Comments on: Modded Power Wheels racing http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 07:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Alexander Honkala http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521971 Alexander Honkala Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521971 Kerman tell us the secrets of your motor controllers! Kerman tell us the secrets of your motor controllers!

]]> By: Noah Vawter http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521941 Noah Vawter Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521941 This article touched my heartstrings because in the small town near where I live, there was a specialty store called Gramps' Garage run by an elderly couple for Power Wheels cars.  As the years past, the elderly couple became sick, had to close the store and Gramp passed away.  The location is destined for new uses, but perhaps one of your readers who is a Power Wheels enthusiast might want to buy the business or the remaining stock from the business.  Here's an article with many more details:  http://www.wickedlocal.com/maynard/news/x464388254/Powering-down-Gramps-Garage#axzz2546RpJXJ This article touched my heartstrings because in the small town near where I live, there was a specialty store called Gramps’ Garage run by an elderly couple for Power Wheels cars.  As the years past, the elderly couple became sick, had to close the store and Gramp passed away.  The location is destined for new uses, but perhaps one of your readers who is a Power Wheels enthusiast might want to buy the business or the remaining stock from the business.  Here’s an article with many more details:

 http://www.wickedlocal.com/maynard/news/x464388254/Powering-down-Gramps-Garage#axzz2546RpJXJ

]]> By: lysdexia http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521898 lysdexia Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521898 I was bummed that Thunderdrome wasn't invited back this year. I was looking forward to not landing on my face this time. I was bummed that Thunderdrome wasn’t invited back this year. I was looking forward to not landing on my face this time.

]]> By: Joe Kerman http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521638 Joe Kerman Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521638 We (Sector67 hackerspace from Madison, WI) did an awesome breakdown of what our car was made of this year. http://www.sector67.org/blog/2012/fauxrarri/ Its great to see so many PPPRS racers are boingboingers!  (wave to all hands active!) We (Sector67 hackerspace from Madison, WI) did an awesome breakdown of what our car was made of this year. http://www.sector67.org/blog/2012/fauxrarri/

Its great to see so many PPPRS racers are boingboingers!  (wave to all hands active!)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521406 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521406 Sadly, the Paralympics don't get much coverage compared to the Olympics. Particularly depressing since the Paralympics seem like a far more spirited and genuine event than the Sponsorlympics. Sadly, the Paralympics don’t get much coverage compared to the Olympics. Particularly depressing since the Paralympics seem like a far more spirited and genuine event than the Sponsorlympics.

]]> By: plingboot http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521388 plingboot Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521388 Mmm nice carting post. Meanwhile  Stephen Hawking opens a science themed 2012 Paralympic Games with a wizardy Ian McKellen and Ian Dury's Blockheads doing an Orbital remixed, previously banned as offensive, Spasticus Autisticus in front of the Queen.  And I can't find any coverage of it outside UK press. Mmm nice carting post. Meanwhile  Stephen Hawking opens a science themed 2012 Paralympic Games with a wizardy Ian McKellen and Ian Dury’s Blockheads doing an Orbital remixed, previously banned as offensive, Spasticus Autisticus in front of the Queen.  And I can’t find any coverage of it outside UK press.

]]> By: TokyoSpark http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521357 TokyoSpark Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521357 So... basically only the body is actually from Power Wheels? It's just like NASCAR! Wait... they don't use the body either So… basically only the body is actually from Power Wheels?
It’s just like NASCAR!
Wait… they don’t use the body either

]]> By: Dave Pease http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521333 Dave Pease Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521333 my money is on the mutts cutts mobile... providence's finest! my money is on the mutts cutts mobile… providence’s finest!

]]> By: Alexander Honkala http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521296 Alexander Honkala Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521296 Basic rules of this league: 1) $500 budget on parts. Nerf and safety don't count towards the budget. 2) 36V max sealed lead acid batteries only. Choose your motors carefully. Extremely high wattage will get you faster for the drag and road series, but will mean more recharging during the endurance race. 3) Must have a mechanical brake system. 3 races. Drag races organized into paired heats. Road races for speed and agility. Endurance race lasting 75min to test a combination of pit crew maintenance and speed. Points for actually winning the race, and moxie points for pleasing the crowd. Costumes, Nerf weaponry (18V Nerf guns hurt, btw), and showmanship are all encouraged. I lead the team out of All Hands Active from Ann Arbor, MI. I can be seen at about 1:50 in the video in the purple shirt and facepaint hauling a downed car off the track. We fielded Matilda, the purple Jeep seen throughout the video. She was made mostly out of extruded aluminum and scrounged scooter parts. We attended the Detroit races and didn't lose, and attended the Chicago races a week later and also didn't lose. We just didn't win, either. There is a proposal afoot among hackerspaces to build a nearly-unregulated electric vehicle racing league to drive innovation through competition. It's called the FeRAL Specc and it is insane. Attached is a picture from our pit. Basic rules of this league:

1) $500 budget on parts. Nerf and safety don’t count towards the budget.
2) 36V max sealed lead acid batteries only. Choose your motors carefully. Extremely high wattage will get you faster for the drag and road series, but will mean more recharging during the endurance race.
3) Must have a mechanical brake system.

3 races. Drag races organized into paired heats. Road races for speed and agility. Endurance race lasting 75min to test a combination of pit crew maintenance and speed. Points for actually winning the race, and moxie points for pleasing the crowd. Costumes, Nerf weaponry (18V Nerf guns hurt, btw), and showmanship are all encouraged.

I lead the team out of All Hands Active from Ann Arbor, MI. I can be seen at about 1:50 in the video in the purple shirt and facepaint hauling a downed car off the track. We fielded Matilda, the purple Jeep seen throughout the video. She was made mostly out of extruded aluminum and scrounged scooter parts. We attended the Detroit races and didn’t lose, and attended the Chicago races a week later and also didn’t lose. We just didn’t win, either.

There is a proposal afoot among hackerspaces to build a nearly-unregulated electric vehicle racing league to drive innovation through competition. It’s called the FeRAL Specc and it is insane.

Attached is a picture from our pit.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521273 EH Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521273 Strangely, after combing through all sites (and rulebooks) linked through the story URL, your comment has the most information on the cars themselves. Are we supposed to already know? Strangely, after combing through all sites (and rulebooks) linked through the story URL, your comment has the most information on the cars themselves. Are we supposed to already know?

]]> By: Chris Eldred http://boingboing.net/2012/08/29/modded-power-wheels-racing.html#comment-1521272 Chris Eldred Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178734#comment-1521272 I picked up a 90v dc motor and a dead PW Silverado. Ready and waiting for next years rules to be drafted :P I picked up a 90v dc motor and a dead PW Silverado. Ready and waiting for next years rules to be drafted :P

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