The Star Wars Car

I just don't get it. by djh101010 · 2004-01-18 02:45 · Score: 5, Insightful

Maybe this sort of thing appeals to the same people who make their PC tower look like some tricked-out alien egg or something, but I can't understand the appeal.

Is it the challenge, or the attention to detail, or what draws people to these?

Re:I just don't get it. by Trigun · 2004-01-18 02:52 · Score: 5, Funny

Cool paint adds 10 horsepower.
Rear spoilers add 30 hp.
Type R sticker == stick-on NOS

Hope this helps...
Re:I just don't get it. by sebi · 2004-01-18 02:56 · Score: 1

What I don't get is that there are always some who need to understand everything. Who cares what the appeal is. The people who do stuff like that seem to find it and in my opinion that is all there is to it.
This is still a site about News for Nerds, and it doesn't get much nerdier than that. There are people who have more interests than just Linux and SCO.

--
Hank! White!
Re:I just don't get it. by Moskie · 2004-01-18 03:03 · Score: 3, Funny

The chicks.

...oh.
Re:I just don't get it. by kinema · 2004-01-18 03:07 · Score: 5, Funny

What I don't understand about the rear spoiler is that the damn car is front wheel drive. Spoilers on the rear are there to produce more down-force to increase traction on rear wheel drive cars, they do absolutly nothing for front wheel drives. Well.... other then making the owner look like a totall moron (assuming he even needs any help with that).
Re:I just don't get it. by danamania · 2004-01-18 03:08 · Score: 4, Interesting

I honestly don't know. It's bizarre. It's the same mentality as a fellow I know here who puts every reflector, sticker, and gadget outside and inside his car. antennae, bumpers, air fresheners, popup tissue holders... you name it, the car has it. Maybe some people NEED to be surrounded by clutter.

In any case, I've mirrored the pics in a smaller size:

http://www.danamania.com/starwarscar/
Re:I just don't get it. by Trigun · 2004-01-18 03:14 · Score: 5, Funny

A rear spoiler does nothing for a regular car. At high speeds, a car, which is shaped like a plane wing (more or less) develops an upward force which can cause instability, particularly on wide banking turns. The spoiler will have the same effect whether the car is front or rear wheel drive, which in most cases is no effect, and in some cases where the car is going real fast in a straight line, a negative effect (particularly on front wheel drive cars) due to increased drag.

The rear spoiler is, in effect, a third nipple. Kind of neat to have, ugly to look at, functionally useless, and if it sticks out more than a little, should be removed by a qualified person as soon as possible.
Re:I just don't get it. by danamania · 2004-01-18 03:16 · Score: 1

I think I'll add to my comment by saying I hope whoever did the car had a hell of a lot of fun doing it. That's some dedication there :)

The stuff around the steering wheel scares me though.
Re:I just don't get it. by gwbuhl · 2004-01-18 03:17 · Score: 2, Insightful

It's art, which means not everyone is supposed to get it. Everyone needs an outlet for creativitiy, clearly this guy has found his. I feel that design is in a resurgence, which means that more and more people have access to art in everyday life. For example, the ipod. Art shouldn't be relagated to museums, and when it's not, life is more interesting.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:23 · Score: 0

There are people who have more interests than just Linux and SCO.
And some of us don't even care about that.
Re:I just don't get it. by Ollierose · 2004-01-18 03:32 · Score: 2, Informative

I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that rear spoilers do have a genuine effect on countering this lifting force, although it may have been biased as it was probably in a car mag.

From memory (unreliable) the wing (or picnic table, possibly) on the back of 80s-early 90s Ford Cosworths turned a ~400Nm torque upwards (measured about the rear wheels) into a ~500Nm torque downward. Granted, these models were rear and later 4 wheel drive, but this is about the aerodynamics of the vehicle. It had lots of Scientists names around it too, so it must be true :)
Re:I just don't get it. by mm0mm · 2004-01-18 03:33 · Score: 1

well, my frustration is that if this guy is willing to spend this much time and money on this modification, why did he not go as far as building the entire body of the car using glassfiber and other available material, rather than go easy and put a handwritten R2D2 sticker on the rear end of the car.

More importantly, why Honda(as it looks like --maybe I'm wrong...!)??? There must be a better choice for the base car....
Re:I just don't get it. by thegrommit · 2004-01-18 03:40 · Score: 5, Informative

If you read the whole thread, the owner (obi_shawn) shows up on page six and talks about what he does for a living:

I make action figures, hotwheels toys, props, models, and costumes for a living. So, much like a plumber that advertises on his panel van, my car shows what I do. And you'd better believe no one forgets it- I get a lot of business from being "that dude with the car".

He also uses the car to raise money for charity.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:41 · Score: 0, Redundant

Nm - that's so cute. However, you should measure torque in ft lbs as God intended
Re:I just don't get it. by Trigun · 2004-01-18 03:53 · Score: 3, Interesting

It all depends on the car shape and relative speed. Obviously the only additional force the spoiler would add to any stationary car would be the downward force from the weight of the spoiler. As the car increases velocity, the car, sans spoiler, will develop an upward force, due to the high/low pressure differences.

The major factor is at what speed will the car begin to noticeably lift from the ground. Most cars, even the rice powered ones will never reach speeds high enough to lose traction due to the upward force. Maybe at a fast highway speed with a great headwinds, but generally not in normal daily use. The spoiler increases the coefficient of drag, and the cars top speed, acceleration, etc. Again for most cars, this is negligible, and with the composite materials that the spoilers are made out of, the weight is negligble.

Most professional race cars have adjustable spoilers, tuned to conditions for each particular race. Some are even computer controlled to maximize the effectiveness of the spoiler on turns and straightaways. But those are professional race cars, and they go just a bit faster than my dodge, and most other everyday cars. I'd have to be flooring it downhill for a long weekend before I ever needed a spoiler.
Re:I just don't get it. by Shiifty · 2004-01-18 03:54 · Score: 2, Insightful

A spoiler 'spoils' the air flow over a car, reducing lift and pushing the car down. This a good regardless of FWD or RWD, and allows you to maintain traction while going around a corner as fast as possible.
A spoiler is ideal for racers but useless for Working Joe during city/highway driving.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:56 · Score: 1, Informative

This is entirely incorrect. While it is true many consumer production cars have spoilers merely for looks, spoilers can be VERY functional. You obviously have no background on this, and I am not going to get into the physics, but why do you see every rally car, and nearly every le mans car, with spoilers that have taken a fair bit of engineering to design? Think formula 1 cars have them just to look cool?

Check out the current spoiler the Subaru rally team is using. They just won the WRC, btw. It looks ugly as hell, and is unneeded weight. Think they are just trying to rice out the car to look cool drifting through dirt?

Their production car based on the rally car, the Impreza WRX STi, also bears a spoiler similar to this. It creates significant downforce as low as 60mph, and its functionality has been confirmed by STi as well as prodrive.

Your understanding is not entirely correct however. There is another significant force at work. As air travels past the rear window, there is turbulence created, as Im sure you know. By creating a box, the air is forced to travel in a defined path. This indirectly counters lift by eliminating turbulence, an alternative to the plane wing approach which uses downforce to directly counter lift. Some spoilers actually incorporate both of these concepts.

BTW, RWD, FWD, or AWD, its entirely irrelevant.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:02 · Score: 0

You are a fool. Spoilers work well at speeds in excess of 100 MPH. Spoilers do not produce downforce at a start, so it doesn't matter what wheels are moving your car.
Re:I just don't get it. by bconway · 2004-01-18 04:06 · Score: 1

You are correct about the WRC spoiler, but partially incorrect about the STi. The STi spoiler is flimsy plastic (or fiberglass) and bends easily when pushed upon. It's definitely not generating any significant downforce. However, it does smooth out air passing the rear of the car, as you've mentioned.

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Re:I just don't get it. by popoutman · 2004-01-18 04:16 · Score: 1

FYI: Rear spoilers do have a real use on all cars, even front-wheel-drive, if set up correctly. Wings improve high-speed stability, as most cars have a tendency to get a little 'light' or 'floaty' on the road at high speeds, and a rear wing will push the back of the car into the ground stopping the tail from stepping out on those long sweeping turns. If you are having problems with traction, the suspension should be tweaked to keep the driven wheels on the ground, as there isn't enough airflow to give downforce from wings when taking off from standstill.

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Re:I just don't get it. by Beardydog · 2004-01-18 04:21 · Score: 1

If you have a car that needs a spoiler, you have a car that can achieve decent acceleration at 100 mph.
Re:I just don't get it. by rixstep · 2004-01-18 04:23 · Score: 1, Offtopic

Well no offence, but I believe in rear spoilers. I think they make a car faster and better in the turns.

I also believe in Rolex watches. I wear my Rolex when I'm out putting my Grannie Touristo through the paces, and I get into the turns better and out of them faster.
Re:I just don't get it. by strudles · 2004-01-18 04:24 · Score: 2, Informative

er, spoilers dont create lift.

they create negative lift, how much depending on the design.

they also improve airflow around the car.

So you get more grip for high speed cornering, and generally a slightly lower top speed, although it depends on how much downforce the spoiler creates.

Some spoilers might actually increase top speed, simply because they are designed to produce very little downforce, and improve the aerodynamics of the car because of the air flow is better.

But even these spoilers will create some negative lift.

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- strudles
Re:I just don't get it. by Trigun · 2004-01-18 04:28 · Score: 3, Interesting

While it is true many consumer production cars have spoilers merely for looks, spoilers can be VERY functional. You obviously have no background on this, and I am not going to get into the physics, but why do you see every rally car, and nearly every le mans car, with spoilers that have taken a fair bit of engineering to design? Think formula 1 cars have them just to look cool?

Now hold on a minute here. I do indeed have a background in this, background enough to know that to this date nobody, not one soul, has ever entered a stock Honda CRX in a formula 1 race.

Their production car based on the rally car, the Impreza WRX STi, also bears a spoiler similar to this. It creates significant downforce as low as 60mph, and its functionality has been confirmed by STi as well as prodrive.

You call 60MPH low? And my car has no spoiler, and I've never needed flight clearance to pass somebody on the expressway. Have you ever seen a car hovering six feet off the ground because of gale winds? I know that I've never seen it.

If I'm driving in a rally or F1 race, then yes, I need a spoiler. If I'm driving a rally race on the way to work, than I think I need a brain more than a spoiler.

BTW, RWD, FWD, or AWD, its entirely irrelevant.
This must be in regards to this: a negative effect (particularly on front wheel drive cars) due to increased drag. The increased drag creates a downward force, strongest in the rear, on the opposite end of the drive tires. This acts as a type of see-saw, and in a straight line, removes some of the downward force from the drive tires. Say your car shifts from second to third at or about 60MPH. This removal of force can cause a temporary loss of traction as the car shifts, resulting in "secomd gear squack", as the tires roast going into gear. This is generally not a problem, again as most people don't race the quarter mile on their way to work.

Spoilers are very useful in rally driving, as one is taking turns as fast as possible.
Spoilers are very useful in F1 racing, as the cars are going as fast as possible and have a habit of flying off the road if they don't have one (and they generally have one at the front of the car as well).
Spoilers are very useful for your everyday driver because it gives you a handle to push by when you run out of gas. That's it. No additional benefit on your 15 minute drive to work.
Re:I just don't get it. by Trigun · 2004-01-18 04:31 · Score: 1

As the car increases velocity, the car, sans spoiler, will develop an upward force, due to the high/low pressure differences.

sans means without. So, without a spoiler, a car generates lift.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:35 · Score: 0

It is there to help keep all the power generated by the mighty 89h.p. motor on the road. That and all the other fuckhead ricers have them so they just follow along.
Re:I just don't get it. by ndqc · 2004-01-18 04:35 · Score: 1

another example of street car where rear wing is in real use is nissan skyline r32, r33 and r34. skyline ownz! :-)
Re:I just don't get it. by SlamMan · 2004-01-18 04:35 · Score: 1

Right, but the high speeds where it starts to matter are in excess of a hundred miles an hour, +/- a bit based on the shape of the car.

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Mod point free since 2001
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:40 · Score: 0

Red un's go fasta! (Sorry, ork joke).
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:41 · Score: 0

"Is it the challenge, or the attention to detail, or what draws people to these?"

It gets you chicks.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:50 · Score: 0

What are you talking about? That was the point. Spoilers are effective at high speeds, not from a dead stop, as the original poster stated.
Re:I just don't get it. by Robotech_Master · 2004-01-18 04:50 · Score: 1

I seem to recall hearing that the spoiler is actually an upside-down wing...it's shaped so that the bernoulli effect will push down instead of pull up, thus counter-balancing the airplane-wing-shaped car's tendency to become unstable.

Of course, my sources could be wrong. But I would think that the designers of high-price, high-performance sports cars would have some idea what they're doing.

--
Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
Re:I just don't get it. by dafz1 · 2004-01-18 04:55 · Score: 1

I saw a study done on VW Beetles, one with the pop-up spoiler and one without, and up to 150mph, there was little noticeable difference.

The big question is the shape of the cars. People are talking about F1. F1 cars are designed to have maximal downforce, but the wing(front and back) configurations change slightly based on the track(less for Monza/Indy, more for Monte Carlo). If you want a better demonstration, look at Champ(CART) cars. For ovals(especially like Michigan), the front wings are smaller, since too much downforce is a bad thing. For road courses(slower speeds), the front wings are huge in comparison.

If you want to maximize downforce, put an air dam on the front of your car(ever wonder why the front of your Monte Carlo/Grand Prix/Intrepid doesn't look the same as it's NASCAR counter part?). It doesn't allow air under the car, which creates the lift. The bad part? Watch for driveways with steep approach angles and big bumps in the road.
Re:I just don't get it. by sjwt · 2004-01-18 04:55 · Score: 1

I dont know about your 15 miniut drive to work on the freeway, but my 30 min drive though Australian mountain side at brakeneck speeds puching the old 'double the advised speedlimit' arournd cornors it is needed =>

but yes, most ppl dont need them in your standerd amrican car.. move out side of america and you will be suprsed about what happens to a lot of the ligher car more effecent nongas guzzeling cars when traviling down the freeways at 100kph(60ish mph) and a strong none gail force wind comes up.. i advise a spiler for any car weighign in at under 1.5 tons.

mine dosent have it, and i dont like to travell in strong wind becase of it :)

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Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:04 · Score: 0

Lots more pictures.

http://www.boston-baden.com/hazel/Pix/A/hwing.ht m
Re:I just don't get it. by Radius9 · 2004-01-18 05:15 · Score: 1

Ahh, but due to to the fact that the spoiler stabilizes the turbulence created by the car pushing through the air at high speed, it also increases gas mileage, sometimes significantly, depending on the car. This is a fairly well documented fact. Mind you, I'm of course not talking about the huge spoilers that people add to the back of their CRX.
Re:I just don't get it. by whorfin · 2004-01-18 05:26 · Score: 1

Well, I happen to have a car that is built for speed and handling, but it doesn't have a wing on it. In fact, it has a bit of a spoiler, but it's a just a tiny 1 inch raised strip on the back of the car. It's virtually unnoticable except on close inspection.

It would appear that Ferrari doesn't believe that Spoilers are necessary, although they make some extremely high performance cars.

Here's a sampling
Notice that the only ones you see with spoilers are either true racecars, or the 'supercars' like the F40 and F50. Even the 'challenge' cars that are the race versions don't have spoilers!

--
Laugh while you can, monkey-boy!
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:43 · Score: 0

Ferraris are shit.
Get a Porsche
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:51 · Score: 0

Hay, this is qite obviously not intended in the vain of go fast.
Re:I just don't get it. by EvilAlien · 2004-01-18 05:58 · Score: 5, Funny

Here is a hint: car mod-monkeys don't understand physics.
Here are a few other things they don't understand:
The Honda Civic is not a fast car, even with ground effects
Girls think that the big wing on your trunk is compensation for a small penis (please see your email for assistance)
Whereas flashy colors assists the mating ritual for peacocks, it detracts from the efforts of humans
No, Mugen is not interested in sponsoring your tricked out Neon
We all know that the NOS meter on your dash is fake
You are no longer part of an underground movement (please see your local Blockbuster or EB for evidence)

--
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Re:I just don't get it. by NoInfo · 2004-01-18 06:09 · Score: 2, Funny

Obviously the only additional force the spoiler would add to any stationary car would be the downward force from the weight of the spoiler.

