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"Car Talk" Co-Host Tom Magliozzi Dies At Age 77

samzenpus writes "Many outlets are reporting the death of Tom Magliozzi, co-host of the long-running weekly National Public Radio show Car Talk. Tom and his brother Ray ran a repair shop in the '70s and in 1987 landed their radio gig. They were known as "Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers." The show stopped recording two years ago and is currently airing old episodes. Tom died of complications from Alzheimer's at age 77."

9 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. One of the most listened to Engineers by ohieaux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Tom represented the cynicism, sarcasm and realism of many of my engineering brethren. RIP

    --
    Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.
    1. Re:One of the most listened to Engineers by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ray: Don't die like my brothuh.

      While some may find this distasteful, I have absolutely no doubt that Tom would find this joke hilarious.

      Rest in peace, Tom. Thanks for years of great radio!

      --
      #DeleteChrome
  2. Very sad by Pablopelos · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A sad day in the car talk garage no doubt. His laugh alone brought a smile to my face. At least he greatly enjoyed what he did and brought laughter to a lot of people. Our thoughts are with you Tom.

  3. Will his tombstone say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Non impediti ratione cogitatonis? (unencumbered by the thought process)
    I miss Tom.

  4. Re:Don't understand by ChipMonk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The onboard computer stopped working properly, causing systemic error conditions. The engine block ended up cracked, and the brake liners overheated and glazed. The windows wouuld only roll down. Replacing the compute module won't do any good in this case. It's time to total this one out and move on.

  5. Dewey, Cheatem & Howe... by David_Hart · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I moved to the Boston area in 2000. Flipping through the local radio stations I found WEEI (local sports radio) and Click and Clack on NPR.

    Whenever Click and Clack was on I had to listen all the way through. No matter how small the car problem, Tom and Ray found ways of making it interesting, entertaining, and funny while teaching us how cars work along the way.

    My condolences to the family.

  6. They did the impossibe, they made cars interesting by cold+fjord · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Some people seem to be born as car buffs with keen interest into almost very obscure detail of automotive design, engineering, and lore. Me, I've never really found them interesting. What fascination for vehicles I natively had was directed towards other types of vehicles. In fact I found cars boring, until I listened to Car Talk. They brought the subject alive. The good natured banter, the subtle yet probing nature of their questions, the testing of their theories... it was fun, educational, and you got a sense of the deep well of knowledge those two had to draw from. (They were MIT grads, after all.) As a bonus they solved a huge mystery by revealing the source of a problem with I car I once had. (Really, who would think to look THERE for that problem?!?) I don't listen as much as I used to, but it's still fun. RIP Tom, and long life Ray.

    I'll try not to drive like your brother.

    --
    much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
  7. Old Mechanics Never Die by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Sorry to see him go and he never got that old MG to run properly either.

    As they say old mechanics never die they just lose their bearings.

  8. Re:Now can NPR fill the time slot... by geekoid · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So you came to a forum where people are mourning someone they liked and shit on it?
    You are just as bad as the Westboro Baptist Church.

    You, and your ilk, are why the internet is becoming a shit hole.
    You are not that important, and compared to the rest of the universe you are so insignificant as to not even be measurable. Yet you waste your time ruining things for others.
    Why didn't you just move along to the next article? You only get 50 pots a day why waste one shitting on a parade?
    There are other people I the world, please consider them.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect