CORRECTION: Benedict Castle | Pantera Palooza | $9 Per Gallon Gas!?

CORRECTED: iDSC Weekly - 5.14.25

***Please note - we had an an incorrect link in today’s original newsletter. In this one it has been fixed!***

Good morning!

California’s war on gasoline might soon have us paying ~$9.00 per gallon as refineries close. And that’s bewildering. Surreal. Unbelievable yet true. Especially while nationwide prices continue dropping!

Worse yet, after the USC Professor’s warning on sky-rocketing gas prices. Governor Newsom’s Office attacked him for his findings!

In other, much more fun news: Check out your Upcoming Rewards section below! It includes a unique link that you can share with friends to sign-up for this newsletter. And referring friends now pays! Right now you can earn:

• Newsletter shoutouts - 3 referrals

• iDriveSoCal sticker sets - 5 referrals

• Enter to win an iDSC hat - 7 referrals

• Free listing for your Car Club - 15 referrals

Finally, it’s a huge weekend of shows. Throughout the region there’s big stuff happening! It’s all linked below.

Keep driving,

-T

Tom Smith | publisher/iDSC

P.S. A Gas Policy Road Rally To Sacramento might be in the works. Would you be in? Please take the poll at the bottom of this newsletter!

BENEDICT CASTLE CONCOURS

One of SoCal’s top Concours events. And one like no other taking place at historic Benedict Castle. This is a bucket lister - it not an annual must-see.

DETAILS HERE →

SOCAL CAR SHOW HOT LAP

Area highlights in our headlights

NEWS

HEADLINES

• Crazed SoCal road-rager released and arrested again

• How CHP plans to combat video-game style driving

• Newsom’s office attacks USC Prof for gas price study

• California gas per gallon average $4.91 - national average $3.15

• Nationwide low gas prices = road trip Memorial Day road trips

• SEMA’s take on US/China tariff 90-day pause

• Used car prices are way up on tariff related issues

• US carmakers aren’t thrilled with the new UK trade deal

• Ford’s made in Mexico vehicles getting price hikes - b/c tariffs

• Audi to be latest bringing factory work to US - avoid tariffs

• Nissan making more bad news across the pound - survival?

EVs, ALTs & AUTONOMOUS

• Robotaxi recall as Bezos again can’t quite compete w/ Musk

• Weird, with a new WH EV news has quieted down quite a bit.

• For the record - EVs are great. But mandating them is crazy.

TOP IT OFF

• Death to start-stop technology!? New EPA takes aim

• Interesting: Chrysler founder, Walter Chrysler bio

• Do firetrucks really need to cost $2M? Maybe…

• Keyless entry cars being targeted by high-tech crooks

• GM supplies Secret Service with vehicles for agent training

• Custom Batmobiles for sale - starting at $3M

CAR SHOWS BY DAY

WED & THU →

FRIDAY →

SATURDAY →

SUNDAY →

MON & TUES →

Egge’s got the impossible-to-find parts you been looking for! America’s last cast aluminum foundry is right here in SoCal. And you can get a free tour - HERE!

PANTERA PALOOZA

The name says it all. Iconic. Heritage. Specialty automotive enthusiasts keeping the flame of a very cool car burning hot!

DETAILS HERE →

S & K Hoses & Fittings! Engineered for excellence. Designed for durability. Visit them in Simi Valley and HERE!

MOTORS FOR MINDS

San Diego County’s Firefighter Charity Car Show rolls in Lakeside, California this weekend!

DETAILS HERE →

MOPARS IN MAY

So. Cal. Inland Mopars Car Club is motoring with its decades long annual show - Mopars in May!

MORE HERE →

CAR SHOW REPORT: CULVER CITY

iDSC Community Reporter Scot S trains his lens on the annual automotive event in Culver City that always attracts oddities and awesomeness.

SHOW REPORT HERE →