Luxurious BMW wagon reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the BMW M5 Touring hybrid wagon can be seen in the latest, June 2026, edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news and marketplace."

The "Hot Laps" reviews, along with my "Oil Drips" observations on anything with wheels, appear monthly in the publication.

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Rosenqvist's brave move is one for the history books

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

The Indianapolis 500 was run for the 110th time on May 24. Mark Glover was attending his 61st 500, and here's his take on a memorable race:

My pre-race blog post mentioned the myriad variables that can crown or crush a competitor in the Indianapolis 500. Well, there were a ton of variables in Sunday's race. A couple of them pushed pre-race favorite Alex Palou to the sidelines. Others set the table for a Swedish champion who drove a winning lap for the ages.

Palou seemed to be biding his time for three-quarters of the race, playing tag with various competitors at the front.  Alas, with less than 100 miles to go, he found himself needing an extra pit stop (caution periods helped skew his strategy), while other competitors were locked in for the finish.

Enter Sweden's Felix Rosenqvist, American David Malukas and New Zealand's Marcus Armstrong.  Everything was shaping up for a dramatic finish, with these three in the starring roles.  But this being Indy, circumstances ramped up the drama to the boiling point.

When the last of the caution flags flew, the three major players learned that the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 would be decided on a final, one-lap shootout. The massive throng of spectators gasped, and rightly so.  When the green flag signaled lap 200, Malukas found himself in front, with Armstrong and Rosenqvist locked in a battle for second.

But it was more than that. As the trio rocketed into Turn One, Malukas was at the point, but incredibly, Armstrong and Rosenqvist were locked in a prolonged side-by-side battle, with Rosenqvist hugging the outside lane, a soft pickleball lob from the wall. As I watched the cars blaze onto the backstretch, I thought: Malukas has it in the bag.

Two cars fighting over second place instead of making a single-line draft charge to catch Malukas sealed it for the American in my mind. And I also feared for Rosenqvist. Driving flat-out on the often-slippery outside lane was flirting with disaster. I thought: I hope Felix doesn't hurt himself in a violent crash.

But then, coming around the fourth and final turn, Rosenqvist was somehow still there, and coming down the stretch to the checkered flag, he again darts to the outside and draws even with Malukas.  I was blown away.  Malukas wisely blocked the inside line, the preferred passing line coming to the finish.  No way Rosenqvist is going to make this stick, I thought.

Until he did. The Swede bolts to victory by perhaps the length of an elementary school ruler ... or 0.0233 of a second if you are keeping score.

How brave was that last, foot-to-the-floor run in the outside lane on the last lap?  At the victory banquet on Monday, fellow drivers couldn't stop talking about it.  These are drivers who routinely drive in gridlocked traffic at 220 miles per hour.  They have seen it all, and yet, Rosenqvist's incredibly risky, skillful move left them open-mouthed.

From my perspective, Rosenqvist's final charge was the most astonishing, consequential single lap driven in the storied history of the 500-mile race.

It earned him a check of more than $4 million, plus other prizes.  But for me, it ranked as a memory that I will carry with me for the rest of my days.

It's Palou versus the rest of the field in Sunday's 500

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

The Indianapolis 500 will be run for the 110th time on May 24, and Mark Glover will be attending his 61st 500. Here's his take on the race to come:

Just so we're on the same page: Picking a winner of the Indianapolis 500 before it happens is pure folly.

You can have the fastest car by far, and the best team to boot, and still fall short of winning the world-famous race.  It has happened before. I've seen it. Numerous times.

There are about a thousand variables that can ruin a favorite's day ... cut tires, botched pit stops, a collision with a careless driver, a rain delay, any one of a hundred mechanical failures, an ill-timed caution period ...

I could go on all night.

Knowing all that, I believe that 29-year-old Alex Palou of Spain will win the 500 for the second year in a row. The four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion is, in my mind, as solid a favorite as there has ever been. But what about all those nasty variables?

