Lubbock Power Wheels Racing Update and a Smidgen of Michael Martin Murphy

Since we decided to have a Power Wheels Race (for us big kids) life in my family has gone stark raving mad!

• A house burned down
• A roof blew off
• Someone tried to make the garage a drive-through
• lots of drought
• lots of rain
• a rain barrel workday
• the truck and fence were spray-painted
• work has been crazy
• four different hospital visits
• phenomenal woman #2 graduated and had two parties
• some little guy started running away from home
• our race organizer was evicted by the man
• the electric motorcycle broke down (again)
• we went to a scooter rally
• a neighborhood cleanup
• a few of us have gone off the deep end once or twice
• mother's day
• Easter
• and then there's the really bady stuff I keep trying to block out.

Another clip for my wife - this one from one of my favorite movies: Bubble Boy. (The ice cream truck kharma scene would not play - Snagit!)

All that is to say that there has been very little progress on the Power Wheels racers. We did figure out the power delivery set up and reinforcement for Swartzy's Barbie Jeep of Doom and Keith was gracious enough to weld up the frame for Toni's Vixen Viper. But, it has gone very slowly.

Today on Instructables - I love Instructables! - I ran across an Instructable for building a very sweet evil Power Wheels Jeep.

May the wheels on the pw go round and round soon, Snagit!

Ask and ye shall...find it on the web - Electric Lamborghini

You long-time readers of MH might remember a post from the past (yesterday) where I mentioned a Lamborghini being the second car to appear on my dream car list. That was somewhere around 1977.

Well, today I learned of an all electric Lamborghini that was produced not in Italy, but in China. And snagit, I give in to my materialistic side on this one - I want it!!!

Here is the full story from Inside EVs.

May your dream car be really green, really tiny, and on the other side of the world.

You still have a few months... (Lots of important Dates for May 2014)

(I'd bike to work on this!)

...to get your bike (and your legs) ready for the 2014 National Bike to Work Week (May 12-16) and the National Bike to Work Day (May 16).

Bike League - Bike to Work Dates

Open a Used Bike Shop

An Old Mesquite Hugger article encouraging you (Dear Reader) to open a used bike shop in Lubbock

Power Wheels Racing in Lubbock May 10-11

And while we are throwing May dates out there, be sure to mark your calendars for May 9 for the Lubbock County American Cancer Society Relay for Life. (FYI, this is not a running event - it is a walking, supporting, socializing, celebrating, and kicking cancer's butt event.)
2014 Lubbock County Relay for Life

Very cool electric cycle from humble beginnings

Swartz, Keith, Rusty, and I got together Saturday to work on Power Wheels racers. Rusty showed up with a small electric scooter strapped to the back of his big scooter. I was trying to describe this upgraded version I had seen to him, but my description was woefully inadequate and I noticed that glazed carrot look in his eye, so here it is..

This

was made out of one of these:

To learn more, go here:
http://www.evalbum.com/4262

May your toys evolve with you!

A Few Local Lubbock EV's for your viewing pleasure (from EVAlbum.com)

I may have mentioned that I love the site EVAlbum.com before. It's where you can see how other people have tackled the problems involved with EV conversion, and it offers some real-world data on using specific components in your own build. One somewhat disappointing aspect of EVAlbum for me is that there are very few conversions to be found between I-35 and Albuquerque. There are three electric vehicles listed for Lubbock:

I have seen this one on the front page of the Avalanche Journal and  I have seen it driving down Milwaukee Avenue. It's a very cool machine.
1973 Opel GT

I keep watching for a bright yellow Escort around town, but no dice so far.
1981 Ford Escort Jet Electrica

I saw this one last night just a few feet from our kitchen.
1961 Piaggio Vespa VNB

This one is not quite local, but I did get to see this one a few years ago in Luckenbach at a vintage motorcycle rally. It is from Blanco, Texas. I was very envious. Be sure to check out the before pic on this page.
1947 Cushman Road King

And then there is this beautiful specimen of automobilia. This pristine Viper SRT10Volt will hopefully be Lubbock's next EVAlbum entry. Yes, I finally found the right starting place for my wife's entry into the Power Wheels race in May. Be watching this space for updates and build progress. Be prepared for 1440 Watts of mean-n-nasty EV power!

