Racing in 40 Years

For this week’s blog I would like to reach out to the readers for some of their ADVICE! For the past few months I’ve been challenged with the task of developing a concept for the future of motor racing in the year 2050. This project is funded by Volkswagen so along with developing a concept for the future of motor racing I also have to keep them in the loop by incorporating their design language. Which is very challenging due to VW’s lack of racing history. 

                Along with the VW concept I have also recently been selected to participate in Ferrari’s 2014 World Design Challenge. In this competition 7 of the top design schools from all over the WORLD were chosen to select 6 of their students to produce a maximum of 3 fifth scale models that will represent the school. The models will be displayed at the Ferrari complex in Maranello, Italy in July. From there the winners will be selected. The brief for this project is to design a future mid-engine Ferrari for the year 2040. With Ferrari’s essentially being race cars it makes this project right up my alley!

                So between these two projects you could say I have been a little busy, But I’ve managed to put together some of my concepts and ideas for these projects and would love for anybody to give me a little advice on the concepts, designs, or ANY opinions on what they would like to see in the future of motor racing. I know most of my friends and followers here are REAL gearheads and racers so I would love to hear any of their input! Getting advice from REAL racers is very important to me so feel free to tell me what you REALLY think, the good, the bad, and the UGLY!

p.s. just keep in mind the job of a designer is to get the pretend gearheads (suit wearers) excited about the future. So incorporating FAR OUT star trek technologies is usually a must! 

 

Land Speed Racing

The land speed record is possibly the most prestigious tile in all of motor racing. Claiming the title of the fastest automobile on the earth has been sought after by many of the world’s most respected men in auto racing’s history. The quest for this title has become more than anyone has EVER expected it to be. The battle between countries (specifically the USA and Great Britain) brings a sense of unity to the entire countries automotive enthusiast. The battle for the land speed record has almost become an Olympic event to gearheads. Currently Great Britain has a project in the works dubbed the Bloodhound SSC which they intend to break the current record of 763 MPH.

The Bloodhound SSC project has already created some of the GREATEST advancements in automotive racing history (hence why we love this project so much).  The Bloodhound project has taken the quest for the land speed title to an almost aerospace technology level. The funding and types of fabrication used are on the NASA space program level. The Bloodhound project has been underway for several years and is still a long way out. The team intends to have its first trial runs in the next few years.

           Here is a short YouTube video that TRULY gives you  the FEELING of what this project is all about. 

Cowl Art

Probably my favorite thing to design and paint. DRAGSTER COWLS!

City cars

The Race of Gentleman

Have you ever wondered how hot rodding and racing began? Well this weekend October 3^rd-5^th the very well-known Oilers car club will put on car show in Wildwood, New Jersey that answers that question in a three day event. 

This year will mark the third annual Race of Gentlemen. The race was started in 2012 by the Oilers Car club which hold a very unique story in and around themselves. The Oilers car club originated in early 1940’s on the west coast by Jim Nelson the founder of Dragmaster and several other well-known originators of hot rodding. Along its life the car club slowly dwindled down and after about 40-50 years all the member had passed away or lost interest. A few years ago an east coast man named Mel Stultz had the great idea to revive this car club. So he contacted one of the founding member of the original club and asked for his graces to revive the group, and with great pleasure he granted him his approval. 

From there the car club grew to become quite large. In 2012 the club had the great idea to host the first Race of Gentlemen. The Race of Gentilmen (TROG) is a race that was specifically designed to recreate the scene from and original pre WW2 hot rod race. In the early days of hot rodding the beaches on the east coast were often used as test beds for all the hot rodders machines. So to fit the theme the Oilers selected Wildwood beach in New Jersey as their location for the event. The event is strictly invite only and all the machines must be period correct down to the last nuts and bolts. This allows the event to really give the spectators the feeling of how hot rodding and racing REALLY was in the earliest of its days. 

Since the first race this event has taken off to unexpected levels and now boasts major sponsors like Harley Davidson, Craftsmen Tools, and Sailor Jerry. If you are a hot rodder, fan of vintage racing or even automotive history this is an event that you must attend! 

Are there any neat events or exhibits that you know of that display history as it REALLY was?

Vintage Spint Cars

                This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the vintage show at Lawrenceburg Speedway. For those of you who aren't familiar with my brother and I you will find out our number one influence on all of our builds, designs and LIVES in general comes from racing (particularly open wheel dirt track) 

                Every year Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg Indiana host a vintage night which gives vintage race car owners and drivers the chance to bring their cars out and drive them at FULL SPEED around the track in between the heat races at an actual USAC sprint car race. There are very few tracks around the country that will let vintage race cars make actual HARD laps due to insurance and liability issues, but each year Lawrenceburg Speedway persistently puts on a better and better show

                Events like this that keep the history alive are extremely important to the sprint car community. Just like the history of anything the history of dirt track racing provides a window to the past that gives future generations a look at the evolution of racing. 

                Seeing vintage race cars in a museum is one thing but actually seeing these cars FLYING around a race track at 100+ MPH will give anybody a memory they will not forget. So BRAVO to Lawrenceburg Speedway and the few other race tracks around the country that throw caution to the wind and allow these vintage race cars to make full speed laps. These type of events will always have a significant importance in sprint car racing.