Competitors and Amazement
WOW. So, two days ago, we covered the X Challenge cars leaving the Petersen Automotive Museum. I actually got to drive Mississippi State’s car — I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT! It was so friendly and smooth. One of their coolest features was an (I assume LCD) screen on the dash with all the car’s stats, clearly visible. Mississippi’s car performed SO well at higher speeds, and they also employed a regenerative breaking system (that’s when energy is recycled within the car, because at stops, the engine switches off — of course, I had no idea that technology was called “regenerative breaking”. And the car I drove was just one of many impressive alternative power vehicles that were competing and the challenge. A GM spokeswomen we interviewed said that some of the technology she was seeing with these student-built cars could very easily end up on the market in the future — that’s how smart and slick these student competitors were! And, a highlight for me: I finally got to meet Dr. Frank. Poor guy…I was totally star-struck and stuttering, but he was very gracious, and let me conduct a stumbling and googly-eyed interview anyway. Looks like I’ll be seeing him in the future again! Now, I just have to get rid of the butterflies and convince myself that I’m looking at a real human when I’m talking to him and not a genius from on high (even though that’s sort of what he is).
–Refined gOil
