THE 2011 SEASON (THE DANGER ZONE)

The organizers of the "24 Hours of Lemons" recently announced the race schedule for 2011. This year the series will have a total of twenty-four (24) races across the country, four (4) of which are in California. Following are the races in California we have selected for participation:

August 6-7              Thunderhill Raceway

December 3-4          Buttonwillow Raceway

December 22-23       Infineon Raceway

Our season opener will be at the Thunderhill Raceway on August 6-7. We've decided to skip the first race at Infineon Raceway to be held in March because the series will return there in December, where we intend to race.

The $500 limit set by the promoters make it rather difficult to find a car that will last more than one full 24 hour race if driven close to the limits. We can participate as moving fixtures on the track and do the laps, or we can race. We view the track as our laboratory and will try to stress our equipment so we can determine where the breaking points are. We want to do this so we can develop technology that is durable and less expensive in the long haul.

Since we have a limited budget and could not afford the usual logistics mix of crates, boxes and transporters, we may have to drive the car to the race. That would be an 8 hour drive one way to Thunderhill Raceway from Aliso Viejo CA, where we are based. We fear that by the time the car gets there, it would be, for lack of a better word, completely spent. That would be a bummer - getting to the starting line and not be able to race. That would be like a Howard Jones song - “You can look at the menu but you just can't eat”. What would be the point of all that? We want something that invokes feelings of adventure and achievement like a Kenny Loggins song celebrating the virtues of going supersonic in the “Danger Zone” with an F-14 Tomcat. Unfortunately, we are an underfunded privateer team with no budget to speak of. Actually, we don't even have a checkbook making it appropriate to add this clip of an angry Commodore enraged with his men and their egos “ ... writing checks (their) body can't cash”.

Stay tuned.

SALT WATER AS FUEL

There are a slew of promising technologies available to power vehicles at this moment. Some are being suppressed for strategic reasons by its developers and are sitting in vaults. Yet there are others that are out in the public domain languishing for lack of need. Finding the balance is difficult because without the right economic incentive investment is hard to attract. On this post, we want to feature a technology that turns regular salt water into flammable fuel. Every time we discover clips that demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen as the fuel of the future, we get very excited. As you read this post, you'll find out why.

On this clip, featured on another television show, John Kanzius, an inventor, demonstrates a way to turn salt water into combustible fuel. Like many inventions, he was actually looking for a solution for another problem – in this case a cure for cancer. His tinkering led to the development of a potential fuel system that can displace most of the systems currently in use. I suppose, such is the process of invention. You'll never know what you create until it stares you in the face. The 3M Sticky Note, for instance, was the result of an adhesive that did not quite meet the standard set by the team of scientists working on the project. For a while it was placed on the shelf until eventually they found another application that proved to be commercially successful. Another example is the popular drug developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer called Viagra. It was actually designed as a treatment for certain kinds of heart diseases. After a few rounds of medical trials, it turned out to be a lot more effective in treating another kind of heart malady - the Valentine Day variety.

We are glad that Mr. Kanzius had tinkered about and came upon this fantastic solution that may prove to solve many of our nation's problems. We would like to visit with him at some point to investigate the potential of his technology. We hope to report back on this blog some time soon. In the meantime, take a look at the astonishing thing he can do with salt water.

CLICK TO VIEW CLIP

WHEN YOU'RE READY, TIGER.

I always get a knot in my stomach when I hear about race related accidents. I have lost a number of my heroes to such accidents. Safety equipment and better-engineered racetracks have now made motorsports much safer than in the years past. However, equipment failure and driver errors still account for mishaps on tracks. So, when I heard that Tiger Woods’ SUV jumped a curb, rolled on a lawn, ricocheted off a fire hydrant and fused into a grown tree, before his wife, Elin, had to bust him out with one of his Nike Drivers, I got worried. To add to the confusion, he’s remained impressively quiet.

The motorsports enthusiast and amateur Sherlock Holmes that I am, I couldn’t help but do a little speculating myself. Right off the bat, I can tell that Tiger violated one of the most important laws of racing – he didn’t have enough seat time in a car. But that could be explained away because “PGA Rules” prohibit golfers from driving golf carts on any of their sanctioned events.

In the spirit of sportsmanship, we at TEAM HYDROLAC would like to send out a friendly invitation. We’d like to offer Tiger a seat in any of the cars that we will campaign in the “24 Hours of Lemons” this coming season. Based on our experiences, we've found that it takes a special kind of individual - with skills and recklessness to be able to compete successfully with our equipment. All of which we are now certain he possesses based on the pictures taken at the accident scene.

If any of our readers have a way to get this invitation to Tiger, we'd really appreciate it.

CLICK ACCIDENT PICTURES

A THANKSGIVING SONG

Our stated goal has always been "To wean America from its dependence on foreign oil." It is a cause that should never have even a single detractor. However, because of the complexity of the challenges, technologically, politically or otherwise, we are certain it could not be done unless we involve people beyond the motorsports community. These efforts must transcend this generation. For if we succeed in achieving this goal, it will be one generation’s gift to the next. It is an interesting point to make when one considers this generation has earned the dual title of being not only “the laziest generation” but also “the brokest generation” bequeathed with the biggest deficit in America’s history.

We calculate that this generation couldn’t solve this problem of America's addiction to foreign oil all by themselves. We say this in a way JFK might have said it - "not because they are lazy but because they are broke". As a result, we've had to find a way to make this cause appealing to the next generation, as well. So, to that end, we dedicate this song to our future team members born and unborn. We pre-apologize for passing on these challenges but will endeavor to lessen the impact so you won't be too financially strapped.

It is one of rock’s classic tunes covered by the Sesame Street Rock Band. It’s very hot ….. Happy Thanksgiving to One and All.

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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

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