PALM SPRINGS TRIP

We were on the road early Wednesday to get to the “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Convention” in Palm Springs, CA. The purpose of the trip was to create contacts with individuals who are in the forefront of developing these technologies. On the trip with me were Dan Deluca and Jesse Meza, both ex-Marines who see the need to find alternative forms of energy.

What emerged from the trip was the commitment to run two different hydrogen approaches. There are really two ways to power a car using hydrogen. First, there is the ICE Approach - acronyms for “Internal Combustion Engine”. This is where hydrogen is used as a fuel to power an engine internally. Then, there is the “Fuel Cell” that uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which in turn produces the power to turn the wheels of the car.

On our way back, we made the decision to develop both systems and compare it to see if there is one that is best suited for our application. Next step is to look for two cars as donors for our development program.

CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE TRIP

'10 LEMONS SCHED ANNOUNCED

The schedule for the 2010 Season of the "24 Hours of Lemons" was announced by the promoters this week. Of note is the addition of one more race in California to bring it to a total of 3 races – Infineon Raceway (Sonoma), Buttonwillow Raceway and Thunderhill Raceway. The promoters have also added two “Concourse D’ Lemons” where many of the rolling crapolas on wheels will be displayed. In all, the calendar has been expanded to include 20 races and 3 concourse events.

Major financial constraints and unexpected personal challenges have made this year’s goals unattainable. I am, as of this post, homeless. The next and the last California event for this season will be held on the 21st and 22nd of November at the Thunderhill Raceway in Northern California. Based on commitments and projections, it does not appear that we will be able to line up as a starter there this year. However, next year should prove to be a better environment for organizing and developing a race team. Just because the car is worth $500 does not mean it’s inexpensive. When you get a bunch of Yahoos and throw in speed, dangerous machinery and race them against competitors with about the same dangerous stuff, you know it has the potential to get expensive real quick. So, we’ve decided it will be better if we were to wait and get everything together before we campaign in the Lemons.

READ THE 2010 LEMONS SCHEDULE

A RACING FAMILY

Where is the best place to spend an afternoon with your kids if you have speed coursing through your veins? It has been a year in the making but finally I was able to take my kids to the track yesterday to start working on a lifelong goal of winning the “24 Hours of Le Mans” as a privateer team. It also coincided with my son’s 14th Birthday making it an extra special treat.

We got to Dromo One a little before 6PM and practically had the track to ourselves. There were only two other karters on the circuit doing practice laps. When we were called to the track there was only the three of us - Ashley, Nelson and I.

I had to benchmark our fitness to see what we have to do. Top-level racecar drivers are some of the fittest athletes in the world. Anyone can probably drive a car at 80% but driving a car on the very limit lap after lap requires concentration and a level of physical and mental endurance that many sports do not demand. There are G-forces during acceleration, braking and turning that wears on the body over the length of the race. There is also the soaring temperatures inside a cockpit that by design have been stripped of all civility like an air-conditioning system. Top-level competition such as a sprint races (Formula One) lasts a little over two hours. Endurance races (24 Hours of Le Mans) will require a driver to put in a minimum of 2 hours per stint and will cycle through 24 hours among 4 drivers. Against that backdrop is one element that is ever present in racing - the danger and the attendant consequences of speed.

My daughter, Ashley, actually out-qualified Nelson and I, meaning she was the fastest during the first four laps of qualifying. When the race started, she lined up P1 (First Position). But as the race progressed, her lap times started dropping as the race wore on and she got fatigued. Nelson’s fitness, on the other hand, is much better but left much to be desired.

My fitness was a huge unknown before I took to the track. I’ve been preparing for a “4 Round Boxing Match” and ballooned from a running weight of 138 lbs to just over 150 lbs. I had to bring my weight up to be able to make the weigh-in at Welterweight (147lbs). I wanted to carry that weight as long as I can so my body can adjust to it and not lose speed and power in the boxing ring. In the end, my fitness was adequate but a long way from where I know I can be.

