Posted on July 18, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

US motorists are going to strange lengths to save money at the petrol pumps these days. From offering strangers the right to name their children to stealing from day-care centres and donating blood, it seems no stone is being left unturned in the quest for cheap fuel. 

In Orlando, Florida, David Partin promised to name his son after local radio hosts to win a $100 fuel card during a contest.  Partin is due to collect the card in December, when his son is born, if he can produce a birth certificate to prove that the baby has been called Dixon Willoughby Partin, after the hosts. 

Meanwhile in Mesquite, Texas, thieves stole $100 of petrol from buses used by the Higher Ground Church day-care centre and have also targeted four or five church centre fleets in the area. 

In its latest donor drive, the American Redcross is running a summer raffle where blood donors are eligible to win a year’s supply of fuel.