Gas Monkey Energy Viper To Race In Rolex 24 Hour Race in Daytona

It’s a big weekend for all things Gas Monkey! Not only did we just launch Gas Monkey Energy drink, but this weekend also kicks off our 2016 motorsports program! Ben Keating of ViperExchange.com will compete in the Rolex 24 Hour Race in Dayton this weekend in the Gas Monkey Energy Viper! This is the first time we’ve had a car in this race, so we are more than excited, to say the least. I’ll be out at Barrett-Jackson selling some iconic GMG cars, so I won’t be able to make it out to the race, but Tommy Strader from Gas Monkey Energy will be there to cheer Ben on. If you’re going to be out there, show some support by wearing a Gas Monkey shirt!

If you won’t be able to make it out there, you can watch it live from home. Check the TV Schedule HERE.

Good luck, Ben!

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EcoCAR 3 Year Two Winter Workshop Kicks off at NXP

The EcoCAR 3 Year Two Winter Workshop is underway in Austin, Texas. The five day workshop is hosted by NXP Semiconductors and sponsored by dSPACE.

Teams, sponsors, and organizers have arrived and are ready for hands-on training and presentations. Teams gathered at NXP to kick off the workshop by having the opportunity to set up their HILs on Wednesday afternoon.

Beginning today, teams will have the opportunity to present to industry professionals in the areas of Innovation, Systems Modeling and Simulation, Hardware in the Loop, and Project Status. The first in-person presentations will prepare the students for the Year Two final competition in May of 2016. Students will also receive multi-track training from several leading competition-level sponsors including: General Motors, NXP, dSPACE, MathWorks, Siemens, Mentor Graphics and more!

As always, stay up-to-date with the latest EcoCAR 3 news by visiting Facebook and Twitter.

The post EcoCAR 3 Year Two Winter Workshop Kicks off at NXP appeared first on Ecocar 3.

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Gas Monkey Garage at Barrett-Jackson

Gas Monkey Garage is taking over Barrett-Jackson this year! Not only do we have an enormous merchandise tent out there, we are also sponsoring the bar next to the staging lanes. If you’re there, head to the bar to try some Gas Monkey Tequila!

I’m out here with Dennis and we are buying and selling. See below to find out when some of our iconic Gas Monkey cars will be up on the auction block. Don’t forget you can watch Barrett-Jackson LIVE on Velocity and Discovery if you can’t make it out here! Check the TV schedule HERE.

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“Shart Cat” Dart

Wednesday, January 27

Around 6:05pm MST

Lot: 486

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Farrah Fawcett’s 1970 Corvette Custom Coupe

Wednesday, January 27

Around 6:20pm MST

Lot: 493

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1991 Special Construction Spyder Re-Creation

Wednesday, January 27

Around 7:40pm MST

Lot: 528

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1968 Corvette “Hot Wheels” Midas Monkey Custom Coupe

Saturday, January 30

Just before 4pm MST

Lot 1342.1

 

We’re keeping our fingers crossed, and we’d love it if you did the same. You’ll see this on an upcoming episode of Fast n’ Loud!

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ASU’s Powertrain Plan to Success

The Arizona State University (ASU) EcoCAR 3 team is excited for Year Two of the competition as they set their sights on implementing their powertrain design in the iconic American car, their 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.

ASU will be developing a Parallel Pre-Trans (P2) plug-in hybrid powered by E85.

Deciding on a Powertrain Plan was not an easy feat. The team looked at over 40 designs before narrowing down their decision to one final engine plan. It was a process that took a great amount of time and consideration. As the ASU EcoCAR 3 team began the initial workings and planning of what type of powertrain plan to develop in the competition, there were several important factors to take into account:

1. As ASU is a brand new team to Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC’s), it was important to design a powertrain with feasibility in mind. Many of the parts and components that the team will be utilizing in their vehicle are from competition sponsors such as GM and GKN. Using parts from competition sponsors will ensure reliability and support for implementing those parts within the vehicle.
2. A Parallel Hybrid was chosen over a Series, as the engine and motor both provide power to the wheels in a Parallel Hybrid. Parallels have more power than series hybrids and this was an important factor to consider as the team is keen on ensuring the integrity of the Camaro is not compromised in terms of top speed, power, and efficiency.
3. Plug-in Hybrids show a higher increase in energy efficiency. Energy consumption is much lower in Plug-in Hybrids as well. P2’s have the benefit of using an automated clutch system in order to shut down the engine, when possible, and rely on the electric motor instead.
4. The ASU team’s consumer market was interested in a car with great mileage and the team wanted to be able to provide the market with a long all electric range by utilizing a large capacity battery pack. Because the electric motor is in front of the transmission, the team is able to use a compact electric motor to power the vehicle and more effectively employ the battery pack. Imagine being able to commute to work on all electric power in a stylish new Camaro!

