Jan Morgan
Competition: Extreme Gravity Gratification
June 1, 2005
Extreme Gravity Racing Series’
Bentley BGR and
pininfarina XGR
For
most of us, our first personal
contact with speed takes place on a hill. Basic
childhood
transportation—roller skates, a skateboard, scooter, bicycle, and, in
some cases, a shopping cart—provide the thrilling experience of
velocity beyond
our own physical limitations, fueled by the amazing
pull of gravity.
Until
now, sanctioned gravity-powered
racing for wheeled vehicles has been limited to
soap box racing cars,
which are built to a rigid set of specifications from
simple materials,
and are intended to be driven by children. Typically, adults
build the
cars, yet only the kids get to drive them. But suppose the rigid rules
could be eliminated, the speeds increased, and the adults placed in the
driver’s
seat? Several years ago, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, that
famous gathering
of historically significant cars racing up Lord
March’s driveway, introduced a
“soap box” event to the program, with
almost unlimited rules. Originally planned
as a bit of fun for a
privileged few, this event became a playground for some of
the major
automotive manufactures and custom builders. Cars gave way to carbon
fiber chassis, chrome moly axles, and thin, high-pressure tires. Speeds
down
Lord March’s driveway approached 70 mph. Now, this was soap box
racing.
With
the success of the Goodwood races in mind,
Don MacAllister and his management
group have brought this high-tech
form of soap box racing to America with the
Extreme Gravity Racing
Series. Both individuals and corporations that wish to be
involved in
this gravity sport can participate, without having to start a
Project
Apollo kind of development effort to field a competitive car.
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