As drivers, my kids and I are a far distance away from competing at the very top levels of motorsports. What we lack in experience and talent we will have to compensate for in other ingenious ways. One of my fitness goals is to make sure that on any circuit and any race we compete, no team will be able to outlast us. We have to place a premium on mental and physical toughness.

VIEW DROMO ONE WEBSITE

VIEW FAMILY PICS

PAINT IN MOTION

We are pleased to announce the addition of artist extraordinaire Luis Antonio Vargas to TEAM HYDROLAC. Luis Antonio or "El Maestro", as he is affectionately called, is an accomplished artist with many years experience in marketing and design that included successful stints as a retail merchandiser, graphic artist and advertising director.

He has agreed to hand paint one of the HYDROLAC cars that will be fielded in an upcoming "24 Hours of Lemons". This idea was inspired by memories of the BMW M1 Car that was hand painted by Andy Warhol and raced in the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans. This artistic enterprise is not without challenges as it mirrors the difficulties that the project faces. He will not have a clean canvas as he is accustomed to, but rather he will take delivery of a car that will certainly be in the throes of extinction. As required by Lemons "Rules & Regulations", it will be a car that can cost no more than $500.00. At the very least, it will include dents, scrapes, dings and a history we could not be sure of.

TEAM HYDROLAC is part of an emerging national movement trying to wean America from its dependence on foreign oil. The vision of bringing about a hydrogen economy is a concept that is being fashioned from ground-breaking initiatives with solutions that are being invented along the way. Ever present in that design process is the question, “What will America look like if a hydrogen economy were to come about?” We will attempt to paint that picture in the best way we can while working diligently to bring about that reality. That is why we consider our association with Luis Antonio critically essential, as he will help us articulate those ideas and imagery in ways that words may not adequately explain.

Welcome to our team, El Maestro!

VIEW SAMPLES OF EL MAESTRO’S WORKS
VIEW A CLIP OF THE WARHOL BMW M1

300 MPG HYDROGEN CAR

How would you like to have a car with the equivalent energy consumption of 300 MPG? Enter Riversimple, a UK based company funded by the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche that produces open source cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. If you like the specs below – particularly the 300 mph claim, you'll find the article interesting.

SPECIFICATIONS

INSTALLED RANGE: 200 MILES (320 Km)

TOP SPEED: 50 MPH (80 kmh)

NO. OF PASSENGERS: 2

CARBON EMISSIONS: LESS THAN 30g CO2/km

ENERGY EQUIVALENT: 300 mpg

READ THE FASTCOMPANY ARTICLE

CAR CONTROL DEFINED

I’ve always regarded rally driving as the purest form of motorsports. Over a season, rally drivers and their navigators compete on a variety of courses in every conceivable road condition including snow, ice, rain, dirt, gravel, smooth tarmac etc. From start to finish a team must race against time. Since the driver and the navigator races on the course alone, there is no opportunity to block other competitors just to maintain a position. A team only knows their position after the race leg, requiring that they drive on the very limits. What amazes me most about rally drivers is the incredible car control that they posses.

I've attached a clip below to give our readers an opportunity to appreciate their skills. Enjoy.

CLICK TO VIEW CLIP

FORD & UAW CUTS DEAL

Executives at Ford and Representatives of the UAW (United Auto Workers) just announced an agreement that allows for certain employee benefits to be curtailed in order to bring costs in line with their competitors'. This is good news as it shows that the union is flexible and willing to concede long held positions to help the company survive these difficult times.  Experts also view this as a model from which GM and Chrysler can use when negotiating with their unionized workers.
 
The auto sales forecast numbers remain bleak. Sales were down for all the Big Three Auto companies. Yahoo News reported on March 3, 2009 the following US sales numbers for the Big Three Auto companies from the previous 12 months. General Motors was down 53%, Ford was down 48% and Chrysler was down 44%.

READ MSNBC ARTICLE 
READ YAHOO NEWS ARTICLE