JULY 16, 2025

The original - and still our favorite - Autoextremist logo. 

The AE Quote of the Century: Everybody loves The High-Octane Truth. Until they don't. -WG 

SPECIAL EDITOR'S NOTE: We're thrilled to announce the debut of Peter's first work of fiction, "St. Michael of Birmingham." Make no mistake, it doesn't resemble anything you've read from him before. In fact, it is quite a dramatic departure. It is mystical. It is sexy. It is funny. It's moving. And it is a flat-out wild ride unlike anything you've experienced. Having said that, it is definitely not for everyone, but then, it is from PMD, so that probably shouldn't come as a surprise! Check it out on Amazon Kindle here. -WG

(Ferrari images)

Just when we thought there was a lull in the hypercar wars, Ferrari has introduced the limited-production, mid-engine Ferrari F80. The hybrid hypercar is heavily influenced by the company's forays into F1, as well as its all-conquering Le Mans-winning hybrid 499 prototypes. Its name commemorates the 80th anniversary of the company, and it serves as the official successor to the LaFerrari. It enters the hypercar arena with a total system output of 1184HP, thanks to an 888HP twin-turbo V6 with three electric motors contributing another 296HP. The car has a stated top speed of 217 mph. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 2.15 seconds and from 0 to 124 mph in 5.75 seconds. And, according to Ferrari, the vehicle generates over a ton of downforce, producing 1,050 kg at speed. The car holds the fastest lap time for a road-legal Ferrari at the Fiorano test track, completing a lap in 1:15.30, according to Ferrari. Production will start in 2025 and end in 2027. Only 799 units will be built, all of which have already been reserved by customers, with each priced at approximately US$3.9 million. Watch the video here.

 

The AE Song of the Week 

You left me here on your way to paradise
You pulled the rug right out from under my life
I know where you goin' to I knew when you came home last night
'Cause your eyes had a mist from the smoke of a distant fire

Lord, I was stung shoulda' seen it come a long time ago.
When I realized the reality gave me a role
If things are the same then explain why your kiss is so cold
And that mist in your eyes feels like rain on the fire in my soul

This lying, and cryin', is upsettin' and gettin' ya no where
It don't stack up, so slack up and pack up
I just don't care
Don't let the screen door hit you, on your way out.
Don't you drown when your dream boat runs onto the ground

I'd just like to know do you love him or just making time
By filling his glass with your fast flowing bitter-sweet wine.
He'll taste the aftertaste when you come home late some night.
With your eyes all a mist from the smoke of a distant fire.

Girl your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire.
(Girl your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire)
Girl your eyes have the mist from the smoke of a distant fire.
(Girll your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire)
Girl your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire.
(Mist in your eyes from a distant fire)
Girl your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant
A distant fire

"Smoke From A Distant Fire" by the Sanford-Townsend Band from the album "Smoke From A Distant Fire" (1977)." Written by Ed Sanford, Johnny Townsend and Steven Stewart. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Listen to it here.

*Johnny Townsend of Sanford-Townsend Band was kind enough to tell Songfacts.com about this song:

"In the spring of 1974 Ed Sanford and I had just signed a publishing deal with Chappell Music. They gave us a nice advance and a weekly stipend and for a couple of unknown writers, this was a rare deal. Ed and our friend Steven Stewart (co-writer on Smoke...) were sharing one half of an old duplex in Hollywood at the time. I used to drop by and hang out, write or whatever, almost on a daily basis. Now Steven was an aspiring classical guitarist at the time. He used to stay up 'til the wee hours, sometimes daybreak, bent over his music stand practicing his scales, or some classical piece.

He was driven to become a great player. I was over one morning as Ed was just waking up and Steven hadn't been to bed yet. Ed was complaining about not getting any sleep and barked at Steven, 'When are you gonna stop wasting your time on that classical crap and write something that will make you some money.' Steven picked up his guitar immediately and started playing what I thought was a really cool R&B type rhythm and replied with 'Anybody can write that crap.' I said, 'Apparently you just did' and went straight to the piano and embellished on his idea. While going through some old song ideas in my notebook I always carried, I found one that actually was the title of a poem that Ed had written while in college. I extracted the title because it seemed to be a perfect fit for the chorus idea I had and that all sort of amalgamated into 'Smoke From A Distant Fire.'

Basically, the song started as a joke and that joke is still making us money to this very day.

I love songwriting I guess because I've always enjoyed puzzles, crosswords, anagrams and the like. It's different every time and I still couldn't tell you exactly where they come from. I think many of the great melodies are universal melodies that exist out in the cosmos somewhere and certain people have the knack of reaching out with their minds, hearts or spirits to bring them back to us." (Get more at johntown.com.)

This song was recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Alabama. Jerry Masters told us about the session: "I had the pleasure of recording this band and this song. It was without a doubt the best band I have ever worked with in my entire 50-year career as a recording engineer. It was also the last album I did before leaving Muscle Shoals Sound in 1976 and it was mixed by my good friend and excellent engineer Greg Hamm. It was the best album I've ever done and I consider it the peak of my career by being associated with these fine musicians and song writers. It was the perfect ending to a great career at Muscle Shoals Sound - not the end of my career, but still the best I ever put my hands to. I salute the Sanford-Townsend Band as the best of the best, even today, it's my favorite of all time." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

 

Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG