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Coast-to-Coast in 36 Hours Burning BioWillie

Two ad men with bladders of steel set out tonight to make the infamous Cannonball Run from midtown Manhattan to Santa Monica, California, but with more eco-panache than the many imitators and speed demons who've made similar cross-country dashes. Nik Bristow and Brian Pierce have loaded a VW Jetta TDI with jerrycans full of BioWillie biodiesel and plan to finish their carbon-neutral transcontinental drive by Wednesday morning. "We're hoping to do it in about 36 hours, not stopping once," Pierce, 36, says in a YouTube video promoting the event (see it below). "Not for gas, not for food, not for the bathroom." And why would they do that? "I know the trip sounds crazy, but it's more important now than ever," Bristow, 27, says. "We're on the cusp of a very important election where oil and energy are universal top concerns, and biodiesel is one of the cleaner, more viable fuel alternatives out there. We need to get the word out." They've got Willie Nelson in their corner, but let's hope it's a better partnership than that awful duet he sang with Julio Iglesias. And while this isn't the first time the Red Headed Stranger has been involved in transporting repurposed plants, it might well be the first time it involves condom size-charts, liquid diets and corporate sponsorships.Among the technical innovations present on this trip are a 2006 Jetta TDI they've christened Willie One. It's bone-stock and stuffed with 15 five-gallon jerrycans brimming with Nelson's own brand of 100 percent biodiesel. Even the strongest bladder would burst on a cross-country trek without a bathroom break, so the boys will be wearing Stadium Pal condom catheters and enjoying a diet (chicken broth and strawberry Jell-O, anyone?) that prevents the need for rest stops a portable urinal just can't handle. "Were not wearing astronaut diapers," Pierce told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We're using condom catheters, so we will be ..." Bristow finishes the sentences for him: " ... free to pee in our pants."  The team originally considered Nik's Mk3 TDI Jetta as a contender for Willie One but chucked that idea. "In order to set a cross-country driving record, it's kind of important to make it across the country," Pierce says. And while the original Cannonball Run was all about unfettered speed, the Willie Runners plan to obey the speed limit. They figure they'll go through 75 gallons of biodiesel, but they're carrying 85 just to be safe. "It would be embarrassing to run out of fuel just east of L.A.," Bristow says. They figure all that extra fuel weighs about 440 pounds, and refill the fuel tank from the back seat. We haven't seen it, but apparently you can do that in a Jetta TDI. Bristow and Pierce are a pair of advertising copywriters with Fitzgerald+CO, and they're masters of New Media. They have a website, a Facebook page, loads of Youtube videos and the kind of product placement many can only dream of landing. They're also so passionate about biofuel as to be evangelical and saw a chance to merge their professional and personal passions. "It's good to be able to put your skills to work for something you personally believe in," Pierce says. You can follow their progress on this map after 10 p.m. EST Monday or watch the fun unfold on the RunCam. They plan to arrive in L.A. on Wednesday morning, at which point "I think we'll be ready to hug each other or punch each other," the guys write on their site. "We'll see which one happens first." Photo and videos courtesy -- who else? -- the guys at Willie Run. The guys explain what they're doing and why: Check out the car: Size matters: Test run:

BioWillie Boys Make It Cross-Country in 38 Hours

Well, they didn't set any records and it took a little longer than expected, but the Willie Run '08guys have crossed the country in a little more than 38 hours during a nonstop coast-to-coast drive in a car burning nothing but biodiesel. Nik Bristow and Brian Pierce rolled into Los Angeles 38 hours, 37 minutes and 41 seconds after leaving midtown Manhattan on a coast-to-coast dash following the route of the infamous Cannonball Run. That works out to an average of about 75 mph. They'd hoped to make the trip in 36 hours, but were delayed by traffic. "We could have planned a better arrival time than morning rush hour in Los Angeles," Bristow told Wired.com. "We spent the last hour and a half in stop-and-go traffic. It was a little anti-climactic after driving across the country." The biodiesel evangelists set out to spread the gospel behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Jetta TDI loaded with jerrycans brimming with Willie Nelson's own BioWillie fuel. They were about halfway across the country when they realized they were carrying less fuel than they thought and were gonna need more. The guys got suspicious when they discovered they weren't getting the fuel economy they were expecting. They were somewhere in Oklahoma when Pierce discovered why. "All our jugs had just four gallons instead of five," Bristow says. "None of them was full. We were 15 gallons shy." Realizing that might not be enough to finish the trip, they put out a call for help. "A BioWillie fan drove up from Flagstaff to Phoenix with 15 gallons," Bristow says. "He was a really cool old guy who showed up in an old Cadillac. I think he wanted to talk and take pictures. We jumped out, said "Hi nice to meet you," Brian handed him some money and we jumped back in the car and drove off." That was the only stop they made during their cross-country dash. "We had to pull over to switch drivers, so the wheels did stop moving, but the engine never stopped running." They didn't even stop to use the bathroom. That was handled with Stadium Pal condom catheters. "The condom catheters were flawless," Bristow says. "I'll tell you what -- I might just wear one to the office. " Fuel miscalculation aside, the trip went smoothly even if Bristow and Pierce did get on each other's nerves. "Brian and I are a lot like brothers who don't get along," Bristow says. "We expected to be irritated with each other, and we were. It go so bad that we were supposed to share a hotel room here in Santa Monica but he's gotten his own room." The guys are still doing the math but think they made the trip on 82 gallons of BioWillie. As for their goal of making the trip in 36 hours, there's always next year. They're already planning Willie Run 09. "We're gonna run it by Willie," Bristow says. "We've gotta have the patron saint sign off on it, but we've had a ton of people say they want to take part." Read more about Bristow and Pierce and Willie Run 08 in our original post. Image by Willie Run 08.

