Once the electronic thingy is inside the car, you just push power. And when the car is idle, it sounds like it’s off — like an electric golf cart.
Staring at those lights over those last 100 yards, I must have kicked myself 100 times. Why the heck were my lights on in the first place?
I’m an optimist by nature, so I held out hope that the car would start. If the lights are on, it’s got to start, right? Patrick’s gravely voice muttered as he walked. He had his doubts.
Alas, the car started just fine. Eight hours at a ballpark, and the machine hadn’t used a drop of gas. The battery indicator light told us we were dangerously close to losing power, but I pulled right out of the parking lot, and by the time we got back to Fort Myers, the battery was fully charged.
I was plenty relieved. Patrick called his wife, telling her about the stupid thing that almost happened, and she said, “It sounds like a stupid car thing.” That made me feel better, but hybrid or Hummer, you’ve gotta be smarter than your automobile.
22 Responses to "Road trippin’ with Reusse"
Wow, that’s pretty amazing.
I’d hope that a battery that weighs in as much as Patrick would last all day.
What has more gas on board–a conventional car with Joe in it, or a Prius with Reusse in it?
Joe many times I would sit in the stands at Anaheim stadium and hear the PA give a lic # and say the car is locked and the engine was running. I used think that had to be impossible until it happened to me. Fortuantly caught it while still in the parking lot and got security to use a slim Jim to open it for me and get my keys out.
I have a neighbor who has a Prius. There have been a couple times where I saw it park outside in the middle of the night, with the dome light on. I always wonder if I should go wake them up to tell them, or try to turn it off myself. But I always decide that the thing should have enough battery power to run the dome light all night. Now I’m wondering if they accidentally leave it running.
You didn’t leave the lights on, you left the whole car on! I have a prius, the lights turn off after a few minutes if you turn the main power off. What you did was put the Prius in park and got out of the car. It happily sat there running the engine every few minutes to keep the AC at the temp you had it set, and powering the lights. Take a look at your mileage, it now sucks because the car was running the engine every few minutes due to the load. The battery monitor you mentioned will show a “low” level, but that’s ok. That’s not the battery that starts the car, it’s the one that powers the drivetrain. From now on when you come to your parking spot, Just push the power button, it’ll turn everything off and put the car in park. No need to even hit the “P” park button.
I would have paid money to see Reusse’s face walking to the car. I can only imagine him having to try to hitchhike his way back to Fort Meyers. Too funny!!!
could we occasionally get a report on how some of the players are looking? who’s looked good and who’s looked like punto trying to bunt?
Did anyone notice yesterday during the ESPN game on their ticker, there was no mention of Livan Hernandez. When they were running the Twins starting rotation and off season additions, there
was no Livan. They must have been taking the info off of their baseball print editions that came out in January.
I would love to ride in a car and here
stories from Reusse. That two hour drive would go by in 20 minutes.
Or it would go by like 2 weeks!!! I think I can understand about 2 out of every 5 words Reusse says. Sid and Reusse should have a mumble off.
Wow, a day with Patrick! They ought to sell tickets for that opportunity.
When I was a young lad (college days actually) I heard Patrick talking about his drinking days saying that there was many a day when he “called in thirsty.”
A great line that sticks with me to this very day.
jb is 100% corret about the Prius.
I also have a Prius and the ‘park’ button is ndeed confusing. Reading the manual doesn’t help much either.
But jb’s advice is very good: Just push the ‘Power’ button when you want to turn off the power…
I use the ‘park’ button when I have to go out and open my carport (no, I don’t have a remote control).
[…] LAist: wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptRoad trippin’ with Reusse Posted on March 6th, 2008 – 9:25 AM By Joe Christensen For a rental car this spring, I’ve been driving a green Toyota Prius hybrid, which has been a point of pride for me, especially with gas prices running about $3.30 per gallon down here. Yesterday, the great Patrick Reusse rode with me on the two-hour ride to Tampa. He was skeptical when the drive started, asking if that little car “had any guts,” but the Prius handled itself just fine in the fast lane up I-75 Nor […]
Patrick’s gravely voice muttered as he walked. He had his doubts.
Why am I not surprised? This guy never sees the upside of anything. Read the first paragraph of his article about Young.
this story sounds eerily similar to the movie, Sideways. Did you have to crawl back in a house to find Reusse’s wallet and wedding ring?
Great. Now how about something re BASEBALL.
Ray Ormand, we’ll all probably have to wait till tomorrow when the Franchise thing happens.
We’ve all got bloggers-with-baited-breath disease tonight.
:)>
Great. Now how about something re BASEBALL.
Check LEN3’s. If one doesn’t have a new update, the other does.
One question I have (if JoeC needs the inspiration), is if you’ve got some reports are various former Twins around the different STs.
Like Heintz showed up yesterday in the Orioles lineup, and Dougie is now with the Pirates (or is that Rivas?).
I’m also curious how Tyner’s doing over in Cleveland and if Luis Rodriquez ever found a home.
That’s great, Joe.
Now, can we talk baseball, or should we continue talking about global warming and how a hybrid will save us?
Joe-you didn’t just admit to that. Wow that story will haunt you for a long time. We are telling our dad!
[…] playing organized sports in the United States today, the opportunity for injury is …www2.tbo.comRoad trippin?? with ReusseRoad trippin?? with Reusse Posted on March 6th, 2008 ?? 9:25 AM By Joe Christensen For a rental car […]