Each team is sure to face a number of challenges as they begin working on their vehicles, but the ASU team is ready to take those challenges head on!

The post ASU’s Powertrain Plan to Success appeared first on Ecocar 3.

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Gas Monkey Energy Drink and 2016 Motorsports Announcement!

The Gas Monkey empire grows more and more very day. We are launching Gas Monkey Energy drink! Keep up with the Gas Monkey Energy social accounts for announcements on when and where the drink will be available near you.

Gas Monkey Energy on Facebook

Gas Monkey Energy on Twitter

Gas Monkey Energy in Instagram

Not only that, but we are reenergizing our motorsports program for 2016 by adding two new race cars! Along with Alex Laughlin in our NHRA Pro Stock Car, we’ll also have Ben Keating in the No. 33 ViperExchange.com Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper GT3-R racing in the IMSA Series Rolex 24 At Daytona. Last but not least, 20-year-old Sage Karam will join the Gas Monkey family in his INDY car competing in the 100th INDY 500!

Shoutout to 360 Wraps for all the help making this launch a success.

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Buick Achievers Scholarship Program

Announcing an exciting scholarship opportunity for high school seniors and current college undergraduates, the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program.

This scholarship, funded by the GM Foundation, is designed to help students who are leaders in both the classroom and their communities, but who may not have the financial means to attend college. The GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving charities, educational organizations and disaster relief efforts worldwide since 1976. The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program continues to be one of the nation’s most impactful scholarship programs.

The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program will award up to $25,000 per year for 50 students.

Students are encouraged to apply who:

• Are high school seniors or current college undergraduates enrolling for full time study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico for the 2016-17 academic year.
• Plan to major in a specified course of study that focuses on Engineering, Technology, or select Design programs.
• Have an interest in a career in the automotive or related industries.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on the following factors:

• Academic achievement and financial need
• Participation and leadership in community and school activities, work experience and interest in pursuing a career in the automotive or related industries

Awards are for students of any age, for undergraduate study only.

More details about the scholarship program, eligibility rules, and selection criteria can be found at www.buickachievers.com

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Building Your Career Through CSU EcoCAR

Here at Colorado State University, engineering students have the unprecedented opportunity to participate in EcoCAR. Whether the students participate in EcoCAR for all four years during their time at CSU, or just one year, they gain hands-on experience with the vehicle and acquire skills to apply to their future careers. Participation as a member of the EcoCAR team surely stands out on a resume, as many students who were on the team were either hired by a company after graduation because of their involvement with EcoCAR, or they apply the skills they learned from EcocAR to their position in a company.

So, how does EcoCAR help you land a job after graduation you ask? Former team member, Levi Weber, reveals that, “some of [his] experiences in the program that [he] highlighted during his interview process helped him get the position.” Another former team member, Kenny Inthiraj, was actually hired during an EcoCAR trip because he, “submitted [his] resume near the beginning of the year to the sponsors and while they were at Fall Workshop in Columbus [he] was granted an interview with General Motors.” From majoring in Mechanical Engineering to working for established businesses right out of college, CSU EcoCAR surely benefited these opportunities.

Involvement in EcoCAR has been successful in helping team members find or receive jobs after graduation because of the skills students acquire while on the team. Kenny’s experience with being on the team is a perfect example of this, “my experience with the Powertrain team has actually helped me in a number of ways at my current job. I’m an Energy Performance Engineer for the Advanced Energy Integration group in vehicle integration. A lot of core knowledge from studying and analyzing data from designing the CSU EcoCAR 3 Camaro is applicable in most of my everyday projects. During my time with EcoCAR, understanding vehicle development and energy systems to minimize environmental impact was key, and that is the same at my job now.”

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Wayne State University Visits Summit Academy High School

The Wayne State University EcoCAR 3 team recently visited Summit Academy High School situated in Romulus, Michigan, just outside of Detroit. For the first outreach event of the year, the team taught a supplementary lesson to Ms. Stefani’s physics class for grades 11 and 12.

