DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Erik At The 7th Street Entry

Q: Your car is sweet. You don't see many of those.

A: They are kind of unusual. When the Scion came out they were really polarizing. People either loved or hated them. I thought they were great, small, but with lots of space in the back.

Q: That is also a very fine shade of green.

A: It's a special edition and each year they have different paint jobs. They've had metallic orange and bright yellow, too. The green is really rare, but I have seen four other ones in the Twin Cities area.

Q: Do you honk your horns when you pass each other?

A: Occasionally we'll wave or look at each other like, what the hell?

Q: What's your car's nickname?

A: The Green Machine!

Q: It sounds like you've taken many great trips in The Green Machine.

A: One of my favorite things to do in this car is driving through the mountains and scenic byways. The front windshield is almost like a panorama view. It's not slanted and you're sitting up higher. When you're driving, you can see all the scenery in front of you. There have been times where I've slept in my car at a beach, or an overlook, and it was awesome to just wake up and see everything.

Q: Road trips give you so much freedom.

A: It's great to have the flexibility to say, "I'm hungry. I'm going to stop in St. Louis and get some real BBQ," or, "I'm going to stop in Oklahoma and see what the hell is in Tulsa." These new places you would never see, if you flew.

Q: What is your favorite road trip snack?

A: Gummy worms. I have to have gummy worms. I understand my vegan and vegetarian friends'avoidance of gummy worms, but you know what, I just can't get myself to care. I love them. They taste so good!

Q: Do you have a favorite place to get your gummy worms?

A: It's fun to go to different states and see what their selection is. There is no standard. When I was in Wisconsin, I found these two-pound bags that were the best I ever had.

Q: You must have been so excited!

A: I bought two two-pound bags. I went to a music festival this summer and The Flaming Lips were headlining. Everyone was "altered." I was walking around with this giant bag of gummy worms, offering them to people. They'd eat 'em and be like, "Whoa, dude, gummy worms." They are not just good road trip food, but also good psychedelic music food.

Q: Those dudes probably looked back that and thought, "That bag was probably just giant in my mind."

A: It was ridiculously awesome. So the next time I am in Wisconsin, I am stopping by that same gas station to get more.

Q: If your car was a person, what kind of person would it be?

A: At the dealer, the color was called envy green, but my car doesn't have jealousy. It is pretty self-satisfied, but not a jerk about it. I'd call it a happy, friendly, reliable stalwart. It's like a rock, baby! A big green rock of reliability.

Q: That person would never be a bummer. What are some of the comments you get?

A: At least once a month some guy will say, hey, how's that car in the winter? Haw, haw, haw!!! I am like, hey dude, this is great in the winter. How is your four-wheel drive on gas mileage? Yeah, see I'm not smug toward you, so take that!

Q: Are there any rules in your car?

A: No talk radio.

Q: That's it?

A: Anything else goes. That car has seen a lot of great times and will see many more.