Category: event

  • ‘POD Display and discussion at RISD…and trip to/from Providence, RI

     

    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!

    RISD poster by Kyle Dell’Aquilla

    [nggallery id=19]

  • ROOPOD at RISD Tomorrow!

    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

  • Boston Greenfest/ One-Gallon Challenge ‘POD to compete!

     

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

  • GREEN GRAND PRIX

     

     

     

    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.

    ?

    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.

  • RED HOOK CRIT

    Check out my nephew’s race!

  • Amherst Sustainabilty Festival

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

  • ALTWHEELS FLEET DAY REPORT

    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

    altwheels1

    dirago

  • ALTWHEELS FESTIVAL

    Attend altwheels festival!  roopod will be there…

    altwheels

    Come Join Us at Staples World Headquarters
    Fifth Annual AltWheels Fleet Day
    —  Monday,  October 5th, 2009  – 8:30a to 3:30p  —

  • Celebrate Shutesbury!

    not much to say here, I got to show the ‘pod at the hometown festival…there was an impressive amount of car tech knowledge there!

    [nggallery id=5]

  • PRESS!

    Here are some articles just come out…hope the links work…sorry if you can’t get to them without paying…you still have to buy your paper…lol…Roo

    (this is a front page picture)

    http://www.boston.com/news/globe/larger_view/?g_date=2009_08_17

    (this is the actual article)

    http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2009/08/17/the_race_is_on_100_miles_on_just_1_gallon/

    this is the Greenfield Recorder article

    http://www.recorder.com/story.cfm?id_no=6474048

    This is basically the same as the Recoder, but in the next town over paper…The Daily Hamshire Gazette

    http://www.gazettenet.com/category/local-news/greenfield

  • Summer 2009: The One Gallon Challenge

    http://home.myfairpoint.net/vze6omtd/jorysquibb/id24.html

    This summer,  on Aug 19-22, 2009, and unusual road rally will take place in Western Massachusetts, which will give the public a first glimpse of new-generation ultra-economical cars.  It’s called the One Gallon Challenge. 
          We have rented an old hunting lodge on the banks of the Connecticut River near Greenfield, Mass.  to be our base camp.  Entry cars will gather there on Wednesday August 19 and be on display in downtown Greenfield 4-6 PM.  Wednesday evening we will have a barbeque back at the Lodge, explain the details of the Rally, and get acquainted with other participants.  Cars will be fueled up/charged up at this point.
       On Thursday morning Aug 20,  the cars, now with odometers and energy gauges zeroed,  will re-assemble  in the middle of Greenfield, the checkered flag will go down about 11AM, and a 100 mile drive on country roads to Boston’s Greenfest at Boston City Hall Plaza will begin.    Once there,  they will be on display all day Friday and Saturday,  showing how much energy they consumed during the trip.  Some, having run out of fuel,  may finish the last part of the trip on trailers, but all will be on display in Boston for the public and press.  Travel time will be limited to 3 hours, to encourage normal driving techniques.   
         At this writing, May 17, we are particularly looking for participants.  We hope to have about 15 cars, some from the upcoming Progressive Automotive X Prize.   I will post details of  the entrants as their plans jell.  Moonbeam will be there, showing off 1980’s technology, as well as  two other three-wheel lightweight diesel vehicles: Dirigo and the Roopod.  see www.roopod.com.   There seems to be a run on three-wheelers with Gaia Transport and Exertrike both bringing cars.   At the other end of the weight scale will be the Green Giant from the Physics Lab of Lake Havasu.   It’s great for me,  as a lover of light-weight,   to withold judgement, and just see what those 100 back-road miles tell us about these cars.

     

    http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/22/one-gallon-challenge-sort-of-an-x-prize-lite-coming-to-massach

     

    Here is the official entry form!!!

     

    Thanks you so much for your interest in the One Gallon Challenge!  

    Hearing enthusiastically from you 13 car builders has enabled us to go ahead with plans for the Challenge.  I have purposely sent this email with your addresses exposed,  so you can see who may be coming, so far.  As publicity gets cranked up, I’m hoping for a few more.

     

    What follows is our plan for the Challenge at this point in time. At the end of this email you will find information on registration, and a registration form.