You must not have seen the spoilers we have around here, or else you'd have mentioned the tidal effects caused by the sheer mass.

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Re:I just don't get it. by spectre_240sx · 2004-01-18 06:27 · Score: 1

Ferarris have downforce built into the body design, much like the reverse of nasa's lifting bodies. Look at the Enzo Ferarri, are you telling me that isn't a supercar? That doesn't have a spoiler. Whether a spoiler does anything or not is so dependent upon the design of the spoiler, the design of the car and hundreds of other variables that it's really not worth debating. Some cars need them, some cars don't. Let's just leave it at that.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 06:42 · Score: 0

Hmmm... this really looks like a pretty standard set of Honda moron mods.

Fart pipe... check.
Ugly up the hood... check.
Ugly up the wheels (cheap steel or wheel covers)... check.
Lame stickers or other gibberish to 'represent'

Voila... another front-wheel drive, underpowered (but noisy) monstrosity to make up for your tiny member.
Re:I just don't get it. by LC+Gundo · 2004-01-18 06:52 · Score: 3, Informative

A wing creates negative lift.
A spoiler (like the upswept rear of the "Whale Tail Porsche) "spoils the lift created by the vehicle's body.
The body of a car shaped generally like the cross section of a wing, creates lift because of the Bernoulli Principle.
In order for the Bernoulli princlple to operate, airflow over the body (or wing) must be laminar.
A spoiler "spoils" the laminar airflow by creating turbulence.
A spoiler can also increase top speed if it is designed to create pressure (actually "spoil" the vacuum) at the rear of the vehicle by causing to turbulence fill what otherwise would be a void at the immediate rear of the vehicle's body. Instead of a smooth laminar flow of air that meets some distance past the end of the bodywork, leaving a void (vaccum) at the immediate rear of the body work, a spoiler can create create a high pressure area there, resulting in forward force and higher top speed.
So, a spoiler is generally an intrusion into the airflow across the smooth upper surface of a automobile body; often a pronounced upturn of the rear edge of the trunk lid/rear engine cover.
A wing is an inverse airfoil that is usually mounted above the vehicle's body and is not intended to spoil the lift-creating properties of the vehicle's bodywork.

--
I'm time traveling, right now
Re:I just don't get it. by Rallion · 2004-01-18 06:54 · Score: 1

I think it's just a hobby. Like stamp collecting. Or Slashdotting. It's not really all that complicated. Sure, some of them are all "It'll get me teh ladies," and while it's possible thatthey think so, I honestly have trouble believing it. I think it's more likely they just do it for fun.

It's exactly like making models, only bigger. Lots of people make models. You just don't see them.
Re:I just don't get it. by lostchicken · 2004-01-18 07:41 · Score: 2, Insightful

High performance cars (I don't mean a Civic Type-R, I mean, BMW M3, Corvette, WRX STi, Audi RS6, Porsche 911 Turbo) are not designed for low speed driving. And yes, I mean 60mi/h is low speed. These cars are for speeds that most people will never run them at. They are tested as race cars, and built as such. They have features, like the STi's spoiler, that are useless to almost everyone, but vital for where they are designed to be used, on the track (or, in the WRX's case, off the track), at speeds well over 100mi/h.

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-twb
Re:I just don't get it. by Tumbleweed · 2004-01-18 07:50 · Score: 1

I'd rather be the kind of person who can actually DO work like that, than be the kind of person who wonders aloud about the type of person who does that, yet mirrors pictures of the work! :)
Re:I just don't get it. by Afrosheen · 2004-01-18 08:10 · Score: 1

Don't forget the current Subaru WRX STi and the Mitsubishi Evolution 8. Both of these cars need their spoilers.
Re:I just don't get it. by Obfiscator · 2004-01-18 08:44 · Score: 1

Hmm. Come to think of it, I've never seen a Corvette with a spoiler. They don't appear to need them. I've had one at 120 mph and the control was fine (granted, that was a straight stretch of road). They're not heavy cars, either. Why don't they have a spoiler?

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"Nothing shocks me. I'm a scientist." -Indiana Jones
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 08:57 · Score: 0

I'll bet it's one hell of a work-related tax writeoff, too!
Re:I just don't get it. by XO · 2004-01-18 09:38 · Score: 1

Having been around 120mph in a couple of somewhat newer cars, I can definitely say that the front ends were starting to break free, especially when hitting even the most tiniest of bumps. Both were front wheel drive, which is completely irrelevant to the spoiler.

The spoiler on the cars is PROBABLY what kept their ass ends down on the road, otherwise I would've been flying.

Now, to the original parent, who said that a spoiler wouldn't make much use unless it was a rear wheel drive.. a spoiler would probably have ADDITIONAL effect on a rear wheel drive, to keeping the back wheels where they have traction... but, let me tell you.. if your rear wheels lift up off the road, in a rear wheel drive car, you're just gonna slow down, most likely, in a front wheel drive car, you're probably gonna go flipping end over end.

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"Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
Re:I just don't get it. by XO · 2004-01-18 10:03 · Score: 1

The ass end of the Corvette basically --IS-- a spoiler. IF the body is designed to create downforce as it is, you don't need anything additional. :D

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"Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
Re:I just don't get it. by RedWizzard · 2004-01-18 10:07 · Score: 2, Funny

Spoilers work well at speeds in excess of 100 MPH. Spoilers do not produce downforce at a start, so it doesn't matter what wheels are moving your car.
Hopefully if you car is doing in excess of 100mph all of your wheels are moving. If not, you definitely need more downforce.
Re:I just don't get it. by cfuse · 2004-01-18 10:14 · Score: 1

Maybe this sort of thing appeals to the same people who make their PC tower look like some tricked-out alien egg or something, but I can't understand the appeal.
Is it the challenge, or the attention to detail, or what draws people to these?
Some people just don't like beige.
Re:I just don't get it. by norsk_hedensk · 2004-01-18 10:30 · Score: 1

depends on your power level aswell. dont forget peoples track cars which also happen to be their daily driver..... hondas need not apply.
Re:I just don't get it. by psyki · 2004-01-18 10:43 · Score: 1

More downforce == more control, fwd or rwd. If you're doing 95 around a bend in a fwd car, your back wheels can still break loose.
Re:I just don't get it. by Mr.+Droopy+Drawers · 2004-01-18 10:51 · Score: 1

Sure they do. Only to get the dork factor.

If you want to see the proper operation of street spoilers, take a look at the 1969 Charger Daytona, 1970 Superbird, or the 1970 Talledaga. These were streetable versions of their NASCAR cousins.

Very limited. Very lethal.

--
To Copy from One is Plagiarism; To Copy from Many is Research.
Re:I just don't get it. by ben+cerrina · 2004-01-18 13:00 · Score: 1

For your information, Subaru team has not won WRC for quite some years now. 2003 was won by Citroen 2002 Peugeot 2001 Peugeot 1999 Peugeot (I think) The world Champion in 2003 was Solberg in an Impreza but the constructor championship was not won by Subaru
Re:I just don't get it. by The+Original+Yama · 2004-01-18 13:03 · Score: 1

Don't forget the speed holes!

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OLPC Australia
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 13:38 · Score: 1, Funny

Hi, I'm an American. Do it our way or I'll make fun of you on /. and get modded up. I've also got some wacky funny takes on the metric system and airline peanuts.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 14:50 · Score: 0

The thing on the end of a SuperBirs and Daytonas were wings. Not spoilers. Different thing.
Re:I just don't get it. by draggy · 2004-01-18 15:45 · Score: 1

Actually, the STi Wing is made of Purim (Polyurethane Reaction Injection Moulding) and is quite strong. It does however, tend to vibrate and go in some sort of harmonic at ~150mph.

I drive a 2 door STi R version 5.

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Let's not all suck at the same time please
Re:I just don't get it. by bluenova · 2004-01-18 16:07 · Score: 1

You know, for the insane prices that they are selling for now, Superbirds and Daytonas did not sell well at all when they came out, at least in this area. The dealer in this town used the two he was forced to take as "fishing vehicles" after they had sat in the showroom a couple of years. Nothing funnier than seeing a Roadrunner superbird towing a bass boat.
Re:I just don't get it. by elemental23 · 2004-01-18 16:39 · Score: 1

In my experience, Working Joe is usually the one going around corners as fast as possible and generally just driving like a total idiot.

Maybe that's what I get for driving in LA.

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I like my women like my coffee... pale and bitter.
Re:I just don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 18:15 · Score: 0

As XO states, it's the design of the body... especially the C4's and up... if I'm not mistaken the old stingrays will lift a bit at those speeds.

As an anecdote on the whole spoiler concept... at about 115-120, corvette rock solid, whatever that souped up pontiac car was, visibly drifting in front of me. not lifting off the ground, but you could see the driver continually making steering corrections do to lift, it's not imagined.
Re:I just don't get it. by Afrosheen · 2004-01-19 08:34 · Score: 1

Wow, it's still amazing to me how ignorant the musclecar crowd is these days. I guess in your little corner of the world a turbocharged 4wd car with over 300hp doesn't count as a car that needs a spoiler to keep the rear wheels planted.

You seriously need to see what's being built these days and stop living in the past. Sure, the old musclecars were (and still are) fast as hell, but only in a straight line. Drag racing and Nascar is boring. Rally racing, touring and drifting is exciting, and that's where these cars really shine.
Re:I just don't get it. by rixstep · 2004-01-20 14:46 · Score: 1

Offtopic?

Someone is righteously dumb out there. You don't have to appreciate the joke, but you have to have the brains to know it's a joke.

No wonder they're asking people to meta-moderate.

But it gets worse, for time and again these moderating buffoons will mod down any opinion they don't agree with - and call it whatever they want, just to get it out of the discussion.

That is called fascism, and that is what the second world war was fought over.

Sweet! by TioHoltzman · 2004-01-18 02:45 · Score: 0

Where can I get one !

Re:Sweet! by DrXym · 2004-01-18 03:07 · Score: 1, Funny

Sad-Fuckers-R-Us

better then i though. by sjwt · 2004-01-18 02:45 · Score: 0

not what i was expecting,
much cooler..

I was thinking that for a second it was moddeled
directly after the Awing..

--
You have 5 Moderator Points!
Which Helpless Linux zealot/MS basher do you want to mod down today?

Re:better then i though. by Simon+Lyngshede · 2004-01-18 04:48 · Score: 1

Much worse than I expected. Really it just looks like a car which badly needs a new paint. Guess it depends who you are, but I wouldn't drive it.

lightsaver? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 02:46 · Score: 0, Funny

WTF is a lightsaver?

Wow... by The+Tyro · 2004-01-18 02:46 · Score: 5, Interesting

That's some nice detail work... note the actual hoses that go into the laser cannon on the side of the door... complete down to the "scorch marks" on the paint next to the muzzle.

Despite the fact that this car screams "cheesy," the attentino to detail is remarkable.

--
Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.

Re:Wow... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 02:52 · Score: 2, Funny

You underestimate the power of a thousand nerds clicking in unison. In the short time your reply took, you were beaten by 8 other people.
Re:Wow... by EvilCabbage · 2004-01-18 04:00 · Score: 2, Interesting

"Despite the fact that this car screams "cheesy," the attentino to detail is remarkable."

Read further. This guy is a toy and model maker by trade, so he should know how to detail something like that ;)

He was also the builder of a scale AT-ST walker model sold on eBay recently, but the link escapes me right now.
Re:Wow... by Blondie-Wan · 2004-01-18 09:28 · Score: 2, Informative

He was also the builder of a scale AT-ST walker model sold on eBay recently, but the link escapes me right now.

This one?

lightsaver by Espectr0 · 2004-01-18 02:46 · Score: 0, Funny

because you own a lightsaver

Ohh, lightsavers! I love those little sweet round things that melt in my mou... oh you meant _lightsaber_?

--
Open Source Java Web Forum with LDAP authentication

Re:lightsaver by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 02:53 · Score: 1, Interesting

yeah, well, the defining characteristics of a "saber" are single edged and curved blade... "lightfoil" would have been a pansy thing to call it, now wouldnt it?

i want a laser falchion, dammit.

Lightsaver? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 02:46 · Score: 0

I knew those old Jedis all had a sweet tooth. Excessive sugar intake must have been what brought about their demise!

She's called Pammy by tarquin_fim_bim · 2004-01-18 02:46 · Score: 5, Funny

because you own a lightsaver?

Yes, that swim-suited beauty lives in my top draw and leaps into action whenever she hears the cries of a light bulb in difficulty.

Re:She's called Pammy by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:00 · Score: 0

wow, your's came with CLOTHES?!

now i feel ripped off.

slashdot don't bother by circletimessquare · 2004-01-18 02:46 · Score: 5, Funny

"Sighting: X-Wing... no wait, Civic Del Sol (56k don't bother)"

pictures are already frozen in carbonite

--
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it

Re:slashdot don't bother by AngryDill · 2004-01-18 05:12 · Score: 2, Funny

Who is more foolish...

...the fool with the Star Wars car, or the fool who Slashdots him?

- Jedi proverb

--

I'm Erwin Schrodinger and I approve of this message, and I do not approve of this message!
Re:slashdot don't bother by sql*kitten · 2004-01-18 22:37 · Score: 1

the fool with the Star Wars car, or the fool who Slashdots him?

Uhh, the fool who thought of the Slashdot PT Cruiser, or the fool who drives it?

Sounds familiar by Gudlyf · 2004-01-18 02:47 · Score: 5, Interesting

Reminds me of this past Slasdot story.

--
Trolls lurk everywhere. Mod them down.

Re:lightsaver? by Trigun · 2004-01-18 02:47 · Score: 0

it's something that tastes just like a saver, but has half the calories.

Mmmm, star wars by Realistic_Dragon · 2004-01-18 02:48 · Score: 5, Funny

I see it has no back seat. Obviously the guy was smart enough to realise that he wouldn't be needing one.

--
Beep beep.

Re:Mmmm, star wars by Macgruder · 2004-01-18 03:09 · Score: 5, Informative

The gentleman's name is Shawn Crosby. His wife, Colleen, is very hot looking. They make costumes as hobbies, winning several awards at conventions. Not to mention they are both huge Star Wars fans. Her website is here. It's already down under the load, but bookmark it for future reference.

They (and I) are also members of LASFS (Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society). And I bet more than a few of them read Slashdot

--
I'm not crazy,I'm actively irresponsible.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by compactable · 2004-01-18 03:48 · Score: 1

Is the R2D2 an actual movie prop, or did he make this? If the latter, it's absolutely fantastic (well, it's all good, however I'm most impressed by this ...)
Re:Mmmm, star wars by dspisak · 2004-01-18 03:53 · Score: 1

Yes, he made it himself. He told me how he did it and in retrospect it didn't sound hard, just required some creative thought was all. The critical part was getting the bowl rolled out.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Walterk · 2004-01-18 04:14 · Score: 1

Here is Colleen as Lea and Elvira.

--

"If anyone needs me, I'm in the angry dome."
Re:Mmmm, star wars by yelligsc · 2004-01-18 04:17 · Score: 1

Aw man.. Guess I really am a dork.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Megaslow · 2004-01-18 04:26 · Score: 2, Funny

Uhhh.. you *have* been hanging out on Slashdot too long if you think she is "very hot looking"...
Here's some reference material:
Hot
Not
Hot
Not

Here's a page you could print out and carry around as a handy pocket reference.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by ttldkns · 2004-01-18 04:57 · Score: 1

Uhhh.. you *have* been hanging out on Slashdot too long if you think she is "very hot looking"...

she kinda reminded me of princess lea... sumthing in the eyes, maybe thats has something to do with it...

