Wouk notified the EPA that they were ready for a final test. To Wouk’s surprise, Erik Stork refused to test the hybrid and threatened to drop the entire program. He saw himself as a regulator extraordinaire. Referring to Detroit automakers, Stork said, “I was their regulator. It was marvelous. It was a pissing contest at least every day, maybe two or three. Really makes the adrenaline flow and the rheumatism go away. You may be up to your ass in alligators. You’re never going to drain the swamp, but once in a while, you nick an alligator, you think you’re doing something. It was wonderful.”