Orange (i.e. the best) intentions

I just got home from Wall Street (a bar in Jax) and, for like the hundredth time, someone told me they saw an awesome Orange vehicle but didn't have a camera at the ready to capture it. In this case, it was TU reporter Matt Coleman, who said he spotted a sweet OV in New Orleans recently but didn't have a camera onhand.

To me, this is just as cool as getting Orange vehicle pics at orangevehicles@gmail.com, because it tells me that people are thinking Orange.

I always tell people not to do stupid things to get pics. Don't follow OVs in traffic, because it could scare the drivers. Don't break traffic laws, like running red lights and doing illegal U-turns, to get a pic. Also it's a bad idea to photograph OVs while driving.

All of life's best, most exhilarating activities, from skydiving to riding with the Blue Angels, requires one exercise good, common sense. Photographing OVs is right up there with life's most meaningful activities and requires the same horse sense for successful completion.

So even if you don't have a camera handy or can't get to the OV in traffic, don't panic. I am just as happy to get an e-mail at orangevehicles@gmail.com describing it to me.

Oh, and BTW, included here is an Orange VW photographed in January by David Hunt, who basically broke all the rules to get it. I am not condoning his behavior, but I am definitely celebrating his enthusiasm and stuff.

Jeff

ps -- not to criticize Coleman, but hats off to Hunt for having the camera ready. Matt, better luck next time!

High profile, awesome Orange

Like I've said before, this has been, like, THE best football offseason in like, forever.

The Associated Press reported that Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin, aka CLK, aka Kiff, has raised the program's profile without coaching a single game yet.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that a highly-prized running back has committed to UT.

OMG, it's like totally awesome.

Awesome like this sweet Orange vehicle photographed in the Murray Hill area of Jacksonville by Hannah Hatcher. "Here's your stupid Orange vehicle," she said (or something like that, cuz I had been pestering her to send it).

Not stupid, dude. Awesome.

Jeff

PS -- anyone know what kind of car this is?

Longing for retirement

OK so I am several hours late posting today's BOVB. Sorry about that.

It's just been one of those days. Up early, taught at 8, a full day at the office and now I am writing a speech I have to give Thursday night to about 100 eager, bright middle and high school students.

Days like this make me long for my retirement dream of just buying an RV and taking naps and reading all over the country.

Which made me think of this Orange RV Lauren Smart captured in Colorado some time in February.

Unfortunately the sun washes out the image a bit, but you can still tell that it's a very-nearly-Tennessee Orange. I'd love to have it.

Oh well, back to work.

Jeff

Orange Viper

No, not a Dodge Viper. But a Viper space fighter from the old Battlestar Galactica series.

I could have said it was photographed and e-mailed to to orangevehicles@gmail.com from the International Space Station. But the truth is this Viper was conceived, designed and created by my brother Rod. He's an expert in computer modeling/CG stuff.

"yes, i made the viper a couple of years ago," he said in an e-mail. "i made it a 'UT' viper over the weekend because I wanted to see how rusty I was in my modeling tools and need a goal to motivate myself. this was the result."

An excellent result that is my computer wallpaper and today's BOVB star!

Jeff

PS -- this counts as a vehicle because it transports our imaginations to an awesome time and place where Orange and science come together.

Orange aviation!

Later this morning I'll be hopping on a plane to visit my folks in Nashville. The anticipated plane ride (on Southwest, my fav airline) reminded me of this sweet Orange helo photographed by Larry last weekend at an airshow in Keystone Heights, Fla. (And that's Kris leaning on the front in an effort to hide a UF logo painted on the nose).

This photo marks a milestone for the BOVB because it's the first aircraft photo posted here. FYI, an Orange vehicle is any mode of transportation that is, well, Orange (duh). So a big hoo-rah to Larry and Kris for finding this one and passing it along.

Next it would be great to score Orange boats, trains and airplanes. So keep your eyes peeled and remember to pass along your pics to orangevehicles@gmail.com.

Jeff

PS -- My brother Rod and I spotted a train in Missouri a couple weeks ago being pulled by at least a half dozen Orange engines. I had to fight the urge to pull a U-turn and go chasing after it.

Debating the all-Orange look

Tennessee fans know that the Vols take the field in all-Orange uniforms now and then. Some people hate it. Some people love it. I'm one of those who loves it.

I do believe it needs to be only on special, celebratory occasions. Like maybe the team should break out the solid-O only on the last home game of a season in which they win they clinch the SEC East.

As a student, I saw them go all-Orange in person only once. If memory serves, it was the final game of the 1985 season. The Vols played Vandy and afterward went on to play Miami in the Sugar Bowl (a game I also attended . . . and Oh man, what a game THAT was . . . UT beat the heavily-favored Hurricanes 35-7). Anyway, it was sweet seeing the Vols in all-Orange and after the victory we stormed the field.

That said, isn't this all-Orange semi, like, totally sweet and stuff? Larry from up in Yulee e-mailed it to orangevehicles@gmail.com last weekend, having spotted it on a roadtrip to Keystone Heights, Fla. That solid Orange looks, like, totally awesome against a green background -- just like the Vols do when they wear their all-O unis at Neyland.