--
How many computers are too many?
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:29 · Score: 0

If you actaully know these people, please do them a favor and warn them about the airbags in this car. They have objects in front of them and if the airbags deploy, those objects could kill them. Serious. There are objects in front of both airbags. Even a 35 MPH crash could become deadly this way.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Dark+Lord+Seth · 2004-01-18 05:37 · Score: 1

So, basically, you're saying that it's not the fact if he NEEDS a back seat but wether if he WANTS a back seat?

To which any sane person's reply will be: NO!

--
Hate me!
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:53 · Score: 0

Uhm, the Del Sol never had a back seat. Sigh. There was a time, back in my day, when a Slashdot user could type, not speal, and have half of a memory for nerdy things.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:59 · Score: 0

>> Uhhh.. you *have* been hanging out on Slashdot too long if you think she is "very hot looking"

Uhhh.. you need to put down your copies of "Maxim" and "Stuff" and meet some real women, because your expectations are too high. You should probably go rent "Shallow Hal" too.

Most people are just average-looking, and even those celebs/supermodels don't look as good in real life as they do in the mags. I would describe this guy's wife as attractive, definitely "above average" in looks!
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Reziac · 2004-01-18 06:13 · Score: 1

Nah, you just need better closeups :) Chaz's photo gallery has this, um, candid thing going. You should see the scary shots of ME in there somewhere! ;)

[I know Shawn and Colleen, and they're both cute as hell in person. And Colleen is BUILT.]

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
Re:Mmmm, star wars by nEoN+nOoDlE · 2004-01-18 06:14 · Score: 4, Insightful

Posting pictures of this guy's wife in comparison to some super models is uncalled for. At least the man has a wife. It doesn't really matter what she looks like. She shares her husband's obsession of building friggin' Star Wars costumes and toys. I wish I had a woman who I could share my interests with, and mine aren't even that obscure. I'm sure Shawn wouldn't trade his wife for anyone in your "hot" category.

--
Don't trust a bull's horn, a doberman's tooth, a runaway horse or me.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by mcspock · 2004-01-18 06:15 · Score: 0, Flamebait

She's dork hot. Nice rack, but for me she's a two bagger - one for my johnny and one for her head

--
-- Patience is a virtue, but impatience is an art.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Reziac · 2004-01-18 06:30 · Score: 1

I couldn't get at the photos on the forum, but my immediate thought from the /. headline was "That HAS to be Shawn's car!!"

I saw it when he first got it, and had only done the preliminary mods. It was still pretty rough but you could see where it was going (and Shawn does *good* work). He said he bought the car *because* he could see how it was moddable. That fellow has fantastic creative vision. (Have you seen his computer case that's been modded to look like a droid?)

IIRC, the car got the Best [Hall?] Costume award at LOSCON a year or two ago.

And they are indeed a right eye-pleasing couple, especially in costume. Mmmmm!! ...from a fellow LASFSian :)

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 06:45 · Score: 0

So you only find paper women you'd never have a chance in hell with acceptable, and he's the one with the distorted view on women.

Yeah, +5 Funny is right.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 07:41 · Score: 0

omg. just what I needed to wake up to. that's so fucking funny. thank's for putting that up.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 07:56 · Score: 0

Good to see you living up to your username.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 08:07 · Score: 0

maybe not, but I sure as hell would :-] oh and btw, I kick it with the trophy girls, and yeah, they're a bunch of fucking cunts, all of them, brainless and shallow, but at least they hot. lol
Re:Mmmm, star wars by p3d0 · 2004-01-18 08:32 · Score: 1

Come on, give her a chance. How about this one, or this one.

--
Patrick Doyle
I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 09:29 · Score: 0

Hot-looking babes: http://www.mrkabc.com/pics/snopes01.jpg
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 10:00 · Score: 0

Maybe you should move to a different city, or get your eyes checked, if you think that's above average.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by kst · 2004-01-18 11:03 · Score: 1

This is funny?

A guy has an unusual car, it gets mentioned on Slashdot, and a few people use it as an excuse to publicly insult his wife (who happens to be a lovely person, not that it would make any difference if she weren't).

Ha ha, yuk yuk.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by iamhassi · 2004-01-18 11:27 · Score: 1, Insightful

"Posting pictures of this guy's wife in comparison to some super models is uncalled for.... She shares her husband's obsession of building friggin' Star Wars costumes and toys. "
We're judging her beauty, not her personality. I'm sure there's plenty of very beautiful people with shitty personalities.
Shame personality doesn't photograph, isn't it?
Honestly I don't care what her personality is, she's dog ugly.

--
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 11:39 · Score: 0

Del Sol's *never* had any back seats. They came from the factory with only two front seats.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by bunkie · 2004-01-18 11:43 · Score: 0

Obviously the guy was smart enough to realise that he wouldn't be needing one.

Well, he was smarter than you. The Del Sol is a two seater smart guy. It would be like turning the corvette into a station wagon. Just ain't gonna happen.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by stor · 2004-01-18 12:06 · Score: 1

It never ceases to amaze me how many fucking clueless try-hard loser misogynists wannabe's we have in this place that complain that they never get any.

You know the great thing about you guys? You make it easy for a dude like me who actually loves and respects women to get regular sex.

Stor

--
"Yeah well there's a lot of stuff that should be, but isn't"
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 12:06 · Score: 0

And i'm sure you're a real catch too, you speckley-faced gimp. It's a good thing we're not judging your personality, because YOU FAIL IT!!! (Besides, I gaurantee you have a head like an open autopsy too, you arrogant little fuck)
Re:Mmmm, star wars by stor · 2004-01-18 13:34 · Score: 1

> maybe not, but I sure as hell would :-] oh and btw, I kick it with the trophy girls, and yeah, they're a bunch of fucking cunts, all of them, brainless and shallow, but at least they hot. lol

Fucking a trophy doesn't count: anyone can shove a trophy up their arse.

Cheers
Stor

--
"Yeah well there's a lot of stuff that should be, but isn't"
Re:Mmmm, star wars by kst · 2004-01-18 19:37 · Score: 1

"Honestly I don't care what her personality is, she's dog ugly."

Does it even occur to you that she's a real person, one who might very well end up reading your comments?

I presume that if you actually met her, you'd keep any such remarks to yourself. But I guess it's ok if you're hiding behind a keyboard.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by iamhassi · 2004-01-19 16:57 · Score: 1

"Does it even occur to you that she's a real person, one who might very well end up reading your comments?"
And that means I should what, lie?
"I presume that if you actually met her, you'd keep any such remarks to yourself."
um, duh. It's called being polite.
Someone said she was very beautiful and I disagree. What exactly did you want, everyone to agree that a particular person is beautiful? Here's a shocker: never going to happen. Ever hear that phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"? If she's a married woman she should give two shits less about what some guy on /. thinks and suck it up and deal with it. Do you think she wakes up in the morning and says "Everyone in the world thinks I'm beautiful"?
jeez, you guys need to calm down and realize this is the freakin' internet and, believe it or not, not everyone thinks the same way you do.

--
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-20 06:20 · Score: 0

I believe the polite thing to say is, "She's not my type," rather than "she's ugly" because, believe it or not, I have several friends who drool in her presence, thus showing your egocentric assitude.

IMHO.
Re:Mmmm, star wars by iamhassi · 2004-01-21 14:19 · Score: 1

"I have several friends who drool in her presence, thus showing your egocentric assitude."
Ahh, there you go again. I don't agree with your opinion (or your friends, doesn't matter) so therefore I'm a egocentric ass.
How short-sighted of you. Is everyone that doesn't agree with you a ass?
For every person you can find that thinks she's beautiful I'm sure I can find someone that thinks she's ugly, so I suppose the point is mute, although judging by the number of /. geeks who thought she was ugly I'd have to say I could probably find about 12 guys to each of your 1, but whatever. She's too ugly to be worth arguing over anyway.

--
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
Re:Mmmm, star wars by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-21 19:11 · Score: 0

>> How short-sighted of you. Is everyone that doesn't agree with you a ass?

You're an ass because you state your opinion as fact. And you do it in a very rude way.

Oh dear... by Gantic · 2004-01-18 02:48 · Score: 0, Funny

The owner of that garbage has still yet to see what a vagina looks like.

Re:Oh dear... by djh101010 · 2004-01-18 02:51 · Score: 1

Well, the car certainly isn't gonna help him much in his quest to find out, I'm afraid.
Re:Oh dear... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:01 · Score: 0

That was teh Unit! LOL ^_^

KE KE!!1

Sad but True by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 02:48 · Score: 5, Funny

My favorite quote from the thread: "This guy has yet to see what a vagina looks like."

Re:Sad but True by jandrese · 2004-01-18 03:01 · Score: 5, Insightful

I don't know. Women like these creative types. They're far more interesting than the guys who just sit around Slashdot mocking the artist.

--

I read the internet for the articles.
Re:Sad but True by Macgruder · 2004-01-18 03:15 · Score: 5, Informative

True. This guy's wife, Colleen, is very attractive. And together, Shawn and Colleen Crosby are one of the best costuming duo's in SF/Fantasy fandom.

(oddness alert, the parent post quoted Larry Niven, who is also close friends to the Crosby's. Members of LASFS and all that. See earlier post of mine for details and links)

--
I'm not crazy,I'm actively irresponsible.
Re:Sad but True by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:39 · Score: 0

> My favorite quote from the thread: "This guy has
> yet to see what a vagina looks like."

FYI, few men do. The vagina is on the *inside* of a woman, and most men (studs especially) don't bother looking beyond the pussy lips.
Re:Sad but True by MicroBerto · 2004-01-18 05:09 · Score: 1

I don't know man. Last night, I met this absolutely gorgeous woman at the bar near campus, and we ended up talking about PROGRAMMING languages. I really don't wanna screw it up with this one.. this girl rocks!
But fact is that there ARE some girl that dig dorks... sometimes you just have to find them. Or, in this guy's case, when he has ac ar like that, they can come find HIM!

--
Berto
Re:Sad but True by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 07:58 · Score: 0

Well, never let the facts get in the way of a good stereotype.
Re:Sad but True by rueba · 2004-01-18 10:48 · Score: 1

"But fact is that there ARE some girl that dig dorks..."

True that...Good luck with the data.

Out of curiosity, what aspect of programming languages did you talk about? (I am just trying to picture it ... )

--
The only reason all cover-ups appear to fail is that you never hear about the ones that succeed.
Re:Sad but True by rueba · 2004-01-18 10:53 · Score: 1

Duh.. I meant good luck with the DATE.

I must be more of a geek than I thought.

--
The only reason all cover-ups appear to fail is that you never hear about the ones that succeed.
Re:Sad but True by slaida1 · 2004-01-18 21:41 · Score: 1

I dunno which is more sad, mocking artist's creation, mocking artist because of his work or mocking artist's female relatives and family members because of artist's work. Sad sad sad sadsdaddsfafyvtd
How the hell is his wife's appearances related to what he has done to his car? This is unbelievably stupid thread that reminds me of something that I don't want to: we have so mentally repulsive individuals among us that they must rely on modern communication technology to get heard. Slashdot has rating system but still I feel insulted having read something like these posts at 3+. Goatse was easy compared to this car-wife attraction comparison perversion.
Oh how I wish I had "kill post and its author" button here somewhere. Mafia got one thing right, family is sacred, insults against it are dealt appropriately.

--
Preserve old classics: copy your collection onto all hard drives.

Hey baby, wanna take ride in my X-wing? by Liquidrage · 2004-01-18 02:48 · Score: 5, Funny

He needs to slap a big Type-R sticker on it. Then it would really be a chick magnet.

Re:Hey baby, wanna take ride in my X-wing? by Flavius+Stilicho · 2004-01-18 03:02 · Score: 5, Funny

Images of the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons spring to mind.... "No! Girls may NOT ride in my X-Wing unless dressed as Princess Lea. Go away!"
Re:Hey baby, wanna take ride in my X-wing? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:28 · Score: 0

That's ironic because, as another poster has kindly pointed out, here is a picture of the guy's wife dressed as princess Leia.
Re:Hey baby, wanna take ride in my X-wing? by Christopher+Whitt · 2004-01-18 07:00 · Score: 2, Informative

Here you go. (yes the pic is his wife, from a post in another thread).

--
Mozilla
Re:Hey baby, wanna take ride in my X-wing? by Tumbleweed · 2004-01-18 07:56 · Score: 1

Don't forget the VTEC sticker!

Reminds Of The Pepsi Racer by ten000hzlegend · 2004-01-18 02:49 · Score: 3, Informative

I love the detail around the bonnet fringes especially to the bolts and "non-sheen" quality of the overall colour

This reminds me of the Pepsi Episode I racer debut around 5 years ago

http://www.sugarfreeracing.com/images/coke/52799 .2 .jpg

Obviously this is a fan mod to his very own car, kudos

Deeply Arrested Adolescence by Angry+Toad · 2004-01-18 02:50 · Score: 5, Insightful

I mean, just wow. I cannot imagine the headspace of someone who could drive around in that thing and not feel embarassed.

Re:Deeply Arrested Adolescence by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:52 · Score: 0

I bet you drive some SUV or something. You are the one who should be embarassed.
Re:Deeply Arrested Adolescence by Angry+Toad · 2004-01-18 06:30 · Score: 1

Actually now that I've gone and made an effort to RTFA I repent me a bit of my earlier harshness. Since the fellow is using this to help drum up business, then it is roughly the same thing as the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.

...and just for the record - nice red Civic Si 5-speed, actually, though I'd still rather ride around in an SUV than in the Star Wars Wienermobile.
Re:Deeply Arrested Adolescence by Reziac · 2004-01-18 07:03 · Score: 2, Insightful

Someone who has never lost that "childlike sense of wonder" at all the fun things there are to do in the world.

Just because you grow up doesn't mean you need to grow old!

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
Re:Deeply Arrested Adolescence by kelnos · 2004-01-18 09:35 · Score: 1

I'd still rather ride around in an SUV
*sigh*. 'nuff said.

--
Xfce: Lighter than some, heavier than others. Just right.
Re:Deeply Arrested Adolescence by TwistedGreen · 2004-01-19 00:48 · Score: 1

It's probably something like "fuck you, mundanes!"

Re:Uh, What ? LightsaVer? by in7ane · 2004-01-18 02:54 · Score: 2, Informative

True, true, even the original site is gone already courtesy of fark:

Whole server actually

Other links though (as mentioned there):

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=& amp;threadid=484634
http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink =794534
http://www.spyderchat.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=12 4115
http://www.cultofthejedi.com/funforum/showthread.p hp?t=271
http://www.honda-acura.net/forums/showthread.php?s =&threadid=119457
http://www.automotivetech.org/forum/showthread.php ?s=&threadid=39480
http://wraggy.com/barryboys/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/vie wtopic.php?t=2649
http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/thread.asp?threadid =292039

Homepage of the owner (including picture mirrors) by bazik · 2004-01-18 02:59 · Score: 2, Interesting

http://www.shawnandcolleen.com/

Looks like he'll have a huge bandwith bill...

--

--
One by one the penguins steal my sanity...

What a geek! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:00 · Score: 0

His license plate reads 'OBISHWN'.

I got 'MDICLRN' for my Star Wars car.

MIRROR - Images slashdotted already. by SiGiN · 2004-01-18 03:00 · Score: 5, Informative

Managed to save few images.. While can.
Mirror

--
Dephine URL

Re:MIRROR - Images slashdotted already. by paulcammish · 2004-01-18 03:48 · Score: 1

Managed to get a full mirror of all the images HERE Enjoy.
Re:MIRROR - Images slashdotted already. by jwilhelm · 2004-01-18 03:59 · Score: 4, Informative

Working Mirror.
Re:MIRROR - Images slashdotted already. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:20 · Score: 0

Anyone notice all the shit attached to the AIRBAG COVERS???

I suspect one may end up with a dent in one's face if they run into anything.

Even worse, imagine it breaking down in South Central? (You think geeks got abused in school...)

