Rachaelb
05-28-2008, 06:46 PM
Has anyone head of this event?
October 10th 13th 2008, a variety of vehicle entries will compete in a road rally from Berkeley, CA to Las Vegas, NV. The three day course will take contestants from the Pacific Coast, over the Sierra Mountains, down through Death Valley to the finish line across the Las Vegas strip.
Event rules allow the contestants to use any non-petroleum fuel or power source. However, all fuel must be scavenged along the route. Contestants cannot bring the fuel with them, nor buy it along the way. Rally organizers expect something like "Mad Max meets the DARPA Grand Challenge." Cash prizes will be awarded to the rally time winner and for notable accomplishments in engineering and art.
Jim Mason, founder of Shipyard Labs, touts the event as an opportunity for, "NASA scientists to go head-to-head with junkyard fabricators in the perennial battle of engineering prowess vs. creative excess. This time, bragging rights for saving the world hang in the balance. Part engineering problem. Part artistic opportunity. All post-apocalyptic road trip adventure."
The rally will begin with an Energy Fair at Shipyard Labs in Berkeley, CA at which teams will discuss their vehicles with the public. Several checkpoints along the way, as well as overnight campsites will give the public a chance to interact with the teams and vehicles during the rally. The event will culminate with an awards ceremony in Las Vegas, NV at which a panel of industry leaders will grant awards to the rally winner and noteworthy vehicles.
October 10th 13th 2008, a variety of vehicle entries will compete in a road rally from Berkeley, CA to Las Vegas, NV. The three day course will take contestants from the Pacific Coast, over the Sierra Mountains, down through Death Valley to the finish line across the Las Vegas strip.
Event rules allow the contestants to use any non-petroleum fuel or power source. However, all fuel must be scavenged along the route. Contestants cannot bring the fuel with them, nor buy it along the way. Rally organizers expect something like "Mad Max meets the DARPA Grand Challenge." Cash prizes will be awarded to the rally time winner and for notable accomplishments in engineering and art.
Jim Mason, founder of Shipyard Labs, touts the event as an opportunity for, "NASA scientists to go head-to-head with junkyard fabricators in the perennial battle of engineering prowess vs. creative excess. This time, bragging rights for saving the world hang in the balance. Part engineering problem. Part artistic opportunity. All post-apocalyptic road trip adventure."
The rally will begin with an Energy Fair at Shipyard Labs in Berkeley, CA at which teams will discuss their vehicles with the public. Several checkpoints along the way, as well as overnight campsites will give the public a chance to interact with the teams and vehicles during the rally. The event will culminate with an awards ceremony in Las Vegas, NV at which a panel of industry leaders will grant awards to the rally winner and noteworthy vehicles.