Jay Leno's car collection spans nearly 100 years of car celebration

When I first started talking about green exotic cars and eco-friendly transportation, my friends and family called me a communist (with tongue in cheek). I am SO SERIOUS. Then, after time progressed, they called me a wannabe hippie. Then, the final crushing blow to my ego happened, and let me tell you -- the fallout (for them) is not turning out good.

Read on for more of the history of my personal silly arguments about green technology and to learn more about pop culture as it relates to the acceptance of green technology applications thanks to celebrities like Jay Leno, 100% car guy AND planet lover.

Report from Frankfurt Auto Show day one:

all hybrid and plug-in electric news

by Evelyn Kanter (Green Car Examiner)

HE WHO LAUGHS LAST PROBABLY DIDN'T GET THE JOKE

When it comes to car philosophy and exploring new pathways, I'm kind of like that girl Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz -- only I said to heck with walkin'.

Years ago, my beloved family members and closest auto friends... those I know and love the most... turned on me and called me a "loose nut", a DEMOCRAT, and told me green technology was a no-go. Especially with regard to green EXOTIC CAR technology...

They even said I should be living in California and accused me of putting people in power like the ever-so-charming Barbara Boxer and asked me if I was going to start doing my hair like Nancy Pelosi.

Can you believe that?

Grrr.

[Pelosi has that permanent mean look on her face like someone just dropped a house on her sister. She's fierce and admirable, but geez... not my personal role model.]

The hecklers... I mean comedians...  just thought they were being funny. I, on the other hand, didn't -- but I forgive them because I know why they can't help themselves from snickering whenever anyone mentions the environment.

They all voted for George W. Bush as card carrying Republicans while I, as a smart and forward thinking registered Independent for reasons related to environment, civil rights protections for all, stem cell research, and affirmative action alone (which benefits races and genders), didn't. Now, I get to remind them of that.

[A few people near and dear to me even called me Hillary for a while but their plan to rattle my cage backfired when I took their "wag of the finger" accusations as an incredibly nice compliment that firmed my resolutions to support green tech more and more.]

GREEN TECHNOLOGY IS INEVITABLE -- AND EXOTIC CAR COMPANIES SHOULD BE LEADING THE WAY TO THE EMERALD CITY DOWN THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

Green technology on the rise is no different from the switch between horse and buggy use to mechanical horsepower in the early part of the 20th century after the passing of the late 19th century dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

It's a natural evolution and requirement of modern industry to keep the flow of technology consistently refining, redefining, and improving constantly.

We're driving on TWITTER time, now baby.... and the speed of the cars are really starting to get good. Just look to the cars of the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show for timely proof that cars can be more eco-friendly without sacrificing too much 'coothe'.

JUST ME, MY RUBY SLIPPERS, AND JAY

So, now that green technology is arriving in the mainstream this year, in my own defense of the love of motorsports, technology, and engineering, I feel like with a bit of vindicated sentiment in my voice that I need to give a little shout out to America's favorite car guy, Mr. Jay Leno.

Not only does he have an outstanding car collection that represents the finest technology of the 20th century, he's been busy promoting eco-friendly hybrid and electric technology on his night time talk shows.

Somehow that makes me feel both right and cool (or at least a little less nerdy than usual) when it comes to thinking moving away from petrol based fuels is a smart move for the 21st century and that our car companies (especially in the racing and truck divisions) should be leading the charge to create engines that produce little if and emissions and run on almost nothing.

Exotic Car Examiner's CAFE Cars report:

How 35.5 MPG mandates

might impact the exotic auto industry

JAY LENO SHOW WILL HAVE GREEN CAR RACES MEANT TO KEEP BIG OIL GIANTS, LIONS, TIGERS, BEARS, AND POLLUTION AWAY

The best announcement? Now that Leno has moved to the 10pm slot, he's got a new car racing segment that is very much like the TOP GEAR races of yesteryear -- only with a modern twist. On the Jay Leno Show, celebrity drivers will be racing in a a Green Car CHALLENGE!

Here's the who, what. when, where, why, and "history of" scoop from the NY Times wheels blog:

It’s hardly a secret that Jay Leno, who begins his new prime-time talk show tonight, is a car guy. What’s less known is that he’s also a green car guy. The big garage he occasionally writes about features such historical electric cars as a Baker Electric from 1909, an early Owen Magnetic hybrid-type vehicle and a 1925 Doble steamer. He also converted a 600-horsepower Z06 Corvette to run on E85 ethanol.

Mr. Leno, whose new program, “The Jay Leno Show,” has been described as “The Tonight Show” without the desk, will go public about his passion for plug-ins with a segment called “Green Car Challenge,” featuring celebrities who will take turns trying to best one another’s track times in a specially prepared Ford Focus-based battery car.

The “Green Car Challenge” is a variation of a regular segment on “Top Gear,” a British series about cars. Celebrity guests on “Top Gear” are put behind the wheel of a compact car, and the segment is called “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.” Mr. Leno was recently a competitor.

In an interview with Starpulse.com, Mr. Leno said he wanted to do the “Green Car Challenge” as often as two or three times a week. He said he did the segment “because whenever I would drive a green car, like an electric car, when I drove it to the show, the female guests would go, ‘What is that? Does that not use gas?’ And a lot of times, without sounding sexist, the guys are interested in cars, the women could care less. But this is something where the women will go, ‘Hey, how does that work?’ And they’re really interested. And I think Drew Barrymore said that she would like to drive it.”

IS JAY LENO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN CONTROLING THE PUBLIC OPINION OF GREEN CARS AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY?

I don't know how much power and pull Leno actually will have when it comes to influencing public opinion on auto purchases when it comes time to stroke a check from day to day but, "Way to go, Jay."

You might just have converted a few exotic car fans who like speed and fun but are not morally opposed to green technology inventions making motorsports even more fun in the future to watching you instead of the evening canned television they usually do.

I'll be home watching and working on my "tight screw" retorts to the naysayers of the world (who said green car technology could NEVER be fun or cool) while researching future green exotic stories to share right here with the world as more and more car companies realize that eco-friendly does not have to mean you are a DEM or a boor.

<insert big silly smile here>

Read the list below as evidence of my vindication. More green technology car news to come next week from the international auto press following the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.

For more fun celebrity car info:

WWJD - What will Jay Leno drive to his new show? by the Celebrity Cars Examiner

Jay Leno car collection UPDATE: $2 million Bertone Mantide sled is hot new exotic with 2009 'Stile'