Formula for Zap n’ Go
This ought to get your heart racing: Hippysaurous was past her prime in CA, but a family salvaged and repurposed her. Watch their story and the process here on YouTube) (2019 Houston Art Car Parade)
Are you up to speed with Fan Boost?
No, it’s not a home remodeling option.
It’s a wheel thing offering everything: drama, celebrities, glitzy playgrounds, popularity contests, social media, and audience participation.
Environmentally friendly! (Leonardo DiCaprio is driven by it.)
Formula E, an all-electric car racing series, is zooming through their 5th season.
Big names are involved: car manufacturers, the drivers they are attempting lure from regular Formula 1 racing, and glamorous race location cities like Rome, Monaco, NYC, Mexico City, and Paris. (YEA! Road trip tourism. Celebrity stalking spotting!))
Think you’re seeing things with electric race cars? You’re not. Now this is seeing things: Fur covered, one-eyed, one-horn Purple People-Eater by pilot Elizabeth. Check out their YouTube story here. (Screenshot ABC/ch13 news.2019 Art Car Parade.)
Why should Formula E get traction?
- It’s short: 45 minutes with laps not counted. Everyone has time for that – leave the rest of the day for photo bombing celebrities at brunch or velvet rope parties. Knowing your customers is important.
- Car redesign. More like Batmobile – even if most only run around 140 mph with 180 mph a target speed for this year.
- Car batteries that actually last the entire race. (So they can drop the mid race jump by drivers from one car to a freshly charged one to finish the race…which seemed a bit counterintuitive.)
- Aggression. Oh, wait, it’s “modern”, acceptable aggression. It is a competitive event after all. “Attack Mode” Lane offers drivers a chance to swoop off the route and get zapped with quick energy boost which might help them pass a car…or cost them time and position for nothing. People love the gamblers and risk takers. Adds drama.
- Social media that makes a difference. “Fan Boost” works like high school elections. The five drivers that get the most social media outlet votes get an extra boost of power during the second half of the race. Voting is open around the world from six days before the race until 15 minutes after the race starts. (Organize your followers to support your fav! Next we’ll hear about hacking or collusion charges in connection with gamblers, stalkers, ex-spouses organizing revenge voting.)
- Auto makers are enthusiastic: road tests for electric car innovations and customer acceptance and enthusiasm speeds up for electric vehicles.
Yes, talk about environmentally friendly: turn those nasty lawnmowers into something else. Got your goat? (2019 Art car/lawnmower/Screenshot ABC/ch13 news)
Race Founders boast of being environmentally conscious with their aim of sustainability and desire to “reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible”.
Car batteries are rechargeable (We won’t discuss electricity production here or transporting cars around the world) The generators that do the recharging are supposedly powered by glycerine which is by-product of bio-diesel production.
The Michelin tires can be recycled (as many are now – if people want to..the last seems to be the hard part).
And “for the planet’s sake” – audience is asked to use public transportation since there will be no public parking on sites. (Mumbling about real motivation: easier to convince locations to allow race if parking and traffic is removed from a city’s concern. There’s always UBER. )
Oh, OK. Here’s an actual Formula E race car. Looks like it could be an art car. (FIAFormulae.com)
This is probably the only competitive race you have to slow down in order to win. (Who doesn’t love that Turtle and Hare fable?)
Both leading cars in Rome’s recent race were forced to cut speed during the last few laps with batteries signally low power. (Reminded me of that slow car police chase behind O.J. Simpson)
Aussie Mitch Evans, Jaguar driver, didn’t want a repeat of last year in Rome. Strategic gambling didn’t pay off when he ran out of power and fell to the back of the pack. (Rome’s 2019 race: AutoWeek)
Looks pretty glitzy and racy. Perfect to appeal to a modern crowd
No loud, smelly, will-they-never-end car races (even the wrecks are pretty mild, video).
No dodging flying car parts into the bleachers. Hey, you can sit in a cybercafe with friends and participate as much anyone actually there…probably gamble big time, too, in places.
May be a quiet, zoom boom
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
- “Formula E: Why refreshed and recharged electric racing series is a must watch” (BBC) Video and explanations
- “Formula E: Rome E-Prix is the first race of a thrilling season to be held in Europe” (BBC) Videos of Fan Boost and Attack Mode, meet the drivers, get up to speed with it all
- Official Home of Formula E / FIA Formula E (Info, history about race and cars, pictures)
- WIKI History of the 5-year-old race series here. More about the 2018-19 season here.
Oh, come on. You have to admit this is a little racy. And eco-oriented! (Houston Art Car 2019.Screenshot ABC/ch13 news)
22 Comments
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
we want the purple car… but we are afraid how it looks in our 364 days with rain ;O)
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The pilot designer said, “It’s polyester- rain doesn’t bother!” Good planning with so much rain here (In fact the parade this year barely finished before the afternoon storm) I think she also has that song playing when the car is driven. (Next we’ll see one with dreadlocks?) Thanks for chasing the cars down over here
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It’s interesting, but… well… I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to get all charged up about it. (Nyuknyuk!)
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Just had plug that in did you? HaHa Glad they got the parade done before the rain – the video will be streaming on line/on TV May 5th – but with over 250 cars now, the drive by takes a while. Thanks for stirring a comment this way!
