Picture: Old Grave marker headstone (1891) behind old wooden church, Hornitos, Sierra Foothills, Mariposa County, California
I was brought up believing it’s not polite to dance on the grave of your enemy. Yet, I must admit that news last week had me wondering if I could get away with at least a little jig.
General Motors announced that they plan to discontinue the brand of socially elite uber-SUV’s known as the Hummer. The large, military-like vehicle had been based on an Army transport vehicle, but its size drew the ire of environmental groups like moths to a porch light. I have to count myself as one of the people that would see a suburbanite or city dweller driving a Hummer and quietly thought to myself, “Seriously, what the heck do they need a vehicle like that for?” In most cases, it seemed more like a huge, mobile, gas-guzzling badge of social chest puffing. (It’s more about the big gas-swallowing “excessiveness” of the beast. I don’t have any issues with those who chooses to drive a *small* fast Porsche or Lamborghini. In fact, if I could afford one…)
My personal feelings about the Hummer were typified in the summer of 2008, while photographing for my book, Backroads of the California Coast. I even posted a weblog about it back then. It was right at the height of gas prices spiking above $4.50 gallon. I was driving along the oceanfront at Corona Del Mar, when I saw a Hummer parked in front of a large house. Hanging from the front porch was a huge banner that read “Drill Now” aside the American flag. To me, it put a visual stamp on how I felt about America’s need and fascination with ‘big’ and ‘excessive’.
Picture: Hummer and banner at house reading “Drill Now” for more oil, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Orange County, California
I personally don’t begrudge anyone their choices of what they buy if they can afford it. But as a social status symbol, and as something that might be associated with how the rest of the world views America, I won’t be sorry to see the Hummer go.
You and me both! I’m also personally glad to see it go. While living in the Phoenix area and working in Scottsdale during the same time, I saw tons of Hummers driving around. Whenever I would go on backroads out of town and along dirt roads all over the state (ie, how they were marketed), I literally never saw one Hummer in the four years I was there. It was safe to say the vast majority of them were simply commuting to work and there were some I even saw going as much as 30 miles each way. I think it’s great that whatever they did put them in a place to afford spending that kind of money both on the vehicle and the gas to get it from place to place, but my problem with it was that it was supposed to be the ultimate off-road vehicle and I never saw one off-road.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
Yet most people who drive Hummers, drive an H2 (which is the one in your photo) which is nothing more than a Chevy Tahoe with different sheet metal.
It didn’t have great gas mileage, but it wasn’t any worse than a 4WD Chevy Tahoe.
The H1 Hummer is the true uber-gas hog. The H1 usually is owned by uber-celebrities, like our Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger (who at one time owned six of them!).
What I hate most about them is when they are parked next to the parking space that I want.
May the Hummer Rest In Parts.
Good riddance.
They were such a bad representation of America to the rest of the world, especially in Europe, where most drive fairly small cars. I am also glad to see them go.
That’s a great shot Gary. If that doesn’t just say it all about that entire campaign, I don’t know what does.