What does the future hold for driving?
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What does the future hold for driving?
My uncle has a country place, that no one knows about
He says it used to be a farm, before the motor law
And on Sundays I elude the eyes and hop the turbine freight
To far outside the wire, where my white-haired uncle waits.
Jump to the ground
As the turbo slows to cross the borderline
Run like the wind,
As excitement shivers up and down my spine
Down in his barn
My uncle preserved for me, an old machine ---
For fifty-odd years
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream
I strip away the old debris, that hides a shining car
A brilliant black Miata, from a better, vanished time
I fire up the willing engine, responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel, I commit my weekly crime...
Wind in my hair ---
Shifting and drifting ---
Mechanical music ---
Adrenalin surge ---
Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware
Suddenly, ahead of me, across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air-car shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires, to run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley as another joins the chase
Drive like the wind
Straining the limits of machine and man
Laughing out loud
With fear and hope, Ive got a desperate plan
At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded
At the riverside
Race back to the farm
To dream with my uncle
At the fireside...
^^ You need to get Billy Blaze to sing that at Propwash :D
Just as the early 1900s when you had a mix of internal combustion, battery, steam, and whatever else, one emerged as the winner. We are in an exciting time, as now we are again faced with a bunch of new options. Like then, one will eventually emerge, but it will be 10 years or so. It will be interesting and fun.
BTW, I think IC engines will be in our automotive future for a long time, even if they are just acting as on-board generators for the electric motors after we drain our batteries charged via the outlet at the house. We can make very efficient IC engines -- the problem is that we currently want very large ones. Eventually FI IC will be the norm, along with variable compression. It would be neat to see F1 lead the way with turbocharged and/or supercharged variable compression four pots.
I think the bigger changes will be to how we make electricity.
Yeah, Billy needs to do a few "RUSH" songs. :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_NsiQVQiPsQuote:
Originally Posted by MadMonkey
When we went to the dyno last summer, he played some classic rock stuff with his acoustic.
There are a handfull of songs and bands you just dont touch, especially on acoustic....that's one of them.
My old band wanted to do YYZ and did a damn fine job on it too, the keys, lead, drums, played it flawless....the bass player however just couldnt nail a couple of riffs but had most of the song....we all decided it would be best to not go out and do a Rush song unless we could do it flawless
I had the easy job of sitting back and running sound.
We did play "House full of bullets" by Joe Satriani though
cars will be powered by some petroleum alternative, like soilent green.
oh, and I think F1 switching over to regenerative braking and heat reclaimation will be the catalyst for the next generation of fuel economy. I think its the 2nd gayest thing on earth, but its a smart move for the sport and the rest of the world.
Nascars will be powered on cow-shit though.
Seriously in 30 years, driving won't matter much, have fun while you still can
I will be 92 years old and my grandchildren will have taken my keys away from me. You'all have fun. ( But the Old Bull will still be autocrossing.)
Bicycles will have taken over the world by then. Friday is national "ride your bike to work day" for those of you who are interested...
I knew a guy that rode 25 miles (one-way) on his bike to work everyday. He died of skin cancer a couple of years ago.