Can't Wait by dubbayu_d_40 · 2004-01-18 03:01 · Score: 0, Funny

Can't wait to see what he does to his car after he sees a vagina.

Re:Can't Wait by trveler · 2004-01-18 03:04 · Score: 1

Something out of a scene in Patch Adams, no doubt.

--
... is whot bwings os tugevza tsuzay.
Re:Can't Wait by The+Creator · 2004-01-18 04:01 · Score: 1

He will probably sell the thing to affoard more hookers.

--

FRA: STFU GTFO

Move along by holzp · 2004-01-18 03:04 · Score: 5, Funny

Ladies, move along, these are not the geeks you are looking for...

Re:Move along by _Sharp'r_ · 2004-01-18 04:14 · Score: 1

Why would ladies be looking for geeks?

I mean, maybe "Management, move along, these are not the geeks you are looking for..." would have been a little better...

Besides, Jeff Gordon already drove the star wars car, didn't he? Of course, his version doesn't look as cool, but it's a bit faster...

--
The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
Re:Move along by flatland_skier · 2004-01-18 04:30 · Score: 1

Best put down...ever!
Re:Move along by funklord9 · 2004-01-18 06:41 · Score: 1

I liked your joke better when it was a fark headline.

It's no M.F. by BaconLT · 2004-01-18 03:04 · Score: 5, Funny

Cool? Yes.

But, can it make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs?

--
Who mediates your information?

Re:It's no M.F. by Dr+Reducto · 2004-01-18 03:12 · Score: 0

Unfortunately, a parsec is a unit of distance, specifically the distance at which our sun would appear to be 1 arcsecond, which is approximately 3.3 lightyears.
Re:It's no M.F. by user32.ExitWindowsEx · 2004-01-18 03:18 · Score: 3, Informative

Well, the Falcon's more powerful hyperdrive allowed it to skirt much closer to the black holes and other gravitational anomalies on the Kessel Run, allowing the ship to make the same net trip in a much shorter distance.

--
"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb." -- Dark Helmet
Re:It's no M.F. by Lord+Bitman · 2004-01-18 03:30 · Score: 1

That's a bullshit explanation come up with years later and you know it.
SHUT UP.

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-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Re:It's no M.F. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:24 · Score: 0

Of course it is, but the quote is still valid. Besides, the quote may be valid. If you accept that you can't travel FTL (actual speed) but you can travel FTL (relative speed) then you can explain the quote. If the engines were able to warp space, travelling, say, 130 parsecs in only 12 parsecs would be a good indicator of relative speed; since you can't move faster than light, warping space so the distance is smaller is a good indicator of the power of your engines. If my engine can cut the distance from 130 parsecs to 50 parsecs and your engine can cut the distance from 130 parsecs to 12 parsecs then you are moving (relatively) much faster than me while your actual speed is the same (or perhaps even slower).
Re:It's no M.F. by LMCBoy · 2004-01-18 04:48 · Score: 4, Informative

a parsec is a unit of distance, specifically the distance at which our sun would appear to be 1 arcsecond

Uh, no. A parsec is the distance of a star at which its parallax angle (as seen from the Earth) is one arcsecond.

parallax arcsecond.

Glad I could help ;)

--
Liberal (adj.): Free from bigotry; open to progress; tolerant of others.
Re:It's no M.F. by geekoid · 2004-01-18 05:13 · Score: 1

still, it makes sense.
Personally, I just asummed the hyperdrive bent space, and the Falcon was better at it.

Of course, I was a freak 12 year old when the movie cameout. I suspect I was the first person ever to have someone try to beat up for being a 'star wars' nerd.

--
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Re:It's no M.F. by Lord+Bitman · 2004-01-18 05:32 · Score: 1

See, that explanation makes sense. It's not some entirely seperate unrelated plot element added as an explanation. I would accept that, but Canon has its own stupidness about black holes. Fucking Maw.

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-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Re:It's no M.F. by Lord+Bitman · 2004-01-18 05:36 · Score: 1

I did not in any way mean to imply that the person who said "Except that parsec is a measure of distance" wasnt a complete fucktard. I just dont like the stupid black hole thing. It changes the line. HS used "Parsec" to denote speed, not ajility. The explanation using black holes is stupid.

--
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Re:It's no M.F. by Hollins · 2004-01-18 06:05 · Score: 1

from Dictionary.com:

parsec: A unit of astronomical length based on the distance from Earth at which stellar parallax is one second of arc and equal to 3.258 light-years, 3.086 x 1013 kilometers, or 1.918 x 1013 miles.
Re:It's no M.F. by Keebler71 · 2004-01-18 06:41 · Score: 1

ahh...only on Slashdot will you see an argument like this... I love this place!

--
"It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance." - Thomas Sowell
Re:It's no M.F. by DynaSoar · 2004-01-18 13:31 · Score: 2, Interesting

LMCBoy (185365) sez: "Uh, no. A parsec is the distance of a star at which its parallax angle (as seen from the Earth) is one arcsecond."

Yes, yes, 3.26 light years. This "mistake" is a geeks' favorite. Unfortunately there's applicable science available to explain not only the "mistake", but the correctness of its presentation in the film.

NASA's advanced propulsion research has already started looking at trans-relativistic mechanisms for space travel (http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast02fe b98_1.htm.) One concept being explored is the stretching of space-like dimensions, so that a craft can traverse a space without violating light speed. A very early paper on the subject was written by Frank Tipler in 1974 in Phys Rev D. It was titled "Rotating Cylinders and Global Causality Violation". (Larry Niven wrote a story based on this, with the same name; it's in his collection "Convergent Series".) Here's a link to a message (someone else's) which quotes a personal reply from Tipler, giving the reference to this and other papers (http://keithlynch.net/cryonet/9/21.html).

If space dimensions can be compressed, then a vehicle can traverse that space as though it were a shorter distance. The efficacy of the engines (and if they're "bending" space, then "warp" is apropos) would then be considered in terms of how much shorter they could make a given distance become. Hence, the Millenium Falcon's warp engines could have been powerful enough to shrink the Kessel Run to less than 12 parsecs, when it is "normally" much farther. Here's a Wikipedia entry that provides another explanation (http://www.4reference.net/encyclopedias/wikipedia /Hyperspace.html).

The evidence from the movie that this was in fact the nature of the M.F.'s engines? When they went to warp speed, the stars' images got stretched out into lines, as though the space in front of them was stretching. Had they accelerated to a significant fraction of light speed, the images of the stars from all around them, front and back, would have been compressed into a halo of stars with blue shift towards the center and red shift at the outside. Here's a site that shows better than I can tell (http://www.fourmilab.ch/cship/cship.html).

Other evidence that they did not approach lightspeed is the fact that they "disappeared" into warped/hyper-space in a finite time. Had they accelerated to c, it would have appeared to take forever from the viewpoint of an outside observer.

Feel free to disagree. After all, this is at the nexus of science, pre-science and science fiction. But I think I can support my assertions at least as well as those who simply appeal to standard relativistic physics. And, after all, I am a scientist. I consider it part of the job to come up with answers that are so good that, right or not, they might as well be.

Maybe I ought to just send this to George Lucas so he can work it into one of the last 4 episodes and get you guys off his back.

--
"I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
Re:It's no M.F. by LMCBoy · 2004-01-18 14:36 · Score: 1

Dude, you replied to the wrong message. I was responding to someone who claimed that a parsec was the distance at which the Sun subtends an angle of 1 arcsec. My post had nothing (directly) to do with the whole "Kessel Run" thing; I was correcting someone who was totally wrong about the real definition of parsec.

So, like, chill.

--
Liberal (adj.): Free from bigotry; open to progress; tolerant of others.
Re:It's no M.F. by JudgeFurious · 2004-01-18 17:17 · Score: 1

I always thought I was the first person ever to have someone try to beat them up because I was a Star Wars nerd. I was in sixth grade or so and I think in a matter of months my entire wardrobe became Star Wars t-shirts. One day I ended up getting some crap over it on the bus home and the self appointed "crap-giver" decided to get off at my bus stop to administer the butt kicking.

Before the bus stopped I clocked him with my Trombone case. There were positives to being in band after all. I got in a shit storm of trouble over it (knocked him out cold) but it was worth it. As a Star Wars nerd in Jr. High that was I think, my finest hour.

I wore my Star Wars shirts unmolested from that day forward.

--
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Re:It's no M.F. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 20:15 · Score: 0

Which is correct and exactly equivalent to what the parent post claimed...assuming of course that "stellar" parallax refers to the fact that the angle is measured based on the Earth's orbit (more specifically, the radius of that orbit).
Re:It's no M.F. by dave420 · 2004-01-19 00:35 · Score: 1

not as bullshit as, say... YOUR MOTHER
Re:It's no M.F. by cthulhubob · 2004-01-20 02:54 · Score: 1

I always wondered: what the hell does that mean? Isn't a parsec a measure of distance, not time?

--

In post-9/11 America, the CIA interrogates YOU!

Not surprisingly, there are more: by cblguy · 2004-01-18 03:06 · Score: 4, Funny

Check out Road Squadron (check out the Vehicles).

Umm, yeah. ;)

I recall seeing a landspeeder on Ebay once... And a Moose once bit my sister...

Re:Not surprisingly, there are more: by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 07:13 · Score: 0

They can have nasty bites, those moose
Re:Not surprisingly, there are more: by metroid+composite · 2004-01-18 13:09 · Score: 1

Nifty. While lacking in the number of details like R2D2 and laser cannons, the workload would be small enough that I might actually try this.
...Of course, being a grad student with no car could prove to be a setback.

A word from Yoda by AtariAmarok · 2004-01-18 03:07 · Score: 3, Funny

Babe magnet, NOT this car is!

--
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.

Car mods nothing new by Felinoid · 2004-01-18 03:07 · Score: 3, Insightful

However I've not seen anything quite this detailed. It is easier to modify a computer case than it is to mod a car.
The car has to remain road worthy and you can't violate any local laws in your design. Some places will issue a fix it ticket for extra lights on your car.
(Get a light kit at your local auto shop)

The only illegal case mod I can think of is stuffing explosives in the computer and that only becouse having the explosives to start with is probably a violation of some laws. Well that and it's really stupid.

Most of the body mods I've heard of are for the old VW Bugs. Two populare ones my mom was intrested in was the key in the back that made the bug look like a big wind up toy and one that is a replica body of a much more expensive car.
(Why fork over for a gas hog when you can look the part and still have decent fule consumption?)

Most mods have to do with loud stereos.
But I have sensitive ears and I'd much rather remove the speakers from the car entirely and use the space for computers.

People will mod everything. Computer, Car, Home, Self. Yeah... I understand quite a few plastic surgens aren't to happy with the more exotic alterations.
I draw the line at my body.
Thow I'm not exactly creative the mods I want usually involve installing Linux. Install computers on board the car and run Linux (Mobile computing) install computers in the house to run the house. My computer IS my TV so no more "install computer in TV" gigs but that one ended long before I got intrested in Linux. Back then I just wanted to install computers in everything.

Except my body...
No install Linux in me body thanks.

--
I don't actually exist.

Re:Car mods nothing new by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:30 · Score: 0

I was thinking about mods too, and squirrels are great at climbing trees.

Squirrels run across my backyard all the time, but yesterday on my way to soccer practice I saw such a funny billboard.

Billboards can be so ugly so I hope they only stay around the freeways, however they can put aluminum siding anywhere becuase I love aluminum siding.

Except my body...
No aluminum siding in my body thanks.
Re:Car mods nothing new by AeroIllini · 2004-01-18 06:55 · Score: 1

Modding the self is nothing new, either. People have been getting plastic surgery for years.

However, sometimes they may be more in need of a psychotherapist than a surgeon... Dr. Rosen of the Dartmouth Medical center would be more than happy to literally give you wings.

--
For security, the MD5 hash of this message and sig is 09f911029d74e35bd84156c5635688c0.
Re:Car mods nothing new by Reziac · 2004-01-18 07:28 · Score: 1

Shawn says he's had cops pull up beside him, eye the car's "guns" for a while, then give him a thumbs-up and drive off. So I guess he's got the Official CHP Stamp of Approval. :)

I've seen some of those weird VW mods. Used to be fairly common to put a VW body on backwards (which apparently is legal so long as you don't swap the front and rear lights as required by your locale), but the strangest I've seen had the bug's body mounted upsidedown!! can't recall offhand if it had an extra set of wheels "overhead" or not.

There was a Batmobile in Bozeman, Montana back in the late 1970s. Black two-seater convertible done up with the double windshield and various other appropriate trimmings. Looked pretty cool.

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?

Re:lightsaver? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:08 · Score: 1, Funny

Otherwise known as a switch. Proven to prolong the life of any light.

old news... but here's a mirror to the images.... by silicon1 · 2004-01-18 03:14 · Score: 2, Informative

http://silicon.wack.us/sdmirror/starwarscar/

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Natural-Selection Be

ALL images saved. by SiGiN · 2004-01-18 03:14 · Score: 0, Offtopic

subj

--
Dephine URL

Re: not a mirror by VJTod · 2004-01-18 03:16 · Score: 1

Mirrors don't count unless the pictures are hosted on different sites.

This is just a list of sites where he's been listed.

What do you say to the cop? by NoNsense · 2004-01-18 03:16 · Score: 0

Obviously, he wouldn't be pulled over for speeding... but what if a blaster went off?

No, seriously, how would you insure the thing? Can you imagine an adjuster asking which parts (if any) are stock?

How could you say anything to a cop? Guess he wouldnt have to ask you if you were on drugs.

--
So there.

Top 10 Star Wars Car Names by AtariAmarok · 2004-01-18 03:19 · Score: 5, Funny

10. Millenium Ford Falcon
9. Chewberetta
8. Car Car Binks
7. Chrysler Coruscant
6. An SUV called the "Natalie Sportman"
5. Tucker Photon Torpedo (oops, forgot, this is not Star Trek. Sorry)
4. Obi-Wan Cherokee
3. Darth Dodge Maulrauder
2. Tattoiyota
1. Cadillac EwoQ

--
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.

Re:Top 10 Star Wars Car Names by V.+Mole · 2004-01-18 06:46 · Score: 1

10. Millenium Ford Falcon
A friend in high school had a mid-60s Falcon. We called it the "Minimum Falcon".
PS Nice Mike Oldfield quote...
Re:Top 10 Star Wars Car Names by Ironica · 2004-01-18 07:11 · Score: 1

My ex's 1972 Porche 914 got named the Quantum Duck because of a bad muffler that made it sound like lots and lots of quacking....

--
Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?

Umm..... (Geek alert) by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:20 · Score: 0

I don't remember the A-wing having a droid in it...

*pulls out star wars art book*

Yep, the image doesn't show a droid. And here's a passage in description of the A-wing:

"The small, wedge-shaped ship continues to be the Alliance's main interceptor fighter. It is an exceptionally difficult ship to fly because it is constantly pushing the limits of performance. The A-wing is constantly subjected to incredible stresses, and its engines, hull, and weapons systems require constant maintenance. Since it is only 9.6 meters long, each ship component is wedged into the cramped hull, and even the lightest hit can cause critical system failrues. The pilot is almost totally exposed to enemy fire"

Yeah, there's definitely no room for a droid in one of these. Looks to ME like these guys didn't do their research! Shame!

There is another... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:22 · Score: 0

(Insert obligatory "The force is weak with that server" slashdotting joke here)

There was a guy "back in the day" (That's somewhere between Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back for you young'uns) who turned his Pinto or something like that into Luke's land speeder, so this guy here is not the first. (Again, insert obligatory "No, there is another" joke here.)

There was another land speeder made later (This one made out of another POS, this time an Escort) that was even sold on eBay.

Get these three guys together and you got yourself a promising Friday night of Dungeons and Dragons! (Insert "kettle, you are black" joke here)

Anonymous Joe

In a few years.. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:23 · Score: 0

..we'll see Oliphant Monster Trucks with stickers like "The only black man in LotR is my co-pilot".

