plus 4, Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based ... - autoblog

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• Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based ... - autoblog
• Ride & Drive Review: Commuter Cars TANGO - All Cars Electric
• Ride & Drive Review: Commuter Cars TANGO: Page 2 - All Cars Electric
• 'Captain Dick' Charlton, steamed crab purveyor, dies - Explore Baltimore County
• Race leader Sainz wins his first stage in Dakar rally - Monsters and Critics

Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based ... - autoblog Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:03 AM PST PRESS RELEASE Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Chooses Michigan for 2010 Competition Events $10 Million Competition for Super Fuel Efficient Vehicles Announces Partnership with Michigan Economic Development Corporation to Host Multi-Stage On-Track Challenges DETROIT, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has chosen the state of Michigan to host an intense multi-stage competition that aims to pit some of the world's most fuel efficient vehicles against one another in a quest to win their share of a $10 million prize purse. Fifty-one super efficient cars from 41 teams survived the rigorous design judging phase and now aim to ready their vehicles for the start of on-track performance events in the spring of 2010, thanks to a unique new partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan International Speedway (MIS), announced today at the North American International Auto Show. The series of scored performance and evaluation events kicks off April 26, 2010 and continues through the end of August 2010. During this time, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will conduct several closed door competition stages aimed at evaluating the efficiency, safety and performance of each competition vehicle under real world conditions. While in Michigan, the competition will open its doors at select dates to allow the public and the automotive world an opportunity to witness the competition stages as they unfold. In addition, ongoing and interactive updates will be available online at www.progressiveautoxprize.org throughout the competition stages. "As the birthplace of the American automotive industry, Michigan has the knowledge base, the talent, and the facilities to support the innovation central to achieving the goals of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE and the future of the automotive industry," noted Peter Diamandis, chairman and CEO of The X PRIZE Foundation. "We couldn't be more thrilled to partner with Michigan as we enter the most exciting phase of the competition, and I'd especially like to thank Governor Granholm and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for helping us bring the competition to Michigan." Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm also added, "Michigan, the state that put the world on wheels, is excited to host the test phase of the Automotive X PRIZE competition. There is no place in the world better suited to display these super fuel-efficient and green-powered vehicles. We are home to more collective automotive manufacturing and R&D talent in North America than the other 49 states, Canada and Mexico combined. Michigan is charged up and ready to showcase the cars and trucks of the future and the advanced power systems that will fuel them." The competition stages and public events are as follows. Additional public events may be announced at a later date. * April 26 – May 7, 2010: SHAKEDOWN STAGE (CLOSED DOOR COMPETITION EVENT) Location: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI The purpose of this first stage is to conduct safety inspections and on-track dynamic safety evaluations of competition vehicles. Teams must submit their cars to on-the-ground challenges for the purpose of shaking out problem areas and preparing their vehicles for the Knockout Qualifying Stage that follows, all without risk of elimination by the judges. Vehicles will be tested on braking speed, lane change ability, acceleration and refueling/recharging time, among other elements. * April 29, 2010 COMPETITION OPENER & WELCOME (PUBLIC EVENT) Location: Michigan State Capitol, Lansing, MI Up to ten competition vehicles will be on display at the state capitol for the public and media to view, including opportunities to interact with the teams. * June 20-28, 2010 KNOCKOUT QUALIFYING STAGE (CLOSED DOOR COMPETITION EVENT) Location: Michigan International Speedway To narrow the field of competitors, Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE officials will re-conduct inspections and certify readiness for knockout stage challenges. In order to pass this stage, teams must demonstrate that their vehicles can achieve at least two-thirds of the stated 100 MPGe (miles per gallon or energy equivalent) goal while also meeting expectations for range, emissions, and real world performance. Achieving emissions thresholds will prove a significant hurdle for teams in this stage as will the "hill climb" challenge. * July 2010 OPEN HOUSE Exact Date TBD (PUBLIC EVENT) Location: Michigan International Speedway The greater Michigan community will be invited to a free one-day event to see some of the vehicles close up, meet and learn about the finalist teams in the DASH+ national high school contest - an element of the competition's national education program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy - and explore a variety of interactive and informative booths and displays focused on innovation around fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. They will also have access to the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE technical team, which will provide insight into what each scoring leg is designed to calculate and explain how the competitors are challenged to prove that their vehicle can average the targeted 100 MPGe. * JULY 19-30, 2010 FINALS STAGE (CLOSED DOOR COMPETITION EVENT) Location: Michigan International Speedway To identify the top finalists in each class, after a quick repeat of the static and dynamic safety checks, the remaining teams will compete in scored on-track challenges, and close with a "coast down" exercise to gain key performance information