-----but it did cause a chuckle when I asked a friend.
My car is not yet two years old, I get a static shock when I've got out of it and touch my door to close it!
I've started using a handkerchief so I don't come into contact with it.
I mentioned it to one very dear elderly gentleman freind - his first response was
Do you wear Bri-nylon Panties
Pardon
Two questions here actually - do they still make Bri-Nylon Panties and WHY does it do this???
Do you think it's because of my wonky finger
Serious answers then...
No, they don't make Bri-Nylon anymore. It was simply the trade name of particular mix of nylon fibres used for making horribly scratchy "non-iron" shirts, and as you say women's undergarments.
Nylon itself is still made, obviously, but not under that name.
As for the static electric thing, well for all the amazing things science
can explain, that isn't one of them.
It has a name, Triboelectric Charging. But just because they gave it a name doesn't mean they know how it works.
It's something to do with the transfer of electrons from one material to another, but the finest physics brains on the planet still have not got a proper explanation for how or why.
One thing that is known, is that the effect is much more pronounced in materials that are good insulators. Nylon is an excellent insulator, and so the old type nylon clothing got a reputation or giving everyone a "belt" at every opportunity.
In a modern car it's much more likely the seat covers are the cause of the charging, not your underwear.
One way to avoid the effect is to wear clothing made entirely from tinfoil, or a good suit of armour, and to touch the lightening conductor on the local church steeple (with your wonky finger, if necessary) before you shut the car door.
Hope that helps...