I know the owner of this car by dspisak · 2004-01-18 03:25 · Score: 5, Informative

Shawn is a pretty cool guy, very creative and artistic.

Contrary to commonly held views the guy has a lovely wife. I just love how people go straight for the typical stereotypes.

Anyways, I'm about to do something against the better part of my judgement and post a link to my photo gallery where I have just a few photos of his Star Wars H-Wing car:

http://www.nonmundane.org/gallery/Bizzare/R2day
http://www.nonmundane.org/gallery/Bizzare/R2light n ight
http://www.nonmundane.org/gallery/Bizzare/So lCockp it
http://www.nonmundane.org/gallery/Bizzare/SolC ockp it2
http://www.nonmundane.org/gallery/Bizzare/Sol GunLa test

If I remember correctly it is either going to show up in FHM or Wired magazine among other places.

And guys, please try to not kill my server if you can handle it. I only do this as it seems like most the mirrors or image hosts are hosed right now and I think people should at least have some idea of what the car looks like.

Re:I know the owner of this car by Reziac · 2004-01-18 07:21 · Score: 1

Didn't Shawn's car get featured by some car-related print rag already? -- This isn't the first time it's caused an online ruckus, tho the previous time wasn't nearly so loud!

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
Re:I know the owner of this car by VivianC · 2004-01-18 08:56 · Score: 1

I was amazed by numbers 6, 7, and 8. I saw an African-American walking once in my neighborhood, but the cops got him before I could grab my camera.

--
Viv

Gmail invites for ip
Re:I know the owner of this car by dspisak · 2004-01-18 11:21 · Score: 1

The backstory behind those photos is that the guy worked for a local car dealership and had a box of checks for the dealership due for the bank in the bed of his truck which fell out the back and spread thousands of checks all over the street. The poor guy was picking up checks all night I imagine.
Re:I know the owner of this car by VivianC · 2004-01-18 15:39 · Score: 1

Wow! Bummer. I wondered if it had something to do with all the paper. I thought he might be one of those guys who puts ads on cars.

I also flipped through the other galleries. A few hotties in there. Where are you selling the pictures from after the bar?? ;)

--
Viv

Gmail invites for ip
Re:I know the owner of this car by dspisak · 2004-01-18 16:29 · Score: 1

Selling pictures? I don't sell any of my photos. However for that matter I don't mind if people copy them or use them for their desktops. My photos are free for anyone who is of the mind to like what I have done.

Basically taking photos is one of my hobbies, I consider myself an amatuer still. I'm working to take better photos.

I might at one point start making some money off the hobby but I think that day is still a year or two off perhaps.

Star wars art book? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:27 · Score: 0

"*pulls out star wars art book*"

Do you keep that in the drawer where most guys would instead keep their condoms?

Idea by danidude · 2004-01-18 03:27 · Score: 0, Redundant

Does this comes with Natalie Portman included? If it comes, industrial production will be a huge hit!

--
- no sig.

Since You Asked... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:29 · Score: 0

You think you're a Star Wars fan because you own a lightsaber?

No. I think I'm a Star Wars fan because I enjoyed the movies. I think you're an idiot for owning a lightsaber.

My two cents.

Too far by t_allardyce · 2004-01-18 03:32 · Score: 1

I would call myself a standard geek (only had one geek failure on the latest /. poll) but even i think this is too nerdy. I wouldn't even stand near it!

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This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.

Any piccies remaining ? Re:Sounds familiar by compactable · 2004-01-18 03:33 · Score: 1

Ebay autions no longer has the pictures of this fantastic conversion. Anyone keep a few about? It really was a fantastic conversion ...

Re:Any piccies remaining ? Re:Sounds familiar by SenatorTreason · 2004-01-18 04:16 · Score: 2, Informative

Here's the only one I could find. Not much detail, but you get the idea.

Re:lightsaver? by jackb_guppy · 2004-01-18 03:35 · Score: 1

Sugarless LifeSaver?

OT, But Not Flamebait... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:37 · Score: 0, Insightful

I know mods will immediately check this as flamebait; but in the meantime, seriously, I'm curious: Why do Slashdot readers decry the wasteful consumerism of buying diamond engagement rings, yet spending a few hundred dollars on a model lightsaber is considered a badge of honor? The ring makes your fiance happy, and serves the practical purpose of symbolizing your committment (to all, including would-be suitors), whereas the lightsaber serves only one (selfish) purpose: making you happy. Anyone care to help me understand the /. thinking, here?

Much faster mirror. by SiGiN · 2004-01-18 03:38 · Score: 2, Informative

Sorry guys and gals.. I screwed up. Here is faster mirror: Forum.XChat.Ru

--
Dephine URL

Do the lasers work? by pherris · 2004-01-18 03:38 · Score: 3, Funny

You could replace them with modded M16A2s (or whatever the kids are using today - I guess I'm dating myself) with tracers on a belt feed. Although I wouldn't be visiting any airports or US Govt installations with them anytime soon. Modded or not some dim witted LOE will probably impound it and give the owner a complete BCS. Guns mount on cars is a cop magnet (better than Dunkin' Donuts).

Oh crap, I can hear the TSA changing my rating to "yellow" as I speak for this joke ...

--
"And a voice was screaming: 'Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?'" - HST

Re:Do the lasers work? by bryanp · 2004-01-18 08:49 · Score: 1

Guns mount on cars is a cop magnet (better than Dunkin' Donuts).

I love it. It goes with a running joke I've got with a fellow Southerner (ayup, down here below that there Manson-Nixon line ...) We talked about the fun of mounting machine guns on a truck. "Hey Clem, why's yer step bars got box magazines?" "Heh. Watch this."

Oh crap, I can hear the TSA changing my rating to "yellow" as I speak for this joke ...

I thought that was automatic for all /. posters?

--
"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper
Re:Do the lasers work? by wattersa · 2004-01-18 09:17 · Score: 1

Why use M16's when you can mount .50's on your truck? Warning, might not be legal in all states!

an explosive case by Rhinobird · 2004-01-18 03:41 · Score: 1

That sounds really cool. when the RIAA knocks down your door and takes your computer; they put in the wrong password and BAM! you explosivly destroy your HD and all evidence.

--
If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:41 · Score: 0

A boat with a photo of a suicide bomber floating in a pool of "blood" - how the hell is that anti-semitic?

A Palestinian suicide bomber who killed Israelis labeled Snow White and featured with a smiling photo on a sailboat, floating in what is presumably supposed to be Zionist blood.

Yeah! How the hell is that anti-semitic?

Here's his work in progress page ... by The+AtomicPunk · 2004-01-18 03:44 · Score: 1

Quick, slashdot it!

http://www.boston-baden.com/hazel/Pix/2001/pix06 78 .htm

Mirror of the images... by paulcammish · 2004-01-18 03:45 · Score: 1

...is HERE

Enjoy!

Better mirror... for now by GI+Jones · 2004-01-18 03:46 · Score: 1

http://forum.xchat.ru/Slashdot/

--
"Perhaps most amazingly, votaries of 'diversity' insist on absolute conformity." -- Tony Snow

It's getting slow - A Mirror by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:46 · Score: 0

http://www.goof.com/swcar/

Posted anon so you peeps can't complain I'm a karma whore.

page with more photos by zojas · 2004-01-18 03:47 · Score: 1

his actual page

So i guess... by MarkVVV · 2004-01-18 03:47 · Score: 1

...the "Star Wars Kid" got his CV already. Oh, my karma...

How to... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:47 · Score: 0

... hopelessly f*ck up a perfectly good car for no apparent reason whatsoever.

I mean, c'mon. I'm about as geek as the next guy, but this is ridiculous. Who in its right mind would want to be seen driving around in this?

Next time someone feels like butchering up a car, please give it to me instead. Thanks!

White Supremicist symbol by SnappingTurtle · 2004-01-18 03:48 · Score: 2, Funny

OK, so those in the know will recognize a Star Wars symbol, but to the rest of the world I suspect the white, black, and red symbol looks like some kind of White Supremicist sign. I wonder if this guy gets a lot of dirty looks and thinks they're just from Star Trek fans.

--
I've found that my posts don't format quite right w/o a sig.

Re:White Supremicist symbol by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:08 · Score: 1, Insightful

I strongly suspect that anyone suspicious of the symbol's significance will be reassured by the proximity of a large fabricated R2D2.

This goes a long way to making it less threatening.
Re:White Supremicist symbol by SnappingTurtle · 2004-01-18 04:12 · Score: 1

Hmm, good point. Hadn't thoughta that. Still, believe it or not, a huge percentage of the American population have no idea who R2D2 is.

--
I've found that my posts don't format quite right w/o a sig.
Re:White Supremicist symbol by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 06:24 · Score: 1, Funny

>> Still, believe it or not, a huge percentage of the American population have no idea who R2D2 is.

You're right about that! Not too long ago, R2 came into the restaurant where I work (in Pasadena, so it's not exactly cut off from pop culture).

R2 was really upset that no one recognized him, or wanted an autograph. Even his waitress didn't recognize him (I had to tell her who he was). R2 bleeped like a sailor! My manager had to calm him down with some free crankcase oil, but I still don't think he'll come back.
Re:White Supremicist symbol by blincoln · 2004-01-18 07:01 · Score: 1

Are you thinking that someone will mistake it for a Nazi symbol just based on the colours, or did a white supremacist group actually use one that has a similar shape?

--
"...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
Re:White Supremicist symbol by SnappingTurtle · 2004-01-18 14:10 · Score: 1

Something about the general look of symbol on the car reminded me of white supremecist symbols. A little Googling shows some similar designs. The red background, white circle, and black internal figure are very similar to me.
I gues I'd better state for the record right now that no way, now how am I suggesting that the artist actually holds any such nasty views. It's just that I'm a marketer, and my career teaches me to look out for such similarites, intended or not. I do think some people inthe general public might make the incorrect and unfortunate connection.

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I've found that my posts don't format quite right w/o a sig.

Wow. by SGrunt · 2004-01-18 03:48 · Score: 1

Now THAT's dedication... I bet that if he was given enough time he'd set up those laser cannons to actually work and vaporize any helpless traffic jams that got in his way in the morning..

Re:Wow. by Baron_Yam · 2004-01-18 04:51 · Score: 1

I'd be tempted to replace the innards of those cannons with some flare launchers and load the suckers up with nautical distress flares... of course, that would be very illegal. Fun, though.

Dont you people have anything better to do? by Carpal+Tunnel · 2004-01-18 03:50 · Score: 5, Insightful

I must say, i am surprised by the amount of bashing going on about this. Some is to be expected, but this is absurd. Yes, the guy has an obsession with star wars, and honestly i could not handle being seen driving around in that thing, but why is this any worse than people spending tons of time modding their case? Or spending oodles of time creating a linux drink mixer, or modding their x-box? These are all hobbies that people enjoy doing and at the very least they should respected for the remarkable piece of artwork they have created and the skill that it required. How much creativity do you guys exhibit on a regular basis anyway? Probably not as much as these people. This kind of stuff is what stimulates the mind to create the amazing technological advances we wouldnt be able to live without as geeks.
Oh yes, the site is down but from what i hear his wife isnt half bad looking. I personaly know quite a few damn good looking geek chicks. So maybe you guys are looking in the wrong places.

Re:Dont you people have anything better to do? by Robotech_Master · 2004-01-18 05:01 · Score: 1

I suspect that most of the bashing comes from people who want to hide their desperate "I wish I had that" envy...so they bash instead.

As for me...damn, I wish I had that. :)

--
Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
Re:Dont you people have anything better to do? by CavemanKiwi · 2004-01-18 05:14 · Score: 1

As for me...damn, I wish I had that. :) Is that the wife or the car :P
Re:Dont you people have anything better to do? by mattgreen · 2004-01-18 06:03 · Score: 1

Usually the insults that people hurl at others apply more to the person dishing them out than the target. Amazing that people cannot simply let others enjoy what they are doing. Even geeks will happily tear each other apart over the Internet. It is sad that mutual respect is the exception, rather than the norm. This is especially apparent at discussion boards.
Re:Dont you people have anything better to do? by Dogtanian · 2004-01-18 06:36 · Score: 1

Or spending oodles of time creating a linux drink mixer

Well, I heard Linus sometimes mixes holy penguin pee with his whisky... does that count?

--
"Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
Re:Dont you people have anything better to do? by Reziac · 2004-01-18 06:55 · Score: 1

Yeah, there are always people who can't accept that there are *hobbies* in the world... and people who actually go out and DO different things!

I know Shawn, and he's not obsessive about Star Wars (tho he's a big fan), but more about creativity as a way of life. He's a toy creator by profession and former employment. He's a meticulous craftsman, and is one of those rare people who can become *good* at anything he sets his hand to. Among other things, he helps run a really wonderful comedy troupe (speaking of which, they recorded their own Star Wars parody, done as old time radio).

A very minor mod that nonetheless makes me laugh every time I see it: Shawn also has a red mini-pickup. On the tailgate, it no longer says "Toyota". It says "Tonka". :)

BTW, Shawn and Colleen (likewise a seriously nifty person) are BOTH very good looking, and a rare pleasure to watch on the dance floor.

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
Re:Dont you people have anything better to do? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-19 02:11 · Score: 0

What I've found is the people that like to bash other people are usually the same ones that think their time is better spent watching survivor on TV.

what about the shade? by billimad · 2004-01-18 03:53 · Score: 2, Funny

heh, looks a little on the dark side for my tastes.

Slashdotted by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:54 · Score: 0

Who needs haxx, just use slashdot to crash your favorite site... :P

Don't cover the airbag! Safety first. by twitter · 2004-01-18 03:56 · Score: 4, Informative

I recomend nothing at all on the stearing wheel airbag. Anyone who's seen the films of airbag tests gone wrong knows that airbags are ticky and mods must be tested.

If you must, use something light. Paper decals secured with water based glue might not hurt you, but even then you are pushing your luck. Solvent based glue or paint is almost certian to screw up airbag deployment and heavy objects will be embeded in your face.

Yeah, yeah, I sound like a ninny. Old cars did not have aribags at all. They used to kill and injure people more often too. What's that one piece of the mod worth to you? I'd feel really stupid if I or one of my friends was ever hurt more than they had to be in an accident just for looks and fantasy.

As for the rest of it, it's wonderful. All I can ask more of it is that it's all secure and won't fall off in front of someone who will then freak out and kill someone.

That said, I drive a 1970 VW camper van. No airbags, manual stearing, no power assisted breaks, and me six inches behind the front bumper. You can hear large bugs impact on the front pannel. It scares the hell out of me and I'm very careful with it. I'm not, however, going to defeat any of it's safety systems, like seat belts, and I've put in later manufactured seats with head rests. One day, people with think cars without navicomps are downright reckless. I'll feel much safer as they will not be able to pull out in front of me anymore.

--

Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:56 · Score: 0

A Palestinian suicide bomber who killed Israelis labeled Snow White and featured with a smiling photo on a sailboat, floating in what is presumably supposed to be Zionist blood.

Where did the Snow White come from?

I can only see it as the coffin of a suicide bomber in a pool of blood symbolizing the death and insanity of the whole conflict.

The Israeli ambassador decided that his interpretation is the right and only one and took action that's most unbecoming of his post.

Princess Bride by Rura+Penthe · 2004-01-18 03:56 · Score: 4, Funny

You keep using that word "cool". I do not think it means what you think it means.

Apologies to Rob Reiner for the paraphrasing.

Re:Princess Bride by CySurflex · 2004-01-18 05:48 · Score: 1

You keep using that word "cool". I do not think it means what you think it means.
Apologies to Rob Reiner for the paraphrasing.
You should actually appologize to William Goldman, he wrote the screenplay.
Re:Princess Bride by Ironica · 2004-01-18 07:15 · Score: 1

You should actually appologize to William Goldman, he wrote the screenplay.

And the book...

--
Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?

Mirror by jwilhelm · 2004-01-18 03:57 · Score: 1

The detail put into that car is amazing -- for those that cannot get the images to load, here is a mirror.

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 03:59 · Score: 0

How the hell is that anti-semitic?

Uh... the artist is an Israeli citizen and a jew. He can hardly be an anti-semite.

Yet another MIRROR by jazzbotley · 2004-01-18 04:01 · Score: 5, Informative

Slashdot this, he says:

http://cs.baylor.edu/~wilsonj/xwing.html

Famous last words ...

Links that Work by redune45 · 2004-01-18 04:12 · Score: 2, Interesting

Found this page, full of more star wars car mods - Including the one this article was originally posted on
http://www.roadsquadron.com/cars.html

Also try this forum http://wraggy.com/barryboys/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/vie wtopic.php?t=2649 The pictures on it actually work too.

--
redune.com: The World 3.2 Megapixels at a time

Looks more like an X-Wing to me ... by BillsPetMonkey · 2004-01-18 04:13 · Score: 2, Funny

A very small red X-wing. In a box. I see lots of these on the Internet though - they are very popular on overstreched websites.

--
"It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax

Mirror -- Kinda by beaverbrother · 2004-01-18 04:13 · Score: 1

Since All of the mirrors seem to be down, and a quick google search doesnt find anymore, it seems that the only place to catch a peak of this beast is a small picture here: boingboing.net

A women, katie horn did the same thing.

Re:lightsaver? by starcraftsicko · 2004-01-18 04:14 · Score: 1

Oh! So that's what those are for! I bet using one of those would lower my electric bill too?!

Yeah, this is cool... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:17 · Score: 0

Really cool if you don't mind never, ever, ever having a date in your life.

Airport Security by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:21 · Score: 0

I'd love to see the look on security's faces if he ever tries to pick up someone at the airport in that thing.

85 MPH by Harbinjer · 2004-01-18 04:23 · Score: 2, Interesting

That's the speed that you could definitely feel the lift on my old Mercury Grand Marquis('82 I think). The car was really heavy, but it started to feel much lighter and bounced around more at that speed.
I think the oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme took about 95 before you could definitely feel it.

Now that doesn't mean you need a spoiler, and one might not help much at that speed, but I'm saying you could tell the car was developing some lift.

Re:85 MPH by Trigun · 2004-01-18 04:38 · Score: 1

I'd attribute that to bad shocks as a primary cause, And I would like to congragulate you on being brave enough to take an 82 Mercury that fast without having to drive it off a cliff.
Re:85 MPH by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:26 · Score: 2, Funny

punch hald a dozen holes in the trunk lid of a cutlass; break the latch and fasten it with bungee cords: instant speed sensitive spoiler. the faster you go, the higher the trunk lid raises, == speed sensitive spoiler.

Experimentally proven. The Lombard, IL police probably still wont bother attemtping to stop brown rustbucket cutlass supremes in their area.
Re:85 MPH by paganizer · 2004-01-18 06:29 · Score: 1

I started noticing what felt like buffeting on the rear end of my 70 'cuda around 110.
I was considering adding some canards(?) once upon a time, to help in high speed turns.

--
Why, yes, I AM a Pagan Libertarian.
Re:85 MPH by cbiltcliffe · 2004-01-18 08:30 · Score: 1

I think the oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme took about 95 before you could definitely feel it.

That's wierd. I have a 1984 Pontiac Grand Prix, which is essentially the same as a Cutlass Supreme, and I could get over 100 and it still felt rock solid. Although the GP does have flared (bulging?) rear fenders, which I suppose could have accounted for it.
I drove a 1969 Pontiac Firebird for a while, that I hit 125 with on the freeway (still climbing, but it started to get a little insane) and it still felt glued to the road, too. It was one of those cases where some dumbass in a piece of crap Honda thinks he can take you because his car says VVTi on the side. My theory is, if you've got a real engine in the first place, you don't need the VVTi. :)

--
"City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
Re:85 MPH by operagost · 2004-01-18 08:53 · Score: 1

I had my 1976 Ford LTD up to 85 on the NJ Turnpike. Damn cops were still passing me.
1976 was one of the worst years for cars in America, too. Thanks to antipollution regs being put in place before the technology was ready, my 351 cu inch (5.7L) V8 only made 152 HP. For reference, the 2.3L Quad 4 in my current Buick Skylark makes 150.

--

Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
Re:85 MPH by XO · 2004-01-18 09:40 · Score: 1

You've got a Skylark with a Q4????? where do you live? Are you willing to part with it?????

--
"Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
Re:85 MPH by Tassach · 2004-01-18 16:19 · Score: 1

My first car was a '75 Pontiac LeMans GT w/ a 400 4-bbl. Ran like shit until my buddy helped me rip off all the pollution control crap... IIRC the owner's manual rated the engine around 200HP. Stripping the PC crap really made a huge difference -- I estimated that it went up to 300HP with no other changes.

--
Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
Re:85 MPH by operagost · 2004-01-21 15:41 · Score: 1

I'd love to get rid of it. It keeps "eating" ignition coils every 6-12 months. It's been good for over a year now, but the engine light comes on every day. I've replaced both (dual) coils twice, the core, and the oxygen sensor. 1995 happens to be the year when they implemented the new engine control interface, and you can't do the old terminal shorting on the diag connector just to count the engine light flashes. I'm sure if I could find out what code it's pulling up, it would be cheaper than letting some hoodlum lie to me about what needs fixing again.
I doubt you want it now! Fortunately, they're probably not as uncommon as you think. The quad 4 was the base engine for 1994-1995. I'm wishing it had the less exciting but more reliable 3.1 V6 now.

--

Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
Re:85 MPH by XO · 2004-01-22 05:58 · Score: 1

what do you mean more reliable? lol. my two quad 4's died around 200,000miles.. and both of those were due to mechanical failures of other important components (like oil pumps)

uh... quad was base for 94-95? i thought the quad's end of life was 92.

--
"Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/

Here's a picture of the car by desideria · 2004-01-18 04:23 · Score: 1

Since it's no longer available on the site ...
http://www.boston-baden.com/hazel/Pix/p.cgi?2001+0 992-1+hwing01.jpg
http://craphound.com/images/hwingcivic.jpg

Delorean! by Harbinjer · 2004-01-18 04:27 · Score: 3, Funny

Use a Delorean!

Then it will be a time machine too!

The Land Speeder was much better by Control-Z · 2004-01-18 04:29 · Score: 1

A few years back somebody had completely re-bodied a car to look like a Star Wars Land speeder, and it was for sale on Ebay for like $15,000. This is the best pic I could find:

http://www.enorgis.com/Images/tn_starwarscar.jpg

I remember from the other pictures it was kinda crappy up close but I suppose the Star Wars prop was too.

Re:The Land Speeder was much better by Reziac · 2004-01-18 06:36 · Score: 1

Yeah, the original prop looked like it had run around for years in just its underw^H^H^H^H primer. Pretty scruffy, made that way deliberately -- the idea was that unlike Star Trek, where they roll up the streets at night, people actually LIVE in the Star Wars universe, so stuff gets beat up and worn out, and sometimes the owner can't afford to replace it.

BTW Shawn's car (the one we're driving today) is modded on the inside too, as far as could be done given what has to stay functional in a legal vehicle.

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?

NERD ALERT! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:39 · Score: 0

See subject.

Re:Don't cover the airbag! Safety first. by RustyTaco · 2004-01-18 04:40 · Score: 1

Uh, he disabled the airbags, and is even planing on replacing the pasanger side airbag with a MicroITX system with touchscreeen, or something like that.

- RustyTaco

You insensitive clod... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:43 · Score: 0

Sighting: X-Wing... no wait, Civic Del Sol (56k don't bother)

I have a 56k!!!!!!

Re:As with Taco's lightsaver/saber typo... by NDPTAL85 · 2004-01-18 04:50 · Score: 0, Troll

An autistic person would not be able to run his own business and maintain communication with his clients you douchebag.

--
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.

Another picture of the H-Wing by prismbreak · 2004-01-18 04:51 · Score: 2, Interesting

Another Picture

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 04:53 · Score: 0

As opposed to all the gay homophobes? Yeah, you never see those.

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by sjwt · 2004-01-18 04:59 · Score: 1

you ahve the right to hate your self and your race/culture..

--
You have 5 Moderator Points!
Which Helpless Linux zealot/MS basher do you want to mod down today?

Well, I'm not that impressed. by YllabianBitPipe · 2004-01-18 05:04 · Score: 2, Insightful

Maybe I'm just jaded, but I thought he was actually changing the paneling of the car. It's basically the same car body with a bunch of star wars esque stuff stuck on it. Plus, the side panels are still white. I can't think of any star wars ship that was white with a dar red hood, can you? I think he could (and should) go a lot further with this and actually create new panels for the car at an autobody shop. Because, if I saw this thing drive by, I certainly wouldn't think "Star Wars" I'd just think "strange."

Strange by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:06 · Score: 1, Funny

I thought guys expended money, time, and energy on cars in order to help them get laid.

Walter Mitty maybe? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:08 · Score: 1, Insightful

If anyone has ever read the Walter MItty story, I think that just about sums up the answer to the WHY comments in this whole thread.

At one time or another we all go there (It's part of our Geekiness).

We have all probably thought about doing this kind of thing. But, this guy had the *courage* to do it.

I think the comment, "this guy has probably never seen what a vagina looks like", says a lot more about the Geek Status of the poster than the creative drive behind the car mod. Guys aren't geeks to get chicks. There Geeks because they think different and aren't afraid to let the world know it. In fact, the UBERGEEK has mastered the balance (and trust me on this one) knows the whole chick anatomy.

Terminology by SCHecklerX · 2004-01-18 05:10 · Score: 1

Actually a "spoiler" is not what you are thinking of. A spoiler exists to "mix-up" the airflow ... spoiling it... hence the name 'spoiler' What this achieves is a turbulent flow which reduces separation off the back of the car, which in turn reduces drag. It's the same reason for dimples in golf balls, just done a little differently.

The wings for downforce on rice-mobiles, however, are ridiculous. An actual spoiler wouldn't hurt, but of course, those don't look fast.

A front spoiler simply keeps air from going under the car in order to reduce interference drag.

yeah . . . by Leroy_Brown242 · 2004-01-18 05:11 · Score: 2, Insightful

. . . it's not like he was going to get laid anyways.

My girlfriend loves me and all, but if I converted my car into a star wars vehical, I'd be single.

--
Pretty Pictures!

Re:yeah . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 07:02 · Score: 0

The guy's married. And I'd dump you for misspelling "vehicle".

R2D2 on the wrong ship by dark-br · 2004-01-18 05:15 · Score: 2, Interesting

Some of the comments on the forum suggests that it's modelled after a A-Wing

Though the color scheme and armament it lacks the two tails of the A-wing though, and A-wings don't use R-2 units.

Re:R2D2 on the wrong ship by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:17 · Score: 0

A-wings dont have headlights or 14 inch tires or rear deforsters...
Re:R2D2 on the wrong ship by devildog2033 · 2004-01-21 07:58 · Score: 1

For those of you who can't actuallly read this is not supposed to be an A-Wing, it's the designer's own creation, an H-Wing.

It never ceases to amaze me that some moron will talk smack about something he/she will NEVER have the talent to do, yet will still spell simple words like "defroster" wrong.

Stay here morons, you'd be eaten alive in some other unmoderated forum like:

http://www.gibe.com/forum

Re:As with Taco's lightsaver/saber typo... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:16 · Score: 0

I think it's pretty obvious that the 'autistic' comment was a bit of a jest towards the fact that the fellow is a major geek.

Your defense of him, though, is pretty fanatical...almost on par with a Mac-evangelist. Did it hit a little too close to home?

Since you too are a major geek I will cleverly nullify your 'douchebag' comments with your own kind's weapons...Lightningbolt! Lightningbolt! Sleep! Die!.

Re:Don't cover the airbag! Safety first. by geekoid · 2004-01-18 05:21 · Score: 1

Loves Star Wars so much, he gladly puts passangers at a greater risk of death.

now THATS dedication.

--
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect

As a racing engineer.... by DG · 2004-01-18 05:27 · Score: 5, Insightful

I am, in fact, a racing engineer. I make cars go fast for a living.

Let's break this out into two sections: spoilers, and wings.

A wing is supposed to be an active downforce device. The idea is to provide increased grip by providing a downward-facing aero lift (the wing, from an aircraft perspective, is upside-down)

99% of the wings fitted in the aftermarket are appearence items only (especially those ridiculous aluminum-siding extruded horrors) in that they provide zero downforce.

But a properly-engineered wing can provide lots of useable downforce at suprisingly low speeds - and for cars that rely on underbody aero (like LeMans LMP cars) the negative pressure area under the wing can interact with the underbody aero and make the underbody stuff work even better.

For production-based cars, most wings don't do much, if anything. The exception is when production parts must be homolgemated for use in competition, like with WRC cars and similar series.

Spoilers, on the other hand, have a different purpose. A car, seen in profile, makes a pretty good wing, and many body shapes produce signifigant vertical lift. The effects tend not be be noticable at lower speeds, but at speeds exceeding 70 MPH and higher, depending on the car, that lift can become signifigant.

A spoiler seeks to disrupt the airflow around the rear of the car, killing the lift provided by the body shape - exactly the same way a spoiler does on an aircraft wing (especially as fitted to many gliders and certain passenger aircraft)

These tend to be VERY effective in improving high-speed stability. Sometimes you get lucky and the spoiler actually creates downforce (this is engineered in on purpose in a NASCAR Cup car, for example) but most of the time, killing lift suffices.

The little ducktails on the 2G GM F-bodies actually made 60 or so lbs of downforce at 100 MPH. Done correctly, they ARE functional.

More recently, the Audi TT grew a spoiler to combat lift and the associated instability at autobahn speeds - look it up.

DG

--
Want to learn about race cars? Read my Book

Re:As a racing engineer.... by blair1q · 2004-01-18 07:02 · Score: 4, Interesting

I have a Lexus GS-400, and a long, straight, flat, low-traffic place to drive it reeely fassst, so, naturally, within a couple of weeks of buying it (new) I went to see where its top end is.

GS-400s have a curvy, stout body, with token ground-effect moulding up front. The specs I'd seen said it should get into the 160s, but with all that sheet-metal I had questions.

At 145, the front end of the body started to float a bit. The wheels didn't come loose, but if I'd tried for 150, they might have. The car was nutating in three dimensions; basically flapping at a low frequency. This was severely reducing my chances of maintaining control, so I got off the throttle and let it coast back to legal speed (it took about a mile to get to 145 from 0, and a mile to idle back down to 65).

The rear end, with its little wing/spoiler/go-fast option, was just fine.

It wasn't even breathing hard at 145. The Tach said I had another 20-30% in the mill.

I did, however, melt about 2,000 miles off the tires (140 treadwear rating; soft, grippy rubber like rock-climbing shoes; specced for 12K miles before replacement under normal driving conditions, but you need that traction in this thing or you're spinning at every green light; I can't imagine what kind of glue the VW Phaeton's tires will have to exude to stick down) and left it as a dusty black film on the rear fenders.

I think with a tighter suspension (they'd softened it to make the car a little less hotrod and a little more luxury sedan) and a shallower nose, or a nose-wing, I could have clocked into the 160s, maybe 170s.

And Burt Rutan thinks he has a rocket.
Re:As a racing engineer.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 08:52 · Score: 0

My old pontiac Fiero GT could easily out-do that except for one small problem.. at 145mph the front headlights pop-up to act as speed breaks. I had zero handling problems all they way up to that speed due to the very large spoiler in the rear and the small aftermarket front spoiler that was fitted.

BTW, I raced it at many IMSA races and dusted quite a few Porche and BMW weenies.

if your vehicle's body was properly designed it would have handled the speed just fine.

BTW, a simple change to the front air dam and adding a bottle intake near the front to duct air at the base of the windshield solved the headlamp pop-up problem and brought my top end to 165.7 I never found what the top end was after we upgraded from the stock 6 cyl engine to a chevy 350 with crossfire injection and a supercharger.. all I know is that it would kick the arse of anything on the track, handled like it was on rails, and could stop better than everything else out there.
Re:As a racing engineer.... by pipingguy · 2004-01-18 09:12 · Score: 1

If I paraphrase this, it means: - spoilers force air above and around the car when it is moving - wings (at the back) use rushing air pressure to counteract oncoming air that tends to make the car airborn.

Neither of these methods care whether the car is front-drive, rear-drive, AWD, front-engine, mid-engine or rear-engine.

Ow, my brain now hurts, I think I'll just apply a few stickers and maybe put in a DVD player. Chicks dig that stuff!
Re:As a racing engineer.... by iamhassi · 2004-01-18 11:17 · Score: 3, Funny

"I have a Lexus GS-400...It wasn't even breathing hard at 145...I could have clocked into the 160s, maybe 170s."
"My old pontiac Fiero GT could easily out-do that... brought my top end to 165.7... (with) stock 6 cyl engine."
Oh yeah? Well I have a stock 95 Neon R/T, and it easily does 190 mph in my high school's parking lot no less!
You kids and your bullshit make-believe stories from weak cars, when will you ever learn.
burn Karma burn

--
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
Re:As a racing engineer.... by Uma+Thurman · 2004-01-18 14:00 · Score: 1

A Fiero is a Chevette with a plastic body. No way could it go 145.

--
This is America, damnit. Speak Spanish!
Re:As a racing engineer.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 14:56 · Score: 0

Lexus? For the love of god, why?

Goddamn piece of shit.
Re:As a racing engineer.... by blair1q · 2004-01-18 15:30 · Score: 1

>Lexus? For the love of god, why?
>Goddamn piece of shit.

You've never

a) Driven one
b) Owned one

They're great cars. I'm still driving that thing after 6 years, and it still gets people going "wow, is that new?"
Re:As a racing engineer.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 20:18 · Score: 0

I used to drive a beat-up old 1990 bonneville, decomissioned police cruiser. The price was right, but it went like a bat out of hell. I drag-raced a guy in a Lexus with that
Bonneville, once.

Wasn't really intentional. This clown cut me off turning left onto a long straight-away and I was momentarily irked out of my better judgement, so I just gunned it a bit. I could almost see the wheels turning in the guy's head, "This clown in his $1000 Bonneville thinks he's going to drag race me in my $30,000 Lexus."

I keep pushing the gas pedal down, a little bit more and a little bit more. One block, two blocks, three blocks... And then it hits him:

"I'm DRAG RACING a clown in a $1000 Bonneville with my $30,000 Lexus!"

Suddenly he was a dot in my rear-view mirror :-).

That thing may have had some sort of hot-chipping for police work. I wonder if regular bonneville's have that sort of performance.
Re:As a racing engineer.... by PurPaBOO · 2004-01-18 23:11 · Score: 1

your Lex is limited to 155 mph.

Look it up.

--
If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no songs.
Re:As a racing engineer.... by oregonnerd · 2004-01-20 13:33 · Score: 1

...And as a matter of fact nearly anything can be turned into a hot car. Rebuild the engine and raise compression. Improve gas/air flow. Change gears in the rear end. I suspect some early Volvos are probably for instance hopeless...but then again engines can be changed. As far as a car that looks like...(whatever); ever checked out the American Chopper on Discovery? People build (cars, skyscrapers, undoubtedly the Statue of Liberty and anything else they can imagine) out of Legos. Hobbies are hobbies. As long as he doesn't forget and try to fly, he should be fine. And that the reactions will vary from admiration to hysterical laughter...hey, best of all worlds.

--
oregonnerd...a nerd in Oregon, of course
Re:As a racing engineer.... by zalbag · 2004-01-30 21:54 · Score: 1

I don't know if you knew this or not, but the Fiero is listed by Forbes as one of the worst cars of all time. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4063790/

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 05:41 · Score: 0

where did the phrase "self hating jew" come from?

And it was all ruined by by NFNNMIDATA · 2004-01-18 05:42 · Score: 1

having that cheesy, redundant bumper sticker.

Leave It in Roxbuy... by dbretton · 2004-01-18 05:54 · Score: 1

This guy should leave this thing in Roxbury, or Lawrence, MA for about 10 minutes.

He'll come back screaming, "I've lost R2!"

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by n9hmg · 2004-01-18 05:57 · Score: 1

Whatever, Why can't we all just get along?

Yeah, I'd like that but people like this ambassaror make it hard.

And the bloodthirsty murderers are spreading peace and understanding? Or is "ambassaror" a word for suicide bomber?

On the set of "Star Wars Episode 3" by Brad1138 · 2004-01-18 06:00 · Score: 4, Funny

George Lucas, "All right, were the hell is R2D2s head!?"

--
If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people

Re:Yeah! Vandalize art and make friends! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 06:06 · Score: 1, Insightful

By bloodthirsty murderers are saying the israelis and the palestinians? Or are you only seeing one side of the problem?

No back seat by jtheory · 2004-01-18 06:07 · Score: 4, Funny

I see it has no back seat. Obviously the guy was smart enough to realise that he wouldn't be needing one.

Apparently he's married (see other posts), but I'd also like to point out that there's more than one answer to "why no back seat?" besides "no woman will have me".

For example, "I don't live with my parents, so we can use an actual BED" comes to mind.

--
There are only 10 types of people: those who understand decimal, those who don't, and, uh, 8 other types I forget.

Re:No back seat by Ironica · 2004-01-18 07:05 · Score: 3, Insightful

For example, "I don't live with my parents, so we can use an actual BED" comes to mind.

Or the couch. Or the living room floor. Or the washing machine....

Married life doesn't *have* to be boring.

--
Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
Re:No back seat by slaida1 · 2004-01-18 21:11 · Score: 1

Or the couch. Or the living room floor. Or the washing machine....
Married life doesn't *have* to be boring.
Instead, couples could spend their time traveling, playing games, reading, cooking, engaging in philosophical conversations. Anything but boring mating rituals/nest making/copulating. We could at least pretend we're intelligent beings and therefore something more than just stupid animals.

--
Preserve old classics: copy your collection onto all hard drives.
Re:No back seat by eam · 2004-01-19 04:08 · Score: 1

Instead, couples could spend their time traveling, playing games, reading, cooking, engaging in philosophical conversations. Anything but boring mating rituals/nest making/copulating. We could at least pretend we're intelligent beings and therefore something more than just stupid animals.
Virgin.
Re:No back seat by slaida1 · 2004-01-19 20:18 · Score: 1

Instead, couples could spend their time traveling, playing games, reading, cooking, engaging in philosophical conversations. Anything but boring mating rituals/nest making/copulating. We could at least pretend we're intelligent beings and therefore something more than just stupid animals.
Virgin.
Horny toad.

--
Preserve old classics: copy your collection onto all hard drives.

Attack of the MIRRORs! by Inoshiro · 2004-01-18 06:09 · Score: 1

Yet Another Mirror, but this one has thumbnails so you don't have to rape by bandwidth quite so much ;)

--
--
Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.

March issue of Wired by iantf · 2004-01-18 06:26 · Score: 1

The article on the car will appear in the March issue of Wired, or so Shawn himself told me last Friday. They did the photo shoot last week.

Airbags... by ElGuapoGolf · 2004-01-18 06:32 · Score: 4, Funny

Is it just me, or does anyone else see a problem with putting potentially hard objects over the airbags (check the passenger side out, maybe the driver side too, forget) which will be flung towards your face at high speed in the event of a crash.

Kinda reminds me of my old car which had a big sticker on the visor which warned that you "should not place any objects between yourself and the airbag". Duh. I wonder how many people had their plans for putting a big sharp spike on their steering wheel airbag covered foiled due to that sticker.

Re:Airbags... by blincoln · 2004-01-18 07:08 · Score: 1

I think it would be less of a problem if American laws didn't require the high-speed airbag deployment systems that can kill or injure you if you are too short or not sitting properly or whatever.

Europeans (and the Japanese too, I think) have more reasonable systems, because their governments don't feel the need to protect the fools who have waived their interest in surviving a crash by not wearing their seatbelts.

--
"...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
Re:Airbags... by ElGuapoGolf · 2004-01-18 08:42 · Score: 1

Aren't most airbags dual stage these days? I don't think this has been an issue since the mid 90s...

That's nothing! by Tax+Boy · 2004-01-18 06:34 · Score: 1

Check out my mom's friend's hippomobile! It's made out of a Toyota RAV4. The pictures don't do it justice because one of the eyes can wink at you. Too bad there isn't a movie of it winking.

And yes, she actually drives it shopping, etc.

You look to wallpaper photos for "hot" girls... by phiwum · 2004-01-18 06:36 · Score: 1

and you think that his opinion of who's hot and who's not is misguided, due to hanging out with Slashdot geeks?

--
Phiwum's law: anyone that names an obvious law after himself and then puts it in his own sig is just pathetic.

Re: by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 06:44 · Score: 0

Wow....someone on Slashdot is cool.

not a-wing by Lord_Dweomer · 2004-01-18 06:59 · Score: 1

"Some of the comments on the forum suggests that it's modelled after a A-Wing."

While I'm not sure if that comment suggests that its meant to replicate the A-Wing, more mearly steal some of its visual cues, I would like to point out that the "official" A-Wing didn't have an R2 droid because it didn't have space for it.

--
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!

Much more impressive landspeeder by G27+Radio · 2004-01-18 07:04 · Score: 1

This Landspeeder based on an 88 Ford Escort is much better I think...well, maybe not for drivability, but I wouldn't be caught dead driving either of them anyway.

That Would Be by Greyfox · 2004-01-18 07:08 · Score: 1

110 in an old-style Nissan 300ZX turbo. Oddly enough, the 2000ish Toyota Celica (Which is definitely NOT a 300zx turbo but gets a lot better gas mileage) doesn't seem to have the same lift at 110-115.

The speeds out on I25 where the speed limit is 75 range from about 85 to about 120 depending on the time of day. The SUVs out there seem to run about 95, which scares the bejesus out of me...

--

I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

Re:Don't cover the airbag! Safety first. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 07:18 · Score: 0

I recomend nothing at all on the stearing wheel airbag. Anyone who's seen the films of airbag tests gone wrong knows that airbags are ticky and mods must be tested.

Exactly - there was warning sticker on my car when I got it saying that when the passenger side airbag goes off - it will probably break the windshield. It's situated above the glove compartment, the cover opens up and is pushed flush with the window. I'd also heard that driver-side airbags were prone to breaking people's wrists if they had a solid grip on the steering wheel in an accident - I make it a point to try and not hook my thumb inside the wheel when driving.

Anyway, I think it would be extraordinarily dangerous to mess with the airbags at all - and his insurance company would probably have something negative and expensive to say about him disabling the airbags. If he has an accident his insurance company probably will refuse to cover him - it's insurance fraud if he originally told them the vehicle had airbags (and he was paying a lower premium) but he's now removed them.

That's Funny by Greyfox · 2004-01-18 07:21 · Score: 1

My air bag warning has a sticker of a toddler being decapitated. That instills confidence in my "safety" system...

--

I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

What?! No Targeting Computer!? by CoderB · 2004-01-18 07:23 · Score: 1

How's Obi-Wan gonna tell him to use the force when someone cuts him off on the highway? :)

Don't stereotype shawn by einsteinxx · 2004-01-18 07:38 · Score: 2

For all the people saying how this guy wouldn't recognize a vagina.....I used to live in the same apartment with this guy and my garage was next to his. There would always be a black mustang (mine) and a weird Del Sol in the driveways. I saw it go from the normal green color, to flat black, to the almost complete "whatever" it is. Just in his defense, this guy has a HOT wife. It sounds unfair, but yes, he has a "cool" (if you're a star wars fan, I'm not) car and a hot wife.
You probably can't tell from the pictures, but let me tell you he spent a LOT of time and detail out in that driveway fixing that car up. I'm talking about INDIVIDUAL rivets and detailed computer previews of what he was planning. THAT'S attention to detail!! Every once and while, I will see it around the South Bay and West LA. It definitely gets your attention, to say the least!

Re:Don't stereotype shawn by iamhassi · 2004-01-18 11:34 · Score: 1

"Just in his defense, this guy has a HOT wife."
Can this please be next week's poll?? I'd love to see what the average reader defines as "hot".
Here's some pictures to post with the poll.

--
my karma will be here long after I'm gone

Car Car Binks by wiredog · 2004-01-18 07:53 · Score: 1

I think that's the one I abandoned outside of Kansas City 10 years ago after the engine blew.

--

Best Slashdot Co

Old VeeDub by wiredog · 2004-01-18 07:56 · Score: 1

But do you bear the Mark of the True VW Geek?

--

Best Slashdot Co

Mod Parent to Funny !! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 08:06 · Score: 0

thats funny not flaimbait

Wow by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 08:28 · Score: 0

can you say LOSER?

TransAm looks like A-wing by solprovider · 2004-01-18 08:54 · Score: 1

The little ducktails on the 2G GM F-bodies actually made 60 or so lbs of downforce at 100 MPH. Done correctly, they ARE functional.

I think you just said that the spoiler on my car is functional. That would be nice to know. The only differences I could find between the TransAm and the Formula models was the spoiler and $3,000, and I would like a justification for having spent the extra money.

You said 2G (2nd generation). Would that include the most recent models? I had a 1999, now drive a 2002.

Does "little ducktails" refer to:
- The spoiler on the TransAm,
- The "built-in spoiler" trunk shape on the and TransAm convertibles, Firebirds and Formulas.
- The Camaro spoiler with the oval hole,
- Or all of them?

I know very little about the history and technology of the F-series. I like them because they are pretty and have great acceleration while surrounding you in steel. As a friend said, I "bought cool".

I have no idea what car I will buy next. Luckily I am working from home most of the time, and so only have 13,000 miles on this car. A friend has an Audi, and I enjoy being a passenger, but it seems a little tight for me as the driver. (I am 6' 4".) There do not seem to be any cool sports cars left for less than $50,000.

I had a Mustang already, and am not going back. My partner has a Mustang that started around $20,000, then he added another $20,000 in mods. He says it will blow my car away. (Mine is stock.) We may find out if it ever stays out of the shop for more than a day.

--- Relating to the article:
I bought the 1999 TransAm partly because it reminded me of the Star Wars A-wing. I even got gray (Pewter) to make it look closer to the spaceship.

I traded to the 2002 because they were not making them any more, and I already had 52,000 miles on the old one. I chose blue so people would know it was not the same car, although I still got asked if it had a paint job. The blue is really dark, but IT IS NOT BLACK.

A friend bought the black 1999 TransAm because it looks like the BatMobile, which I tried to avoid. She even special-ordered the RamAir upgrade for her car, which I believe is quite useless with an automatic transmission, to complete the image of the BatMobile.

---
If I knew as little about computers as I know about my car, I would be a (l)user. Any information about the technology in a 2002 TransAm would be appreciated.

--
I spend my life entertaining my brain.

Re:TransAm looks like A-wing by facelessnumber · 2004-01-19 08:47 · Score: 1

You said 2G (2nd generation). Would that include the most recent models? I had a 1999, now drive a 2002.

No, we're currently in the fourth generation of the F-body. 1993 and up are 4th, '82-'92 are 3rd, '70-'81 is the 2nd generation, (whose spoilers look like "ducktails") and 1st generation is '67-'69.

Not necessarily.... by StressGuy · 2004-01-18 09:01 · Score: 1

As far as creating downforce is concerned, you're basically right. I'll even go as far as to say that the vast majority of rear spoilers serve no purpose other than to create drag and locate the third brake light.
.
However, for certain body styles, you can get what's called a "laminar wake" shed off the back of the car. This thing is more ordered than your run-of-the-mill turbulence and, as such, can generate more drag. A well placed spoiler can prevent this wake from forming and actually reduce drag.

--
A goal is a dream with a deadline

You call that a Star Wars Car? by HiKarma · 2004-01-18 09:03 · Score: 1

No, this real star wars car or this older landspeeder would really fit the bill.

