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Video: Gran Turismo 5 Course Maker in action

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games

Gran Turismo 5 Course Maker

Gran Turismo 5 Course Maker – Click above to watch video after the jump

As of right now, we’re a little more than a week away from the latest official release date for Gran Turismo 5. Thanks to the ridiculous frequency of delays, we aren’t exactly betting on having the game in our hands on November 24. But if, like us, you’ve been confounded by the repeated launch setbacks, you’ll likely find this latest video intriguing. Apparently one of the biggest reasons the game has been pushed back is the addition of a new course creator that allows players to generate their own tracks.

That means that with a little patience, you can cook up just about any combination of turns, elevation changes and the like, and then share them with friends. Something tells us we’re going to be working on getting Virginia International Raceway down pat for awhile. Hit the jump to see the clip for yourself.

[Source: Joystiq]

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Video: Gran Turismo 5 Course Maker in action originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: 72-year-old building his own Ariel Atom clone

Filed under: Performance, Technology, Specialty, Design/Style

Bert Campbell’s Atom chassis – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ariel Atom is an amazing piece of automotive minimalism and could be what Lotus founder Colin Chapman would build were he still with us today. However, not everyone can swing the price tag for an Atom. In the case of 72-year-old Bert Campbell of Southgate, MI, his artificial hip also posed an ingress/egress problem. Bert is one of the participants at the first Detroit Maker Faire, and because of his mobility problem, he decided to the take the basic Atom chassis design and modify the sides to make them lower. To compensate for the loss of structure, he added a roll-cage on top.

Campbell bought the steel tubing at swap meet for about $20 and got the front control arms from another hobbyist in return for some help fixing a lathe. Campbell built his own tubing bender and roller to shape the steel and has done all the fabrication in his girlfriend’s garage. Although he has several engines available, Campbell plans to install an 1100cc Yamaha motorcycle engine in the back with the original five-speed gearbox. Bert promises to keep us up to date as the project progresses, so stay tuned for more.

Gallery: Bert Campbell’s home built Atom

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: 72-year-old building his own Ariel Atom clone originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Amick A2 wind-assisted electric vehicle

Filed under: Etc., Electric

Amick A2

Amick A2 – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the makers we encountered setting up for the Maker Faire Detroit on Friday afternoon was Douglas Amick. Amick was unloading the A2, a three-wheeled, battery-powered, wind-assisted tandem-two-seater. The A2 was originally built by Amick’s late father, James, who devised the aerodynamic arch on the rear of the vehicle. That element is claimed to help propel the vehicle forward in crosswinds.

Apparently, airflow coming in at an angle to the vehicle will swirl around as it passes through the arch, actually applying force to the A2’s rear, giving it some boost. We’ll have to check with some contacts with aerodynamic expertise on the veracity of this claim. Regardless, the Amick A2 is kind of cool-looking. Apparently, it originally had aluminum air batteries installed but they’re no longer functional.

Gallery: Maker Faire Detroit: Amick A2

[Source: AmickGlobal.com]

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Amick A2 wind-assisted electric vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series, as grassroots as it gets [w/Video]

Power Racing Series – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the highlights of this weekend’s Detroit Maker Faire was the Michigan premiere of a new grassroots racing event: the Power Racing Series. The brainchild of Jim Burke, the Power Racing Series is like LeMons in that the machines have budgets limited to just $500 not including safety equipment. Unlike LeMons, the Power Racing Series vehicles are based on Fisher-Price Power Wheels or Little Tykes toys that have been modded to support the mass of adult drivers and larger 12-volt lead-acid car batteries.

This weekend’s competition features three individual events including a drag race, a 15-lap road race and a one-hour enduro on Sunday afternoon. The drag race was won by Royce Pipkins, president of the Milwaukee Maker Space, in his Grave Digger. When the 15-lap event began on Saturday afternoon, the #3 car built by the crew at the I3 Detroit hacker space clearly had more speed than any other vehicle. Unfortunately, about halfway through the race, the car ground to a halt. A key connecting the rear wheel to the axle had sheared the soft metal of the axle. The crew repeatedly tried pounding in new keys, but the car would only run another lap or two before running into trouble. Ultimately Pipkins had the durability and speed to finish 15 green-flag laps before anyone else. Look for the Power Racing Series at a parking lot near you soon.

Update: On Sunday afternoon, the Power Racers went back to the track for the one hour enduro and the extra distance took its toll on the field. Royce Pipkins and his Grave Digger pulled into the pits after 35 minutes with two burned out motors.The i3 Detroit also came at about 40 minutes and had to do some rewiring to bypass a failed motor controller. Meanwhile the OmniCorp Detroit team motored on to complete the most laps. The I3 Detroit machine ran third on the track but accumulated enough Moxie Points from the crowd to finish first overall and capture the 2010 Power Racing Series championship. Check out some video highlights after the jump.

Gallery: Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series

Continue reading Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series, as grassroots as it gets [w/Video]

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Power Racing Series, as grassroots as it gets [w/Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Big Dog quadricycle

Filed under: Etc., Humor

Big Dog

Big Dog quadri-cycle – Click above for high-res image gallery

Friday afternoon, we had the opportunity to walk around the site of the first-ever Maker Faire Detroit while exhibitors were getting set up. Among the wheeled contraptions we encountered was the contraption you see above: the Big Dog. This human-powered conveyance was designed and built by Tom Wilson of Royal Oak, Michigan in his basement and garage. Big Dog is actually the third such vehicle Wilson has constructed, with his original inspiration coming from a similar device he saw at the Burning Man festival several years ago.

Looking closely at the 600-pound machine (which stands a towering eight feet, six inches tall), it’s clear that Wilson put serious thought and craftsmanship into it. Note the inboard-mounted rear disc brakes and the elaborate gear-change and chain mechanism. The centrally-mounted propane tanks are there to support the flame effects from the tower. We’ll add photos of that if we catch it being demonstrated this weekend.

Gallery: Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Big Dog

[Source: ThirstyBeachLandscaping]

Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Big Dog quadricycle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ecclestone wants independent F1 rule-maker, Mansell a spec chassis

Filed under: Motorsports

Bernie Ecclestone has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind. The latest big idea from F1’s commercial chief? Appointing an independent body to formulate the regulations that govern Formula One.

Currently, the FIA makes the rules with considerable input from the constructors through the Formula One Teams Association. However Ecclestone believes these actors are too close to the sport to make objective decisions on the regulations they have to live by. The rules have been changing too frequently, says Bernie, and an independent rule-maker would be the best way to rectify the situation and return a degree of stability to the sport.

Another influential Brit in the sport’s spotlight has a different idea. Former world champion Nigel Mansell believes F1 should switch to a spec racing series, switching from constructor-teams to a single spec chassis like those used in just about every other open-wheel racing series (like GP2, A1GP and IndyCar). Mansell’s idea, being far more drastic, is less likely to transpire. Think there’s any validity to either proposal? Share your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.

[Source: pitpass | Images: Goh Chai Hin/AFP/Getty, Rick Dole/Getty]

Ecclestone wants independent F1 rule-maker, Mansell a spec chassis originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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