X-Prize Cup/Olympics Planned

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Posted by michael on Thursday July 17, 2003 @04:42AM from the 10000-meter-hurdles dept.

sckienle writes "Space.com has a quick article in their astronotes section about the X-Prize committee's idea of an X-Prize competition. Apparently they are thinking about having a 'X-Prize Cup' where 'teams would compete for cash prizes, attempting to set new records.' My favorite quote: 'The notion is to try and bring the money and excitement of NASCAR and Formula One racing into space.'"

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Who cares about the excitement, by Trigun · 2003-07-17 04:45 · Score: 5, Funny

As long as they bring the money.

I'd love to see a shuttle rocketting towards the stratosphere with "Viagra keeps our rocket up too" stenciled down the side of it!
Budwiser rules by AssFace · 2003-07-17 04:45 · Score: 5, Funny

I suppose beer companies sponsoring really fast driving is just as inane as a rocket...

I just hope that it draws the white trash chicks that are willing to show us their tits on the big screens.

--

There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
No dice. by bartyboy · 2003-07-17 04:45 · Score: 4, Funny

'teams would compete for cash prizes, attempting to set new records.'
For a brief moment I read that as crash prizes...
1. Re:No dice. by WegianWarrior · 2003-07-17 04:58 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Ah, you are refering off course to the "hottest reentry" prize, the only prize that will be awared post mortem.
  
  --
  Everything in the world is controlled by a small, evil group to which, unfortunately, no one you know belongs.
I'll donate money! by Jonsey · 2003-07-17 04:45 · Score: 1, Funny

I'll donate money if they make all NASCAR & Formula racing take place in space.

Mumbles something about nothing being on the tube.

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I assert that my comment is only my opinion, not that of any employer, past, present or future.
1. Re:I'll donate money! by Trigun · 2003-07-17 04:51 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Now taking bets on the Kessel run.
  
  2-1 on the guy with the wookie.
2. Re:I'll donate money! by dr_dank · 2003-07-17 05:18 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Don't you see? This is all leading up to the landing of the first Mullet on the Moon©!
  
  --
  Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
I can see it now... by Tenchi-kun · 2003-07-17 04:47 · Score: 2, Funny

Years from now, it'll be all about the people with beer guts and no shirts on cheering for their favorite rocket driver/sponsor and they'll be wearing t-shirts with the rocket on them.
1. Re:I can see it now... by ruprechtjones · 2003-07-17 09:05 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Years from now, it'll be all about the people with beer guts and no shirts on cheering for their favorite rocket driver/sponsor and they'll be wearing t-shirts with the rocket on them.
  
  I would rather complain about the quality of the fan base dwindling, than complain about there being little-to-no fan base. Bring on the beer guts! Maybe Budweiser will see their target audience and throw some money at the program...
  
  --
  Kip Hawley is an idiot.
Huh? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-17 04:47 · Score: 1, Funny

"...excitement of NASCAR...."
Spot the oxymoron.
NASCAR? by Penguinshit · 2003-07-17 04:48 · Score: 5, Funny

if we make this like NASCAR, then all the rockets would only turn left.

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I have something in common with Stephen Hawking...
soo...they want to by the_2nd_coming · 2003-07-17 04:49 · Score: 5, Funny

so they basicly want to get a bunch of redneck retards to come out to an unshaded grand-stand, sit inthe sun for 10 hours and watch planes take off and land......

yeah, that sounds about as exciting as watching a group of cars drive in circles all day.

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I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
Get ready for Olympics scandal by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-17 04:50 · Score: 5, Funny

French judges inexplicably vote for Russians despite their team's x-prize entry of three fat guys on a trampoline.
The excitement of Formula One? by heironymouscoward · 2003-07-17 04:53 · Score: 3, Funny

Watching silly men go Vrmmm vrmmm vrmmm vrmmm until one hits the crowd and explodes?

The best part of Formula One is the girls who shake the champagne. Maybe we can just dispense with the loud noisy machines and just have girls opening large bottles of champagne. Playboy in Space? Gotta be cheaper and more fun.

Vrmmm vrmmm vrmmmm... Nope, just does not do it for me.

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Ceci n'est pas une signature
TNG fans already know... by PseudoThink · 2003-07-17 04:55 · Score: 3, Funny

It's all fun and games until a bunch of cadets tries to pull a Kolvord Starburst and one of 'em bites it. If only CleverNickName had told the truth from the start...it's all his fault!
At last! Business in the front, party in the back! by teamhasnoi · 2003-07-17 04:55 · Score: 4, Funny

Mullets in space!!
(I fully expect to be karma-lynched for this)
NASCAR meets X-Prize? by Jaguar777 · 2003-07-17 04:58 · Score: 4, Funny

I'm putting my money on the Viagra sponsored rocket. I'm sure they can get it up faster than any other team ;)

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Maybe you should educate the morons of tomorrow so they'll stop believing the leaders of tomorrow. - Dogbert
Re:8.... by Lershac · 2003-07-17 05:09 · Score: 1, Funny

And the fans will never go for it, too boring, the racers won't fly in circles or crash into walls.

But the related idea of sponsoring spaceflight commercially... hmmmmm.

"This flight sponsored by TANG!"

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Chuck
Re:I would pay for tickets. by Lershac · 2003-07-17 05:12 · Score: 1, Funny

Ahh, but the identical nature of the cars is supposed to showcase the skills of the driver.

"Okay, now turn...LEFT! ...Okay, now turn...LEFT! ...Okay, now turn...LEFT! ...Okay, now turn...LEFT! ...Okay, now turn...LEFT! ...Okay, now turn...LEFT! ...Okay, now turn...LEFT! ..." Repeat ad nauseum.

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Chuck
Rednecks in Space by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-17 05:14 · Score: 2, Funny

... The next Muppet Show ...
...Excitement of NASCAR... by unfortunateson · 2003-07-17 05:15 · Score: 2, Funny

Isn't the favorite part of car racing when things blow up?

That seems like a contrary goal.

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Design for Use, not Construction!
No drafting by drdale · 2003-07-17 05:20 · Score: 3, Funny

NASCAR strategy wouldn't work here, since nothing makes another vehicle's slipstream look less inviting than flames shooting out the back end.

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XXX Prize by guacamolefoo · 2003-07-17 06:13 · Score: 2, Funny

XXX Prize. Now there's competition I would pay to go see (just, for the love of god, make sure that no geeks participate):

Top Ten Awards to be presented at the XXX Prize contest:

10. Best "tits on glass" from a rocket occupant
9. Best moon (of course)
8. Body most improved by zero gravity
7. Most unique position for rocket occupants
6. Most creative use of non-human test flight animal
5. Fewest minutes on-line to obtain a burnable VCD image of "Gayniggers from Outer Space"
4. Most creative use of "G" forces
3. Best ejection (male and female)
2. Most creative use of the "Johnson Space Center"

and.....[drum roll]

1. The venerable...Most Rings Around Uranus

GF.

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Lots of petrified grits
From the department of redundancy department... by ArmorFiend · 2003-07-17 07:05 · Score: 2, Funny

Space.com has a quick article in their astronotes section about the X-Prize committee's idea of an X-Prize competition. Apparently they are thinking about having a 'X-Prize Cup' where 'teams would compete for cash prizes, attempting to set new records.'

So ... the X-prize would give away prizes for going into space? What's next? Olympics-olimpiad? Monopolyopoly?