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Rockets To Race Over Wisconsin Skies

Posted by timothy on from the nitro-burnin'-funny-ships dept.

Iron Condor writes with a reminder that that the first race of the Rocket Racing League (last mentioned here in April, after its 2005 founding) is set to take place later this month at Oshkosh AirVenture 08. This race, says Iron Condor, "is exactly what it sounds like: NASCAR 1000m above ground in rocket-propelled airplanes. Created by X-prize founder/CEO Peter Diamandis, this is 'the next evolution of racing' (at least according to the promo video, which is definitely worth watching)..."

7 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Doh! by genner · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just moved from Wisconsin. Who knew there was a reason to stay,

    1. Re:Doh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      your cheese is the foulest thing that anyone has ever had the gaul to pass off as food.

      You obviously haven't tried our beer.

  2. Oh yeah!!! by GameboyRMH · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rednecks racing rocket's 'round a ringed raceway! Radically refreshing!

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    1. Re:Oh yeah!!! by snowgirl · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Anyhow, they said it was just like NASCAR, so I figured the spectators would be rednecks.

      Yeah, when I saw "like NASCAR 1000m in the air", I was all, "oh great... ANOTHER NASCAR."

      Seriously, anyone who watches real racecar driving on circuits internationally just shivers when you suggest "NASCAR", because it's boring to watch. "Go fast, turn left," I've heard it described as. And then, Indy and Champcar spun off of F1, to go around in ovals...

      I remember playing a Indy race car simulator game back on the Apple ][e (yeah, old school racing sim!) and now I'm surprised looking back on it... the tires on the right-side are larger than the ones on the left... why? To help you turn left better... because SURPRISE! They're only going left!

      Compared to GT racing, F1 racing, and hell, even freaking Autocross ("put up cones; instant track! can I drive my civic?") are way cooler and more interesting to watch than a bunch of dumb americans chasing their tail all day long.

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  3. Wow. by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Amazing how they can make giant glowing polygons float in the sky for the planes to fly through.

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  4. Re:this reminds me of something... by Darth_brooks · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now all we need is some Sand People to shoot at the racers, and we're all set!

    So you're saying they need a tribe of people with language of unintelligible guttural noises that are both heavily armed and perpetually dressed in baggy, concealing clothing? Sounds like Wisconsin to me.

    --
    There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
  5. Re:Finally. . . by smooth+wombat · · Score: 5, Informative

    To use the Answers.com definition of a rocket, which is pretty much what I think of when I hear the word rocket:

    A reaction engine that contains all the substances necessary for its operation and is not dependent on substances such as atmospheric oxygen, drawn from the surrounding medium, and thus is capable of operating in outer space. Also called rocket motor.

    If the engines of these vehicles are drawing in air from their surroundings, they're not using rockets, they're using jet engines.

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