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Geek and Gadgets Set Cross-US Speed Record

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the breaker-breaker-need-a-bear-check dept.

Brikus writes "And you thought your car had gadgets. In this story from Wired magazine, we hear about Alex Roy and his quest to break the record time for a cross-USA road trip. One of the biggest roadblocks to breaking the record: highway patrol officers, about 31,000 along the way. So Roy decked out his E39 BMW M5 with a thermal camera, radar/laser detectors, GPS devices, police scanners, and other high-tech gadgets and toys."

15 of 805 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Team Polizei by Divebus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Stealth at its best.

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    Most of the stuff on /. won't survive first contact with facts.
  2. How to remain inconspicuous... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...deck out your car in sponsor logos. I imagine every cop who sees this thing will follow them for quite some time.

    1. Re:How to remain inconspicuous... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hey! Good idea, great way to get a free escort for a trip when you're not sure whether your old crate will make it once across Nevada.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:How to remain inconspicuous... by Big+Nothing · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Geek and Gadgets Set Cross-US Speed Record"

      Is this guy really a geek? Sure, he likes Star Trek and gadgets, but is that really the definition of a geek? I think not. This guy has lots of money, drives fast, cool cars and did at some point have a girlfriend. That's no geek.

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      SIG: TAKE OFF EVERY 'CAPTAIN'!!
  3. Red shift by donscarletti · · Score: 5, Funny

    The article forgot to mention that he needed to install blue tail lights so they appeared red to those behind him after Doppler shift.

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    When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
  4. It's 106 miles to Chicago... by weak* · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...we've got a full tank of octane, a half-charged PDA, it's dark(wolf the dragonmaster) and we're wearing pocket protectors.

    Commence acceleration.

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    The Schwartz space ain't from Spaceballs.
    1. Re:It's 106 miles to Chicago... by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

      Commence acceleration.

      Hand in your geek license. That's "engage".

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. An obvious point... by Merovign · · Score: 2, Funny

    Roy took extraordinary measures to avoid law enforcement.


    Except for the part where he stickered up his car like a boy-racer with OCD, making him STAND OUT to people looking for things that stand out - like police.

    I mean, even not counting the reckless endangerment charge he'll hopefully be facing in at least a dozen states following his loverly confession.

    Or not, who knows the vagaries of local law enforcement. It sounds like at least one officer picked him up on radar and pursued him, so the confession will be accompanied by at least one officer's sworn testimony.

    Don't get me wrong, I love fast cars and fast driving - but not in traffic. That's just stupid.
  6. Re:This doesn't make sense by mrjb · · Score: 5, Funny

    32h07m divided by 31,000 highway cops means driving past one patrol officer on average every 3.7 seconds. How can the gadgets help under such circumstances? Go-go gadget donut-thrower!

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    Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
  7. Re:Irresponsible by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Could work well for parking violations too! Remember?

    You have 10 minutes to move your car.

    Your car has been impounded.

    Your car has been crushed into a cube.

    You have 10 minutes to move your cube.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  8. Re:Team Polizei by somersault · · Score: 2, Funny

    You can drive fine without legs. Anyone who wants to shoot another human being in the kneecaps should be shot in the kneecaps so that they can see what a prick they are o_0

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    which is totally what she said
  9. Re:What a bastard. by dave420 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I just brained 3 nuns with a notebook that's running Ubuntu. Lowest power usage I've seen in a nun-beater yet.

  10. Re:Irresponsible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    What speed limits?

    Greetings from Germany :o)

  11. Re:How about non-traffic violations? by sYkSh0n3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    And in other news Jack Thompson has filed suit against Microsoft Game Studios, creator of Forza Motorsport, and Eurasia Investments, the production company behind Cannonball Run. Mr. Thompson was quoted as saying "These driving games can not be allowed to reach our children. And movies about breaking the law and driving fast are endangering the lives of our loved ones. We can not let this continue. Ole Roy can claim he was inspired by Rendez-vous, but we all know no one ever learns anything from those frogs, except maybe how to surrender."

    French Prime Minister François Fillon is quoted as saying "Mr. Thompson also says you can train to shoot from the game "Doom". You don't even aim up and down. Vous n'avez pas viser haut et le bas!"

  12. Re:How about non-traffic violations? by spun · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've just lost respect for Will Wright. Thanks.

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    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton