iPad, iPad, iPad!

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Santa Cruz Charger

I'm really enjoying the craftmanship in my new board, an 8' 10" Charger by Santa Cruz, shaped by Matt Yerxa and a slick cobra graphic logo. Makes me want to start shaping boards.

Flying Virgin America

Finally took a flight on Virgin America last week. Love the Marc Newsom-designed interior, purple mood lighting, stylish animated safety film, and you can't go wrong with a plane named "Go-Go Dancer" either. Aside from the slow user interface on the seat-mounted entertainment system, it's a pretty nice experience - and $114 to San Diego ain't too shabby.

CamelBak Stainless Steel Bottles

CamelBak's new stainless steel bottle line, with single wall and double wall insulated styles, are now available at REI!

Chinese Knock-Off Cars

So I thought some of the fake CamelBaks and JanSports I've come across were blatant forgeries, then I came across this story. The image above is a fake Rolls Royce that costs $60k, versus $500k. Below is a Mini Cooper copy (Mini Copier?).

 

SawStop!

So we have a Saw Stop table saw over at my shop, and judging by the two spent cartridges I found, someone had to use the safety feature a few times. It basically works by running a charge through the blade, and when it's interrupted by, say, someone's finger, it stops and retracts the blade in a fraction of a second by shoving an aluminum block into the blade. You end up destroying the blade and the aluminum stop cartridge (about $100 each) but it saves a digit!

 

Dreamliner 787

Still waiting to be trapped, er, travel to Asia on this plane, but this is why I can't for now.

CNC Plasma Cutter

Jason, another metal worker at the Joshua Tree Studios, has a CNC controlled plasma cutter, a very cool device he uses to make signage. I'm still thinking of something innovative to create with the thing. Originally used for routing wood, he removed the router attachment and replaced it with the plasma torch, then it's controlled via laptop pc running a program that translated DXF files.

KISS Soap Box Car turned into a Bookshelf...

Take salvaged steel from my Red Bull Soap Box "KISS" car, add black acacia walnut, and voila...

Images from the Snowsports Industry Show - Vegas 1/29/09

My Stab at the Bacon Explosion

After finding out about the Bacon Explosion phenomenon on the internet, I just had to try to make one for a Super Bowl snack.

Weaving the bacon...

Spreading the Italian Sausage...

Layering the crispy bacon...

Rolling the log...

Then broil (or grill) and baste in hickory bbq sauce...

I have to say, pretty delish...

Saturday's Progress on the Soap Box Car

 

 

 

 

More Build Photos! Aaawwww, yeah.....

 

 

 

 

Red Bull Crew stops by the shop.

So the Red Bull video crew came by the shop yesterday and conducted an in-depth interview of the team. Finally met Miko, who let us in on some more info on the race, plus showed us some gnarly video of the other races this year. I guess that they will edit the footage down and show it on the jumbotron in the park before we go up on stage. I guess there's a jump in the course (??!), so I'm reinforcing the car accordingly should I decide to take it.

Weekend's Car Build Photos...

Finished the structure for the tongue, and added weight to make sure it "flicks" right. Welded on the steering wheel mount as well as the rear wheel brake mounts, and reinforced the welds on the steering mechanism and rear roll cage/push bar.

We're on the Red Bull Website!

Click here to find the KISS team's bio on the Red Bull website.

You can view the sketch of our car along with all the other entries under the "sketches" link at the left.

Weekend of Progress on the KISS Car

So this weekend I was pretty productive on the car. To accommodate the new ideas I've had, I ended up chopping off some of the features I initially welded on, including the front end and the roll cage. I completed the linked steering mechanism on Saturday which was pretty fun to figure out, and today I made the rear wheel mounts and the rear roll cage/push bar. The brake calipers I bought from the Recyclery in San Rafael don't fit the wheel rims (should've checked this out beforehand) so I think I'll find some BMX calipers at a shop or on eBay. As for the "skin" of the car I'll walk over to the fabric warehouse on Mission St. and see if they have some pink vinyl, or something equally shiny for the tongue. The structure for the tongue moves up and down pretty nicely, so once the tongue covering is put on, the tongue lashing effect will look pretty damn sweet.

The Skit

So, the skit for the race has been written, here's a sneak preview....
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Gene - Rick
Paul - John
Ace - Colin
Groupie - Rebecca

(4 seconds of "Shout it Out Loud" - fade out to cheering in the background)

(Groupie is waving and screaming off to the side)

Paul - Thank you Milwaukee!!!!

(Ace leans over to Paul)

Ace - Paul, we're in San Francisco.

Gene – Hey, do you guys want to go backstage and get latte's?

Ace – I would, but I'm late for yoga.

(Groupie with backpack runs up to KISS as they put down their guitars and bass)

Groupie – Oh my God! You guys were awesome! I'm your biggest fan.

(Groupie kisses Paul)

Paul – Hey, do you want to go backstage and become a member of the KISS Army?

Groupie – Oh, I already am! Paul, don't you remember "inducting me" in Toledo last year? We have a baby!!!

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.....you'll have to come to the race to find out how it ends!!!!!

The Soap Box Build Begins

I began building the KISS mobile for the Red Bull Soap Box Derby on Sunday over in Berekeley. Began with 1 1/2" square steel tube and kinda made decisions as I went along. The frame is gonna be about 8' x 2.5" and I'm going to head to The Recyclery in San Rafael after work this week to pick up some wheels and brake parts. Walked with Beckz over to Dolores Park today, the site of the race, to drink wine and watch the SF Mime Troupe perform Red State.

Red Bull Soap Box Derby 2008 - San Francisco

It's on!!!!!! October 18th is the race, Dolores Park is the place. My design's been chosen and my teammates have been picked. Stay tuned for posts on the building of the car and the emergence of the greatest team assembled in soap box derby history. Rock on.