about the aerodynamics and rolling resistance to properly prepare the vehicles for the validation stage. Speed will be important and a maximum and minimum time for events will be established. * AUGUST 2010 VALIDATION STAGE (CLOSED DOOR COMPETITION EVENT) Location: EPA Labs (Ann Arbor, MI) and Argonne National Labs (Chicago, IL) In this final technical event, the top finalists in both the Mainstream and Alternative classes will undergo dynamometer testing under controlled laboratory conditions at certified labs to verify technical performance results. The results of this testing, combined with the speed, efficiency and emissions results from the earlier events at Michigan International Speedway, will determine the winners of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, with title sponsor Progressive Insurance, intends to announce winners and present checks at a special award ceremony in Washington, D.C. in September 2010. Specific details on this event will be announced at a later time. ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). The series of scored performance and evaluation events kicks off April 26, 2010 and continues through the end of August 2010. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. For more information about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email progressiveautopress@xprize.org. ABOUT PROGRESSIVE Progressive, founded in 1937, is one of the country's largest auto insurance groups and a leading insurer of motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, and commercial vehicles. The Company offers competitive rates and innovative products and services that meet drivers' needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and in-person customer and claims service. One of Progressive's Core Values is Excellence. To the Company's nearly 25,000 people, it simply means seeking constant improvement. Over time, this has meant introducing revolutionary ideas that make car insurance easier to shop for, buy and use. It's this same innovative spirit that's behind the Company's sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will inspire innovation that will produce more fuel efficient vehicle choices, helping to make a difference in people's lives. Progressive's products and services are available locally through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at http://www.progressive.com, and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737). ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE EDUCATION PROGRAM Through a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has developed a national education program to engage students and the public in learning about advanced vehicle technologies, energy efficiency, climate change and alternative fuels. Together with FuelOurFutureNow.com, an online knowledge center developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and Discovery Education, and the DASH+ high school student contest, the education program challenges young people to learn more about the science, technology, engineering and math behind efficient vehicle development. For more about the student contest to design the next-generation dashboard, visit FuelOurFutureNow.com/contest. ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world's first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating and conducting competitions in four prize groups: Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, and Education & Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Ride & Drive Review: Commuter Cars TANGO - All Cars Electric Posted: 13 Jan 2010 07:42 AM PST I admit it: I was skeptical, skeptical in the extreme. Call me cynical, but I doubted the Tango, touted as "The World's Fastest Urban Car" could possibly live up to the hype. It might be fast, I thought, but is it really a car, or a glorified, over-priced electric motorcycle? Since I first spied it as a contender in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE (PIAXP), I've wanted to get my hands on one, or at least see one live, in person, to get a feel for just how skinny it is, how tall it is, how it actually feels to be behind the wheel. You know, so I could roll my eyes, tease it, and make snarky comments about it to its face, rather than behind its back. Does it have to be so… gimmicky? On Monday, at the NAIAS in Detroit, I got my chance. The Tango was one of the EVs featured on the MEDC EcoXperience ride and drive track. I took the escalator down to the frigid basement at Cobo, and joined the queue, surprised at how many other people were waiting to drive the Tango. Ironically, I was waiting in line behind two ladies from Progressive, curious to see the car that might just win their X Prize. As the first of them stepped up to the vehicle, I noticed how tall the Tango is (it's hard to grasp scale in press kit photos), and how narrow. It's impossibly skinny, only 39 inches wide. Watching the Progressive woman folding herself into the car, and strapping into the racing-type harness, I began to doubt the safety of the vehicle. This makes the Smart Car look gigantic; how could it possibly be safe? I asked the second Progressive woman what the Tango's safety ratings were like, and she said it hadn't been rated yet. "It looks like it would just tip right over," she commented, and I nodded. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Ride & Drive Review: Commuter Cars TANGO: Page 2 - All Cars Electric Posted: 13 Jan 2010 07:42 AM PST As the first Progressive woman drove away, I thought of how embarrassing it would be for the average Midwestern-sized butt to try to squeeze into that vehicle; I saw two journalists watching the relatively svelte Progressive women climb in, look down at their own physiques, and ask for the CT&T City EV instead. Are the makers of the Tango planning to market their vehicle in Colorado only, skipping over the other, fatter states, I wondered? But never mind that. The last of the Progressive ladies climbed out of the Tango, smiling broadly. It was my turn. Brain Woodbury, Vice President at Commuter Cars, was the designated back-seat driver, and gave me a running commentary as I strapped in, adjusted the seat, and drove away. He is exactly the right person to give a guided tour of the Tango. He's not an