Gator Bike covered in Alligator skin to the rescue

Jim Jablon didn't want his alligator skin to go to waste so he covered his motorcycle and making it the fastest road kill on record. It was given away in a charity fundraiser for an animal rehab center that has rescued dozens of exotic pets, including this albino Burmese python named Arctic.

The skin is detachable but the head is fixed perm-anently into the handlebars and has the speedometer implanted into the back of the skull.

Gator Bike covered in Alligator skin to the rescue

Jim Jablon didn't want his alligator skin to go to waste so he covered his motorcycle and making it the fastest road kill on record. It was given away in a charity fundraiser for an animal rehab center that has rescued dozens of exotic pets, including this albino Burmese python named Arctic.

The skin is detachable but the head is fixed perm-anently into the handlebars and has the speedometer implanted into the back of the skull.

Hand-carved skateboards by Doug McKee

Octopus Skateboard

Stingray Skateboard

Crocodile Skateboard

Raven Skateboard


I just found these amazing skateboards by artist Doug McKee of Bellingham, WA who carves skateboards that look like birds, insects, and sea creatures. here is what he had to say:

The process of carving a skateboard takes a bit of time. The piece is carved out of green wood. Which is to say wet, freshly cut wood. Ideally the wood spits its water at you as you carve. I use western red cedar because it is ideal in so many ways. Its light, strong and becomes harder as it ages. It splits easily facilitating carving--but also renders the piece fragile. First it is carved green and carefully hollowed out, then put away to dry. It shrinks radially along the growth rings as it dries. Some material must be left to "true up" or eliminate the distortions caused during drying. When it is dry enough it is finish carved. via Makezine

Hand-carved skateboards by Doug McKee

Octopus Skateboard

Stingray Skateboard

Crocodile Skateboard

Raven Skateboard


I just found these amazing skateboards by artist Doug McKee of Bellingham, WA who carves skateboards that look like birds, insects, and sea creatures. here is what he had to say:

The process of carving a skateboard takes a bit of time. The piece is carved out of green wood. Which is to say wet, freshly cut wood. Ideally the wood spits its water at you as you carve. I use western red cedar because it is ideal in so many ways. Its light, strong and becomes harder as it ages. It splits easily facilitating carving--but also renders the piece fragile. First it is carved green and carefully hollowed out, then put away to dry. It shrinks radially along the growth rings as it dries. Some material must be left to "true up" or eliminate the distortions caused during drying. When it is dry enough it is finish carved. via Makezine

Future Collectible Cars

Over at Jalopnik, Matt H. asks, "What's the best cheap future collector car?"

My answer: something like a Mustang GT, or Chevrolet Camaro, or Dodge Challenger, running a V8.  Even a Pontiac G8.

Because when NHTSA, EPA, and CARB's CO2 and fuel economy regulations kick in full bore, only rich guys will be able to afford a good fashioned American V8.  Naturally aspirated, big displacement, big torque.

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MINI E at 20,000 miles

Adding weight to the evidence that cars with electric powertrains can go the distance, a driver from New Jersey who signed up to MINI's EV leasing program has amassed twenty thousand miles in the last eight months in MINI E #250.

Apparently oblivious to the claims that EVs can't tackle the sort of driving that a normal, combustion-engined car can, driver Tom Moloughney, a restaurant owner, averages over 130 miles per day seven days a week. Charging with MINI's 220-volt charging stations takes around 3.5 hours which is apparently proving perfect as the car can be left to charge whilst Tom is working, and charged again when he gets home.

Tom says that the car can cope with 99% of the jobs he'd expect from any car, and even enjoys driving it, with none of the range paranoia that's often mentioned in relation to the short distances EVs can currently manage compared to regular cars.

After 21,000 miles the car is costing around 3c a mile to run (total charging cost has been $650 so far) and Tom expects to make 35,000 miles by the end of the year's lease.

(Image: MINI)

Edit: 7 March 2009 - Tom has his own blog - you can follow his progress trialling the MINI E at http://minie250.blogspot.com/