     

    We have booked Schutzen Verain, as our base camp in Greenfield, MA. 

    It is an old hunting camp on the banks of the Connecticut River, 3 miles from downtown.  It has many acres for camping, trailers, and we have planned two inexpensive meals there: a barbecue Wednesday evening Aug 19 and a breakfast the next morning.  It’s about 3 miles East of Greenfield on Route 2 and uses the same entrance as the Barton Cove Campground. Your group, of any size, may camp there for free, or stay in nearby lodgings if your bones are beyond camping.

     

    You should plan to arrive at this base camp on Wednesday, Aug 19 by 2:30PM. We will show off our cars in downtown Greenfield from 4 to 6 PM in the Miles Street Parking lot with press and public welcome. We will leave in convoy from our base camp around 3:30 PM. After the display we will return to base camp.  There we’ll have dinner, explain the rally details, get to know the other teams, and settle in for the night. There are good hiking and swimming opportunities on 

    the site. Families are welcome.   The area is hilly and full of 

    rivers–a fun place to explore.

     

    On Thursday,  with our cars charged/fuelled up for the rally, we will travel together from our base camp to the same little park in 

    Greenfield.    We’ll have a send-off there from 10AM  to Noon, when 

    the Challenge itself will begin.  We may have some escorting cars, but you will probably want to have your trailer make the journey 

    simultaneously to Boston.   The trip will be 100 miles or so, and you 

    may reload your car on its trailer at any point in the journey, if you run out of energy.  We will all end up in Boston City Hall Plaza for the night. The cars will be safe there with 24 hour security.  We will have suggestions for inexpensive lodging in the Boston area.

     

    The Boston Greenfest takes place on Friday and Saturday from 10 until 6.  The cars will be displayed under a tent, and you are free to meet as much or little of the Press and Public as you wish.  I’ve attended many of these events in the past with “Moonbeam” and I’ve found the intense public exposure both fun and exhausting.  You’ll find some hints late on this page:  http://home.myfairpoint.net/vze6omtd/

    jorysquibb/id18.html

     

      Your car will display a placard showing miles driven, energy used, and an MPG equivalent. All contestants will receive a medallion for their participation.  We don’t want to single out a “winner” since all of our efforts are part of the change process.

     

    What we need is to know that you are coming!.

    And, if you are, we need your registration, your favorite photo and a description of the car, for our publicity.

     

    Registration fees:

    $50 until July 1    Note  this early bird discount!

    $75 from July 1-July 15

    Please send your registration fee and registration form to:

     

      Jory Squibb, 13 Pleasant Ridge, Camden, ME 04843.

     

    The early bird registration fee is refundable if you have problems, but it should represent about a 90% certainty of bringing a registered, road-worthy vehicle to the rally.

     

    Feel free to email or call at 207 236-8962 if you need additional 

    details.    I plan to keep my website, moonbeamplans.com  up-to-date 

    on the rally page.   Once we know who’s coming, we’ll keep you 

    updated with details, places to stay, a press release, etc. by email.

     

    I’m very much looking forward to this event, which I hope will be informal, co-operative more than competitive, and fun. It will allow the public to glimpse an amazing reality: that cars can be built today which are 3-4 times more efficient that those currently available.

     

    Hoping to hear from you soon,

     

    Sincerely, Jory Squibb

     

     

     

     

                                   REGISTRATION FORM

     

    The One Gallon Challenge.   Greenfield to Greenfest

                           August 19-22, 2009

     

    Send to:   Jory Squibb; 13 Pleasant Ridge; Camden, ME 04843

     

    Name_______________________________________

     

    Company____________________________________

     

    Car’s Name__________________________________

     

    Address_____________________________________

     

                  _____________________________________

     

    Phones:  work________________________________

                     home_______________________________

                     cell_________________________________

     

    E-mail______________________________________

     

    Website _____________________________________

     

    Fee enclosed_________________________________

     

    Description of your vehicle (for our press releases) _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

     

    Any special support you will need?  lodging, power for charging, etc.__________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

     

    Please send a photo (JPEG) to jsquibb@myfairpoint.net my preference is for a photo including people.

     

    here is a link to a pdf version of the entry form:

    https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=7bc9af07-790b-4027-9647-ad60ce6168f0