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I’m afraid I’m old school and I can’t see electric car racing as exciting, especially as they have to change cars half way to finish the race. I absolutely hate the way we are going with electric cars pretending to be green, lithium pollutes the soil when mined, you need to generate the electricity to charge them from somewhere. Until you can make a car from nothing and power it from nothing they will never be green. I dread the thought of lines of electric cars all following each other, moving computer controlled traffic jams, God forbid you should have cheek to overtake in your old fashioned petrol car, assuming of course you can find a petrol garage. Big brother is not only watching us, he had actually taken control of us and as you can guess, I’m not that keen.
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Few actually understand how motor vehicles work these days – a well tuned car is best. Appalled to find that our older, well cared for SUV – even our now vintage Mustang – gets much better mileage than most hybrid cars – and doesn’t need to be plugged in (which increases your electric bill and causes environmental damage as electricity is produced). I’ve tried for years to get info from car companies about life of those terribly environmentally unfriendly batteries – and the cost to replace – and what happens to them once done ( and how much disposal cost will be – at one time countries were dumping electronics and batteries in India – pollution land past point of reclaiming and harming the workers – many children) IF you “loved” Big Oil, you’ll end up really “loving” Big Electric. Then there’s the little thing that electric car drivers do not pay gas tax- gas taxes pay for road maintenance – so they are getting a free ride ( with truckers moving the good to stores pay more). So how to charge Electric cars for road use? Hmmm, “We’ll put on this gadget and we’ll know how many miles you drive and charge by that…and we’ll also know every little car trip you make; when and where…of course divorce lawyers will be among the many who are thrilled about that HAHA
The Formula electric races are profit driven and building consumer market. Novelty …until that’s all there is.
Thanks for driving in with a comment
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This triggered a thought on recycling and public acceptance. I recently bought some exercise clothes (don’t let the name fool you, I don’t wear them to exercise) that are recycled from tires or plastic bags or something truly weird. They are a woven fabric and I love them although I wonder about their first life. This week I got into looking at our usage and I’m appalled at how much plastic waste two people have. I have to think on this. Some things are easy solutions and some are not. My mom used a paper bag with yesterday’s newspaper at the bottom to sop up any liquid or goo. Everyone did that in some form. It was before plastic bags. Now I worry about the bags I use to clean up kitty poo. Happy earth day.
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People took newspapers for many other reasons other than to read it. Seriously – a page always did double duty for something.
It is ironic how there’s so much wailing about “only 12 more years for the planet” yet are so careless or is it naive in their daily lives that their everyday living is so environmentally unfriendly.
What’s is also weird sp many are not choosing to buy recycled products if they can. Unfortunately less demands by consumers, means fewer companies recycle and make recycled products. We fought to get a trash company that would recycle glass as well as plastic. Should be a no brainer. The trash company will not pick up cardboard boxes full of paper/recyclables and is clearly labeled “Recycle”, but will pick up clear plastic bags full of materials…you have to buy plastic to recycle plastic. What?
Talk is cheap. And there’s a lot of it rather than actual positive actions…but people have to think and use some commonsense …(and choose to consume less flimsy, disposable stuff.) Reuse. Recycle. Turn off the lights. And pick up the litter. Geesch. Backwards world.
I have some of that fabric, too – great to keep mosquitoes off on July 4th. Lasts forever. (No need to pollute by manufacturing more stuff)
Thanks for the drive-by and Happy Earth Day to you, too!
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Bwahahahaha!!!! I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ this!! Brilliant, fun, useful, inspiring! And bec the “Purple People Eater” song was my absolute favorite for years (yes), I want that furple car! Gimmeeeeeeee!!!!! LOL 👏👏👏
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More fun songs might make the world more fun. You woulds love the parade (Video streaming May 5th – I’ll try to remember to put up the link) Meanwhile here’s a shorter video of the big event and you can see some of the city. https://www.thehoustonartcarparade.com
You’d love it!
Thanks for tuning up a comment
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Thank you!!
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I greatly enjoyed reading this, but I wouldn’t be a fan. I’m horrified at the lengths to which people will go to push the “green” philosophy onto the rest of us.
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It’s a lot like watching giant-sized slot cars. Rather funny. Bunnies have more hop.
All around carefully designed and targeted in any case – right with you on that.
Thanks for they zooming remark
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I would be attracted to the amusement factor.
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My father’s a mechanic but I never developed a taste for cool rides.
But thanks for sharing these awesome vehicles.
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Working on cars requires a lot of analytical skills, creativity, attention to details, and stubbornness. Staff Gearhead got his first car at about 9 when the parents said “Sure you can have that junker” and snickered that it would keep them busy all summer …got it up and running in a week. HAHA. (They made them sell it) I find car motors beautiful – art that works and moves. (Machines are cool…but I’m happy just observing rather than hands-on) You and your family would first right in here for the Art Car Parade – it’s so cool. Thanks for tapping into the madness here.
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A quiet zoom I could enjoy. Fascinating adaptation of a classic sporting event.
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And it only takes 45 minutes – no ear splitting noises to give you headaches. All better to enjoy the parties – the real wheel events HAHA. Thanks for plugging in a comment
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Must admit I’m not really into car racing and shows. I love cars and driving but it’s a personal thing with me, but then we all agree I’m odd 😛
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If I’m not behind the wheel with open road minus traffic (preferably a convertible in the mountains or on CA Pacific coast Hwy), it’s pretty much a zzzzzz… Obvious this new quickie electric car race reminds me of watching slot cars. Quite zippier…and short. So there’s that.
Thanks for parking a comment here
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The only convertible I’ve ever driven was an old army 6×6 1944 vintage, those made with a canvas roof, before they decided to let the new soft core soldiers have a proper sealed cabin
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Oh, they just had to meet the updated modern version of “roughing it”
You got the true experience
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