Recently I was blessed with a gift: a 1999 Toyota Corolla with only 25,000 miles on it. Until recently I had to rely on friends for rides to disc golf. Not any more. Now I have the freedom to get to my disc golf addiction on my own. The car works like a charm and for the first time in my life I own a vehicle that does not drip or leak or consume oil (or anything else for that matter).

So I looked around on how to lower operating costs, keep it in good shape and get great MPG – three essentials needed save money traveling to disc golf tournaments in Florida. Here are 10 ideas to help you save money on gas (and maintenance) costs this year:

1. Inflate the tires! This seems too easy, but everyone reading this is guilty of  not checking tire pressure regularly. I even went as far as buying a Slime COMP06 Pro Power Heavy-Duty Tire Inflator. I pump the tires up to 1 pound over specs to lower rolling resistance.
2.  Get rid of the roof racks. Many times these are included with the vehicle and are rarely used. All they do is increase the frontal area and increase the drag coefficient.
3. Get rid of the mud flaps. 3 screws is all it took for me. Use the now vacant holes as mounting points for your new fender skirt attachments (see #4).
4. Add fender skirt attachments. Current OEM examples are the 2nd generation Prius, GM Volt, Audi A2. Covering the rear wheels smooths the air flow and make a measurable difference to fuel consumption. I am seeking help from my auto body friends for help in this idea.
5. Clean junk from your trunk. Getting rid of unneeded wight saves fuel. Simple as that.
6. Go with a Full Synthetic Oil. I got 3 more MPG using AMSOIL products. I am also switching to full synthetic gear lube and ATF fluid.  The synthetics protect better also so you save money on maintenance costs. Synthetic oils mean extended drain intervals, fewer oil changes, long term savings, and convenience. Even if you drive only 12,000 miles per year, the cost for synthetic motor oil is less than you pay for petroleum oil now! And you still get better wear protection, lower engine temperatures, improved fuel efficiency and easier cold-weather starts. All of this adds up to reduced operating costs, more MPG and longer engine life. Change your oil and filter today and in 12 months do it again. That’s it! What could be more convenient and good for your vehicle, too? Just think of how much LESS OIL you will consume.
7. Join a fuel economy forum like ecomodder.com. Then discuss creative ways to save money on gas and increase MPG like this guy’s Silverado.
8. Carpool. This is an easy one. You split the costs for gas when you are all going to the same tournament anyway. Make sure you are all compatible because you will be stuck with each other for awhile!
9. Avoid bad weather. Cruddy weather increases rolling resistance (ever ride your bicycle through a deep puddle?).
10. Try to use less AC. This is tough for South Floridians. You can keep the AC on recirculate and work it manually as needed. Hard core eco-geeks switch it on when under light engine loads or deceleration fuel cut off and off when under moderate/heavy loads.

Shawn Sinclair, Juliana Korver, Jay & Des Reading and Mike & Cindy Barnett of Sunking Discs are hosting the sixth installment of the Disc Golf Cruise which will set sail February 2-9 2013.

Mike & Cindy Barnett are some of the most prolific promoters of the sport of Disc Golf that I am aware of. Being from South Florida, I was always thankful for the support of Sun King and appreciated what the Barnetts have done to spread the word about the fastest growing family activity in the nation today.

Check out this itinerary:

Sat 2/2 – Miami, FL

Sun 2/3 – Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Mon 2/4 – Fun Day At Sea

Tue 2/5 – St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

Wed 2/6 – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Thu 2/7 – Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Fri 2/8 – Fun Day At Sea

Sat 2/9 – Miami, FL

For more information contact Sun King Travel

Just a  Few Benefits of Green Space:

• Local green space allows people to take advantage of food production in community gardens to provide a significant source of food and education/or income.
• Provides the community with a place to play, meditate, gather, or rest.
• Green spaces allows a connection between local residents and the natural environment that surrounds them, thus allowing for a more livable city.
• Green space is essential in order for a community to be sustainable.
• People are drawn to green space. It is a great place to exhibit art or listen to music.
• Green space is good for property values.
• Provides a place for families to play.
• and of course it is great for Disc Golf! Disc golf is cheap and is great for a budget minded family.

In South Florida we have to advocate more and more for open spaces, but progress has been made – especially in places like Miami-Dade County. Get out with your friends and find a great place to play disc golf and be an advocate for the sport and for green space. Why not invite elected officials out for a quick 6 hole round and show them how a family can have fun for cheap?