Ben Calhoun and Chicago Public Radio’s Robert Wildeboer have come almost full circle around the state of Illinois driving a silver Dodge Charger. At 26 highway miles per gallon, it’s not exactly what you’d call fuel-efficient, especially with all the new hybrids and electric cars coming to the market. But some say you don’t need an expensive new car to get really good gas mileage. For the Environment Report, reporter Julie Grant met one group of guys—in Michigan, no less—who say you just need to take good care of your vehicle and drive like your grandmother.

John Stine – aka Johnny Mullet – has always been crazy about fast cars and big trucks. But in the past year, this self-described country boy put aside the hot rods and four-wheel-drive pick-ups and bought an old Chevy Metro with a tiny 3 cylinder engine. He made a few changes to make it more aerodynamic such as taking off the passenger side mirror and even the radio antennae. And, Stine also started driving really slowly. It took a while for Johnny Stine’s wife to come around to the changes.

GRANT: What did you think at first?
STINE: At first?
J STINE: I’m a nerd. You’re crazy.
STINE: I thought he was a big nerd. I thought ‘oh my God.’
J STINE: What are you doing to my car?

That all changed pretty quickly as prices at pump went up. Her nerd went from geek to chic.

STINE: Anything to save gas. We have a big truck. It was costing us over $160 a week in fuel. But when he got 57 miles to the gallon, I was just like, ‘Wow, what a difference.’

Stine is meeting up today with about 20 other motor heads from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and as far as Virginia. They’ve gathered at a state park to check out each other’s souped- down vehicles.

The parking lot is not lined with macho- muscle cars with 20- inch rims. These guys drive refurbished Ford Festivas, Geo and Chevy Metros on the skinniest tires possible.

Paul Keim says they’re just trying to save a few bucks on gas. But his wife isn’t completely sold on this hobby.

KEIM: Ask her. The lady in the green shirt, she’ll tell you, my name is ‘Cheap Bastard’.

Keim says his wife does appreciate his gas saving tips.

She’s picked up 5 miles per gallon, just by keeping up the tire pressure, changing the oil regularly, and, adjusting the nut behind the wheel.

KEIM: You are the nut behind the wheel. Once you adjust your attitude, and your driving style, you can get incredible mileage.

So, what do we need to change behind the wheel?

John Stine is going to give us a few tips. First, pay attention to your aerodynamics.

GRANT: It’s pretty warm, am I allowed to have the windows opened?
STINE: The windows open when we’re sitting is fine. As I’m driving, I like to keep them up unless it is very hot.

Open windows are bad for aerodynamics. Air conditioning wastes gas.

So, there are sacrifices. You might get a little sweaty – just carry some extra deodorant.

Everyone here today drive cars with a stick shift because it means better gas mileage.

Stine does whatever he can to keep momentum and not stop at a traffic light. That can mean coasting very slowly up to an intersection.

Some guys here say it’s been tough to adjust their driving habits. To drive slowly – especially when the driver behind them is bearing down on the bumper in a race to the office.

Ken Pietro of Detroit says he knows it irritates other drivers, but that’s their problem.

PIETRO: It’s just like, ‘Hey, go around, go around,’ we’re in no hurry.

Pietro says he doesn’t care, since he’s getting more than 52 miles per gallon. What’s your mileage? He didn’t even have to buy a hybrid.

PIETRO: People just can’t believe I’m getting that. You’ve got all the newer Priuses and Honda Insights and all that. And these people are shelling out 20 or $25,000 to get good gas mileage with these hybrid vehicles. Which is fine, you got the money to do it. That’s great, save the environment. But I can do it in a $500 car and I’m getting better mileage than them.

And while you might complain about their slow driving, they might just beat you home – they won’t have to make a pit stop at the pump.

For The Environment Report, I’m Julie Grant.