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Konstandinos Goumenidis / Daily News
Freelance writer Joe Conner brought his 1984 lime green biodiesel Mercedes Benz to the Stanford football game on Thursday as part of his appearances at major sporting events around the country to promote alternative fuels.
Green machine drives to the scene
Man visits Cardinal home opener to promote alternative fuels
Like his 1984 lime-green Mercedes Benz, Joe Connor's message is hard to miss.The energetic San Diego-based freelance writer drove his biodiesel- and vegetable oil-powered car to the Stanford Cardinal home football opener Thursday to sell fans on the benefits of alternative and renewable fuels.
Connor, 36, is on his third straight "green power" tour and plans to visit 100 sporting events in as many days. The trip started Aug. 22 in Bakersfield and ends Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas.
"I realize I'm not going to have a huge impact by myself," said Connor, who typically parks the eye-catching Benz in popular tailgating areas.
Rather, Connor views his annual tour as contributing to the collective change happening in legislative halls and people's driveways.
"We each have to do our own little part," he said as passers-by swiveled to take in the curious sight.
Biodiesel and vegetable oil are cleaner than diesel and also reduce dependency on fossil fuels, Connor explained.
Connor decided to build his own alternative fuel car after feeling gouged at the pump. The idea to tour combined his deep love of sports and a desire to make a positive impact, he said.
"It's really about raising awareness, having fun and breaking even, if I can," he joked.
A two-tank system provides the fuel the bright-green automobile needs to run. Biodiesel is used to get the Benz moving and Connor switches to vegetable oil once its warms up.
Connor typically gets his vegetable oil from co-ops or restaurants on the road. An elaborate filtration system in the car's trunk is used to convert waste vegetable oil into fuel.
A core group of seven sponsors is paying the $20,000 cost of the trip. Because he's writing about the tour for the Los Angeles Times, Connor is getting into the games for free.
Tailgating near where Connor was parked, George and Irene Segale of Valley Springs, Calif., were mightily impressed.
"It's amazing. I can't imagine getting used vegetable oil out of a chicken fryer and putting it in my gas tank," said Irene, 75.
"He's doing good work," said another tailgater, Ryan Jensen, 27, of Orangevale, Calif.
Connor will also appear at the 49ers football game today, the Cal football game on Saturday, and the A's baseball game on Sunday.
E-mail Jason Green at jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com.
ON THE WEB
For more information about Joe Connor's tour, visit greenpowersportstour.com.
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