[Land-speed] Ford's Hydrogen 999 racer shooting for fuel cell land speed record » Hybrid News

[drmayf]

heck, JD, I am gonna yell *with* you! In fact, I hope Rick takes your 
message and shows it to the people in charge of the project to show them 
what kind of reception they may get if they suck up all the rooms, if 
they hold up the prestaging and staging lines for stuff other than 
getting ready to run and the annoyance of having 50 people running 
around "helping". As you said with more than 500 entries, it is gonna be 
difficult to get to drive.  I am not sure exactly what Ford hopes to 
gain (but I am glad for Rick!!) but seems to me that they could have 
done this better on the autobahn or a test track somewhere. SO the 
reason is publicity and that always means a crowd.  Rick says they have 
worked with SCTA to assure no glitches and I guess that means no 
surprises in tech/safety. Maybe it should just be armwaved through since 
it is for time only. That would at least help the rest of us through 
tech by them getting out of the way. Another thing they could do to help 
the rest of us, is to show up for the last 3 or 4 days only. A lot of 
folk have gone home by then, hardly any tech line at all, no big crowds, 
yet the publicity woud still be there.

mayf
James Tone wrote:

>>>We have built a VERY safe car, with  and I am quite excited about the 
>>>      
>>>
>>opportunity given  me.  As I said earlier, I am blessed.
>>
>>Rick Byrnes
>>
>>
>>I'm sure there will be more info coming
>>    
>>
>
>
>Rick you have good fortune. I hope Ford's interest does not cause the "circus" event that many of the others have. By the meager explanation the vehicle is not anything anyone could ever own but shows some potential for someone. 
>
>GM's "joke" (my opinion) with SoCal by building a car, changing the drive train. chopping the top, etc and then saying we have the fastest Cobalt, HHR, etc does not improve an image or impress me at all. I can't buy it so why do it. Sorry my feeling. 
>
>If I had all the money they have I would ask them to bring out an engine in my pickup that was not using the public as a test bench then complain when it doesn't work out. 
>
>With over 500 entries and the circus which happens each time one of these cars leave the line or end up in impounds makes toleration difficult at best for the average guy wanting to run his car. Hey it happens and we know it. 
>
>Publicity is good but if none of these vehicles ever showed up the meet would go on like it always have, no big deal. I hope someone learns something from this. 
>
>Another opinion, Hydogen cars will never work out in mass. Ethanol cars will be another joke as soon as owners find out 15 gallons won't take you anywhere and maintenance cost have yet to be stated. 
>
>OK it's everyones turn to yell at me....JD