The variables exist, but Palou has so much repel them.

He has been dominating the series in his youth, looking like an unbeatable veteran amid all the talent the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has to offer. In last year's 500, Palou seemed to be toying with the field, drafting along when he needed it, running away when it was go time.

And then there's the Chip Ganassi Racing team for which he drives. Ganassi has excelled at Indy at the highest level for someone not named Roger Penske, and he has brought Palou along with admirable excellence.  This team knows its business.

Sunday's qualifying session was a prime example.  In the first round of qualifying, Palou barely made the "Fast 12," with the 11th-fastest time.  Mere hours later, Palou was sitting on the pole with a sparkling four-lap average speed of 232.248 miles per hour. That's a remarkable leap in such a short time, a tribute to the team's talent top to bottom.

If not Palou, who else might be drinking the winner's milk on Sunday?

(Writer's note: When this piece was being written on May 18, I noted that Nevada City's own Alexander Rossi and Mexico's Pato O'Ward were my secondary picks to win the race. A couple hours later, both were involved in a violent crash in Turn 2 during pre-race practice. And while both intend to race on Sunday, I believe their chances of winning have been reduced. Consequently, for my money, it's Palou versus the rest of the field. And so, as I was saying ... )

And then there's the rest of the field, loaded with skilled pilots and past 500 winners.  Could one of them win it?  See above, i.e. "variables."

This electric SUV is just what you'd expect from Lexus

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Great expectations.

That's what you have when a Lexus sport-utility vehicle is handed over to you.  And fortunately, the tested 2026 Lexus RZ 550e AWD checks all the appropriate boxes ... a player in the world of electric power transportation. And with Lexus' F Sport enhancements, all the better.

Priced at $62,034, my tester was a high-performing, velvet-glove cruiser powered by dual electric motors with a horsepower rating of 402. On the highway at cruising speed, the ride was silky smooth.

But when asked to dart around a careless poke, the RZ 550e responded instantly, and with fist-to-the-chin acceleration.  The advertised zero-to-60 mph time is 4.1 seconds.

A pleasure and a comfort, all in one.

The payoff for the buyer is a miles-per-gallon equivalent of 102 in the city and 88 on the highway. And as a bonus, the RZ 550e is compatible with thousands of charging ports nationwide.

I was struck by the all-season travel potential (and enjoyment) of the midsize crossover SUV.

With good cargo capacity, I could envision many happy hours cruising to national parks and places of interest during summer months.  Plenty of amenities on board to keep adults and kids happy.

The tester also was equipped for winter travel, with features that included a windshield wiper de-icer and headlamp washers.

This being a Lexus, luxury expectations are met with an extensive list of features. 

I liked the panoramic glass roof and perfectly stitched leather trim. Security is enhanced by a full suite of max five-star federal government crash test ratings, including five on the overall score.

All in all, the RZ 550e was an excellent balance of performance, solid tech and luxury ... just what I expected.

Seriously, American muscle never felt quite like this

This review first appeared in the April 2026 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Sacramento, California -- I remember thinking: Wow, what a beautiful Dodge Charger.

Classic American muscle car lines, with a spoiler in the back and a wing cut into the front. Serious wheels (20 inchers).

The paint job is dazzling ... a super-vivid shade of blue. The paint color has a name: Bludicrous. Love it.

I jump into the cockpit, snap on the seat belt, hit the start button and am greeted with ...

S-i-l-e-n-c-e.

I have to admit, I felt a serious stab of pain in my heart ... remembering the rumble of Hemi-equipped Chargers of years past.

Some American muscle car devotees consider an electric Charger the embodiment of blasphemy.

As for me, I get it.  I see where history is heading, and it was only a matter of time before V-8s gave way to kilowatts.

And besides, the tested 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Track Package had plenty to like.

The look was certainly at the top of the list. The tester appeared race-ready, like it could fly. Traffic tended to bolt out of the way when they saw me coming in my four-door blue beauty.