environmental zealot, or a pushy salesman. He lets the Tango speak for itself… and man, is this thing peppy. I was sorely disappointed that the EcoXperience track is low-speed only; I know if I'd have punched it, the Tango would have flown. "How fast does this thing GO?" I asked, delighted. "It can go up to 130 miles an hour in just one gear," Woodbury said. I pushed the accelerator hard, just a little, and there was no hesitation… the Tango just sped up, handily showing off. I could hear Woodbury's grin as we went into a hairpin turn. "Floor it," he said, "you'll kick out the back end."I resisted, barely, and went for another lap. "The Tango can go zero to sixty in about 4 seconds," Woodbury bragged (just a little). The Tango handled beautifully, and the suspension was impressively smooth. By this time, I honestly did not notice how tiny the vehicle really is. It was like any small car, really, only a little more giggle-inducing. It was downright fun. No bumps, no jostles. It was smooth. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

'Captain Dick' Charlton, steamed crab purveyor, dies - Explore Baltimore County Posted: 13 Jan 2010 07:20 AM PST After serving crabs and shrimp year-round for more than 30 years, Captain Dick's Crabs Galore closed in November so the Arbutus store's owners could take a break for the winter. When the store re-opens in March, however, something big will be missing. The captain himself. Richard Charlton, 71, founder and longtime owner of the shop at 5618 Southwestern Blvd., died Dec. 26. "He had the best crabs around," said Jim Buckingham, owner of the Buckingham Automotive auto shop a few doors down from Captain Dick's on Southwestern Boulevard. Buckingham pointed out that "everyone knew him as Captain Dick," who provided area residents with more than steamed crabs and other Baltimore favorites during the summer. "A lot of people in their 40s and 50s worked there (as teenagers)," Buckingham said. Pete Packer, 51, said he got to know Charlton better thanks to the summer job opportunities at Captain Dick's. "My middle daughter worked for him back in '97, '98, '99," said the Arbutus resident. "We became friends," he said. According to Packer, Charlton was all business when working, but sociable and talkative when not working. "He was the nicest guy you'd ever meet," Packer said. Art Vail, 51, a dentist on Sulphur Spring Road in Arbutus, was among those who worked for Charlton in their youth. In 1976, fresh out of high school and 18 years old, Vail got a job at Captain Dick's. Over time, the two became friends. "He's been a patient of mine ever since I became a dentist," Vail said. "He loved to talk. He had a lot of wisdom to share," he said. Vail said Charlton gave young employees an edge in their later pursuits through the example he set and the wisdom he shared. "I think the work ethics he had (were) passed along to a lot of people that worked there," Vail said. "Even though it was just a summer job," he said, "he taught you how to work hard." Charlton wasn't all serious, though. Motorcycles were among his passions. "One of my former employees, his mother rode motorcycles with Captain Dick," Vail said. Anne Hicks, an Ellicott City resident who works at Vail's dentistry office, recalled an occasion when Charlton's fun side came through. "He came in for an appointment. It was a nice summer day," Hicks said. Charlton offered to take her for a ride on his Harley-Davidson. "I couldn't pass up a motorcycle ride," Hicks said. So Hicks jumped on the back of his bike and off they went. "It was so fun. We rode for like two hours," she said. "He had a huge heart on him," she said. Charlton was also a regular at the Cancun Cantina nightclub in Hanover, Packer said. "At his viewing, half the Cancun Cantina went down there," he said. Sandra Miller, one of Charlton's four daughters, said her father went to the club every week for the line dancing. "He loved to line dance," Miller said. According to Miller, her father grew up in the Arbutus and Halethorpe area and completed school only to eighth grade. "When we were little, he was in the paving business," Miller said. Charlton later worked with fishing tackle and hauled crabs, and on July 3, 1975, opened Captain Dick's Crabs Galore. With few exceptions, the shop has been open year-round ever since. When Charlton's wife, Louise, died a few years ago from cancer, Miller said she and her father got serious about taking a break. " 'Life is too short,' he would say," Miller said. She was ready for a break as well. "I've been working there since I was 11 or 12 years old," Miller said. "We've never had summers (off)," she said. The pair decided to start taking a few months off in the winter and go someplace where it felt like summer. "We were going to start going to the (Florida) Keys," Miller said. She said they recently purchased a house on Little Torch Key, where their goal was simple. "Just hang out, fish, ride motorcycles," Miller said. "I was looking so forward to him and I spending our winters together," she said. But they never got the chance. They closed Captain Dick's for the winter on Nov. 15. Charlton died just over a month later. "He went in for a quadruple bypass surgery," Miller said. Charlton never came out of it. For a variety of existing health problems, he didn't survive the surgery. "His lungs were just in really bad shape," Miller said. While the face of Captain Dick's is gone, customers can still expect brown paper bags of steamed crabs and shrimp, come March. Miller admitted, however, that it won't be the same without her father there to back her up. "It makes me a little nervous," she said. As much as his business savvy, she said she will miss her father's friendship. "We were very close," she said. Charlton's funeral was Dec. 31 at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home. He was buried at Meadowridge Memorial Park. In addition to Sandra Miller, Richard Charlton is survived by daughters Cindy Frizarry, Debbie Riddle and Wendy Lambert, a brother Rodney, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Race leader Sainz wins his first stage in Dakar rally - Monsters and Critics Posted: 13 Jan 2010 04:29 AM PST Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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