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Imported Oktoberfest outfits spark outrage

MUNICH, Germany, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- German lederhosen makers are complaining that an increasing number of the garments worn during Munich's Oktoberfest beer festival are imported.

Hans Lehrer of the Isargau Folk Costume Society said traditional Oktoberfest lederhosen should be made from Bavarian deerskin and stitched by a local tailor, but a large number of the costumes currently on sale in Munich department stores are cheaper imports, Sky News reported Wednesday.

"Folk costumes should be made where they're worn," Lehrer said. "It's worth paying the extra money because a good lederhose is like a second skin and will last your whole life -- if you don't get fat."

Otto Dufter, chairman of the Bavarian Federation Of Folk Costume Societies, described the imported lederhosen as "yuppie costumes."

However, Gabriele Papke, spokeswoman for the festival, said availability of cheaper lederhosen has made it easier for people to participate in Oktoberfest.

"It's definitely given the festival a more traditional feel again and I've also noted that ever more people, young and old, are wearing Bavarian costumes," Papke said.

Cat survives 30-mile ride under camper

HADDINGTON, Scotland, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Veterinarians in Haddington, Scotland, said they are searching for the owners of a cat that survived a 45-minute journey clinging to the bottom of a camper.

Vets at the Haddington branch of the Links Vet Group said the cat was discovered by the Muirhouse, Scotland, owner of the camper after he spotted a tail coming from beneath the front bumper after driving about 30 miles, The Scotsman reported Wednesday.

The veterinarians said the cat was unharmed but frightened and covered with diesel when discovered.

"When you consider how long he must have been holding on for it's pretty amazing, because that would have included going along the bypass probably at a considerable speed," veterinary nurse Jennifer Jones said.

Jones said the animal hospital does not believe the cat was a stray and they are now seeking its owner.

GOP not good enough for Wash. Dems

SEATTLE, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Washington state Democratic Party is trying to force a gubernatorial candidate to list his party preference as "Republican" instead of "GOP."

The Democrats filed suit Tuesday in King County Superior Court to force Dino Rossi to be listed on the ballot as a "Republican" instead of as a member of the "GOP Party" in his race against incumbent Gov. Christine Gregoire, The Seattle Times reported Wednesday. Gregoire beat Rossi by a 133-vote margin in 2004.

The Democrats contend Rossi is trying to distance himself from the damaged Republican Party brand by listing himself as a GOP member, a move that a recent Elway poll suggested could benefit him in the election.

"There's no question we were shocked by the Elway poll," state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz said. He said an internal poll conducted by the party came to similar conclusions.

"We believe the law is being broken, and we're asking the court to step in and fix it," he said.

Man 'lost brakes' before golf course crash

DELMONT, Pa., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- An elderly man whose high-speed run through a Pennsylvania golf course in a sports utility vehicle ended in a fiery crash told police he had a brake problem.

Paul Lazear, 82, and his four passengers were pulled out of the flaming wreckage of the SUV by golfers at Cloverleaf Golf Course in Delmont. The vehicle struck a parked golf cart and bounced off five trees before bursting into flames and coming to a rest, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday.

Police said Lazear told officers he '"lost his brakes and couldn't stop," the Posts-Gazette said.

Lazear and his wife Carol, 72, were hospitalized with minor injuries and two other passengers, Ruth Daniels, 83, and Flora Lee Katz, 74, were hospitalized in moderate condition. The fifth person in the vehicle, Bertram Katz, 80, was airlifted to a hospital. Doctors said all five are expected to recover.

The driver told police he had lost control of his brakes in the course's parking lot and wound up on the course.