Joel Woolf v. Big Auto, Big Oil, Big Government…and Hippies

The idea of driving a vehicle powered by vegetable oil reeks of the
hippie lifestyle: It’s a homegrown technology, seemingly far out of the
mainstream, and requires a continuing commitment to the often messy
process of filtering waste vegetable oil, usually begged from
restaurants. The fact that the exhaust from a “vegged” vehicle can
smell like donuts or French fries or Mexican food only adds to the
overall hippie image. But though the leading purveyor of “veg-powered”
vehicles in Ventura County sometimes jokes about “running Mex,” he also
makes it clear that he doesn’t wear tie-dye, doesn’t eat granola and
just plain doesn’t like hippies.

“Not even a little bit,” declares Joel Woolf.

That’s the lede from my story on local hero Woolf, who I’ve mentioned before on this blog, but for the first time profiled properly this week. For more, please see the full story here.