The rumble might be gone, but power is not lacking.

The tester weighed in at a heart-pounding 670 horses. The advertised zero-to-60 time is 3.3 seconds.

No lie there.  The tester pressed me into the driver's seat with the best of them. It blazed by stragglers in silent majesty.

Fun? You bet.

The interior cabin is one of the most convenient, thoughtfully laid out of any muscle machine I can remember.  Everything is within easy reach, and there's plenty of high-tech stuff to keep one safe and alert.

By the way, the rear of the Charger can be configured into a substantial cargo-carrying area ... not something most folks think about in this segment.

The big bonus, of course, is fuel cost savings.  The fuel mileage equivalent rating is 77 miles per gallon in the city and 68 mpg on the highway.

The price of the loaded tester was a hefty $70,375.

Naturally, some folks are irreversibly convinced that a Charger is not a Charger unless it has a window-rattling internal-combustion engine under the hood.

But I have to confess that my week in the vehicle convinced me that this Charger with the electric heart is a muscle car by definition -- big, bad and fast on the draw, just like the old days.

Do I miss the rumble? Sure.

But did I enjoy the ride? Yes indeed.

Flashy Toyota Sequoia reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2026 Toyota Sequoia 4WD TRD Pro Hybrid sport-utility vehicle ("Wave Maker") can be seen in the latest, May 2026, edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news and marketplace."

The "Hot Laps" reviews, along with my "Oil Drips" observations on anything with wheels, appear monthly in the publication.

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Art of the car featured at 75th Sacramento Autorama

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Rembrandts of the road? Da Vincis of the driveway? Absolutely.

The art of the car will be on full, brilliant display this weekend as the 75th Sacramento Autorama kicks off its three-day run on Friday.

Some of the nation's top custom artists will show off their handiwork and celebrate the area's rich history of car customization on the Cal Expo grounds at 1600 Exposition Blvd.

Presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts, this year's Autorama will feature more than 500 hot rods, customs, muscle cars, trucks, and motorcycles from across the country competing to win numerous awards. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

“The Sacramento Autorama has been a cornerstone of car culture for 75 years, and this year’s celebration is a tribute to the builders, fans and community that made it what it is today,” said John Buck, owner/producer of the show. “From historic customs to cutting-edge builds, this show continues to showcase the very best of the automotive world.”

At the conclusion of the weekend, numerous awards will be handed out. That includes the coveted Custom d'Elegance award presented by ARP (Automotive Racing Products).  It will be awarded to "the best chopped, channeled or sectioned vehicle from 1935-64 that embodies the true spirit of a classic custom." The award includes a $5,000 prize and a custom trophy.

Major "Big B" awards honor world-famous customizers from the Sacramento area, including Joe "Candy Apple Red" Bailon, Dick Bertolucci and Sam Barris.  Another long-standing, prestigious award is the Harold Bagdasarian Memorial World's Most Beautiful Custom trophy.

The World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider award, recognizing the show’s most outstanding lowrider entry, includes a $5,000 prize from ARP.

Hundreds more vehicles are expected to participate in the 19th Annual Sacramento Autorama Drive-In, featuring more than 400 autos.

The Butch Gardner Club House will again be part of this year's show, with numerous car clubs showing off their prize wheels. The Club House is organized in memory of Butch Gardner, a long-time member of the storied Thunderbolts auto club in Sacramento and a dedicated Autorama volunteer and participant. Thunderbolts club members played a key role in organizing the first Sacramento Autorama in 1950.

Daily general admission tickets for ages 13 and older are $30 each. Tickets for ages 6 to 12 are $10; children ages 5 and younger are admitted free.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://rodshows.com/sacramento-autorama or at the event. Discount tickets are available at participating local O'Reilly Auto Parts stores. Parking on the Cal Expo grounds is $10.

More information can be obtained at www.rodshows.com or by calling 877-763-7469.