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Speed Racer's Mach 5 Becomes Reality

Yodel_Spoogenshortz writes: "This may actually be old news but I haven't seen it on Slashdot before. A while back the Child Safety Network partnered up with Focus on Cars to produce an actual working version of Speed Racer's Mach 5. There are articles here, here and here and an actual photo from the 34th Annual SEMA Aftermarket Show car show in Las Vegas here. If you have a spare $200,000 lying around you could get one of your own."

4 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. And the Mach 5 is safe-looking??? by loomis · · Score: 4

    "Speed Racer's real Mach 5 racecar has been built to promote a nation-wide automotive safety campaign"

    This cracks me up. Recall the the Mach 5 if you will, with its three projectile-looking front missles, difficult to see headlights, lack of roof, and other entirely unsafe, and un-roadworthy characteristics.

    I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to send my children this mixed message at the local safety meeting where the car is appearing:

    "This Mach 5 promotes safety son."

    "But daddy, it's a fiberglass kit that couldn't pass any collision test in the world. It has no reinforced frame, airbags, or other 20th century safety requirements."

    "Ah...(pause)...(silence)...Uh...whatta ya say we get some ice cream son?"

    --
    "The television is the retina of the mind's eye" - Videodrome
  2. Real-world design by Straker+Skunk · · Score: 3

    Heh. I wonder how good are the aerodynamics and handling }:-)

    Kinda reminds me of Airwolf. Y'all remember how it's basically a Bell 222 chopper with a major body job? Somewhere (some AW fan site, forgot URL) is mentioned that the modifications actually improved the flight characteristics of the aircraft. Which is really neat, when you consider the thing probably wasn't designed by an engineer . . .

    --
    iSKUNK!
  3. Mach 5 security hole: Ninjas. by Mitkin · · Score: 5

    The Mach 5 just isnt safe because its always being attacked by ninjas. Mostly these ninjas drive really good cars, but they just aren't as good as the Mach5 so they really want it. Ninjas need nice cars, and the Mach 5 is their #1 target. As long as there are ninjas in the world, the Mach 5 will never be safe. Be afraid.

  4. Mach 5 is safe. by www.sorehands.com · · Score: 3
    How can you say it's not safe?

    The Mach 5 can:

    • out of the way of almost anything comming at it
    • cut down the trees and telephone polls before it hits
    • falls in the water, keep driving
    • use the robot bird to look out for trouble ahead
    • Use the super tire treads if there is a proble with traction
    • and the truck is safe for a kid and monkey