Riiiiight.... by The+Tyro · 2004-01-18 09:17 · Score: 4, Insightful

Did you even look at the rest of the pictures in that gallery? Some people simply don't photograph well at times... there are other pictures of her on that site where she is quite attractive.

Besides, who cares? This man is apparently married to a woman who shares a rather arcane interest; that of making star wars costumes.

Have you any idea how rare a find a woman like that is? To find a woman who is into something that obscure, single, willing to marry (not to mention willing to marry you), and isn't a reclusive nutcase?

Listen, dating for looks alone is fine... did it myself for a few years. However, the percentage of those "hot" women who either had problems, emotional scars, or outright personality disorders was quite high... perhaps from being hunted like an 18-point buck from puberty onward. It took me until almost my 30's to find the perfect woman, and I married her as fast as I could (I tried to elope after two weeks, but she wanted a wedding... oh well.)

Everyone should be as lucky as that man. I think he chose wisely... mod him +5 insightful.

--
Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.

Re:Riiiiight.... by Reziac · 2004-01-19 08:55 · Score: 1

Not only that, but a lot of people who seem ugly at first glance... well, after a while you start seeing some appeal in their features, and after you see 'em a few more times, they start looking downright beautiful. It takes some time to train the eye to see beyond that first glance. Kinda like that car, actually. At first glance it's easy to take for juste a beat-up, poorly repainted old car. Look a bit more closely, and you start to appreciate the detail work.

And as you say, there are a lot of people who are beautiful to look at (by classical standards, anyway -- personally, I find the beach bimbo type a turnoff) but it's only skin deep.

And yep, Shawn and Colleen both chose wisely.

Side note: for some unknown reason, my own little photo gallery (which doesn't even have a front-of-site presence, it's buried several links deep) has been getting a shitload of hits for the past several months. Why do all these people give a flip what I look like (a trifle odd, if I do say so myself ;) and where are they coming from anyway?!

BTW, love your tagline :)

--
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?

Re:Don't cover the airbag! Safety first. by nytes · 2004-01-18 09:25 · Score: 1

Disabled the airbags? In California you have to apply for a special permit for that, and the work has to be done by a qualified mechanic. A lot of mechanics won't do it even if you have the permit because they don't want to be liable.

--
-- I have monkeys in my pants.

Record Slashdotting... by mattkime · 2004-01-18 09:59 · Score: 2, Informative

How many sites can be taken out with one article?

The Article Link

Mirror attempts:

http://www.danamania.com/starwarscar/

http://dephine.zapto.org/Slashdot/

http://www.jeffwilhelm.com/files/images/swcar/

http://cs.baylor.edu/~wilsonj/xwing.html

Would anyone else like to try? Of course, its probably too late, as all mirrors have been slashdotted...

--
Know what I like about atheists? I've yet to meet one that believes God is on their side.

Re:Don't cover the airbag! Safety first. by RedWizzard · 2004-01-18 10:02 · Score: 1

his insurance company would probably have something negative and expensive to say about him disabling the airbags. If he has an accident his insurance company probably will refuse to cover him - it's insurance fraud if he originally told them the vehicle had airbags (and he was paying a lower premium) but he's now removed them.

His car insurance company won't care at all. They don't pay for injuries and airbags don't reduce the likelyhood of accidents or the damage to the vehicles. Insurance policies usually require you to inform the company if you make any modification that is not approved by the vehicle manufacturer so he'd be best to let them know but I doubt they would alter his premiums. His medical insurance would treat this car like any other that doesn't have an airbag.

Duh... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 10:37 · Score: 0

Whatever the reason, it makes me (and a bunch of other people) smile. People like making other people smile. Deal with it.

no my friend by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 10:47 · Score: 0

you are a virgin

Honda power by caitsith01 · 2004-01-18 11:27 · Score: 1

"The Honda Civic is not a fast car"

Au contraire, see for example:

http://www.turboclutch.com/civic.htm

A 13 second quarter mile whips most 'fast' cars senseless. I'm sure it's faster than whatever you drive.

--
Read Pynchon.

Re:Honda power by EvilAlien · 2004-01-18 12:24 · Score: 1

" Originally, Junior added dual 40mm sidedraft carburetors to the DX engine. Although the dual carburetors increased top-end power, the sacrifice in low-end torque and driveability was too much of a trade-off. Junior's solution was to replace the stock DX engine with an 1988 CRX Si engine. Wanting even more power than the stock Si engine could offer, Junior experimented with forged pistons, ported heads, aftermarket fuel injection and just about every grind of cam ever made for the Si engine. After much thought, Junior decided that the only way he would be able to generate the power he wanted would be through turbocharging."

What Junior did was make modifications that actually matter. He didn't add a bunch of lame-ass logos at 1.5 HP per decal, ground effects to leave nice streaks on speedbumbs, or extra finage to make him feel like the physics of aerodynamics works different than it actually does. He changed the engine, and then further modded it with additions that are *gasp* relevant to performance. What he is driving is no longer a "Civic" aside from the frame and body.
The Civic is not a fast car. It is a budget ride, a starting point for Fast & Furious wannabes.
Oh, and the other secret is that how fast Junior is, in comparison to me, other Civics, cars that are naturally fast, or airplanes, isn't relevant to anything other than Junior's own feelings of inadequacy.

--
perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'
Re:Honda power by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-18 13:50 · Score: 0

Do the math...if you took cost of car + modifications it probably exceeds the cost of a similarily equipped stock car that could perform just as well (Mustang or Corvette or something).

-Matt.
Re:Honda power by technos · 2004-01-18 14:23 · Score: 1

*cackles*
Woop. That's not a Civic. That's someones idea of a toy.
This is like the morons that stick GM small-blocks in an Opel GT and claim the Opel is a fast car.. (BTW, Opels with the FI Buick blocks make 8 second quarters @ 170, none of this "I'm barely beating a cheesy Camaro" nonsense.)

--
.sig: Now legally binding!
Re:Honda power by caitsith01 · 2004-01-18 19:04 · Score: 1

"isn't relevant to anything other than Junior's own feelings of inadequacy"

I guess the fact that you care about how unfast the Civic is is relevant to your own supreme feelings of adequacy, hmmm?

Anyway I guess I was just trying to make the point that the Honda is a car for which many upgrades are available that will actually make it a fast car. Plus it would corner about 10 times better than a 'fast' car like a Mustang or whatever.

--
Read Pynchon.
Re:Honda power by EvilAlien · 2004-01-20 12:14 · Score: 1

Agreed, the stock Mustang Deathsled, although a "fast car" in conparison with the low-powered stock Civic, isn't what I'd want to drive in anything other than a straight line.
BTW, I care about how unfast the Civic is because of the flood of wannabes with superficial modifications to their shitty cars. Real modifications, like what Junior did, make fast cars... I just don't consider it a Civic any more! At least I didn't consider it a Civic once he swapped out the engine.
I like cars that are designed to be fast by real engineers, and I think it is important to bludgeon home the fact that a 120 HP Civic is not a fast car just because of a spoiler, decal, and chrome exhaust tip. Its my way of giving back to the community ;)

--
perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'

Not quite.... by DG · 2004-01-18 11:27 · Score: 1

A spoiler is a lift-killing device, where a wing is a lift-generation device - it's just upside-down, so it's lift vector is "down" with respect to the car. :)

You use a wing when you want to force the car onto the road; you use a spoiler when your body shape is such that it generates lift (away from the road) and you want to stop the car from becoming airborne.

The issue here is that tires make grip in proportion to the download on them. (Tires are funny, they don't behave according to the classical Newtownian friction laws) Tires forced into the ground make more grip. Tires lifted away from the ground (even slightly) lose grip.

On a car where the body shape generates lift, as you go faster, the road surface effectively gets "slipperier"

Real wings are typically a race-car-only item, as the extra downforce creates a lot of extra drag, which in turn has an effect on fuel economy.

Spoilers, done right, can kill high-speed lift, with little or no drag penalty.

DG

--
Want to learn about race cars? Read my Book

Re:Not quite.... by pipingguy · 2004-01-18 11:57 · Score: 1

OK, my only experience with fluid dynamics is in the theoretical world of piping design. I defer to your race car knowledge.

I still think if you put stickers on there it'd go faster.

Why is it great art guys are never great car guys? by Merovign · 2004-01-18 12:16 · Score: 1

Firstly, good job on the props, great to see something original, ignore all the whiners (except me! :).

Secondly, I hope this was a car he had and decided to do the work on rather than choosing this car for the project. The Del Sol has got to be the least likely candidate I can think of for this - the first thing that pops into my mind is an MR2 - at least it looks a little like an A-Wing. The Del Sol looks like a Del Sol with some plastic things glued on. Nice plastic things, but still.

The sad thing is that the same is true of so many project cars, from all the V6 firebird KITT copies to the "Slow and the Stupid" green FWD non-turbo "street racer". Always The Wrong Car!

Reminds me of when they built the Keaton Batmobile on a Chevelle chassis with a Mr. Goodwrench V8. You're making a movie, guys! Spend a few more bucks!

looks familiar... by networkGhettoWhore · 2004-01-18 13:33 · Score: 0

That car can often be seen driving around the Westchester/Marina Del Rey area in West Los Angeles, CA.

--
Natural Selection: self-destruction of the poor and lazy

Photos of Star Trek Enterprise Scooter by i4u · 2004-01-18 13:52 · Score: 1

related theme vehicle from japan: http://www.i4u.com/article596.html

re: I25 by modecx · 2004-01-18 14:44 · Score: 1

No shit.. From about Thornton/Eerie to Loveland, those SUV drivers are fucking crazy. If I have to go that way, I get out as early as possible.

I once watched a minivan cut off an RTD bus, which in turn flaked out a semi-truck driver, causing him to run into the barricade, sending a few large chunks of the barricade into the northbound traffic. Goddamn, it's like Mad Max out there.

It's even worse south of Denver, which is hard to imagine. I'm glad I have no business down there... Ugh.

--
Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.

Benjamin Franklin by Vexar · 2004-01-18 16:47 · Score: 1

If you are going to quote a founding father, give him his credit, it is one of my favorite quotes! especially with the likes of John Ashcroft, and his Patriot Act, which has brought me to the point that I have no rights one I set foot at an airport.

Re:Benjamin Franklin by caitsith01 · 2004-01-18 18:54 · Score: 1

I would but there ain't enough room in the sig. Plus super erudite people like you will know who said it anyone. Incidentally, he was only a founding father of your country, to me he's just this guy, you know?

Ashcroft would have done well in Hitler's cabinet, incidentally.

--
Read Pynchon.
Re:Benjamin Franklin by caitsith01 · 2004-01-18 18:56 · Score: 1

anyWAY, not anyONE

--
Read Pynchon.

May The Horsepower Be With You by dual_base_33 · 2004-01-18 16:56 · Score: 1

But can it make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs? :)

Does the side blaster work? If it does - I want one - and a Wookie sidekick and a flygirl Lela and a...

--
sigs are natural, sigs are good, not everybody has one, but everybody should...

Poor site got slashdotted by fuzzdawg · 2004-01-18 17:27 · Score: 1

Well, NASIOC held up great during the Mark Mitsubishi fiasco, looks like we are about to find out what its really made of Slashdot vs NASIOC!
LOL
Try this link.

--
Sig* sig = theOneSig();

As a female, I gotta say by Elanor · 2004-01-18 22:52 · Score: 2, Insightful

1. I can't BELIEVE how much space you've dedicated to a discussion of how hot the artist's wife is
2. I don't even like star wars but I can see the craftsmanship that went into making the car
3. That car is cool, & an easy reason to approach the modder and engage them in conversation

If the mountain can't approach the chicks, let the chicks approach the mountain.

Unfortunately, the modder-bashers will probs find it easy to "strike" up a conversation too. But with the downforce of the spoilers etc, I'm sure the artist could easily outrun them...

Does it still drive? by ZeDong · 2004-01-18 23:18 · Score: 1

just wondering...

Oh dear... by slaida1 · 2004-01-19 02:48 · Score: 1

I just felt my RL karma plunge to worse. I'm sorry, that was a bit harsh reply from me and I realized I managed to write such a post that I'd rather use my kill button on it than yours.

--
Preserve old classics: copy your collection onto all hard drives.

Thank you by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-19 04:01 · Score: 0

I was reading through here idly looking at comments, and yours struck me. I don't wish to sound conceited (but may come across as so, text can be like that) but you've described exactly what it's like for some of us who are what fits the definition of being a hot, or beautiful, or attractive woman.

Sometimes it feels easier to hide away and ignore the world when it gets too much. The overbearing attention is like spam, and attention from genuine guys gets lost in the crowd of people who obsess about how I look far more than I ever would.

So yeah, it makes life a bit hard. Being hunted like an 18 point buck since puberty... hey that's just how it feels! To top things off, being tall I was always mistaken for a 17 year old when I was 11. Guess there's bits of life I had to live in fast forward, and I don't doubt it's affected how I can trust people.

Anyway. I've taken enough of your time and hope you read this to see the thanks. It's lovely to see understanding like yours, your wife is a lucky lucky lady :)

Nobody Axed Me, But . . . by LifesABeach · 2004-01-19 05:33 · Score: 0

i was looking at the decal on his steering wheele.

if our eager space cadet EVER gets into an accident, i believe the 'force' will have an un-ignoreable impact on him.

also, the 'crash' site will be more impressive than the work done on the car.

Re:Honda power - gets beat by minivans. by Elminst · 2004-01-19 06:55 · Score: 1

13 seconds huh?

Then it BARELY beats a '89 Plymouth turbo MINIVAN. (and would lose to some.)

Please crawl back to your ignorant hole.

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No unauthorized use. Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.

A word from the photographer. by Hazel+Chaz · 2004-01-19 08:33 · Score: 1

I'm Chaz Boston Baden, I've taken thousands of these photos, and yeah, Rez is right, I've got some scary photos and some nice ones. Mind you, Rez tends to make funny faces at me, that doesn't help the situation!

But click again, take another look at those links, why dontcha?

Chaz
www.boston-baden.com

Re:A word from the photographer. by Reziac · 2004-01-19 08:45 · Score: 1

Wondered when you'd show up ... and make funny faces back at us :)

[clicks links, compares hotness] Nah, I like lookin' at Colleen *way* better. :D

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~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?

Re:Honda power - gets beat by minivans. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-19 14:32 · Score: 0

You're the one who's ignorant. A 13-second quarter mile is not slow by any means.

Fast is fast. You're talking about an exceptionally fast minivan, so your comment hardly merits a response. Nevertheless, a souped up Civic can approach an eleven-second quarter mile.

Re:Ashcroft by Vexar · 2004-01-19 15:53 · Score: 1

You are not the first to say that. What's so irritating about Ashcroft's Patriot Act is how incredibly inconsistent it is with the message Liberty our soldiers die for, every day, in Iraq. I have no doubt in my mind there are a few Iraqis smart and informed enough to see this duplicity. Continuing your point on Hitler similarities, it is an unfortunately short walk between far-wing (right or left) political views and Nazi'sm, and I think the line you have to cross is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

But Wait There's Another One! by WoodyEadie · 2004-01-19 21:17 · Score: 1

Anybody see this OTHER Star Wars car? http://www.katiehorn.com/StarWars/XwingCar/gallery .html Not quite as cool as the Honda, but kinda makes you think these two should be soul mates.

Re:Honda power - gets beat by minivans. by Elminst · 2004-01-20 11:42 · Score: 1

I never said it was slow...
Just that his hyped up civic can be beat by a near-stock Plymouth minivan.

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No unauthorized use. Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.

Re:Honda power - gets beat by minivans. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-21 19:09 · Score: 0

Him: "A 13 second quarter mile whips most 'fast' cars senseless. I'm sure it's faster than whatever you drive."

You: "13 seconds huh? Then it BARELY beats a '89 Plymouth turbo MINIVAN. (and would lose to some.)"

You certainly did say it was slow. You might not have used the word 'slow,' but your intent was very clear-- you said a VERY FAST minivan is ALMOST as fast as his Civic. If that's not what you meant, then what the hell is your point???

403 comments