Connect with us

Lifestyle

Tesla community participates in epic celebration of 4-year-old’s triumph over cancer

(Credit: Kevin Sadeghian/Facebook)

Published

on

The United States commemorated one of the most somber days in its history last Wednesday, but in a quiet, residential area in Alexandria, VA, the morning of September 11 proved to be a time of celebration. The day marked the 4th birthday of Whitaker Weinburger, who has spent most of his young life battling cancer. 

Diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma at 13 months, the young boy had gone through surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and two bone marrow transplants over the years. It was not easy for Whitaker and his family, but fortunately, he finally got healthy enough to attend preschool. Thus, his 4th birthday this past Wednesday was so much more than a regular birthday — it was a celebration of a battle that was won, and a life that will be hopefully be lived to the fullest

(Credit: Kevin Sadeghian/Facebook)

Whitaker is crazy for the beloved Transformer Bumblebee, to the point where he legitimately thinks that all yellow vehicles could transform into the Autobot. There was a yellow car that the family usually passes by when Whitaker goes to school, and his parents thought it would be nice to have the owner of the vehicle park his car on the morning of his birthday. Erin Weinburger, Whitaker’s mom, took the idea further, asking a local social media group if any yellow car owners would like to pay a visit on the morning of her son’s birthday. 

Her call was heard. Behind the scenes, yellow car owners prepared to drive over to the VA neighborhood for an early September 11 surprise. Among the groups that mobilized was the Northern Virginia Tesla Owners Society, with member Kevin Sadeghian sharing Whitaker’s story on the local group. A series of heartwarming things happened soon after, starting with a Tesla Model S for Kids being donated by a member. 

(Credit: Kevin Sadeghian/Facebook)

Businesses such as Exotic Vehicle Wraps pitched in, agreeing to wrap the Model S for Kids in striking Bumblebee yellow, complete with an Autobot sign and a custom plate. Fellow auto shop TLC Auto Detail added an extra flourish by giving Whitaker’s parents free full detail vouchers for their personal cars. Other members of the Tesla owners group also sent over monetary gifts, which was used to purchase gift cards and a whole load of movie tickets for Whitaker’s family. 

Whitaker’s mother was already overwhelmed when she figured out that about 50 yellow car drivers might show up. As September 11 arrived, the whole family was struck by over 100 yellow vehicles of all kinds, from classic muscle cars to large pickups and of course, to a kid-sized all-electric car that was specially wrapped for the 4-year-old survivor. Buses, bulldozers, and firetrucks were also in attendance. 

(Credit: Kevin Sadeghian/Facebook)

Whitaker was not driven to school on his 4th birthday. The number of yellow cars that showed up for his celebration was so much, the cars formed a line that stretched over a mile long. As he was walking to school, the 4-year-old cancer survivor could be heard exclaiming “Bumblebee!” over and over, as he passed each yellow vehicle and groups of well-wishers. Whitaker’s parents were incredibly grateful for the community’s support, extending their thanks to everyone involved. 

Pete Lapp, an FBI agent who drove a friend’s yellow Dodge RAM for Whitaker’s birthday surprise, noted in a statement to The Washington Post that the celebration was a welcome contrast to what he experienced in 2001. Eighteen years ago, he spent 9/11 interviewing a woman who saw one of the planes crash while she was staying at a hotel. Describing the atmosphere in the VA neighborhood, Lapp stated that Whitaker’s little surprise is something that everyone involved will likely remember fondly. “This is a good memory for all of us,” he said.

Advertisement

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

Lifestyle

Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.

The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.

Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video

With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:

To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”

Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

Published

on

xAI-supercomputer-memphis-environment-pushback
(Credit: xAI)

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area. 

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs

Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.

In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.

“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.

Advertisement

Musk Foundation donation

Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students. 

The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”

“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.

The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Lifestyle

EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

Published

on

Credit: Unplugged Performance

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.

The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. 

A strategic fit

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.

That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.

“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”

Advertisement

Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”

Enabling the next wave

Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.

“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.

The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.

Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.

Advertisement

In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”

Continue Reading

Trending