The lesson started with a presentation by the team. This included an introduction to the EcoCAR 3 program, the importance of hybrid vehicle technologies and the team’s chosen architecture. The presentation went particularly into detail on what each of the major powertrain components were and how they worked together. Lastly, the team touched on the importance of STEM education and their associated career paths.

Following the presentation, students were put in pairs to work on the hands-on motor kit activity. The motor kit demonstrates how electrical energy can be converted into mechanical energy, in a similar fashion to what occurs in an electric vehicle. Each pair of students was able to work together, troubleshoot and successfully get the motor to run.

When asked for feedback about the visit, one student said “my favorite part was building the miniature motor. I love to tinker and have gained more knowledge about cars.” By working with these students, the team helped to educate and engage youth in engineering, hybrid technologies and pursuing an education and career in STEM. We look forward to welcoming these students to the team in the future!

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Five Fast Facts about PSU AVT

1.) In the past, the Pennsylvania State University Advanced Vehicle Team has met with the State College Mayor and Council, the State College Sustainability Council and has even been congratulated by the Pennsylvania Senate for our outreach events. These events are held on campus, downtown and elsewhere to increase community knowledge, interest and involvement in PSU AVT.

2.) Seventeen PSU AVT alumni were recruited for internships last year, for their work on the team and in the course. Engineering majors can take a course that focuses entirely on the EcoCAR 3 competition and join the PSU AVT design team. However, this class is not an easy A and requires a considerable time commitment!

3.) In the EcoCAR 2 competition, PSU AVT was tasked with redesigning a Chevy Malibu and received about $63 million in grants and in-kind donations from organizers and competition-level sponsors. While waiting on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro to come in, we have been showing off the Malibu from EcoCAR 2.

4.) PSU AVT is a diverse group with members from not only the United States but Egypt, China and India as well! Our advisors, Tim Cleary, Eric Reischer and Ryan Noss, are all alumni of the team and love to show off their Penn State pride!

5.) We have over 1,000 followers on our EcoCAR 3 social media! Last year, we earned around 50,000 impressions per outreach event and predict we will overshoot that this year. You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates on our events and activities, as well as fun facts about Camaros, sustainability, PSU AVT members and more!

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Now Casting for a New TV Show With Richard Rawlings, Discovery and Pilgrim Studios

I’m working on a new TV show (currently called Garage Rehab) with Discovery and Pilgrim Studios and we’re casting now! Looking for successful shop owners, craftsmen, and people who own a shop that is troubled or failing. The links are below with more details and how to apply.

For the Right-Hand Man: http://www.pilgrimstudios.com/casting/garagerehabdirector/

For the Troubled Garage: http://www.pilgrimstudios.com/casting/garagerehabshop/

For the Handyman and Auto Equipment Installer: http://www.pilgrimstudios.com/casting/garagerehabteam/

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Embry-Riddle Hosts the Winter Faculty Advisory Board

EcoCAR 3 organizers from Argonne National Laboratory and General Motors kicked off 2016 by visiting Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida for the Winter Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) meeting. The FAB meets two times each year to discuss deliverables or evaluate any major changes to the program. Faculty members from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Washington, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia University were all in attendance for the Winter FAB.

The FAB had a chance to provide feedback on areas of the EcoCAR 3 competition which covered associated swim lanes and upcoming presentations. The FAB also discussed plans for the upcoming static and dynamic events at the Year Two competition.

The ERAU EcoCAR 3 team had the opportunity to meet with organizers for one-on-one discussions and the team led the organizers on a tour of ERAU’s Green Garage. The organizers were even able to attend ERAU’s Camaro Unveiling event on Friday night.

Thank you to ERAU for hosting the Winter FAB! Here are some images from the Winter FAB:

          

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Winter FAB Meets At ERAU

EcoCAR 3 organizers from Argonne National Laboratory and General Motors kicked off 2016 by visiting Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida for the Winter Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) meeting. The FAB meets two times each year to discuss deliverables or evaluate any major changes to the program. Faculty members from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Washington, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia University were all in attendance for the Winter FAB.

The FAB had a chance to provide feedback on areas of the EcoCAR 3 competition which covered associated swim lanes and upcoming presentations. The FAB also discussed plans for the upcoming static and dynamic events at the Year Two competition.

The ERAU EcoCAR 3 team had the opportunity to meet with organizers for one-on-one discussions and the team led the organizers on a tour of ERAU’s Green Garage. The organizers were even able to attend ERAU’s Camaro Unveiling event on Friday night.

Thank you to ERAU for hosting the Winter FAB! Here are some images from the Winter FAB at ERAU:

 

    

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