tannji

Excerpt from a current Scaled Composites press release: It appears that the June 21st flight will be a pilot solo, to break the 62 mile barrier, (they have already ascended 40 miles earlier this year) then later this year they will attempt the fly-and-return with a crew of 3 twice and with refueling in between flights, to claim the X-prize.

I read up a bit on Scaled Composites about a year ago, and I seem to recall Rutan saying that his R&D was no where near as high as it should be, because ALL of his initial design and testing was virtual, on existing equipment. I would imagine that even with his savings, R&D is still out of the reach of you and I..... But the $10mil is still a lot of money, for someone who isnt exactly motivated by the money alone. Rutan has an impressive track record, and I personally give him better than a 50% chance. I think Rutan intends this to be the Kitty Hawk of Space Flight. With all due respect to NASA, I am very glad that there is an alternative approach being tried.... Politics have far too major of an influence on NASA's efforts. If anyone has read Carl Sagan, Asimov, Pohl, or even the pure Science Fiction of Kim Stanley Robinson (Red, Green, and Blue Mars series) you can imagine what my personal feelings are on space and our role in it. We havent really moved forward since the 1970's, and given NASA's track record, up to and including the current space station, my inherent feeling that I was born too early too early (too early to be able to see the progress I imagined as a kid) is being overwhelmed by the sense that we have spent the last 30-odd years wasting our money and time, not to mention squandering what might be a limited opportunity to salvage some of the damage we have done to our environment, and any chance we ever have of spreading beyond our earthly origins. Given the current state of affairs in the middle east, in the fossil fuels arena, and in general with regards to international politics and America's dwindling power and influence, it would seem to me that the developement of space and any chance of expanding man's presence in it will be largely dependant upon commercial developement. It is time that the Government cooperated with and encouraged this process, rather than hindering and attempting to control access to it. Well, I didnt intend to rant... so I'll get off the soap box now.... but I am rooting for Rutan, if you hadnt gathered that already, lol

that is the second time in just over a year that that car has been listed on ebay, I considered it but decided against it in favor of my over-priced 240Z.....

bad link, apparently.... now I am pissed..... repost that stuff post-haste!

LOL, there was a lot of the old "original equipment" talk going on there..... what about the various american cars with asian engines? (fords with yamaha, ect) or the "american" cars that are rebadged asians? Or to take it a step further.... whats with Daimler-Chrysler, and all the other companies that own minority or majority shares in other car companies.... whatever.... whatever you do, do it well, and try to make it tasteful.

Hey Matt.... how far are you from the Wisconsin Dells area? I am going to be in the Dells around the end of June/first of July.... would love to see your progress, running or not....

Nah.... the Pontiac is to the Z as the Crossfire is to the RX8..... 8) They both do have that tiny hatch opening, tho....

Yeah... ON3GO beat me to it.... It appears to have taken a lot of its body styling cues from the various Z cars.... and ends up looking (forgive me) something like the 350Z should have.... minus the front facia..... ICK! The interior doesnt do a whole lot for me.... I wouldnt have minded something a little more retro-chic in there, like an updated 240Z look... but if the handling is there.... I could see myself driving one with the LS1 in it. 8)

By themselves on a stocker... I dont think I would like them... but they seem to compliment your hood very nicely.... Keep em!

Great story.... I moved from Denver to Iowa almost 3 years ago, and miss almost everything about CO.I am hoping to drive my Z back there next spring for a visit, and I will be cruising the mountains some as well.. havent done that in almost 15 years.... Will be fun to show various friends what I was raving about when we talked about cars. A couple of vettes in particular need some pacing to take their owners down a peg or two... lo

OK... interested..... lets see some pics! = )

I think they are copper because they get hotter, and have far less mass than the heavy piece of brass.... I dont weld yet... but I have brased and soldered, and I know how heat sinks work. Its the same thermal dymanic principles that allow you to boil water over an open flame in a paper or wood container.... the material is flammable.... but the heat transfers to the water too readily for the container to reach the combustion temp. The chunk of brass isnt in the optimum position to take a weld bead.... so it just absorbs excess heat from the weld area. You would think that copper would work "better" as it is a better conductor, but it would seem to me that brass would be good enough, heck, just about any massy chunk of metal would be good enough, as long as it didnt react with the material being welded.

people are going to say run a search... and there is a lot of info.... But I have done the search and would still like to see some detailed pics of the areas, before and after would be great.....

Not beautiful? Well... perhaps it looks a little too dangerous, or mean, to be beautiful.... but I would hit it if it were a woman.... I love that look. (come to think of it, my preferences have probably caused me more woman problems than car.... go figure) There was a movie I saw back in the 80's... cant remember the title, plot, or actors... but I do remember a bevy of 240Z's in flat black the bad guys drove around and abused.... your car reminds me of them.... Really wish someone could remember the movie, I would like to see the chase scenes again.

The only way it could have been better is if you had been able to get around him and show him your license plate..... but I think that is outweighed by the fact you got to talk to him.... Great story.... nice little coincidence that your "first" was another ford power plant, lol. The first time I ever saw a Cobra was in England, while waiting to walk across a street. A non-replica pulled up in front of me and assaulted my chest with its bass-note throb. I tried not to act like a schoolgirl, and yelled at the guy to ask if it was a replica.... He shot me a look.... Kinda like; if ya have to ask..... lol... but he said no, its was real. Nice shape, but definitely driven... not pampered. I have had a chubby for Cobras ever since.....

I checked that out, and that forum just got added to my links. Great info there, and they seem like a good bunch.

http://zccw.org/Tech/Body/09-97EarlyZAerodynamics.html

LOL, I take "Hybrid" to a new level when it comes to gaming.... I only play FPS games, Unreal Tournament mostly. I have never been able to do the whole keyboard/mouse deal.... gave me severe hand cramps, and was too frustrating for me to dedicate the time to learning properly. I played for a couple of years with a joystick, until my primary fire button gave out, and I was broke and unemployed for a while, so I switched the joystick to my left hand, and started using the mouse like most gamers do. It took me about a week to go from a decent veteran with slow aim, to daily accusations of cheating, with deadly aim and unconventional movement. The few time I have had the opportunity to do any driving on my computer, the joystick is back in my right hand, where it feels most awkward....

I had a similar problem eons ago... turned out that I had bad O-rings, and they failed when I pulled the motor. Sweated it for about a week, and then some old guy suggested replacing them. I waffled for a while, because it seemed like a lot of work for no guarantee... but it fixed the prob....

My current computer has never once crashed since I finalized its build and tweaking. My favorite gamer will crash occaionally, but it was coded almost 6 years ago... so its not the PC's fault. as for upgradeable consoles... I dont think that will ever happen completely... console manufacterers would stand to lose too much money.

WOW... that was quite the retro blast..... we had some asian students at my highschool that were doing things like that.... but they stopped taking those cars to school.... vandalism and harrassment, I believe... That was back in the early 80's tho... never imagined I would see it again.

hmm. first thing that came to my mind was 1970's Ford Maverick. I think a newer Vette bumpkis would look better. but I would love to see finished pics.... could make all the difference.

My 240Z came with ZX power mirrors..... hate em.... they look like azz.I am leaning towards either billet or a trip to the junkyard.

lol, awesome pic, Rufus 8)