When I first saw the video of the SoCal Runaway- aka James Sikes’ Prius – I smelled a rat and told Nancy that something just wasn’t connecting with this guy’s story.

My skeptic’s curse sometimes is a real blessing.

It’s slowly coming out that James Sikes might have an angle. Wait! A 61 year old real estate salesman in SoCal might have an angle? Stop the presses.

The full 911 call is here if you want to listen to 23 minutes of unintended acceleration.

First up: the Prius. Even I know that in order to stop a runaway, all the experts say to try two things immediately:

1. Press and HOLD the start button. This is how you kill the engine. Sikes kept telling the 911 dispatcher he was pushing the button repeatedly.

2. Put the car in neutral. Here’s part of the twenty minute 911 tape that wasn’t aired.

911: “Is there a way you can put the car in neutral, sir?”
Sikes: “No.”
911: “No? Have you tried to put it in neutral?”
Sikes: “I’m trying to control the car.”
911: “Okay. Have you tried to put the car in neutral?”
Sikes: “No.”
911: “Can you try that?”
Sikes: (no response)
911: “Sir?”
Sikes: (no response)
911: “Can you try to put the vehicle in neutral?”
Sikes: (no response)

Second up: Sikes later said he was afraid to put the car in neutral because…

he would be hit by another vehicle if his car halted too suddenly. “There were cars all around me. They were passing me left and right…They kept someone on the line but I couldn’t hold onto the phone.

Third up: He is a real estate agent from SoCal. The epicenter of the real estate bubble. The highest court of litigation. The center stage of reality television.

Fourth up: He owns a Corvette. I understand that 90 mph in a Prius is a lot different than 90 mph in a ‘Vette. But certainly this guy has had some experience with high speed travel while talking on his cell phone. So what’s the deal with his heavy breathing and not being able to hold onto the phone?

Yeah, right.

I’m petitioning to have his Corvette recalled and his membership in the San Diego Corvette Owner’s Club suspended pending the NITSA investigation.