Jeff

A (Orange) sign from God

So the other day, right, I get a FaceBook message telling me I have to let go of this Orange obsession . . . referring, of course, to the BOVB.

Blasphemy.

Of course, I never gave it serious consideration. I was at the YMCA at the time and just giggled and thought about all the different witty responses I could respond with.

But when I exited the Y this awesome 1956 Chevrolet was there to greet me. It was parked right in front of the doors. I was stunned by the timing of it and by the fact that I had never seen this beautifully-Orange vehicle at this Y the three years I have been working out there. So the only logical explanation is that this is a sign that God approves of the BOVB.

It's owner welcomed the timing as well because he is trying to sell this gorgeously-Orange classic. Anyone interested in purchasing it should call Larry at (904) 388-6558, or e-mail him at larymore@juno.com. He said it's going for $5,000 OBO.

O man I'd definitely buy it if I had a few extra Gs laying around.

Larry said he bought this Chevy in 1963 and that it's got close to 97,000 miles on it. The inside is a bit beat up. "That's my security system," Larry said. Spare parts are readily available online and it's a joy to drive.

Whoever buys it, I hope they keep it in Riverside so I can see it for years to come.

Jeff

Spanking the Beavers

OK, I am going to diverge from the usual Monday-Wednesday-Friday BOVB schedule to proclaim the good news that many people may have missed while concentrating on less important issues (like the economy): Verily I say unto you that Tennessee beat Oregon State 5-4 in baseball Friday night!

What a way for UT to open its 100th baseball season. Yippieeeee.

It seems the game was quite a barn-burner, with the Vols scoring four of their five runs on two-out hits and clinching the game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to whoop the 25th-ranked Beavers. Dang, I wish I coulda been one of the 2,048 in attendance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium!

Of course it's a bit soon to get too excited about this victory because it's a long season. But it's exciting to see UT pull one out a dramatic victory like this in game one.

The Vols' achievement has inspired me to pull out one of the best pics yet submitted to the BOVB, this totally awesome Orange VW photographed in Jacksonville earlier this week by pro shooter Bruce Lipsky.

In the e-mail delivering the pics, Lipsky (a Florida grad) correctly described this VW as being painted in beautiful, pure UT Orange.

Orange Nation celebrates Lipsky's sharp eye for untainted Orange as much as we celebrate the opening of the college baseball season. Thank you Bruce, and thank you Vols!

Jeff

On Kiffin, sledge hammers and garbage trucks

Sometimes the subtle approach is the way to go. Other situations call for a sledge hammer. The key is knowing the difference.

Orange Nation hopes CLK (Coach Lane Kiffin) knows the difference. Kiff has made quite a splash in the Southeastern Conference the last few weeks with his brash statements about other coaches and programs.

The result has been a few reprimands from the SEC, a wrist slap from the university and -- best of all -- a host of PO'd UF and Alabama fans, coaches and columnists.

“My goal was to be the least popular coach in the SEC,” UT hoops coach Bruce Pearl told the Knoxville News-Sentinel about his first year on the job. “It took me one year. It took Lane Kiffin one week.”

Kiffin came back with this comment about all the cry babies out there:

“We’ll make sure that we don’t offend anyone in the conference or any other school. We’ll be very nice.”

Ha ha, awesome. (Click here to read more of that article).

So, clearly, CLK has opted for the sledge hammer approach -- and we're hoping his win-loss record will back him up.

To honor Kiff's in-your-face style, the BOVB is rolling out this obviously-Tennessee Orange garbage truck, which fellow UT grad and Jax resident Craig TerBlanche photographed in Knoxville recently.

Sweet, dude. There's no way poser-Orange schools like Texas, Syracuse and Florida can say "nah, that's our half-assed Orange."

Sometimes, the BOVB presents images that gently satisfy every human being's scientifically-proven need for Orange. Sometimes it just needs to be crammed down their throats. I think this pic, like CLK hisself, does a fine job of that.

Jeff

Alternative modes

It's hard sometimes to remember that there are legitimate sports other than college football.

Like hoops (which I still can't get excited about) and golf and track and swimming (which the Vols are rockin in this year).

OMG: and baseball.

Don't roll your eyes. College baseball rocks. True, the aluminum bats are hard to get used to, but they beat the steroids in MLB. Personally I'd rather watch UT baseball than hoops any day (which, BTW, I'll be doing in March when a pal and I head to Gainesville to see UT play FLA . . . Click here to see the baseball sked.)

In the realm of vehicles it's also good to remember there are alternate modes of transportation. Exhibit A are these two Orange bikes photographed by John Knorr in Japan last month.

"Hey Bubba," John began his e-mail. "I am surrounded by Orange transportation. More than I would ever have imagined before looking for it."

I'm hearing that from a lot of folks lately, and it's fulfilling for me to know the BOVB is increasing people's Zen-like awareness of their surroundings and, therefore, quality of life.

And we should all try to remember that it's good for the body and soul if we can cycle now and then — especially if it's on an Orange bike.

Jeff