I had a great trip to RISD Tuesday, both the drive there and very invigorating discussions about both the ‘POD and the Electrathon car class  that Michael Beresford invited me to participate in!

After a reschedule to to rain the previous Thursday,  Tuesday dawned overcast but dry.  I had decided on a very back-road route through south central Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut, the eastern side of Rhode Island.  The ‘POD worked like it was supposed to, with added luxury provided by finally having all the windows in!  I could block off the cold 40-something morning air!  A Stop in Palmer, MA filled up the tank ($8.06) and I was on my way.  Part of my route was on MA-20 through the towns of Brimfield and Sturbridge and the path of this summer’s tornado that touched down in springfield.  I was amazed by the devastation right down the road from where I live.  The route then took me through Southbridge, an interesting good sized mill town that I had not heard of, then on to Woodstock and Putnam CT before crossing  into   Rhode Island on CT-44 at Gloucester.  After a brief episode in north Providence and GPS glitch, I was there!

After a chance meeting with Dick Gilbane on Water St (he was out for a morning row) who knew of my brother Sam I moved the ‘POD to the ID building Parking lot.  The fun then began…the students had questions and incredible energy, I took off covers and showed the “guts” of the ‘POD!.  It is really great when the discussion so focused and relevant!  Professor Michael Beresford used the ‘POD to highlight many design issues that his students were having with their Electrathon car project.  After a tasty Thai-food lunch (Mr Beresford’s treat!) it was off to the studio for discussions about the Electrathon project.  What can I say,  It is really great to get out of my back-woods shop and discuss design and engineering with such a passionate group!   when Michael mentioned that he need to go to his Studio across town to get a wheel for the students, I offered to chauffeur him there and back in the ‘POD.   I got to see his progress on all kinds of neat sculpture projects and the old Saab 96 that he is converting to battery power.  We made plans for me to hopefully come and see how the Electrathon project is making out in a few weeks.

The Drive back was just as fun as the way back, though driving at night in the tiny ‘POD can be a little intimidating.  All in all a Great trip!  Thanks to Everybody at RISD that came and saw and talked!

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I am showing the ROOPOD at my Alma mater Rhode Island School of Design tomorrow!

I will be outside the Industrial Design Building on Water Street with the ROOPOD from 11:00am to 1:00pm if you are in town please come see the ‘POD and ask any questions you might have!

Here is a Google map of the area:  if you need to you could get ddirectiond to here with the map link…

“>View Larger Map

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Come Watch the ROOPOD compete, or be displayed at Boston City Hall Plaza!

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ROOPOD WILL COMPETE!

SUPPORT TEAM ROOPOD AS WE COMPETE IN THIS EVENT!!! Please click on this link to a secure facebook/Paypal donation page where you can use your credit/debit card to contribute.

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WATKINS GLEN, NY – Drivers of alternate-fueled vehicles, hybrids, and traditional gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles will have two unique opportunities to test their mettle at the 2011 Green Grand Prix on Friday, April 15.

Organizers are cranking up the challenges and excitement this year by taking the Green Grand Prix to the famed road course of Watkins Glen International.

“The Green Grand Prix Committee is proud to be partnering with WGI for this exciting event geared towards efficiency and sustainability. It’s a showcase of technology that points towards a cleaner environment,” said Gillespie, Chairman of the Green Grand Prix Committee of the IMRRC. The Green Grand Prix, now in its seventh year, promotes the growth of clean and sustainable innovation in the Northeast.

“As the chairperson of the Green Initiative Committee for our parent company, International Speedway Corporation, I am thrilled that we are hosting this great event,” said Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International. “The Glen has made a strong commitment to being green with initiatives such as our extensive recycling program so it only makes sense to host the Green Grand Prix which promotes and displays alternative-fueled vehicles. This is a great way to kick-off our Opening Weekend before fans hit our famous twists and turns in their own vehicles on Saturday and Sunday.”

Drivers of vehicles of all fuel types are invited to enter one of two fuel economy events that will be run on the WGI 2.45-mile short course. The time-speed-distance rallies, listing 10 classes of cars, will be organized and sponsored by the Glen Region of the Sports Car Club of America.

The daylong event, for which admission will be free, also will feature a NYElectrathon race in the afternoon. Displays about sustainable energy and the environment will be set up through the day, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The on-track road rallies are open to anyone, and organizers expect vehicles including all hybrid models, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell cars and vehicles running on biodiesel, diesel, flex-fuel and pure electric. Organizers also expect many other interesting alternate-fueled vehicles such as those powered by vegetable oil, as well as by LP and compressed natural gas.

Universities and high schools with automobile technology programs are encouraged to bring their project cars.

All Green Grand Prix activities are designed to bring together a diverse mix of vehicles and their owners, businesses promoting renewable energy and related products, environmental groups, students and faculty members from elementary to university level and the general public.

The Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rallies are the only official SCCA road rallies of their kind in the nation. Both rallies will be conducted at highway speeds over the challenging topography of the WGI track, which has hosted competitive racing events since 1957.

“This year’s rallies will offer competitors the opportunity to establish fuel economy records in various categories on this world famous racing venue,” said Gillespie.

Entries in the rallies may be submitted through the Green Grand Prix website at www.greengrandprix.com.

The rallies honor the memory of well-known area environmentalist Doris Bovee, who taught for many years in the Corning-Painted Post (NY) school district and was known for her love of plants and birds. She also was involved with SCCA road rallies and was part of the Glen Region SCCA at its inception.

Tom Megan of Redwood, NY, will return again to compete in the 2011 Green Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, NY, in his 1965 Porsche 356SC that runs on bio-diesel.

For additional digital photos from the 2010 Green Grand Prix and more information, contact Robert Gillespie by e-mail at rgillesp@roadrunner.com or by telephone at (315) 694-2812.

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Check out my nephew’s race!

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Come see the ROOPOD 0n the common in Amherst…and I promise that there is new stuff done…

I showed roopod at altwheels fleet day Monday and was a bit lazy with my camera (read no pictures) but I found this one on cnet…this is in front of Staples World Headquarters it was a fun event and I got to talk a lot of tech talk with all the big truck bigwigs! almost everyone was in a suit!  Bill Buchholz was there with Dirago (background in the picture) and it was fun hanging out with him,  probably the most interesting bit was a talk with the guy from Valence batteries (www.valence.com) about what it would take if I wanted to make roopod have an electric poweplant option I was surprised that he predicted that I would need only 71 kg  (156lb) of batteries to have a 100 mile range I would get rid of 150 lb of diesel engine, get that back with the batteries, and then maybe another 100lb for the elec motor etc…not near as bad as I thought…they would have to give me those batteries, though….probably about $20,000.00 worth!!!…guess that’s about it for altwheels!  thanks for looking…plus here is some press they got…not much to do with roopod…but interesting none the less…

http://www.necn.com/Boston/SciTech/2009/10/05/Cherry-pickers-go-from-seeing/1254775077.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10367683-54.html

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2009/10/06/alternative_energy_vehicles_on_exhibit/

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2060103328/Alternative-fuel-fleets-showcased-at-Staples

http://www.boston.com/cars/newsandreviews/overdrive/2009/10/altwheels_2009_staples_electric_truck.html

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Attend altwheels festival!  roopod will be there…

Come Join Us at Staples World Headquarters

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