Three Maui Vacation Condos for Rent (South Maui) $85

Fall Special. Rent our one bedroom ocean view condo for $89.00/night with a five night stay. Vacation on the Island of Maui. Voted best vacation island. Swim, fish, surf, sail, shop, bike 38-miles down Haleakala volcano. Swim with giant turtles. See Humpback whales. Visit the historic whaling village of Lahaina, snorkel at Blackrock, drive the incredible road to undeveloped Hana. Maybe meet Willie Nelson in Paia. Kihei is a great area with beaches rated the best in all Hawaii. You can snorkel across the street steps away from your condo. Our condos are located in the middle of everything. You can shop at COSTCO and Safeway and dine in your own condo, or dine out at some of the best restaurants anywhere. This is a very affordable family vacation. We live in Marin and use the condos ourselves. We have three vacation condos for rent in South Kihei near Wailea directly across from Kamaole Beach II: . a two bedroom-two bath Maui Banyan condo, . a one bedroom Kihei Kai Nani condo with an ocean view off the lanai, . a studio condo in the Kihei Akahi complex, also with an ocean view off the lanai. All three condos are steps away from Kamaole Beach II, one of Maui’s finest family beaches with lifeguards. They are located on the same block within walking distance of each other and close to shops and restaurants. They are an easy drive from the airport (9-miles/20 minutes). The Maui Banyan complex is currently a COSTCO vacation destination. Our unit rents as a one bedroom lock-off hotel room with a private entry and bath (sleeps 3), a full one bedroom-one bath with kitchen (sleeps 4), or complete two bedroom-two bath with kitchen (sleeps 7). The Maui Banyan complex is located on twelve beautifully landscaped acres and features two swimming pools, spas, and a tennis court. Our unit is located on the “cooler” side of the complex. The Kihei Kai Nani one bedroom unit is located a short distance away on the same block. It has an ocean view from the large lanai and sleeps four adults. The complex has a large 60 foot swimming pool, one of the largest in South Maui. The complex is situated on nine acres directly across the street from the where visitors gather each evening to watch the spectacular Maui sunset over the ocean. Our Kihei Akahi studio is located on nine acres of lush tropical gardens between the Maui Banyan and Kihei Kai Nani properties. Our studio sleeps two and has a kitchen and private bath with washer and dryer. It has two pools, gas BBQs, and tennis courts. Amenities in all three units include: . free off-street parking, . free high-speed internet, . air conditioning, ceiling fans, . outdoor gas BBQs, . two TVs, cable, DVD player, free local phone, . swimming pools, tennis court, . private lanais, . beach chairs, coolers, childrens’ beach toys, . new CA King beds in the master bedrooms of the Maui Banyan & Kihei Kai Nani. Rates begin at: . $85/night for the Maui Banyan lock-off hotel room, . $95/night for the Kihei Akahi ocean-view studio, . $110/night for the Kihei Kai Nani ocean view one bedroom, . $115/night for the Maui Banyan one bedroom, and . $165/night for the complete Maui Banyan two bedroom unit. Add 11.42% HI hotel tax. Rates are slightly higher during the winter and summer seasons. All payments are secured through PAYPAL. These units are NON-SMOKING. Contact us at www.davismauicondo.com for photos, rates, and availability for all three units, or call (415) 250-6692. Also, ask us about airfare options.