Rusty Announces the Power Wheels Race! (May 10-11, 2014)

From the creative mind(s) who brought you lots of crazy fun stuff, including the internet sensation Cthurkey, we have the introduction of Lubbock's own Power Wheel race. Mark your calendars and get to building! In his own words:

Okay… in the endless quest for fun, but really stupid things to do ( or conversely stupid but really fun) There’s going to be a power wheels race come May 10-11. A page will be made at https://powerwheelsracing.lsdg.orgAs the details are hammered out, they’ll be posted there.

Rules are going to be vaguely based on these guys – obviously several of their organizational things don’t apply

Summery for those who just want the gist:

· o Chassis from a ‘power wheels’ style toy

· o Electrically powered, 12-36 volts.

· o Racing for fun in a parking lot. Adult drivers.

· o Built as cheaply as possible, recycle, reuse, repurpose!

o The guideline for no more than $500 dollars is a big point of this. Less is more. I don’t think anyone is really interested in maintaining a log of receipts, so this will be on the honor system. If you manage to build something for the cost of a roll of duct tape that can roll an adult around… you definitely succeed! Cheaper and scrounged is much cooler than throwing cash until it goes fast!

Currently there are 4 vehicles being planned, the more is merrier!

If you want to participate, but don’t want to do bad funthings to a beloved toy… race ‘officials’ would be very welcome, and anything that isn’t clear a profoundly unsafe idea is encouraged!

No entry fees! No paper work! No liability on my part!

Things that haven’t been decided yet:

Exact format of race:

Sprints, endurance, combo, ¼ mile? If you are building a entry you get a say

Exact location/ layout of track:

Probably an empty parking lot somewhere in town, suggestions that don’t cost anything are very welcome! Ones that are just cheap are still welcome!

I don’t have a score board, a racing ‘tree’, or an automated timer so that’ll need to be sorted out…

Things that are quite certain –

If you build an entry, bring an electrical fire appropriate fire extinguisher. Adult drivers. Cheap Prizes.

 

May your days be filled with fun, but really stupid things to do.

 

EV Racing for us poor boys and girls!

Several years ago, I attended my first AHRMA (American Historical Motorcycle Racing Association) race. And, as the brain is wont to do, the planning started in my head. Okay, I can pick up a cheap vintage motorcyle from the early '70's and start building. I could have a bike together for around $1000 to race in the lower classes. Then I could...

Our good friend Spencer!

But the logical brain soon kicked in with a calculator subroutine.

Nearest racetracks: Dallas and Albuquerque
Safety Gear: $
Weekend out of town: $
Fuel to get there and to race: $ (and I hate burning dino fuel)
Entry fee, time off from work, emergency room visits:$:$:$

So, I quickly gave up on cheap racing.

A few years later, I discovered Puddle Duck racing and the brain jumped into action again. The brain planned a local(ish) challenge where a group of us would build our own recycled puddle ducks through the fall and have a winner-takes-all regatta in the spring.

 

http://www.pdracer.com/boat-building/537-first-build/

Then I realized that none of my friends liked the idea of building their own boat, and that most did not like the idea of racing anything that did not burn rubber or gasoline. AND WE LIVE IN A DESERT!

So a few months back, the brain (reading Make Magazine) became aware of another form of racing that fit most all of the Mesquite Hugger criteria:
IT'S CHEAP!
It reuses and recycles
It involves electric vehicles
Desert environments are ok
High dork factor!

This form of racing is...(Drumroll please!)
The Power Wheel Racing Series!

Barbie Jeep Revival

 

Okay, there it is. I am glad to have that off my chest. Gentlemen and Ladies, start your brains and start building! Spring will be here before you know it!

 

(Hi, Fester!)

 

May your brain be filled with your next recycled quest!!!