NPR reports that Tom Magliozzi, one half of the wisecracking Car Talk duo known as "Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers", has died from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 77.
Magliozzi and his co-host brother, Ray, began the show at WBUR in Boston in 1977, taking it to the NPR network, and a national audience, a decade later. In 2012, the brothers announced they were retiring from the show, and it has been heard in reruns on NPR member stations since then.
I been listening to these guys since the early 80s on the radio while tinkering in the garage on an old Ford. Sometimes for actual car advice, but most often just for the the patter. First I had the find a radio station that carried them, but in later years, I use a one of the popular pod-cast payers on phone during my commute.
The podcasts are still available via NPR, and the the Car Talk website is still running. As is their vocalized car noises collected over the years of describing problems.
The Guys did know their stuff, and it got so that in later years, I could diagnose the the problems as almost well as they could. But no one could turn a normal question into a hilarious episode as quickly as these guys. They never did reveal who was Click and who was Clack, it was a 37 year running joke.
The carefully chosen podcast reruns never seem to get old, and the only give away that it is dated is that the cars they help average folks with are always older models, usually no later than 2010 models.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Tuesday November 04 2014, @09:25PM
In memorial observance, I will not be driving like my brother.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by mendax on Tuesday November 04 2014, @09:31PM
Memorial donations may be sent to the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe.
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Tuesday November 04 2014, @09:44PM
Written on the back of a 1972, 327CID V8 Avanti II or your collection of random gold ingots, addressed to Car Talk Plaza, Hahvahd Sq, Our Fair City, MA.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by mendax on Tuesday November 04 2014, @11:17PM
You forgot "Cambridge", his fair city.
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Tuesday November 04 2014, @11:39PM
Appropriate. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk *SNORT*
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 3) by opinionated_science on Tuesday November 04 2014, @09:51PM
driving the expansive highways of america listen to them ramble makes the miles melt away...
RIP TM.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 04 2014, @10:29PM
For long-time listeners, nothing more needs to be said.